Eagle's Glory

The middle-aged man brought him into the small reception room, then let them all sit on chairs, and then he went to report.

The Marquis de Treville and Edmond Dantès waited nervously, without speaking to each other, waiting for the Marshal to appear.

Before long, they heard loud footsteps.

The sound of these footsteps was strong and rhythmic, with the sense of oppression unique to those who have led troops to fight for a long time.Then, the door was pushed open, and an old man in casual clothes appeared in front of them.

He is about 60 years old, his temple hair is already gray, but there are not many wrinkles on his face, and his figure is strong, showing no signs of aging.

Although he was wearing casual clothes, his gaze was still scorching, and just passing over the two of them gave them a creepy feeling.

He is not handsome, but his eyes are not angry and majestic, which makes people feel awe-inspiring.

His eyes have witnessed the destruction of the kingdom, the destruction of the empire, the formation of thousands of troops, and countless corpses. He is the last remaining essence of that era, even living history.

Even if no one introduced him, Edmund knew that this old man must be Marshal Soult.

Unexpectedly, after being cast idle for more than ten years, the marshal still looks murderous - this is enough to prove that he has not been obliterated by the ordinary peaceful life, and his heart is still burning with the flame of power desire. Will be satisfied with the current life of an industrialist.

And that's what Edmund wanted to see.

The marshal's eyes only briefly swept over Edmund, and soon fell on the Marquis de Treville.

He did not know Edmund, but of course he knew the Marquis de Treville, the general who had fought under him.

"Victor, long time no see." He greeted the Marquis of Treville in a blunt and stern tone, "I didn't expect to be able to get your visit after so many years."

"Your Excellency, Marshal, long time no see!" The Marquis de Treville changed his usual pride, and greeted his old superior respectfully, "Actually, I have been hoping to visit you all these years, but I finally got it today. It's just a chance... Please forgive me for being so late."

"What is there to forgive? It's a good thing to be able to come, my old subordinates, but few of them will remember to come and see me..." Marshal Soult smiled slightly, but the smile seemed still Very indifferently, "But I also understand their difficulties. Many of them still have a bright future. It is normal for them not to want to get involved with me. I am afraid that only you, who are unofficial and light, can come to see me."

The Marquis de Treville didn't know whether it was a compliment or a sarcasm. He didn't know how to respond for a while, so he could only answer the marshal with a wry smile, "We are all paying the price for the past, Your Excellency. However I have no complaints and no regrets, and I am extremely honored that I have been treated so unfairly because I stood by my loyalty and my position, because I can prove my innocence before God."

"Oh! That's great!" The marshal nodded.

Then he sat down again with a smile on his face, and looked at General Treville with great interest, "Then what do you want me to do, Treville the Innocence? When to see me? I'm all ears!"　　

141,Marshal

"Why do you finally think you have the chance to meet me after so many years? I'm all ears!"

Marshal Soult's attitude was both hearty and tinged with a hint of banter. Obviously, he had already guessed a little about the purpose of the Marquis de Treville's visit.

This is also very normal. Although he lived in seclusion in this small town to explore coal mines, Marshal Soult did not let go of his desire for power, and was always looking for opportunities to return to the power field—so he kept paying attention domestic political situation.

Naturally, he had already heard about the series of events surrounding the Duke of Reichstedt.

Things in Greece are too far away, but the Duke himself appeared in the countryside near Strasbourg a few months ago. This sensational news also proves that this young man has always had the ambition to return to France to compete for the throne.

The Marquis of Treville has always publicly sided with the Bonaparte family.

Anyone with normal intelligence can guess that this general came here as a lobbyist, hoping to persuade himself to support the Bonaparte family.

Bonaparte... Although more than ten years have passed, this surname can always arouse too much sentimentality in the marshal's heart.

He spent his entire life as a soldier and fought on the battlefield everywhere. Fortunately, he was favored by Emperor Napoleon and was promoted all the way to become a marshal. He also served the empire with all his heart, made great military exploits, and received countless graces from the emperor.

It can be said that the most glorious memories in his life are closely related to the Bonaparte family.

