"Bang!"

With a loud gunshot, the atmosphere between the two people, which had just been very frank and even somewhat friendly, was suddenly broken.

Monsieur Thiers looked at Charles with wide eyes, unable to say anything, his eyes full of incredulous questions, as if he had no idea that he would be subjected to such a terrible catastrophe.

Until the moment of death, he didn't understand why Charles suddenly killed him.

The pain made his whole body tremble, and he stumbled to the ground, clutching the wound on his chest, as if trying to delay his death a few more moments.

"What's going on!"

The door was slammed open, and the officer who had led the way for Charles ran in in a panic.

Because before coming, Charles had specifically ordered others not to come in, so it wasn't until he heard the gunshots that he sensed something was wrong and rushed in.

When he saw Thiers lying in a pool of blood, he panicked even more, until he shouted at Charles who was sitting in his seat.

"Sir? What happened? Are you alright? Well...... You......? ”

It was only then that he discovered the pistol Charles was holding.

"I'm fine." Charles's expression was calm, and he calmly withdrew the pistol back into his hand. "Don't worry."

～

After hearing Charles's voice with no signs of injury in it, his heart calmed down a little. However, he was still shocked by what he saw.

"Sir...... Mr...... ...... you," he pointed to Thiers, who was still convulsing in a pool of blood, "how did you ...... him Give him ......."

"Nothing? I just killed him! Charles stood up slowly.

"You're going to kill him!" The officer repeated it almost in despair.

"What are you panicking about? Didn't you just say you were going to do something for me? Why, you can't stand it when you see this little thing? Charles frowned slightly. seemed to be a little dissatisfied with his reaction, "It's a shame that you're still a soldier." It's just killing someone...... How can you put on such a pose? ”

However, he also knew what the other side was worried about - it was natural for soldiers to kill people on the battlefield. However, as a guard, if you allow an important prisoner to be killed without a clear order, you will be held responsible.

Knowing this, his tone quickly slowed down. "Okay, don't worry, I made this qiē myself, and you don't have to bear any responsibility."

"Really...... Is that ......" After hearing Charles's words, the officer finally calmed down. "That's great, sir!"

"Listen. It was an accident. Xia Eryan looked at the other party with an unmistakable firmness in his tone, "He tried to resist, so he was killed by the guards who rushed over, and that's what happened." ”

The officer blinked, looking at Charles in confusion.

Judging from the fact that Charles had come running with a weapon beforehand, and his calm and calm appearance just now, it was obvious that this was a long-planned murder.

Moreover, he didn't hear a fight just now.

But...... Is it time to get to the truth? He asked himself.

"Sometimes, we need to face the truth. But sometimes you don't, sir. Seeing that the other party was still hesitating, Charles continued unhurriedly, "Isn't that good?" You shirk the responsibility. And I am grateful. ”

Then he stood up and walked over to the officer. He patted his shoulder gently. "I think you're a smart man. You know what to do, right? ”

The officer looked at Charles with wide eyes, and then. Gradually, he came to his senses.

"I see...... That's right, sir! During your interrogation, he tried to resist, so he was killed by the guards! ”

"Wouldn't that be nice?" Charles smiled and nodded.

"Alright, let's not waste time here, I'll have something to do later."

"Okay, sir, I'll take you out, and I'll call someone to clean up here." The officer immediately understood, and then respectfully followed Charles out of the room.

When leaving, neither of the two men, nor did they look at Tyer, who was lying on the ground.

And at the moment when the two of them stepped out of the room, Thiers, who had been lying on the ground and screaming in pain, finally slowly stopped his convulsions, and his hand slowly loosened from the wound.

The first president of the Third Republic in history suddenly ended his life here in this less glorious way.

…………………………

It was already dawn.

With a rumbling sound, the gates of the Élysée Palace slowly opened.

Surrounded by a group of soldiers and party members, the current president, Louis Bonaparte, rode a tall horse and galloped out of the Élysée Palace.

Because they knew what day it was, everyone dressed up and wore their own badges of honor, and everyone looked solemn.

