Flowers, Swords and France

After carefully testing Louis Bonaparte's true intentions, Charles immediately felt much more relaxed. ,

He finally found that his cooperation with Baron de Beauvain had hope of continuing.

And as long as he can get the support of the big banker, what he will get from Louis Bonaparte will soon be as much as what he pays.

"Charles, how are you preparing for Sartori?" Louis Bonaparte finally asked the question that concerned him most at the moment.

"As you wished, everything went very smoothly," Charles nodded. "I will go there for inspection next. Many officers and soldiers are already there."

"That's good, Charles." Louis Bonaparte breathed a visible sigh of relief, "I wish you all the best."

"Okay, I know." Seeing that the other party was planning to end the interview, Ciel stood up straight and planned to say goodbye to him.

"By the way, I have another good news to tell you." Just when Charles was about to say goodbye, as if he remembered something, Louis Bonaparte suddenly showed a faint smile on his face.

"Char, as a reward for your family's contribution, I plan to promote your grandfather to the rank of marshal. As for the time... on the day of the military parade? Your grandfather will become the marshal in front of the senior generals of the entire army..."

Even though he had heard some rumors beforehand, Charles couldn't help but feel excited at this time.

Yes, he is very happy now, not only because his grandfather is about to be awarded one of the glorious titles in the French team (the most glorious one is of course the Grand Marshal), but also because. He used his own efforts to change the history he knew well.

He knew it clearly. In the original history, there was no such figure as Marshal Treville in the Second French Republic and the Second Empire. But now, his grandfather will become the marshal who "does not exist in history".

I, an ordinary young man, have actually accomplished such a feat... Even though he was used to being calm, Charles couldn't help but beam with joy at this moment.

However, I am still not satisfied. This is just a trivial first step. A longer, farther, and more glorious road is still ahead, and I must continue to walk unswervingly. No matter what is blocking the front, kick it away...

Seeing Charles's excitement at this time, Louis Bonaparte patted Charles on the shoulder with a smile. "Young man, there is still a lot for you to gain, just keep on doing it."

"Yes..." Charles bent down and bowed to his boss again, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

This honorific title of advance payment obviously made Louis Bonaparte feel more comfortable. He made a gesture, and then watched Ciel leave with a smile.

……………………

With this relaxed and happy mood, Charles bid farewell to the Elysée Palace. As soon as he came out, he walked directly onto his carriage and let him drive him out of the city. Set foot on the road to Sartori.

Along the way, he could already see soldiers marching on the road in twos and threes.

These soldiers got off the train from the train station in the western suburbs of Paris and marched all the way to Sartori. Preparing to be stationed there to participate in the scheduled military parade.

Because they had been marching for a while, their military uniforms were already a little gray. The soldiers were also a little disheveled because they had not had much rest, and their weapons were only carried casually. And their officers had no intention of scolding them, and also marched with them with their heads pulled down. This was not so much a large army preparing for a review, but rather looked like a defeated army retreating from the battlefield.

After seeing his carriage marked as the official vehicle of the War Department, these officers and soldiers all consciously moved out of the way, allowing Charles to rush towards his destination in a light carriage.

However, Ciel, who was sitting in the carriage and looking at them all the time, was not happy about it. Although he knew that after these soldiers arrived at their destination and received rest and sufficient food, the mental outlook of these officers and soldiers would be completely renewed and they would become a force with strong combat effectiveness again, he was still a little annoyed.

This irritation was not directed at the group of officers and soldiers - it was not surprising that anyone would show such a state of mind after a long march; this irritation was directed at himself.

This is an activity I prepared for, but I was so prepared that I couldn’t be satisfied with it.

Charles felt even more that he should speed up the construction of the railway network in the coming days, so as to shorten the marching time of the soldiers as much as possible in any possible operation, so that they could devote all their energy to fighting the enemy. Only by working hard like this bit by bit can he accumulate victory and bring himself the most glorious and glorious ending.

In this way, after several hours of turbulence, Ciel finally came to Sartori again.

This time, in addition to Albert, Lucien and Captain Rochar, there were also more army generals who came to greet him. As soon as he stepped off the carriage, all these people surrounded him and greeted Charles enthusiastically, and his father's old acquaintance, General de Corvey, was also among them.

This group of army officers were all determined to join the Bonapartist faction, so they were even more enthusiastic about the military parade. They rushed over almost immediately and took this opportunity to express their position.

Charles greeted everyone politely, trying not to make anyone feel that they were being neglected, and these officers also greeted Charles with a smile, and their attitude was surprisingly good.

That's right, the news that "Marquis de Treville will be promoted to marshal by the president" has already spread in the military. Unlike Prince Jerome Bonaparte, who only holds a ceremonial position, Marquis de Treville is an old soldier with real military and combat experience, and he is also a general who served the old emperor during the Napoleonic era. In addition to Charles' current position, everyone knows that the Treville family is the general spokesperson of the Bonaparte family in the army.

