On September 17th, with only eight days left until Christmas, numerous notices were suddenly posted on the streets of Paris, which was in a stalemate, and countless paperboys were delivering paper on the street with their numbers.
The surrender order of the Provisional National Defense Government was finally announced to the people of Paris and France!
"...I declare to all France with a heavy heart that the war has scarred France and the situation is irreversible. Continuing to fight will only plunge the motherland into an irreversible situation..."
"...After the joint resolution of the Provisional Government and emergency consultations with Prussia, the National Provisional Government solemnly announced conditional surrender to Prussia in exchange for the end of the war..."
"...From the time of the signing of the draft treaty, both parties immediately ceased all military operations, and the city defense of Paris was handed over to Prussia, and Prussia must ensure the smooth flow of supplies from all over France to Paris..."
"...The resistance movements in all French provinces will cease immediately, and all military organizations will immediately lay down their weapons and stop offensive operations against the Prussian Army..."
"...Loire Corps, immediately stop fighting, stay in place, and maintain the existing military demarcation line..."
"...France will pay a war indemnity of 200 million francs to Prussia and a war indemnity of 60 million francs to the Chinese..."
The whole of Paris was dumbfounded, and the whole of France was dumbfounded. Gambida of Orleans couldn't believe his eyes when he looked at the telegram in his hand. He rubbed it again and again to confirm, and finally tore the telegram into pieces.
"It is a loss of power and humiliation of the country! A loss of power and humiliation of the country! Can you sign such an alliance under the city? It is simply a loss of power and humiliation of the country!" Gan Bi burst into tears.
When Metz surrendered, Gambetta drank an entire bottle of high-strength whiskey, locked himself in a tent and cried all night.
But after his emotions were released, Gambetta stood up like an iron man and continued to command the Southern Army to attack Prince Carl.
Although the results of the war during this period were not ideal, there were more and more regular troops in northern Prussia. These elite veterans could not be solved by a group of new recruits who had just entered the battlefield.
But after all, the Southern Army became more and more courageous as it fought. With the support of the southern provinces with endless potential, as long as there is enough time, this war will definitely be reversed.
But he didn't expect that Trochu in Paris actually surrendered. This bad news on a sunny day directly caused Gambit to collapse!
Countless commanders rushed into the headquarters. They crowded in front of the Minister of the Interior and panicked.
"Minister...the interim government has surrendered, how can we fight? Do we have to disobey orders?"
"Is the old general crazy? How can such a shameful treaty be signed? Two hundred and sixty million francs, how can it be given to the enemy for nothing!"
All these officers were so angry that some even shouted slogans to march to Paris and dissolve the provisional government! He also didn’t want to think about how you could march when Prince Carl’s legion from the north was blocking the road like a mountain!
Just when there was chaos in the headquarters, the civil servants under Gambetta spoke weakly, "Mr. Minister... we... we hope you can calm down!"
"There have been some changes in the southern province recently, and the situation is a little different... Our war preparations suddenly encountered many obstacles, and the efficiency is far less than before..."
What happened? After hearing the reports from his subordinates, Gambida's heart felt even colder than when he heard the declaration of surrender!
It turns out that those southern provinces that have not experienced the ravages of war are also the traditional areas of power of the royalists!
What are royalists? In fact, the composition of these people is very representative, mainly aristocrats, conservative capitalists, and the power of the Holy See.
And these three types of people have the highest prestige in southern France!
Anyone who has studied modern human history knows very well that the main force behind the awakening of people's ideological consciousness is, first, the intellectual class, and the second is the working class.
Farmers have always been synonymous with conservatism, which is a common phenomenon around the world.
The same is true in France. Those farmers who have been locked in the countryside all their lives basically rely on the people around them to instill their ideas and values.
In those aristocratic villas in the beautiful countryside, the great gentlemen patrolled their territories majestically, and with the church bells ringing, the devout priests led the villagers to celebrate mass.
Who are conservative capitalists? To put it bluntly, they are Chinese country squires!
These three types of people are closest to the farmers and have the most knowledge. Who else can the uneducated farmers listen to if they don't listen to them?
And these three types of people are basically natural royalists!
When the French emperor began to give remote control orders to the royalists in the country in Kassel, these people began to control the behavior of the peasants in various names.
This is the end of the 19th century, not the middle of the 20th century. The working class is still much weaker at this moment. The economic foundation of southern France is actually supported by farmers and conservative capitalists.
Once these people begin to act against the enemy, the efficiency of the South's war preparations will obviously lag behind.
Various localities began to cry for poverty, farmers refused to pay overdue taxes, and local dignitaries even asked the provisional government to immediately pay the farmers' arrears...
The old IOUs signed with the patriotic flag are no longer easy to use. More and more farmers are asking for cash transactions!
Even in their daily work, local provincial officials were often pointed at by farmers and scolded, "Why haven't the Prussians been driven out despite the war going on for so long?"
"If your provisional government can't do its job well, then please ask His Majesty to come back and continue to do it! If you don't go to the Bonaparte family for the war, who else can you go to?"
Take a look! Farmers are so short-sighted, and they are so easily taken advantage of by people with ulterior motives!
Gambetta sat down on the chair. All the things were connected together. He suddenly understood and realized that everything had been arranged long ago.
Behind the scenes of the entire Franco-Prussian War, there was an extremely cruel hand that was constantly manipulating France's internal conflicts!
"What a terrible enemy! Taking advantage of the enemy's contradictions to attack the enemy, and doing everything possible to divide France...Who is this person? Bismarck or Xiao Letian?"
"Damn it!"
Gambida stood up and said loudly, "My comrades, the situation is unclear at the moment. We cannot act rashly... From now on, stop attacking and seize the time to train the soldiers..."
"All localities continue to expand their armies and continue to organize supplies..."
"However, I have to say something. In order to protest against the chaos of the interim government, I have decided to resign! I will not be the Minister of the Interior, and I will not want any position in the interim government!"
"Immediately send a telegram to all of France. I do not agree with the ceasefire agreement of the provisional government. I, Gambit, will resign!"
The surrounding officers also understood, and they raised their chests high and said, "Minister, please rest assured, after you resign, our Loire Corps will always obey your orders!"
"This provisional government is weak! We will use our cannons to help you prepare a new government!"
"The Loire Corps will always be your strong backing!"
At this moment, Gambetta realized what a wonderful thing it was to master the army!
No matter what, the army is always purer and simpler than the local area! If you create this army with your own hands, he will be like your child and will never leave you for life!
The army admires good men, not the appointment document!
"What a great hero in the world! Who can accomplish anything with his army? Man, be in charge of the army!"
