Flowers, Swords and France

Another gloomy morning.

In the cold wind of early spring, several carriages galloped out of the War Department, heading towards the center of Paris.

Along the quietly flowing Seine, passing through the streets next to the wide Place de la Revolution, they finally came under the gardens of the Tuileries Palace.

When these carriages stopped, Charles and Viscount Alex de Lautrec, deputy director of the Secretariat of the Ministry of War, slowly walked out of the carriages from various places, and a group of people followed them. The army officers and soldiers also got off the carriage one after another, stood behind them, and looked ahead as if facing a formidable enemy.

After getting off the carriage, the two of them first looked at each other, and then looked at the main entrance of the palace in unison.

Different from the crowded summer days, the Tuileries Garden at this time was quite bleak, with few pedestrians in sight. The unattended flowers were still withering lifelessly, making the already gloomy sky even more bleak.

Against this gloomy and bleak background, the guards wearing bright uniforms and standing straight at their posts looked even more determined.

"There are only so many people?" Alex blinked at Charles, as if he was worried about something, "Is there an ambush inside?"

"I don't think he dares." Charles calmly asserted, "Besides, at this point, even if he arranges people inside to resist, what's the point? The life and death of the two of us can't solve any problem."

"There is some truth in this..." Viscount Lautrec nodded first, and then suddenly laughed again, "However, you are much bolder than you look."

"I am only bold when I am extremely sure." Charles gave an honest answer. "I really don't like to take unnecessary risks."

As he spoke, he made a gesture to everyone. Then he took the lead and walked towards the palace.

Along the way, Charles and Alex looked very calm, as if they had not seen this group of soldiers with live ammunition. When they reached the gate, the guards suddenly picked up their guns and raised them up.

"salute!"

After the soldiers saluted, Alex quickly returned the salute, but Ciel just paused for a moment, made a gesture, and then walked in directly.

"A pretty good sign, isn't it?" before walking into the palace. Alex whispered in Ciel's ear, "After all, obeying orders is the instinct of most soldiers."

In this way, in the deep corridor of the Tuileries Palace, Charles and Viscount Alex de Lautrec, surrounded by a group of army officers and soldiers, walked leisurely and unhurriedly.

Ever since Louis XVI was escorted back to Paris from Versailles by a group of Parisian women at the beginning of the Great Revolution and placed under house arrest in this palace, Napoleon, the Restoration Dynasty, and the July Dynasty all regarded this palace as a royal palace, so in Alex's view. It is also full of a strong sense of history.

"Ah, poor Tuileries," Vicomte Lautrec sighed like a poet after looking around for a while. "You are much dimmer than before! When I first joined the army, I came here with a group of officers and accepted the summons of His Majesty the King. It was really glorious here at that time! Oh... what a pity."

Ciel felt the same way.

Compared with the last time I came to attend King Louis-Philippe's court banquet, the current scene in the Tuileries Palace. The aggressive momentum that only belonged to the monarch had disappeared, and even the reflections of the gold and bronze vessels along the way seemed to be dimmed. but. Fortunately, this palace withstood the impact of the revolution. The furnishings inside are still intact, and they have obviously been carefully maintained and have not completely lost their luster.

After the revolution, King Louis-Philippe was driven out of France in disgrace, and the palace was requisitioned by the revolutionary government. When General Changarnier was appointed commander of the Paris garrison and the National Guard, he chose this place as his headquarters.

There is no doubt that this arrangement has caused some discussion even within the army, but the general still goes his own way, as if he just wants to show off his power.

However...he will no longer be powerful any time soon, because today Charles and Alex are here to deliver the president's order to dismiss him.

If all goes well, in about an hour, he will have to pack up and prepare to leave the palace and return it to the president and the country.

"It will soon regain its glory," Charles whispered in a prophetic tone, "and at that time, you will have to worship a new monarch here. "

Indeed.

In the near future, this place will once again become the royal palace of the Second French Empire. Louis Bonaparte will sit here, accept visits from ministers and foreign envoys, and issue orders to the entire French Empire from here.

