Chapter 1191 Steel Division

"Boom boom boom boom."

The sound of the gavel woke Pomona, and she found herself in a courtroom.

"The case before the court-martial today is very serious," said a middle-aged man in uniform sitting behind the bench. "Two officers of the National Guard were accused of refusing to march on the enemy. The commander of the 1st company of the 163rd Battalion, citizen Pottier and the company deputy, citizen Lott, they rested overnight after fighting fiercely for five consecutive days, and were ordered to go to the barricade the next day. As soon as they left the fortress, Citizen Pottier and Citizen Lott proposed that they would not go to the trenches, but wanted to go to Paris. The major pointed out that it was wrong for them to want to go to Paris, but the two officers still left, and the major had to General Ed was asked to arrest them, as it happened, and the major would add that he was very pleased with the performance of the 163rd, which had done very well in several pitched battles and barricades."

After reading the indictment, the presiding judge began to interrogate the two.

"This is a difficult case," said a man sitting next to Pomona. "The soldiers need to get enough rest to continue fighting. After so many days of hard fighting, it is reasonable for them to want to return to Paris."

Pomona looked at the man wordlessly.

"But military law is military law. If it were you, how would you judge?" said the short man with an accent.

"What will you do, General?" Pomona asked Napoleon Bonaparte.

"I'm no longer a general." Napoleon said with a smug smile, "I'm now the first ruler. Thank you for your previous advice. I escaped assassination."

"It should be so in history." Pomona said indifferently.

"History?" asked Napoleon.

Pomona didn't know what to say for a moment.

"What is this place?" asked Pomona.

"The court," said Napoleon.

"What court?".

"It's not a court of the French Republic anyway, maybe it's a foreign court." Napoleon frowned in confusion. "A court belonging to a French colony?"

"I feel like I know about it," she murmured confusedly, "but I can't remember."

"Then don't think about it." Napoleon watched the court trial as if watching a play. "You can speak French, Englishman."

Only then did Pomona realize that she was talking to Napoleon in French just now.

"What are you doing in my dream this time?" Napoleon asked.

"How do you know it's a dream?" Pomona asked.

"What else do you think it is? Reality?" Napoleon sneered. "We all know what reality looks like."

Pomona looked dazed, and she discerned the surroundings. This court has no decorations, and it is far less magnificent than the Louvre.

Compared with the extravagant and ostentatious Bourbon dynasty, Napoleon was very frugal. During his 14 years in power, he lived frugally and saved a lot of state finances. He also purchased jewelry, furniture, gold and silver for the palace out of his own pocket. . These are all derived from his assets in Italy, which are said to be as much as 200 million francs, which was definitely a huge sum of money at the time.

He is the Napoleon of France, not a victorious general who is worthy of the pride of the Italians. Even his will said that after his death, his ashes would be buried by the Seine River, among the French.

"Can I ask you a question?" Pomona whispered.

"Speak." Napoleon said simply.

"What made you give the order to fire on civilians?" Her heart was pounding.

Looking at Napoleon up close is different from the Napoleon in the portrait. Although Napoleon is considered short among most Europeans, he is still taller than Pomona. Fortunately, they are both sitting on the bench outside the court at the moment, so I feel There is no such height difference.

People who are taller than him have to show a demanding attitude, let alone a shorter one like her. He made her feel uncomfortable, as if she had to speak to him as an inferior, even though Napoleon was just as much a Muggle as the king in Quack Stump, and she was a wizard.

"I'll give you a chance to choose." Napoleon said calmly, "Do you want to be a happy person, or do you want to know the truth?"

"Truth," Pomona said, "I don't want to be a happy pig waiting to be slaughtered."

"You're not a soldier, you don't know what a soldier really thinks?" Napoleon gently squeezed the brim of his usual hat. "I grew up on the battlefield. For a person like me, a million Human lives don't matter at all."

Pomona was unable to speak for a long time.

