I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 43 How the King Persuaded Viscount Turena (Part 1)

Viscount Turenne didn't believe much in the king's promise at first, but it wasn't because he didn't believe in the king. The king was always just a child in his heart, and a child, no matter how noble, could do nothing. The Empress Dowager and Bishop Mazarin deeply hated everyone related to Prince Condé, and he had long anticipated his possible fate and remained calm.

Even if he was asked to disarm all, he took off his rapier without hesitation, unloaded his musket, took out his dagger and dagger and placed it on the table, to his delight, The officer supervising him did not rudely ask for a body search.

He was wearing one of his favorite outfits today, because he guessed that once sent to prison, or hanged after trial, he might not be able to get a chance to change his clothes so that he could at least lie in a coffin with dignity .

He was even more surprised when he saw Bontang, the king's first servant, but when he thought of the Queen Mother's doting on the king, it was not impossible for him to behave like this, so he calmly thanked Bontang and followed him all the way. In a quiet room, as soon as he entered the room, he instinctively looked around, especially stopped at the window for a while. A small piece, he looked back regretfully, only to see the king looking at him with a smile.

   Viscount Turenne stepped forward, took off his hat with a light gesture, and bowed deeply to the king.

   "Can I guess," the young king said with a smile, "Did you think about running away?"

   "If possible," said Viscount Turenne bluntly, "I would."

   "Then why don't you continue to stand outside the city and fight my general, but stand here and think about how to escape?"

"Because Herr Schumberg said that," said Viscount Turenne, "and bought the hearts of my soldiers all at once. If I insist on fighting, maybe some of them will be like drinking. Like drunken fools, they turned their guns on their commander instead of their enemy.

I didn't leave outside the city because of this, they entrusted themselves to me, so now entrust them to others, then no one can do it except me, so I have to come, but I am quite reluctant. "

   "You call General Schumberg's words a bribe, and I'll keep my opinion in this regard, because, sir, that's exactly what I want him to say, and it's my heart."

   "What is in your heart?"

   "Isn't it, General, the French are beating the French."

   "I knew you were going to accuse me."

   "It seems that you think there is nothing wrong with you." The king said: "It seems that I must have a good word with you before I can convince you."

"I advise you not to waste so much effort." Viscount Turenne grumbled, "You can't persuade me, God chose you, and I chose my friend, Prince Condé, Your Majesty, If you are cruel enough, hang me in the yard, right, where you can see when you tilt your head, this is the fate of every traitor - if you are kind..."

   "How?"

"You ought to let me go, like all gracious and forgiving princes," said the Viscount Turenne; "give me a horse, a cloak, and a cloak full of gold louis or silver purse, return my weapons and servants, and go wherever I please."

   "Then you will definitely go back to Prince Kongdai."

   "That's for sure, he is not only my friend, but also my master."

   "That won't do," said Louis solemnly: "I can't let you go back to the Prince of Condé, because it's always quite difficult when you're on the enemy's side."

This sentence brought a smug look on the serious face of Viscount Turenne, but it was soon overshadowed by shame: "I really don't know how to deal with your compliment," he said: "In fact, I was defeated, just outside the city," he said angrily, "I am just a defeated general."

"I don't think so," said the king, "I have heard of you before, you are a heroic man, you entered the army at the age of twelve, and ten years before I was born, you were on the Rhine battlefield, helping The Duke of Bernhard took eight months to conquer the fortress of Breisach, and the following year he took Turin at the battle of Piedmont, and in four or three years you went down the Rhine until Take the strategic fortresses Philipsburg and Mainz on the other side; in 1946, in the second battle of Nordlingen, you forced Bavaria to withdraw from the Thirty Years War, and in 1948, you captured the entire Bavarian In the end, the troops marched on the Rhine, pointed directly at Vienna, and forced a king to submit to you... Isn't it worth making you an opponent worthy of others' fear, Mr. Viscount?"

Mr. Viscount was undoubtedly proud that his achievements were so well known to His Majesty the King, but while he couldn't help puffing out his chest, he was filled with resentment, "That's the case," he said loudly. Said: "You shouldn't ignore another person."

   "You are talking about Prince Kongdai."

   "Isn't it?" said Viscount Turenne: "He has more merits than mine, but you do not take it seriously."

   "Then he didn't get the reward he deserved?" asked the king.

Viscount Turenne was silent for a while, of course, not only the Prince of Condé, but even him, he was also awarded the marshal's scepter after his brother was involved in a case against Bishop Richelieu and the Duchy of Sedan was recovered. , "Then," he said, "is the crime that His Royal Highness is accused of, is he what he deserves?"

