Chapter 472: Chapter 466: Baron Lagren’s Visit to France
"I’ll go!"
The person who said this wasn’t anyone else but Baron Lagren, commander of the British Expeditionary Army.
At this moment, Baron Lagren had no leisure to focus on the situation of the second batch of training troops. If the first batch of troops were to suffer total loss due to non-combat casualties in the Near East region, then Baron Glen’s career as commander of the expeditionary forces could be considered over!
By then, he would not only face reproaches from the Cabinet, the Royal Family, and the press but possibly criticisms from some nobles as well.
The first batch of 20,000 troops heading to the Eastern Near East regions comprised mostly of noble officers. Nobles entrusted their children to Baron Lagren with hopes that he could lead them to victory in battle. These noble offspring do not fear the life-and-death struggles on the battlefield but fear meaningless deaths.
The waiting terror of death is far more daunting than the battlefield itself.
This is why many armies would rather risk total annihilation in combat than suffer and die from disease or harsh weather.
No one knows better than Baron Lagren how Emperor Napoleon failed miserably and fled from the Russian Empire. A total of 610,000 troops (with 300,000 from the French Empire) entered Russia, and in the end, fewer than 65,000 managed to escape. The entire essence of the First Empire was buried in Russia’s icy lands, and even though Napoleon later rebuilt a new corps, its fighting power never measured up to the troops that died in the Russian winter, becoming fertilizers for Russia’s vast territory.
And now Britain’s troops are facing similar dangers that the French Army once did. A slight mistake could heavily damage these 20,000 key members. Even if some soldiers from other units are later drafted as replacements, their combat efficacy pales in comparison to the current troops, so he, as the commander, must arrive in the Near East region to boost morale.
Prime Minister Palmerston of course recognized this as well. He immediately ordered Baron Lagren to depart promptly, aiming to reach the Near East region within a week.
Upon receiving the order, Baron Lagren stood up from his seat to bid farewell to Prime Minister Palmerston, needing to return and prepare the necessities for the trip to the Near East region.
After Baron Lagren left, Palmerston also issued orders to Lord Clarendon, directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to instruct Ambassador Canning in the Ottoman Empire to ensure the security of British personnel’s lives and property on the Gallipoli Peninsula and, if necessary, to seek assistance from the French Empire!
At this point, Palmerston could only hope that the supplies stocked by the French Empire on Rhodes Island would suffice for the Kingdom of Britain’s needs.
That afternoon, Baron Lagren and his four accompanying aides departed from the British Peninsula, boarding a steamship at the London Docks, and arrived at the Normandy Port the following morning.
[PS: At the same time, even outside of France, military commanders everywhere had three to four aides assisting in organizing plans, analyzing situations, and devising strategies, tasks typically performed by staff officers. These aides mostly held ranks of captain and major, rarely mid-level officers as aides. It’s more fitting to call them private counselors of the commanders rather than aides. Even Prussia, with its already established General Staff, was no exception.]
Disembarking from the ship at Normandy Port, Baron Lagren, clad in a black cotton coat, wandered through the streets of the Normandy Port, lamenting over time’s changes as he observed this budding industrial city.
Decades ago, Normandy lacked such a developed commercial atmosphere, with its surroundings two kilometers away from the port being an untamed wasteland at the time.
Now, influenced by maritime trade and the industrial revolution, Normandy has transformed into an emerging city driven by textiles.
Though not as bustling as Paris, Normandy, backed by maritime transport, harbors undeniably significant potential.
Despite his laments, Baron Lagren was filled with prejudice towards this French city due to Anglo-Saxon arrogance and hatred from the Napoleonic Wars.
While standing at the dock, voicing his criticisms of Normandy’s shortcomings in its development, French people living in Normandy and cherishing the city couldn’t resist refuting Baron Lagren.
If it weren’t for the fact that Baron Lagren and his companions were British, the French surrounding them might have responded to the old man’s insolent remarks with fists.
Of course, these fervent French patriots had no idea that the sarcastic old man before them had once been the aide to the Duke of Wellington decades ago.
Besides, the seventy-year-old Baron Lagren still kept fit and was entirely unafraid of provocations from two or three young French "punks!"
His aides, unwilling to stir things up further, forcibly dragged the cynical old man onto the train heading to Paris.
Upon arriving at Rouen, Baron Lagren was informed that due to a recent snowstorm in Paris, they would have to take a carriage to reach the city. Seated in the train carriage, Baron Lagren once again started grumbling about France.
