I Am Louis XIV

Viscount Turenne didn't believe in the king's promise at the beginning, not that he didn't believe in the king, the king was always just a child in his heart, and a child, no matter how noble, his words can't be counted. The Empress Dowager and Bishop Mazaran deeply hated everyone related to Prince Condé. He had already anticipated his possible end and took it easy.

Even if he was asked to disarm all weapons, he took off his rapier and musket without any hesitation, took out the dagger and dagger and placed them on the table. To his delight, The officer supervising him was not rude enough to ask for a body search.

He is wearing his favorite suit today, because he guesses that if sent to prison, or hanged after trial, he may not be able to get a change of clothes, so that he can at least lie in a coffin with dignity .

He was even more surprised when he saw the king's first servant, Bontang, but when he thought of the queen mother's doting on the king, such behavior was not impossible, so he calmly thanked Bontang and followed him all the way In a quiet room, as soon as he entered the room, he looked around instinctively, especially stopped for a while on the window, which had a shutter, but it was open, and the glass was divided into sixteen sections by black iron bars. A small piece, he looked back regretfully, and saw the king looking at him with a smile.

Viscount Turenne stepped forward, took off his hat with a light gesture, and bowed deeply to the king.

"May I guess," said the young king with a smile, "were you thinking of running away?"

"If possible," Viscount Turenne said frankly, "I am willing."

"Then why don't you continue to stand outside the city and fight my general, but stand here and think about how to escape?"

"Because Mr. Schomberg said something like that." Viscount Turenne said, "I bought the hearts of my soldiers at once. If I insist on fighting, maybe some of them will seem to be drunk." Like drunken fools, they turned their guns not on their enemies, but on their commanders.

That's why I didn't go away outside the city, they entrusted themselves to me, and now entrust them to someone else, then no one can do it but me, so I have to come, but I was rather reluctant. "

"You call General Schaumberg's words a bribe, and I'm going to keep my opinion on that, because that's exactly what I want him to say, sir, and it's what I mean."

"What is in your heart?"

"Well, General, the French are beating the French."

"I knew you were going to accuse me."

"It seems that you think you have done nothing wrong," said the king. "It seems that I must have a good talk with you before I can convince you."

"I suggest you don't waste your efforts in vain." Viscount Turenne said angrily: "You can't convince me, God chose you, and I chose my friend, Prince Condé, Your Majesty, If you are cruel enough, hang me in the yard, right, it is the place you can see when you tilt your head, this is what every traitor will face—if you are kind..."

"how?"

"You should let me go, as all good and tolerant princes do," said the Vicomte de Turenne; "give me a horse, a cloak, and a bag full of gold louis or silver crowns." my purse, return my weapons and servants, and let me go where I please."

"Then you must return to the Prince de Condé."

"That's for sure. He is not only my friend, but also my master."

"That can't be done," Louis said solemnly: "I can't let you go back to the Prince of Condé, because when you stand on the enemy's side, it will always be quite difficult."

These words made Vicomte Turenne's stern face reveal a smug look, but it was quickly covered up by shame: "I really don't know how to deal with your compliments," he said: "In fact, I was defeated, just outside the city," he said angrily, "I'm just a defeated general."

"I don't think so," said the king. "I have heard of you before. You are a brave man. You entered the army when you were twelve. Ten years before I was born, you were on the Rhine. Duke Bernhard took the fortress of Breschach in eight months, and in the second year he captured Turin at the Battle of Piedmont, and in four or three years you went down the Rhine until Take the strategic fortress Philipsburg and the Mainz area on the other side; waited until 46 years, in the second battle of Nordlingen, you forced Bavaria to withdraw from the Thirty Years War, and in 48 years, you captured the whole of Bavaria In the end, the army came to the Rhine River, pointed directly at Vienna, and forced a king to submit to you... All kinds of things, Mr. Viscount, isn't it worth making you an opponent worthy of others' fear?"

Mr. Viscount is undoubtedly very proud that his achievements are so well known and cherished by His Majesty the King, but while he couldn't help puffing out his chest, he also felt full of resentment, "In that case," he said loudly Said: "You shouldn't ignore another person."

"You are speaking of the Prince de Condé."

"Isn't it?" Viscount Turenne said, "His achievements are better than mine, but you don't take it to heart at all."

"Then he has not received his due reward?" asked the king.

Viscount Turenne was silent for a while, of course, not only the Prince of Condé, even he, was also awarded the marshal's scepter after his brother was involved in the case against Bishop Richelieu and the Duchy of Sedan was taken back. , "Then," he said, "is the crime His Royal Highness is accused of, is it what he deserves?"

