Flowers, Swords and France

"Mr. Treville, you suddenly called me over, what's the matter?" In Charles' office in the Army Ministry, Major Alex de Lautrec, the head of the Investigation Bureau of the Personnel Department of the Army Ministry, looked at Charles with a little doubt. ↑Top

Because of the weather, he was wearing a thick blue military uniform today, but because of his gentle face and thin eyebrows, he did not look very intimidating, but more like a university lecturer.

At this time, Charles was standing outside the window, quietly looking at the scenery outside.

At this time, it was cloudy outside, it was raining coldly, and there was a strong wind. These winds blew through the open windows, making Charles' whole face a little tight. The atmosphere was so solemn and gloomy, as if it was foreshadowing something.

"Sir? I have something to deal with later!" Perhaps he was impatient to wait, and Alex urged again.

As if he felt that the wind had blown enough, Charles slowly closed the window and lowered the curtains. The thick curtains isolated the whole room, making it even darker.

"Sir?" Alex couldn't help but be suspicious because Charles came back without saying a word.

"Just call me Charles, Alex." Charles sat down, then smiled and nodded to Viscount Toulouse-Lautrec, "We have known each other for so long, why do we have to call each other so strangely?"

"No, I am not familiar with you, and we have nothing to do with each other." Alex rejected Charles unceremoniously, "I think you should finish what you want to say as soon as possible, and neither of us should have much time to waste."

"Please call me Charles." Although Charles' words were still very polite, his tone was already unquestionable. "Didn't you hear me, friend?"

"Gu..." A trace of anger swept across Alex's fair and delicate face, and he bit his lips tightly. He looked like he was about to fly into a rage. .

However, although the other party was arrogant and rude. But he could only endure it, because the other party held a fatal secret that was related to his future.

"Okay, Charles," he finally changed his words reluctantly after sighing softly, "Tell me quickly, what exactly did you want me to come for?"

"Okay, my dear friend." Perhaps because he admired the other party's angry and helpless expression, Charles' smile deepened. "I called you here today because I have an important message to reveal to you."

"Important news?" Alex frowned, "I don't want to hear it."

"Huh?"

"Your important news must not be good! I have said it many times, I don't want to get involved in your plan." Alex answered flatly, and then he stood up, "Okay, I'm going back now, goodbye."

"Hey, smart is smart. But why do you think you have the right to refuse me?" Charles stretched out his hand and pointed to his seat, "Now, sit down immediately! Listen honestly!"

At this moment. Charles was even worried that the other party would punch him directly.

However, it is admirable that Viscount Toulouse-Lautrec still maintained admirable rationality at this time. Although his face was flushed with anger. But he still sat down.

"You are such an incorrigible bastard, Mr. Treville."

"Oh. Thank you, sometimes I think so too." Charles waved his hand. He didn't care about the other party's scolding, "Okay, now I'll tell you..."

He paused deliberately, and then said in a mysterious tone, "According to the reliable information I have received, Mr. President, he plans to appoint a new Minister of the Army recently."

"New Minister of the Army?" Alex was startled at first, and then immediately restrained his curiosity, "Well, this is the right of Mr. President, I have no right to comment on this, my duty is just to do my current job well."

"No, your duty is to cooperate with the minister's work." Charles shook his head, "Complete all his instructions."

A suppressed silence suddenly enveloped the entire office.

"You mean... the president is ready to play for real now?" After a long time, Viscount Toulouse looked at Charles hesitantly, as if his breathing was a little difficult, "He wants to clean up the army?"

Although he has a very regrettable hobby, Viscount Toulouse is not a stupid person. On the contrary, he is a recognized smart man who holds an important position in the Ministry of War at a young age.

"Yes, that's right, we are going to do it." Charles answered immediately.

Then he looked at Alex again, "I hope to get your help in this matter, the more the better."

"Help..." Viscount Toulouse laughed a little unnaturally, "You are joking, what can a small major like me do to help you? You should go find those who are important enough to talk to, isn't it a waste of time to tell me?"

"Don't say that, Alex." Charles also smiled and replied, "You are one of the most important agencies in the ministry, how can you not be important? Don't be so modest, we really need your help."

As one of the most important deployments within the Army Department, the Personnel Department where Alex works can be said to be in charge of the lifeblood of the entire army. All personnel appointments and transfers of various branches of the Army and garrisons in various places must go through this confidential department— - If Charles and others plan to purge the army and kick out all the generals who opposed the Bonapartists from important positions, they must do so through this department.

"Then you go talk to my boss. As long as you can convince him, I am willing to accept all his orders." Alex looked a little nervous, "You also know that in my position, there will be many people I'm watching, I can't act arbitrarily..."

"Is cooperating with the minister's work called arbitrariness? Who dares to stop you? Who will stop you?" Charles's smile slowly faded. "And of course we need to have a good communication with your boss, but this also requires your help... Don't tell me that they have nothing to do with you. Since you can reach this position, then your relationship with them must be very good. good."

"I...I can't interfere in such an important matter. Sir, we shouldn't have our own thoughts." Maybe he felt the pressure from Ciel. A slight trace of cold sweat appeared on Alex's forehead, "Mr. Treville...Ah, Charles, you should handle this matter yourself. I can't...I can't get involved..."

