Flowers, Swords and France

"Grandpa, we're here." When the carriage completely stopped at the Count La Porta's mansion, Charles said respectfully to the Marquis de Treville who was dozing with his eyes closed.

"Oh, we're here?" The old marquis opened his eyes, still looking a little tired, "Then let's get off the carriage."

Charles got off the carriage first, but when he stretched out his hand to help the old man, he was stopped by a gesture.

"Charles, I'm not that old yet, there's no need to do this."

After saying that, he got off directly.

He was really strong, Charles smiled bitterly in his heart.

Then he followed his grandfather and walked towards the Count's mansion.

That's right, today Charles accompanied his grandfather to visit the Count La Porta's mansion.

Although it was summer, both of them were dressed very formally, so they felt a little hot and unbearable. Fortunately, the sky was now overcast, so it was not unbearable. However, the air was very heavy at this time, and everyone was a little depressed.

"Is it going to rain soon? It's so hot and humid now." Charles looked at the cloudy sky and said subconsciously.

"Oppression will always be released," the old marquis whispered beside Charles, and added with a hint of meaning, "Just like death will also free people." "Is his illness really that serious?" Charles asked in a low voice, trying not to let the servant leading the way hear the conversation between the grandfather and grandson.

"How can a person get better when he is almost eighty years old?" Marquis Treville replied with a wry smile. "But maybe he can hold on for another year or two."

Can he only hold on for another year or two? Charles was slightly stunned.

This means that the other party's value may not be much left, and it will become less and less. We must hurry up.

That's right. Today he accompanied his grandfather to visit the former Field Marshal, Count Orlas-Sebastiani de La Porta, who was a good friend of his grandfather.

Although he had long since retired from the military and was living in retirement at home, no matter what. A former Field Marshal would have a considerable influence in the army, so it would be very beneficial to win his support - especially when Charles was working in the Army Department at this time.

Because of this, after hearing his grandfather say that the other party could only live for another year or two, Charles couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"Isn't a year or two enough, young man?" As if he saw what Charles was thinking, the Marquis shook his head gently, "It's enough." "It's enough." Charles quickly corrected his attitude. "I just think this marshal is a little pitiful... After all, he encountered such a thing."

That's right. Just three years ago, the marshal's only daughter was killed by his son-in-law, the Duke of Praslin. This kind of situation in his later years is indeed worthy of others' lament.

"If you really pity him, then just pretend nothing happened." The old marquis suddenly turned around. He told Charles quite seriously, "I know Orlas. He is not the kind of person who likes to be pitied."

"Okay, I understand, grandpa." Charles nodded quickly.

The grandparents and grandchildren did not wait long in the reception room. An old man with completely gray hair walked in with a cane. It seemed to be the marshal himself.

Because he was at home, the old man was dressed casually, wearing only a shirt on his upper body. His face was a little tired and wrinkled. The skin exposed outside was also wrinkled, looking old and decayed. Perhaps because of old age and illness, his eyes were dim. His movements were also very slow, and he needed to rely on a cane to walk around the house.

But even so, his expression seemed to still retain a lot of fortitude accumulated from decades of military career.

"Victor, you are finally here." As soon as he saw the Marquis of Treville, a smile appeared on the old man's face. Then he put his cane aside, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"Auras. Don't say that, I'm here!" Marquis Treville hurried forward. He stretched out his hands and hugged his old friend, "You look quite energetic."

"No, I'm just barely holding on," the marshal smiled bitterly and shook his head, "You're already this old, what else can you do? But you're still very energetic now, which is admirable."

"Ha, I'm just barely holding on, who doesn't get old." Marquis Treville also smiled, and then pointed to Charles next to him, "This is my grandson, Charles."

The marshal turned his sight to Charles, and Charles hurriedly bowed to him.

After taking a closer look at Charles, the marshal nodded with satisfaction,

"Oh! He is really a handsome man, no wonder he is so famous! Victor, congratulations... on having such an outstanding grandson."

"Ha, what are you talking about!" The Marquis shook his head, but it was obvious that he was not very modest, "He is just a young man, there is still a lot to learn, and he also needs the guidance and help of us old people."

"Guidance and help..." The marshal laughed dumbly, "Victor, even if you care about your grandson, you don't have to get to the point so quickly..."

Then, without waiting for the Marquis to answer, he sat down, and then motioned the grandparents to sit down as well.

"Young man, because of the relationship between me and your grandfather, I will call you Xia? Do you mind?"

