Flowers, Swords and France

"Salute!"

Facing the golden morning light, Lucien Leflair galloped on his horse and came to a high ground. Along the way, many soldiers saluted him. This newly promoted officer, thanks to the care of the commander-in-chief, General de Treville, this young officer has now become a rising star in the army. Everyone knows the key role he played in the victory on June 3.

However, Lucien, who was bathed in this mixed gaze of envy and admiration, did not have much time to respond to these soldiers and officers one by one. His mind was already on the task at the moment.

After reaching the top of the high ground, Lucien dismounted, and after passing the blockade of heavy guards, Lucien Leflair, dressed in military uniform and with a serious expression, stopped in front of a tent.

This is the temporary headquarters of General de Treville, the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force.

From here, looking forward, you can see the place where the sound of artillery fire is rumbling, the mottled city walls, and the ancient city gates.

That is the city of Rome, a city full of history and a city of great glory. Now it is also the target that this army intends to capture. Judging from the current situation, it will not be long before the goal is achieved.

Lucien carefully tidied up his military uniform, then opened the tent and walked in quickly.

Although the tent is large, there are not many furnishings, so it looks a bit empty. There are candlesticks hanging in the corners, and the light is not very bright. The Marquis of Treville, whom he particularly admires, is sitting in the deepest part of the tent, sitting at the main seat of a small conference table, with a map on the conference table. The general's bicorne hat was also placed on the table. Under the flickering candlelight, although the general is old, his face looks energetic, as if he has regained his youth because he can return to the army.

And there are several other officers. They are sitting on both sides of the conference table. Obviously, they are discussing military deployment just now.

As soon as he walked to the center of the tent, he immediately saluted the commander solemnly, and General Treville also nodded with a smile and gestured. Indicated that he should sit on the chair at the conference table.

As soon as he sat down, the general smiled and asked, "Lucien, I think you should bring me good news?"

"Yes, General." Lucien replied respectfully, "As you know. We are already on the verge of victory. Now our vanguard has completed the predetermined goal and has penetrated into the vicinity of the Vatican." Then, he raised his head and looked at the general firmly, "The front-line troops have assured you that within half a month at the latest, we will be able to completely eliminate the remaining resistance elements inside. Clear out the city of Rome."

"Very good, very good. It's best if the front-line troops have this determination. Tell them that I'm watching them and ask them to keep working hard!" The Marquis nodded approvingly.

Even though he was always scheming, the Marquis couldn't help but smile complacently.

The other officers present also congratulated the commander, which made the Marquis even happier.

"This is not my own achievement, but the result of the joint efforts of everyone present and our soldiers." The Marquis said with a smile, "I am proud and honored to be able to lead such a courageous and resolute army."

"We are also proud to have such a wise commander." Lucien answered from the bottom of his heart.

"Hahahaha, look at it. Now even our Mr. Leflair has learned how to compliment his superiors!" The general was even happier and laughed, "I always thought you only thought about your duties."

"This is my true thought, General."

"Okay, I also thank you for your efforts and achievements. Lucien." After laughing for a while, the general slowly restrained his smile, "And my gratitude will not be limited to verbal..."

Then, he looked at the other officers, "Okay, now everyone is here, let's get started."

The others nodded, and for a while, the tent fell into a strange silence.

This slightly weird atmosphere made Lucien feel a little confused.

Is the general going to arrange another special task?

Soon, his doubts were solved.

The general made a gesture, and two orderly soldiers brought a box.

Then, in front of everyone, the general directly opened these boxes.

The whole tent suddenly became bright.

"Wow!" Several exclamations.

This is the glow of jewelry, this is the glow that can shake people's hearts from ancient times to the present!

Jewelry, badges, gem rings, diamond pendants, necklaces and crosses inlaid with gems... Clusters of jewelry almost attracted everyone's soul. Everyone stared at these jewelry blankly. For a while, no one spoke, even Lucien was no exception.

