After discussing official matters, Anning chatted with the future Jacobin giants about coal-burning warships and vehicles.
Everyone, led by Anning, excitedly chatted about the future for a while before the topic naturally shifted to war.
"I heard the situation at the front is very bad," said a gentleman, whose face reminded one of the V for Vendetta, worriedly, "It's terribly bad. We spent so much money to wage war, yet it ended so tragically. It was supposed to be us, together with the Holy Roman and Russia, flanking Frederick. How did it end up like this?"
Mirabeau whispered in Anning's ear: "This is Camille De Mulan, a journalist and a good friend of Dan Dong."
Upon hearing Mirabeau's words, Dan Dong suddenly turned his gaze to Anning: "Hey, friends, isn't there someone here just back from the battlefield? Why not ask him about the situation?"
Everyone turned to look at Anning.
Robespierre: "You just came back from the battlefield?"
Dan Dong: "You should have seen yesterday's special edition, Frost is a war hero."
Anning waved his hands: "What war hero? I'm a military musician. I saved Christina, the daughter of Duke of Orleans, during the retreat."
Robespierre looked confused: "Why was the daughter of the Duke of Orleans in the army?"
Camille De Mulan immediately answered: "Perhaps she was serving as a female canteen worker in the scattered soldier units? To maintain morale, these units often have canteen workers who take frontline positions, carrying liquor flasks to boost the courage of those who falter."
The cohesion of the units in this era was not strong. The reason units had to form close dense formations and fire in line was mainly to prevent disarray. Once the formation dispersed, privates with low combat motivation would quickly break down.
As for scattered soldiers, they operate in loose formations and are generally composed of bandits and criminals, alongside female canteen workers boosting morale and combat desire.
Female canteen workers are usually young and beautiful women. They carry liquor flasks and fight alongside scattered soldier units, moving through storms of bullets.
Anning first learned about this from Hugo's famous work "Ninety-Three."
He had thought it was a unique system of the National Guard of Revolutionary France, but Camille De Mulan's words clarified that such arrangements had long existed.
After Camille De Mulan finished speaking, Marat immediately retorted: "How could the Duke let his daughter serve as a canteen worker? Those people are somewhat like military prostitutes, mainly there to motivate the ruffians and bandits that make up the scattered soldier units. Respectable people would never join such units, let alone a Duke's daughter."
Anning: "Actually, the Duke's daughter disguised herself as a male and charged with the line infantry."
Dan Dong: "And you saved her, with what, your drumstick?"
Anning: "Actually, I was stunned by a cannon. By the time I woke up, the drum was broken, and I didn't know where the drumstick was. The whole battlefield was shrouded in darkness, and the Germans—I mean, the Prussians were cleaning up the battlefield in the distance.
"At that moment, the Captain, pretending to be the Duke's daughter, tugged on my leg and asked me to take her away. I told her off, saying 'can't you see I'm injured?'"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Robespierre, not joining the laughter, asked Anning seriously, "I don't understand, why did the Duke's daughter disguise herself as a man and go to war? She's not that Miss Oscar."
Anning shrugged: "I heard she did it to avoid a marriage arranged by the Duke. She wanted to enroll in the Briena military academy."
Dan Dong: "Did she want to be the modern Joan of Arc? But it's quite ironic, she's indeed the Duke of Orleans' daughter, corresponding to the maiden of Orleans. But this Miss Joan, she didn't lead us to victory."
Camille looking at Anning: "How exactly did we get defeated? Was it a tactical error? Were we surrounded?"
Anning shook his head: "No, at least I didn't see any encirclement. We were just facing the Prussians directly on the plains, and then the Prussians broke us down."
"Damn, why?" Marat slammed the table, "How are we French inferior to the Prussians?"
Everyone fell silent.
Seeing the situation, Anning spoke up: "Personally, I think it's related to Frederick's reforms. The Prussian soldiers are former serfs liberated by the Emperor, artisans and small producers from the cities.
"They believe the Emperor is Prussia's first servant and that they are equal before the law just like the officers. They believe they are fighting to protect their Emperor, their good lives.
"Our soldiers are different; they don't want to fight this war at all. They are mere cattle driven to the battlefield by the noble lords, and as soon as the nearby nobles fall, they retreat."
As Anning finished speaking, the gentlemen exchanged glances.
