Flowers, Swords and France

The winter of 1851 came early, and the temperature generally dropped quickly. Before December, snow was already drifting in the city. There were intermittent snowy nights for several days, turning the city into almost a white world.

It's snowing today just like the past few days. Since the morning, snowflakes have been falling from the clouds in the sky, like blown dandelions or angel feathers scattered, white and flawless but very delicate.

Although the weather was very cold, Charles couldn't feel it because he was now in a place full of people and brightly lit.

This is a large hall, but because there are so many people inside today, it seems a bit crowded. The candlelight burning on the walls and the noisy voices drive away the cold, but give Charles a sultry feeling. He is now standing in the middle of the hall. Although it can highlight his status, it does not make people feel comfortable.

However, he couldn't show this feeling. Instead, he could only act like he was enjoying it, because today was a special day.

The hall was filled with France's current high-ranking officials and dignitaries, and all important business figures who supported the current government were also present, and all eyes were now focused on the person in the center of the hall.

Yes, today is the coronation of Louis Bonaparte.

From the completion of today's ceremony, the Second French Republic has officially come to an end, and will be replaced by the Empire - a French Empire once again ruled by the Bonaparte family.

A family was originally unknown and unknown, and then suddenly a genius appeared among them. Taking advantage of the changing times, he took the crown of France and put his brothers on the throne, becoming the leader of the European continent at that time. The most illustrious royal family. However, this dynasty fell quickly because of this man himself, even faster than its rise.

Just when people thought that this family was about to disappear like a meteor in the long river of history, after nearly 40 years of decline, a member of this family took advantage of the times and rose again, rising from the abyss at a miraculous speed. He took back the country, eradicated his enemies as if with divine help, and almost completely took control of the country.

Is this because their ability to manipulate the situation has been passed down from generation to generation, or is it because they really have God's care? Maybe a little bit of both.

This is the Paris City Hall. Just this place gives Charles a sense of traveling through history.

Because in 1871, due to the "burn all" policy implemented by the Paris Commune before the fall, it was burned down together with the Tuileries Palace by Commune soldiers, so he did not have the opportunity to visit it when he visited Paris in his previous life. After all, when he really had the opportunity to come in and take a look, he no longer had that sense of novelty.

It is just an ordinary holding building. It has a longer history, but other than that, there is nothing to boast about. It cannot be compared with the Tuileries Palace, where generations of emperors lived and deliberately decorated it.

Originally, the previous kings of France were crowned kings in Reims Cathedral, but Napoleon changed the rules as soon as he came to power and chose to be crowned in Notre Dame de Paris. At that time, His Majesty the Pope himself came to support him, and there was even an allusion to self-coronation. . When it came to Louis Bonaparte, he chose to be crowned at the Paris Hôtel de Ville.

Napoleon was a country tycoon. Perhaps for this reason, he was crazy about climbing high and wanted to be like the old aristocrats. During his coronation ceremony, his large group of marshals and nobles (were (who have been given the title of Duke or Prince) all wear ancient clothes. Even his feet imitated the ancient times and wore high heels and stockings. Under the gaze of such a group of men, he solemnly completed his coronation ceremony, snatched the crown from the Pope, crowned himself, and then crowned himself. The queen's crown was placed on the head of his wife Josephine.

Fortunately, when Louis Bonaparte was born, the Bonaparte family was already a royal family. Louis Bonaparte was not so stubborn, so Charles and his other confidants, courtiers and generals also avoided wearing ancient costumes. A fate like the previous one.

In the grand hall of the Paris City Hall, a group of them were wearing the now popular black dresses, with ribbons of various colors on their white shirts, and medals on their chests. They looked colorful and festive. The army generals wore their own military uniforms with medals on their chests, and stood in another row to express their joy at the restoration of the empire.

Yes, the resurrection of the Empire, whose backbone is, of course, the army.

Under the spotlight of all eyes, Louis Bonaparte would remain oblivious. He raised his head and looked at the ceiling above him, silently. Today is destined to be the most glorious day in his life. He may be praying to show his merit to his uncle in heaven.

Time passed minute by minute, no one said a word, and Louis Bonaparte seemed to be in a trance, standing motionless in the center.

I don't know how long it took, but he suddenly turned around slowly and looked around at the people around him with sharp eyes. His eyes were so full of passion that Charles even thought he was about to cry.

"Today will be the day when the empire is proclaimed. God has declared his favor for me and his expectations for me with unmistakable facts..." Suddenly, Louis Bonaparte spoke in a passionate tone cried out, "Unlike all other monarchs, At the same time, I am the emperor supported by the people, the person whose opinions of 30 million people are gathered into one body. I represent this country and this nation! From now on, I will spend the rest of my life serving this nation! Fight until the day we return to God’s arms!”