"This will not be a good experience for me." Alex shrugged, "But, Mr. Treville, since you are happy with this, what can't I not tolerate? "

Ciel just laughed off such slightly mocking words.

While the two were talking and laughing, Charles and his party came to a hall.

Charles looked at the layout of the hall carefully, looked at the luxurious crystal chandelier above his head, looked at the tassel hanging walls, and suddenly felt that he had seen it before. Then he suddenly remembered that it was here that he met His Majesty Louis-Philippe I a few years ago.

At that time, he was majestic and arrogant, but soon after, his dynasty completely collapsed, and he finally had to flee France and die in a foreign country.

The changes in the world are so unpredictable... Looking at the empty throne, Charles suddenly had this sigh in his heart.

He didn't think about it for long before he regained his thoughts and then turned back to look at the entourage who had followed him.

"Send in General Changarnier, and here I will read the President's orders to him."

"Yes!" An officer immediately took the order and walked out of the hall.

However. The hall fell into silence again, and everyone was silent.

Ciel arranged it this way intentionally. Because he didn't want his trip to look like a visit to General Changarnier. He wanted to tell the other party in an unmistakable way that his political career was over.

However, after waiting for a long time. The general still didn't come.

The atmosphere began to become tense. Everyone looked at each other, uneasy, for fear that a group of fierce soldiers with armed weapons would suddenly rush in later.

"Why do you have to risk your own life?" After a long silence, Viscount Lautrec suddenly complained next to Charles, "To convey the president's order, one or two envoys are enough, why bother to mobilize so many troops... …”

"I'm afraid other messengers will let him take chances, and I must tell him clearly. He is finished, and no one needs to worry about him anymore." Charles replied calmly, "Don't worry, Alex, anyone with sense No one will choose to resist.”

"What if he loses his mind?" Alex countered.

"Then...you will die because of my stubbornness." Charles suddenly laughed teasingly.

Seeing that Alex's face suddenly turned ugly, Charles couldn't help but smile even more. "Ah, I was just joking, don't be afraid... Okay. Let me tell you, he is alone now." . The commander of the Tuileries Guards made a very correct decision after learning that his chief was about to be dismissed. Therefore, even if General Changarnier wanted to go crazy, others would be concerned about him. His life will not go crazy with him..."

After some persuasion from Charles. Viscount Lautrec's face finally became normal, and he seemed relieved.

"I'll just tell you. How could a cunning person like you put yourself in danger without any preparation?"

Just when Ciel was about to mock Alex again, the door to the living room was slowly reopened.

Changarnier, dressed in military uniform, appeared at the door.

This is a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. He has slightly curly hair, a hooked nose, and a fairly well-proportioned figure. His complexion is yellowish, but a little red, and his beard is quite long. At first glance, he looks smart but a little tired. The uniform fit well, but it was a little wrinkled, as if it had not been carefully decorated.

He was not in good spirits, and Ciel was not surprised by this. However, Ciel was still a little surprised when he found that the other party was walking towards him with a little stagger.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

It seemed that he had just been forcibly woken up from a drunken state.

"General Changarnier, I think we have informed you in advance that we are coming to find you today." After hesitating for a moment, Charles implicitly accused the general and said, "I have to think that your current mental state is too high. Not good."

After hearing Ciel's accusation, the general burst into laughter.

"Hehehehaha, come on! I hate it when you do this. You are not straightforward at all. If you want me to be disrespectful to you, just say so. I won't deny it! What, do you think I will come here to pray for you? Nabal’s forgiveness?”

Facing this harsh rebuttal, Ciel couldn't help but frown slightly.

Forget it, there is no need to be angry with such a person who has already failed.

"It seems that you are in a good mental state, at least you can understand what has happened." Charles looked at the general calmly, and then he walked to the general step by step, "Then, I will tell you the mission of my trip. Here you go..."

Then, Charles stretched out his hand and handed it to the general calmly, "This is the president's new appointment for you. Please take a look at it first..."

However, when Charles handed the official document to the general, the general suddenly raised his hand and swiped it hard. Unexpectedly, the official document in Charles' hand was knocked down.

