French Empire: But Napoleon IV

Chapter 57: The Soldiers' Joy, the Prelude Gradually Unfolds

When some French soldiers in the distance actually arrived in front of the mountain of supplies, many of them were so moved that they shed tears; they hadn't had a good meal in a long time.

DuPont squeezed his way through the crowded soldiers to the front, and was stunned when he saw the piles of white flour sacks in front of him.

Incredulous, DuPont reached out with trembling hands, not daring to touch the pristine white flour bag for fear of soiling the flour. He only touched some of the flour that had spilled out and fallen to the ground.

DuPont rubbed the flour in his palm and felt that it was smooth and delicate, completely different from the dark bread he usually ate.

Without offering his own thoughts, DuPont slipped out of the crowd and into another group of people, this time surrounded by stacks of brand-new summer military uniforms.

Holding his breath, he forced his way through the human pyramid of people, which reeked of sour fermentation, and arrived at DuPont at the front. Unlike food, DuPont wiped his hands and then picked up a brand-new blue and white military uniform.

I looked it over from all angles, front to back, top to bottom, left to right, and touched it with my hand. The fabric of the military uniform was soft and thick, and it even had a faint cotton smell.

Not only were they brand new, but they were also of better quality than the military uniforms they were wearing.

After all, the clothes worn by DuPont and others had been filtered several times, given the extent of corruption in France. As for the money Eugène paid, it was under the supervision of his confidants. While it's hard to say there was absolutely no oversight, it certainly couldn't be as much as the amount embezzled by the government.

DuPont pressed the military uniform against his face, feeling its warm touch, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"White bread...we can finally eat white bread..."

It wasn't DuPont crying out, but Louis, who arrived a few steps later than DuPont and wasn't as particular as DuPont, who simply hugged a bag of flour and burst into tears like a child.

"There's also medicine; my wound can be healed."

The soldier, his arm wrapped in blackened bandages, was shouting and yelling among the pile of medicines; no wonder he was so excited.

The bandages on this person's clothes have turned black, which shows how inadequate the basic medical capabilities of the French army at the front are. If this continues, it will be inevitable that non-combat casualties will increase further.

While the soldiers were shouting and venting their emotions, the medics carried boxes of iodine and bandages off the wagons and set up a treatment area on the spot, immediately starting to treat the wounded soldiers' wounds.

There were people maintaining order, but some appropriate venting was not stopped. All the senior officers were watching from the sidelines. If they felt it was inappropriate to stop it, they would have said so already.

Therefore, the French soldiers responsible for maintaining order turned a blind eye and did not take any action against the soldiers' excessive behavior.

For example, some people changed into new military uniforms on the spot, some repeatedly rubbed their brand-new rifles, and some grabbed a handful of flour and carefully put it in their mouths to taste it...

Nobody cared about things like this. The soldiers, their emotions released, cheered, jumped, and hugged each other.

The despair and pain that had been suppressed for many days were released at this moment.

The once lifeless battlefield was transformed into a sea of ​​joy after the arrival of supplies worth 1500 million francs.

Raul and his delegation members stood aside, dumbfounded at what they were seeing. The French Speaker's face turned red and white in turns, and his previous aggressive demeanor vanished completely.

Raul, who had prepared a long and impassioned speech to force Napoleon III to launch an attack, was now unable to utter a single word.

What else can be said? Raul knew that his actions had bypassed Eugénie and Eugénie, and now that Captain Dipan was going back to report, he would inevitably tell Eugénie about what had happened in the camp.

His attempt to fabricate a claim that it was the common will of France has already fallen apart.

The Xia Long Legion, which was previously subject to the military's control over supplies, can now ignore the military for at least half a month, so the plan to use the military to pressure others is no longer feasible.

However, it wasn't just Raul who thought this way. Raul thought he had bypassed Eugène, but in reality, Eugène, who knew that Raul would be visiting the front lines on the 22nd, had Captain Dipan deliver a message to him beforehand.

The French captain walked up to Raul and, in a very calm tone, relayed Eugène's words to the French Speaker of Parliament.

"Speaker, His Highness the Crown Prince asked me to convey a message to you: 'The soldiers on the front lines are risking their lives to defend France, and those in the rear should be even more united.'"

If Parliament has the energy to create trouble in the rear, it would be better to gather more supplies and troops and send them to the front. If the Speaker has any objections, he can return to Paris in person to discuss it with His Highness.

Open your mouth, shake your head...

Raul opened his mouth, as if to say something, but nothing came out. He simply turned his head awkwardly, looking at the cheering soldiers, feeling his face burning.

Of course, I didn't feel ashamed. I just felt that Eugène's behavior, which forced me to come empty-handed and coerce him, seemed inhuman, and that's why I felt resentment towards Eugène.

Unaware that Dupin had relayed these words to Raul, Napoleon III took a deep breath, wiped the tears and sweat from his face, turned around, and shouted loudly to the cheering soldiers.

"Soldiers, do you see this? This is the strength of France. The Crown Prince is protecting us from behind, and the people of Paris are supporting us."

We are not fighting alone. From this day forward, we will hold this line and await reinforcements. One day, we will launch a counterattack, rescue Marshal Bazin's troops, and drive the Prussian pigs out of French territory.

"Drive away the Prussian pigs! Rescue Marshal Bazin!"

Cheers rose in waves, echoing throughout the Meuse River. Dupont stood in the crowd, raising his newly received rifle and shouting with all his might.

Sunlight shone on the recruits' faces, dispelling all the gloom. Looking at the hopeful faces around him, DuPont felt a surge of unwavering confidence in victory.

Of course, can they really win? That's difficult, but that doesn't stop the French soldiers from boosting their morale right now.

Like DuPont, he believed at that moment that as long as they were united, they would surely be able to defeat the enemy and defend their motherland.

While people on the front lines were cheering for supplies, in the old carpenter's tavern in Montmartre, Paris, Cernucci pushed yet another stack of brand-new francs in front of Drema.

In the dim light of a kerosene lamp, the former gendarme commander's face held just the right amount of fanaticism, as if he couldn't wait to overthrow the Bonaparte family's rule.

"The money has been distributed to the battalion commanders, and the brothers are all looking forward to making a move. As long as Eugène transfers the troops from the outskirts to the front lines, Paris will be ours."

Senucci nodded with satisfaction at Drema's enthusiasm, and to make the former commander wait a little longer, Senucci personally pushed a glass of absinthe in front of him.

"Very well, just wait a few more days patiently. Once the Prussian army reaches the Meuse River, you won't have to wait anymore. That will be the time for us to overthrow Bonaparte's tyrannical rule."