   "In a way," said the king bluntly, "yes."

   "What does it mean to say in a way?"

   "That is to say," said Louis, "that he neither admits nor denies, neither facilitates nor prevents, but when asked to accept, he will accept."

   "But what if he does have this qualification?" Viscount Turenne asked rhetorically.

   "If you think so," said the king, "then I am really disappointed."

"How to say?"

   "You think Prince Kongdai is more suitable to sit in this position because he is in his prime, and he has complete thoughts, reason and logic, and he has made great achievements. He is better than a child."

  Viscount Turenne hesitated, but admitted: "You are a good man," he said, "but now France needs a king who is strong-armed, determined, and will not be influenced by anyone."

"I understand what you mean." Louis said, there is really nothing to distinguish, everyone knows that the current kingship is not in the hands of the king, but in the hands of the Queen Mother Anne and the Bishop of Mazarin: "But Viscount Turenne, Even if Prince Kongdai is reborn as a saint, he still has a weakness that can never be erased."

   Viscount Turenne bowed, "I would like to hear about it." But his expression did not say that.

  Louis thought for a while, and suddenly turned the topic to a seemingly unrelated place.

   "You know we came all the way from Paris," he said.

  Viscount Turenne nodded: "Isn't it, Your Majesty, I have been chasing you all the time."

   This witty remark made Louis couldn't help laughing: "Then you have seen it too."

"what?"

   "Those who hanged."

   "Hey, you have to say this, I saw it, Your Majesty, I hope you are not frightened."

   "No, Monsieur Viscount," said Louis, "because it was I who interrogated, judged, and watched them hang with my own eyes."

   This sentence really surprised Viscount Turenne. He didn't understand what the king meant. Did he want to tell him that he was a cruel man, not a gentle ruler as people thought? "If this had been said a few minutes ago," he said, "I would have thought you were intimidating me."

   "That's why I put it here," said Louis. "And by the way, even if you don't want to obey me, I won't hang you, I'll just keep you locked up."

   "Should I say I am really honored." Viscount Turenne said helplessly: "But I don't think you are that kind of person."

   "Such a cruel person?"

   "No, such a fool," said Viscount Turenne, "there is nothing more ridiculous than threatening death with a man who does not care about life or death."

   "That's why I threatened you with something else," said Louis. "You were too hasty in chasing us, Monsieur Viscount, and you did not inquire about the charges of these men."

   "They must be heinous."

   "It's more terrifying than you think," said Louis. "Even if you go to purgatory, you can't burn it with flames for a thousand years."

   "Please tell me! Your Majesty, I am ready."

   "The first two were robbers."

   "Sure enough!"

   "The **** thing is still to come. Before the war started, they robbed gold Louis and silk coats, and when I passed by, they robbed people."

   "What do they want people to do?"

   "Eat, Mr. Viscount, grilled like a pig and sheep."

   "God **** it!" Viscount Turenne exclaimed: "May thunder come down from the sky and kill them!"

   "And, and also, a father ate his child, and a wife ate his husband."

   "Isn't the devil at work?"

   "I would like to think so," said Louie, "and then we saw a church, what a holy place!"

   "Isn't it?"

   "The Queen Mother insisted to go in to pray, and then we found a group of peasants inside."

   "Not surprising, the Lord protects everyone, rich or poor."

   "But their panic aroused my suspicions, and at last my musketeers found a heap of bones in storerooms, reliquaries, and confessions!"

   "God, stop talking!"

"That's what I'm telling you, Monsieur Viscount, they hide in the chapel, and when passers-by come in to rest or pray, they rush up to grab them and boil them into soup. "

   "Simply unbelievable!"

   "There is nothing unbelievable," said the king aggressively: "Hunger can turn a man into a devil."

  Viscount Turenne stood there, his face pale: "Are you accusing Prince Condé?"

   "I said, maybe he didn't do anything, but the dispute started from him."

"Then can't you end this dispute?" said Viscount Turenne boldly—the king knew he still had the same idea, and that of many who supported the Prince of Condé, that an adult with his own mind always wanted Better than a manipulated kid.

   "That's what I'm going to tell you, the person you're willing to be loyal to, your greatest weakness."

   "I'm listening, Your Majesty, I'm listening."

   "There was a king," said Louis. "Before he became king, he was very similar to the Prince of Condé."

"Who?"

   "You should feel familiar too," said Louis, "because he is not far from us. He is the last king of the York dynasty of England, Richard III."

   (end of this chapter)