Because it was too unexpected, Fran looked at the other party in disbelief, and did not respond for a while. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

"Miss Treville...... It's a pleasure...... Nice to meet you. And Jérôme Bonaparte was now at a loss, as if he had lost all his words, "I...... Since our goodbye in England, I've ...... I've always wanted to see you again. ”

He seemed to want to bow down, but the cake in his hand stopped him from moving, so his body staggered and didn't know what to do, and his eyes were lowered and he didn't dare to look at the other party.

"Poof" Fran, who had come back to her senses, couldn't help but laugh when she saw this scene.

"It's nice to see you again, by the way, how did you come to France? When did it come? ”

"Hmm...... Belch...... I only felt French a few days ago and was really lucky to have caught the time and be able to congratulate you on your birthday. Jérôme-Bonaparte nodded, and replied very eagerly. As for how I got here...... I would like to thank your brother for following the intercession of His Majesty the Emperor, and finally obtaining his permission to serve in the Imperial Army as a foreigner......"

"So you're now serving in the French army?" Fran finally understood.

"Yes, I am now an honorable member of the Imperial Cavalry, and now I have the rank of lieutenant." The young man immediately straightened his back, and then, as if he was afraid of the other party's misunderstanding, he immediately explained, "I served in the American army before, and I have accumulated several years of military experience, so I didn't let the lieutenant lieutenant out of favoritism...... I think I'm more than capable of being an officer. ”

"Oh, I believe so, too." Fran nodded, not wanting to delve into it, "You must be a very brave and reliable soldier." ”

Although she said it politely, the young man seemed to have received great encouragement, and in an instant his face was about to turn red, and he couldn't help but come closer. "Miss Treville, actually, I think ......"

"Ah, sorry, we can't afford to waste too much time here." Before he could finish speaking, Fran smiled and raised the knife stained with cream cake, blocking the other party's words, "The people in the back are still waiting!" Let's go back and rest for a while. ”

Jérôme Bonaparte froze for a moment, then looked behind him, and there were indeed several people waiting for him, some of whom already looked impatient in their eyes.

"Okay, sorry......" He had to agree with her, and then stepped aside with a little frustration and anticipation.

As soon as he walked away, Fran put aside the little episode and proceeded happily to cut the cake for the others, and everyone flattered her and wished Miss Tréville a happy birthday, and the whole hall was in a cheerful mood for a while.

However, because the identities of the people present today are not so simple, there is bound to be something else mixed in this piece of jubilation.

Although it wasn't Charles' birthday, he was still the undisputed protagonist here, and almost everyone gathered around him, waiting for his instructions, and Charles didn't refuse to come, drinking glass by glass as if the person celebrating his birthday was himself.

While the wine was hot, Charles was in a very happy mood, but he did not forget the most important thing.

He walked up to his grandfather, led him to a small room next to the drawing-room, and called Lucien and Viscount Alex de Lautrec, who was in high military rank.

Although these two people usually talk to Charles and are very unshy and unreserved, in front of the respected Marshal Treville, no one dares to make a mistake, so they both stand by solemnly, waiting for the two of Trevier's ancestors and grandchildren to speak first.

"I called you here today, of course, not to make you happy with a little girl." Marquis Treville succinctly waved his hand and motioned for the two of them to come closer, "First, I'm going to tell you a secret. ”

The two men hurriedly raised their heads and looked at Marshal Tréville, waiting for the old man's instructions.

"We didn't come here empty-handed, and with the carriage we were riding in was a box containing many things that Charles was destined to be very interested in." Field Marshal Tréville did not sell it, "There are many military secrets about Russia in it. These are all things that my granddaughter had previously gone to Russia to get back, through a Russian friend of ours. ”

"What?" After hearing the marshal's vague explanation, both of them were quite surprised.

"Many of the documents she brought back contained specific plans for their military operations in the Near East and the Caucasus." "And these documents irrefutably suggest that it is very likely that the Russian government will launch a war against Turkey in the near future, and even after the beginning of next spring." ”

"Tsk......" Both of them were secretly stunned, but they were not very shocked.

After all, they have a hunch about it.

They were even more curious about who the Russian friend who could send all this detailed information to France - and it was probably a high-ranking figure in the Russian government or political circles who could do so.

Of course, neither the old marshal nor the charr could have told them this.

"Now these documents have just arrived in Paris, and even His Majesty does not know about them." Charles added to them meaningfully, "But soon, I will report it to Your Majesty, so that he may be prepared for this situation." ”

"Does being prepared mean declaring war on them?" Lucien asked in a whisper.

Charles didn't answer directly, just shrugged his shoulders slightly. "If that's the case, all I can say is that something is going to happen."

"Hah......" Lucien took a deep breath.

Although he had heard Charles say it a few times before, when he actually heard that the news was confirmed, he still had mixed feelings, and he couldn't tell whether he was excited or relieved.

But no matter what, there is absolutely no fear.

Although he has been away from North Africa for many years, his body still remembers the training and combat of that time, and he has never forgotten the choking smell of gunpowder.

As fate would have it, he left the front and returned to Paris, where he became the son-in-law of the famous family of the Count of Dilillion, and was highly respected and envied, but he was still not accustomed to this kind of peaceful life, and he always felt out of place in the so-called high society, and he was distressed by the socialization that he had to go, and he never learned the so-called elegance.

