Under the sun, the weather in Sartori today is exceptionally sunny.

Perhaps because of the rain a few days ago, the cloudless sky was now as blue as a jewel on everyone's heads.

Although it was a rare sunny day in winter, the sun did not raise the temperature much, and the winter wind still roamed the grass and woods, making everyone feel a little chilly, so Charles wore a heavy coat like everyone else.

The parade ground is about to be built, and the viewing platform and walkway have been built, waiting for its most glorious moment. At this time, as a rehearsal before the official ceremony, His Excellency Louis Bonaparte, President of the Republic, finally came to Sartori once again to inspect the place where he was about to command the whole army.

Compared to the last time I came, it was already a lot more lively because many troops had already rushed over. As far as the eye can see, the once desolate countryside is now populated, with a large number of makeshift wooden houses lining the dirt roads, as if they were a small market town.

In the sunlight, Louis Bonaparte walked expressionlessly, looking around, examining the qiē that Charles and the others had prepared.

And beside the president, a large group of generals who had already belonged to Bonaparte gathered around him, like stars and moons, as if in a trance this man had put on some of the aura of an uncle.

In order to make a good impression on the president, these generals all wore new military uniforms, pinned their medals to the most dazzling places, and everyone looked nervous, seizing every opportunity to strike up a few words with the president.

In this strict tone. In order not to make themselves appear too welcome, the officers deliberately pretended to be careless. It fills people with a certain deliberate sense of lightness, and from time to time someone says something witty and implied flattery or irony. It made everyone laugh constantly.

After walking for a while, Louis Bonaparte stopped, and then looked at a group of troops in the distance. As if they didn't know who was observing, these soldiers still completed today's drill at the pace they had cultivated on weekdays under the supervision of the officers.

"These soldiers are very well trained." After watching for a long time in the midst of this flurry of calls, Louis Bonaparte spoke in a tone that seemed to be an insider, "The movements are very skillful, and they seem to be elite troops." Which troop is this? ”

"That's the garrison here, sir." I haven't waited for anyone else to answer. Charles replied directly, "In order to strengthen the defense work here, I specially transferred a regiment from the garrison in Paris, and these people belong to that regiment, and their battalion commander is Major Lucien-Leflair, this person is indeed good. ”

"Lucien-Leflaire......" Louis Bonaparte said silently, frowning slightly. Okay, that's good. ”

That's Charles' purpose—for someone of his position to remember this little major. What a help that would have been to Lucien.

"He's served in North Africa, so he's very experienced, so he's trained very tightly." After a thumbs up, Charles complained derogatorily. "But, hey, this one. It's just such a brainlessness, and today day is still busy training the troops. I won't come here to let you take a look......"

"What do I have to see? Training his subordinates is his job. Louis Bonaparte shook his head, "He did the right thing." Besides...... With you coming to praise him in front of me, does he still need to come in person? ”

The president's ridicule provoked a dull laugh.

The officers had already seen that Charles was intent on currying favor with the major in front of the president, but of course no one dared to say anything or interrupt, and they couldn't help but laugh when the president himself did.

"You'll get to know him sooner or later, he's really a very good soldier," Charles replied with a smile.

He is not embarrassed, for him it is enough to let the president remember the name, and being laughed at is a trivial matter.

Louis Bonaparte stopped talking, and walked straight towards the soldiers, and Charles and the others hurriedly followed. At the officer's signal, the soldiers immediately saluted the president.

He waved his hand, and soon walked among the soldiers, and then greeted each of them, and the flattered soldiers, seeing that the President, the nephew of the Emperor, had been so kind to them, that some of them were so excited that they could not speak, but trembled around the President and looked at His Excellency.

It's really different to have a good uncle...... Charles, who watched Louis Bonaparte show his people-friendly face with a smile on his face, thought calmly in his heart.

At least in modern times, Louis Bonaparte was popular with the people, and Charles was happy to use this goodwill technique to win more supporters.

After chatting with the soldiers for a while, the president asked the soldiers to regroup and take the officers on patrol again.

"Being in the midst of such a group of soldiers makes me feel good." Louis Bonaparte continued to greet the soldiers with a smile as he muttered to Charles beside him. "It looks much more pleasing to the eye than these goods in Paris!"

"You'll soon be able to make them either pleasing to the eye, Your Excellency." Charles replied in a low voice, "Either they'll have to disappear before your eyes." ”

"That's right, Charles." Louis Bonaparte nodded, then turned and continued his conversation with the officers.

……………………

The days in winter are always relatively short, and the president's tour did not last long, the sky was gradually getting dark, and the president, who was in a good mood, finally signaled to his attendants that today's tour could end here, which made everyone else breathe a sigh of relief.

"Charles, you have done a good job, everything here is orderly, and I am very satisfied." Louis Bonaparte nodded at Charles, "Let's put all the military parades we have in the future, and it would be a pity if we spent so much effort and money on it, if it was only done once." ”

"Do what you want. Excellency. Charles replied respectfully, "If you have that in mind." I will arrange for someone to continue to maintain this place in the future and turn it into a permanent military facility. ”

"Then let's do it." Louis Bonaparte immediately confirmed.