The diligent aides had no choice but to arrange a carriage for Baron Lagren to Paris, where five of them set off by carriage under the cover of night.
Lanterns placed in the corners of the carriage swayed in the cold wind, and the snow on the road, repeatedly tread upon by travelers and overrun by carriage wheels, gradually settled down, leaving a trail of footprints and wheel tracks. The wheels crunched over them, making a rustling sound.
...
After a journey lasting a day and night, Baron Glen’s party finally arrived in Paris.
Upon arriving in Paris, Baron Lagren couldn’t enjoy the warmth of Paris but immediately dove into work, heading to the British Embassy in France to meet with Ambassador Cowley.
Ambassador Cowley, who was enjoying himself at the Opera House, was informed by the embassy secretary seeking him that Baron Lagren had already arrived in Paris. He bid farewell to the other ambassadors in the box and swiftly made his way to the embassy.
At the embassy, Ambassador Cowley respectfully said to Baron Lagren, "Commander Lagren, welcome to Paris!"
"Ambassador Cowley, I must rush to the Near East to take over my troops, which are being battered by a snowstorm, from the Duke of Cambridge. Therefore, I want to meet with the Emperor of France as soon as possible and then depart for the Near East. Can it be arranged?" Baron Lagren asked briskly.
Ambassador Cowley hesitated for a moment before firmly saying, "Please wait a moment! I will arrange your meeting with the Emperor of France as soon as possible!"
"Thank you very much!" Baron Lagren said to Ambassador Cowley.
Over the next two days, Baron Lagren stayed in the embassy conducting strategic analysis, using maps sourced from the Kingdom of Britain’s library.
Indeed, the maps Baron Lagren was using weren’t professional maps but were travel diaries like Lord De Rose’s Crimea travel diary and Major General Alexander Macintosh’s "Crimea Diary."
After studying these two travel diaries, Baron Lagren even suspected whether God favored the Russian Empire by calling forth a snowstorm to trap the Kingdom of Britain on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Because, according to these two travel diaries, the winters in the Near East were warm, with absolutely no snowstorm in sight. (Later it was proven that the authors of these articles had not stayed in the Near East for long)
Finally, on the evening of the second day, Ambassador Cowley informed Baron Lagren that the Emperor of France, Jerome Bonaparte, would meet with Baron Lagren along with the French Cabinet at the Tuileries Palace on February 1.
"February 1?" Baron Lagren subconsciously glanced at the calendar hanging on the embassy wall. It was now January 30, meaning the meeting was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. He nodded at Ambassador Cowley and said, "Alright!"
...
Time flew by, and it was soon February 1.
Baron Lagren, having changed from his regular clothes to a bright red military uniform with buttons, and his aide rode out from the embassy, arriving at the Tuileries Palace in less than ten minutes.
Baron Lagren and his aide dismounted in front of the Tuileries Palace courtyard and exchanged greetings with General Edgar Ney, the emperor’s aide responsible for welcoming them.
"His Majesty is inside!" Edgar Ney invited Baron Lagren and his party to enter the Tuileries Palace.
As Baron Lagren and the others stepped onto the first staircase of the Tuileries Palace, the Imperial Army soldiers standing on both sides of the palace entrance, clad in pale blue military uniforms, simultaneously drew their command sabers from their waists and pointed them at the sky.
Soon after, stirring French military music rang out within the Tuileries Palace.
Baron Lagren and his aide’s faces changed slightly upon hearing the military music, uncertain whether it was a welcome ceremony or an intimidation tactic.
Baron Lagren and his aide, led by General Edgar Ney, entered the hall of the Tuileries Palace.
Here, Baron Lagren saw the "Emperor Napoleon" dressed in a Lev’s formal suit and wearing a Napoleon Hat.
In a trance, Baron Lagren felt as if he was transported back to the era of swords and horses decades ago, when, as an aide to the Duke of Wellington, he accurately conveyed intelligence to the frontlines for Commander Wellington, and it was during that time he saw the "Great Man."
Of course, that Great Man also took away his right arm.
No! He is not Napoleon! He is merely a despicable imitator, a clown!
Baron Lagren vigorously shook his head, constantly reminding himself inwardly.
"Mr. Lagren, what’s wrong?" The "Great Man’s" voice reached Baron Lagren’s ears.
When Baron Lagren raised his head again to see Jerome Bonaparte, the shadow of Emperor Napoleon surrounding Jerome Bonaparte vanished.