"My dignity does not allow me to agree to your proposal, sir, I'm sorry."
Under the warm clear sky, Aiglon answered in a calm but extremely firm tone.
Mr. Finick-Gordon looked at him blankly, and the two of them just looked at each other.
There was no room for compromise - Mr. Gordon made this judgment just by looking at the other person's expression and eyes.
The middle-aged man did not expect that the boy in front of him was still so young and already had such a decisive willpower and the confidence to believe that he was right.
Although he is much softer and more handsome than his father, his eyes can't help but remind people of that man.
Is this a fate that France cannot escape? There will always be these confusing monsters that will make her go through life and death!
He couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"This poor nation...she did something wrong, God always makes her doomed!"
Finick Gordon, as a person who has never left the French political scene since his youth, has witnessed almost every major event that has happened in France over the past thirty years.
When he was young, he was influenced by the Enlightenment and firmly supported the revolution. During the climax of the revolution, he participated in republican activities.
But with the bloody killings of the Revolution and the leaders of various factions in the National Assembly fighting each other again and again, he began to doubt everything he had believed in before, and then changed from a republican to a supporter of a constitutional monarchy.
Although he became active in politics during the imperial era and was cordially received by His Majesty the Emperor because of his outstanding abilities. He also admired Emperor Napoleon very much, but in his heart he was very disgusted with the empire's militarism and believed that the war that lasted for many years should end early. The destruction of the empire just confirmed his judgment.
From then on, he firmly believed that France could no longer follow the old path of supremacy of royal power and squandering by princes and nobles; but he also believed that radical revolution, greedy expansion, and militaristic empire, It will definitely not bring a future to France.
He longed to take a moderate path. Although this path was not so glorious, it could still put an end to bloody counterattacks, bring peace and stability to people, and heal the nation's wounds.
It was for this purpose that he no longer loyal to the restored Bourbon family, but chose to join the camp of the Duke of Orleans.
It is true that the Orleans family has many stains. They have gone back on their word many times and betrayed both the royal family and the revolution. Most nobles will never forget the vote of the previous generation of dukes in favor of Louis XVI's death sentence. Most republicans will also We will never forget that they made the most of the situation while fleeing from France at the critical moment of the nation——
However, he believed that the Duke of Orleans himself was the most suitable person to lead France on a moderate path.
He is a branch of the French royal family and one of the highest-ranking nobles, but his living habits are very civilian and simple. He does not like luxurious ostentation. He is approachable and approachable. He does not like to be exaggerated and show off. He has never even lingered among flowers or was very polite. Loyal to family. He does not have the arrogance and profligacy of the royal family, the bloodthirsty madness of the revolutionaries, and does not have Napoleon's grandiose success. If he ascends the throne of France, France will usher in an extremely rare era of peace.
calm! That was all he thought France needed.
[Historically, after the Duke of Orleans successfully usurped the throne in 1830, he once spoke in parliament and said bluntly, "We are taking a moderate line." 】
In order to achieve this goal, he threw himself into the service of the Duke of Orleans. He devoted himself to making suggestions and running around, trying every means to expand his prestige and influence, and to seek the favor and acquiescence of the European powers. In this regard, he made many achievements. Few achievements - even if he is not a person who likes to take credit and be proud of himself, he can't help but feel complacent about it sometimes.
This time he was assigned by the Duke to perform a mission in the capital of Austria. The mission itself was successfully completed, but before going back, he had a sudden idea - if he could convince the leader of the Bonapartists, who was left at Schönbrunn Palace, Wouldn't it be more worthwhile for Napoleon's successor to accept national reconciliation and give up his identity as a pretender to the throne, and even persuade him to support the Orleans family?
If he does it, it will not only be a great contribution to the Duke of Orleans, but also an indelible contribution to the prosperity and peace of this nation.
However, after just a few words, he knew that he had failed completely and was a complete failure. My idea did not receive any response from the young man. The other party did not even bother to bargain for the carefully thought out negotiation conditions, so it could only be reduced to ridiculous wishful thinking.
What more can be said? What else can be done?
He lowered his head.
"I beg you to reconsider my proposal, Your Highness," he said in a last desperate effort. "Would it do you any good to continue this hopeless persistence?"
"Sir, I have made it very clear, and it will be the same if you ask me to repeat it ten times - I will not give up my rights." Aigron answered him without thinking, "Maybe you are right. , this is destined to be just a hopeless persistence, or even rhetoric that is divorced from reality, but even so, I will not forget that I was born to rule this country, so just watch me drown in this dream!"