Although he is not a rigid, foolish and loyal person, and has repeatedly jumped over and over again, for Emperor Napoleon himself, even today, he still has endless respect in his heart.

He has a proud personality and his eyes are higher than the top. He has never put a few people in his eyes in his life, but the emperor is someone he admires from the bottom of his heart. Under the circumstances, he still defected to the emperor's command, and then fought for the Hundred Days Dynasty.

He paid a heavy price for this decision, lost forever the favor of the vindictive Bourbons, and still pays the price today, but he has no regrets—how can a real man regret his decision?

For the kindness of the past, and for the honor of the empire that he also has, he followed the emperor to the end. The court of conscience can no longer hold him any harshly. He is worthy of anyone.

However, the emperor is the emperor, and the king of Rome is the king of Rome. The price he paid for the emperor does not mean that he has to pay for the king of Rome—no matter how you look at it, he already owes nothing to the Bonaparte family. , he was under no obligation to obey the orders of the King of Rome.

If the King of Rome wants to win him over, he must show due sincerity and price, and everyone will trade fairly, and it is absolutely impossible to send an order casually and risk himself going through fire and water.

Marshal Soult knows that he is in trouble now, but from another perspective, his status in the world is there. Those marshals who can be compared with him have already passed away, and those who are alive, like None of Marmont, Augereau, and Udino can compare with themselves in military exploits and prestige.

The proud marshal never thinks that there is anyone in the army who is more qualified to support a "son of destiny" than himself.

This son of destiny could be the heir of the Bonaparte family, the Duke of Orleans, or even anyone else, but no matter who they were, they would have to pay a reasonable price if they wanted to buy him.

Although France does not have the idiom "up for sale", there are some things that are common to all human beings. Marshal Soult has already cultivated a stern and calm character after many battles. He can assess the situation, and he knows that he has been bought. the value of.

That being the case, don't be in a hurry, and continue to observe to see which side is the most sincere and has the most hope of success, and finally invest in the Son of Destiny when the time is right.

Although the Marquis de Treville can't fully grasp Marshal Soult's psychology, he can at least guess two or three points. He also knows that he can't convince the Marshal to play for the Bonaparte family again with just a few words. , he can only plant a seed first, let the marshal know that the door of the Bonaparte family will always be open for him.

As a soldier, he certainly prefers to be straightforward, and it is best to decide all major issues in a few minutes, but politics is often the art of bargaining and compromise, and he must be calm and patient-especially, Marshal Soult, he bullied and intimidated It doesn't make any sense, it's very difficult to deceive, he can only be honest and let everything be judged by the Marshal himself.

Because of this thought, he quickly organized his thoughts.

"As you can see, Marshal, to this day, I am still loyal to Bonaparte. At that time, it was the emperor who led us to the pinnacle that our nation has never reached. As good as him, unfortunately fate still mocked him and let him fall from the throne. But even so, I will not change my oath, I swore to be loyal to the emperor, I We must persevere to the end! Although the emperor is gone, the Bonaparte family and his heirs are still there, and there is still room for my loyalty."

"Are you loyal to the King of Rome?" The marshal was not surprised, but asked indifferently, "Then does the King of Rome know?"

The Marquis de Treville hesitated again.

He knew that the marshal was actually asking him if he had "colluded" with the Bonaparte family, and he had to consider the scale.

In the end, he decided to just speak out.

"To tell you the truth, ever since the King of Rome escaped from Vienna, I have been very excited. I tried my best to contact him, expressed my loyalty to him, and told him everything I know..."

After a pause, the Marquis continued, "In addition, when he went on an adventure to Greece, I sent my son to accompany him."

Although this is completely true, the Marquis also played a trick in the narration. He deliberately didn't say what his son did, and played it up in his words as if he was going to let his son go through life and death for the Bonaparte family.

Although the Marshal knew the Marquis de Treville and knew that he had a son, he had lived in seclusion for many years and did not know Edgar's current situation, so he was easily induced by the Marquis.

"Your only son has also passed away? You are really willing to spend your money!" The marshal gave the Marquis de Treville a slightly surprised look, "This kind of loyalty is rare."

