Eagle’s Glory

"Long live the Empire!"

The shouts that rang out from various places finally converged into a chorus of cheers.

After cheering, the people present toasted again, toasting to the empire, to His Majesty, and to their own future.

And Edmond Dantès, as the special envoy of His Majesty the Emperor, kept talking to everyone, praising their loyalty, and encouraging them to continue to work hard and continue to serve the empire.

This group of people has been suppressed for too long. For whatever reason, they all have a great hatred against the current Bourbon dynasty. They are also unable or disdainful to receive favor from the royal family. In this difficult and desperate situation In the quagmire, they finally saw a new dawn.

The young man escaped from Vienna and without hesitation made a call to France, declaring that he would never give up the family business.

And this finally ignited their hopes.

Although everyone present knew that this was a difficult undertaking with little guarantee of success, they did not care and would rather devote themselves to it - after all, since there is nothing more to lose, why not go How about a try?

During the toasts again and again, the people present were in a state of excitement due to the stimulation of alcohol. They muttered words and shared their loyalty to the empire. Many people even expressed their willingness to leave France on the spot and serve under His Majesty.

In this exciting atmosphere, the meeting ended successfully.

After the meeting, Edmond Dantès followed the Marquis of Treville in a carriage and went back along the way he came.

Because he drank too much, his mind was a little sluggish now, so he opened the car window and breathed in the steamy air outside, finally sobering up a little.

"General, what do you think of my performance?"

"You are very successful, powerful, and contagious." Marquis Treville gave him the answer he wanted to hear most, "Count, it seems you don't have to worry about your ability. You really deserve it." The mission assigned by His Majesty."

"Thank you..." Edmond Dantès breathed a sigh of relief.

Having just emerged from prison and restarted his life, he was not completely confident in himself, but when he received the approval of the majestic general, he finally understood that he was not as bad as he feared.

I am a person who can do great things. As long as His Majesty continues to trust me and give me opportunities, I will be able to make impressive achievements and eventually become an indispensable figure. This will also prove that his life is not Meaningless.

Edmond Dantès, a name that was once dusty in the dungeon, will eventually shine brightly one day.

On that day, whether it is his friend or his enemy, he can get a corresponding return from him.

No doubt it will take some time, but he can afford to wait.

Edmond Dantès knew that his journey and mission this time were coming to an end.

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In the next few days, Edmond Dantès continued to sell the gems he brought, while learning swordsmanship from Agnes.

Although swinging the sword and practicing steps again and again brought him severe physical pain, Edmond Dantès endured it with his proud willpower, and his progress was also very rapid, and he soon became as good as As Agnes said, "I can put on an airs".

While Agnes was relieved, she also admired his perseverance and savvy—of course, she was also a little bit sorry that the Earl started studying too late.

The day before Edmond Dantès left, Agnes came to the Marquis de Treville's house again.

Edmond Dantès thought she wanted to take him to class again, so he offered to say goodbye.

"Miss Agnes,

I'm very sorry that I can't go with you today, because I'm leaving early tomorrow morning, and I have to build up my strength so as not to delay my business. "

Yes, his first trip to Paris is coming to an end. Next, he will go to His Majesty with the cash he got from selling jewelry everywhere, as well as the young people who volunteered to go to Monte Cristo Island to serve His Majesty. The power to contribute to his career.

This is his duty and his mission.

"Are you leaving tomorrow...then I wish you the best of luck." Agnes was not surprised, but accepted the reality with a calm attitude.

Then, she quickly changed the topic, "However, I won't come to you to practice today, but I have other things."

"Anything else?" Edmond Dantès was a little surprised.

"Have you forgotten?" Agnes smiled, "You said before that in order to prevent Danglars from becoming suspicious, it would be best for you to meet my father and let my father leave an impression on you..."

"Oh! I see." Edmond Dantès suddenly realized.

"Tonight my brother and his wife are hosting a banquet, and my father will also be attending. I think it would be best for you to appear at that time. On the one hand, you can deepen his impression by meeting him in a formal occasion; on the other hand, There are quite a lot of guests, and he won't ask you the bottom line, what do you think?" Agnes asked again with a smile.

Of course Edmond Dantès had no objection and immediately agreed. "I also think this arrangement is the most ideal."

