Flowers, Swords and France

In the cool breeze of the summer morning, the Gallipoli Peninsula ushered in a new sunrise.

This is a long and narrow peninsula that extends from the European continent into the Mediterranean Sea, and together with the land of Asia Minor, it forms a narrow entrance. At this time, the sea surface is calm, and only the sound of waves hitting the coast rhythmically continues to come.

The waves beat against the reefs and beaches, splashing white and crystal water several feet high, and then reluctantly retreating, sweeping again and again without stopping, leaving pieces of silver foam on the beach. The mist filled the sea, making everything shrouded in an illusory state, as if eternity was concentrated in this moment.

But soon, such peace was broken.

In the virtual mist, the figure of a fleet loomed. This fleet was huge in scale, with a large group of warships surrounding the outer extension, and transport ships in the middle. In the mist, their figures were vaguely entangled together, as if covering the entire sea surface.

As the sun rose to the sky, the fog gradually dissipated, and the full picture of this huge fleet was finally clearly visible in the sun, and their long journey had temporarily come to an end.

On this narrow peninsula, these transport ships emerged from the fog, slowly emerging their outlines in the shadows, and then slowly approached the coast, and finally stopped on the shore.

This beach was not originally a port, and it was difficult to accommodate the fleet's docking. However, after the efforts of the workers before, a temporary pier had been built on the sea surface, and the warships gave way to the seaside, and the transport ships with deep draft slowly docked at the pier.

Then, the transport ships docked in the front row lowered the ladders one by one, and then the soldiers who were ready to go inside walked out in the neat queue when they were inspected. After they got off the ship, they came to the shore through the plank road to assemble, and then readjusted the formation under the order of the officers on the shore.

After these soldiers, transport ships loaded with a large amount of supplies and weapons also began to approach the shore. Under the orders of the officers, the soldiers who had disembarked and the civilians in this temporary port helped unload the transport ships and moved the supplies from the ships.

In the midst of this busyness, the warships of this fleet also docked at the shore, quietly looking at the calm sea in front of them.

On the flagship battleship Napoleon, Marshal Treville, the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, stood on the deck, holding a telescope, and calmly looked at everything in front of him.

His sight passed by the soldiers on the beach and the transport ships, and then fell on the narrow waterway on the side of the Gallipoli Peninsula. After many days of sailing, the advance fleet of the French expeditionary force finally arrived on the ground in Turkey, and they will gather here to be ready, and then put into the battlefield on the coast of the Black Sea.

As long as they enter the Dardanelles, which is only one or two kilometers in the narrowest place, and then cross the waterway of the Sea of ​​Marmara, and then cross the Bolshaya Strait on the other side of the continent, they will reach the Black Sea, where they are destined to fight with the Russians.

It is very desolate here, with cliffs everywhere, leaving only a short and shallow beach for the expeditionary army to land, and in the distance, some small Turkish-style buildings can be seen in the shadows. These buildings are square and unremarkable, with a hint of exotic style different from Europe.

Looking from here, the glorious city of Constantinople, which has stood for a thousand years at the junction of the East and the West - unfortunately it is now called Istanbul - is already in sight.

This will be the first European army to cross this strait since the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

However, this army is here to save the country that destroyed the holy city of Christianity.

But what a great cause it is! The old man sighed in his heart.

Surrounding the old marshal were a group of soldiers in army and navy uniforms. These senior officers were in high spirits, wearing gorgeous clothes and medals, and were obviously full of confidence in the next career.

"We are finally here, Your Excellency Marshal." A middle-aged man with a dazzling medal on his chest said in the marshal's ear, "I hope the Turks welcome us!"

He was probably in his forties, handsome, with a rough beard, and looked energetic.

His name was Michel-Louis-Felix-Ney, a general in the French Army.

The surname Ney alone can explain his status-he is the son of Marshal Ney, who was particularly valued by Emperor Napoleon when he was alive, and inherited his title of Duke of Elchingen.

In the era of victory in his military career, Marshal Ney had fought with the Emperor in many important battles, and had made great contributions and received a lot of rewards. He had participated in the Russian campaign and led his troops into Moscow, and was given the title of Prince of Moscova.

However, when Emperor Napoleon's career collapsed and the anti-French coalition forces entered France, Marshal Ney changed his mind, persuaded the Emperor to abdicate, and immediately returned to Louis XVIII and his restored dynasty.

Louis XVIII tried to win over the former marshal, appointed him as the commander of the military district and awarded him the highest medal of honor, but when Napoleon sneaked back to France to restore the empire, he wavered and returned to the Emperor's command.

Unfortunately, this time, God did not favor Napoleon. This genius was defeated at Waterloo and never had a chance to turn over. Marshal Ney, who had repeated several times, was also hated by Louis XVIII and the restoration dynasty. After a short trial, the dynasty government announced that he was shot near the garden of the Luxembourg Palace (now the Senate meeting place). However, in order to preserve his dignity as an army marshal, he was allowed to order the firing squad to open fire. He was only 46 years old when he died, leaving four sons.

The eldest son Joseph inherited his title of Prince of Moscova, and the second son Michel inherited the title of Duke of Elchingen. These children were depressed in the Restoration era and did not re-enter their careers until the July Monarchy era. However, it was not until their leader, Louis Bonaparte, returned to France and regained power in the country that their era of prosperity finally arrived.

