Although the French in Paris were busy with civil strife, their external enemies were not idle.
The Holy Roman Emperor Franz II was fuming at his Minister of War over the inability to defeat France.
Franz: "I am the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, can I really not muster an army of three hundred thousand?"
Imperial Chancellor Wilhelm took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat: "Your Majesty, this time the French have not returned our captured soldiers as before. According to our information, they are using these prisoners to build fortresses.
"So... it would be difficult to rapidly restore the strength of our troops... it's not that we aren't making an effort, but that the French are too cunning!"
The Minister of War nodded in agreement: "Right, right, the French are cunning, just cunning!"
Franz: "How can they hold our people? This is not in accordance with the rules of war in Europe!"
