General Kafenyak's worries were not confined to Charles alone, but his comrades were equally worried. And the most fearful, of course, is Monsieur Louis Bonaparte, who is ambitious and just waiting to climb to the top of France.

At the meeting of the Bonapartists, Charles told Louis Bonaparte exactly what he had heard from Lucien, and the others relayed to him what they had received. After the news from all parties was gathered together, the contours of the incident became clearer and clearer.

For a moment, the inexplicable gloom gathered in the whole restaurant, and the dim and constantly fluttering candlelight illuminated everyone uncertain and murderous, as if a group of bandits had gathered together.

"This bastard! He is worthy of it! Carrion's emotions were the most excited, and he scolded first, "Just he still wants to learn from the emperor?" Don't look at what kind of person he looks like a dog! ”

After he had vented a few words, he found that the whole hall was still frighteningly quiet, and no one echoed him, so he had to stop talking stupidly.

At this point, there is no point in swearing again. Because of his personal involvement in the slaughter of the Parisian mob, General Caffenjac had very little popularity among the newly elected civilians, so it was understandable that he wanted to use "shortcuts" to ensure that he could obtain the supreme power in France.

On political issues, as long as there is victory, everything is beyond reproach - didn't Napoleon also rely on a coup d'état and rushed into the House of 500 with his soldiers to come to power? As a result, the whole nation still cherishes him to this day!

As a political enemy of the general, of course. Charles and his comrades must not have been willing for him to succeed.

"Don't be anxious," said Louis Bonaparte, who had not spoken, in order to calm the mood of his fellow partymen. Finally spoke. "Don't be afraid, he can't do it. He was not the emperor, the emperor won the battle of Marengo and defended the whole country, he didn't. ”

His words made almost everyone secretly relieved. He is also right, to come to power by staging a military coup d'état, you need great prestige. At least in the army, General Kafenak can't do that.

"They did not run to Marengo, but to the Marka River......" Joseph Bonaparte said in a deliberately caustic mockery. Caused a few knowing laughs.

[On June 28, 1835, the French colonial forces of the July Dynasty fought a fierce battle on the banks of the Marka River in Oran Province, Algeria, and the local armed forces led by Prince Abdou-Qadir, resulting in a great defeat and heavy casualties.

It was also one of the few major fiascos in the history of French colonial development in North Africa. 】

"You're right." Louis Bonaparte didn't laugh. "It is impossible for the military to be loyal to such a man who has no prestige and who simply jumped to power by chance. We must spread this view in the military. ”

"Understood!" All answered at the same time.

"Propaganda isn't enough." Louis Bonaparte groaned again, "We have to think of something more straightforward." ”

There was another moment of silence.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Charles finally spoke up in time and gave his advice.

"Sir, we may be able to work with the Orthodox. Although their strength and influence are now greatly weakened, after all, they still have many supporters in the army. Paying attention to Louis Bonaparte's expression, Charles cautiously said his advice, "Those noble officers. I don't want to be subservient to General Kafenyak. ”

Since the restoration of the Bourbons, the historical remnants of the Revolution have been deliberately purged and buried by the Restoration. After the dismissal of a large number of officers with dangerous tendencies, the priority promotion of the sons of the nobility in the army during the fifteen years of the Restoration reigned as a common practice in the army. The cavalry, in particular, at that time gave almost all of its official titles to the second sons and younger brothers of aristocratic families, became the best place for these poor people who could not inherit the hereditary inheritance. Although the situation improved slightly during the July Dynasty, the noble officers were still a formidable force in the army.

As for their attitude towards Kafenjac and Louis Bonaparte...... Charles felt that Charlotte had tested it very clearly—both were annoying, but Napoleon's nephew was not so annoying in comparison.

Hearing his suggestion, Louis Bonaparte frowned slightly. Not because he was disgusted with Charles's suggestion, but because he was seriously considering it.

"That's a good suggestion," he replied in a low voice after a moment. "But what are you going to do about it?"

Of course, he has no moral obstacles, and he is willing to cooperate with the devil in order to regain the empire, let alone the orthodox.

