Chapter 293: Chapter 290 12.2 Coup (5)
Due to Minister Saint Arno’s personal supervision, the operation to capture the anti-Bonaparte faction generals progressed exceptionally smoothly. All opposing Bonaparte faction generals were detained, and the signs of division within the army were fundamentally nipped in the bud by Minister Saint Arno.
However, the operation to arrest other legislators was far from smooth compared to capturing generals. A portion of the legislators, upon receiving the news of the army’s entry into the city, sensed trouble and quickly fled their homes during the unfamiliar vacuum period right after the army took over Paris.
Thanks to Jerome Bonaparte’s previous "no killing" policy and the cover of night, the soldiers mistook these legislators for Parisians taking nighttime strolls, which gave them a chance to escape.
The legislators traveling in the night split into groups to wake more members of the Republican Faction. They aimed to gather all their strength together, transforming into a forceful punch to strike at the dictator of the Elysee Palace.
Vercini, the representative from Upper Saône Province, was one who was awakened. Residing at No. 4 Leon Street in Paris, he was still deep in a dream around 4 a.m., having worked until 2 a.m. and thus slept soundly. Suddenly, the urgent ringing of the doorbell woke Vercini from his dream. His bloodshot eyes couldn’t recognize the identity of the visitor outside, and the irritation from lack of sleep made Vercini reluctant to be joyful.
The doorbell kept ringing incessantly. After a good while, Vercini, growing impatient, climbed out of bed. Opening the curtains, he saw the starry sky outside. By starlight, Vercini realized it was only around 4 a.m., and muttered in frustration, "Who on earth could this be! So annoying!"
Vercini couldn’t guess the reason for a midnight visit. He could only proceed slowly to open the door.
Michel de Bourges and Theodore Buck entered. Michel de Bourges was Vercini’s neighbor, residing at No. 16 Milan Street.
At that moment, they looked pale and excited, with an expression as if the house were about to collapse.
"Vercini, quickly get dressed!" Michel immediately instructed Vercini upon entering the room.
Confused, Vercini looked at his "colleagues" before him, at a loss: "What exactly has happened?"
"The army... the army!" Theodore struggled to swallow his saliva and continued, "The army has started arresting people! Just moments ago, a squad of soldiers went to Senator Bona’s house. They took him out of his home."
"What!" Vercini realized the seriousness of the situation, "What on earth is the army doing? How can they recklessly arrest people!"
"Now’s not the time for such talk!" Michel immediately replied, "We need to act quickly; otherwise, more legislators will be arrested!"
"Oh! Alright!" Vercini hurriedly changed his clothes to follow them and leave together.
At this moment, a troop of soldiers dressed in blue and white uniforms, wearing tall hats, was approaching Vercini’s house, seemingly aiming to capture him.
"Quick! Go!" Led by Vercini, Michel and Theodore left through the back door.
This troop of soldiers ended up empty-handed. Facing an empty room, the angry soldiers ransacked the place for all valuables.
The three of them, under cover of night, evaded patrolling soldiers on the streets. After crossing a few streets, they realized that the entire Paris might already be surrounded by the army.
"The Republic is about to be caged!" Vercini despairingly said to Theodore and Michel.
"The top priority now is to unite everyone we can, then we can join hands to impeach the President!" Michel, with extraordinary calmness, analyzed, "We mobilize all of Paris to fight against the army. Once all of Paris stands with us, the army will naturally have to slink away."
Theodore and Vercini exchanged glances. They were uncertain if this approach would work, but at the moment, it was the only path they could take.
If they couldn’t unite the Parisians, their strength alone couldn’t possibly be a match for the army.
"This is our only option now!" Vercini nodded in agreement with Michel’s suggestion.
After determining their legal strategy, Michel and the others began assigning tasks.
"We can’t waste another minute! Now I’ll go wake Ivan!" Michel said to Theodore and Vercini.
Ivan, appointed as the Secretary of the National Assembly by the Republican Faction’s Left Wing, lived on De. Bo Street.
"I’ll wake up Mr. Victor Hugo!" Vercini volunteered, saying he would awaken Victor Fatherland, "Senator Hugo holds great prestige in Ali. With his involvement, our strength will grow stronger!"