Unexpectedly, although Agnes looks carefree, she is actually quite careful.

"Okay, that's it!" Agnes nodded, "Remember, because you are about ten years younger than my teacher, so the identity I assigned you is my teacher's cousin... Are you familiar with Tuscany and Florence?"

"It's familiar." Edmond Dantès nodded. "However, it's hard to blind people."

When he was a sailor, he had been to these places many times, but he didn't know much about them, and he had no contact with the local upper class.

If you just talk about customs and customs, you can get away with it, but it is obviously too unrealistic to deceive everyone by temporarily forging a whole set of genealogy.

"Well, when asked about your family situation, you make an unpredictable expression. If someone else does this, it may arouse suspicion, but it is not surprising that the master's cousin does this. After all, experts will always It's a bit mysterious!" Agnes giggled, "Then it's up to you to improvise, but I think you won't have any problems."

"I'll try my best." Edmond Dantès couldn't help laughing.

"Okay, I'll go back first." Agnes felt reassured, "By the way, Mr. Earl, you are indeed very powerful. If you persist like this, I think you will indeed become an outstanding swordsman in the future."

"Didn't you say that I am too old, even if I start learning now, I won't achieve much?" Edmund was stunned.

"To be able to achieve the achievements that I admire, you must at least be a master who remains famous for a while. Even if you can't achieve it, you don't have to feel sorry, because most people can't achieve it in the first place." Agnes raised her head, proudly He laughed, "But even if you can't become a master, you can still step on the shoulders of most people. So...applaud yourself, sir, and I congratulate you."

After she finished speaking, she gently raised her skirt to salute, and then left without looking back.

So, in the evening, Edmond Dantès took his rented carriage to the residence of the Duke of Nordleyn.

Compared to the Treville House, which clearly showed signs of decline, the Nordlyon family was enjoying a period of prosperity at this time. The Duke was favored by His Majesty the King and served as a palace advisor. He was also a member of the House of Lords, so he was very popular in social circles. It is also quite impressive.

So this time when their family held a banquet, it was naturally full of guests.

Although at first seeing Edmond Dantès arriving in a rented carriage, the concierge obviously showed disdain, but when he handed over the invitation from Agnes and declared his identity, the other party's eyes immediately changed. It changed, and it was communicated immediately, so he entered the mansion smoothly.

Afterwards, he was taken all the way to the Duke's study, obviously his fake identity won him respect.

When he came to the study, he found the Duke sitting in an armchair, and Agnes happened to be beside him.

Agnes winked at him with a grin, suggesting it wasn't a coincidence, she was there to smooth things over for him.

"Nice to meet you, Your Excellency the Duke." Edmond Dantès saluted the Duke respectfully.

The Duke looked to be about fifty years old, his hair was already grey, but his curly hair was still combed carefully, and even powdered and powdered according to the habits of the past era.

He didn't look well, he was rather pale, but he managed to pull himself together and flashed a formulaic smile.

"Mr. the Count of Monte Cristo, I heard that you are the master's cousin?"

"Yes." Edmond Dantès nodded coldly, showing no pride at all, "But we haven't been in touch for quite a long time, and this time I came to Paris just for travel."

"Of course the master has the temper of a master, we just need to understand." The Duke smiled, "Then you also study swordsmanship?"

"I can't say I'm proficient, I just know a little bit." Edmond held his head high and replied reservedly.

And his expression and temperament easily make people believe that he is indeed extraordinary.

After this period of experience, Edmond Dantès has built confidence in himself.

Not long ago, he was chatting and laughing in front of a group of princes, so how could he be afraid of a former exiled noble?

"It's a pity that I haven't seen the master's performance for a long time, and Agnes misses her a lot." The Duke looked at his daughter and smiled dotingly, "I think you don't mind giving my daughter some pointers." Bar?"

"If I had the opportunity, I would, it would be an honour."

Under Agnes's teasing gaze, Edmond Dantès answered bravely. "You have a wonderful daughter and I have heard my cousin praise her talents many times."

"Excuse me! He's just a wild boy..." The Duke couldn't help laughing.

