Flowers, Swords and France

When the two grandparents told him to cancel, young George felt a little embarrassed, but he didn't dare to say much, so he had to lower his head and let the marshal and the minister talk to themselves.

However, he was not dissatisfied with the minister's order. He had already known the relationship between his sister and the minister. Although he couldn't understand why his beloved sister, whom he had loved since childhood, chose to be the lover of a married man, it was precisely because of Matilda that he had a little more respect for Charles like his brother.

In particular, it was because of the protection of the Treville family that he was able to become the adjutant of Marshal Treville just after graduating from the military academy.

Not to mention that being next to the commander-in-chief can reduce many dangers on the battlefield, after the war is over, the experience of being next to the commander-in-chief of the expedition will also become a valuable part of his resume and provide him with a solid backing.

So whether considering kinship or practical interests, he felt that he should obey the orders of the Treville family and believed in the words of the minister.

As time passed, the loading work came to an end. The blue ocean on the shore began to become sparse. Most of the officers and soldiers had already boarded the transport ship, looking forward to their performance in the future war in excitement and anxiety.

Although some people were destined to die at the beginning, no one would think that they were one of them. Even if they died in battle, they would die like a hero.

During the casual conversation, Charles and Marshal Treville and his party also came to the end of the plank road.

The shadow cast by the huge warship enveloped everyone. The sky seemed to suddenly darken. Charles looked up and saw a whole row of sailing battleships lined up in front of him, like a proud giant. The soft lines of the hull, the towering masts, the huge sails that swelled and fluttered in the sea breeze, and the blue sky above their heads seemed to have some soft artistic atmosphere. In the breath that came towards them, the original fishy smell in the sea breeze was also added with a smell of wood and gunpowder mixed together.

Although he knew that the tonnage and firepower of these ships were not worth mentioning according to the standards before he crossed over, when he stood in front of these warships at close range and felt their breath, Charles still couldn't help but feel touched.

This is the king of the sea for centuries, and it is also the most beautiful and grand crystallization of human manufacturing in the world today. It is also relying on these sailing warships that European countries have created their colonial era and reached the peak of history. It has also created a new era in human history, an era that truly connects all civilizations on the earth.

Perhaps in such an era, there are greedy plunder and terrifying slaughter, but if there is no such an era, perhaps human history will always stop there, and cycle back and forth in a closed world.

This era is cruel, but cruelty is the cornerstone of the new era.

"Okay, let's have lunch on the boat." While Charles was still immersed in his reverie, the old marquis suddenly spoke again. He picked up the marshal's baton and pointed at the Napoleon battleship in front of him. "I have never eaten warship meals in my life. It's time to experience a new feeling."

"You will have the best chefs in the navy to serve you. Our navy is very happy to provide you with the best conditions." The Minister of the Navy said to the marshal attentively, "Considering that you will stay there for a long time, I will have someone bring some fine wines up, all of which are my treasured Bordeaux..."

"You are so considerate, sir." The old marquis couldn't help laughing, "But I'm not traveling."

"Preparing the best living conditions for the commander-in-chief, keeping his body and mind in the healthiest state, and keeping a clear mind is one of the things we must do to win this war." Minister of the Navy Jean-Dico also laughed, "Marshal, we will do everything we can to make you win this war comfortably."

His words are not very strange. Since ancient times, the navy has been a well-paid branch of the military, especially the noble officers on the ships. They not only have the power of life and death over the sailors, but also have much higher living conditions than ordinary sailors. Marshal Treville is the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force. It is simply a matter of course for the navy to have the best living conditions.

"Thank you for your enthusiasm. I'm really a little embarrassed." Marshal Treville smiled, then turned to look at his grandson, and his expression suddenly became complicated.

A vague smile appeared on his old and wrinkled face, and there was reluctance, expectation, and... the relief of seeing his grandson grow up.

"Okay, I'm leaving first, you do your best here." He left this sentence, then turned and walked towards the wooden gangway, ready to board the battleship.

And his smile touched Charles again.

He had been accustomed to the old man's old look in recent years, but today it particularly touched his heart. From today on, grandpa will leave him and go to the battlefield thousands of miles away.