Dan Dong summed up Anning's words: "Do you mean that the enlightened political system has caused a difference in the desire to fight between the soldiers of both sides?"
Anning: "That's exactly what I mean."
Dan Dong, with a thoughtful expression, said: "That's very insightful. I have never thought about it from this perspective."
Anning continued: "You see, after experiencing combat firsthand, I realized that Scattered Soldier Tactics are actually the most appropriate tactics. However, people still stand in dense formations and shoot at each other, mainly because once the line infantry dissolves their formation, they immediately lose morale and cohesion.
"But our army has only a small number of scattered soldiers, because we can't find enough prisoners and rogues willing to enter the battlefield, but Prussia can use a large number of scattered troops because they have high enough morale and cohesion to not turn tail and run once their formation is dissolved.
"So, we didn't lose to the Prussians; in terms of social systems, we lost to Prussia which had undergone a series of enlightened reforms.
"To change this situation, it's not enough to just reorganize the army; deeper changes are necessary."
Afterward, the army of Revolutionary France was effective not only because of high morale but also because citizens awakened to national consciousness could extensively use scattered soldier tactics.
Sometimes, a French infantry battalion could split half of its forces into scattered troops, a ratio even higher than that in the tradition-using Austria.
As a military enthusiast from the era of firing squads, Anning spoke eloquently in front of many people.
The audience listened intently to Anning's words, nodding repeatedly.
After Anning finished speaking, Robespierre suddenly said: "From what you said, if we were really to establish a society based on the social contract and equality for all as Rousseau suggested, would our military's combat effectiveness greatly increase?"
Anning nodded: "Yes, I think so."
Dan Dong exclaimed: "That's very insightful! Are you really just a leatherworker's son? Could it be that the rumor is true? Are you actually the offspring of a hidden noble?"
Anning retorted: "Why can't a leatherworker's son make insightful remarks? Everyone is born equal; a leatherworker's son can win a duel and speak eloquently too, birth doesn't determine everything."
As he finished speaking, the several people surrounding him looked at each other then, led by Robespierre, began to applaud: "Well said! I am also a commoner, and I support your viewpoint!"
Marat: "At times like this, we should have a toast, and then all cheer together for the commoners!"
The audience shouted in a ragged chorus: "Long live!"
People chatting nearby all turned to look.
Dan Dong patted Anning on the shoulder: "I'm glad to have met someone as interesting as you today. This trip to the club was worth it, even though I'm not from Brittany."
Anning nodded: "I'm also glad to have met you all."
—Of course he was pleased; once the great revolution broke out, he was counting on hugging these bigwigs' legs.
Dan Dong: "I need to continue studying for my law degree in Paris, I hope to see you here often in the future."
A notification popped up in Anning's system: [Georges Jacques Danton's favorability towards you has increased to friendly.]
Looking at Dan Dong, Anning showed a regretful expression: "Unfortunately, I'm going to Briena to attend military school soon."
Dan Dong, surprised, asked: "Why? Didn't you say that improving the French Army's combat capability should start with social revolution? You should attend the University of Paris, then we can change this society together."
Anning thought to himself that it was because Briena Military School had a character named Bonaparte waiting for him to cling to.
Of course, Dan Dong and Robespierre and the like were also significant figures, but their relevance had an expiration date — the downfall of the Jacobin would mean he couldn't cling to them anymore.
One should say, when the Reign of Terror began to expand, clinging to that figure would be risky. The early to mid-period was still good, but later on, it'd be better to rely on Napoleon.
But Anning couldn't say this outright, so he could only respond: "I've discovered that I seem to have a slight talent for adapting to the battlefield."
Marat said: "Being a soldier can also be a way to participate in social change. Look at me, a doctor, yet still here discussing broadly with you all."
Dan Dong conceded: "That's true. I just feel it's a pity that we won't be able to hear your insights often in the future. And with your knowledge, being a mere military officer seems a bit wasteful."
Mirabeau interjected: "The Duke has already promised, after sponsoring Frost to complete his studies at Briena, he will continue to support him at Paris Military Academy. He won't just be any officer; after graduating from the Paris Military Academy, he will be a distinguished officer worthy of wearing a half-sphere heart protector."
Robespierre, looking at Anning, remarked: "For a commoner to enter the Paris Military Academy requires courage. That place is filled with noxious nobles' offspring, they surely won't let you off easily."