Although it was early spring, the days were still very short, and it was a very cloudy day today, so as the time passed, the sky slowly darkened. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

Such a thick cloud also indicates that there may be a heavy rain to come, and the pedestrians hurrying through the streets outside the club at this time, just thinking about avoiding the cold wind and the bitter cold spring rain that may be about to fall, they have no time to look left and right, and they have no way to imagine what is happening in this seemingly inconspicuous building at this very moment, and they do not know what will happen before and in the future.

The cold wind swept through the streets, but it didn't bring any chill to the people inside the building, because the specially reinforced heating facilities were warm and free of the choking smell, which was a paradise.

However, this warm place was no different from an ice cave to some of the people inside, for they had just heard the great news from the Empire's Minister of Communications, and they all had to ponder and try to find a way for themselves to escape from danger, or at least to reduce some of their losses in the coming tide.

Of course, the present anguish and anxiety of these people will have little effect on the other - or, more likely, one of the sources of their happiness.

In the warmth of the room, the Imperial Chancellor, Charles de Treville, was lazily half-lying on the soft sofa, and since there was still a little time before dinner, he simply lay down on the sofa to take a rest.

Of course, he was not alone in this room, and on the sofa opposite, Alphonse de Rothchild sat easily and naturally on the armchair with armrests and backrests, while Marie leaned unabashedly beside Charles, and seemed more intimate than when she had been in the hall just now.

On top of the coffee table there is also a fruit bowl with some fruits that have been cultivated in the greenhouse, so you can lie here in peace during the early spring season.

"Your Excellency, I have to say that your performance today is very admirable, and you have almost controlled the entire scene." As if he were a friend, Alphonse de Rothschild picked up an apple from the fruit bowl without hesitation, and took a big bite as if he had just taken such a bite on someone. "I couldn't help but laugh when I looked at their embarrassed looks!"

"Everything was planned, we gave them a surprise attack, and they were caught off guard unprepared, isn't it normal?" Charles half-squinted, then replied with a smile on his face, "Looking at the situation today, we should be able to solve the problem that day." ”

"Yes, I'm confident in that too." Alphonse immediately nodded in agreement, then picked up the apple and took another big bite. "That old man has been frightened by our battle, and I don't think he has the courage to rebel against the will of the Empire again...... He's probably panicking right now, and he's writing to his old friend to complain! But what if I wrote a letter, and didn't I have to give in to you in the end? Ha, now that he's here, there's no way to escape from your net! ”

He was indeed very pleased that Charles had visited Charles several times when he had settled in the Château de Fontainebleau some time ago, and that Charles had deliberately told the heir of the House of Rothchild of His Majesty and himself. After the initial astonishment, he immediately saw the benefits - like Baron de Beauwon, he could use the large amount of his own money accumulated within the family to take over the country, and make a fortune from it.

It is for this reason that when he heard that Baron de Beauvang had also agreed to participate, he immediately hit it off with Charles and quickly participated in the plan, and it was because of their careful planning that it all happened as planned, and really went in the direction that Charles wanted.

On the day of this sudden attack, Alphonse de Rothhilde found that Jostang and the others were really unprepared, and he was immediately overjoyed, because it meant that they would definitely be in trouble then, and the trouble of his peers was naturally an opportunity for him, and he couldn't wait to take a few bites of these peers.

It is precisely because of this hard-won victory that he is also full of gratitude and respect for His Excellency Charles, and naturally he is full of heart to please His Excellency, even if he is full of compliments.

Although he was used to hearing other people's flattery, when this came out of Alvons's mouth, Charles still felt very happy, of course, such a little flattery did not make him lose his calm and sanity. He knew exactly what he wanted.

"Since things are going well here, then I don't think you have anything else to worry about, Alphons, please pay a little attention during this time, and focus your energy on advancing the affairs of the Pyrenees." Charles said to the other with a smile on his face.

"Well, Your Excellency, you don't have to worry, everything is already on track." Alphonse immediately made a package ticket with Charles, "With the presence of Mr. Ambassador, the Spanish government is thinking about developing the local economy as soon as possible, so things are going well, I estimate that after a while, the main trunk line will be able to start, and we will be able to connect France and Madrid in a few years!" ”

"Spain is a barren country, and politics is very chaotic, and every now and then there is two big news...... Charles reminded him in a low voice.

