Flowers, Swords and France

"'Where big countries pass by, small countries should stay away...' - Charles, you are actually right, absolutely right. Really, I agree with every word you said in that speech. This is true. It’s my will.”

Louis Bonaparte, standing on the castle watchtower, looked up at the dark clouds in the sky and said in his characteristic indifferent tone. "But I'm sorry that I had to reprimand you for saying the right thing, and I hope you don't take it to heart."

"It's a mistake to say the right thing at the wrong time." Charles, who was standing behind him, replied respectfully. "We have too many things to deal with before we have time to fight with the big shots in various European capitals. , so it is really inappropriate to tease them now.”

"It's good that you know this truth," Louis Bonaparte's tone seemed to be more relaxed. "It is inevitable for young people to be impatient. It is normal to make mistakes. You have a lot of time to improve yourself. Since I have If I reprimand you publicly, there won’t be any actual accountability. Don’t worry, just be more careful in the future.”

"Thank you for your generosity." Charles thanked him quickly.

"No need," Louis Bonaparte waved his hand gently, "we have always been generous to our loyal subordinates." This is a quite exquisitely built castle. Although the masonry has gone through many changes, it is not as old and decayed as a normal castle. Instead, it makes people feel a sense of comfort. Tall walls surround the entire castle, and the moat is filled with green water and flows quietly. The arrow stacks on the city were intact, the perforations were not blocked by shrubs, and the creepers did not completely cover the turrets. Instead, it was embellished with a few hints of light makeup.

Obviously, since the owner spent millions to buy the castle together with the surrounding gardens and other buildings, it has been carefully maintained until the owner returned from Paris to live in seclusion here.

This is the southern town of Saint-Amand-Sourtes in France, the southernmost place in France. Further south is Spain. After Louis Bonaparte visited the south, Charles accompanied him to visit his master. The Duke of Dalmatia made a fortune in Spain. Charles sighed to himself without any emotion.

While Charles was still immersed in this endless association, Louis Bonaparte next to him suddenly broke the silence.

"Our dear Generalissimo, I'm afraid he won't live much longer."

"Really?" Charles asked directly without reacting for a moment, and then he quickly calmed down. "He is already 8 years old. Even if his body can't support it now, is it normal?"

"No, it's not because of age, but because of power. Only power can make a person suddenly change from infinite energy to decadence and decay." Louis Bonaparte said coldly.

"Huh?"

"Once a person who was once in the center of power is abandoned by fate and becomes insignificant, he will be plagued by all kinds of diseases. It can even be said that he is dead." Looking at the dark clouds in the sky, Louis Bonaparte murmured Muttering to himself, "Power is the best life-extending medicine, Ciel. Because losing power , Duke Nicholas Soult of Dalmatia would not live much longer, nor would his king Louis-Philippe live a few more days - they left power, that is, embraced death, which is one thing. Therefore, we must learn a lesson and never leave power, otherwise we will not survive.”…

He looked up at the sky with no expression on his face, as if he was commenting or lamenting his fate.

"You are absolutely right." Charles lowered his head and echoed his statement. “You must never back down, you must always hold on to power.”

That's right indeed.

At this time, Louis Bonaparte certainly did not know that in the original world, after losing the empire in 1871, he passed away in 1873. However, he knew that for people like himself who had tasted the sweet taste of power, losing power would mean death.

Maybe it was because of the impending rain, but Charles suddenly felt a little dull in his heart.

Will Louis Bonaparte become like that again in this life? Or, more importantly, what will become of me in this life?

He tried to imagine a scenario in which he suddenly lost all the power and influence he had now. However, a sudden feeling of coldness penetrated into his bone marrow, making him shiver.

No, never, this is unbearable.

No matter what, I absolutely can't leave the power field. I spent so much effort to squeeze in. I can't get out unless I die.

Suddenly, a sound of footsteps came from the steps outside the door, pulling Ciel out of this unspeakable inappropriateness.

The two of them looked at the sound at the same time and found an old man in a servant uniform bowing to salute them.

"Mr. President, the Duke is feeling much better now. The doctor said he can see visitors."

"Very good, take us there." Louis Bonaparte nodded, and then strode out.

"Sir..." The servant seemed hesitant, as if he was worried about something, "Although the situation has improved a lot, the doctor also told him not to get too excited..."

"Hahahaha..." Perhaps feeling the marshal's current weak state, Louis Bonaparte laughed rarely, "Don't worry, we will not be enemies with the old man, we are just here to talk calmly. Just chatting.”

Because he is dead. Ciel added coldly in his mind.

Yes. Nicholas Soult, Grand Marshal of France and Duke of Dalmatia, is dead, although still alive.

Under the guidance of the servants, they walked through the various paths in the castle and walked directly to Marshal Soult's bedroom.

Although I was prepared in my heart, the moment the door opened. Charles is still amazed by the former Prime Minister's current state.

In less than two years, he was ten times older than before. His hair was completely white, and although the beard on his face was cleanly shaved, his face was pale, but there was a faint hint of cyan, and most importantly. The fire that was originally burning in his eyes had completely disappeared, leaving only the ashen dullness.

He lay quietly on the recliner, swaying slowly with the swing of the recliner, as if he had fallen asleep.