Can he... really come back? This question suddenly flashed through Charles' mind.

Although the navy will definitely provide the most favorable living conditions for his grandfather, this is the 19th century when resources are scarce and medicine is rudimentary. Even if he has no research on history, Charles knows that the French army was in the Crimean War in history. Most casualties came not from enemy gunfire but from disease.

Even the coach at the time, Marshal Saint-Arnault, died of illness there and was sent back home.

Marshal Saint-Arnaud, who was in his prime, could not withstand the attack of the epidemic, let alone an old man who was already over seventy years old? Although Charles was unwilling to admit it emotionally, intellectually he still knew that his grandfather's trip was very dangerous.

The impulsive emotion made his heart unable to calm down at this moment. He opened his mouth, trying to dissuade her one last time.

However, when the words rushed to his lips, he finally endured them.

He had said these words countless times before, but his grandfather refused without hesitation. He insisted on making this expedition the most glorious chapter in his life. What reason is there to reject him?

Maybe you will die, but if you stay at home, you will inevitably die.

Some people, even if they die, will die gloriously. If...if fate is really destined to be like this, then what face do I have to stop it?

Charles raised his head and looked at his grandfather who had already walked up the gangway.

Although he was already very old, the cavalry general still stood straight and walked in front with a proud attitude and steady steps. His steps were so steady that he did not look tired at all.

He didn't look back. Even though Charles knew that he couldn't let go of himself, his great-grandson and the entire family, he still didn't look back. He insisted on the reserve and arrogance he taught his grandson until the end.

Yes, this is the last lesson.

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

What he can do, I can do too. Ciel thought to himself.

So, with an inexplicable reverence, he watched his grandfather, surrounded by a group of people behind him, step onto the ship, and then hide in the hull of the ship until he finally disappeared.

On this warm yet ordinary afternoon, the first batch of expeditionary forces assembled in Toulon Port, along with their equipment and horses, as well as their commander-in-chief and his entourage, boarded the transport ship and prepared to start a new journey. . Many of them are destined to be unable to return to their hometowns.

Until the ship began to pull up the anchor, then slowly turned, heading towards the vast sea in the distance, Charles was still looking into the distance, watching the warship leave, unable to turn his eyes away, until finally the ship Hidden under the sea level, he became a wanderer in the distance.

"Your grandfather is worthy of admiration." At this time, His Excellency Jean-Dicot, the Minister of the Navy, who was watching the ship leave, finally spoke again, "He is a fighter and a legacy of our great era. From him, We can always see that heroic century, although I can't help it I saw the emperor himself, but when I saw him, I could see the shadow... If only we could be as powerful as them. That generation believed that there was something higher than death, and they faced it with a smile. The artillery charge is different from our hedonistic era."

"We will definitely be able to make stronger achievements than their generation, because this is his expectation of me, and I can't live up to it." Charles replied in a low voice, as if he was saying to him and to himself, "It's an obligation."

"Yes, obligation." The Navy Minister nodded with approval, "Thank you very much for remembering the word obligation... Sometimes I don't see this in many people. They always think that everything is fine now."

"What do you mean?" Charles was a little curious.

"Of course it refers to that!" The Admiralty of the Navy raised his hand and pointed to the northwest. "Some people think it is good now because the British are on our side... Yes, that's right, if the British If people support us, we will be successful, but what if the British do not support us? Should we always count on this? No, no, we should also have freedom of action, just because we are France, not Some miserable vassal of the British."

Charles was silent.

As Lord of the Admiralty, it is normal for him to want to compete with the British.

However, now is not a good time to show any hostility towards the British. After all, everyone is still in the same boat.

"What you said makes sense to me." Finally, Ciel replied somewhat reservedly, "We are indeed obliged to have freedom of movement."

"Really? Then let's drink to our obligation." His Excellency the Lord Admiralty replied with a smile, "Let's go, let's go have lunch? To be honest, I'm quite hungry too."

"It's a great honor." Charles nodded, then turned around and left with the Admiralty Minister.