"I wish you would choose happiness. Most people would." Napoleon turned his head and looked at her with brown eyes. "I didn't want these details to pollute a lady's soul."

"But you still told me." Pomona said calmly, "Why?"

"You didn't curse me to hell." Napoleon sighed. "I can't even tell the priest these words. I don't think God will forgive me."

"You want me to forgive you?" Pomona asked in surprise.

"No, I'm glad you're willing to listen." Napoleon said in an almost gentle tone, "It's a pity that there is no woman like you in reality."

"Didn't you say that to Josephine?" asked Pomona.

"I don't need to tell her, her attitude already speaks for itself." Napoleon said a little disappointed. At this moment, he lost that majestic aura and looked like an ordinary person.

Seeing this man who was proud on the battlefield but frustrated in love, Pomona felt a little emotional for a moment. Napoleon is different from those men who are proud in love and useless on the battlefield, but unfortunately, women no longer love heroes.

There are no lawyers in military courts, and the defendant needs to defend his actions. At least if he has money, he can hire a lawyer who can answer the question. It is no longer possible to take advantage of legal loopholes to get rid of guilt.

In the same crisis, it is useless even if the judge accepts bribes. If the enemy invades, the officials of the previous government may not stay in office, not to mention that judges often have many enemies.

At this time, money loses its role of swinging justice, and what is weighed here is the heart and humanity.

People get tired. If most people in the company can't take it anymore and want to rest, and the company commander and company deputy insist on letting the soldiers continue to fight, then the soldiers may mutiny.

The two defendants leading the team to leave without authorization will also shake the morale of a battalion. In addition, they are all tired troops. If this "weakness" is discovered on a front, they will be torn apart by the enemy. No wonder the judge will The case was described as "very serious".

"Are these two people running away?" Pomona asked Napoleon, not continuing to pester him with Josephine's questions.

"I will dismiss them and dismantle the company they lead. This company is useless." Napoleon said indifferently, "They have lost the pride of soldiers."

"I think they should be given a chance to take turns." Pomona said, "It's like a bow, which can be shot farther if it is stretched or relaxed. I think the major handled it improperly."

"How can we..."

"They are human beings, not steel, the first ruler, even real metal is flexible, military law is ruthless, but human beings are sentient." Pomona softly interrupted Napoleon "Shakespeare in England said, gentle Love can restore your strength, and there is a limit to the sharpness of the blade, if you continue to exert pressure, even the precious sword on your waist will break."

Napoleon looked at the Mamluk sword on his waist.

"Aren't you afraid of it?" Napoleon stared at Pomona.

"Why should I be afraid?" Pomona asked softly.

"It hurts you, it makes you bleed."

"I'm more afraid of people than knives. Knives won't move when they're placed there. They can only kill when they're wielded." Pomona calmly looked into Napoleon's brown eyes, "If I don't Give you a reason to hurt me, why do you still want to hurt me? Are you the kind of person who takes pleasure in killing?"

"No." Napoleon said breathlessly.

"Then why are you so belligerent?"

"I need victory." Napoleon turned pale and his face began to contort. "I am different from those hereditary monarchs. I have come to this day because of my luck. Once I am no longer strong and feared by others, my power will follow suit." disappearing."

"Are you worried that if you no longer bring victory, the French will remember the old hatred and revenge you?" asked Pomona.

"You won't understand." Napoleon put on his hat and got up to leave.

"You're walking a path of destruction, First Consul," Pomona said.

"I know what I'm doing." Napoleon said resolutely, "My soldiers will never be like children, who will only cry and retreat in the face of danger and difficulty."

"There's nothing shameful in crying, everyone cries, and you're not sculptures."

"Stupid woman," cursed Napoleon.

"Oh, really?" Pomona smiled sarcastically, "I don't think you men are very smart either!"

Napoleon was so angry that he cursed some words in his Corsican dialect that Pomona could not understand, and turned away.

Pomona laughed loudly behind him, but her laughter didn't affect the court's trial, it seemed that they couldn't hear her.