War, on the other hand, can make people forget all these troubles and re-experience the thrill of floating between life and death.

It doesn't matter if it's for the kingdom or for the republic, or for the empire, what matters is the war itself, the feeling of charging forward against the hot wind and winning the victory.

"If that day comes, I will dedicate all my passion, even my life, to France." With a spontaneous sense of purpose, he whispered.

"It's good to have a sense of mission like yours, but it's not enough to have that passion." Marshal Treville replied with a smile, "Because, this time we will be fighting thousands of miles away, we need a whole set of transportation and logistics systems, if the rear does nothing, then no matter how brave you are, it is useless, and you will not even see the enemy." ”

"That's not my job...... I'm just a front-line officer, and I just pounce on the enemy and overwhelm them. Lucien smiled slightly, then looked at Charles, "It's your job, Charles. ”

"It's really my job, and it's the work I've been working hard for." Charles nodded, "I've been busy with this all year, since I became the Empire's Minister of Communications, I've been working to prepare our rear for the coming war, and I have to say that this preparation is quite ideal, now the entire Empire's railroads and shipping are under the supervision of the Imperial Government, that is, me, and I can always have them to support the Empire's overseas wars if necessary." ”

At this point, he added with a smile, "Everything is going so smoothly and there is so little resistance that it makes all the preparations seem ridiculous." The authority of the Empire, at least for now, is unstoppable, for we dare to exile and shoot ******. ”

"It seems that you are really proud now." Lucien said with a little envy.

"You'll be just as proud." Field Marshal Trevier suddenly took over, "Lucien, you will go into battle as a regimental commander, fight against the Russians under my command, and if you are lucky, you will become a general in the field, and then a nobleman after the war - as long as I am here, you will be absolutely rewarded for meritorious deeds." ”

"This ......," Lucien felt slightly embarrassed.

"There's nothing to hesitate about, you should be paid accordingly for your service to the Empire." Field Marshal Trevier interrupted him again, then looked at the two young men again, "You are good friends of our family, and we will help you up at any great cost." ”

Lucien's eyes widened, for it was the first time he had heard the marshal speak to himself in such a cordial manner.

"The Imperial Army has been reorganized and prepared for this since the spring of this year," Marshal Tremor continued to say to them, "and now that a year has passed, we have refreshed the army, and they are ready to devote themselves to war against the outside - no matter which enemy it is, but it is not enough, we need not only a victory, but a victory that will benefit us sufficiently......"

As if it was because only his own people were present today, it was the first time that the old man said it so explicitly.

"I'm old, God knows how many years I have to live? Maybe it's time for me to go to God when the war is over...... Who can say anything like fate? The old man waved his hand, stopping the three young people from trying to comfort him, "Don't worry, I'm not afraid, I've experienced everything in my life, I've seen everything, what is there to be afraid of?" I don't have anything to worry about myself, it's him who I can't worry about......"

He pointed to Charles standing next to him, "Charles has managed to climb to his current position, and he must not fall, at least I will not allow this to happen." And in order to fight against the impermanence of fate, I will leave something more for my grandson while I am still alive and have a chance. I'm going to do everything I can to get his friend to climb to a higher position and then let them help him. ”

These words were indeed the sincere words of Marshal Trevier, and now that he was in his last years, he only wanted to put some people he could trust by his grandson's side as future aids.

And the war of the future will be a great opportunity.

Because of the stakes, the room fell silent.

"Charles, you're a generous person, and I value that because you know what's important and what's not." After a few moments, Marshal Tréville spoke again, "Don't be stingy with money, help others more, and make a wide circle of fellow citizens." Yes, you have the trust of Your Majesty right now, but an emperor could withdraw his favor at any time, and we cannot allow them to dispose of us at will. ”

"I understand, Grandpa." Charles answered.

Then Marshal Tréville looked back at the two young men.

"Lucien, Alex, you are all very good men, but there is no shortage of people in the army who are equal to you, and it is not only the talent that can make you stand out, but also the hand from above, and I am able to extend such a hand now. However, I am helping you now, and I hope that you will always be on the side of my grandson in the future, and I do not want you to be grateful, but I want you to know that you can only survive the storm of politics if you are united-you escort the Treville family, so as long as we are still here, you will never lack a bright future and prosperity, and you know the character of me and my grandson, and we will do what we say. ”

Lucien froze for a moment.

He was now in the prime of life and full of energy, so he didn't think about what was going on after him at all, but when he saw the old man in front of him, who knew that he was going to die, persuaded himself in such a sincere tone, he couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Compared to any glory and wealth, the emotional card is very useful to him.

"I'll do everything I can to help the Charles, and as long as I'm in the army, the Charles can command me." He made a guarantee.

"What if there is a conflict with His Majesty's orders?" The marshal asked.

"Even so, it doesn't matter." Lucien replied without hesitation.

All eyes were on Alex.

The handsome and shrewd young man's face changed a few times, and finally he sighed.

"I ...... I don't have a chance to back down now, even if I want to...... Everyone thinks I am your sworn friend, and without your support, some people want to steal my position. ”

"If only you knew!" Field Marshal Tréville laughed, then waved his hand, "Give me a list of all of you, and I'll take every opportunity to promote them." (To be continued.) )