France is now on the verge of hysterical collapse. The situation in Paris is gradually getting out of control. People gather illegally every night, and there are burning fires as far as the eye can see.
All the police, plainclothes, and even soldiers had their hearts in their throats, and the hateful looks around them made them worried.
Countless rumors spread back and forth in the streets and alleys, and these rumors only revolved around one thing, and that was that illusory naval battle!
Was the Great Battle of East Frisia real? Why are there always people whispering quietly in the streets? Is it true that the French combined fleet suffered a disaster as the rumors said?
No, no, no, this is absolutely impossible. This must be a rumor spread by enemy spies. This is just to disrupt the morale of the army!
There was no need for the official to refute the rumors. Countless people began to spontaneously refute these rumors. This is really a very strange thing. According to usual habits, these people who hate the emperor will spare no effort to throw dirty water on the government whenever they have the opportunity. publicity.
But today when such a big rumor spreads in the city, the people at the bottom of the society actually don’t believe it at first and even take the initiative to refute the rumor!
Could it be that the public sentiment has really reversed? The answer is of course no. Queen Eugenie in the Tuileries Palace was very frightened. The ghost of the Revolution she had seen began to wander in the streets.
"These untouchables are about to collapse. They just want to maintain their last bit of dignity!"
"The Combined Fleet carries the last glimmer of hope for victory for all the people. People's emotions are on the navy, because everyone knows that the Prussian navy is simply a piece of rubbish!"
"The desperate people need the drug of victory to stimulate them. They have been waiting for this shot of morphine for a long time!"
"What's the result? This damn idiot Hof actually failed! The people are completely desperate. This is the last fantasy of a dying man!"
"They are denying reality and they are mentally anesthetizing themselves. This is our last chance!"
Queen Eugenie looked pale at the bonfires in the distance outside the window. She knew very well that in every bonfire there was a group of untouchables who were about to riot and were gathering strength.
Montauban stood behind the queen, with beads of sweat on his forehead. "What should we do? The police and plainclothes have arrested hundreds of gangsters who spread rumors, but they can't catch them at all..."
"Catch them even if you can't!" the queen shouted hysterically, "Fill all the prisons! When the prisons are full, shoot them all!"
"In particular, remember that no newspaper can publish this rumor, and these untouchables must not be allowed to read the news of the naval battle from the newspapers!"
"Telegram everything that happened here to His Majesty and tell him that only an exciting victory can save the situation now!"
"We can't hold it any longer!"
"Yes, Her Majesty the Queen, I will do it right away!" The murderous Montauban walked out of the Tuileries Palace, and soon the entire city's military and police were mobilized.
There is no other way to deal with the Queen. The people are now anesthetizing themselves. It is because of their pride in France that they are unwilling to accept the reality.
That's right. Which of the patriotic people is willing to accept the tragic ending of the army and navy being completely destroyed? They are like ostriches with their heads hidden in the sand. They can hide for a while!
But escaping is useless. One day reality will shatter their dreams, and the key to all this lies in the newspapers!
Newspapers are the most important and authoritative way for people to obtain information at this moment. Newspapers have established credibility in the hearts of the people.
At this time, as long as a newspaper company prints the outcome of the naval battle in black and white in any newspaper, the bubble of people's self-illusion will be burst!
The ruling class has gone completely crazy. They are fighting for every minute and every second. In order to survive, they are not willing to kill people.
The military police came out in force, led by plainclothes officers, and rushed into the places where socialists gathered, and began a massive search in the name of capturing Prussian spies.
There was a loud bang, and the door of the tavern was knocked open. Military police with loaded guns rushed in, and smashed open the doors of private rooms amidst the angry curses of countless workers.
"What are you doing? Why are you trying so hard to arrest people..."
"Everyone be quiet! We are here to catch Prussian spies! These damn guys spread rumors about the failure of the naval battle every day, and you have all been deceived!"
"Catch him, catch the runaway..."
During the confrontation between the two sides, a worker suddenly picked up a stool and smashed the back window, then jumped out and fled. Unexpectedly, plainclothes men were also ambushing the workers in the back alley.
A group of people rushed up and beat him up!
"Comrades... rise up and resist... The French Emperor is going to suppress you... Believe me, the naval battle has really failed!" The desperate worker's face was pressed on the muddy stone road, but he was still shouting desperately.
The military policeman leading the team looked at the people in the tavern with a ferocious look and roared, "Did you all hear that? This bastard spy actually said that our navy has failed?"
"Everyone in the world knows that Prussia has no navy at all! They only have a few broken fishing boats converted into gunboats! How can they win! Anyone who spreads these rumors is a spy!"
"Take it away! If anyone spreads it privately, arrest them all!"
Sometimes the closer to the end of a dynasty's collapse, the more arrogant the rulers become. Perhaps this is a return to glory!
Under the threat of rifles and bayonets, countless 'spies' were imprisoned. All the prisons in the suburbs of Paris were overcrowded!
In the dirty underground cell, a table was set up in the blood-stained interrogation room. A so-called judge with a sinister face sat behind the table, judging the criminals who walked in one by one.
"May I have your name?"
"Mr. René..."
"Why were you arrested?"
"I didn't do anything, sir, I was just watching the fun!"
"You are just a bullshit watcher, with a sharp mouth and a monkey's cheek. You are not a good person at first glance... The court has pronounced that Rene will be sentenced to death and will be executed immediately!"
Two military policemen rushed forward and dragged the young man out like a dead dog.
"It's unjust, I'm unjust! I really just watched the excitement... It was really just..."
Bang... there was a muffled sound, the bullet penetrated René's head, and the cries of injustice stopped immediately!
"Bah...next one!"
Another criminal was pushed out.
"What's your name? Well... forget it, I don't care what your name is, just because of the clothes you're wearing, you should be put to death, pushed out and shot!"
"Oh God! You kill innocent people indiscriminately! Damn bastard, why do you kill me..." The roaring middle-aged man rushed forward and was about to take action, but the policeman next to him hit him on the back of the head.
The judge smiled grimly, "Why? Just because you are wearing the greasy uniform of a steel factory worker, you are a born rebel! Push him out and shoot him!"
With a crash, the judge threw all the files on the table to the ground. "There is no need for written records for the later ones! Push them out three in a row!"
That night, countless innocent people were illegally tried. They were brutally shot without even leaving their names, and batches of criminals were imprisoned in the vacated prisons.