"In a way," said the king bluntly, "yes."

"What does it mean to some extent?"

"That is to say," Louis said, "he neither admits nor denies, neither facilitates nor prevents, but when asked to accept, he will certainly accept."

"But what if he does have this qualification?" Viscount Turenne asked back.

"If you think so," said the King, "then I shall be really disappointed."

"How to say?"

"You think Prince Condé is more suitable to sit in this position because he is in his prime and has complete thoughts, reason and logic. He has made great achievements, and he is better than a child."

Viscount Turenne hesitated for a moment, but still admitted: "You are a good man," he said, "But now France needs a king with a strong wrist and a firm will, who will not be influenced by anyone."

"I understand what you mean." Louis said, there is really nothing to distinguish, everyone knows that the current royal power is not in the hands of the king, but in the hands of Queen Mother Anne and Bishop Mazarin: "But Viscount Turenne, Even if Prince Condé is reborn as a saint, he still has a weakness that can never be erased."

Viscount Turenne bowed, "I would like to hear more about it." But his face did not say that.

Louis thought for a while, and suddenly changed the topic to a seemingly unrelated place.

"You know we've come all the way from Paris," he said.

Viscount Turenne nodded: "Isn't that right, Your Majesty, I have been chasing you."

This witty remark made Louis couldn't help laughing: "Then you saw it too."

"What?"

"Those who hanged."

"Well, you are going to say this, I see, Your Majesty, I hope you are not frightened."

"No, Monsieur Viscount," Louis said, "because these people were the ones I personally interrogated, judged, and watched them hang up with my own eyes."

This sentence really surprised Viscount Turenne. He didn't understand what the king meant. Could it be that he was trying to tell him that he was a cruel man, not a gentle ruler as people thought? "If that had been said a few minutes ago," he said, "I would have thought you were threatening me."

"That's why I'm putting it here," said Louis, "and besides, if you don't want to obey me, I won't hang you, I'll just keep you in prison."

"Should I say I'm really honored." Viscount Turenne said helplessly, "But I don't think you are that kind of person."

"Such a cruel person?"

"No, such a stupid person." Viscount Turenne said, "There is nothing more ridiculous than threatening a person who doesn't care about life and death with death."

"That's why I'm going to threaten you with something else," said Louis. "You were too hasty in chasing us, Mr. Viscount. You didn't investigate these people's charges."

"They must be heinous."

"It's more terrible than you think," Louis said. "Even if you go to purgatory, you won't be able to burn it clean if you burn it with flames for a thousand years."

"Please tell me! Your Majesty, I am ready."

"The first two were robbers."

"It's really disgusting!"

"The damn thing is still to come. Before the war started, they robbed gold louis and silk coats, but when I passed by, they robbed people."

"What do they want people to do?"

"Eat, Mr. Viscount, roast and eat like pigs and sheep."

"Damn it!" Viscount Turenne exclaimed, "May the thunder come down from the sky and kill them!"

"Also, and also, a father eats his children, and a wife eats her husband."

"Isn't the devil at work?"

"I'd like to think so," said Louie, "and then we saw a church. What a holy place!"

"Isn't it?"

"The Queen Mother insisted on going in to pray, and then we found a group of farmers inside."

"No surprise, the Lord protects everyone, rich and poor."

"But their panic aroused my suspicions, and at last my musketeers found a heap of bones in storerooms, sacristies, and confessionals!"

"God, stop it!"

"That's exactly what I'm going to tell you, Monsieur Viscount, that they hide in the chapel, and when anyone passing by goes in to rest or pray, they rush up and catch them and boil them into soup. "

"Unbelievable!"

"There is nothing beyond belief," said the king aggressively. "Hunger turns a man into a devil."

Viscount Turenne stood there with a pale face: "Are you accusing Prince Condé?"

"I said, maybe he didn't do anything, but it was him that the dispute started from."

"Then can't you put an end to this dispute?" said the Vicomte de Turenne boldly--the King knew that he still maintained the original idea, and the idea of ​​​​many who supported the Prince of Condé, that is, a grown-up president with a mind of his own. Better than a manipulative kid.

"This is what I want to tell you, the biggest weakness of the person you are willing to be loyal to."

"I am listening, Sire, I am listening."

"There was a king before," Louis said. "Before he became king, he was very similar to the Prince of Condé."

"who?"

"You should feel familiar, too," said Louis, "for he is not far from us. He is the last king of York in England, Richard III."