"It's not uncommon. There are many people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the Bonaparte family. My son and I are just one of them." The Marquis de Treville replied indifferently, "We are loyal to our oath and to the cause of the empire. It's worth any price!"

The impassioned Marquis of Treville did not impress the marshal, he just smiled wryly. "Empire? There is no empire anymore, and the so-called cause has long been wiped out, leaving only a ruined wall. We are its last residue, waiting to be worn out by time."

From the marshal's tone, it's not difficult to hear a bit of frustration - which is rare for a person like him.

But the Marquis de Treville also understood the depression.

The emperor led the whole nation, with his marshal and loyal and brave army, defeated the enemy repeatedly, and once swept across most of the European continent, but in the end, the empire was overwhelmed by all its enemies united.

The seven anti-French alliances, the British navy that controlled all the oceans, the fierce and brave Cossacks, and the endless coalition of millions... These forces gathered together, hindered the advancement of the empire and finally destroyed it.

So dreadful was this frenzy that a man as skilled in strategy as Marshal Soult was discouraged, and no longer believed that it could be resisted by the strength of France alone-that is to say, The empire that swept across most of the European continent will never appear again.

[In the original historical line, from 1830 to 1848, the Orleans family ruled France, and Soult, as Prime Minister and Minister of War, has always adopted a pacifist or compromiseist line, and hardly considered the threat of force to implement diplomacy Policy, it can be seen how much lingering fear about the past. 】

Thinking of this, the Marquis de Treville felt a little sad and bowed his head.

Although they are not very loyal to the empire or the Bonaparte family, deep down in their hearts, as generals of the empire era, they are still proud of the military feats and glory of the empire, because they are the descendants of these glory. part.

Seeing these once proud things come to an end one by one, the former robes will either die or turn against each other, no matter how hard-hearted people are, they will inevitably feel a little sad.

After a long silence, the Marquis de Treville spoke again.

"You are right. It is true that the empire we are proud of can no longer be reproduced, but it still exists after all because the Bonaparte family still exists. It can be reborn in France and lead this country into the world. A new era to heal the wounds of the past and move toward a prosperous future.

Maybe for many years we will not be able to take up the flag of the past and challenge the whole of Europe again, but the future is not certain, right?Our opponents, they are not monolithic, they have their own ghosts, and they will quarrel and even fight for the uneven distribution of spoils. Sooner or later, their alliance will break down, because in the history of Europe, there is no alliance that can last forever!

As long as we keep accumulating strength and waiting, waiting for the moment, then we have the opportunity to take back what we have lost. 20 years, if not, 40 years... One day, our descendants will once again pick up the battle flag that we have sealed up, follow the drums of our ancestors, and go to win the crown of the world for this nation—"

Speaking of this, the Marquis de Treville looked at Marshal Soult with enthusiasm, "Marshal, you are the one who led us into an era of peace and prosperity. Only you can prevent our nation from Drown in the decadence and hedonism of peacetime, remember what we once had, rebuild our much damaged army, refurbish armaments and accumulate resources, and make this country stronger again than it has ever been before! If you go and fix it Our broken battle flag, let it be handed over to the next generation, let them wash away the stains on the battle flag with new honor, and history will also remember your achievement-this achievement is even more important than fighting Winning ten battles is even greater!"

As he spoke, the Marquis de Treville himself became excited.

It is true that he said these mainly to please the marshal, but to a large extent, he was speaking from his heart.

After the fall of the empire, its military strength suffered a devastating blow, not only huge casualties, a series of defeats, but also an unprecedented setback in the confidence of the soldiers. It can be said that the morale has almost collapsed.

Although the French army was rebuilt after the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, for political reasons, it liquidated a large number of officers from the imperial era, which inevitably further weakened the cohesion and self-confidence of the army.

As a general, he not only pays attention to his personal future, but also pays attention to the army himself. He also hopes that this situation can be reversed as soon as possible.

He is not the only one who thinks this way. Inside and outside the army, there is almost a consensus that "a powerful and respected boss is needed to restore the discipline and morale of the army, renovate the armaments, and rebuild a strong army".

As one of the most powerful commanders in France today, whether he wants to admit it or not, Marshal Soult is the best candidate to achieve this mission.