"Long live the Emperor!" At the same moment, these dignitaries shouted out at the same time. It doesn’t matter how sincere they are, but the combined shouts at the same time can at least show a shocking power.

"The empire will continue to exist, fighting endlessly for the well-being of its citizens, the glory of the empire, and the realization of the highest honor of the French nation! Long live France!"

With this shout, he took the crown from the hands of the Archbishop of Paris next to him, and then crowned himself.

He was imitating his uncle even in this aspect, but there was one thing he couldn't imitate no matter what - there was no queen next to him for him to give the crown to.

The moment he put on the crown, the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" and "Long live the Empire!" resounded throughout the hall again, and the salutes also roared at the same time, as if the sound could really be transmitted into the sky.

Although there were many noble ladies opposite, Charlotte was not among them. As far as her true intentions were concerned, she really did not want to act as a spectator and embellishment when the emperor of the Bonaparte family was satisfied. She also had a perfect excuse not to come - she was already on her due date and could give birth at any time, so she couldn't go out for any activities.

After putting on the crown, Louis Bonaparte, wearing a large cloak, looked majestic. He looked calm and majestic. In a trance, he seemed to really have some imperial aura. Among the pillars of the empire-bureaucrats and wealthy businessmen Amid the cheers from the officers, he looked calm, as if he didn't feel anything at all.

Charles experienced this scene personally, but his heart was not integrated into the warm and joyful atmosphere at this time. Perhaps it was because he knew the final outcome of His Majesty the Emperor in that history, so he could not feel the emotion of admiration anyway. Bar.

Today Louis Bonaparte is very proud, but God may let him fall from the sky one day. The mystery of fate is really unpredictable.

However, no matter what the future holds, at least for now, he has climbed to the top of the empire with this big man. He will be able to use his power and prestige to realize all his ideas at will, and few people can stop him - according to Louis Bonaparte's decision, there will no longer be a prime minister in the empire. As the head of state, he also serves as the head of government, implementing a thorough dictatorship, while Charles will enter the cabinet as Minister of Transport, becoming one of the youngest cabinet ministers in France and even Europe today.

An empire, no matter how beautifully it is said, must be a trinity of aristocrats, plutocrats and warlords. It is also a Leviathan where a small group of people monopolize political and economic interests and coerce a nation into rampage. One step forward is war. And we can only go forward.

Soon, the empire will launch a foreign war on a rare scale, using blood as a sacrifice to win the smile of God. Charles himself, as well as his grandfather Marshal Treville, will also be important participants in this war.

He was not afraid, but eager to try, because at this time, he already believed that he was truly destined, just like... His Majesty the Emperor. No, as a traveler through time and space, he should be more favored.

Come on then! He raised his hand high as if to cheer.

…………………………

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

At this moment, a more intense struggle was also unfolding in his home.

"Ah...ah..."

Charlotte lay on the bed, screaming in pain uncontrollably. She was covered in sweat from the pain. Her hands tightly grasped the sheets, almost frantically, as if she wanted to use this to relieve her pain. of.

When she gave birth for the first time, no one could teach her the secret of how to endure the pain. She could only slowly learn to endure the extremely severe pain on her own.

In this era without caesarean sections, every child is brought into the world by the mother who endures this pain. Every childbirth is the torment of going back and forth from the gate of hell. God knows how much blood and tears they have sacrificed for this.

"Where's sir..." She asked in an unsteady tone while crying out in pain.

"Sir hasn't come back yet. Madam...you...you can be patient a little longer. You'll be here soon." The midwife next to her answered cautiously.

She also seemed very nervous, her speech was slurred, and she didn't know whether this meant the father or the child.

"Is it... coming soon?" Charlotte frowned tightly, her originally beautiful face now looking a little distorted, "This... this bad boy, why not... come quickly! It hurts so much!”

"Madam, please don't say such words!" The maid next to her shouted in fright, "It's so unlucky for you to say that!"

"What... what's auspicious or unlucky? I'm in so much pain... why do I care so much! You bastard, you've been tormenting your mother like this from the beginning... from the beginning!" Charlotte suddenly cursed, as if she wanted to relieve her pain in this way.

Suddenly, an unprecedented pain came suddenly, and she could no longer speak. She closed her eyes and screamed loudly.

"Ah!!!" With this scream, her whole body twitched, and then she collapsed stiffly on the bed, as if she was possessed by evil spirits.

"It's born!" There was a cry next to her, but Charlotte's consciousness was blank. She just heard a few more croaking sounds in her ears in a daze. The sound was really unpleasant.

"Miss, it's born!" The maid next to her seemed to have heard the voice from thousands of miles away, which was not real at all, "It's a boy."

"Bastard." She thought silently, and then fell into a deep sleep with an inexplicable sense of peace. (~^~)