When Pélissier heard this, his brows immediately unfurrowed. After all, the plan sounded perfectly feasible. France had once been the beacon of democracy in Europe.
Besides, this was entirely in keeping with the French Second Republic's propaganda. He was sure the gentlemen in Paris wouldn't have much to say about it either.
Major General Conte had swaggered into Fribourg, expecting that his long-winded speech would persuade the defenders to open the gates and surrender at once.
The reality was the exact opposite of what he had imagined. Count of Chambord might not have been a great ruler, but his strong moral scruples made him far better in practice than the previous governors of Fribourg, who had done nothing but line their own pockets and abuse their power.
Count of Chambord was no fool. He had a great talent for architecture and urban planning.
What was more, the Legitimists in France were no weak force. So when word spread that Count of Chambord had become Duke of Fribourg, many loyal Legitimists and other French minorities who had failed to find success at home chose to move to Fribourg.
To them, Major General Conte's speech was nothing short of treasonous. Still, these French nobles showed some restraint, limiting themselves to a few vulgar insults.
As a supporter of the French Second Republic, Major General Conte naturally couldn't let that slide. And so the two sides traded verbal blows without end.
The incident should have ended with Major General Conte being driven out of the fortress. But the Swiss mountain folk didn't care about any of that. They nailed him to a cross like an animal just as he was preparing to return to his lines like a hero.
This kind of violation of the customary rules of war would normally have roused