Flowers, Swords and France

"Bang!"

With a loud gunshot, the very frank and even friendly atmosphere between the two people was suddenly broken.

Mr. Thiers looked at Charles with his eyes wide open. He wanted to say something but couldn't. His eyes were full of incredible questions, as if he had never thought that he would suffer such a terrible disaster.

Until the moment of death, he did not understand why Ciel suddenly killed him.

The severe pain made his whole body tremble, and he stumbled to the ground, covering the wound on his chest, as if he wanted to use this method to delay his death for a while.

"What happened!"

The door was knocked open, and the officer who led Charles ran in with a look of panic on his face.

Because before coming, Charles specifically ordered others not to come in, so it wasn't until he heard the gunfire that he felt something was wrong and rushed in.

After seeing Thiers lying in a pool of blood, he became even more panicked. Until he saw Charles sitting in his seat, he shouted.

"Sir? What happened? Are you okay? Um...you...?"

It was only then that he discovered the pistol in Charles's hand.

"I'm fine." Charles' expression was very calm, and he smoothly put the pistol back into his hand. "Don't worry."

After hearing that there was no trace of injury in Ciel's voice, his heart calmed down a little. However, he was still shocked by what he saw.

"Sir...sir...what are you..." He pointed at Thiers, who was still twitching in a pool of blood, "how did you...give him..."

"Nothing? I just killed him!" Charles stood up slowly.

"You have to kill him!" the officer repeated almost desperately.

"Why are you panicking? Didn't you just say that you would do something for me? Why, you can't stand seeing such a trivial thing?" Charles frowned slightly. She seemed a little dissatisfied with his reaction, "Thankfully you are still a soldier. You just killed someone...how can you act like this?"

However, he also knew what the other party was worried about - it was natural for soldiers to kill people on the battlefield. However, as a guard, if you allow an important prisoner to be killed without clear orders, you will be held responsible.

Because he understood this, his tone quickly slowed down. "Okay, don't worry, I did all this myself, and you don't have to take any responsibility."

"Really...really..." After hearing what Charles said, the officer finally calmed down. "That's great, sir!"

"Listen. This was an accident." Charles looked at the other party seriously, with an unquestionable firmness in his tone. "He tried to resist, so he was accidentally killed by the guards who came over. This is what happened. everything."

The officer blinked and looked at Ciel in confusion.

Judging from the fact that Ciel ran over with weapons beforehand and his calm and calm demeanor just now, it was obvious that this was a long-planned murder.

Moreover, he did not hear the sound of fighting just now.

But... is now the time to investigate the truth? He asked himself.

"Sometimes, we need to face the truth head-on. But sometimes we don't, sir." Seeing that the other party was still hesitating, Charles continued calmly, "Isn't this good? You are shirking responsibility. .and got my gratitude.”

Then he stood up and walked to the officer's side. He patted his shoulder lightly. "I think you are a smart person. You know what to do, right?"

The officer looked at Ciel with wide eyes, and then. He gradually came to his senses.

"I understand...Sir, that's it! During your interrogation, he tried to resist, so he was accidentally killed by the guard!"

"Isn't that good?" Charles smiled and nodded.

"Okay, let's not waste time here, I have something to do later."

"Okay, sir, let me take you away. I'll ask someone to clean up here next." The officer understood immediately, and then respectfully followed Charles out of the room.

When they left, neither of them looked at Thiers lying on the ground.

And the moment the two people stepped out of the door, Thiers, who had been lying on the ground whining in pain, finally slowly stopped twitching, and his hand slowly relaxed from the wound.

The first president of the Third Republic in history suddenly ended his life here in such a not-so-glorious way.

……………………

It's broad daylight.

Amidst the rumbling sound, the door of the Elysee Palace slowly opened.

Surrounded by a group of soldiers and party members, the current president, Louis Bonaparte, rode a tall horse and slowly galloped out of the Elysee Palace.

Because they knew what day it was, everyone was dressed up and wearing their own medals of honor. They all looked solemn.