"Of course, it's my honor!" Charles replied quickly. "Marshal, my grandfather told me many of your glorious deeds, so I have respected you very much since I was a child. You don't have to be polite to me, just give me whatever you want."

"That's right. Mr. President's popular person and current national official, how can such a person be so casual?" The marshal shook his head again, "However, even with such an honor, you can still be so humble and cautious. It surprises me, you have a bright future, young man.”

"Thank you for your compliment."

"Are you used to being in the Army Department now? There are so many rough guys in there. If you stay with them, you have to learn to be patient." The marshal looked at Charles with a smile again.

"Well... work is going smoothly now and I haven't encountered any big problems." Charles replied quickly.

"Olas. You and I have both been in the Army. Don't you understand? The Army is the most clique-oriented. Charles got in halfway. It would be nice to get along with them a little bit..." Trey Marquis Vere interrupted with a smile, "So I would also like to ask you for help. Let Charles feel more relaxed when doing things in the future."

"Of course this is what it should be. We are friends, and you have helped me so much." Seeing that the other party was so straightforward, the marshal was no longer prepared to dodge. "Although I don't know how much influence I still have in the old department, I will try my best to tell them and let them cooperate with your work... Ciel. But I still want to remind you that although the current situation is favorable to you, But it’s not yet fully mature, so you can’t rush for success. Don’t make too many tricks now, just do it step by step..."

"Of course we know this." Ciel nodded. He's right. The Bonapartists are indeed not sure of a coup now. "However, there is one thing we would like to ask your help for."

"What's going on?"…

"Although Mr. President does not intend to solve the problem in one fell swoop, he also sees the urgency and necessity of dealing with the army command issue." Charles lowered his voice, "So, he decided to find some reliable generals. , in order to slowly reshape the army's command system. He specifically wanted me to ask a question. Do you have any reliable general candidates? "

The marshal lowered his head and fell into deep thought. He was somewhat secretly amazed at the determination and execution of the Bonapartists' desire to quickly find collaborators in order to control the army. I'm afraid I'm not the only one they've been looking for.

"This question is of great importance, and I can't give an answer yet." After a moment of silence. he replied in a low voice.

"No problem, we don't have to ask you to answer now." Charles waved his hand quickly, "What the president means is, please try your best to look at it later and if there is anyone who suits your needs, you can recommend it. We We will find a way for them to serve the country.”

"Okay, I will pay attention to it later." The marshal nodded.

then. He seemed to sigh a little tiredly, "Ah. When you get old, you get old. After talking about serious things for a while, your head feels a little dizzy."

"Olas, why don't you take a rest." Seeing that his old friend was a little exhausted, the old Marquis quickly suggested to the marshal.

"It doesn't matter, I'm just a little tired." The marshal stretched out his hand to support his chin and managed to calm down. "Victor, I will do whatever you ask of me... I hope I can help you."

Looking at the exhausted marshal, Treville's grandfather and grandson looked at each other and once again lamented in their hearts that each other's time was running out.

"Then, can I also ask you to do me a favor?" After a moment of silence, the marshal raised his head and looked at the Marquis again, "It's a personal matter."

The Marshal's eyes when he looked at the old Marquis were filled with a man's trust in his friends and a dying old man's last attachment to the world.

"Go ahead, Olas!" Marquis Treville couldn't help but feel sour. "As long as Ciel and I can do it, we will definitely do it!"

"Thank you, Victor." The marshal nodded gratefully, then stretched out his hand and shook the bell on the table.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

"Call Gaston." When the servant came in, the marshal gave the order to the servant.

After the servant took the order and left, the marshal turned his head and looked at the Marquis.

"Gaston is my grandson. He has lived in my house since he inherited that guy's title. He is currently in middle school and just came back today. He also has a younger brother Anthony, but he is not at home now. Fanny...when Fanny was alive, she liked them two very much...the two children have grown up now, if Fanny is still here...if Fanny is still here..." The marshal suddenly stretched out his hand to cover his eyes. , as if to hide his tears, "I will definitely be very happy."

Treville's grandfather and grandson looked at each other again, and vaguely understood what the marshal meant - he probably felt that his life was not long, and was worried about the future of his grandchildren, so he planned to transfer his Let the Treville family take care of the grandchildren.

Because the old man was grieving for his beloved daughter who passed away, the grandfather and grandson did not speak. The silence in the reception room was not broken until the servant brought a young man over.