"You don't have to worry about this, I'm not afraid to tell you here, whether it is the faction in Spain or the faction under the stage, we have already communicated...... Besides, it's impossible for them to go against the local government and stop them from building a railway, right? Alphonse smiled, "However, their weak finances do cause concern, so that's why I came to you, didn't it?" If such an unfortunate event happens, as long as you nod your head, we can of course confiscate the assets of the Spanish government in France as collateral, which is of course very simple......"

Charles just smiled again, neither acknowledging nor denying it.

And Alphons, as the seasoned banker's heir, certainly understood what that smile meant – in politics, there are no angels, and if you want someone to do you a favor, you have to be prepared for what someone else wants.

"Don't worry, Your Excellency." He threw the apple core into a small ashtray next to him, and then excitedly assured Charles, "You can't do without a share in this company, and to be honest, if you don't want it, it's even more difficult for us!" ”

"Good." Charles nodded slightly, appreciating the other party's obedient attitude, and then he casually pointed to Mary next to him, "Now, she's here, let her be responsible for these things, just tell her something, if she can't do anything, she will naturally call me." ”

"Well, I understand, don't worry, Your Excellency!" Alphonse naturally agreed again and again, and then nodded to Mary.

After so many years in Vanity Fair, he naturally understands this routine very well - for a minister, he knows this kind of thing better and better, it is better to never smell the smell of copper, and there is an inconspicuous person around him to do dirty things. In this way, there are no traces, and after something happens, you can clear yourself.

Mary wisely did not interject between the two young men, she just smiled and nodded at Alphonse.

Alphonse, however, felt that the smile seemed to reveal something else in politeness, as if to suggest that "if you are all right, go out for a while, and I will be alone with His Excellency the Minister for a while."

It seems that she is really favored, so she is so confident, and she will really have to be taken seriously in the future. Seeing her so natural hint, Alphonse thought to himself.

As soon as he thought of this, he had no interest in disturbing His Excellency's pleasures any longer.

He stood up directly, and then stretched comfortably, "Okay, Your Excellency, you can rest here for a while, and I will also go and stretch my muscles......"

Then he saluted gently, then turned and strode out.

The so-called stretching of muscles and bones will not be just a matter of exercising alone, but someone will accompany him to stretch his muscles and bones - although the number of maids serving here is small, but all of them have been carefully selected and have very reliable personalities.

Their income is very good, which can be said to be a lot more than the same position outside, and their only task is to accompany these guests, so that they can spend time in their busy schedules, and relieve the stress of their bodies and minds - of course, such a high salary can also keep everything they experience here a secret - this secret club is also full of too many hidden secrets, and Charles intended to turn this place into a place for him to entertain his subordinates and collaborators from the beginning, So there will be something that should be there.

And Alphonse was in such a good mood today, he had already accelerated the blood flow in his body, and it was understandable that he wanted to vent.

When he was gone, Mary went straight to the door, waved off the maid who wanted to come and pack her things, then closed the door, and walked back to the sofa and leaned down.

But this time she was even more unruly than just now, sticking directly to Charles's body, and then casually picked up a grape from the side, peeled off the skin and put it in Charles's mouth.

"Hmm, thank you!" Charles said in a daze, his eyes half-open.

"Sir, aren't you worried about me?" However, after such a gentle gesture, she suddenly asked a question.

"Huh? Worried about you? "Charles is a little strange.

"You...... You've put me in this position, you've put me in touch with so many people and so many things, and now you're asking me to help you deal with that...... Don't you worry about me at all? Mary gently put her hands on his head and asked him with a smile.

"Oh, I'm not worried." Charles immediately replied, "You have always been faithful, why should I be worried?" ”

"Is faithfulness the solution to all problems? It doesn't seem ...... me to," Mary winked playfully, then stroked his forehead, "I am undoubtedly loyal to you, but the times may not be loyal to you, and you are now on the verge of success, will you continue to do so in the future?" I'm afraid it may not always be smooth sailing...... And I, I'm unfortunate enough to know so much, and I'm the only intermediary between you and him now, if I shut up by then...... Presumably it can save you a lot of trouble in your anxiety, right? ”

Charles didn't answer now, he looked at Mary with wide eyes, and for a moment he was a little shocked.

