Eagle’s Glory

At this time, Aigron was still unaware of the small disturbances that had occurred in Austria and Parma. He still led his huge team and continued his grand parade.

With the help of the wealthy businessman Maxime Dureny, who was attracted by him, he settled the protracted labor disputes in Lille's textile industry, and thus won the heartfelt support of the people. Under the welcome of all the people, he took the His followers left Lyon leisurely and headed west.

Along the way he passed through Arras and Amiens, adjacent to the English Channel, and then came to the Normandy region.

Compared to other places, the name "Normandy" is much more familiar to Chinese people in the 21st century, because it was here that the world's largest amphibious landing battle broke out.

Of course, the Normandy area at this time was peaceful. The deafening bombings, the smoke rising into the sky, the battlefields where the dead were lying... none of this had happened yet. What Aiglon passed along the way was the quiet countryside, which was built with limestone. White farmhouses, continuous small farms carefully cut by fences, and small churches in the center of the villages. If there is a so-called "pastoral pastoral" in this world, it can indeed be found in this place.

The people who settled here were hard-working and simple. With their efforts for generations, Normandy has become one of the most developed regions in France for agriculture and animal husbandry. Farmers plant a large number of wheat, rapeseed, flax and other cash crops, while herders They raised sheep and dairy cows, as well as a large number of improved pack horses. Before the advent of the railway, it was this kind of pack horses with excellent quality and amazing endurance that supported the nationwide horse-drawn carriage transportation network and also supported the prosperous travel industry. and the accommodation industry.

At this time, every day, dozens of large carriages loaded with butter and eggs set off from Normandy to Paris, delivering the products carefully cultivated by farmers to the tables of thousands of households in the capital. The economy is based on this "demand" and supply" flourished in material exchange.

Prosperity and tranquility are originally opposite phrases, but when Aigron and his party walked along the well-maintained country road and looked at the pastoral scene around them, they couldn't help but feel both at the same time.

Looking at such beautiful pastoral scenery, Aigron couldn't help but feel excited.

However, the local reception for him was far less than that of Strasbourg and Lyon, which he had passed through before.

Although local officials, like their colleagues from all over the country, received the King of Rome and his entourage with trepidation and held various large-scale ceremonies at all costs for fear of any negligence, Aigron could definitely feel from the cold eyes of the people that he was not Not as beloved as other places, the people of Normandy were not so much eager to look forward to his rule and the changes he could bring, but rather to accept the changes that Paris forcibly sent to them with a helpless mentality. A new ruler.

This is not surprising,

Because the western provinces such as Normandy, Brittany, and the Vendée have always been areas where religious conservatism is prevalent and areas that support the royal family. During the Revolution, there were years of turmoil in these places until Napoleon It was not easy to calm down until the emperor came to power.

But the situation in Normandy is a bit more special.

In the ancient feudal era, the Principality of Normandy has always been a very independent local princely force in the Kingdom of France. And as we all know, Normandy is also the place where "William the Conqueror" flourished. William the Conqueror started from this place and led As thousands of Norman knights landed in England, after a series of wars and devastating massacres, they finally conquered England on the other side. Although the dynasty of William the Conqueror has disappeared without a trace, the descendants of the Norman "Eight Banners" are still there. Britain dominated.

In the next few hundred years, Normandy also became the focus of competition between the British and French kings many times. The Norman nobles fought against the French king, and once wanted to get involved in the French throne. In the end, the Hundred Years' War broke out between the two sides.

In 1346, Edward III led the British army to land in Normandy. Because England was weak and unable to support a large army on the mainland, the British army pursued a thorough "war to support war" strategy from the beginning. They burned, killed, and looted, leaving corpses strewn everywhere they passed, and the countryside was reduced to ruins.

In the next nearly a hundred years, the two countries saw each other in the vast western and southern territories of France. Areas fell into war. The British army looted all the places it passed, whether it was Caen or Gas. Cogne, and other well-known cities, all suffered from disasters from heaven.

In addition to the British army, refugees and bandits were naturally indispensable in places where the ruling order collapsed. During the bloodiest period, war, famine and plague were rampant, and the human world was almost the same as ghosts.

After many twists and turns, with the efforts of the father and son kings, Charles VII and Louis XI, France finally won the Hundred Years' War and recovered most of the areas occupied by the British army. Normandy was finally conquered in 1468. Occupied by Louis XI, it has since been completely included in the territory of the kingdom.

It is precisely because of the British army's brutal policy of "treating everyone equally" that Normandy, which was once the land of Longxing, was also tortured. Therefore, the Normans and the British were completely cut off from now on, and basically severed ties in terms of national sentiments and culture. Instead, it became a loyal territory of the French royal family.

For people in these places, religion and the royal family are not only illusory concepts, but also the emotional center of the entire region.

It was for this reason that rebellions swept across the region so quickly in the early days of the Revolution.

However, the times are different after all. During the Great Revolution, the people in the west who rose up to "rebel" against the National Assembly for the king suffered heavy losses. Several provinces such as Normandy and Vendée were brutally suppressed by the "Blue Army". Hundreds of thousands of people died; precisely because so much blood was shed, after the Bourbons were ousted again in 1830, the Normans did not take up arms to fight for the king this time. Most people He chose to be emotionally inclined to the royal family but silently accepted the changes in the current situation.

Of course, this is also because Prince Talleyrand and Aiglon have deliberately adopted a conciliatory posture from the beginning. They neither intend to change the religious beliefs here nor promote extremely radical policies, so they are still "tolerated" by the locals. "within."

