18th century total war

Chapter 196 The Revolutionary Spirit
The Revolutionary Army for National Salvation has a much more relaxed atmosphere than the old army of the Kingdom of France, especially during non-wartimes. Even this ordinary private named Daniel clearly stated that he did not understand the 'liberty, equality, and fraternity' that has been preached since the French Revolution. Slogans will not be punished in any way.

Even many soldiers with the same background as Daniel turned around and looked at their own officer curiously, waiting for his explanation.

Obviously, for these peasant soldiers from the countryside, the deep meaning contained in the words freedom, equality and fraternity is indeed a bit profound.

It's not that they don't understand the literal meaning, but that they don't understand why the revolution should shout such slogans.

The incomprehension of illiterate farmers in this era is naturally as stupid as an idiot in the harmonious society of the 21st century that has realized compulsory education for all.

But in the 18th century, not to mention rural women, even the lower class citizens of many big cities had a half-knowledge of freedom, equality and fraternity.

Of course, revolutionary cities like Paris and Marseille are exceptions, because there are too many "revolutionary clubs" in these cities, as well as middle-class and civilian intellectuals who are interested in revolution, and these people will take the initiative to use a more down-to-earth approach , Let those illiterate citizens understand the true meaning of revolution.

When Daniel heard the officer ask himself why he joined the army, he murmured without hesitation: "The Jacobin revolutionary government sent people to our village and distributed all the land that the noble lords owned to us serfs, and told us these things. From now on, serfs can go wherever they want, and there will be no noble thugs guarding us with whips anymore!
From that day on, my father told me and my brothers and sisters that the Jacobin Revolutionary Government is our benefactor, and the Jacobin officials in Paris let us join the army to fight in order to protect the land allocated to my family. So I joined the army.

But after I joined the army, I couldn't understand the revolutionary righteousness that those preachers often said.

Is freedom, equality and fraternity really important?
More important than land?

Although I have no education, I know that if there is no land, there will be no food, and if there is no food, you will be hungry, and if you are hungry, you will die very painfully!
Originally, the grain grown by us serfs had to be turned over, otherwise the stewards and thugs of the noble gentlemen would starve us, even whip us, and would not even let us leave our village. If we became runaway slaves, we would be hanged. die!
After the Jacobin officials sent people to our village, everything changed. Naturally, I wanted to join the army to help the Jacobin officials fight the war!
And I heard that the army led by that traitorous nobleman Li Wei just wanted to take back our land and return it to those noble masters who were driven away. I can't agree to this even if I die!
There are several brothers and sisters in my family who need that piece of land to live! "

After Daniel finished speaking, there was a lot of echoes. Except for the officers, the soldiers of the Revolutionary Army for National Salvation Army he was in were all from the countryside. Ninety-nine percent of them were from serf families!

At this time, serfs in European society were similar to tenants in the Eastern world at the same time. Even though the specific management methods were different, they were still a group of poor people who had been oppressed for a long time.

Of course, the nobles on this side of Europe regard serfs as their property, so serfs generally don’t have to worry about their own marriage issues. Serfs give birth to serfs, and for the nobles, it’s like ‘money makes money’, so they will naturally pay attention to it. .

It is also the most economical way to increase the population of serfs in the fiefdoms of nobles and lords through the serfs having more children.

Therefore, before the French Revolution, France's population growth rate has been among the highest in Europe.

Later, the industrialization of France caused a large number of liberated serfs to go to urban factories to beg for a living. Instead, they could not afford to have children. Drowning babies could be seen everywhere in the Seine River in Paris. The population growth rate in France has been declining year after year.

Of course, this is what happened in the history of the world in Li Wei's previous life. This kind of situation may not happen in this parallel world, unless Li Wei is defeated and killed!
The arrival of Li Wei has changed too many things. A French civil war has greatly extended Robespierre's political career. Jacobin's political opponents in Paris know that the French civil war has reached the most critical moment. Jacobin has a high reputation in the National Salvation Revolutionary Army, and replacing Jacobin can easily lead to a major collapse on the front line.

At that time, whoever comes on stage will have to take over the next mess!

Ironically, as Li Wei became more and more powerful, the speed of the change of the Paris government has dropped sharply. Until now, Li Wei has the strength to threaten the revolutionary government of Paris, even though many of Robespierre's actions are unpopular and the regime Still rock solid.

No matter how many good people were accidentally killed by the revolutionary court controlled by Robespierre, at least Robespierre's National Salvation Revolutionary Army had the upper hand at the critical moment of fighting against Li Wei's rebellion!
Hearing Daniel's answer, the second lieutenant from the urban slums was not surprised at all.

"Daniel, everything you said is the benefit of freedom, equality, and fraternity.

Your original status was an inferior serf, now you are not only a free citizen, even a former nobleman has no right to continue to abuse you or even beat you at will.

This is equality!
You used to be restricted by the housekeepers and thugs of the nobles, and you could only live in the village and the nearby fields all your life. Now if you want, you can visit all over France, and no matter what you want to do, no one will to block you.

Of course, the premise is that you can't hurt others, your compatriots who are also French citizens!
This is freedom!
Fraternity means that we all need to unite, help each other and love each other. Only in this way can we defeat the decadent Levy rebel forces, keep our hometown, and defend the land that your family has been allocated!
You are right, if the Li Wei rebels come over, the land allocated to us by the Jacobin revolutionary government will be taken back and handed over to those hateful nobles!
This is something we will never allow to happen, and we will protect it with our lives! "

"It turns out that everything that my family and I have achieved is the result of the concept of freedom, equality and fraternity.

This kind of world is exactly what I need. I am willing to kill all enemies for the sake of revolution, freedom, equality and fraternity! "

Daniel's epiphany immediately resonated with the other serf soldiers around him. They waved their fists and shouted excitedly in unison: "Freedom, equality, fraternity, or die!"

Thank you for being humble and unable to reward 100 starting coins.

(End of this chapter)