So, no hope. Phoenix Gordon could only sigh.
He was annoyed, frustrated, depressed, and even painful. These negative emotions lingered in his mind, and finally turned into anger, a powerless heartache.
"What does it mean to be destined to rule? Have you forgotten that your ancestors were just islanders on a small island? A few decades ago, the Bonaparte family was not even French! Didn't your father take advantage of the revolution to destroy this country? At the right time, he launched a coup and stole this country? What qualifications does he have to pass France to you as a private property?" Angry and sad, he was no longer as polite as before, "Could it be... Could it be that the Bonaparte family is not willing to Spare this poor country? She has shed enough blood!"
"You are right about this, I don't deny it, but is this only the responsibility of the Bonaparte family? You think too highly of us." Aigron was not angry, but sneered, "Yes, The Bonaparte family was just a group of people a few decades ago. It was only through the grace of His Majesty Louis XV that they became French. However, the Bonaparte family does not have a crystal ball or magic. It cannot hypnotize 30 million people and make them Didn’t the French choose to kneel down and dedicate the throne to themselves? The war started in the Republic era, and the guillotine was also carried forward by the Revolutionary Party. Who can blame Bonaparte?"
As he spoke, the smile on his face deepened, "So, it was the French who chose to bleed themselves, and then worshiped the person who could best lead them to bleed as supreme. If the French like to bleed, then you can blame Bo What about the Naba family? Everything is their own choice. We must respect the choice of the nation. You are self-righteously guiding a nation, aren't you? Sir."
"You...you..." Aigron's words left Mr. Gordon speechless for a moment.
"Did I say something wrong? I am now living in seclusion in Austria. I don't have a single soldier or a few coins in my hands. If the French abandon me on their own initiative, then I won't be able to cause any more trouble, nor will I. I may cause trouble to anyone, even if I say that I am the son of God, it will only be treated as a joke, and there is no need for you to be afraid of me or to win over me." Aigron continued speaking unhurriedly.
"As you can see, all I can rely on is the choice of the French people. If the French people want to choose Bonaparte and want to regain the glory they once dreamed of, how can you block the nation's choice? I suggest you stop making useless efforts to convince me and just wait quietly for God's judgment. Maybe God has destined me to be abandoned by France and die as an unknown pawn. Then you can save the Duke of Orleans. Isn’t it ideal to spend six million a year?”
What a callous statement! Mr. Gordon couldn't help but gasp.
In the National Assembly, he had seen too many more ruthless words, but he never thought that he would hear such contempt for a nation and such irresponsibility from a teenager. declaration.
His eloquence is excellent, and what he says is difficult to refute, but the more he does it, the more he can feel his indifference towards the French, just like Napoleon often did.
He is indeed the heir, and has not changed at all.
The more handsome the smile of the boy opposite him, the more ferocious and terrifying he looked at this moment.
It's time to end it.
"Okay, I understand what you mean, Your Highness." He bowed again, ending the conversation between the two of them, "I am very grateful to you for taking the time to receive me. Although the two of us have completely different opinions, I’m afraid it’s also a good thing to exchange opinions with each other.”
"I'm glad to see you too, sir." Aigron replied with a smile. "It's always nice to see people who are different from the usual ones."
The two of them were speechless and said goodbye silently.
============================================
When Aigron returned to his original position, Finick Gordon had already left with Mr. Genz.
He continued to take Chanel with him and resumed the interrupted walk.
"Your Highness, what did that guy just say to you? You look unhappy..." Chanel plucked up the courage to ask.
"Ah, he asked me to give up the imperial throne and be loyal to the French government. For this, he can pay me a large sum of money." Aiglon replied casually.
Chanel's expression was suddenly filled with horror and horror. She opened her eyes wide and looked at Aiglon in astonishment.
"Your Highness, you...you won't agree, will you?"
"No, I didn't." Aigron shook his head, "I told him that I would rather be trapped and die for the rest of my life than bend the knee to the traitors."
"Great!" Chanel breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest happily, "I knew you would never give up, Your Highness..."
"So you see, if the French themselves are willing to bleed, who can blame us?" Aigron shrugged, and then muttered quietly, "If I don't comply, they are not happy."
"Your Highness, what are you talking about?" Chanel didn't hear clearly, so he asked again.
"It's nothing, Chanel, thank you." Aigron looked at her again with a smile, "Without your encouragement, I wouldn't have gotten better so quickly."
"This is just what I should do." Chanel blushed slightly and lowered her gaze.