Mary seemed to be intoxicated, but she did not let the opulence and opulence in her face get carried away, and she wisely found that she had gone from behind the scenes to become a figure pushed to the front of the charles, and although she had a lot of responsibility and power, there were also many more dangers around her, especially when she found herself at the same time an intermediary between His Excellency the Chancellor and a large group of bankers and industrial magnates.

There is as much power as there is danger lurking around.

"I didn't expect you to think so much, Mary, you're so smart." After a moment of silence, Charles couldn't help but pat Mary's forehead, "But don't worry, I'...... I like people who are loyal to me, and I am by no means a despicable person who does not dare to take responsibility, since you are loyal to me, I will naturally protect you at all costs, and no one can put you in danger. ”

"Commitment is certainly a useful thing, but ...... Times are subject to change. Mary shook her head slightly, her blonde hair swaying slightly, "Of course you are a good person, but you are not alone, you have to think about the overall situation, sometimes it is inevitable to think of some solutions once and for all......"

"Poofhahahaha!" Charles laughed, and then couldn't help but reach out and stroke the hair on the side of her forehead, "Silly boy, why do you have to think so much! Don't worry, don't worry, unless we're really angry, the empire is finished, and I'm losing nothing, ...... As long as I have a little bit of residue left, then no one will hold me accountable for everything I've done in office, because everyone is the same! If I was held accountable, what about the others? What about the people in the future? What do they do? No one will do that, otherwise no party will be wiped out, and the government and political parties will not be able to exist! So, no matter what, I can keep you, unless God forsakes us. ”

Charles said in his heart, bribery has always been the lubricant of French politics, and it is also the food that every politician depends on to survive. This was true in the 17th century of the Bourbons, it is true in the 19th century today, and it is true in the 21st century, when Jacques Chirac, Jospin, Sarkozy and other great names were involved in similar scandals – and of course they have all been easily extricated from them, and I am afraid that in the 23rd century, the situation will not be much different.

Because people are always people, the society of people must operate according to the distribution of interest groups and political groups.

A politician, whether he is a good person or a bad person, if he wants to be a powerful person, or even one of the rulers of the country, then he must have a political group, and if he wants to maintain a political group, he must have something to sustain them.

This thing is either a lofty ideal and political criterion, or it has to be money, but the lofty ideals and norms are too rare, and too easy to lose, no matter how enduring the enthusiasm, it cannot last for more than a generation, and in the end, the players in the power field find that they still have to use money to drive the power machine in their hands.

Even if Charles were to lose and temporarily retire from power, no one would hold him accountable for how he had made money and how he had spent it—just as the Bonapartists had not pursued the magnates of the July Dynasty before him, for no other reason than because they themselves would have done the same.

Mary listened attentively to Charles's explanation, and did not speak until the end, when she asked.

"So according to you, are we just going to keep being filthy? Yes...... Please forgive me for using the word......"

"It doesn't matter, we are doing filthy things, but just as the existence of light is inevitable, the existence of filth is also inevitable, and people always count on the saints to save themselves and the country, but when the saints really come, they will inevitably curse them, because the saints usually demand from others with unattainable standards, and people can't do it and don't bother to do it, so they have to drive the saints away. As a result, in the end, anyone will find out that the people on the stage are hypocrites and hypocrisy, but isn't this situation just in line with the will of the people? Who can be a saint? Charles sighed and said helplessly, "Mary, now that we are the only ones here, I will tell you the truth, His Majesty the Emperor, and I, are we really insatiable?" No, our hearts are not that small...... We are not so poor and luxurious, and now our standard of living can meet us, and I still think I am very simple! But can we really exercise power alone? We can't do it! So, in order to drive my deployment, in order to exercise my power, I have to do it, and it can't be helped. ”

Charles is actually saying this in his heart, as far as he is concerned, the money is already enough now, all living expenses are reimbursed by public transportation, food, clothing, housing and transportation are very luxurious, and he has a way to get everything he wants, and he still has countless budgets in his hands...... Personally, what else is he not satisfied with?

