Chapter 145： Tour the provinces

September 5, 1849.

The scorching summer heat blew the horn of the last wave of "attack". The hot sun raged on the earth and swayed its own heat. The soil under the sun gradually became hot and dry.

In this drowsy temperature, there are still a group of people next to the train station in Tours in the Andre-Loire department in the central and western regions of France. They are dressed in decent black suits and top hats. Standing at the train station against the scorching sun, looking into the distance along the northward railway line.

Even though the white lining was soaked with sweat, the lips were dry, and the sweat stains on the forehead could not stop sliding from the top of the head to the cheek, so they had to wipe it with a pure white handkerchief over and over again. The handkerchief was wiped wet, but they still refused to leave.

Until the rumble of a steam train in the distance, followed by a train emerging from the distant horizon and gradually heading towards Tours train station.

Only then did the gentlemen standing at the train station in Tours showed relieved smiles.

After waiting for more than an hour, they finally waited for the train coming from the north, but they didn't know if the people on the train were the "guests" they were waiting for.

"Quick! Line up! Line up!" In charge of the dozens of people in charge of the team is a gray-haired, gray attire, with several Honorary Legion Medals and Knights Medals hanging on his chest (there is a rumor that these Honorary Legion Medals are all He bought it from a middle-aged man who had served the emperor before), his broad forehead and hooked nose gave this middle-aged man an inexplicable majesty.

The gentlemen are arranged in three rows under the command and dispatch of the middle-aged man. Each row has 10 people forming a phalanx. Next to the phalanx is a band wearing imperial uniforms. This is the brass drum, horn and clarinet. The configuration of the small band, I just don't know where they got so many imperial uniforms.

Beside the iron guardrails on both sides, the National Guards wearing National Guard uniforms and carrying a variety of muzzle-loading guns are responsible for maintaining the law and order of Tours railway station.

[Because the National Guard relies on its own expenses to solve everything, the guns equipped by the National Guard are also configured according to individual economic strength. The richer people are equipped with the MTL1842 of the French regular army, and the poorer people are equipped with the so-called Charleville 1777 that produced 7 million pieces. 】

"The military band is ready! Listen to my command! As soon as you see someone getting off the train, immediately play music for me! There is also a flag bearer, you are also ready to raise the flag at any time when you see my gestures!" The middle-aged man who was worried about the military band warned again. again.

"Mr. Mayor de Renal, don't worry! The boys I accepted have played many times, and this time will never go wrong!" The band leader with the clarinet in his right hand patted his chest to the middle-aged man. It was Mayor de Reine who made the vote, and then he spoke with a treacherous expression like a businessman and approached Mayor De Reine to discuss in a low voice, "Mr. Mayor, it's not easy for my young man to stand here. So can you…”

The band leader rubbed his hands, his eyes were full of treacherous and greedy, and he looked like "I will eat you".

As soon as he heard Mayor De Reina who was talking about money, his face sank instantly. He glanced at his colleagues who were watching the play next to him, grabbed the arm of the band leader, went to the open space 10 meters away from the phalanx and said in a low voice, "We Isn't it already negotiated? It costs 300 francs for a performance! How can you increase the price at will!"

The band leader showed the cunning of a mountaineer and complained with a worried and unhappy expression: "But Mr. Mayor, 300 francs for a performance is the price at the Opera House! My band and I have been standing here for nearly one hour. Hours, at least this number!"

The band leader opened the palm of his left hand, and the meaning is self-evident.

"Damn, 500 francs! Are you vampires reincarnated? For such a price, I can definitely hire a better band from Tours!" Mayor de Renal still lowered his voice and said in a longer tone.

"Mr. Mayor, it's only us here!" The band leader shouted while biting the price of 500 francs, pointing to the approaching train: "Look, the train is coming, Mister Mayor, you have to make a choice! "

Mayor de Renal hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "You greedy guy! Well, you won! I'll give you the rest of the money after the show!"

"Thank you! Generous Mr. Mayor! May God bless you!" The band leader smiled instantly.

"Remember!" Mayor de Reina viciously said to the band leader, "If you screw up the welcome ceremony, don't even think about getting the rest of the money!"

"Of course, Mr. Mayor!" The band leader patted his chest and assured Mayor de Reine, "I guarantee that every cent of your gold is worth it!"

If I knew it earlier, I should have added some money, the best band in Tours!

Mayor de Reina secretly regretted his decision, and then comforted himself that there was no need to care about a group of vulgar people.

The most important thing is to deal with the current situation first. He must "fight this battle well", and only in this way can he pave the way for his subsequent requests.

