Chapter 258: Robespierre vs. Robespierre
The police officer, hearing the "de" in Robespierre's name and knowing it indicated he was a minor noble, spoke in a slightly more polite tone: "Excuse me, did you apply for a permit to speak here?"
According to current regulations, public gatherings for speeches required prior application.
Of course, usually no one paid attention to this rule, but if the police caught someone red-handed, it had to be strictly enforced.
"I..." Robespierre instantly looked flustered.
Just as the nobles who had been fighting him showed smug expressions, a young man in a blue-gray jacket with tousled hair hurried over. He looked at Robespierre and said, "M-M-Maxi, I-I finally f-found you."
He then turned to the police officer beside them: "Sir, w-what happened here?"
The police officer saw the silver scales buckle on the young man's collar, recognizing it as the insignia of the Bureau of Impartial Investigation. He instinctively grew a little nervous: "Nothing much, this gentleman violated the public speaking ban."
It wasn't because he had been bribed, but because the Notary Investigation Bureau's reputation had already spread throughout Paris. Even his superiors had been summoned for questioning, and no public official in Paris could avoid feeling nervous upon seeing them.
"Oh, you see, h-he's my classmate, a-and he's from out o-of town," the young man said, smiling as he patted the officer's arm. "W-would you p-please give him a c-chance? I-I promise he w-won't do it a-again."
The nobles nearby wanted to say more, but the young investigator was already pulling Robespierre, walking quickly towards the edge of the square.
However, they hadn't gone far before a tall, blond man intercepted them, bowing politely. "Mr. Desmoulins, and this orator, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wishes to speak with you for a moment."
Robespierre was startled. He whispered to his old classmate, "Is Paris that strict about speeches? How did it even reach the Crown Prince?"
"I-I don't think it's about that."
Desmoulins then turned to Eman: "It's an h-honor."
A moment later, inside the light gray, jewel-shaped carriage, Joseph looked with interest at the man who would later be known as the "Incorruptible." He was in his late twenties, with a slightly chubby face, a large nose, and messy blond hair from the fight—an appearance that wouldn't draw a second glance on the street.
Desmoulins, seeing Joseph's expression, hesitated: "Y-Your Highness, d-do you know Maxi?"
"Ah, no, I don't," Joseph replied, withdrawing his gaze and asking casually, "Are you two classmates?"
"Y-Yes, we are. H-His name is M-M-Ma..."
Robespierre couldn't bear it any longer. He interrupted, "Your esteemed Highness, I am Maximilien François de Robespierre. It is an honor to speak with you. Desmoulins and I both study law at the University of Paris."
"It's an honor to meet you too," Joseph said, smiling and nodding. 'Now the Jacobin team is finally complete,' he thought.
He looked at the bruises on Robespierre's face: "Why did you get into a conflict with those gentlemen earlier?"
The latter immediately retorted angrily: "They opposed my views, and when they couldn't win the argument against me, they crudely resorted to violence."
"What were you speaking about?"
Robespierre looked towards the public execution grounds that were now distant: "You see, they are about to execute hundreds of citizens... I was calling for the abolition of the death penalty!"
Upon hearing this, Joseph felt a headache coming on. 'You, in your Great Revolution, how many people did you 'snip' then? Tens of thousands, at least, wouldn't you say? And now you're here telling me to abolish the death penalty?!'
'History truly is fantastical...'
He composed himself and cleared his throat: "Ahem, actually, they are all serious criminals, most of whom have a history of murder."
Robespierre straightened his posture, stating earnestly: "Your Highness, every person's life should be respected. Even if they have committed crimes, others cannot..."
Joseph immediately recalled a famous quote from 'Teacher Luo,' a great legal expert from his previous life, and smiled. "Respect, yes, quite right.
"Only beasts kill without accountability. You see, if we don't make them pay with their lives, aren't we treating them as beasts? To respect a criminal's value as a human, the death penalty must be imposed."
"No..." Robespierre was confused and quickly changed the subject. "Your Highness, capital punishment is a barbaric penalty; its abolition is a symbol of civilizational progress!"
'Your argument is far weaker than those abolitionists on forums in later generations,' Joseph thought.
"No, this is precisely a sign of civilization. Have you ever considered that, according to the wishes of the victims' families, they would surely want to nail them to a cross, whip them for three hours daily, and listen to their screams for days until they were tortured to death.
"Judges sentencing them to a quick, painless death is precisely based on civilized consideration."
He pointed skyward: "In fact, even God executes the guilty. Everyone knows that the Lord is the most civilized."
"But..." Robespierre struggled to keep up with the pace, "The Lord also bids us to love universally and to forgive. We should treat those who have sinned in the same way."
Joseph shook his head: "But you are not the victim, why should you forgive the murderer on their behalf? Or perhaps, you can awaken the dead and ask for their opinion."
The death penalty abolitionist grew somewhat anxious: "Your Highness, if a person is directly executed, and a miscarriage of justice is later discovered, it would be irreversible!"
"The annual mortality rate for sailors on ocean-going vessels exceeds 20%. Should we, therefore, scuttle all ships?" Joseph smiled. "No, we should continuously improve shipbuilding and navigation techniques. In fact, I am already undertaking Police Reform throughout France, precisely to minimize wrongful cases."
Robespierre opened his mouth, then finally ran out of words.
Seeing his awkwardness, Joseph changed the subject: "Mr. Robespierre, do you have any specific business here this time?"
He was still wondering how to get Robespierre into the Notary Investigation Bureau and complete the Jacobin team.
Robespierre quickly replied: "Your Highness, the Duke of Chartres asked me to handle a lawsuit for him."
Desmoulins immediately interjected: "I-Is it that i-inheritance case?"
"Yes."
Joseph watched them discuss, as if it were perfectly normal, the matter of handling a lawsuit for the son of Orleans right in front of him. He couldn't help but feel a little stunned, but he soon realized that these two were probably completely unaware of the political inner workings of Versailles.
The Duke of Orleans was very adept at presenting himself well, and he had an excellent reputation, especially among the Liberals. Later, during the Great Revolution, the Liberals even considered him one of their leaders.
It was no wonder Robespierre was willing to travel a great distance to help his son with a lawsuit.
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