It was time to go to the National Assembly and make a declaration of victory.

Louis Bonaparte looked up at the sky.

The dark clouds that had originally shrouded the sky suddenly and slowly dispersed, and the sunlight spread to every corner of the city, as if covering the earth with a golden coat.

Could there be a clearer omen?

From the gaps in the clouds, golden pillars of light connected the entire heaven and earth, as if they were the sight of heaven and earth.

Could it be that my uncle is watching him in heaven?

A strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart, like that uncle, emperor, great man...... The idol whom he admired and envied at the same time was watching him.

Louis Bonaparte clenched the reins of his hand gently, unaware that his hands were already covered with sweat.

At this time, although he was very calm on the surface, he was already excited.

Are you looking at me?

Did you see that?

How can you praise me?

That ignorant young child, after a terrible disaster destined by fate, lost the one he once had. And then, like him, in the state of nothing. Relying on their own courage, wisdom and hard work, as well as luck that is indispensable. also became the master of the country.

What you left behind forty years ago, I'm picking it up now.

I'll do a better job than you, wait for me!

He let out a silent roar in his heart.

Then, he suddenly raised his head, looked at the adjutant next to him, and gave a soft order.

"Let's go."

"Let's go!" The adjutant, who had received the order, immediately shouted to the people around him.

As if a switch had been flipped at the turn of a switch, the crowd suddenly started up at the same time.

Then, the suit was colorful. The royal blue and emerald procession, surrounded by Louis Bonaparte, rushed towards the Palais Bourbon. Under the sunlight, the gold silk inlays, crimson ribbons, and jeweled medals on these people's bodies were all shining, and in a trance, they brought them an epic phantom.

This is not a president's journey to Parliament, it is a conqueror's march to the supreme power of a country.

In his life, he has never been so high-spirited as he is today.

…………………………

When the president's procession came to the gate of the Palais Bourbon. Charles hurriedly caught no time in meeting him.

"Your Excellency, I have lived up to your expectations!" He shouted, then stood next to the president, "We made it!" ”

"Yes...... We did it. Louis Bonaparte nodded.

Even the consistently unobtrusive Louis Bonaparte. His lips were trembling slightly, and he looked like he wanted to say something thankful to Charles, but. In the end, he still didn't say anything.

Finally, Louis Bonaparte suddenly stretched out his hand. Then he grabbed his hands heavily and clenched them tightly.

"I will never forget your exploits. Shire. Louis Bonaparte's voice trembled so loudly that Charles could barely hear what he was saying, but he felt his unreserved gratitude. As long as...... As long as I, and my children and grandchildren, are on the throne of France - you will never have to worry about the prosperity of your family! ”

"Thank you......" Charles was startled at first, then grabbed his hand as well, "I will continue to repay your kindness with my loyalty!" ”

Under everyone's watchful eye, Louis Bonaparte and Charles put on a show of getting along with each other.

Although it is not known how long this sincerity will last, Charles knows that at least at the moment both of them are sincere.

At this time, of course, neither of them would have imagined how this promise would be fulfilled.

Gradually, Louis Bonaparte came to his senses from the agitation, and slowly let go of Charles' hand.

"Alright, Charles, let's go inside. I can't afford to keep the MPs waiting too long. He pursed his lips and gave a mocking sneer, "If only my uncle had done the same!" ”

In 1799, after a successful coup d'état, Napoleon ran to the Senate to issue a declaration of victory, only to be questioned and reprimanded by angry parliamentarians, who were so shocked that he was incoherent, and the future emperor was embarrassed.

Having learned the lessons of precedent, Louis Bonaparte and Charles certainly did not let this happen again. Now, the parliamentarians who opposed Bonaparte were either forcibly detained or blocked out of parliament by the soldiers, and only the pro-Bonaparte parliamentarians were left to fill the façade, and there would never be any unseemly jokes.

"Yes, sir."

Charles bowed respectfully to Louis Bonaparte, "Please speak on behalf of France!" ”

Louis Bonaparte raised his head, looked at the apparition of the saint in the sky, and opened his mouth slightly.

