The rioting peasants imdiately echoed the call:
"Don't be afraid! Charge at them!"
"Fight those nobles!"
"We outnumber them! Don't be scared! Let's beat them!"
However, it was the nobles who launched the first attack.
Two gunshots rang out from the nobles' side. The noble "commander" imdiately frowned and shouted, "Who fired without orders?!"
The Dutch undercover agents, who had fired the shots, quickly hid behind others and loudly incited the group:
"We need to show these damned peasants our strength!"
"They're rioting! Let's defend the town hall with our swords!"
"For the King, brave n! Teach those peasants a lesson!"
Most of the nobles who had co were young and hot-headed. Riled up by the agents' provocations, about thirty of them began shooting as well.
The peasants initially recoiled in fear, but with the encouragent of Saint-Just and other leaders of the liberal faction, they quickly regained their composure and began to return fire.
Both sides stood on opposite ends of the street, yelling curses and firing shots at each other. For a while, the street was filled with the noise of gunfire, shouting, and smoke, spreading chaos across several blocks.
Despite the noise and fury, neither side had much combat experience, and the distance was too great for accurate shooting, so few were actually hit.
Just then, whistles echoed from the surrounding streets. Over 400 police officers, split into two groups, began to encircle both sides of the conflict.
The police in Reims had been on high alert due to recent unrest, but due to the era's limited communication, it took them over an hour to assemble enough forces to disperse the rioters.
The peasants quickly panicked. So, under the direction of Saint-Just and others, continued to "fight." Others fled through the narrow gaps between buildings, while many more just stood around in confusion, unsure of what to do.
The nobles, however, grew even more arrogant, taunting the peasants and shouting insults. So even tried to direct the police to block the fleeing peasants.
Amid the chaos, several n in gray coats and low-brimd hats erged from the shadows. They showed their credentials from the intelligence agency to the police commander and pointed towards the nobles.
The police imdiately shifted their focus and surrounded the group of over 200 nobles.
A few young nobles stepped forward, gesturing and yelling at the police—ever since the police force had been reford, with most officers now being commoners, the nobles, despite the officers' higher level of training, still looked down on them—and shouted, "What are you standing there for? The real rioters are getting away!"
"What are you doing? We're nobles, and the people you need to arrest are over there."
The lead officer glanced at them coldly and asked, "Were you the ones who fired first?"
"Yes," one curly-haired noble replied arrogantly. "Since you police can't handle these peasants, we decided to teach them a lesson!"
"Did you all participate in the fight?"
"That wasn't a fight. We were maintaining—"
Before the noble could finish his sentence, the officer signaled to the surrounding police, who imdiately moved in. "Arrest all these rioters!"
"Yes, sir!"
The nobles were thrown into chaos. So resorted to hurling insults, others tried to flaunt their prestigious identities, and most tried to argue their way out:
"What do you think you're doing? The real rioters are those peasants over there!"
"Let go! I'm here to stop the riot..."
"Get off ! I don't even have a gun!"
Within monts, the 200 or so nobles were subdued and lined up against the street wall.
As the officer walked past them, he said coldly, "Gathering in Reims and firing on citizens—no matter your status, that's rioting!"
A sergeant leaned in and whispered, "Sir, they're all nobles, and so of them are very important. Are you sure about this?"
The officer shot him a glare. "Do nobles get a free pass to riot?"
"No, sir..."
"Take them all away!"
"Yes, sir!"
The officer had a direct order from the head of the police departnt to arrest all nobles involved in the riot. And the head of the police had, in turn, been instructed by the Crown Prince himself to make these arrests as thorough as possible.
When Talleyrand had ntioned that many nobles were being incited to "protect noble interests" in the northwestern provinces, Joseph imdiately recognized the opportunity. He ordered Fouché to keep an eye on those nobles and instructed the police to arrest them if there was any evidence.
...
Zesphyr Village.
Saint-Just passionately rallied the hundreds of peasants before him, saying, "Don't fear those nobles! Most of them can't even carry their guns a mile. We nearly defeated them today.
"Although we didn't storm the town hall the other day, next ti we'll have more people, and we will succeed..."
The peasants occasionally joined in, waving their arms and shouting. Their morale was high. After participating in two riots, they had beco less afraid of the police, and as Saint-Just had said, their numbers were steadily increasing.
Next ti, there could be 2,000 people storming the town hall. At that point, why would they care about a few hundred police officers?
Those peasants who were most active in the riots and who had been at the forefront had even received stipends from the Southern Netherlands "Committee," so they were eager for the next fight.
Saint-Just continued his speech, "To avoid being drained by those nobles for another 50 years, we must unite and use..."
Just as his fervor reached its peak, the local priest, Jolly, ca running up, out of breath. He waved at the peasants and shouted, "Everyone, be careful! Don't fall into the trap of the Southern Netherlands!"
Saint-Just frowned at him and said, "You soul-seller, do you really think your petty tricks will work?"
Ten or so village constables, who had followed the priest, finally arrived at the rally. Although called constables, not all were mounted; many rural constables traveled on foot.
The leader glanced coldly at Saint-Just, jumped onto the platform where Saint-Just had been speaking, and pulled out a letter, holding it up for the peasants to see. "Take a look, everyone. This is a letter from the Southern Netherlands Parliant to your so-called Saint-Just.
"It says here that the Southern Netherlands is providing money and guns, while Saint-Just is in charge of inciting the peasants to revolt in French cities. And their excuse? The governnt will impose a high land redemption fee.
"Oh, you can see for yourselves. Here's Saint-Just's signature..."
(End of Chapter)
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