Although the Marquis de Treville is very ambitious, he knows that he is not only inferior to the marshals in terms of qualifications and prestige, but he is not outstanding among a large number of old generals, so he would rather support Marshal Soult first to achieve Such a mission—yet, he came again to take up the cause.

He hopes that the army can be reinvigorated, and he also hopes to become the leader of the army in the future. These two wishes are organically combined and go hand in hand.

He is about ten years younger than Marshal Soult, he is patient, and he knows that His Majesty will trust him more than Marshal Soult.

The Marshal is an ally, and General Treville is a close minister, and everyone knows which is closer.

Because of such calculations, the Marquis de Treville made up his mind to let the marshal stand up.

This is the best choice for both business and private.

Just because he regained his energy, he looked at the marshal and continued to speak loudly, "Marshal, can't you see what our country and our army look like today? Don't you want the whole nation to lose confidence and keep fighting?" Indulging in the shadow of past failures?

No, in the history of our country, we have suffered many failures, and there are many more cruel failures than this one-France almost perished during the Hundred Years War!But our great nation will not be willing to fail. God will always send us a great man to help the nation, lead us to rise from the ruins, regroup, and continue to work hard for the cause of the past—now, I think, you It is that person, please don't hesitate any longer! "　　

142, moving with love

"Now, I think that you are that person, please don't hesitate any longer!"

After speaking, the Marquis de Treville looked at Marshal Soult with earnest eyes.

Now that he had reached this point, he didn't hide it anymore, and directly made it clear that he came to recruit the Marshal for the Bonaparte family.

However, although he was emotional, Marshal Soult still had a cold expression, and he didn't seem to be moved by him.

He just twitched the corner of his mouth slightly, showing a half-smile.

As a commander who has led troops for many years, mobilizing the emotions of his subordinates is his old profession. He has seen similar things before, and even said too much himself, so how could he be excited by this.

"Save the nation and the country? You think too highly of me." He smiled and shook his head, "Besides, what can we do now? The fate of the Bonaparte family has inevitably declined. We have tried A rebellion against fate, but what is the result? How many good men did we lose on Waterloo, and what did we get in the end? Nothing was exchanged, we lost, and we lost unequivocally. If we do it again, how much blood does this nation have? Need to shed? How much blood is it willing to shed for the Bonaparte family? Are you sure?"

The Marquis de Treville was at a loss for words.

After a while, the veins on his forehead were bulging, and he seemed to be angry, "Fate? I really didn't expect you to mention this word to me... I didn't expect that our former commander, the god of war I admired, would actually talk about fate to me." ? If you want to obey fate, then why did the blood flow in this country before? Wouldn’t it be enough for everyone to obey fate and kneel at the feet of the king and nobles? Why did they pick up knives and guns and smash the entire old system? , and why do you want to join the revolution, and why do you want to become a general of the Republic and the Empire?!

Why did we achieve such a brilliant performance at that time?Is it because of fate?No!Just the opposite, this is the result of fighting with fate! In 1789 they rebelled against fate and overthrew the dynasty. Since then, the son of a groom can be a general, and the son of a farmer can be an emperor. If they obey their fate, what are they now? !It is precisely because they rebelled against fate, they despised the shackles imposed on them by their ancestors, they had ideals in their hearts, they held sharp swords in their hands, they braved the hail of bullets and charged forward fearlessly, they made the whole continent crumbling!I have seen the brilliance in the eyes of those vigorous young men under the emperor's command, under your command, and under my command. They once firmly believed that they were invincible, and you were one of them... As a result, something happened By now, do you want us to submit to fate?With all due respect, Marshal, you are not denying the Empire or the Bonaparte family, you are denying yourself! "

After a pause, he sneered again, "Don't forget, my surname is de Treville, and my father is a duke in Versailles. If the whole nation and you had succumbed to fate at that time, then today The marshal will be me, and you won't even be a general! Would you submit to this fate, sir? No way?"

The Marquis de Treville's remarks were half angry and half a performance—he had always deliberately created a "straightforward, resolute and decisive" personality in front of outsiders, and he maintained this image very successfully, even when the emperor and him He can be neither humble nor overbearing in front of his heir, and he hopes to show this image to Marshal Sirte, so he dares to question and contradict him face to face.