A tiger with its claws removed would probably look like this, right?

"Mr. Bonaparte. M. Treville, I am glad that you are still able to come and visit me."

After the two people came in, the Duke slowly opened his eyes and said hello in a very calm tone. The other two people naturally took off their hats and saluted as well.

"Since I came here, you have been a rare visitor." After making a gesture to sit down. A smile broke out on the Duke's dull face. "I'm really happy."

"I am also very happy to see you again." Louis Bonaparte replied with the same smile. "I am glad that you are still so healthy. Each of the marshals in the imperial era is the essence of the nation. We sincerely hope that you will always be able to Stay healthy."

His attitude was cordial and gentle, as if he was not the one who just said that the marshal was dead.

"We are now old and decayed, ready to be forgotten at any time." The Duke still smiled, "The future era will ultimately need to be created by you."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

Then, he closed his eyes slightly and sighed suddenly. "Oh, Empire, what a nostalgic word it is."

"Yes, the empire is so glorious, how can we let it disappear?" Louis Bonaparte nodded, "I want to rebuild it. The Republic is nothing to France, only the empire can bring her glory ”

After hearing this, the Duke just smiled and nodded without saying anything more.

"You must be very clear about our purpose." Louis Bonaparte ignored his attitude and continued, "As the only remaining generalissimo, although you have retired, you are still very important to the army. Still having enough influence, yes, we need your help in order to restore the Empire."

"Thank you for your high opinion..." the Duke responded calmly, "But you must also be able to see that I have been retired for a long time, so I'm afraid I can't help you much."

"We don't need you to charge into the battle, or even go to Paris to make a public appearance. It is enough to express your support for us in private or in letters." Louis Bonaparte responded immediately. "Sir, the Bonaparte family needs help, and they are also willing to help others... At any time, both my uncle and I are very generous to those who have helped us."

After receiving Louis Bonaparte's solemn promise, the Duke frowned slightly and pursed his lips slightly. This rare serious expression allowed him to re-see the past style of the marshal known as the "Iron Hand".

"If you don't think that an old man like me is in the way, I would be happy to help the emperor's descendants regain the power they deserve..." After a moment of silence, he replied softly.

Louis Bonaparte and Charles both breathed a sigh of relief.

To be honest, since the other party was able to change from a loyal subordinate of the emperor to a loyal minister of the king, now that the conditions are right, he can certainly change back without any hindrance. However, the transformation was so smooth, which still surprised both of them.

Even at this age, does he still have a keen enough political sense?

"Mr. Bonaparte, one thing I want to tell you is that I did not choose to support you just for personal considerations. At this age, what benefits can I get and enjoy? I am just a person waiting to see God. It's just a person - but God knows if they can see it." Just as the two people were sighing, the Duke's emotionless voice sounded again, "But, after referring to all the circumstances, I really think that only. You are the one who is fit to lead this country.”

"Really? Thank you. I will not disappoint your expectations." Louis Bonaparte thought he was a compliment, so he thanked him calmly.

"Only you can build an empire, and only an empire can save this country. This is the truth that I have finally seen clearly after forty years." The Duke continued, "There are enough thinkers in this country, we just need someone to choose It's just an idea to execute... Yes, ideas are meaningless, execution is meaningful. For the government, as long as it can act, even if there is no idea, only you can establish an absolute monarchy in France. , to get people out of their rhetorical thoughts and start taking action again.”

After a pause, the former prime minister continued.

"Today, the over-promoted modern equality and unrestrained self-promotion will inevitably perpetuate the three major ills in society: pride, arrogance, and vanity. Yes, everyone thinks they are smart. It's terrible. They either regard the government as a madhouse full of idiots, or they regard the government as a mouthpiece for a tyrant who deliberately oppresses them. But doesn't the government want them to live well? If they live well, doesn't the government collect more taxes? ?

Everyone thinks they are right, but they don't know that this kind of people are the easiest to be deceived. Fools think that others regard them as smart people, and smart people want others to regard them as geniuses. As for the geniuses, hehe, they are more modest and agree to just be half-immortals! This current general ideological trend makes jealousy and slander rampant everywhere, and every institution is filled with this kind of bickering between madmen, making everyone discordant and inefficient. Senators are jealous of leaders, factory owners are jealous of politicians, officials are jealous of poets, fools slander smart people, smart people slander talented people, talented people slander those who are slightly above themselves, and demigods. To threaten to subvert the system, the royal power, and all those who do not blindly worship them. Anti-intellectualism and anarchism are rampant, and a nation is very ill-advised to take pride in defeating recognized great figures and moral principles..."

Maybe it was because he was inadvertently overthrown by the revolution, or maybe it was because he was old enough to easily fall into delirium. When this issue was mentioned, the former prime minister, who was very gloomy and taciturn just now, suddenly started speaking angrily, venting his frustration. The depression after people were ousted from power, "This country We must completely reorganize and establish an absolute political center, and then let everyone follow it. We have done all the harm of decentralization, but we have not seen the benefits at all! In this country that likes to mock and overthrow everything, you must be. Only by implementing absolute dictatorship can great achievements be achieved.”

After a pause, the Marshal looked at Louis Bonaparte.

"Yes. I have seen clearly that this country needs an absolute center of power, and you can be such a center.")