"Good!" Michel nodded in agreement with Vercini’s intention to wake Victor Hugo.
"Then I’ll head to Senator Thiers!" Theodore set his goal on Achille Thiers, half-jokingly adding, "Hopefully Senator Thiers can hold on until we wake him up!"
Michel and Vercini both smiled knowingly. Even though they needed to unite everyone to resist the army, it didn’t mean they would forgive all of Thiers’ deeds.
Thiers’ popularity in Paris was somewhat "bleak."
After parting with Michel and the others, Vercini quickly headed to No. 33 Averny Tower Street.
That’s where Victor Hugo resided.
At 5 a.m., stealthily avoiding detection, Vercini arrived at the door of No. 33 Averny Tower Street. He gently knocked on the door of Victor Hugo’s house.
There seemed to be no response from inside.
Could it be that Senator Hugo has already been arrested?
Thinking of this, Vercini couldn’t help but feel anxious; he did not wish for his suspicions to become reality.
He knocked harder on Victor Hugo’s door.
After a moment, a servant’s voice came from inside. "Who is it?"
"I am Senator Vercini! Please inform Mr. Victor Hugo that I have urgent matters to discuss with him!" Vercini shouted into the room.
"Understood!" The servant opened the door, and Vercini quickly entered the room.
"I will wake him now!" The servant told Vercini, before turning and heading to the second floor to wake the sleeping Victor Hugo.
Groggy and with a confused expression, Victor Hugo looked at the servant, his eyes revealing a puzzled look.
"A representative of the people wishes to speak with you!" the servant responded succinctly to Victor Hugo.
"Let him in!"
"He is already waiting for you in the living room!"
Victor Hugo got out of bed, changed into appropriate attire, and met with Vercini.
"Mr. Hugo, it’s so good to see you unharmed!" Vercini extended his hand and shook Victor Hugo’s tightly.
"What on earth has happened?" Victor Hugo, still bewildered, looked at Vercini, unaware of the situation outside.
This military coup was so quiet that many were captured in their sleep.
"That bastard Jerome Bonaparte has launched a military coup!" Vercini informed Victor Hugo.
"What!" Victor Hugo’s face changed dramatically; he could hardly believe Vercini’s answer.
With more than a year left until Jerome Bonaparte’s term ended, how could a coup already be taking place?
"Around 2 a.m. [Vercini did not know the exact time the troops entered the city, he only heard rumors from Michel], a large number of army officers entered the city! They claimed to be acting on the President’s orders! The Republic is facing destruction!" Vercini’s face turned pale, and his voice trembled slightly.
"Damn it!" Victor Hugo couldn’t help but curse: "Those damned brutes!"
"Many representatives have already been captured by them! Hugo, we must unite and fight them to the end!" Vercini responded to Victor Hugo: "We plan to gather at Senator Laisac’s house, you..."
Just as Vercini was speaking, a series of rapid and violent knocks sounded from outside the door.
Victor Hugo turned his gaze to Vercini, who shook his head.
Victor Hugo signaled the servant with his eyes. The servant quickly went to the door to inquire about the visitor: "Who are you?"
"I am Valerovsky, hoping to meet with Victor Hugo to clear up some misunderstandings!" Valerovsky responded from outside the door.
The servant looked at Victor Hugo, who shook his head at the servant.
The servant, understanding, quickly said to the outside: "Senator Hugo is not here!"
"I do not wish to use force!" Valerovsky sighed outside, then stepped back a few steps.
The soldiers following Valerovsky blocked the door, and under the officer’s lead, they kicked the door viciously.
BANG BANG BANG
Deafening sounds echoed, as if the entire building was shaking.
Dust fell continuously from the top of the door, and the servant looked at the door helplessly, turning his gaze to Victor Hugo.
Victor Hugo knew he had no way out. To protect the landlord’s property, he had to speak up: "Senator Valerovsky, do not let your soldiers continue! I am inside!"
"Stop!" Valerovsky commanded the soldiers to cease their attack and stood waiting for Victor Hugo to open the door himself.
After a while, Victor Hugo opened the door, and Valerovsky, along with a group of soldiers, entered the room.
"Senator Victor Hugo, we meet again!" Valerovsky said politely to Victor Hugo, without the slightest hint of apology on his face.