With the warm spring days, spring leaves more and more traces on the ground, and everything is full of vivid green, and everything is so full of life. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Under the light of the cool spring breeze, the Gardens of Fontainebleau are already full of flowers, making it a place for ladies from afar to take a stroll.

Dressed in fashionable bright dresses and carrying umbrellas, these ladies walked in pairs from path to flower bed, chatting with each other, accompanied by young and handsome officers or well-dressed diplomats.

Outside the garden, the Jockey Club is still going on, with the neighing of the horses and the cheers of the spectators in each round, making the garden even more noisy and quiet.

In the depths of the garden, the flowers and trees bloom everywhere like a green wall, isolating the noise from the surrounding area, and if you stop for a while, you can see the clear blue sky and the beautiful palace room, which is even more relaxing.

At this time, Charles and a group of people stayed in a pavilion in the deepest part of the garden, beside the gurgling water of the fountain, a scene of the Wizard of Oz, with whom he talked as if they had been old friends for many years.

"Hahahaha!" The middle-aged man sitting directly across from the Charles suddenly burst out laughing, "So, Your Majesty is amusing this self-proclaimed clever Russian ambassador?" ”

"That's right," Charles smiled and nodded, "Mr. Ambassador, he is still waiting to sign an agreement with us to coordinate our positions and act together...... I'm sure he'll be surprised. ”

"Yes, we want him to be surprised!" The middle-aged man raised his hand, then clenched his fist and shook it heavily, "Then give them this again!" ”

This middle-aged man was wearing a navy military uniform, with a red ribbon from his shoulders to his waist, and a medal on his chest.

Such a fierce military atmosphere, combined with a tall nose and a serious expression, made him look like a seasoned admiral who had served at sea for many years.

Unfortunately, however, he did not serve a single day in the navy - although he was now the Reich's Lord of the Navy.

His name was Jean-Etienne Theodore Dieco, born into a merchant family in Bordeaux and, when he came of age, became a shipowner in that port city. During his previous career as a merchant, he amassed some wealth and local fame, which led him to become a member of the National Assembly in the turbulent revolutionary years of 1848 and to enter the political circles of Paris.

Like many of his peers, Congressman Decco had no political beliefs and did not adhere to republican ideas, but tried to find himself a better political position, and at this time, Louis Bonaparte returned home and ran for the presidency by a landslide, giving him hope for a rising star and peace.

As soon as Louis Bonaparte was elected president, he defected to His Excellency, and President Louis Bonaparte, who at that time was suffering from too few members of the party, immediately accepted the defection of this parliamentarian. Then, Congressman Dieter Decco saddled up his horse and waved his flag and shouted, so that His Excellency the President also had great influence in the National Assembly.

His political investment was not wasted, and Louis Bonaparte later seized power everywhere through a series of actions, and eventually staged a coup d'état and became emperor. And after the empire was rebuilt, the first thing to do was to start rewarding those who had previously served the president.

Although Dico was a halfway monk and not a Bonapartist with strong roots, because of his early experience as a shipowner, his somewhat experience at sea, and his extraordinary ability, His Majesty the Emperor directly appointed him Minister of the Imperial Navy, which allowed him to pass a large number of cronies and obtain such an important position, which is really rare.

Although there was initial suspicion within the Navy about a minister who had never served in the service, the minister's appointment to the Admiralty quickly dispelled their doubts.

Although this minister did not serve at sea, his enthusiasm for the navy was undoubted, and as soon as he came to the Admiralty, he set an example and demanded that his subordinates work with the highest enthusiasm and efficiency, sweeping away some of the procrastination style in the yamen before, and he also used all his influence to preach everywhere that the empire needed to build a world-class navy, and that it must have the best and strongest warships in order to protect the people and interests of the empire.

With his full support, the budget for the navy has increased every year in recent years, and His Majesty the Emperor has personally spoken on several occasions about changing the previous regime's policy of not focusing on the navy and building a navy for the French Empire.

With a huge budget and the support of His Majesty the Emperor himself, the strength of the navy began to grow greatly in recent years, with more and more new ships being built, and there was a more huge shipbuilding program behind it, almost comparable to that of the British Navy.

After receiving this encouragement, the whole navy began to let go of their previous prejudices, and instead were full of admiration for His Excellency the Admiralty, believing that he was the best Admiralty in decades.

Now Charles took the opportunity of this gathering at Fontainebleau to talk to His Excellency the Chancellor. Although it was strange why Charles went out of his way to meet him, as soon as he received Charles's invitation, the minister immediately put aside his affairs and went to the garden to meet Charles.

As soon as they met, the Minister of the Navy preemptively inquired about the meeting between the Russian Minister and His Majesty the Emperor yesterday.

