novelraw Chapter 84: Directory Government - Grande école
Chapter 84: Directory Government - Grande école
The wide training grounds in front of the Southern Army Headquarters.
I guided Talleyrand, the Deputy of the Revolutionary Party, showing him elite soldiers with aptitude for mana manipulation training together.
"Huut!"
Soldiers on one side thrust forward with bladeless spear shafts, while others received them without weapons.
The soldiers enveloped their bare bodies in mana to receive the spear shafts, and better soldiers even deflected the spear shafts completely, accompanied by a distinctive roar of mana protection.
Some couldn't even properly block the bladeless spear shafts and groaned in pain, causing Damien De Millbeau, the commander of the Southern Army, to look at me anxiously, fidgeting.
"Hmm, impressive."
Talleyrand stroked his chin as he observed the scene.
From the perspective of knights, it would be clumsy, even very clumsy, but it must be his first time seeing commoner soldiers blocking attacks with mana, the exclusive domain of nobles and knights.
It might not meet our standards, but it seems to have sufficiently impressed Deputy Talleyrand."You've done well, Count Milbeau."
"It's an honor to hear you say that! Of course, it's all thanks to the budget support from the National Assembly and the excellence of the Grandes Écoles program introduced by Marquis Lafayette!"
I vaguely ignored the excited Damien and observed the soldiers.
Thankfully, after considerable training, there were no soldiers showing signs of clutching their stomachs, vomiting, or collapsing than before.
"The immediate goal of this unit is to train them to block musket fire with mana."
Even if it's impossible for them to deflect everything as knights do, if they can block just one or two shots, they'll have an absolute advantage in infantry engagements.
"If successful, they could indeed be called a unit of superhumans."
"That's right. Let me show you those who have achieved more visible results. If you'll excuse us, Count Milbeau."
"Yes! With all my heart and soul, I will nurture them into a strong army that will not shame the name of the Knight Kingdom of Francia, to stand against the threat of the Germania Empire—"
I turned away from Damien’s long speech and guided Talleyrand to the cavalry training area.
"Welcome. Deputy Talleyrand, Marquis Lafayette."
Gaston, watching the training with his greatsword planted in the ground, recognized us and respectfully bowed.
"Good work, General Gaston."
I watched the training with Talleyrand and subtly furrowed my brow.
"She's here again today?"
"Th-That's right. Sir."
Gaston looked somewhat embarrassed.
Three cavalrymen in front of us wearing cuirasses over their splendid uniforms were attacking one person relentlessly.
The person receiving the attacks was Shandra, who skillfully dealt with them, dodging, deflecting, or repelling them with mana.
She's technically the embassy representative, but she's always complaining that peaceful embassy work is boring. So I allowed her to observe as an instructor in her capacity as a military attaché, and she's practically settled in.
Fortunately, Shandra's usual black clothes, revealing her bare skin and tattoos, were not suitable for the sensibilities in Francia. So I requested a different outfit, and she's also wearing our splendid uniform.
She's using a cavalry saber instead of her usual twin swords. Even with a weapon she's not used to, she's easily overwhelming three cavalrymen who are quite skilled in mana manipulation.
"......It's hard for me to even follow with my eyes."
Fortunately, Talleyrand focused on the exchanges between Shandra and the cavalrymen rather than questioning the fact that Shandra was the instructor.
It's because the opponent is Shandra, who is among the top tier of knights. But the elite cavalrymen, whose mana manipulation has already reached a certain level, have far surpassed the abilities of ordinary people.
"That's right. They're not yet at the level of knights, but they'll be worthy of being called the strongest cavalry on the continent."
During the civil war, we lost most of the knights who were the lifeblood of the Francian army. But the core of the Grandes Écoles military training program I prepared is to nurture elite soldiers to replace them.
That process is steadily progressing.
The only thing lacking was time. But if their training is successfully completed while the Germania Empire is in disarray due to this incident, their performance is something to look forward to.
"I certainly understand the military value. But in the end, such elite soldiers are only a small minority, Marquis."
"That's correct. Considering the entire Revolutionary Army, those capable of mana manipulation at a level usable in actual combat are still less than 1%."
If we invest sufficient time and conduct systematic training for all soldiers, we might see better results. But in an organization like the military, we can't ignore the efficiency compared to the investment cost.
Talleyrand looked at the cavalrymen, who had finally all fallen to the ground and were being helped up by Shandra, and turned away.
"It was a valuable time, seeing the future of the Revolutionary Army, Marquis Lafayette. I thank you for preparing today's observation."
"I'm glad we could show you a good side, Councilman."
I received Gaston's salute and guided Talleyrand.
As we left the training grounds, Talleyrand gestured for his attendants to stay back and slowly spoke.
"As you know, the National Assembly had significant concerns about the training program you initially proposed."
"I'm well aware."
And now, their concerns wouldn't seem like unfounded fears.
"The existence of a small number of elite soldiers trained through a special process. I doubt they can truly uphold the value of equality that the revolution advocates."
At first, even I didn't know that so few would show this level of aptitude. Valliant, who probably had high hopes for a mana-wielding army, must have felt the same.
"Especially as you are trying to restore the republic to a kingdom, the National Assembly is even more concerned that these soldiers, heavily influenced by you and the noble officer corps, will become another privileged class."
"I suppose so."