Looking at the straight eyes of these officers, the general felt funny and a little emotional.

Alas, these children are so pitiful. The army has not been abroad for decades. They don't know what war is!

"These are all our recent achievements. They are for you. Share them among yourselves." Then, the general sighed again, "It's a pity that the Emperor looted the entire northern Italy back then, so we can't get much good stuff even if we try so hard..."

However, even the bad stuff in the general's eyes was enough to dazzle all these officers, and some even put their hands in. This is exactly the effect the general wanted to get - they all tended to Bonaparte. The officers of the Pakistani faction are exactly the ones who need to win over.

"Very good!"

"Thank you, General!"

"Long live!"

Hysterical ecstasy quickly spread in the tent, and everyone cheered, cheering for the war and cheering for their own wealth.

In this frenzy, Lucien still maintained a trace of calmness. He looked at these colleagues who were already confused among the jewelry, and a strange thought suddenly occurred in his heart.

How did you get these things? He could guess this without even thinking about it.

What are we doing?

Is this what we are fighting for?

Do I...do I have to be one of these people?

It seems so...but...

"Lucien? What's wrong with you? Are you stunned?" The Marquis of Treville seemed to notice his hesitation, so he joked, "Hurry up and choose. Otherwise, all the good things will be taken away. "

After hesitating for a moment, Lucien slowly spoke, "General... I think I... I might..."

But before he could say anything, the general glared at him and grabbed his sleeve. Pull him aside.

They walked to a corner, while others were still confused among the jewelry, and no one noticed what the two of them were doing.

"You want to say you don't want it?" After just standing still, the Marquis looked at Lucien.

His tone was very gentle, but his eyes were very stern, the kind of sternness Lucien had never seen before.

"General...actually...actually..." After a moment. He boldly expressed his thoughts, "I personally don't lack these things very much, and... and... I don't particularly want them."

"Don't want it? Because it was stolen?" The general sneered.

"Yes." Lucien replied with his head lowered. "And I think that I just completed my job. You have given me enough rewards. I don't need another reward."

"Because you have a good wife. Right? You are different from them. You married a noble girl, so you don't have to worry about money, right?" the general asked with a sneer. "Oh, I forgot, you originally served in North Africa, and you didn't encounter many good things there."

"That's not the reason!" After hearing this sentence. Lucien felt a little angry and raised his voice unnaturally, "This has nothing to do with Julie. Even if I didn't marry her, I wouldn't want to take these things."

"For the moral principles in your heart? Sir, do you plan to rely on principles to make a living? Haven't reality taught you enough?!" The general's tone became more severe, "Do you still want to get rich? Do you still want to Don’t want to be a marshal?”

"this……"

"It is the tradition of the army to plunder military supplies on the spot. It is the same in every country! And you, you want to show that you are of high moral character? Then what do you plan to let others do? Do you want to go back empty-handed like you? They came here. Isn't that why they work so hard? They don't have a wife like you." Lucien was about to say something, but was interrupted by the general, "You show your character. Well, what will they think? How can they cooperate with you in the future? Do you really think that you can rise to the rank of general and marshal just by relying on your true talents? How can you still be a man who is almost thirty years old? Such a naive idea? No wonder you have always been a junior officer! Why, do you still want to be a junior officer? Is this worthy of Miss de Dilion?"

After hearing the general's questioning, Lucien lowered his head, obviously feeling a little entangled in his heart.

"Moreover, are you going to use this to repay my support for you? It is because I value you and want to help you that I called you over to share these belongings together, but you want to wave all this away with a big hand. Pushing away, just to show your own moral standards? Of course you can do that, this is your freedom.”

After the general finished speaking, he said nothing more and looked at Lucien coldly, as if waiting for him to make the final decision.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

Lucien was once again caught in a conflict. Just like the previous time, he felt that he was in a dilemma. On the one hand, it is the old moral concepts in the heart, but on the other hand, it is an irresistible will - last time it was his wife, this time it was the commander. They both valued him and helped him, but they put himself into a situation that was difficult to change. situation.