Everything went well and now it was time to go to the National Assembly and make a declaration of victory.

Louis Bonaparte looked up at the sky.

The dark clouds that originally shrouded the sky suddenly and slowly dispersed, and the sunlight spread to every corner of the city, as if covering the earth with a golden coat.

Is there any clearer omen than this?

From the gap in the clouds, a golden beam of light connected the whole world, as if it was a sight from the sky.

Could it be that his uncle was looking at him in heaven?

He suddenly had a strange feeling in his heart, as if that uncle, the emperor, the great man... the idol that made him both admire and envy was looking at him.

Louis-Bonaparte gently tightened the reins in his hands, not realizing that his hands were already full of sweat.

At this time, although he was very calm on the surface, his heart was already surging.

Are you looking at me?

Did you see it?

How should you praise me?

That ignorant child, after a terrible disaster destined by fate, lost everything he had. Then, like him, he was in a situation where he had nothing. Relying on his courage, wisdom and hard work, as well as the indispensable luck. He also became the master of this country.

What you left behind forty years ago, I have now picked up.

I will do better than you, wait for me!

He roared silently in his heart.

Then, he suddenly raised his head, looked at the adjutant next to him, and gave a gentle order.

"Let's go."

"Let's go!" The adjutant who received the order immediately shouted to the people around him.

As if some switch was turned, the crowd suddenly started at the same time.

Then, this colorful team, surrounded by Louis Bonaparte, rushed to the Bourbon Palace. Under the sunlight, the gold-threaded clothes, scarlet ribbons, and jeweled medals on these people were all shining, and in a trance, they actually brought them an epic phantom.

This is not a president's journey to parliament, but a conqueror's march to the highest power of a country.

In his life, he has never been as high-spirited as today.

…………………………

When the president's team arrived at the door of the Bourbon Palace. Charles hurriedly greeted them without losing the opportunity.

"Mr. President, I have lived up to your expectations!" He shouted, and then stood beside the President, "We succeeded!"

"Yes... We succeeded." Louis-Bonaparte nodded.

Even Louis-Bonaparte, who always remained calm, had his lips trembling slightly at this time. He seemed to want to say something to Charles, but. In the end, he did not say it.

Finally, Louis-Bonaparte suddenly stretched out his hand. Then he grabbed his hands heavily and held them tightly.

"I will never forget your contribution, Charles." Louis-Bonaparte's voice trembled so much that Charles could hardly hear what he was saying, but he really felt his unreserved gratitude. "As long as... as long as I and my descendants are on the throne of France - you will never have to worry about the wealth and glory of your family!"

"Thank you..." Charles was startled at first, and then he also grabbed his hand tightly, "I will continue to repay your grace with all my loyalty!"

Under the gaze of everyone, Louis-Bonaparte and Charles performed a drama of monarch and minister.

Although it is unknown how long this sincerity can last, Charles knows that at least at this moment, both of them are sincere.

And at this time, of course, neither of them would have thought of how this promise would be fulfilled.

Gradually, Louis-Bonaparte woke up from this excitement and slowly let go of Charles' hand.

"Okay, Charles, let's go in. I can't keep the parliamentarians waiting too long." He curled his lips and made a mocking sneer, "I wish my uncle could do the same thing!"

In 1799, after successfully launching a coup, Napoleon ran to the Senate and wanted to make a victory declaration, but was loudly questioned and scolded by angry parliamentarians, which frightened him and made him incoherent, making the future emperor lose face.

After learning from the precedent, Louis-Bonaparte and Charles certainly would not let this happen again. Now, the parliamentarians who opposed Bonaparte were either forcibly detained or blocked outside the parliament by soldiers. Only the parliamentarians who supported the Bonapartists were left inside to fill the facade, and there would definitely be no indecent jokes.

"Yes, sir."

Charles bowed respectfully to Louis Bonaparte, "Please speak on behalf of France!"

Louis Bonaparte raised his head, looked at the phantom of the saint in the sky, and gently opened his mouth.

"Yes, from now on, I am France!"

