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2. Elder

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    With the arrival of spring, Fontainebleau, far away from Paris, has ushered in the most magnificent time of the year.  Looking into the distance, the green forest stretches as endlessly as the sea. These lush trees isolate the hustle and bustle of the outside world, cleanse the breeze passing through the woods, making the air fresh and pleasant, and the sunshine is like wisps of veil.  , spreading through the layers of branches and leaves to every corner of the earth, the flowers blooming in the garden emit an intoxicating fragrance under the breeze.  The castle hidden among the trees stands quietly on the ground. It is decorated with flowers in the garden. The Seine River flowing quietly next to it takes away all the glitz of the world. The Palace of Fontainebleau in spring is  It is so quiet and beautiful that it really deserves the love of the highest French rulers in the past.  However, unlike the tranquility on the outside, a large group of people gathered in the palace hall at this time. This group of people greeted each other and whispered.  This group of people are all wearing military uniforms. Like the imperial royal family who likes luxury, their whole bodies are covered with decorations. They have golden tassels on their epaulettes and ribbons and medals on their chests. Under the brilliant lights, these  Medals of various forms exude jewelery. Only with the blood and tears of countless people can these dazzling decorations be accumulated to show off their illustrious martial arts.  They are all generals of the imperial army, and most of them hold important positions. They are the main backbone of the French Empire's huge war machine, and they are also the emperor's greatest support for defending the territory and his throne. When they are together, they are like stars shining brightly in the palace.  The hall was like a beating heart, affecting the nerves of the entire palace and even France.  The dazzling throne was placed next to the fireplace one step up. There was no one at this time. The group of generals were talking to each other with smiles on their faces. They didn't stop until the palace attendants walked in from the side door.  mouth, respectfully lined up according to rank and seniority, and then stood in place, just like ordinary soldiers undergoing a military parade.  "His Majesty Emperor Napoleon II, monarch of the French, guardian of Rome, and the most humble servant of God, has arrived!" the attendant shouted loudly in the silence.  Then, the side door opened again, and a middle-aged man wearing a formal dress and a crown slowly walked in, and then sat on the throne under the gaze of everyone.  He looks to be in his thirties, with short, carefully combed gray hair. His facial features are distinct, but they lack edges and pressure. His fair skin, tall nose, and calm demeanor make him look  Quite elegant, but lacking majestic pressure, and his eyes did not have much stature, just like a small civil servant dealing with his own errands in the office.  There is not much majesty in this thin and gentle face. Instead, the gently pursed lips and a vague smile make him look a little melancholy and self-deprecating.  If you take off the crown, uniform and medals, it is difficult for anyone to believe that this is the only son and successor of the demigod. I am afraid that saying that he is a poet will get the approval of others.  However, no matter what, he is the former King of Rome and the current Emperor of the French Empire. He is the master of this empire and the person to whom these generals have sworn to be loyal. The political and military machinery of the entire empire is surrounding them.  It operates because of him, and the fate of everyone in this country is clearly connected to his will.  After he sat down, these ambitious and murderous generals bent their straight waists and submitted before the supreme imperial power.  "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!" The violent roar echoed in the vast hall.  His Majesty the Emperor quietly enjoyed the tsunami-like salute of the mountains. It was not until a moment later that he stood up from his seat, and at this time the cheers came to an end.  He walked down the steps slowly, and then walked up to Count Fernand de Morcerf, who was standing in the middle of the group. He was one of the protagonists of today's ceremony.  In order to commend the generals of the expeditionary force who helped the Royal Spanish Government suppress the rebellion and triumphantly, His Majesty the Emperor personally presided over the ceremony today to award these generals with honors, and the first to bear the brunt was Marshal Morcerf, the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force.  This marshal was not yet fifty years old at this time, but he had already made great contributions to the empire. In the era of endless wars decades ago, although he came on the scene very late, he finally rose to the top with a dazzling trajectory.  , and finally became a dazzling superstar and the new idol of the imperial army.  In the chaotic year of 1815, Emperor Napoleon landed in France from Elba Island and overthrew the restored Bourbon dynasty at miraculous speed and rebuilt the empire. At that time, the major powers who were bargaining in Vienna hurriedly formed a coalition to try to annihilate the emperor.  ??.  At the critical moment, His Majesty the Emperor formed his legion to fight bravely, and took his army all the way to Belgium, preparing to defeat the assembled coalition forces here.  After a series of short battles, two huge armies gathered at Waterloo, preparing for a fateful decisive battle here.  The brave armies fought each other, and the two armies were in a state of anxiety. A large number of lives were lost in the roar of guns and artillery, and blood flowed all over the earth. Even veterans who have experienced hundreds of battles will shudder at the tragic scene.  