But he could not be satisfied, because he had political ambitions and goals, and he wanted to gain more influence and power, at least in his own field, and to achieve this goal, he had to have a political community loyal to him to serve him, to serve him, to carry out all his orders.

And there is no loyalty in the world for no reason, at least the vast majority of people do not, others are loyal to him just to get benefits from him, either economic benefits or soaring, and in the end, it boils down to the need for money as a bond. Ideals and beliefs are not constant, but money is eternal.

So he has to do everything he can to get enough money for his political group, and if he doesn't, his subordinates will be disappointed, they will feel that there is no point in being loyal to him, and then his political power will disappear, which must be an unacceptable consequence.

There is no doubt that this is corruption, the corruption of the empire that has been forever cursed by outside critics and newspapers, and he, as a minister, must have been a major contributor to the entire corrupt system.

However, while it is true that the empire is very serious in terms of corruption, how far is the Republic from it?

On the original world line, it was during the era of the republic that a scandal broke out that shook the whole world. In 1879, the French entrepreneur and engineer Reseb obtained the right to dig the Panama Canal from the Colombian government (the place was still part of Colombian territory at that time), and in 1881 he formed the Panama Canal Excavation Company and issued a large number of shares in France and throughout Europe, totaling more than 3 billion francs.

And because they saw the prospect of the canal, a large group of French petty bourgeoisie who wanted to make a fortune immediately snapped up the stocks on the market. However, after the start of the canal, due to the underestimation of the scale of the canal excavation project, the harsh conditions imposed by the French bank on Resèb, and the corruption and profligacy of the excavation company, the funds were quickly depleted, and the serious shortage of funds also caused the project to fall into a desperate situation.

In order to obtain more funds, the company attempts to issue new shares, but this requires legislative authorization from Parliament and approval from the government. To this end, the company bribed state dignitaries, high-ranking officials, members of parliament and the press and public opinion circles with large sums of money through bank intermediaries, and thus obtained the consent of the parliament and the government to issue a large number of shares. However, in February 1889, when the company had been defrauded of a large amount of shares, it suddenly declared bankruptcy due to a debt of 1.28 billion francs, and the construction was only 1/3 completed. About 900,000 minority shareholders who had bought shares went bankrupt as a result, and many businesses went bankrupt.

The sudden declaration of bankruptcy and the disappearance of all funds soon caused a violent uproar in France, and at this time the press broke the news that the first three prime ministers, Frésine, Rupier, and Floquet, the famous leader of the Radical Party, Clemenceau, as well as important officials such as the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Army, and the Speaker of Parliament, as well as hundreds of parliamentarians, and some newspaper journalists, were bribed by this company - precisely because of the support of a large number of government officials. It was the biggest financial scam of the 19th century.

According to press reports, former prime ministers and Clemenceau received 1 million francs in bribes, and some parliamentarians accepted 500,000 francs. Because of the indignation of the deceived people, so in February 1893, the French government was forced to try the chairman and three directors of the Panama company for fraud, and the judicial authorities sentenced the chairman of the company, 88-year-old Reseb, and his son, the director of the company, to five years in prison and a fine of 3,000 francs, and the other three co-defendants were sentenced to two years in prison, but almost all the government leaders who took bribes were at large, and the losses suffered by the people before could no longer be recovered, and hundreds of millions of francs of assets disappeared. Entered the money bag hidden in the darkness of some people.

Clemenceau quickly shook off the negative news and continued to be his political leader with little to no shock, and later became president and prime minister during the First World War, saving France from the brink of fire and water, which is a somewhat ironic fact.

Whether it is Frésine, Ruvière, or Clemenceau, or Louis Bonaparte or Charles de Treville, or the politicians who follow, as long as they want to grow up in this political environment in France, then they must follow the inevitable logic of this vanity fair and the political arena, otherwise their power will be in name only, and even their positions will not be able to be kept.