Next, the Duke chatted with Edmond Dantès, Edmond responded calmly, and Agnes next to him interrupted from time to time to smooth things over for Edmond Dantès or change the subject.

Soon, the duke's audience time was over.

"I'm sorry, I have to go and receive other guests." The Duke stood up and said goodbye to Edmond Dantès, "Do you mind?"

"Of course I don't mind. In fact, it's a great honor for you to spare so much time to summon me, a foreigner, alone, Your Excellency." Edmond Dantès replied humbly.

"I heard that you are also a traveler?" The Duke thought for a while and then asked again.

"Yes, my hobby is to see the customs and customs from all over the world. I have been to many places so far, but this is my first time in Paris." Edmond Dantès felt something and immediately introduced the topic, " However, Paris really appeals to my taste, and I fell in love with it at first sight...but it’s a pity that the cost is too high. I plan to come back several times in the future to experience the dreamlike life here.”

"I think that as long as you are willing to spend money, you will be able to find all the fun in the world here." The Duke replied with a smile, "Then, if you are free in the future, you can come to visit us a few times, I will be happy to entertain you .”

Ah, it’s done!

The result was even better than expected.

When the Duke said this, it meant that he recognized the Count of Monte Cristo as a friend with whom he could interact - in other words, Edmond Dantès had achieved his goal.

Edmund glanced at Agnes secretly, and she quietly gave a thumbs up in congratulatory gesture.

"Okay, let's get out of here. People in the living room are still waiting for me." The Duke nodded slightly apologetically, and then left the study with the other two people.

They walked along the corridor to the living room, and at the same time, almost everyone's eyes were focused here.

Edmond Dantès knew that this was the first appearance of the "Count of Monte Cristo" in Paris society, and the people present would remember the man standing next to the duke.

With unparalleled perseverance, he controlled his emotions and faced all this with incomparable indifference, as if he was used to such scenes.

While he was talking to the Duke, he calmly observed the people present.

The guests attending the banquet, a group of men and women, were all dressed in gorgeous clothes, wearing medals or jewelry. The jewelry was so dazzling that he could hardly distinguish the faces.

At this moment, his heart suddenly jumped.

He saw a face in the crowd - and this face was facing them at the same time, so he could see it at a glance.

He would never forget this face.

Fernand...he roared in his heart.

After so many years, apart from getting older, he still hasn't done much, he is still as vicious as ever.

Hum, you scoundrel, I found you!

However, he didn't move.

Now is not the time... He tried to look away.

At this moment, Fernand looked at the Duke himself with eager eyes, just like a devout believer looking at his god, and then walked towards them quickly.

Edmond Dantès did not fall into his eyes at all, and had been ignored by him - of course, even if he had seen it, he would not have recognized this well-dressed, reserved and indifferent foreign nobleman as the one who was attracted by him back then. Write a letter to report, and trap the unlucky love rival who is sent to jail to die.

"Who is he?" he could not help but whisper to the Duke.

"Oh! He is Count Morcerf, a difficult guest, or... just a flea who is in favor of others." The Duke curled his lips, then smiled meanly, and then he shrugged again, "Of course, the tragedy is that I have to brace myself to entertain him because he's always overly enthusiastic."

After he finished speaking, he smiled apologetically, then took the initiative to greet the officer in military uniform and medal, and talked to him cordially and friendly.

The Count of Monte Cristo stood where he was, quietly and unobtrusively observing Fernando—or, in other words, Count Morcerf.

Count Morcerf was chatting enthusiastically with the Duke, and his flattering look made people feel heartbroken.

Why did the Duke treat him so strangely? He clearly despised him, but he still entertained him warmly?

If it were Edmond Dantès in the past, he might have been completely confused; but now that he has begun to participate in the internal struggles of the French upper class, he has a slight outline in his mind.

This is the epitome of the Bourbon dynasty's efforts to win over the new generation of officers and generals.

Fernan is a despicable man. Not only does he know this, but the Duke or others also know it, but this is not important. What is important is that he is a new generation officer in the army, and his stance is biased towards the dynasty. enough.

For the Bourbon dynasty, French history from 1789 to 1815 marked a tragic and devastating era.