The steam locomotive began to decelerate as it approached the Tours railway station. A strong humming sound came from the wheels and the rails, and the sparks generated by the braking scattered on both sides of the rails.

When the front of the steam train left the station, the train stopped completely.

The three red carriages hanging behind the steam locomotive opened their doors one after another, and soldiers in blue and white imperial uniforms got off the carriage first.

Some of them, armed with MTL1842 front-loading guns, immediately aimed their guns at the crowd headed by Mayor de Reine, while the other trotted to the front of the National Guard, which was supposed to protect the safety of Tours train station. fully control.

The sudden change made Mayor De Reyna and everyone present fail to react.

Until a soldier who was slightly bald came out of the carriage, he glanced at all the people at the Tours Railway Station with sharp eyes and said: "I am Colonel Conrobel, the President's Adjutant, and you are gathered at the Tours Railway Station. What are you trying to do? Are you trying to kill the president?"

Conrobel's eyes were fierce, and everyone present believed that once his response made the president's deputy Conrobel dissatisfied, then only death awaited him.

"Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding!" De Renal, who had reacted, shouted while trying to walk in the direction of Conrobel.

Before Mayor de Renal could reach Colonel Conrobel, a soldier blocked Mayor De Renal with a front-loaded gun, and the bayonet from the gun almost stabbed De Renal. mayor.

Mayor de Renal hurriedly raised his hands and explained sincerely: "I am De Renal, Mayor of Tours, and I came here with the city hall of Tours to meet with the President, and I have absolutely no intention of murdering the President! "

"What happened to those people!" Conrobel asked, pointing to the controlled National Guard?

"They are the people we use to protect the president's safety in Tours!" De Renal said with a slightly embarrassed expression, complaining in his heart that this group of National Guards really failed.

"They? Defend His Majesty the President?" The soldier who put the bayonet on Mayor De Reine's chest said with a disdainful expression: "Don't be joking! They should protect themselves!"

After that, all the soldiers present laughed.

The National Guard, controlled by a small group of soldiers, showed shame, anger, and even resentment.

The unbridled ridicule of the soldiers made Mr. De Renal even more embarrassed.

As the chief executive of Tours, he also served as a training for the National Guard.

After De Renard became mayor, he set his sights on the National Guard, which turned the loose National Guard into what it is now. Although he could not compete with the Paris National Guard, at least he could. It can be said that Mayor de Reine is most proud of his achievements in undertaking the daily work of public security.

Today, this achievement was ruthlessly broken by the direct guards led by Conrobel.

Of course, if Mayor de Renal knew that the group of presidential guards in front of him used to be soldiers of the Juaff regiment in Algiers who were famous for their fierceness and combativeness before serving as the guard, he might have a much more balanced mind and could Algiers killed a famous team, and the National Guard in the country can't be compared.

"Quiet!" Conrobel shouted loudly, then waved.

The presidential guard, ordered by Conrobel, put their guns down, and they lined up in two rows in front of the second carriage.

Jérôme Bonaparte, who was wearing a big overturned coat made of breathable linen, white tight trousers and long breathable leather boots, appeared in front of everyone.

Everyone present fell into a sluggishness for a while, and even the band leader forgot to play and muttered: "The emperor's... nephew?"

De Reina, who was the first to wake up from the sluggishness, hurriedly greeted: "Quick! Play music! Play music!"

The band leader who reacted hurriedly began to play music, and the "Marseillaise" that should have been impassioned was too flustered and played intermittently.

The eagle, which symbolizes the Bonaparte family, was also played by De Renal.

Jerome Bonaparte stood silently on the train watching what was happening on the platform.

"Welcome to the President, Your Excellency, to Tours!" Mayor de Renal respectfully said to Jerome Bonaparte who was still standing on the trainJérôme Bonaparte walked down slowly The train came to De Renal and patted De Renal on the shoulder: "It's hard work!"

"It's not hard! It's not hard!" Mayor de Renal responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a simple and honest expression.

"Let all your subordinates go back! And these National Guard troops, too!" Jerome Bonaparte said, pointing to the subordinates and National Guard MPs behind De Renal.

"Yes!" De Renal obeyed Jerome Bonaparte's suggestion to let his subordinates and the National Guard leave first.

The subordinates who had endured the scorching heat quickly dispersed after receiving the order of De Reine.

Jérôme Bonaparte officially left the station under the leadership of De Reine and rode in the open-top double-bridge carriage specially prepared for him by De Reine.

De Rênal and Pessini sat on the left and right sides of Jerome Bonaparte, while Conrobert rode on a horse and commanded the guards to guard the president's safety.