……………………

"His Excellency the President has arrived!"

Under the gaze of everyone, Louis Bonaparte walked into the chamber of the Bourbon Palace.

The original text is in the six # 9 @book/bar!

The moment he appeared, as if receiving some order, all the members present stood up in unison and saluted the new master.

Because a large number of members were arrested or expelled, the chamber seemed much emptier than usual.

However, Louis Bonaparte did not care about this-because. He originally planned to weaken the power of the parliament later.

With an admirable calmness, Louis Bonaparte walked to the podium in the center of the chamber.

He raised his head. Looking at the congressmen sitting around the table.

Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for him to make the final declaration of victory.

All the attention. This made Louis Bonaparte feel a little hesitant. After all, he was not used to being watched like this.

However, this discomfort soon disappeared in my heart.

I've come this far... Is there anyone else who can stop me?

No, not anymore.

From today on, I am the master of this country!

"Hello, Congressmen and gentlemen." He took a deep breath and then spoke calmly to the people opposite. "I came here today to give an explanation for everything that happened last night and today. I also want to bring a proper end to the disaster that has lasted for sixty years in our country. At this moment, I am not just here. When I speak to you, I speak to the whole country, the whole nation.”

No one answered, everyone just stared respectfully at the man who would soon become emperor, and he was not waiting for an answer.

"There is no doubt that what happened today was an unfortunate incident. There was violence. There was even blood. I and you all did not want this to happen - but it happened after all." Louis Bonnet Ba sighed softly, as if he really felt sorry for the people who were detained or even died today, "But at the same time, we have to face reality. Isn't it true that the misfortune we suffered today has been caused by the entire nation over the years? A continuation of the misfortunes suffered?

this great country. This remarkable nation has been trapped in inaction and self-denial for many years. How many years. Everybody, everybody at the top of this country. There was always bickering, bickering about everything that could be argued about.

We talk more and do less, without any expectations or plans. In the midst of the quarrel, we forget everything, and end up mistaking mediocrity for stability, vulgarity for closeness, and incompetence for reliability! We have forgotten the glory and ideals we once had. We throw away everything we were once proud of, but we pick up unwanted things and treat them as treasures!

Seeing us acting like this, the people's illusions were shattered, and they were dragged into the quagmire of mediocrity by us. After being disillusioned, the people also became cynical. They mocked the previous and current governments, mocked law and order, and even mocked all moral authority in the past! And aren’t all these consequences caused by ourselves? "

"However, after all, we are not a nation that surrenders to self-destruction. We know that we cannot go on like this. I listened to the voice of the people, and then took this voice to the highest position of the Republic." Under the watchful eyes of all congressmen. , Louis Bonaparte raised his head and shouted loudly, "The public opinion of millions of people pushed me into this position, and I must be responsible for their will!"

…………………………

At this moment, Charles, who was sitting in the back row, suddenly heard a faint commotion.

He felt something strange in his heart, so he quietly walked out of the meeting hall and came to the door of the Bourbon Palace.

Then, he saw Lucien who was nervously shouting to his subordinates next to him.

"Lucien, what happened?" He quickly walked to Lucien's side and asked.

"Charles, someone is trying to attack the Bourbon Palace and has already rushed to the blockade!" Lucien replied quickly.

"What? How brave!" Charles frowned, "Take me there quickly!"

Lucien quickly took Charles to the blockade set up by the soldiers, and then discovered that a large group of people was indeed rushing towards this side.

Judging from the slogans they shouted, they were probably a group of excluded opposition MPs who came to denounce the crimes of the Bonapartists with the people who supported them.

"Send a warning to them immediately!" Charles shouted to Lucien quickly, "This place has been placed under military control. No unrelated people are allowed to come near! If they come closer again, they will be shot!"

Lucien immediately asked several officers and soldiers next to him to shout out for him.

However, this warning was of no use. The people who were overwhelmed by anger still rushed here regardless of their own safety, as if they were frightened by their momentum. The soldiers in the front row seemed to be wavering.

