I Am Louis XIV - Chapter 561

  Chapter 561 Steam Locomotive and Guess Who Will Say Goodbye to Us?

Viscount Turenne returned to Paris with mixed feelings. It would be nonsense to say that he had no intention of returning to France. No one, especially an old man, would want to die in a strange place, although he was in Amsterdam. At the time, the Dutch people surrounding him had a good impression of the old man who was also the governor of France and a descendant of Orange, otherwise North Holland would not have been calm for so many years.

But as Louis XIV, Viscount Turenne would never have died in Amsterdam, in his post, he always had a tender and close feeling for this marshal, especially those around him. When people have begun to say goodbye to him, His Majesty the King is particularly sentimental.

He was originally going to Versailles, but when he heard that Viscount Turenne had left, he decided to wait in Paris. When Viscount Turenne came, he invited him to take the newest means of transport with him – a steam locomotive to Versailles .

Although Viscount Turenne is the oldest, he is still in good spirits and health. His eyes are bright and his voice is loud. When he sees the steam locomotive, he can’t help but open his eyes with joy: “How many soldiers can it carry!” He said: “It soon?”

Louis was amused and relieved to find that Viscount Turenne returned to him this time, and he was more indulgent and light-hearted than when he was young. Age is sometimes a **** and sometimes a relief. People, but the most pleasant thing is that it does not need to rest!” His Majesty also exclaimed: “It can run day and night, forever and ever.”

   “What does it eat?”

   “Coal.”

The king said, stepping on the steps in front of the carriage door first, and then extending his hand to the viscount, Viscount Turenne took the king’s hand, and stepped on the soft and thick bright red carpet – at this time, the locomotive carriage and a hundred Years later are almost no different. In the final analysis, the wheels are driven by steam units to achieve various purposes – the earliest steam engines were used to pull mine carts, and those mine carts also had tracks, so… Let the later generations Unexpectedly, the biggest resistance of steam locomotives is not priests, nor capital investment, nor lack of materials or technology. People in the court did not accept steam locomotives at first because it was originally used to transport dirty ore and livestock. for…

“They insisted that I ride in a carriage,” Louis complained to the Viscount Turenne, “God, even if the concrete road is smooth enough now, how can a carriage so small that I can’t stretch my feet with such a ‘car’? Compared to?”

“You’re right,” said Viscount Turenne, looking around curiously. The locomotive had not started yet. It was on the tracks as calm as a room with solid foundations – it was a room, and each carriage had It is a room. When Louis XIV was on his expedition, Bontang would bring him a bathtub. Now the load and capacity of the steam locomotive can be used to his fullest – so the Viscount even felt a little familiar, these are the things he often used. Seen in the king’s suite.

   “Your room is right behind the kids.” Louie said, “Maybe you’d find it a little noisy…if that…you…”

“I’m in need of some noise,” said Viscount Turenne. “I don’t like children, your majesty, but the thought of them being your continuation, the descendants of Bourbon, fills me with joy, even if I go to **** immediately. .”

   “Don’t spoil them.” Louie said, “It’s mainly because I told them a lot about you, and they worship you, probably second only to God and me.”

“I’m just your general,” said Viscount Turenne, “you know what the astronomers say, the moon is just a ball of stone, it doesn’t shine by itself, it’s the sun that illuminates it so that people can see it at night, you I am the sun and I am the moon.”

The king stopped and stared at the Viscount Turenne with an incredulous look, before saying for a long time: “I know you are always in the army, but even in the army, Monsieur Viscount, you have such a delicate silver tongue, How can you be alone until now?” He couldn’t help but say, “Tell me, if you have an illegitimate child, I can also guarantee you a complete set of marriage certificates, birth certificates, and baptism certificates.”

“Your Majesty,” this time it was Viscount Turenne’s turn to be helpless: “that’s not true, I think this is God’s arrangement, you can regard Villar as my heir,” he followed, “in addition, you and What’s going on with the Church in Rome? Or do you disagree with them being independent of the Vatican?”

   “This is a very important bargaining chip,” Louis said. “I won’t let it go without cutting a knife on the church.” The church, on the surface, was allied with France, but in private it did a lot of “good things.”

   “Don’t say it in front of your children,” said Viscount Turenne.

The person responsible for building these twelve carriages is one of the king’s most trusted ministers, Colbert, but because he is also old, the main person in charge of this matter is his son, the Marquis de Senere, Seine Although the Marquis of Lai should be considered a member of the military, he took over this important task because he had been in the Nantes shipyard before, responsible for the construction of artillery, muskets and ironclad ships, and was very familiar with steam machinery.

According to the maximum horsepower of the existing steam unit, it is best to arrange six carriages, but the problem is that the king needs three carriages – this is the principle and will of Mr. Bontang that cannot be changed, and the queen also needs a bedroom and a bedroom. One living room, one for each of the king’s three sons, and at most the king’s children are allowed to share the parlour and bathroom, so… simply count, seven carriages are gone, and the remaining five – with waves The Duchess of Montpensier, the Duke of Vendôme, and the Prince of Conti, whose surnames are next to each other, must all have one section each, and the only two remaining sections—His Majesty clearly pointed out that the Marquis de Senelle and Colbert and his son should have one. Section, another section… If Mrs. Montespan was still alive, she could have had a section, but didn’t she go to the “monastery”? Of course, this carriage was stared at by everyone with glowing eyes.

