Make France Great Again-Chapter 986 - 977: Orsini’s Death

March 20, 1858.

The regicide Orsini and his two accomplices in the assassination were announced to be executed in the outskirts north of Paris.

On this day, the temperature in Paris unusually warmed up, with only a sun emitting a scorching orange-yellow glow in the sky like the sea, and clouds drifting around it.

In such pleasant weather, many residents of Paris, with their natural curiosity, spontaneously walked to the execution ground, waiting for Orsini to be shot.

When this group of citizens arrived around the execution ground, they saw a fully armed troop from afar.

Although this fully armed military was merely standing around the execution ground without moving, they still managed to cause temporary chaos among the Parisians.

In the end, with the help of this troop, the crowd watching did not allow the chaos to expand further.

The crowd that had regained order began to quietly wait while surrounding the designated viewing area, during which a few bold individuals started conversing with the soldiers at the execution ground.

After some discussions, they learned that this was a designated troop temporarily dispatched two days ago for guarding.

Besides bearing the mission of overseeing the execution, they also served the role of preventing chaos at the site.

When the Parisians asked what time the execution would begin, the soldiers shook their heads, indicating that they didn’t know the exact time of the execution.

The Parisians surrounding the execution ground could only stand waiting quietly.

An hour, two hours... Time quickly reached 11 o’clock during the long wait, and some citizens who arrived early showed impatience on their faces and turned to go home.

The remaining Parisians were mostly people with some assets and plenty of time.

They continued standing, awaiting Orsini’s execution.

At 11:30, a carriage gradually approached the execution ground from a distance.

As the carriage got closer to the crowd, the Parisians realized there were three carriages, carrying Orsini and his two accomplices.

The carriage gently stopped at the execution ground, and an energetic Orsini stepped off, smiling at the distant crowd, and then strode towards the execution ground.

Judging by his facial expression and demeanor alone, Orsini didn’t seem like a prisoner, but rather like a victor.

Subsequently, the two accomplices also got off the carriage, looking haggard and showing fear of death and longing for life in their eyes; their expressions and demeanor truly resembled those facing death.

The stark contrast between Orsini and his two accomplices inspired respect for Orsini among the Parisian spectators.

Orsini stepped into the execution ground and stood in front of the gallows, gazing with a slightly bewildered look at the gallows before him, then involuntarily shouted, "Long live the Republic!"

The nearby Republicans, hearing Orsini’s exclamation, were initially stunned, then echoed with him shouting: "Long live the Republic, death to the Empire!!"

The officer in charge of guarding the execution ground felt disturbed like swallowing a fly upon hearing the slogan, wishing he could immediately find the person shouting "Long live the Republic, death to the Empire."

Regrettably, the current situation did not allow him any action. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Otherwise, his hundred or so men couldn’t withstand the crowd of Parisians.

Luckily, after the Republicans shouted out the slogan, some began to chant, "Long live the Republic, long live the Empire!"

"Long live the Republic, long live the Empire!"

Under this group’s influence, the surrounding Parisians revived the slogan from seven years ago.

[PS: Jerome Bonaparte during his presidency of the Second Republic often used the slogans "Long live the Republic, long live the Empire" and "Long live the Republic, long live Bonaparte" for the army and Paris citizens to chant.

After the Empire was established, "Long live the Republic" was omitted, leaving only "Long live the Empire, long live Bonaparte."]

It was only then that the officer’s face eased; after all, "Long live the Republic, long live the Empire" was much better than "Long live the Republic, death to the Empire!"

The Republicans among the crowd showed a look of dissatisfaction upon hearing the Parisians’ chant.

At the moment, they couldn’t actively step up to lead the public in cheering, so they could only follow along, shouting "Long live the Republic, long live the Empire."

The chanting lasted for over 30 seconds before ceasing, and the entire execution ground fell into silence once more.

Ten more minutes passed, and another carriage arrived from a distance.

When the carriage stopped, a priest dressed in red robes holding a Bible emerged.