"This is my grandson Gaston," the marshal regained his energy, introduced his grandson to the two guests, and then looked at the boy again. "Gaston. Quickly salute the two Monsieurs de Treville."

This young man is wearing black clothes with a vest underneath. However, this adult appearance makes him look even more youthful. He is fair and clean, and his brown hair is neatly combed. At first glance, he looks like a young man. A middle school student, but with a slight beard growing on his lips. It means that he has come a long way on the ladder of adulthood.

Ever since he came in, although he was careful in his movements, he had been secretly sizing up the two guests. His gaze was both curious and boyish.

This young man, who is only fifteen or sixteen years old now, looks gentle and shy. That is the grandson of the marshal, the Duke of Praslin of this generation, Gaston-Louis Philippe de Choiseul-Praslan.

After hearing his grandfather's order, he quickly bowed and saluted the two of them.

"You are truly a talented person. I think your younger brother will be just as good, right?" Marquis Treville nodded approvingly, "Olas, it seems I should also envy you."

The marshal just smiled and said nothing. Apparently he is also very satisfied with his grandson.

"Are you currently studying at the Henry IV High School?" Charles also asked, "That's my junior. I also graduated from there. How are Gaston's usual grades?"

"It's pretty passable," the marshal replied from the side. "I got excellent grades in several classes."

"That's really good!" Charles looked at the young Duke and nodded with a smile, "Gaston, although I have graduated several years ago, I still know some of the teachers there. If there is any trouble in the future, Just tell me if you want."

"Thank you for your concern, sir. But I think I can solve the problem myself," the young man maintained a polite respect for Charles. But he obviously had reservations and had no intention of being respectful to Charles.

"Oh! Very good!" This young man's arrogance made Charles couldn't help laughing, and he felt as if he had seen Albert back then.

"Okay, Gaston, you go back first." After introducing him to the guests, the marshal waved again.

After the boy left, he looked at the guests again. "Victor, have you seen it too? I am already old and I know that my time is numbered. I am not worried about myself, I just can't worry about them..."

"Pity the grandfathers in this world!" The old Marquis sighed, "I am also a grandfather. I understand your feelings. Don't worry, Olas."

Then, he pointed at Charles, "Charle, promise Aulas that you will take care of the Gaston brothers in the future."

Obviously, this is a transaction condition, and it is also a grandfather's request.

What reason is there for not agreeing?

"Count, don't worry. I can assure you that I will do my best to take care of the two Duke brothers and let them have a wonderful future." Charles bowed to the marshal again, "As long as I If their future is still there, I won’t let them suffer.”

"That's good, thank you." Seemingly feeling the sincerity of Treville's grandparents, the marshal closed his eyes with relief, "Forget about the future, as long as you don't let them go astray when they grow up. The road will be fine... We have left them enough things. I just want them to live a stable life... Gaston is now a Duke, and he will be able to use such a large inheritance when he grows up. I Really worried He became a wanton and profligate child, ruining his family fortune and ruining himself; Anthony was the same, he was always so naughty, if no one took care of him, how could he be like this when he grew up? Charles, let's just leave it like this. Just let Gaston follow you into politics. He will listen to you and you will lead him. As for Antoine, let him join the army. As long as you watch them, they will be fine... I beg you... "

Until the two people left, the ramblings of the marshal just now seemed to still echo in the ears of Treville's grandfather and grandson. The marshal's expression full of love touched both of their hearts.

"Charle, promise me, don't just say the promise you made just now. You must take care of them in the future." On the carriage leaving, Marquis Treville suddenly ordered Charles, "I'm afraid Olas really has no time. More, we have to help him fulfill his last request."

"If conditions permit, I will try my best." Charles replied in a low voice.

This is the biggest promise he can make.

"That's good." The old Marquis breathed a sigh of relief, "This way he can leave with peace of mind!"

After sighing, the old Marquis kept sitting, looking at the scenery outside the window, not knowing what he was thinking. And Charles didn't know what to say for a moment, so he had to remain silent the whole way.

"In fact, what kind of love can surpass the love of a grandfather for his grandchildren!" After an unknown period of time, the old Marquis finally sighed again, "Charles, please marry Charlotte quickly, let me and Philip was able to see his great-grandson before he died."

Ciel lowered his head, not knowing how to answer.

It seems that the marshal's performance also made the grandfather worried about his grandchildren.

"And Fran, I'm worried about her too. You guys really make me worry..." The old marquis sighed again, "Don't you know? Only when I see you two are happy, I can feel at ease!"