These nobles are really a strange group of people. Lucien suddenly had a thought.

"Do you still want to become rich? Do you still want to become a general or a marshal?"

The commander's questions echoed in his ears over and over again.

He also knew in his heart that if he really wanted to achieve this goal, he should do what these people said. If he wants to stick to his principles, he will achieve nothing in the end. The pain he has experienced has already told him this truth.

This world is so strange.

In the end, Lucien could only think of these words. In confusion, he found that it was getting harder and harder to find the shadow of his past.

Then, he focused his attention on the jewelry again.

A finely crafted pendant caught his eye. The diamond in the center of the pendant is shining alluringly.

"Julie should like it."

……………………

After receiving his officers, the Marquis de Treville finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Today's young people are so difficult to educate..."

At this time, the tent was opened again. The old Marquis' valet came in.

Seeing the master's tired look, he immediately bowed and planned to walk out first so that the master could take a rest. But the master waved his hand directly, indicating that it was okay.

"Is anyone here?" the Marquis asked directly.

"It has been brought, sir." the servant replied respectfully. "However, you can take a break before meeting again. Anyway, he still has time..."

"No, no need. I'll take care of things first and then rest." The Marquis shook his head, "Go and call him over."

"Yes." The servant bowed. Then withdrew.

Soon, a young man with short light blond hair, pale blue eyes, neatly dressed in professional clothes, and a pen in his pocket walked in under the leadership of a servant.

"Sir, he is Ezreal Walter, our military reporter." The servant immediately introduced the visitor. And the young man immediately bowed and saluted.

"Your Excellency Commander, it is an honor to meet you."

"Mr. Walter, if I remember correctly, you are a reporter from the French Press Agency, and you are specially allowed to report with the army this time, right?" the Marquis asked pretending to be dignified.

"Yes, Your Excellency." The other party immediately replied knowingly. He certainly knew the purpose of the Marquis's knowing question, "I am exactly the person hired by Mr. de Treville."

His answer made the Marquis very satisfied, so the Marquis nodded slightly. A smile appeared on his face.

"I heard that you are going back to China?"

"Yes, I have been here long enough. It seems that I will be assigned a new task in the country, so I want to rotate me back." Walter answered.

"Very good." The general nodded with satisfaction, then pointed to his personal servant. He told reporters directly, "My servant is also going back, and he will take the same boat with you."

The reporter was a little surprised at first, but soon returned to normal.

He asked nothing.

"He has to carry some important things. They are all important things. You have to help keep them together," the Marquis continued, "If something goes wrong, we will kill you wherever you go. Do you understand?" ?”

The reporter's eyes widened slightly, but he finally nodded.

"OK."

"Well, the task has been entrusted to you. You can clean up first." The Marquis waved his hand to indicate that he was going to rest. "Don't worry, as long as you help complete the task, your reward will not be small. The Treville family has always been generous."

The reporter then followed the servant out of the tent. After they walked out, the Marquis breathed a heavy sigh of relief, and it was only then that he showed his old age.

The so-called important things are actually just some paintings.

Needless to say, these paintings were snatched from the local area. The Marquis carefully selected among the paintings looted by the army, and finally selected these few. The Marquis of Treville received some so-so art education when he was a child, so he had some appreciation.

However, of course it was not easy to take such a well-hidden painting away in public, so he wanted to send it back privately with his servants and his grandson's men.

My sweet granddaughter will definitely like it when the time comes, right? The general thought to himself, and then recalled Fran in daily life, and couldn't help but laugh. He would not show this kindness until he was alone.

However, this kindness did not last long, and he soon began to study the next military deployment.

"End the battle within half a month?" The general remembered what Lucien said just now, and then whispered to himself, "It's too late, we have to finish those people within a week."