Flowers, Swords and France

Although it is early spring, the days are still very short. In addition, it is cloudy today, so as time goes by, the sky slowly becomes dark.

Such heavy clouds also indicate that there may be a heavy rain next. At this time, the pedestrians hurriedly walking on the street outside the club just want to escape the cold wind and the rain that may fall soon. In the bitter cold spring rain, they had no time to look around, and they had no way of imagining what a big thing was happening in this seemingly inconspicuous building at this moment, and they didn't know what would happen before or in the future. .

The cold wind traveled through the streets and alleys, but it was unable to bring any chill to the people inside the building. Because of the specially reinforced heating facilities, the inside was warm without a choking smell, making it a paradise.

However, for some people inside, this warm place is no different from an ice cave at this time, because they have just heard a huge piece of bad news from the Empire's Minister of Transportation. They all need to think hard and work hard for themselves. Find a way to escape the danger, or at least reduce some of the losses in the coming storm.

Of course, the current distress and anxiety of these people will not have any impact on another person - or in other words, it is more likely to become one of the sources of their happiness.

In the warm room, Imperial Minister Charles de Treville lay lazily on the soft sofa. Because there was still a little time before dinner, he simply lay down on the sofa and prepared to rest. one time.

Of course, he was not the only one in this room. On the sofa opposite, Alphonse de Rothschild also sat relaxedly and naturally on the sofa chair with armrests and backrests, while Mary He leaned against Ciel without hesitation, seeming to be even closer than when he was in the hall just now.

There is also a fruit plate on the coffee table. There are some fruits in the fruit plate. These fruits are cultivated in the greenhouse, so they can lie here calmly in this early spring season.

"Your Excellency, Minister, I have to say that your performance today is very admirable. You almost controlled the entire scene." Alphonse de Rothschild picked up the fruit plate from the fruit plate without any scruples, as if he were a friend. An apple, and then he took a big bite, as if he had taken such a bite on someone just now and felt as happy as he did. "I couldn't help but laugh when I saw how embarrassed they were!"

"Everything was planned. We gave them a surprise attack. They were caught off guard without any preparation. Isn't it normal?" Charles half-squinted his eyes, and then answered with a smile, "Look at what happened today. We should be able to solve the problem within the day.”

"Yes, I am also full of confidence in this." Alphonse immediately nodded in agreement with the minister's opinion, then picked up the apple and took another big bite. "That old man has been frightened by our battle. I don't think he has the guts to resist the will of the empire again... He is probably panicking now and writing a letter to complain to his old friend! But after writing the letter, he How about it, I have to give in to you in the end? Ha, now that he is here, he is trapped in your trap and has no way to escape!"

He was indeed very happy. When Charles settled in the Palace of Fontainebleau a while ago, he visited Charles several times, and Charles also deliberately told Rothschild the true intentions of His Majesty the Emperor and himself. The heir to the family. After the initial consternation, he immediately discovered the benefits - just like Baron de Beauvain, he could also use the large amount of money accumulated within the family to take over the country and make a lot of money from it.

It was precisely for this reason that when he heard that Baron de Beauvain had agreed to participate, he immediately hit it off with Charles and quickly participated in the plan. It was precisely because of their careful planning that all this Only then will it happen as scheduled and really develop in the direction that Ciel hopes.

On the day of this sudden attack, Alphonse de Rothschild discovered that Josdan and others were indeed unprepared, and he was immediately elated, because this meant that they would definitely be in trouble, and the troubles of his colleagues would be detrimental to them. Naturally, this is an opportunity for him, and he can't wait to take a good bite out of these colleagues.

It is precisely because of this hard-won victory that he is full of gratitude and respect for the minister, Charles. Naturally, he is eager to please the minister, even if he is full of compliments.

Although he was used to hearing flattery from others, when these words came out of Alphonse's mouth, Ciel still felt very happy. Of course, such a little flattery would not make him lose his calmness and reason. He knows exactly what he wants.

"Since things are going very smoothly here, I think you have nothing else to worry about. Alphonse, please pay a little attention during this time and focus your energy on advancing to the Pyrenees. Let’s take care of other things.” Charles said to the other party with a smile on his face.

