Chapter 740: Queen Mary's Struggle
Queen Mary suddenly took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, took a deep breath, and stood up.
"You're right. Joseph will solve all the problems; everything will be fine."
She then took her husband's hand and said very earnestly, "But we can't just watch him bear all the heavy responsibilities alone. We must do everything we can to help him!"
Louis XVI nodded in deep agreement, saying, "Yes, that's why I've been working late into the night at the armory recently."
Queen Mary was momentarily stunned.
'Even the King is pouring his heart and soul into the coming war, and it seems I'm the only one who hasn't contributed anything...'
Her mind raced. What could she do?
'Perhaps donate some jewelry...'
Yes, donations! She could organize a fundraising dinner and call upon the nobles of Versailles to raise funds for the army!
As she pondered, Prince Charles pushed open the door and entered.
The world of a child knew nothing of diplomacy or war. He bowed to his parents, then took Queen Mary's hand and asked, "Mother, will Grand Duchess Alexandra still come to Paris? I asked Mr. Greuze, and he said she hasn't booked any subsequent painting lessons..."
The little fellow didn't have many friends in the palace, and lately, no one had been there to play with him. While practicing swordsmanship today, he thought of Alexandra.
Upon hearing this, Queen Mary's eyes lit up.
Alexandra? 'Ah, how could I have forgotten her?'
'She is Joseph's beloved princess.'
'Joseph is busy with national affairs; as his mother, I should help him settle his marriage.'
'This would also be a very significant contribution to France!'
She immediately picked up Charles and kissed his cheek.
"You truly are my little angel!
"Oh, Alexandra will come to Paris, and she will stay for a very, very long time. Russia was at war before, so she was probably delayed, but now that peace has returned there, I will send someone to bring her here."
Charles immediately beamed with joy, hugging his mother's neck tightly and exclaiming happily, "That's wonderful! Sasha is coming back! Thank you, Mother!"
After her young son was taken away by his tutor, Queen Mary looked at Louis XVI again. "Your Majesty, do you think Joseph will be pleasantly surprised when he defeats the enemy and returns to find his Sasha here?"
The King smiled shyly and nodded. "He will certainly be happier than achieving a great victory."
Eager to contribute to the nation, Queen Mary wasted no time. That very noon, she summoned Count Stroganov, the Russian envoy to France, and expressed her desire to marry the Russian princess.
The envoy immediately stated solemnly that he would report the matter to Saint Petersburg with the utmost speed, and informally indicated that His Majesty the Tsar would likely welcome the match.
After Count Stroganov departed, Queen Mary, filled with a sense of accomplishment, immediately became busy organizing the fundraising dinner, which occupied her for the next three days.
That evening, the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles was bustling with activity, as all the prominent nobles of Paris gathered there.
Accompanied by the music of the royal orchestra, Minister of Agriculture Vergniaud was the first to ascend the wooden platform on the north side. He raised a hand to signal for silence, then declared in a loud voice, "On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, I sincerely thank everyone for attending this evening's dinner."
Seeing the people in the hall bow towards the Queen and then turn their gaze to him, Vergniaud's expression grew solemn, and his tone filled with indignation. "I believe you are all aware that Britain, in collusion with their wicked allies, shamelessly tore up trade agreements, attempted to plunder our sugar industry like bandits, and amassed troops, preparing to launch an invasion against our nation!"
Everything he spoke was based on the tone set by Joseph, then handed over to the Press and Publication Bureau to be drafted into propaganda speeches by renowned writers.
Thereafter, all of France would use this narrative for pre-war propaganda.
Dozens of journalists standing in the corner of the hall immediately recorded Vergniaud's speech verbatim.
As a historically renowned orator, Vergniaud's words were highly inflammatory: "The barbaric and despicable British, through the Seven Years' War, forcibly seized our overseas colonies. Through deceit and vicious competition, they ruined many of our industries, plunging France, once the wealthiest and most powerful nation in Europe, into decline!
"It was their shameless actions that led to a massive outflow of French wealth, making people's lives increasingly difficult. People froze and starved to death, while they continuously extracted wealth from our North American and Far Eastern colonies, using it to flaunt before the entire world.
"It was the British conspiracy that cost France a full thirty years!
"Those were thirty years filled with pain and humiliation!
"Fortunately, Providence has smiled upon France. Under the leadership of His Great Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we have resiliently risen from the depths and begun to regain order and prosperity. The powerful France of old is gradually returning.
"But the contemptible British, in league with the savage Prussians and the habitually treacherous Austrians, do not wish to see us rise from suffering and weakness!
"They intend to use a criminal invasion to make us lose another thirty years! A conspiracy to keep us forever weak, forever at their mercy and mockery!
"You, the people who endured those lost thirty years, will you permit such a thing to happen?!"
Instantly, the chests of all present swelled with anger, their eyes reddened as they roared in unison, "Never!"
Vergniaud nodded forcefully. "France will stand forever strong, because of you!"
He then continued in an impassioned tone, recounting the centuries-old enmity between Britain and France, as well as between France and Austria—these details were readily available, as France had been in almost constant conflict with them for hundreds of years, accumulating so many blood feuds that they couldn't be recounted in just a few months.
Finally, Vergniaud bowed with a hand to his chest to Queen Mary, who stood nearby. "Today, Her Majesty the Queen has called us to stand here together, to resist the invasion of our wicked enemies! To defend our nation!"
Amidst cheers, Queen Mary stepped onto the stage and solemnly declared, "Let us unite, join hands, and contribute our strength, so that all who dare to oppose France will pay the price they deserve!"
The Countess of Debeninac, standing nearby, immediately announced, "The person who donates the most tonight will receive an invitation from Her Majesty the Queen to dine with the Royal Family."
Immediately, a nobleman in the audience raised his hand and loudly declared, "I donate 5,000 francs!"
A disdainful snort came from behind him. An invited factory owner adjusted his collar, raised his hand, and said, "I am willing to contribute 20,000 francs to purchase cannons for the army."
"How can everyone let these lowly fellows outdo us?" a nobleman muttered softly, raising his hand. "The Kolbos family will donate 30,000 francs."
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