"Humph, didn't they notice? I didn't arrest them because I didn't take them to heart at all... but they still came to seek death!" In order to ease the tension of the soldiers. Charles smiled slightly, "There were too few people. In 1848, when we rushed to the palace, there were tens of thousands of people!"

…………………………

"Yes, it was the people who couldn't bear all this anymore, and then handed over this will to me." Louis Bonaparte did not know what was happening outside. He continued to deliver a speech to the parliamentarians, "And I, Only the will of the people can be implemented.

Initially, I tried to persuade everyone with the means of reconciliation. I hoped that the entire country would unite and save the country together. To restore her original prosperity and seize her original glory - can we have a more noble goal than this?

However...I failed.

The virus of mediocrity, corruption and hesitation has penetrated through the fabric of this country and seeped into her internal organs. Hedonism and liberalism have corrupted us. The ridicule of religion has made us lose our fear. Everyone only thinks about themselves. Few people are willing to make sacrifices for the country. Few people are willing to cheer up and regain the glory of this country. .

in this situation. Do I have any other choice? No, I don't have any more! I can only stretch out my own hand and exercise the power entrusted to me by the people to save this country from the edge of the abyss! And the person who blocks my sight of this goal. They must be eliminated so that they can no longer harm the country!

Now, all those who stand in the way of our progress to glory have been eliminated. I got through it all successfully. And isn’t this proof that God and people care about me?

From now on, we no longer have to endure this dilemma of inaction. We picked up our glory again and picked up the weapons we had thrown aside. Once we get back on our feet. Victory will favor us because we have no hesitation and no fear!

Yes, from today, France is reborn! We have once again become that great nation with ideals in mind and sword in hand! "

………………

Outside the Bourbon Palace, the roaring protesters were forcibly rushing to the blockade set up by the army.

Their queues were not neat, and their slogans were not consistent. They were obviously just rushing over out of righteous indignation.

However, this ragtag group seemed to have the upper hand for a moment because of the army's hesitation.

"Fire!" Seeing the crowd getting closer and closer to the blockade, Charles finally made up his mind. "Hurry up and order the soldiers to open fire!"

"But... Charles..." Lucien was still hesitant. "Most of them have no weapons, and there are not many of them. We can find a way to disperse them..."

"Is there any more effective means of dispersal than guns and cannons? Sir, we are doing something big!" Charles scolded him loudly. "The people recognize guns. If we don't shoot today, we will never gain the respect of the people again!"

What else did Lucien want to say.

"If you want glory and wealth, if you want to be a marshal, just listen to me!" Charles shouted at him, "Fire now!"

Charles's roar finally made Lucien make up his mind.

"Fire!" he yelled at the officer next to him.

"Fire!" other officers also shouted at the same time.

"Bang! Bang!" Gunshots rang out suddenly, followed by a large number of screams.

"Keep firing!!" Charles was still shouting at the top of his lungs. "Anyone who dares to disobey the ban is a traitor. There will be no mercy!"

Amidst the gunshots, blood splashed everywhere, and the thunderous gunfire finally stopped the crowd from advancing.

"Is this right..." Charles frowned and breathed a sigh of relief, "Fix the bayonet! Dispel them quickly!"

"Charles..." Lucien still looked at Charles with some lingering fear, as if he was a little unbelievable at his completely different performance just now.

"Don't be like this, Lucien, I just did what we had to do." Charles smiled reluctantly, "If Louis XVI dared to do this, we would still have to shout long live the king!"

……………………

"France, yes, France! Everything we do is for her, and everything we get can only be given to her!" At this moment, Louis Bonaparte finally ended his speech to the congressman. In response to our declaration, he slowly raised his hand,

"Today, it is not me or anyone who wins, but France! Long live France!"

"Long live France!" All arms were raised in unison, everyone was shouting crazily, and the entire chamber seemed to be shaken slightly.

"From today on, France is in our hands." Looking at the opponents being driven away by soldiers with bayonets, Charles patted Lucien on the shoulder. "I wish you a sweet dream tonight, Lucien." (To be continued...)