"Well, your Excellency, minister, you don't have to worry, everything is on the right track." Alphonse immediately assured Charles, "With Mr. Ambassador coming forward, the Spanish government is thinking about developing the local economy as soon as possible. , so things are going very smoothly. I estimate that the main trunk line will be started in a while, and we will be able to connect France and Madrid within a few years!”

"Spain is a poor country, and its politics are very chaotic. From time to time, there will be two big news..." Charles reminded the other party in a low voice.

"You don't have to worry about this. I'm not afraid to tell you here. In Spain, both the faction on stage and the faction below have already communicated well... Besides, they can't go against the local government. They won't be allowed to build the railway, right?" Alphonse smiled, "But , their weak finances are indeed worrying, so this is why I came to you, isn't it? If such an unfortunate incident really happens, as long as you nod, we can of course confiscate the Spanish government's assets in France. The assets are used as collateral, which is of course very simple..."

Ciel just smiled again, neither admitting nor denying.

As an experienced heir to a banker, Alphonse certainly understands what this smile means - in the political world, there are no angels, so if you want help from others, you must naturally be prepared to let others get what you want.

"Don't worry, Your Excellency." He threw the apple core into a small ashtray next to him, and then assured Charles excitedly, "In this enterprise, your share is indispensable. To be honest, you If not, it will be even more difficult for us!”

"Very good." Charles nodded slightly, appreciating the other party's obedient attitude. Then he casually pointed at Mary next to him, "Now that she is here, let her be responsible for these things. If you have anything, Just tell her, if there is anything she can't do, she will call me."

"Yes, I understand. Don't worry, Your Excellency!" Alphonse naturally agreed immediately and then nodded to Mary.

Having been in the vanity fair for so many years, he naturally understands this kind of routine - for a minister, he knows this kind of thing better and better, it is best to never smell the smell of copper, and dirty things are always around him Some obscure person will do it. In this way, there will be no traces, and it will make yourself clear if anything happens.

Mary wisely did not intervene between the two young men, but nodded to Alphonse with the same smile.

However, Alphonse felt that this smile seemed to reveal something else in the politeness, as if it was implying, "If you are okay, please go out for a while. Your Excellency, the Minister and I will be alone for a while."

It seems that she is really favored, so if she is so confident, she will really have to take her seriously in the future. Seeing her such a natural hint, Alphonse thought to himself.

When he thought of this, he had no interest in disturbing His Excellency the Minister's fun anymore.

He stood up directly, then stretched comfortably, "Okay, Your Excellency, you can rest here for a while, I will also stretch my muscles..."

Then, he bowed slightly, turned around, and strode out.

The so-called stretching, of course, is not just about him doing exercises alone, but someone accompanying him to stretch his muscles. Although the number of maids serving here is not large, they have all been carefully selected and have very good personalities. reliable.

Their income is very considerable, which can be said to be much higher than that of similar positions outside, and their only task is to accompany these guests, so that they can relax during their busy schedule and relieve the stress accumulated in their body and mind—— Of course, such a high salary also allows them to keep everything they experience here secret - this hidden club is also filled with too many shady secrets. Charles planned to turn this place into his from the beginning. It is a place to entertain subordinates and collaborators, so everything that should be provided will naturally be there.

And Alphonse was in such a happy mood today, which had already accelerated the blood flow in his body, so it was understandable that he wanted to vent.

After he left, Mary went directly to the door, waved away the maid who wanted to come over to pack her things, then closed the door, walked back to the sofa and leaned down.

But this time she was even more unruly than before. She pressed directly against Ciel's body, then picked up a grape from the side, peeled it off and put it into Ciel's mouth.

"Well, thank you!" Charles said drowsily, half-opening his eyes.

"Sir, aren't you worried about me?" However, after such a gentle move, she suddenly asked a question.

"Huh? Worried about you?" Ciel felt a little strange.

"You...you brought me to such a position, and let me come into contact with so many people and so many things, and now you ask me to help you deal with these...aren't you worried about me at all?" Mary raised her hands He held his head gently and asked him with a smile.

"Oh, I'm not worried." Charles replied immediately, "You have always been loyal, why should I worry?"