It was precisely because he saw through this that Charles had no scruples at all, anyway, the people who could really sanction him would not sanction him for such things, and those who could not sanction him, even if it was useless to curse him, he didn't care at all - compared to those who did not do anything to accumulate wealth, he felt that he had done a lot of things.

"I see...... Sir...... "After listening to Charles's explanation, although she was still a little confused, Mary nodded anyway.

"It's good to understand, Mary, so you don't have to worry at all." Charles sighed, then wiped her cheek lovingly, "If you're really scared, that's okay, you can just refuse it now, you can continue to do the same things." ”

"No, sir, please let me be by your side like this!" Mary shook her head suddenly and firmly, and then her hand rested on Charles's shoulder, "Life, but it's just a gamble, since I've already bet, I should continue to gamble, and I will continue to gamble with you until the last moment...... If I really lose everything, then even if I am abandoned by you, it is doomed cause and effect, and since I have come to this point, I will never back down......"

As she spoke, her hand slowly slid down before suddenly stopping in a strange position.

Then, her slender fingers began to wiggle, undoing the thin strap on it.

"Mary......" Charles looked at her a little strangely, but Mary turned a deaf ear.

"Mary...... Don't do that, we don't have much time today, we have dinner later! Charles couldn't help but remind her.

"It's all right, sir, a little time," Mary suddenly crouched under the couch, then looked up and smiled slyly, her beautiful eyes facing Charles, "we can do something interesting......

Then, with a gentle tug, a large area of skin was revealed.

Against the white skin of the abdomen and thighs, something slightly yellowish brown looks a little abrupt.

Mary, however, didn't care about the abruptness, and her hands rested on it as Charles watched in amazement.

"Uh......" Charles exclaimed, but instead stood up under the stimulus.

"Look, what an honest man!" Mary smiled slyly again, then suddenly lowered her head and took the front in her mouth.

"Oh!" Charles exclaimed as his warm tongue touched it.

Like her friends, Mary is a man of action through and through, and she is determined and determined to take revenge on Charlotte in the face of her humiliation.

There are so many women outside, all young and beautiful, she can overpower it now, what about the future? And later? Time will wear her out eventually.

And she will never be able to do without this person, she must do more and better than others, whether it is a business or a private matter. If she can get a child in the future, then everything will be safe for her.

She was calm in her thoughts, but she was also careful to manipulate it, so that the warm feeling of comfort was just right to stimulate her benefactor.

Naturally, the contents of her mouth swelled more and more, and finally choked on her.

"Mary...... Mary...... "The stimulated Charles couldn't help but cry out again and again, but he didn't try to stop or try to do anything more intensely, he just watched Mary do it, and then his hand gently moved down to touch Mary's thick, slender golden hair, "Hey, you don't have to be like this! ”

"No......," said Mary in a vague tone like bread, and then said little by little during the interval, "this is ...... I thank you...... And regards, Your Excellency...... Although it is so unsuccessful, I ...... I also hope that you will be like ...... in the future Can you continue to protect me and help me like before......"

As she spoke, she stared at the tan thing in front of her, trying to imagine what chocolate would look like, although it didn't smell like chocolate, but when she thought about it, she felt surprisingly better, and the suffocation that came from time to time seemed to be much less.

It's a shame you can't see it, you can't see how terrible things people can do for revenge.

Mary's eyes narrowed slightly, and then she gradually adjusted to the suffocation, careful not to let her teeth touch the fragile skin, but the rusty experience still made her feel a jerky, and saliva was leaking from the corners of her mouth.

And Charles, who encountered this stimulation for the first time, did not delay too much time, he suddenly stopped moving, and then his whole body stiffened, and then the white viscous thick liquid popped out, once, twice, three times, until it stopped.

At this point, Mary stopped, and Charles withdrew.

Mary looked up at Charles, who was clearly still immersed in the afterglow of this pleasure, and she felt a little hot in her mouth, which quickly became normal temperature in the company of saliva, but it was ...... It's still the heat of revenge.

With endless gratitude and vengeful fury, she swallowed.

"What a kitten...... Charles sighed before continuing to wipe her hair. (To be continued.) )