He knows the marshal, and he knows that the marshal prefers people with sharp personalities to those incompetent people who only know how to flatter horses. Besides, he is playing the role of a lobbyist of the Bonaparte family in front of the marshal. If you are short of breath, you will be underestimated by the marshal.

Sure enough, as he expected, the marshal was not angry, but just glanced at General Treville in a little surprise.

"I didn't expect that you have learned the eloquence of an orator in these years."

"I pay more attention to practical work than eloquence, and I just sent it out of feeling." General Treville shook his head, and then looked at the marshal sincerely again, "Your Excellency, you are completely free, and no one can order you now , even the king of Rome is the same-that is to say, you can choose how to go next, you can continue to live in seclusion and concentrate on your boring coal mines, or you can choose to plunge into the torrent of the times again- — Bah! What fate, you smashed it once in the past, in exchange for your current title and wealth, why can’t you smash it again now?”

"Even if I want to smash fate, I don't have only Bonaparte and a hammer to choose from." The marshal replied indifferently, "Victor, although your words are very touching and I am moved, but you can't change the reality." ——The Bonaparte family tried to restore, and it has failed, a complete failure. It exhausted the prestige it had accumulated, and even the emperor himself passed away. So if the Bonaparte family wants to try again, it There are more and stronger enemies to face than imagined—"

The Marquis de Treville and Edmond Dantès glanced at each other secretly.

Since the marshal said that, it meant that his heart had already been moved.

"It is true that you are not the only one to choose. With your prestige, no matter who wants to overthrow the dynasty, they will seek your cooperation." The Marquis of Treville immediately answered, "But you should see that in the hearts of the people, The name of Bonaparte is still prestigious. The death of the emperor is a great disaster for us, but from another perspective, his fate has also aroused the infinite sympathy of the people. At this moment, the public opinion seems a bit illusory, but If there is a day when the dynasty collapses, in the chaotic situation, the voice of the people will be a force that no one can ignore - yes, the Bonaparte family does not have a province or a city in France now, but if the people Willing to arm it, then it will certainly own the whole country! There are countless ambitious people in Paris today, everyone wants to taste the taste of supreme power, but none of them can compare with Bonaparte The family is more able to arouse the enthusiasm of the people, because the name of the emperor is the eternal memory of the people, and the sole heir of the emperor is the natural candidate to carry these memories, and no one else can get the enthusiasm of the people..."

Undoubtedly, the Marquis de Treville's remarks were a bit boastful, but to some extent there was some basis for them. Even Marshal Soult had to admit that within the borders, people who remember the emperor will definitely remember Louis X. Six or more for King Louis XVIII.

If he is a hereditary nobleman, he may despise the power of public opinion, but the Marshal will not, because in his life, he rode the turbulent waves of the Great Revolution to get to this point. He knows the power of the people and knows What exactly are they able to do.

In 1815, the emperor easily mobilized the whole country, causing those who had already succumbed to the Bourbon family to take up swords and guns to fight for him again. It will not be easily erased from people's hearts.

Whether it is a century or two, his name will be the most vivid mark on history.

Because of this imprint, the marshal knew in his heart that the Bonaparte family had a chance now—even if it was so weak, it still had a chance.

So, do you want to be a part of it?

The marshal was weighing in his mind, and his eyes wandered over General Treville.

The decision was difficult to make.

He made a wrong decision before and paid a heavy price. Now that he is old, his chances are running out. If he makes another mistake this time, he may not be shot like Ney, but the last days of his life Certainly there will be no chance of touching power again.

Because of this, you can't be in a hurry, you must weigh the pros and cons, and make a decision after seeing the situation clearly——

His gaze moved to the man next to the Marquis de Treville.

Although the general claimed that this man was his entourage when he came, the marshal just observed the words and expressions and noticed that the two men were exchanging eyes and tacit understanding when they were silent, so he could judge that this man was definitely not simple.

——Thinking about it, if he was just a follower, how could the Marquis de Treville let him stay by his side and hear such an important matter?

"Is this gentleman...?" he asked the Marquis after a moment's silence.