"Can loyalty solve all problems? In my opinion, it may not be possible..." Mary blinked playfully, then touched his forehead, "I am loyal to you without a doubt, but the current situation I may not be loyal to you. Now that you are on the rise and all your dreams come true, how can you Will it continue to be like this in the future? I'm afraid it may not always be smooth sailing... And I, unfortunately, I know so many things and have become the only intermediary between you and him. If I shut up by then... I will definitely be able to Will it save you a lot of trouble?"

Charles didn't answer now. He looked at Mary with wide eyes, and he was a little shocked for a moment.

Although Mary seemed to be very intoxicated, she did not let the glory and wealth that came to her face go to her head. She wisely discovered that she had changed from being behind the scenes to becoming a figure that Charles pushed to the front. Although she shouldered a lot of responsibilities She was much more powerful and powerful, but the dangers that accompanied her were also much greater, especially when she found that she had also become the middleman between the minister and a large group of bankers and industrial giants.

As much power as you carry with you, so much danger lurks around you.

"I didn't expect you to think of so many things, Mary, you are so smart." After a moment of silence, Charles couldn't help but patted Mary's forehead, "But don't worry, I... like people who are loyal to me. , and I am by no means a despicable person who dares not take responsibility. Since you are loyal to me, I will naturally protect you at all costs, and no one can put you in danger. "

"Promises are certainly very useful things, but... times will change." Mary shook her head slightly, her golden hair swaying slightly at any time, "Of course you are a good person personally, but you are not alone. You must Considering the overall situation, sometimes it is inevitable to think of some once-and-for-all solutions..."

"Pfft hahahaha!" Charles laughed, and then couldn't help but reach out and stroke the hair on her forehead, "Silly child, there is no need to think so much! Don't worry blindly, don't worry, unless we really People are angry, the empire is over, and I will lose everything, otherwise... As long as I still have a little bit of residue left, then there will be no one I will be held accountable for everything I did while in office, because everyone is the same! If I are held accountable, what will happen to others in the future? No one will do this, otherwise every party will be wiped out. Neither the government nor the political party can exist! So, no matter what, I can keep you unless God abandons us."

Charles said this sincerely. Bribery has always been the lubricant of French politics and the food that every politician relies on to survive. This was true in the Bourbon dynasty in the 17th century, it is true now in the 19th century, and it is still true in the 21st century. Famous figures such as Chirac, Jospin, and Sarkozy have all been involved in similar scandals - of course They all got away from these scandals easily. I am afraid that in the 23rd century, the situation will not be much different.

Because people are always people, the society composed of people must run according to the distribution of interest groups and political groups.

A politician, regardless of whether he is a good person or a bad person, as long as he wants to become a powerful person or even one of the rulers of the country, then he must have a political group, and if he wants to maintain a political group, he must have Something that holds them together.

This thing must either be lofty ideals and political principles, or it must be money. However, lofty ideals and principles are too rare and too easy to lose. No matter how long-lasting the enthusiasm is, it cannot persist for more than one generation. In the end, Players in the field of power found that they had to use money to drive the power machines in their hands.

Even if Charles is defeated and temporarily withdraws from power, no one will hold him accountable for how he made money and how he spent it - just as the Bonapartists did not hold accountable the previous dignitaries of the July Dynasty. Nothing else. Reason, simply because they themselves would do the same thing.

Mary listened carefully to Charles' explanation and didn't say anything until finally she asked.

"Then according to you, we can only continue to be filthy like this? Ah... please forgive me for using this word..."

"It doesn't matter, we are doing dirty things. But just as the existence of light is inevitable, the existence of filth is also inevitable. People always look to saints to save themselves and the country, but when saints really come, they will inevitably curse them. , because saints know Others are often held to unachievable standards, and people are too lazy to do it, so they have to drive the saints away. As a result, in the end, everyone will find that the stage is filled with hypocrites. But is this a situation like this? Who can be a saint if it is not in line with the wishes of the people?” Charles sighed and said helplessly, "Mary, we are the only ones here now. Let me tell you the truth. Are His Majesty the Emperor and me really greedy? No, our hearts are not. So young...we were not so extravagant and lustful. Now we The standard of living is enough for us, and I still feel that I am very simple! But can we really exercise power alone? We can’t do it! So, in order to drive my deployment and exercise my power, I It has to be done, there is no way around it.”

