La San-Felice, Tome 07, Emma Lyonna, tome 3

In the turbulent aftermath of the French Revolution, General Championnet finds himself commanding the French army in a weary Rome. The ancient capital, drained by endless levies and the greed of officials appointed by the Directoire, struggles to feed its troops and maintain any semblance of order. Witnessing the stark contrast between lavish courtiers and starving soldiers, the general feels a fierce urge to restore dignity to the besieged republic.

Championnet’s response is bold: he pens a fiery letter to the Directoire denouncing the “harpies” that siphon off resources, vowing to eradicate the corruption that starves his men. When the civil commissioner Faypoult arrives—his father‑in‑law now a tax collector—Championnet meets him with a cold warning that the promised contributions will be relinquished. Their uneasy exchange hints at a clash between military authority and the entrenched fiscal interests of the new regime, setting the stage for a struggle that could reshape power in the city.