Flowers, Swords and France

Chapter 85: Conversation with the East

By late at night, most of the guests invited by Mademoiselle de Periette have dispersed. Only a few of the guests that the young lady likes will stay, and then everyone will walk to her exquisite little reception room. among. In a sense, this is when the entire salon really begins.

After the effect of the campaign was basically achieved, Louis Bonaparte left with satisfaction. He still had many important things to do and had little interest in chatting with these intellectuals. However, Charles and Victor Hugo were enthusiastically The owner stayed.

The servants served exquisite snacks, fruits and vegetables in a timely manner. After everyone had eaten and drank enough, they were all in a state of physical fatigue. And it is this kind of physical fatigue that brings mental clarity. At this time, everyone is quick-thinking and full of fun, and naturally they can get that kind of spiritual fun.

"Young man, it's time to introduce yourself properly this time." Victor Hugo looked at Charles carefully and asked with a smile, "I have been hidden from you for a long time by Mademoiselle de Perriette. Is it time to tell me the truth? "

"You can't blame me for this, sir." Miss Blue Stockings replied with a smile, "He specifically asked me to conceal his identity. I can't break my promise, right?"

"Then there's no need to hide it anymore, sir?" Victor Hugo continued to look at Charles.

Seeing that he could no longer be perfunctory, Ciel stood up and then solemnly bowed to the other party.

"Sorry, sir, I did hide something from you before, but considering my situation, of course you will understand my painstaking efforts." He paused, then lowered his voice, "My name is Charles de Te Treville. Grandson of the Marquis of Treville."

As soon as he heard what he said, Hugo was greatly moved as he expected. However, he soon regained his composure.

"I didn't expect that he was actually a member of the De-Treville family! No wonder he was so indifferent to my previous proposal! That's right, if you want to make progress, you can naturally find people who are much more powerful than me as helpers. "

Victor Hugo, who was sitting on the sofa, looked at Charles. He let out a sigh of surprise or regret. "It's just that I really didn't expect that he turned out to be a supporter of the Bonaparte family! But, that's right. The Marquis of Treville has always been a supporter of the Bonaparte family, and it is normal for him to choose to follow the political stance of his elders... Alas, it seems that I have no interest in developing in the literary world, which is a pity.”

Ciel just smiled. Then he answered very seriously. "I support Mr. Bonaparte not just because I follow my elders, but because I agree with his political ideas. I believe that under his leadership, France will surely prosper."

"I don't see that he is still so concerned about national affairs," Victor Hugo nodded, "However, judging from the ideas just mentioned by Mr. Louis Bonaparte, he is indeed more talented than I thought. Much more, so I hope his dream comes true..."

"His dream will definitely come true. In order to save the country, we must help him succeed." Charles replied in a determined tone.

However, the dream of the future His Majesty Napoleon III is certainly not what people like Hugo imagined. It was not until they were exiled by Louis Bonaparte that they woke up, but by then it was too late.

"It's just that there are many difficulties lying in front of us now..." Charles sighed softly, as if with a bit of worry, "Although we will definitely be able to overcome these difficulties, they can bring us inconveniences after all. Less trouble."

"What does it mean?" Victor Hugo asked calmly.

"You must also know, right? General Cavaignac and his allies are planning to introduce a bill recently..." Charles said, while inadvertently looking at the other party's expression, "They want to cancel the next presidential election. Popular suffrage so that he can be elected president.”

After hearing this sentence, Victor Hugo frowned.

"Have you heard about it? There is indeed such a rumor." After pondering for a moment, he nodded, indicating that he also knew the news.

Then, he looked at Charles with a firm look, "However, I am firmly opposed to this proposal. Of course, the French Republic should bid farewell to the past full of massacres and blood donations, and its head of state should also bid farewell to the past. Elected jointly by all his qualified citizens, otherwise what meaning would a republic have to us?” Guo replied with an unquestionable firmness, "I firmly oppose any move to withdraw the right of universal suffrage from the people. The extremely brutal General Cavaignac, who bloody suppressed the workers, of course he had a guilty conscience. Dare to compete fairly with others in the popular election. He wants to play tricks, but we will not let him succeed!"

After hearing Victor Hugo's firm answer, Charles and Miss de Perriette secretly exchanged glances, and the corner of the lady's mouth was slightly raised, giving a faint smile. , but quickly disappeared again.

Charles knew that Hugo would of course answer like this. At this moment, he would never have thought that the man who ascended to the presidency through the first universal election in French history would actually have the ambition to restore the monarchy by any means necessary. Home, what a travesty in history!