"Why not? Do you think that as long as you are impartial among us, you can be immune?" Charles looked at Alex, and then sneered, "You don't want to express your position, so as not to provoke the enemy. Destroy your own Great future, right?”

"No... I'm not... Okay, okay, that's what I think, can't I?" Alex became excited, perhaps because he was a little nervous, "You can't force me like this and make me roll. If I enter this vortex of partisan struggle, can't you just let me work quietly and get promoted? I have no interest in who can save the country!"

"Oh. Indeed, you are not interested in who can save the country. Anyway, these words must be empty words." Ciel was still smiling sarcastically, "As long as you make a fortune. That's fine, right?"

Alex didn't answer, perhaps secretly regretting his gaffe.

"You are wrong. Now if you don't listen to me, I can assure you... you will never be able to prosper." Charles said with an unusually determined look. Staring at Alex, "Even now, you still think that you are not part of our party? How naive! Maybe you think you can remain neutral, but let me tell you, this is completely an illusion, you will either be finished , or you have to listen to me. Then, give me your choice now!"

"Are you forcing me? If you think you have a handle on me, you can do whatever you want to blackmail me..." Alex glared at Ciel, "If you destroy me, I will fight you to the death, I I don’t believe you can live under protection every day!”

"No, I'm doing it for your own good! The neutral faction is the most unpleasant, don't you understand? The winner hates him for not supporting him, and the loser still hates him for not supporting him! So in this case, you might as well just Choose a side, right? Now, I'm afraid even you can see which side has the advantage, right? There is such a good opportunity to be a hero, but you want to let this The opportunity was thrown away. Is this ignorance or stupidity? I was obviously throwing away the rope ladder to climb to the clouds for you, but it turned out to be good for you, but you wanted to push it away? No, you have no right to refuse my kindness. You must listen to me! Then you try it! I will give you one minute and tell me "Yes, sir", I will not accept any other answer, otherwise you give me a try!

Ciel's high-pitched roar and stern expression made Alex fall into silence again for a moment.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

This oppressive silence seemed to slow down the flow of time, so much so that Charles felt like his pocket watch was broken.

When seconds passed, Viscount Lautrec, who had been thinking for a long time, finally sighed. "Okay, I'll listen to you, that's all! You scumbag!"

"It would have been nice to have said this earlier." Charles showed a satisfied smile, automatically ignored the insults from the other party, and then easily put the pocket watch into his arms, "Look, we are still good friends."

"When will the new minister take office?" Viscount Lautrec looked gloomy and had no intention of talking nonsense to him. "Who is he? What kind of person is he?"

"He is General Saint-Arnaud. He has been serving in North Africa recently. Mr. President has just secretly recalled him from there." Charles told another secret, "He has not been transferred by the ministry and came back privately. However, , because he will soon be a minister, so no one can hold him responsible for leaving his post without permission..."

"You are so bold..." Viscount Lautrec smiled bitterly, not sure whether he was talking about the general or Charles and the others.

"Sometimes, we have to be bold." Charles replied calmly, "Also, let me reveal another piece of information to you - the general we found is a determined and iron-fisted man. We have discussed Okay, even if we go through everything in the Army Department, we must achieve the predetermined goal... So, even without your help, we will definitely carry out all of this until no one in the Department dares to oppose it. Until the President.”

"So, I should thank you for giving me a chance to participate in this?" Viscount Toulouse asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Of course." Charles nodded unceremoniously. "Of course, with your help, our affairs will be much easier, so... overall, we are mutually beneficial."

"What a mutual benefit! But I have no right to refuse."

"This is totally unimportant." Charles shook his head, then raised a finger and put it on his nose, "Because you can get more from it than you think."

"More? What do you mean."

"Yes, Alex, let me tell you another piece of news. I have recommended you to the president. As long as you can make due achievements now, he will give you enough rewards in the future. Don't you want to be successful? As long as you do it well, you can be successful and become one of the leaders of the entire army."

"Leader?" Perhaps Charles' words whetted his appetite, Viscount Toulouse became more curious, and no longer resisted. "Me?"

"Yes, it's you, but not now." Charles lowered his voice and continued, "The president has decided to rebuild the entire army's command system in the near future."

Viscount Toulouse-Lautrec stopped talking. He stared at Charles, obviously very interested in this.

"He left the political affairs of the army to the Ministry of War, and gave the military command power of the army to the General Staff." Charles spread his hands, "Now because of my recommendation, you have left your name with the president. If you make corresponding achievements in the future, then you can enter the General Staff and become a member of the main command agency of the army... Of course, because of your age and qualifications, you have to help others. Alex, tell me honestly, what do you think of this kind of reward?"

Viscount Toulouse-Lautrec's face was obviously shaken-it was impossible for him not to be tempted.

"Why? Why do you want to help me like this?"

"You have the ability, and you are my friend, so I recommend you. Besides..." Charles suddenly laughed, raised his head slightly, as if he was daydreaming about something, "It's fun to think about it, right? If one day, the entire French army was mobilized... through the instructions of a transvestite, and through a pair of hands that have touched skirts and hairpins... wouldn't that be... very, very, very interesting? Hahaha!"

As he spoke, he laughed loudly, and it was unclear whether he was serious.

"If you dare to mention that word in front of me again, I will kill you!" (To be continued...)

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