In the end, the National Assembly agreed to Eris's proposal for the selection of a monarch.
But that was ultimately accepted reluctantly to avoid the impending war, and because the National Assembly couldn't simply dismiss Eris as another royal.
They agreed because they couldn't ignore public sentiment, but they wouldn't be comfortable with it.
"You clearly stated that you would protect the revolution, but depending on the perspective, you are taking actions that could 'go against the revolution out of necessity'."
Right now, the knights are all dead, and war is approaching. Therefore, to protect Francia, we are nurturing elite soldiers who might become another privileged class to replace the fallen knights.
To prevent war from breaking out before we're ready, we're restoring the monarchy in Francia.
Certainly, it could seem like I'm gradually pushing through measures I need, under the pretext of necessity.
"You found Her Highness the Princess during the civil war and became her supporter. This is frustrating for those of us who are so concerned, but..."
Talleyrand stroked his chin and spoke.
"You joined the revolutionary government, even giving up your noble territory. You didn't support Valliant's coup, becoming a guardian of the revolution instead. Furthermore, you made the princess a saint. And now, you want to enthrone her as queen at the most crucial moment."
He looked directly at me and added.
"There are even those who suspect that all of this was your elaborate plan to take over Francia entirely. The process is excessively smooth, to the point of being flawless."
Talleyrand paused and smiled slightly.
"Of course, that would mean you foresaw all of this during the civil war, even before the revolution, which is absurd."
I shrugged and said.
"Well, I understand the concerns of the Revolutionary Party. But if it's a concern caused by our Grandes Écoles plan, it's somewhat excessive."
"Oh?"
"I'm a military commander. I can't exclude tactical value when considering human worth. Therefore, in my opinion, the equality that the revolution should guarantee is not equality of outcome, but equality of process."
"Process, not outcome?"
"Yes. It's true that elite soldiers are being nurtured through the Grandes Écoles program, but in the end, the selection process was applied to all soldiers. Apart from the training after selection, the qualification to be selected is provided equally."
"......Hmm."
I smiled at Talleyrand.
"Of course, those who are selected will certainly receive some preferential treatment and may become a privileged class. But is that a problem? Right now, the treatment that Deputy Talleyrand receives and the treatment that a citizen of Francia receives are different."
Talleyrand's face stiffened slightly.
Unlike Le Jidor, who completely abstained from corruption and luxury, Talleyrand, on the other hand, enjoys the pleasures that his power allows.
Le Jidor was the strange one.
"It's not just a matter of soldiers. What a farmer and a lawyer can enjoy are different, and should be different. Without that, if everyone is forced to have equality in what they enjoy, who would work hard and sweat?"
"What you're saying sounds like a denial of equality itself, Marquis."
"Even the National Assembly doesn't provide complete equality. Right now, they don't give voting rights to the poor who can't pay taxes or to women who haven't received a proper education, do they?"
"......"
"Providing an opportunity for a farmer's son to become a lawyer, creating jobs for the poor who can't pay taxes, and educating women is what we should do. That's what the Grandes Écoles was introduced for."
The Grandes Écoles is a comprehensive educational program to nurture talent that will help the nation, and the training to nurture elite soldiers who can manipulate mana is only a part of it.
"But our work ends there. Efforts for equality of process, giving equal opportunities, and pursuing equality of outcome, which is impossible in reality, are completely separate."
Right now, people like knights and mages exist, and even with the same education, some people are more talented.
Discussing the idealism that all humans are equal and should be treated equally is merely empathy and the dismissal of talented individuals.
"I believe your task is to make the revolution's cause something all of Francia can empathize with, not just the weak and poor. Don't worry about the talented becoming privileged and tarnishing the cause."
"......I don't fully agree with your argument, but it's an impressive opinion."
I chuckled, recalling Maximilien Le Jidor's words to Talleyrand's comment.
-I strongly oppose your irrational and anti-reformist opinion. However, I am merely a member of the National Assembly, and I cannot decide such matters on my own authority.
Indeed, the successor of Maximilien Le Jidor should be like that.
"Actually, your concerns are not entirely wrong. Once the royal family is restored, I intended to name the elite soldiers nurtured through the Grandes Écoles program the Queen's Guard."
Of course, the National Assembly wouldn't welcome the name, but it's a fitting reward to instill pride in elite soldiers who endure difficult training.
I smiled at Talleyrand's slightly stiffened face.
"But Her Highness the Princess refused. Do you know what she suggested we call them?"
"Hmm, I'm curious about that too."
"She suggested we call them the Revolutionary Guard."
Talleyrand smiled wryly.
"Since the Councilman has shown a bit of his true feelings, I'll also be frank. Your revolution was a mess."
Talleyrand's expression turned strange, and I gave a slightly pleasant smile.
"Nevertheless, you are quite lucky. A leader became a symbol of the revolution's spirit, inspiring even me, a noble. And a saint who loves and empathizes with the revolution most is even a member of the royal family."
They seem to be thinking of all sorts of conspiracy theories, but do they think Eris's character could be a performance for deception?
"So, as I said before, my opinion hasn't changed. However, I'm just expecting something from you."
I looked directly at Talleyrand and smiled.
"I expect you to show a proper ideal, so the army I've nurtured can dedicate themselves to the name Her Highness the Princess gives them and feel proud of their mission."