After receiving Hugo's guarantee, Mr. Louis Bonaparte should be relieved, Charles thought. As long as it is a universal election, then Louis Bonaparte, who has clean hands and can win the favor of all classes, is absolutely certain to defeat his opponents in the general election - admittedly, this is indeed the case in history.

After getting the desired results, Charles and others stopped talking about these political topics and started chatting all over the world again. I don't know when, the topic suddenly came to the East.

"The British made a big mistake. They chose to use guns and cannons to knock on the door of the Qing Dynasty. This will make a proud and highly civilized nation forever aggrieved," after talking for a long time. Victor Hugo sighed in a low voice, "The French should not make this mistake. We should interact with them in a peaceful and equal manner. We should help that eastern country to civilize and let them also embark on the modern path. Once they move towards the track of civilization, their thirst for industry and capital will be unique in human history, and their demand will not only benefit themselves, but will also be of great benefit to our country's industrial and commercial development. We can Benefit from their evolving needs.”

"Sir... forgive me for being rude. Although what you said makes sense, it is also very difficult." Charles retorted softly.

"Um?"

"The proposal looks beautiful, but it is difficult to get a response from the other party. I feel that vigorously developing industry and commerce is beneficial to everyone. Although this is indeed true, the rulers of that country do not think so." Charles calmly said He narrated his opinion, "Who are the rulers of that country? I must know, They are descendants of a group of conquerors whose ancestors conquered this vast land and its people two hundred years ago. Therefore, they are interested in maintaining the rule of their own minority group rather than developing national power. One's own rule will be overthrown by the majority of the ruled nation after it develops strength."

"In addition, the degree of conservatism of this ancient civilization exceeds people's imagination. Their social and cultural elites do not believe that industry is beneficial to them. They only hope that everything will remain the ancient and static agricultural society, using outdated order and To restrain your country with cumbersome etiquette, it is best not to change anything... Two thousand years ago, The moral maxims of this old man were put on the altar, but the really important things were thrown aside. It was as if the moral maxims could be turned into guns. Although this nation has amazing diligence and countless amazing achievements in ancient times. inventions and creations. But now their superstructure is rotten and useless."

China's first commercial railway, the Wusong Railway, was built by the British in 1874 (at that time, the Western industrial powers each had tens of thousands of kilometers of railways). However, due to rising opposition, the Manchu Qing government bought it for 5,000 taels of silver and then dismantled it, and the rails were thrown into the sea.

"So, if we don't find a way to smash the Tatar group and the outdated old system and old ideas, the Qing Dynasty will not change anything, and it will be impossible to develop the industrial and commercial roots." Finally, Charles said He came to his own conclusion, and then repeated thoughtfully, "Yes, those things must be destroyed before this civilization can be reborn."

"Ha, I really didn't expect that you know so much about the East?" After thinking for a moment, Victor Hugo felt that what Charles said made sense. At the same time, he was also surprised by the breadth of knowledge of the young man in front of him. , "It's really unimaginable!"

"This is just a personal opinion." Charles smiled humbly.

………………

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

Unknowingly, it was already late at night.

"So, what do you plan to do in the future?" Hugo continued to look at Charles, his eyes full of curiosity. "Do you want to do business?"

"You have misjudged him." After hearing the words of Mr. Victor Hugo, the former member of the French House of Lords, Miss de Perriette, who had been listening quietly next to her, replied with a smile. Still holding a fan in her hand and playing with it gently, she looked at Ciel with a slightly narrow smile on her face. "Our young man is very ambitious! He really has no interest in becoming famous in the literary world, but he is extremely eager to get ahead..."

"Miss, this is an exaggeration. It's not that serious." Charles picked up a cup of coffee and took a sip gently. "However, I do believe that I should be serving the country elsewhere, not on paper."

"Serve the country?" After hearing this sentence, Victor Hugo was not surprised. "Do you also think of political development? Or the industrial world?"

"Maybe both." Ciel replied with the same smile. "Who can say what's going to happen in the future?"

"No wonder, no wonder." Hugo nodded slightly, as if he understood something, "I finally understand why he behaved like that when we met that day... Mr. Treville, he is such an interesting young man."

Then, he took out his pocket watch and said, "Oh, it's already this time..."

Then he took out one of his business cards from his pocket and handed it to Charles, "Sorry, Mr. Treville, it's too late now and I can't continue chatting with you. Let's talk some other time." This is my business card. If you are free in the future, you can come to my place anytime..."

Then he suddenly smiled.

"Young man, I have a feeling that you will have a bright future. I am very much looking forward to working with President Louis Bonaparte, and I hope I can still provide some help at that time."

"Thank you for the compliment." Charles also stood up quickly and took his business card.

Although he is destined to be exiled in the future, at least for now, he is still an ally that Louis Bonaparte values ​​very much. (To be continued...)

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