Joseph became a member of the Senate and was re-appointed by His Majesty the Emperor to join the political world, while the Duke of Elchingen became a general and was ambitious, determined to inherit his father's career and make the Ney family name shine again.

Such a great war with the Russians inspired the Duke in two ways - first, he would complete his father's unfinished business and fight the Russians to the end; second, he firmly believed that he would make meritorious contributions in the war and become a marshal again after his father.

The ambitious Duke of Elchingen is a microcosm of the military aristocracy that now dominates the French army. Since Napoleon I, and even further since the beginning of the Great Revolution, the rulers of France have relied heavily on the army to rule the country. Whether it was the Directory, Napoleon, Louis XVIII, or Louis Philippe, every French ruler in the past eighty years has repeatedly launched wars against foreign countries, so much so that they were ridiculed as "the country on the bayonet wrapped in the tricolor flag."

They rely on the army, and the army also relies on them to win honor, grace and rewards. In the Napoleonic era, a large number of former revolutionary soldiers were rewarded by Napoleon and became nobles. These new military nobles have a greater desire to win new victories, and their descendants are very jealous of the "glory" of their predecessors. They continue to want to follow the old path of their predecessors and rely on military victories to fight for personal wealth.

The army that once swept across Europe and took revolution as its mission, after the revolution, after the deliberate influence of two emperors and three kings, became a bastion of dictatorship. They pursue militarism and believe that monarchical dictatorship is a necessary measure to save the country. At the same time, they believe that socialism is tantamount to poison to destroy the country. The entire country should be built in martial arts and respect for order.

One of the main reasons why the Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy fell was that the officers in the core of the army believed that the monarchs were too weak and cautious under the shackles of the Vienna system, which reduced the glory of France. Therefore, they were unwilling to suppress the revolution and would rather watch these monarchs fall.

It is precisely because of this that the emperor swept away the restrictions of the Vienna system on France, expanded the army again, and then declared war on the Russians, which was cheered by the army. This tough attitude finally won him the heartfelt support of the army. Stimulated by the glory and martial arts vigorously promoted by the emperor, these soldiers were all ambitious and wanted to make their names in history. For personal fame and wealth, they could burn the war to every corner of the world without hesitation, and they were not even willing to care how much benefit such a war would bring to France itself.

And Gallipoli will be the first step in their journey.

Marshal Treville also felt the excitement of him and his colleagues. In fact, as a marquis personally conferred by Emperor Napoleon, he himself was also a member of this group of military nobles. Today, when those famous marshals and generals conferred by Emperor Napoleon have all died, the old general who is still alive is already one of the idols of the army and enjoys high prestige. He and his subordinates are eager to try, and they are determined to complete the feat they failed to complete forty years ago.

But he knows that the most important thing to lead a large army is to keep a clear mind at all times.

"The Turks will undoubtedly welcome us." He looked ahead calmly, and then whispered, "But this welcome will undoubtedly be more verbal."

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

"What? We come to save their lives, how dare they not be happy?" The Duke smiled disdainfully.

"I don't doubt their sincerity, but they are a slow-moving, old and sick man, and they can't give us much support." The old man put down the telescope and turned to look at his subordinates, "We'd better not expect to get anything from the Turks. We should first find a way to solve all problems by ourselves. Do you understand?"

In front of these officers, the old marshal stood straight with a serious face. He wore a bicorne hat, and the St. Louis Knight Medal on his chest, which was made by Emperor Napoleon himself, shone in the sun, just like the great era reappeared.

"Understood." The officers answered at the same time.

"Hurry up and ask the front to speed up, transport the tents and daily necessities first, and set up camp before night, so that the soldiers who disembark will have a safe place to live." Under the gaze of the officers, the old man calmly gave orders, "Fortunately, it is summer now, and we don't have to worry about the severe cold at night... By the way, send a search team along the coast and recruit some civilians to assist us as soon as possible, without waiting for the Turkish government."

"Yes, Marshal!" A herald saluted, then took a small boat to the shore to convey the commander-in-chief's instructions.

There is no doubt that the so-called recruitment is to send troops to search deep inland, and directly tie up young and strong men to serve as laborers, so that they can help the expeditionary army set up camp as soon as possible.

Although Turkey is now an ally of France, it seems a bit inappropriate to do so, but this is a military necessity, and no one questions it.

"Marshal, it is estimated that officials from the Turkish government will come soon. How should we deal with them?" Duke Elchingen asked.

"Let's deal with the Turkish government. Since we are here, we should go to Byzantium..." The old man smiled, as if he was daydreaming about that city.

"Do you also yearn for it?" The Duke laughed, "Many of our officers want to go there... How about we take a military delegation? The Sultan will be happy to receive us."

"We can go to Constantinople at any time. Now it's important to set up camp. Let those young people hang out on the beach for a few days." The old marshal shook his head, "We will go first."

"Okay, sir." The Duke accepted his order.

After giving one order after another, the old marshal regained his composure. He picked up the telescope again and looked at the outline of the holy city that was vaguely visible in the distance.

"What a beautiful place... Michel, my ancestors have been there... Now I am following in their footsteps again, which is really exciting." The old man's tone was full of emotion.

"Your ancestors?" The Duke was a little puzzled. "When?"

"At that time, they joined the Crusades and looted there with everyone. Some of our heirlooms were brought back by him, but unfortunately they were stolen during the Revolution." The old man answered with nostalgia, "I still remember the scene when my father explained those things to me."

This is a true nobleman, whose ancestors participated in the Crusades! The Duke thought with envy.