In the repeated tug-of-war and fighting, the two armies were exhausted, the French Army's tidal offensive began to fail, and the British-Dutch coalition had only its last breath left.  At this moment, like a call from God, the troops under Marshal Grouchy rushed to the battlefield. This new weight quickly tipped the balance of the goddess of victory to the side of the French Empire.  At that time, Major Fernand-Morcerf, a cavalry officer, was among the marshal's vanguard. After arriving on the battlefield, they did not hesitate to launch a final attack on the exhausted Anglo-Dutch allied forces.  impact.  The newly arrived troops broke the will of the already exhausted coalition forces, and a large number of troops began to flee. The soldiers fled back desperately, no matter how hoarse the officers shouted.  In the horrific chaos, he and his men overran the British command post, causing Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, the commander of the Anglo-Dutch Allied Forces, to die in the chaos.  With the collapse of the Anglo-Dutch coalition, the late emperor also won the crucial Battle of Waterloo, and the entire empire was saved from danger.  After the death of his fateful enemy, the late emperor, who was favored by God, regained his former genius and luck. He worked hard to defeat the anti-French coalition forces many times in the following battles, and finally brought these hostile powers back together.  Exhausted all at once.  In another round of bloody fighting, the young people of Europe once again stained the battlefield with blood. In the end, countries that had no intention of fighting finally signed compromise agreements. France gave up the territory gained by its expansion and returned to the borders of 1792, while the countries  The Bonaparte dynasty was finally recognized again, and the French Empire finally survived the fire and blood.  The empire went from the glorious Austerlitz, to the painful Leipzig, and finally to the glorious Waterloo. The fate is so unpredictable!  After that, Morcerf, who had repeatedly made military exploits, was duly rewarded by His Majesty the Emperor. His military rank soared like a rocket, and he also became a member of the imperial nobility and was named a count.  In 1821, the late emperor returned to the embrace of God in glory. His successor, the then 10-year-old King of Rome, became the new emperor of the empire. The Count of Morcerf was still trusted and reused, and was eventually named marshal.  , becoming one of the most famous and powerful pillars in the army.  In order to make up for the fatal mistake he made, the late emperor re-recognized the Bourbon family's rule over Spain while he was still alive, and stated that France would do everything possible to maintain its rule in Spain. The two countries were restored - in order to demonstrate this  Such determination led him to even arrange a marriage contract with the Spanish royal family for his son, making the Bourbon princess the next queen of the empire.  Under this relationship, maintaining the rule of the Bourbon royal family in Spain has become the national policy of the empire. Therefore, when the Spanish royal family was in trouble due to revolution or riots, the empire did not hesitate to come to the rescue. Morcerf  The one led by the Earl was the latest.  With the smooth end of the quelling the chaos, the expeditionary force returned triumphantly, and it is natural that the title should be rewarded based on merit.  Under the eager or jealous gazes of the generals, His Majesty the Emperor, dressed in formal attire, walked slowly in front of Count Morcerf, and then looked at his beloved general.  "Thank you for your hard work." After looking at him for a moment, His Majesty the Emperor nodded and praised the marshal softly in his unique soft tone.  Then, he picked up a large medal that exuded brilliance from the velvet tray in the hands of the palace attendant next to him, and slowly handed it to the marshal's chest.  Amid the focus of countless gazes, His Majesty¡¯s white and slender fingers swayed slightly, and finally pinned the medal to the red ribbon on the Marshal¡¯s chest.  "Long live the Empire! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!" At this moment, the hall erupted in deafening cheers. Many generals raised their hands to express their excitement in this way.  "Congratulations, Your Excellency, Marshal." Amidst the noise, His Majesty gently patted the Marshal's shoulder, "I hope you can continue to work hard, continue to create new achievements, and become a model for the imperial soldiers." "Your Majesty, I will serve as  You devote all my blood, loyalty is me.A unique creed!  "The marshal stood up straight and gave a military salute to His Majesty. "As long as I have one breath left, I will fight bloody battles for you. Wherever Your Majesty points, we will fight!  "    "very good.  "His Majesty the Emperor showed a gentle smile, and then patted the Marshal on the shoulder, "I will repay this loyalty.  ¡± ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ As His Majesty awarded medals to the officers one after another, this grand ceremony came to an end, and the generals who participated in the ceremony also began to come to the lounge to drink coffee in twos and threes.  Chatting. In the depths of the rest room, there were several old men in formal attire and holding marshal's scepters gathered around a coffee table. They could be said to be the most dazzling stars of today's ceremony, sitting by the fireplace.  , is a gray-haired old man. Although his face is full of wrinkles, you can still see the beauty of his youth from the edges and corners. He is smiling and full of affinity. He is wearing a large gemstone ring on his hand.  This further highlights the owner's ostentatious character. He is Prince Murat, one of the earliest marshals of the empire, the brother-in-law of Emperor Napoleon, and the former king of Naples. Although he is now retired, this prince had a lot of experience in his military career.  He has made too brilliant and dazzling achievements. After the baptism of time, he has become a living demigod. His heroic deeds have become texts in the imperial textbooks. He enjoys the respect of everyone and is respected within the army.  