Because of this consideration, these senior officers are all very attentive to Charles, wanting to make a good impression in front of Charles and then the marshal. Make their future career smoother.

In this way, Charles was surrounded by this group of generals. As he patrolled the parade ground like a moon surrounded by stars, he suddenly felt a sense of pride that "a real man should live like this" - isn't this what he has been striving for?

I have to say. Since Albert was asked to supervise the construction here, the construction progress of the parade ground has become smoother. Obviously, Albert, who has been idle here recently, has devoted all his energy to the affairs entrusted by Charles. While patrolling the orderly parade ground, Charles nodded secretly in his heart.

And this group of people, when chatting, of course, can't leave the most important topic.

"Mr. Treville, you just came from the president? Do you have any latest instructions from him?" an officer asked.

"Not yet, my friend." Charles replied with a smile. "The president is very satisfied with our progress and he encourages us to continue on the current track."

"It's great that the president thinks so." Another officer looked a little worried, "But... aren't there some bad rumors recently? I heard that there might be some changes in the parliament..."

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

"What changes?" Before Charles could speak, many people asked nervously.

"Actually, it's nothing big," Charles answered himself in order to control the rhythm of the topic, "Someone in the National Assembly recently proposed a motion to establish an armed force directly under the parliament. The person who promoted this motion is said to want to better defend the Republic..."

Although Charles' tone was very calm. But others were shocked. Some of them looked at each other with hidden eyes, and they were obviously shaken.

Even those who have no political vision can see this move of the National Assembly. This is also to win over the army.

Today, when the Bonapartists are infiltrating the army, the parliament wants to establish a force directly under its own control in order to bypass the control of the Army Department over the army. Defend yourself and crush Louis Bonaparte's plot. If their idea really comes true. The showdown between the two factions may not be as simple as they imagined before.

Charles discovered the hesitation in some people's hearts. But he pretended to be unaware.

"However, I can only say that it is a pity that this idea is refreshing, but the actual result can only be ridiculous." He deliberately raised his voice, "Any attempt to shake the military command system is endangering the country, and we will resolutely resist it!"

It is of course a bit absurd for a group of people who participated in the February Revolution to say such words, but no one will mock Charles for this.

"There are many parties in the National Assembly, and they are not twisted into one rope. It is very difficult to pass such a resolution." General De-Kervey added a sentence for Charles at the right time.

Since Charles and Marquis de Treville promised him the position of commander of the Paris garrison and a large income, the general has become their party member wholeheartedly.

"Besides, even if such an army is really established, so what? Who will they listen to? Parliament does not belong to one person. On the contrary, it is filled with hundreds of self-important and chattering people who do not obey each other. Even if we ignore them, they will fight among themselves. What prestige do they have? Who is willing to obey them?" Looking at the reviewing stand in the wilderness in the distance, Charles suddenly sneered, "How can such a group of people command the army? You are all officers, and you must know better than me the damage that the indecisiveness of the command level has brought to the combat effectiveness of the troops. I dare say, gentlemen, as long as we respond firmly, these officers and soldiers will have to listen to us in the end."

Because Charles's words were too explicit, no one responded. But everyone nodded secretly, obviously agreeing with this speech.

It is indeed a tradition from ancient times to the present that the army despises parliament.

"In addition, I must say that the parliament has no binding force on us, gentlemen." Seizing the opportunity, Charles continued, "We are only responsible to the natural representative of the country and the people - His Excellency President Louis Bonaparte. He is the natural leader of the country. The schizophrenic Senate could not stop Caesar, and the schizophrenic National Assembly could not stop the president - they could not even extend their own lifespans! This is a parliament that does not represent the people. What qualifications does it have to point fingers at the elected president? No, gentlemen, we don't need to listen to them!"

Without the approval of the whole people, the parliament arbitrarily deprived a large part of the voters of their voting qualifications. Such a parliament has no confidence to claim that it represents the people, let alone the courage to appeal to the whole people to defend its power and legitimacy. On the contrary, they are still terrified, fearing that the president will simply hold a referendum to see who can better represent the will of the people.

Therefore, under such a cautious situation, the Order Party, which occupies an absolute majority in the parliament, obviously has the legislative power, but it is helpless under the attack of Louis Bonaparte and his party members, and can only watch its advantages being eroded step by step.

The decisive gap is here. Although it has been common for parliaments not to represent the people since ancient times, such open disdain for the people is indeed a fatal flaw of the Parliament of the Second Republic, while the Bonapartists can claim that they represent the people, although fundamentally, they do not represent them.

"You are right, sir." Encouraged by Charles, the group of officers answered one after another. (To be continued...)