Although no one else knew that the Empire was preparing for war with Russia, as the Empire's Admiralty Minister, he certainly knew about this matter, and was one of the main responsible persons, so as soon as he heard that His Majesty had received the Russian ambassador, he was naturally worried, and asked about it as soon as he saw Charles.

It was only after Charles told the Admiralty Chancellor of the matter and His Majesty's intentions that the Chancellor relented, and continued to speak harshly about the Russians.

"We won't have an answer with the Russians until the last minute, and we will have a showdown with them, but our preparations can't be delayed until that time, we have to finish it first." Seeing that the minister was so excited, Charles couldn't help but remind.

"You don't have to worry about this, I don't dare to promise you anything else, but in the matter for which I am responsible, I dare to assure you - we are really ready, not only external but also internal." His Excellency looked at Charles very seriously, "Since I became Lord of the Navy, I have been thinking about how to improve the combat readiness of the Navy every day, and I have been constantly spurring the Navy in the past few years, and now they are all high-spirited, ready to fight for the Empire!" ”

"What about the British?" Charles was much calmer, "I'm afraid there would be some trouble at sea without their cooperation." ”

"Of course, we've been coordinating with the British lately, and we've even done real combat drills several times. Now, if we need to, we will soon be able to form a combined fleet, and then move together to the Mediterranean-" After a pause, the Chancellor added, "even to the Black Sea, where I think the Russian fleet is no match for our Combined Fleet, and it is expected that by then we will have complete supremacy of the sea." ”

The Admiralty has no doubts about the prospects of the combined fleet of Britain and France, which is also normal, in this era, the British Royal Navy can be said to be overbearing, it is the most powerful maritime power in the whole world, which can overwhelm any enemy country, and France, although it cannot be compared with the British Navy, but it can also be said to be the second strongest sea power, and the combination of these two naval forces, even if it is impossible to send all fleets to Russia, can also overwhelm all Russian surface fleets, and obtain complete freedom of action, If he didn't have this faith, he wouldn't be worthy of the ministerial position.

If someone else said it so impassionedly, Charles might still have some doubts, but this minister's words Charles did not doubt it, because he was known for his ability.

In the original historical line, he assisted Emperor Napoleon III in formulating a huge plan for the development of the navy, and at the same time personally supervised the development of the surface fleet, and he himself died of exhaustion in the Admiralty office in 1855.

It was also because of his efforts that during the imperial era, the French navy developed a large surface force, and it was a technologically advanced steam warship, which made the British feel great pressure. So no matter what, when it comes to naval affairs, Charles has a lot of trust in him.

"That's great." Charles nodded, looking very pleased. "Don't worry, I will continue to support the navy, I think the empire needs the most powerful navy, so that it can be commensurate with the status of the empire."

"We need young men like you, Your Excellency." The Admiralty Chancellor smiled.

He also had a good impression of the Charles, after he became the minister, every time he asked His Majesty the Emperor for a budget, the Charles would help him beat the side drums, and use his various resources to help him, and it was precisely because of the help of the Charles that the minister's naval reconstruction plan would be so smooth, and in just a few years, the naval bases everywhere would be completely renewed.

So now Chancellor Tréville's reputation in the Navy is not bad, compared to the reputation in other places, it can be said that it is a world of difference, and the Admiralty Chancellor has become his good friend.

"Actually, I also have something to ask you about this issue." Charles suddenly changed his words.

"What's the matter? Say it. Because he was in a good mood, His Excellency the Minister was also very talkative, "As long as I can do it, I can help you do it." ”

"My cousin Eugène, do you still have an impression?" Charles immediately asked.

"Oh......" After thinking for a moment, the minister nodded, "I remember, that's a good boy." What happened to him? ”

Charlotte's younger brother Eugène has always longed for the sea, and after his grandfather died, he asked his sister and brother-in-law to join the navy, but Charlotte finally agreed to his opinion, and then asked Charles to explain the situation to the navy.

After learning of Charles's request, the navy was also very troubled, because they were afraid that this kid of the Tréville family was a second ancestor, who would only eat, drink and have fun, and it would be bad for him to come to the navy, but for the sake of Charles's face, the minister still agreed.

Initially, they intended to send him to the port as a civilian official, but at the insistence of Eugène himself, they had to send him to serve as an officer on a warship of the Mediterranean Fleet.

However, to everyone's surprise, this young member of the Trevier family did not have the pride of a wealthy family, but was a very humble and enthusiastic person, and obeyed orders, so they secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but also admired the Trevil family a little more.

Now hearing Charles mention him, the minister quickly thought of him.

"This younger brother of mine recently asked me to be a captain." After a moment's hesitation, Charles whispered the request. "I'd like to ask you to do his favor and make his wish come true."

After hearing Charles's request, the minister's smile immediately disappeared, and his face was embarrassed, "This...... Not quite right? ”

"What's wrong?" Charles asked with a smile. (To be continued.) )