There are countless people who support him. It can be said that he is the most famous veteran in the imperial army, and is even more respected by the soldiers than the Emperor himself. And sitting on his left is Marshal Soult, who is currently the Minister of War.  A surviving imperial senator from the Napoleonic era, this marshal also had the respect and reputation of the military, and also had outstanding political and organizational abilities. After the death of Emperor Napoleon, because his successor was too young, he designated his successor.  Empress Louise was regent, and Marshal Soult was one of the people he designated to be in charge of Her Majesty. The Empress Dowager always used him to command the army, and it was he who helped the empire survive the chaos of her Majesty's death.  After His Majesty the Emperor took charge, in order to capitalize on his prestige, His Majesty still used him highly and appointed him as Minister of War. Over the years, he promoted and promoted countless cronies, and he also had huge power in the army. On the other side of the prince, sat.  The one is Marshal Victor de Treville. Although he is also a veteran general of that era, compared with the brilliant achievements of the previous two marshals, this marshal is much bleaker.  He returned to France to serve His Majesty the Emperor in 1804. After many battles, he finally became a general and accompanied His Majesty the Emperor on his expedition to Russia. After this unfortunate expedition failed, the empire fell and the general was defeated.  However, he never gave up on His Majesty, and eventually joined the restored imperial army. He also made meritorious service in war after war, and became a marshal of the empire. Because his qualifications were not as good as those of the older generation of marshals,  Therefore, his influence in the army is much smaller, but perhaps because he was born in an old aristocratic family, he was very valued by two generations of Emperor Bonaparte. Now this marshal holds the position of Attach¨¦ to His Majesty the Emperor.  , regarded as one of His Majesty's main military advisers.  The three marshals gathered around a coffee table. This luxurious lineup certainly aroused the tremors of others. Everyone sat far away, fearing to disturb the conversation of the marshals.  However, the three marshals were not that nervous. They all had smiles on their faces. Although these smiles were a bit formulaic and they did not feel much warmth, at least they seemed happy and happy on the surface.  "That boy Morcerf is very proud of himself today." Prince Murat casually rubbed the gemstone ring in his hand and looked at the other two people with a smile, "Look at how happy he is smiling!" "He won a battle.  A general in battle is always entitled to be happy." Marshal Treville replied with a smile, then picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee.  "Humph, it's just a group of mobs. What kind of battle is that?" The prince turned away, seeming to be a little disdainful, and then his eyes were placed in front of Marshal Soult who had been thinking deeply, "You were the only one who fought well in Spain back then.  Call it a battle." The Minister of War's face twitched, but he didn't speak.  "It's really embarrassing to think about it" The old prince sighed exaggeratedly, "Nicholas, back then you worked hard to survive in Spain, but His Majesty didn't appreciate you. Instead, you are now a man who only defeated the guerrillas and the mob.  A young man, but he was greatly rewarded by His Majesty¡¯s son. Thinking about it, it¡¯s really not worth it¡± Marshal Soult¡¯s face flashed for a moment.The moment darkened.  "Your Majesty still values ??me very much." He seemed to be explaining to himself.  "It used to be the case, but it may not be the case in the future." The prince shook his head, seeming to disapprove, "I heard that your Majesty intends to let this boy be the Minister of War, so that you can go home and retire comfortably" Minister of War  His face became more and more ugly, and the hand holding the coffee cup twitched slightly, almost spilling the coffee.  "Your Majesty has the right to appoint anyone he likes as minister." After a moment, the marshal replied in a low voice, but it was unclear how much insincerity there was in it.  "If I were you, I wouldn't say that." The prince shook his head, as if he was a little dissatisfied with Soult's reaction, "How can that kid compare to you? Without His Majesty's support, he is nothing.  , but it¡¯s a pity that he does, so he and his gang of bastards can gear up and think about replacing you. I¡¯ve already retired. It doesn¡¯t matter if I have no official position and am idle, but it¡¯s a pity for you You have worked so hard for the empire.  You have shed your blood, but in the end it will end up in this world." His Highness the Prince's words made the other two marshals even more gloomy.  Although I knew this was an obvious provocation, what he said was partly true after all.  Yes, the superstars left over from the Napoleonic era are too dazzling, so dazzling that even His Majesty the Emperor's light is sometimes obscured.  His Majesty the Emperor, who has gradually grown up and taken charge of the government, can certainly feel the dazzling effect of this light, so he gets close to those cutting-edge young generals. His Majesty praises and promotes these cutting-edge generals. In the eyes of many caring people, it can be seen that the young men have replaced the elders.  pie trend.  Today¡¯s conferment of honors on Count Morcerf is just a small proof of this trend.  Replacing the old with the new is an inevitable law of history, but how many of those "old people" are willing to be replaced like this?  ¡°How many people who have been in power for so many years are willing to be abandoned by power?  "Our Majesty is a poet," the War Secretary said gloomily after a long and depressing gloom.  "The poet's ideas are unpredictable. As subjects, we can only bow and obey, that's all."
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