"Yes, from now on, I am France!"

……………………

"Your Excellency the President has arrived!"

With all eyes watched, Louis Bonaparte walked into the chamber of the Palais Bourbon.

At the moment when he appeared, as if he had received some order, all the parliamentarians present stood up in unison to salute the new master.

Because a large number of parliamentarians had been arrested or expelled, the council hall was much more empty than usual.

Louis Bonaparte, however, did not care about this - because. He had intended to weaken the parliament later.

With an admirable calm, Louis Bonaparte walked to the podium in the centre of the chamber.

He looked up. Look at the parliamentarians who are sitting around the table.

Everyone stared with bated breath, waiting for him to make a final declaration of victory.

All eyes on you. There was a slight hesitation in Louis Bonaparte's heart, after all, he was not used to being looked at like this.

However, this discomfort quickly disappeared in my mind.

We've come this far...... Is there anyone else who can stop me?

No, there are none.

From this day forward, I am the master of this country!

"Hello gentlemen and councillors." He took a deep breath and calmly opened his mouth to the people opposite. "I'm here today to give an explanation for what happened last night and today. It is also an attempt to make an appropriate end to the calamity that has lasted in our country for 60 years. At this moment, I am not just speaking to you, I am speaking to the whole country, the whole nation. ”

No one answered, everyone just looked respectfully at the man who was about to become emperor, and he was not waiting for an answer.

"There is no doubt that what happened today is an unfortunate event. There is violence. There was even bloodshed, and I don't want that to happen as much as you do - but it did. Louis Bonaparte sighed softly, as if he was really sorry for those who had been detained and even died today, "but. At the same time, we have to face reality. Is not the misfortune that we have suffered today a continuation of the misfortune that has befallen an entire nation over the years?

This great country. This remarkable nation has been mired in inaction and self-denial for many years. How many years. Everyone, all the people at the top of this country. It's been a lot of bickering, arguing over issues that can be argued.

We always say more and do less, with no expectations and no plans. In the midst of the quarrel, we forgot about it with insight, but as a result, we regarded mediocrity as stability, vulgarity as proximity to the people, and incompetence as reliability! We have forgotten the brilliance and ideals that we once had. We have lost the qiē that we were once proud of, but we have picked up things that others don't want and treat them as treasures!

Seeing us behave in this way, the people's illusions are shattered, and they are also dragged into the quagmire of mediocrity by us. After the disillusionment, the people also became cynical, mocking the previous and current governments, ridiculing law and order, and even mocking the moral authority of the past! And isn't this qiē the evil result of our own making? ”

"However, we are not a self-depraved people, and we know that we cannot go on like this. I listened to the voice of the people, and with this cry I went to the highest posts of the republic. Under the gaze of all the parliamentarians, Louis Bonaparte threw his head back and cried out loudly, "The will of millions of people has put me in this position, and I must be responsible for their will!" ”

………………………………

At this moment, Charles, who was sitting in the back row, suddenly heard a faint commotion.

He felt something strange in his heart, so he quietly walked out of the council hall and came to the door of the Palais Bourbon.

Then, he saw Lucien, who was nervously shouting at his subordinates.

"Lucien, what's going on?" He hurriedly walked over to Lucien's side and asked.

"Charles, someone is trying to storm the Bourbon Palace, and they have already rushed to the blockade!" Lucien hurriedly replied.

"What? What a guts! Charles frowned, "Take me there!" ”

Lucien quickly led Charles to the blockade set up by the soldiers, and found that a large crowd was indeed pouring towards him.

Judging by the slogans they shouted, it was a group of excluded opposition parliamentarians who brought their supporters to denounce the crimes of the Bonapartists.

"Warn them now!" Charles hurriedly shouted to Lucien, "This place has been placed under military control, and no unrelated people are allowed to approach!" If you get any closer, you're going to shoot! ”

Lucien immediately asked several officers and soldiers next to him to help him shout out.

However, this warning was of no avail, and the people, who had been overwhelmed by their anger, rushed towards it with all their might, as if they were intimidated by their momentum. The soldiers in the front row seemed to be a little shaken.

