Flowers, Swords and France

"Everyone! Come on, have another drink!"

Lieutenant Tulay raised his glass again.

"cheers!"

The others responded to his call, also raised their glasses, and everyone drank.

They had been drinking for a long time, and the table was a mess, with some wine bottles lying on it. People wearing different uniforms and sitting around the round table were all blushing. Some laughed loudly, while others continued silently. Pour yourself some wine and look like you're having a good party.

Lucien, like the others, was drinking and chatting quietly with the people next to him.

On this day, Lucien and the members of the small group of officers he belonged to gathered together again, gathering around their old gathering place - the home of Lieutenant Tulay - and started drinking.

To be fair, at first he only interacted with these people for perfunctory reasons, but as time went by, he felt more and more that he and these people had the same mind, what they thought and expected were almost exactly the same, and everyone here had the same personality. He is very upright and loyal, so he becomes more integrated with other people.

Others probably have this idea, so they get together to drink every other day. Today's party is just their latest one.

As usual, these young officers who trusted each other would open up their mouths as soon as they drank enough wine, mocking their stupid bosses, incompetent political axes, and the French Supreme Being.

These officers come from all over France, so when they chat, they can't help but talk about their hometowns. As they talk, they can't help but talk about the chaos and famine in various places. Until the end, everyone can only He sighed, then drank with a wry smile.

They are not from high backgrounds, so they are very sympathetic to the sufferings of the people. Some people even have their families in financial difficulties now, and when they speak out, others feel the same way. The grievances of the soldiers under their command had already reached their ears without reservation and stayed in their hearts.

The economic dilemma, the difficulty of promotion, and the troubles that could only be suppressed were completely evaporated under the influence of alcohol, making them more and more excited as they talked, and some even burst into tears in the end.

"I'm afraid this dynasty is about to end!" An officer cried a few times and then suddenly growled, "It won't last long, just wait and see!"

His words seemed to open the door. For a moment, everyone was moved, as if he shouted out the words hidden in their hearts. No one refuted him, not even hesitant.

"That's a good thing. I dare say I'll treat the whole group to this." After just a moment of silence, an officer next to him sneered and whistled, "Just remember this sentence. Talk!”

The officers whose brains were numbed by alcohol were making noises, but no one realized the danger - or in other words, no one paid attention to the danger.

"Even if this dynasty is over, so what? Those who just want to kneel down and present France to the Tsar to flatter themselves will still stay on the stage and enjoy their glory and wealth." After heckled for a while, an officer said Suddenly he sighed.

"What do we have left now? What do we have left in France now?" Lieutenant Toulai couldn't help but sigh softly, "We have nothing left, we can only quietly watch our motherland fall into such a situation..."

"Our motherland still has honor and dignity. Although it has been destroyed, we can still hold on to it."

"Come on, how many people are left who were willing to risk their lives for the country? Honor? Glory? Dignity? How many French people still pay attention to these now? The French mock everything and abandon everything. The glory of our ancestors, this generation There are very few people left, and there will be even fewer people in the next generation, and one day they will disappear completely!" A young officer said fiercely! He mocked, with a wry smile on his face, and his tone was full of resentment towards the current situation, "I'm waiting! Our damn country is in such a state of confusion that no one cares about her anymore. In my opinion, there will always be something wrong if this continues One day we, the ridiculous French, will welcome the Russian Tsar to the throne, just as we cheered Louis-Philippe to the throne."

"Even the Russian Tsar is better than the current one," an officer added. "At least the Russian Tsar will not let his country be afraid of anyone."

"It's the same no matter what, they are all stupid asses." Lieutenant Tulay muttered in a low voice, and then drank a sip of wine for himself, "Don't mention this, it makes people feel uncomfortable."

Europeans of this era talked about the Russian Tsar just like the Greeks talked about the three-headed dog guarding the gate of hell. They felt it was both disgusting and abominable, and they felt it was terrifying. Everyone was afraid of his Cossacks and rolling dogs. army, and hated the lawless conspiracies he often played secretly - although many times, the so-called "Russian conspiracy" was actually just a figment of people's imagination to scare themselves.