   It is no exaggeration to say that if His Majesty the King still lacks military funds or something, even if the carriage is sold for a price of one hundred thousand livres, someone will buy it…

Now this carriage belongs to Viscount Turenne, and the twelve carriages will inevitably lead to insufficient power, plus the previous three cargo boxes-because the area closer to the front of the car will be covered with smoke and gas (the gas emitted when the coal burns) smell), so the three carriages can only be used to carry luggage, so – it’s probably about as fast as a galloping horse.

   But as His Majesty said, indefatigable is the greatest virtue of this means of transport.

“We will arrive at the Place de la Victory at Versailles at dusk,” said the Marquis de Senelay, a young man who looked like a lovable young man who had changed since the first time the king took his children to Nantes. More calm and dark, and more like a soldier. Hearing what he said, Viscount Turenne looked out, and there was an endless sea of ​​flowers outside. “It’s so beautiful,” he said, lying comfortably on the couch holding hot chocolate. You can enjoy the view, but the former also needs to control the horses and can’t be distracted, and the latter is just like Louis XIV complained – narrow, small, and wobbly.

  Steam locomotives can also shake, but this shaking is much smaller than that of a horse-drawn carriage, and there is no uncomfortable place to lie on a couch or bed.

Colbert ran to the head of the steam locomotive to watch the workers burn the fire. He was interested in this accident. The Marquis de Senere served the king and the viscount instead of his father. One does not feel humiliated at all – the king is said to have offered to return (part of) the title and domain of the duke of Sedan (the father of Viscount Turenne, who was the second son) to Viscount Turenne, but the viscount refused.

   But in the heart of the king, this viscount may have a higher status than a duke.

Amid the rumbling, clack, clack, Viscount Turenne and His Majesty the King chatted happily for about an hour, before returning to his room: “If you can’t stay for a while, take a good look at it. How am I going to brag to those people at the banquet?” he said, causing the king to laugh.

Then he walked along the narrow corridor and walked back to his car, which was also a room with a small bathroom. Viscount Turenne wondered for a while how the hot water in the bathroom came from. , and then guessed that they should be introduced from the water pipe at the top of the car – the middle part of the ceiling and the top floor. The room had a huge bed, comfortable armchairs, desk and high chair, as well as hangers and wardrobes, and it was comparable to a hotel room in Paris or Versailles, except that it was a little too long and narrow.

The sun was no longer as dazzling as it was when they boarded the car. Viscount Turenne took out his pocket watch. Sure enough, there was not much time left for him, but he did not change into loose nightclothes, as he said to the king. take a good rest – after all His Majesty said his children might come to disturb him…

   Sure enough, after a while, someone knocked on the door.

   “It is you, Monsieur duke,” said Viscount Turenne.

   “Please call me Baptiste,” said Baptiste, Duke of Halebur, after a moment’s hesitation. “May I come in?”

   “Come in,” said the Viscount, “I think your father has given permission.”

It would be surprising to say that the Viscount Turenne and the Duke of Hallebur may have met for the first time. After all, their identities are too sensitive. One is the descendant of Orange, and the other is the general of the French king. It is the illegitimate son of the king of France, Halleboul, who can also be said to be the master of Brussels. If they communicated frequently, they would definitely cause a lot of rumors. Madame Lavalier simply refused to let them meet at all. Later, Baptiste entered. After the king’s army, Viscount Turenne deliberately avoided it. Baptiste had also met General Villar several times, while Viscount Turenne had only seen portraits.

  Baptiste entered the room: “I have always wanted to see you, sir.” He said sincerely: “You are not only an excellent general, but also an impeccable administrator.”

   “Yes, it is more difficult to manage than to conquer.” Viscount Turenne waved his hand so forcefully that he could make wind: “But I have His Majesty the King.” He said proudly.

“Yes,” Baptiste smiled: “You know, I’m going to America. This is the latest decision made by His Majesty. I was a little hesitant before, but when I see you, I suddenly feel relieved. “

   “America is bigger than Brussels or North Holland, and it suits you better,” said Viscount Turenne, “and you have all of France behind you, and you will do better than me.”

   “Aren’t you going back to North Holland?”

   “I’m not going back to Holland.” Viscount Turenne said, “Are you talking to me about something—about Holland?” Because in Versailles, there are far more eyes and ears.

“There’s something I don’t know if I should tell your majesty,” said Baptiste, “because I also know it from my people.” He glanced at Viscount Turenne, one of the few who knew about Lavalier The outsider of Madam’s true identity: “But you also know that my people are actually…not very good at conspiracy and deception. I’m not sure if this is someone who let them know on purpose and then used me to influence His Majesty’s decision.”

   “Whatever it is,” said Viscount Turenne, “please tell me first. I think I know the Dutch quite well after all my years in the Netherlands.”

   “It doesn’t have much to do with the Dutch.” Baptiste said: “You know, the last heir of the Orange family, William III, his mother was the eldest princess of England.”

   Viscount Turenne flicked his eyebrows: “Yes.”

   “You also know that after receiving our help, Charles II massacred most of London’s affairs.”

“Know.”

“It now seems that the human head hanging from the spire of Westminster Abbey is not going to make those with ulterior motives obey – or rather, they seem to obey, but they have never given up on usurping power from Charles II. , just like those whose heads are still on the top of the church… They hate the king, hate the kingship, especially when Charles II sold the palace and the crown land and still failed to gain the upper hand in the war against us. …”

   “Did they want another great rebellion?”

“No, they fear their father,” Baptiste said, referring to Louis XIV for the first time: “They fear that if a man without Stuart blood is put on the throne, he will be like the former Protector Cromwell, the king of France would use this to start an all-out war against England, so…they would neither allow Charles II to remain king nor give the scepter to the Duke of York – they sent an invitation to William III to make He became King of England as the son of the eldest princess.”

   (end of this chapter)