This priest, upon alighting, immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

The priest in the scarlet robe is none other than Archbishop Morello of Paris.

The Church Faction’s newspaper clearly stated that Archbishop Morello would never forgive someone like the regicide Orsini, so why is he at the execution ground?

Everyone is filled with doubt as, under the gaze of the Parisians, Archbishop Morello walks solemnly to where Orsini and the others stand.

Orsini also shows a look of astonishment, then softly speaks to the bishop before him, "Your Excellency, I trouble you!"

Archbishop Morello says calmly, "I am merely acting on someone’s behalf."

Next, Archbishop Morello tells all the Parisians before him that the reason he is here to listen to Orsini, the regicide’s final prayer, is not because he has forgiven Orsini.

But because His Majesty the Emperor has asked him to accompany Orsini on his final journey.

His Majesty said that he personally has forgiven Orsini for his affront.

All the Parisians present are shocked upon hearing Archbishop Morello’s words.

Who would have thought that the Emperor would forgive someone like Orsini who attempted to assassinate him?

"How magnanimous His Majesty is!" Archbishop Morello praises Emperor Jerome Bonaparte greatly, then turns his gaze sternly to Orsini, asking, "Orsini, will you confess your sins?"

Orsini lowers his head and says to Archbishop Morello, "Your Excellency, I am willing to confess!"

Before Archbishop Morello can speak another word, Orsini continues, "But I will only admit my wrongdoing to His Majesty Jerome Bonaparte himself. I will never admit that the Republicanism I believe in is a wrong idea!"

"You!" Archbishop Morello points at Orsini, intending to scold him again.

Unfortunately, the time has come to 11:50, and the officer in charge of overseeing the execution arrives beside Archbishop Morello, softly reminding him, "Your Excellency, time is running out!"

Archbishop Morello has no choice but to abandon his thought of reprimanding, regaining a solemn expression to pray for Orsini, "May the Lord..."

Upon hearing Morello’s prayer, Orsini and the two accomplices immediately understand that there are less than ten minutes left before they ascend the gallows.

Orsini faces the impending death with calmness, while the two accomplices look ashen, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

At 11:55, Archbishop Morello reopens his eyes and asks Orsini and the two accomplices, "Do you two repent for your past actions?"

"I am guilty!"

"I am guilty too!"

The two accomplices quickly respond to Morello, seeking consolation for their souls.

Orsini resolutely tells Archbishop Morello, "I regret the assassination of His Majesty Emperor Jerome Bonaparte, but I never regret using this method to achieve the unification of Italy!"

After hearing Orsini’s words, Archbishop Morello’s face becomes even more unsightly.

Orsini’s words are a blatant provocation to their church.

"It’s time to begin!" Archbishop Morello says grimly to the officer beside him.

The officer hurriedly signals the two soldiers under his command to pull Orsini to the gallows. He has seen too many who speak passionately but are scared out of their wits when they truly reach the gallows.

Two soldiers quickly arrive beside Orsini. Orsini glances at them, smiling as he says, "I’ll do it myself!"

After speaking, Orsini kneels on the gallows plank, then places his head under the guillotine frame, and calmly asks the soldiers, "Would you please help me secure it?"

The two soldiers freeze for a moment, then, urged by their officer, lower the securing plank of the gallows and place a wooden bucket beneath the slanted area of the head, waiting for the blade above to fall, at which point a head will roll into the bucket.

After completing all of this, the soldiers thoughtfully put a black blindfold on Orsini, awaiting the arrival of noon.

When the time reaches noon, the officer gives the execution order.

The soldiers beside the gallows swiftly pull down the cord holding the 32 kg sloped blade frame, letting the blade drop under the force of gravity.

In a fraction of a second, the blade touches Orsini’s nape skin, slicing open the epidermis like a skilled butcher.

Another fraction of a second passes, and the blade completely slices through the neck bone.

At this point, even the most skilled doctor is powerless.

The moment after the blade falls, a head drops into the bucket with a thud, blood trickling down the cut.

"Next!"