Charles actually said this from his heart. As far as he is concerned, he already has enough money now. All living expenses are reimbursed by public transportation. Food, clothing, housing and transportation are all very luxurious. He can get everything he wants, and he still has money in his hand. With a huge budget at his disposal... Personally, what else could he not be satisfied with?

But he can't be satisfied, because he has political ambitions and goals. He wants to gain greater influence and power - at least he must speak the truth in his own field, and to achieve this goal, he must There is a political group loyal to him who serves him, goes through fire and water for him, and carries out all his orders.

There is no unreasonable loyalty in the world, at least the vast majority of people do not. Others are loyal to him because they want to get benefits from him, either financial benefits or rapid advancement, and in the end it boils down to the need for money as a bond. Ideals and beliefs are not permanent things, but money is eternal.

Therefore, he must try his best to obtain enough benefits and money for his political group. If he does not do this, his subordinates will be disappointed and feel that there is no point in being loyal to him, and then his political power will disappear, and This is definitely a consequence he cannot accept.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

There is no doubt that this is corruption, the corruption of the empire that has been forever cursed by outside commentators and newspapers. As a minister, he must also be a main person responsible for the entire corrupt system.

However, while the Empire was indeed very corrupt in terms of corruption, how could the Republic be any worse?

In the original world line, it was during the Republic era that a scandal that shocked the world broke out. In 1879, the French entrepreneur and engineer Lesseps obtained the right to dig the Panama Canal from the Colombian government (at that time, this place was still part of Colombian territory). In 1881, he formed the Panama Canal Drilling Company and established operations in France and A large number of shares were issued throughout Europe, totaling more than 3 billion francs.

And because they saw the prospect of the canal, a large group of French petty and medium-sized bourgeoisie who wanted to make a fortune immediately snapped up all the stocks in the market. However, after the canal was started, due to the underestimation of the scale of the canal excavation project, the harsh conditions imposed on Lesseps by the French Bank, and the corruption and squandering of the excavation company, the funds were quickly exhausted. The serious lack of funds also made the project Soon he was in dire straits.

In order to obtain more funds, the company attempts to issue new shares, but this requires legislative authorization from parliament and approval from the government. To this end, the company used bank intermediaries to use large amounts of money to bribe state dignitaries, senior officials, members of parliament and the press and public opinion circles, thereby obtaining the consent of parliament and the government and issuing a large number of stocks. However, in February 1889, after the company defrauded a large amount of stock money, it suddenly declared bankruptcy due to debts of 1.28 billion francs. Only 1/3 of the project was completed and was forced to stop work. About 900,000 small shareholders who had purchased shares went bankrupt and many companies went bankrupt.

The company suddenly declared bankruptcy and all the funds disappeared. The bad news soon caused a violent commotion in France. At this time, the press broke the news. The former three cabinet prime ministers, Freisine and Rouvier, , Floquet, the famous Radical leader Clemenceau, as well as important officials such as the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of War, the Speaker, and hundreds of parliamentarians, as well as some newspaper reporters were bribed by this company - and it was also true that It was the support of a large number of government officials that led to the largest financial scam in the 19th century.

According to press reports, former prime ministers and Clemenceau took bribes of 1 million francs, and some members of parliament received 500,000 francs. The total number is too numerous to mention. Because of the outrage among people who had been deceived, in February 1893, the French government was forced to try the chairman and three directors of the Panama Company for fraud. The judicial authorities sentenced the 88-year-old company chairman Lesseps and his son Company director 5 years in prison and NT$3,000 Lang was fined, and the other three co-defendants were sentenced to 2 years in prison. However, almost all the top government figures who took bribes were at large, and the losses suffered by the people could no longer be recovered, and billions of francs of assets disappeared. Entering into the pockets of money that some people hide in darkness.

After that, Clemenceau quickly got rid of the impact of this negative news and continued to be his political leader without much impact. He later served as president and prime minister during the First World War, saving the country. France is in dire straits - this is a somewhat ironic fact.

Whether it is Freisine, Rouvière, Clemenceau, Louis Bonaparte or Charles de Treville, or the subsequent politicians, as long as they want this political power in France If they grow up in an environment, they must follow the inevitable logic of the fame and fortune fair and the political field, otherwise their power will be in name only, and they will not even be able to maintain their position.