And then. As if remembering something, he looked up at Charles, "By the way, I heard your grandfather say that you are going to have a formal wedding with that Mademoiselle de Treville in the near future?" ”

"Yes, exactly." Charles straightened up and replied sternly, "Considering today's occasion, I haven't told you yet. Mr. ”

"Oh! Congratulations, Charles! In front of everyone, Louis Bonaparte patted Charles on the shoulder, "When you become a family, the responsibility will be even heavier, you must be prepared." ”

"Thank you for the reminder, and I will do my best to take on my obligations, sir." Charles replied with a smile, and then he glanced at Louis Bonaparte with some caution, "Also." Sir, I have a request. If you don't think it's inappropriate, ......I'd Can I have you come and be my witness to Charlotte's marriage? ”

"Of course you can do this, no problem." It seems that nothing has been thought through. Louis Bonaparte replied directly, "When the time comes, tell me about the marriage, and I will let the secretary arrange the schedule." ”

"Thank you!" Charles saluted him again.

And the sight of both envy and jealousy. All of a sudden, it was concentrated on Charles again.

is so hot at such a young age, and married a duchess with a large dowry...... All right. Even if he made people jealous, Charles couldn't say anything.

"What are the arrangements for life after marriage?" After a moment of silence. Louis Bonaparte asked Charles, "What are your plans for a place to live, will you not still live with your grandfather?" I'm afraid it's not right to stay with my father-in-law......"

"Oh, this? I heard Charlotte say she wanted to buy a house, and then we stayed at home for the time being, and then moved in when we got it there. Charles smiled embarrassedly, "But, to be honest, Charlotte takes care of this kind of thing, and I don't have much energy to take care of this kind of thing......"

"Did you let yourself completely fall into the hands of your wife at such a young age? Charles, I don't see that you're one of those people, do you? Louis Bonaparte couldn't help laughing, "By the way, I remembered that I haven't given you a gift yet, have I?" ”

"Your presence here is the best gift we can give." Charles complimented again.

"Bonaparte can't be so stingy, Charles." Louis Bonaparte groaned again, and after a moment looked at Charles again, "It is not easy to find a good house in Paris, let alone Madame Tréville's. So let me give you a good gift, so that your fiancée will not be troubled by it......"

"You mean ......," Charles suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.

"The Prince of Juwerville's mansion has been vacant since it was expropriated by the state, and this time I asked the other side to open a formality so that you can buy it." Louis Bonaparte smiled and said, "Charles, what do you think of this gift?" Big enough, right? ”

Charles understood in an instant.

It's a great gift indeed.

Prince Juwerville is François de Orleans, the second son of the late King Louis-Philippe, and his wife is Francesca, the princess of the Emperor of Brazil.

After the fall of the July Dynasty under the bombardment of the February Revolution, his position also collapsed with the dynasty and he was forced into exile. Although the French government later repealed the ban on the former royal family, he never returned to France due to various realities.

His mansion was known for its lavish opulence during the days of the July Dynasty, and it was often the time when lavish banquets were held for guests and envoys from all over the world. Although Charles has never had the opportunity to enter it, he has heard about its furnishings many times in the social arena back then. After the revolution, it was confiscated by the government and became a public property.

And now, this mansion is about to be given to him by Louis Bonaparte?

Yes, this is the reward - since Louis Bonaparte himself has already spoken, the so-called purchase must be only a symbolic price, and it is only a name to gag the public.

What a great reward......

However, there was not much excitement and excitement in Charles' heart at the moment.

Because, he could fully see that Louis Bonaparte's move had other intentions than to reward himself for his continued work.

The Prince of Juwerville was no small character to be played with, and with Louis-Philippe dead and his eldest grandson, the Count of Paris, was young, he was the leader of the entire Orleans faction. It can even be said that he was one of the spiritual leaders of the political enemies of Bonaparte and Charles.

Louis Bonaparte was ready to give Charles the mansion he left behind, first of all, to show that he valued Charles; Second...... Obviously, this move was to further deepen the hatred between his favored vassal and the royal family of Orleans, making it more unlikely that Charles would secretly compromise with the royal family of Orleans and tie Charles more firmly to his hands.

At the same time, there is another role.

His reward for Charles in the presence of so many generals stirred up their thirst for fame and fortune, and made them more loyal to themselves—he told them that if you follow me, you will get anything.

As for whether it will arouse the envy of others against Charles, that is not something he needs to care about.

He is worthy of being an emperor who can rule this country for twenty years, even a few years longer than his genius uncle! Charles couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

However, even knowing Louis Bonaparte's intentions, Charles had no intention of refusing the bounty—he had no reason to refuse a bounty from his lord, and he did not have the royal family of Orleans in his sights at all.

Hmph, the residence of a prince of a former dynasty can barely be used as a wedding room, Charles thought to himself.

The grudge of the Orleans family? Phew, I'll never let them go back home!

Charlotte would have been very happy to be able to get such a grand and beautiful mansion for nothing, and with a little renovation and remodeling, it would have been able to make it the envy of everyone in high society, and how could she be satisfied.

What's more, she can also severely humiliate the Orleans royal family she hates......

That's great.

Sugar-coated cannonballs...... Just call me, I can eat them all! You can eat as much as you want!

With such pride he bowed humbly to Louis Bonaparte.

"Thank you for taking care of you, sir, she will be very grateful!"

He was indeed grateful to Louis Bonaparte, and it was a great reward, no matter how much purpose Louis Bonaparte had.

As for Charlotte...... It's weird. (To be continued......) R1292