While Napoleon was waging his battles in Italy, significant changes were unfolding in Paris. The first-ever parliamentary elections under the rule of the Thermidorians had concluded. Despite a historically low voter turnout, the royalists had managed to secure more than half the seats in Paris.
The Thermidorian government promptly declared the elections invalid, citing various irregularities that had compromised their fairness. They scheduled a new round of elections to take place in ten days.
During those ten days, the Thermidorians went all out in their efforts to persuade the common people, warning them of the consequences they would face if the royalists came to power. They hoped that these threats would motivate the citizens to vote for them.
However, when the second round of elections took place, the people of Paris remained apathetic. Voter turnout was even lower than before, yet the royalists once again emerged victorious, claiming the majority of seats in Paris. The situation in the provinces couldn't be tallied in time, but it was widely assumed that it didn't favor the Thermidorians either.
Acknowledging these results would only be a matter of time before the Thermidorians faced retribution. Therefore, they promptly declared the second election invalid as well.
But what constituted a valid election? The Thermidorians, who still controlled the National Convention, passed a law stipulating that, in the next parliament, they must hold a two-thirds majority.
This decision stirred up a commotion in Paris. The royalists, who had gathered strength, were now openly declaring, "If we can't ascend through legal means, we'll resort to revolution!" They began preparing for a semi-public uprising, and the Thermidorians found themselves with few options.
To eliminate the influence of the Jacobins, the Thermidorians reorganized the Parisian National Guard. Those who leaned towards the lower classes were purged from the National Guard and replaced with more "respectable" individuals. The overall number of the National Guard was significantly reduced, and the guard in the poorer districts was disbanded entirely. Additionally, the National Guard's funding was no longer a government responsibility, meaning only property owners could join.
While this measure helped eliminate the risk of a Jacobin-led uprising, it also meant that the main armed force in Paris, the National Guard, fell into the hands of those less loyal to the revolutionary cause. With most of the National Guard now leaning towards the royalists, the situation was dire for the Thermidorians. It seemed that if the royalists initiated a rebellion, the Thermidorians would be in grave danger.
Some Thermidorians had already started preparing for exile. Crucial positions, such as the command of the Paris garrison, were left unoccupied because no one was willing to take them.
In this environment, one night, a visitor quietly made their way to the residence of Paul Barras, a prominent Thermidorian figure.
Barras was already in bed, but due to the visitor's urgent insistence, he reluctantly got up to meet them.
"Mr. Fouché, why have you come to me at this hour?" Barras asked, furrowing his brows upon seeing the visitor. It wasn't that he disliked Fouché, but recently, Fouché had been a bearer of only bad news.
"Your Excellency," Fouché said with a smile, "I'm amazed you can sleep at such a time."
"What's the matter?"
"One of your servants took money from someone else and betrayed you," Fouché stated. "He has sold information about your daily activities and other arrangements to Viscount Thierry. You are, of course, well aware of who Viscount Thierry is."
Barras' expression darkened immediately. He had arranged various plans for exile, and did this mean...
"Who is it? What did he tell them?" Barras demanded to know.
Fouché slowly reached into his pocket, retrieved an envelope, and handed it to Barras.
Taking the envelope, Barras removed the letter inside. He put on his glasses and, by the candlelight, started reading the letter with hands that trembled ever so slightly.
"So, it was him... this ungrateful serpent... I must have been blind..."
"Barras, now is not the time to curse," Fouché said. "The revolt is imminent, and we don't have much time. Moreover, devising a new escape plan isn't a viable solution. Forgive my bluntness, but in the current situation, those around you aren't very reliable. Don't think that just because I've found one traitor, there's only one around you. The situation is clear, and for the sake of your life and wealth, some will be willing to switch sides."
At this point, Barras had regained his composure. He nodded and said, "Thank you, Joseph. Since you've come to me at this time, I assume you're not here to tell me my fate is sealed. What do you suggest?"
"To deal with a rebellion, there's only one effective method: crushing it with force," Fouché said. "The current Paris garrison commander has no one willing to take the position except the royalists. If you take this position, you can legally mobilize the troops to suppress the rebellion."
"But most of the National Guard now leans towards them."
"You're mistaken. Most of the National Guard merely leans toward what they perceive as the stronger side. Moreover, near Paris, the National Guard is not the only military force."
"You mean the army... but there aren't many troops near Paris, and mobilizing them will only trigger the royalists prematurely."
"No additional mobilization is required; there is already a military force in Paris – the Red Army," Fouché reminded.
"The Red Army? Are there enough of them?"
Barras, not well-versed in military matters, took a moment to recall that there was a force known as the "Red Army," officially named the "Educational Troops." However...
"But, aren't there only a few of them?"
During the Jacobin era, the Red Army had at one point expanded to over a thousand soldiers, but as the Thermidorians came to power, the military budget was significantly reduced, and the Red Army's numbers were cut back to around five hundred. This was an achievement of Carnot's.
"But the Red Army has five hundred seasoned warriors," Fouché said.
"But their side has thousands!"
"They are a disorganized mob," Fouché scoffed. "In recent years, warfare has evolved significantly, and old tactics are no longer effective. Faced with the most advanced Red Army in the world, those mobs, no matter how numerous, won't stand a chance. Furthermore, most of the National Guard currently leaning towards the royalists are doing so because they believe the royalists are already victorious. A resounding blow will make most of those who leaned towards the royalists hesitate, and the neutrals will shift to our side."
Fouché's words gave Barras much encouragement, and he said, "If that's possible, it would be great. But can the Red Army be controlled by us?"
"You are the Paris garrison commander; if you make the request, as long as the Ministry of War doesn't object... Besides, truth be told, the army doesn't have a good impression of you. You'd better find someone they trust to serve as your liaison. They might trust them, but make no mistake, they won't follow orders if it doesn't suit them."
Barras nodded in agreement. "And you've already arranged for someone, haven't you?"
"I came here straight from their camp, and their representatives will arrive soon."
That night, Barras assumed the role of Paris garrison commander and got to work, preparing for the imminent showdown with the royalists.