"The Duke of Treville's family is of great prestige among the Orthodox, I have already asked, they hate General Kafenjak terribly." Charles replied quietly, "I think their attitude should be able to represent a large part of the orthodox, and it should also be able to influence some aristocratic officers......"

"Good, good." After hearing Charles's words, Louis Bonaparte nodded his head in approval, and it could be seen that his mood was much more relaxed. "If that's the case, great! Then follow this line, and let them all understand that we are allies in opposing General Kafenyak, and we will spare no effort to support them, and they don't have to listen to that general in everything! ”

"Of course." Charles replied with a smile. "At least for now, we can walk down the same path with them."

"You're quite right." Louis Bonaparte, the future emperor, smiled so kindly at this time that Charles was a little flattered, "So, what are we waiting for?" Let's just follow the established policy. After a pause, he added, "In addition, the army has recently dismissed many officers who are not in line with the ideas of the upper echelons, and they must now be full of anger against General Kafenak and the republican government, and we must find a way to get in touch with them and identify those who can share our like-mindedness." Although they don't have military status now, maybe we'll need them in the future......"

Then, he gave Charles a subtle but meaningful look, and Charles immediately remembered the last time he told him. He understood and nodded slightly.

Louis Bonaparte smiled with satisfaction, and then he waved his hand lightly, motioning for Charles to do it.

Then he glanced around his comrades, and their whispers came to an abrupt end.

"Gentlemen, now the state of affairs is clear......" he summed up in a bland, characteristic tone of indifference, but no one doubted the meaning.

"As long as we keep the armies in hand, or at least neutralize them, General Kafenjak will not be able to coup d'état; He can't make a coup d'état, so he can only obediently go to a fair election with me...... As soon as he comes forward and elects me, I can tell him to fuck off! The day we have been waiting for is coming, so get ready, everyone! ”

His words caused a moment of cheering, which was also the effect he wanted to cheer up his subordinates.

The meeting did not end until late at night, and after the people dispersed in twos and threes, Charles was left behind by the future emperor.

Louis Bonaparte picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip quietly. At this time, he was completely free of the excitement he had just now.

"Charles, as I said, the day I have been looking forward to, the day you have been looking forward to, is coming." Different from the aura just now, there seemed to be a little more emotion in his tone.

"I've never been so expected and sought after. Orthodox aristocrats, peasants, workers, burghers...... They all supported me on stage, I had never had so many supporters, and to be honest, I never thought I would be so close to a dream come true...... Looking back on it now, it's really emotional. That's right, I'm happy, very happy. ”

"It also shows that you have a lot of prestige in people's minds and are the right person to lead this country." Charles hurriedly complimented him at the right time.

Louis Bonaparte waved his hand, stopping his senseless flattery.

"But the more moments like this, the more we need to be calm, we can't help but see the lighthouses guiding us in the distance, and watch out for the reefs that hide beneath the surface......"

"What do you mean?"

Louis Bonaparte did not answer immediately, he turned his head and looked at the portrait of Napoleon on horseback hanging on the wall, and muttered for a long time. But Charles naturally waited patiently for him, and would not rush at all.

It was a long time before Louis Bonaparte spoke again.

"We still haven't had enough supporters to secure my victory," he said, regaining that unemotional composure. "I've got to get another batch of allies for us."

Charles was a little surprised by his solemnity, but a flash of inspiration flashed through him and he understood what he meant.

"Do you mean Monsieur Thiers and the Party of Order?"

A flash of surprise flashed in Louis Bonaparte's eyes, as if he were surprised by Charles' understanding, but he soon smiled.

"You guessed it, it's them. Only by co-opting them can I ensure that the National Assembly does not fall in Kafenyak's favor and that the elections take place properly, otherwise they may simply abolish the national elections and our plans will be all in vain! ”

"Yes, although they were our enemies before and will continue to be our enemies, but ......"

He smiled even more. "In order to choke their necks, we first have to shake their hands."

Then, he looked at Charles.

"So, young man, what do you think about this?"

Charles immediately bowed his head.

"I couldn't agree more." (To be continued......)