Because he has seen through this, Ciel has no scruples at all. Anyway, those who can really punish him will not punish him for this kind of thing, and those who cannot punish him will have no use even if they curse him, he doesn't care at all. ——Compared to those who make money but do nothing, he feels that he has done a lot of things.

"I understand...Sir..." After listening to Ciel's explanation, although she was still a little confused, Mary nodded.

"It's good to understand, Mary, so you don't have to worry at all." Charles sighed, and then wiped her cheek lovingly, "If you are really scared, that's okay, just refuse these now. You can still do what you were doing before.”

"No, sir, please let me stay with you like this!" Mary suddenly shook her head firmly, and then put her hand on Charles's shoulder, "Life is just a gamble. Since I have already made it, I should bet, and I should continue to bet with you until the last moment... If I really lose everything, then even if I am abandoned by you, it is destined to be cause and effect. Since we have come to this point, I He will never back down from battle..."

As she spoke, her hand slowly slid down, and then suddenly stopped in a strange position.

Then, her slender fingers began to move and untied the thin straps above.

"Mary..." Charles looked at her strangely, but Mary turned a deaf ear.

"Mary... don't be like this. We don't have much time today. We have dinner later!" Charles couldn't help but remind her.

"It's okay, sir, we have some time," Mary suddenly squatted under the sofa, then raised her head and smiled slyly, her beautiful eyes facing Charles, "We can do something interesting..."

Then, she gently pulled it, and a large piece of skin was exposed.

Against the white skin of the abdomen and thighs, the slightly yellowish-brown thing looked a bit abrupt.

However, Mary didn't care about this sudden feeling. Under Charles's surprised gaze, she put her hands on it.

"Uh..." Ciel exclaimed, but under such stimulation, he stood up straight.

"Look, what an honest person you are!" Mary smiled slyly again, then suddenly lowered her head and took the front part of her mouth.

"Oh!" Ciel couldn't help but exclaimed when the warm tongue touched it.

Like her friends, Mary is also a thorough activist. Under Charlotte's humiliation, she is determined and determined to take revenge. Now that she has made up her mind, of course she will be able to do it to the end.

There are so many women out there, all of them young and beautiful. If she can overcome them now, what about in the future? What about next? Time will eventually wear her away.

But she can never do without this person. She must do more and better than others, whether it is official or private matters. If she can get a child in the future, then everything will be stable for her.

While thinking calmly, she manipulated it carefully, so that the warm comfort could stimulate her benefactor just right.

Naturally, the thing in her mouth swelled more and more, and finally she was choked and breathless.

"Mary...Mary..." Charles, who was so stimulated, couldn't help shouting repeatedly, but he neither tried to stop nor did he try to do it more intensely. He just watched Mary do this, and then gently moved his hand down and touched Reaching Mary's thick yet slender golden hair, "Hey, you don't have to be like this!"

"No..." Mary said in a vague tone like holding bread in her mouth, and then said little by little in the intervals, "This is... my thanks to you... and my tribute, Your Excellency... although it is so insignificant, but I ...I also hope that in the future you can continue to protect me and help me as you did before..."

As she spoke, she stared at the brown thing in front of her, trying to imagine what chocolate looked like. Although this thing didn't look, smell, or move like chocolate, when she thought about it, she felt surprisingly better. The feeling of suffocation that comes from time to time seems to be much smaller.

It's a pity that you can't see, you can't see how terrible things people can do if they are motivated by revenge.

Mary narrowed her eyes slightly, and then gradually adapted to the suffocation feeling. She was careful not to let her teeth touch the fragile skin. However, the unfamiliar experience still made her feel a sense of rawness soon, and saliva began to flow from the corners of her mouth. Some leaked out from the edge.

As for Charles, who encountered this kind of stimulation for the first time, he didn't waste too much time. He suddenly stopped, and then his whole body froze, and then white and viscous liquid jumped out, once, twice and three times until it stopped. .

At this time, Mary stopped and Charles withdrew.

Mary raised her head and looked at Charles, who was obviously still immersed in the aftertaste of this joy. She felt a little hot in her mouth, which quickly became normal temperature with the saliva, but this... was still the heat of revenge. flame.

She swallowed it with endless gratitude and vengeful fury.

"What a kitten..." Ciel couldn't help but sigh, and then continued to wipe her hair. (~^~)