This kind of heartfelt disgust does not entirely originate from Russia's political system, nor does it originate from Russia's unfamiliar culture, it only originates from Russia's strength. It is too big. As long as Russia is still unified and is big and strong, it will inevitably encounter the disgust of Europeans no matter what. Only when it hits the bottom and can never get over can it get what it wants. "friendly".

However, few people would express this hatred openly. Europeans would only continue to laugh at Russia's inferior culture, tyranny, and lack of freedom, as if they really cared about how Russians lived.

Some Russians have always had a naive idea that as long as their motherland becomes more like a European country, it will be recognized by Europe and accepted into the European family. They have tried this several times, but unfortunately the results are always poor.

However, no matter what, Tsarist Russia today is indeed a notorious and barbaric country. It openly practices serfdom, the politics are dark and corrupt, and a small group of nobles monopolize the high positions of the government. They are indifferent to the suffering of the people and are obsessed with spending money on wine and women. The government's rule is inefficient and brutal, and it is extremely unpopular, which makes people feel very disgusted when it is mentioned.

With Lieutenant Tulai's words, the expressions of the people at the table gradually changed from excitement to disappointment. Everyone's expression was bleak and silent. Some people continued to pour themselves wine quietly, with great depression between their brows.

"You're right, my friend." An officer raised his glass to Lieutenant Tulait, "We can't do anything but sit here and drink. Come on, let's have another drink."

"Come on!" The lieutenant raised his glass again. "Another drink for drinking!"

Most people also raised their glasses and had another drink for themselves.

The previous relaxation was swept away, and the atmosphere was very depressing and heavy.

There was no way out, no goal, and the original object of loyalty was not recognized by himself at all, so he was willing to sit and watch it perish. This great depression was unbearable, but he had to endure it, so he had to drink to relieve his sorrow.

Lucien's mood also fell to the bottom with the words of these friends.

He wanted to say something, but as soon as these words slipped to his lips, he hesitated again.

Is it really okay for me to treat my friends like this?

He remembered his wife's repeated instructions to him and his good friend Charles' instructions. In the end, he made up his mind.

I am not deceiving them. I am only helping them. I will not harm them.

"We are not helpless and can only watch." He finally spoke, with a nervous look, but his words were still clear enough for everyone to hear.

The original text is available at 6 # 9 @Books/Bar!

Many doubtful eyes instantly converged on Lucien, making the young man even more nervous.

"What's wrong?"

"I have a friend who is a Bonapartist," Lucien finally said after hesitating for a moment, "a good friend of mine."

The eyes that converged on him instantly became a little nervous, and even a little horrified.

What is there to be afraid of now? Lucien regained his past courage.

"He is a supporter of the Bonaparte family. He thinks that the Bonaparte family can restore the lost glory of France, just like the deceased emperor..." He said it slowly.

Waves of exclamations instantly enveloped the entire room, and then there were whispers.

"The Bonaparte family?"

"How could it be..."

"But..."

Everyone was whispering to each other, and the room was in chaos for a while.

However, the host, Lieutenant Tule, lowered his head and remained silent.

After a few minutes, he raised his head again and said in a low voice, "Leflair is right. Since we have decided not to serve this dynasty, shouldn't we find someone who can give us honor to serve?"

Then he looked at the others.

"If you disagree with Lucien's words, you can say it, I won't say anything more. But if any of you dare to betray your brother and report it, don't blame me for being merciless! I will find you even if you run to the ends of the earth. If you don't believe me, just try it! Don't forget the case of the four sergeants!"

[During the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, there were always people in the army who were dissatisfied with the Bourbon dynasty. In 1822, four sergeants (Boly, Guban, Pommier and Raoux) of the La Rochelle barracks in Charente-Maritime were arrested for participating in a treason case, and were finally taken to Paris and executed together in Paris on September 20 of that year. This was the sensational "Four Sergeants" case at the time. After this case, the Bourbon dynasty's surveillance of the army and the suppression of dissidents in the army became more severe. In 1825, the informant of the Four Sergeants case was murdered after going out, and the murderer has never been caught. 】

Under the lieutenant's sharp eyes, the others bowed their heads.

"Come on, Tulai, do you need me to tell you? Who among us would do such a thing?" Someone said this. (To be continued)