They don't want to rebel with arms, but they don't want to express their closeness to the empire and the Bonaparte family. This is their current choice.

The King of Rome's chariot was only treated calmly. Although some people cheered in the streets, the overall mood of the people was indeed extremely cold.

Aigron is well aware of this. He understands that no matter how great a ruler is, he cannot be liked by everyone. He just needs to ensure that he becomes the greatest common denominator for the entire nation.

Indifferent acceptance is also a kind of "negative recognition".

Moreover, he still has a lot of time and many ways to win the popularity of the people.

Amid the picturesque scenery along the way, Aigron and his party passed through the countryside, heading towards Rouen, the capital of Upper Normandy, one stop at a time.

Agnes, on the other hand, was sitting next to him, staring blankly out the window, admiring the surrounding scenery.

"Agnes, Rouen is a place of great significance to you." Agron said coldly.

"Ah? Why did your Majesty say that?" Agnes was obviously not prepared, so she asked him. "I...I have nothing to do with this place? None of my relatives are from here."

"Indeed, but don't forget - that's the place where Joan of Arc was martyred." Aiglon replied.

Agnes understood immediately, "Yes...that's right."

At the end of the Hundred Years' War, under the leadership of Joan of Arc, the French army survived the desperate situation and defeated the British army along the way. The situation suddenly reversed, and this also made the British full of hatred towards her.

In March 1430, Joan of Arc was unfortunately captured by the Burgundian army during a battle in Compiègne. After some weighing, Duke Philip of Burgundy handed Joan over to the British army who came after hearing the news. .

The British brought Joan to their control area, and after a series of pretentious trials, she was finally burned at the stake in the market square of Rouen, the capital of Normandy - that is to say, that's where Joan of Arc was. place of martyrdom.

After the Hundred Years War ended with the victory of the French, the city of Rouen also commemorated the martyrdom of Joan of Arc, and there is still a church named after her for future generations to pay homage to.

After understanding what Aigron meant, Agnes's eyes became a little more sad and emotional, so she looked far away at the endless pastoral scenery around her, as well as the looming outline of the city of Rouen in the distance, and finally said: He sighed.

"If she has a spirit in heaven and can see such a scene, she will definitely feel gratified for her sacrifice... It is precisely because of her efforts that everyone can enjoy these."

Logically speaking, although Joan of Arc is famous, it is already very far away for Agnes hundreds of years later. However, in the past few days, following Agron's instructions, she has performed in various places in the image of Joan of Arc many times. As the knights paraded, not only did the people around her seem to regard her as the incarnation of a saint, but she also seemed to have a little more "empathy" in her heart, full of respect and remembrance of the girl who had already been martyred. .

Although in terms of personal abilities, Agnes knew that she was completely unable to compare with the girl who saved the country, but this did not prevent her from using Joan of Arc as her role model.

Brave and firm, compassionate, and patriotic. Even if you can learn a few points of these things, they are enough to make a person respected by others. Agnes firmly believes that she can also embark on this path in the future and help more people. Rather than just sitting and enjoying wealth alone.

Of course Aigron knew what Agnes was thinking, but besides feeling sorry for the saint, he had more ideas.

"Agnes, you know, I've never been a religious person, but I can play a religious protector - and I've played it so well so far that even the Pope has praised me for it. Do you agree?"

"Of course, you have made great contributions to the Christian world." Agnes nodded immediately, after all, she was also a witness at the time.

Under Aigron's heavy bribes, the Pope himself praised him twice in public sermons, praising him for trying his best to protect the virtues of Christians, which invisibly gave Aiglon a spiritual capital. .

In areas with weak religious awareness, this kind of "spiritual capital" may not be very useful, but in Normandy, where there is a strong religious atmosphere and ultra-conservative small farmers dominate, his spiritual capital is somewhat useful.

What's more, Aiglon has another card - the girl sitting next to him.

During these days of parades, Agnes's performances have also caused a nationwide sensation. On the one hand, it is because Agnes herself has that humble, simple and brave temperament, which to a certain extent makes people feel " The charm of "Idol"; on the one hand, it is also deliberately fueled by Aigron and his supporters.

They clamored everywhere in the newspapers, creating a better effect than Agron expected. At first, he was the focus of the parade, but later, Agnes's "popularity" was almost equal to his. Everywhere they went , local celebrities, women and children gathered on both sides to watch, wanting to catch a glimpse of the "saint".

Indeed, although there is only two hundred years between the 19th century and the 21st century, there is a spiritual gap of two thousand years. In this era when most people are illiterate and their activities rarely leave the province, the spiritual world is too poor. So much so that the slightest surprise in the newspaper will attract everyone's attention.

It’s no wonder that so many people have no doubts about so-called “miracles”.

For Aigron, this is certainly a good thing.

Agnes has no desire for power, nor does she want to run for parliament or even the president. Even if she becomes nationally famous, it will not threaten him politically, and she is almost obedient to her, so this A "popularity" is tantamount to saving for himself - this was also his original plan.

And now, he's in a new place.

In Normandy, Agron felt that the welcome he received might not even be as good as Agnes.

People who don’t like the Bonaparte family may not dislike Joan of Arc. As long as Agnes can win the cheers of the people to a certain extent, it is slightly equivalent to Aiglon himself gaining support-after all, the "Saint" For once, he was on his own side.

In terms of religion, people have always been conservative and harsh, and they will not like any changes, but even such people will not reject a "saint". This is the result of thousands of years of human nature.

"Agnes, conquer this place for me." Looking at the city of Rouen in the distance, Agron said enthusiastically, "I need you."