In addition to the continuous heads falling on the guillotine, during these twenty-six years, the soldiers no longer served the Bourbon family, nor did they rely on the royal family's favor for promotion. Such a long period of time was enough for the army to The royal family is completely unfamiliar, and this also means that even if the dynasty is restored, its ruling foundation will become precarious - after all, a regime that cannot control the barrel of a gun is destined to not survive long.

During the rule of the republic and the imperial government, the French army relied on foreign conquests and plunder, and obtained dazzling honors and wealth. These honors and wealth also fostered arrogance and ambition. Unknowingly, the army itself became a closed A community of interests that affects the country in its own way, they can accept submission to the emperor because the emperor gives them a large number of rewards and leads them to the glory of victory. His prestige is enough to overwhelm them and frighten them.

But by the time the Bourbons returned to the throne with the help of foreign bayonets, the situation was different. For more than 20 years, the army has become an independent entity. Even if they drove away Napoleon, they still found that they could not fully control the French army. At that time, the Bourbon royal family was in exile and had made no great contribution to the country and the nation, so it was impossible for them to have such prestige and have the army tame them.

Obviously, if the Restoration Dynasty forcibly eradicates all the "remnants of the Revolution" and eliminates all the generals promoted by Napoleon as soon as it comes back, then those marshals and generals will never swallow their anger, they will rise up to resist, and the French can behead a king. Can cut off one more.

It was precisely because he faced this reality that King Louis XVIII decided to compromise temporarily and did not seek to completely clean up the generation of generals who grew up during the Revolution, but instead sought to cooperate with them to jointly control the army.

While they continued to use high-ranking officials and generous salaries to attract these generals to serve them, they carefully controlled the scope and intensity of liquidation within the army, for fear of angering this terrifying beast and overthrowing their own rule.

Under the king's inducement, Emperor Napoleon's marshals also became divided due to personal choices. Marshals such as Oudinot, Marmont, Saint-Cyr, etc. chose to accept high-ranking officials from the Bourbon royal family and continue to serve the dynasty. Marshals such as Davout and Suchet chose to live in seclusion and engage in soft confrontation in the form of non-violence and non-cooperation. For the Bourbon royal family, they only needed the services of some senior generals to stabilize the domestic situation for them.

While winning over those marshals and generals from the imperial era, the king also started preparations on the other hand. He began to vigorously promote new people, working hard to create a new generation of officers who were favored by the royal family, to regain control of the army, and return to the past era.

In the view of the royal family, Napoleon's marshals will eventually grow old over time and will eventually be slowly replaced by a new generation and a newer generation of generals. In the end, they will be able to use peaceful means to eliminate the last rock left to the dynasty during the Revolutionary era.

And the Count of Morcerf came into the eyes of the Wang family precisely for this reason.

Since even his colleagues knew that there was something wrong with his aristocratic pedigree, wouldn’t the Wang family know? But there is no need to care about this at this time.

In the eyes of the royal family, Count Morcerf is obsessed with fame and wealth, and has certain abilities, so he is a general worthy of training and winning over. As for the issue of his aristocratic pedigree, what is the importance?

The nobles of the dynasty surrounding the royal family certainly understand the royal family's intentions, so they must also cooperate.

Those high-ranking nobles who were proud of their past glory despised Count Morcerf's character and lineage, but respected them on the surface for political interests - Count Morcerf was not the only one to receive this kind of treatment. The officer, in fact he is the epitome of a crowd.

Under the gaze of Edmond Dantès, Count Morcerf was smiling and looking proud.

Yes, if nothing unexpected happens, he will be promoted step by step, and his fortune will be prosperous. He will rely on these favors to climb to a higher position and become a big shot respected by everyone.

However, one day, I will let him fall heavily to the ground. The higher he climbs, the harder he will fall, and I will make him lose everything!

Edmond Dantès said in his heart with great determination.

Next, his eyes wandered around Count Morcerf, but he did not find the figure that was lingering in his heart.

Mercedes did not attend, perhaps because she did not like and was not used to attending such occasions.

This is a good thing.

She still retains the innocence and tenderness of the past, which is the only comfort he gets in this night.

Farewell, my enemies, farewell, Mercedes.

But I will be back.

Edmond Dantès bowed to the void expressionlessly, then stepped back, allowing himself to be invisible in the darkness.