"Hmph, didn't they find out? I didn't arrest them because I didn't take them to heart at all...... As a result, they still have to come to seek death! "In order to ease the tension of the soldiers. Charles chuckled slightly, "There are too few people coming. In 1848, when we rushed to the palace, there were tens of thousands of people! ”

………………………………

"Yes, it was the people who couldn't bear this qiē anymore, and then gave me this will." Louis Bonaparte was unaware of what was happening outside, and he continued to address the parliamentarians, "and I can only carry out the will of the people."

Initially I tried to convince everyone by means of reconciliation, and I wanted the whole country to unite and save the country. To restore her prosperity, to take away her glory—can we have a higher goal than this?

However...... I failed.

The virus of mediocrity and hesitation has penetrated into her viscera through the fabric of this country. Hedonism and liberalism have corrupted us, the ridicule of religion has made us lose our fear, everyone thinks only of themselves, few are willing to sacrifice for the country, few are willing to pick up and regain the glory of this country.

In this situation. Is there any other choice for me? No, I don't have it anymore! I can only stretch out my hand and act on the power given to me by the people to save this country from the brink of the abyss! And the people who stand in my way from this goal. It must be eliminated so that they can no longer do harm to the country!

Now, those who stand in our way to glory have been excluded. I finished this qiē in a smooth way. And isn't that proof that God and the people care for me?

From now on, we no longer have to endure this dilemma of doing nothing. We have regained our glory, and we have picked up the weapons that we have left aside. Once we get back on our feet. Victory will be upon us, for we have not hesitated and feared!

Yes, from today onwards, France is reborn! We have become the great nation with ideals in mind and a sword in our hands! ”

………………

Outside the Palais Bourbon, roaring protesters are also forcing their way to the military blockade.

Their queues were not neat, their slogans were not consistent, and they were apparently rushing in out of righteous indignation.

However, this rabble seemed to have the upper hand for a while because of the hesitation of the army.

"Fire!" Looking at the crowd that was getting closer and closer, and was about to storm the blockade, Charles finally made up his mind. "Hurry up and order the soldiers to open fire!"

"But...... Charles ...... "Lucien was still a little hesitant. "Most of them are unarmed, and there are not many of them, we can find a way to disperse the ......"

"Is there a more effective means of dispersal than guns? Sir, we're doing big things! Charles yelled at him. If we don't shoot today, we will no longer be respected by the people! ”

What else did Lucien want to say.

"If you want glory and wealth, if you want to be a marshal, listen to me!" Charles yelled at him, "Fire now!" ”

Charles's roar finally made Lucien make up his mind.

"Fire!" He shouted at the officer next to him.

"Fire!" The other officers shouted at the same time.

"Bang! Bang! Gunshots rang out suddenly, and then a large number of screams erupted.

"Keep firing!!" Charles was still shouting hoarsely, "Whoever dares to defy the ban is a rebel, and there must be no mercy!" ”

In the midst of the gunshots, blood splattered everywhere, and the thunderous gunfire finally stopped the crowd from advancing.

"That's right......" Charles frowned and breathed a sigh of relief, "get on the bayonet!" Disperse them! ”

"Charles......" Lucien still looked at Charles with some trepidation, as if he was a little incredulous at what he had just judged the two of them.

"Don't do that, Lucien, I just did what we had to do." Charles smiled reluctantly, "If Louis XVI dares to do this, we will have to shout long live the king now!" ”

……………………

"France, yes, France! The qiē we do is for her, and the qiē we get can only be given to her! And at this moment, Louis Bonaparte finally finished his declaration to the parliamentarians, and he slowly raised his hand,

"Today, it's not me who wins, it's not someone, it's France! Long live France! ”

"Long live France!" All the arms were raised in unison, and everyone was shouting frantically, and the whole council hall seemed to be trembling slightly.

"From this day forward, France is in our hands." Looking at the opponents, who were being driven away by the soldiers with bayonets, Charles patted Lucien on the shoulder. "Have a good night's sleep, Lucien." (To be continued......)