"I told you, don't do this with me. I know what you want to do! Aren't you just going to fire me? I already knew it and have been waiting for this day!" As the general yelled, there was a moment of difficulty. The smell of alcohol quickly rushed into Ciel's nose, making Ciel feel quite uncomfortable. He frowned comfortably, "I can bear to remove me from my post, but I feel extremely uncomfortable when I see what you are doing. It's really disgusting! Let's be honest, don't you just want to drive me away? Then Usurping the power of the country to bring that bastard Bonaparte to power!"

Following the general's scolding, the attachés brought over by Charles all looked at the general warily as if they were facing an enemy. They all seemed to be planning to catch Ciel when he gave the order.

However, Charles never gave this instruction. He just looked calmly at the general who was obviously extremely angry.

"——Others are afraid of you. If I want you to get three points, I don't take you seriously!" The general still glared at Charles with incomprehensible hatred. He kept scolding, "You are just a group of sneaky thieves who pretend to be upright, but secretly want to steal everything in France! But God is watching, no matter how good you are at bewitching and deceiving, You will also be punished one day!"

"Don't be like this, General. Since you have participated in a game, I think you should naturally have the grace to lose the game..." Charles finally sneered, "Since we have already talked about it, then I Let's be honest...please have the decency to accept the President's orders and you will at least be safe."

"Bah! Do you think I will be like you, begging for mercy from that Bonaparte, and asking for some scraps as a reward? No!" The general shouted again, "Do you think I will be as innocent as you? Unprincipled and mercenary? No. Unlike you, I can't stand the stench of that Elysee Palace conspirator... and the surname Treville has been ruined by you!"

"It's not good to say such things after losing. After all, you are not the same kind of person?" I saw the other person say this. Ciel was also a little angry in his heart, "Are you morally much higher than us?"

"Of course I am nobler than you, at least I didn't use a ghost to decorate my appearance!" The general laughed suddenly. "Napoleon! Napoleon! You will only shout this name and extract from it the poison that deceives the people. What else will you do?"

"You have no right to insult a great man like this..." Ciel frowned and then made a gesture behind him.

The followers walked up understandingly. Get ready to grab the general.

"The dead emperor, what did he bring to France? Sixteen years of endless battles, crazy battles and bloodshed, what did he get in exchange? When he stepped down, France's territory was smaller than when he came to power. "Yes!" The general's originally gray pupils seemed to be filled with blood red at this moment. Guang, "What contribution did he bring to the country? Putting aside his boastful words, I only saw that for his own crazy ideas, he dragged a nation into the ice and snow, and brought it to the brink of destruction! Once is not enough, more needs to be done Come again! What is there to remember about him? For their own selfish interests, they deliberately deceived the people, encouraged their enthusiasm, and made them forget the pain of the past. I believe that it will happen again, and you will be blindfolded and led to the most terrifying hell... You bastards , how is it nobler than us! In the end, I can guarantee it. Proof, you will definitely fall into the same situation as him - no, even more miserable than him. That emperor at least has a genius to brag about, and you will only be reviled after a complete defeat, and I... haha , I will wait for the day when you fall and sing joyfully at your funeral!”

Charles couldn't listen any more.

He quickly waved his hand and asked his followers to hold the general and subdue the general's struggle.

"The general is drunk and is not sober now." Looking at the others, he issued an order in a low voice, "However, the president's order is still effective. From now on, he will no longer hold all current positions. Okay, you guys Take him to rest."

As he was being led away, the general still laughed and cursed Charles and Louis Bonaparte.

But Ciel had turned a deaf ear.

There is no doubt that the general behaved badly and did not behave like a strong soldier.

He was not sure that he would be able to maintain his dignity even when he left the stage sadly.

So...the only solution is to keep winning, and there will be no more wrong paths on the road. No matter how many dangers there are on the road and how terrible the enemies are, I can only close my eyes and move forward. Even with the certainty of a sleepwalker, I must go on unswervingly. Because, as Louis Bonaparte said, after tasting the sweetness of power, failure is the same as death.

I must win.

In the magnificent hall of the Tuileries Palace, Charles looked at the empty throne and made up his mind. (To be continued...)