Chapter 115 It takes no effort at all

While the two were talking, they heard the slow drum beat coming from the north side of the playground.

The instructors in charge of training on the playground immediately called for a stop and began to gather the team. The group of police officers closest to the playground gate had already lined up and ran towards a gray building not far away.

Dubois patted Alexander on the shoulder and gestured to the gray building: "It's time for lunch. Ah, what day of the week is it today?"

"Wednesday."

"Oh, by the way, it's Wednesday. You're lucky, there's beef stew and butter pea soup today."

In the spacious dining hall, Alexander looked around at the hundreds of trainees waiting for their meal, and asked in a low voice in confusion: "Francois, aren't we going to the officers' dining room?"

Dubois said matter-of-factly: "This is the officers' mess, and of course, it's also the cadets' mess."

"But..." Alexander subconsciously thought of the black bread and bacon that soldiers usually eat in the army where he served, "Do you really want to eat it here?"

Dubois knew why his old friend had such doubts.

In the French army, officers and soldiers belong to two classes, and the police force is similar. Soldiers or police officers are equivalent to ordinary people, while officers and police officers are nobles. The living conditions of the two are very different, and they will never eat together, let alone eat the same food.

He nodded and explained: "Yes, that's how it is here. I'm used to officers and police officers mixing together."

Before he finished speaking, a police officer came over with a tray, bowed to him and Dubois, and then placed two meals in front of them.

Alexander was stunned. It was beef stew and butter pea soup, as well as white bread and half an egg.

He hurriedly turned to look at the tables in other colleges and saw the same food!

He looked at Dubois in surprise and whispered: "The students here eat so well?!"

Dubois handed him the utensils, shook his head and said: "Only on Wednesdays can we eat beef stew, and on Fridays can we eat mutton or turkey. On other days, there is only pork or fish."

Alexander's eyes widened and he found it difficult to accept that in the army he served in, the soldiers' food was bread, wine and a small piece of bacon. The plate of stew in front of the police here is enough for the soldiers to eat for three days.

Moreover, this is freshly stewed, and it is hot and fragrant. It is definitely not comparable to cured meat.

No wonder those police officers were able to run a mile in 15 minutes carrying 18 pounds of weight on their backs. This is all made of high-quality food!

He looked at Dubois again and said, "How much will this cost?"

"From 5 to 7 sous per person per day. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has said that we must not save money on food."

"So many!" Alexander couldn't believe it. Is this still a police officer? His soldiers only have 3 sous a day...

He suddenly found a question: "François, why do you always mention the Dauphin?"

"Because this police academy was established by His Highness." Dubois chewed beef and said, "The funds are directly allocated by His Highness. The training syllabus is also set by him. Oh, His Highness often comes to listen to classes or participate in training."

As he was speaking, he heard an instructor shouting at the door: "Everyone stand up!"

Everyone in the restaurant immediately stood up, and then the young man's friendly voice came: "Everyone, please sit down, don't let me affect your meal."

Alexander turned his eyes and saw a young man wearing a Paris police uniform walking into the restaurant accompanied by several senior police academy officials.

Dubois lowered his voice and said, "Let me tell you, His Highness comes often."

"Is this His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Yes, he usually only comes on Mondays and Thursdays, but he drops by sometimes."

It wasn't until Joseph sat down at a table that the other officers followed him.

Soon, several police officers proudly placed beef stew and other meals on the tables of Joseph, the dean and others. Being able to deliver meals to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is a supreme honor, and one must achieve excellence twice in a row in the drills.

"Thank you very much."

Joseph nodded to several police officers to thank him, and his eyes suddenly glanced at an unfamiliar face next to Dubois.

"Major Dubois, who is this?"

Dubois and the other two hurriedly came over and raised their hats in salute.

Dubois gestured to his side: "Your Highness, this is Major Berthier whom you asked about."

Alexandre Berthier looked very reserved and immediately saluted again: "It is an honor to meet you, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Joseph's eyes suddenly lit up. He just made a temporary decision to attend a logistics support class today, but he didn't expect to gain something unexpected.

Mr. Chief of General Staff, I finally see you in person. I must keep you this time!

He smiled and nodded at Berthier: "Please take a seat. I have long heard of your outstanding performance in the Battle of Yorktown. Without your meticulous deployment, the British might have been able to hold on for a long time."

Berthier sat up straight and said: "It was a really difficult battle, Your Highness. Fortunately, we won victory and glory in the end."

So Joseph started chatting with Berthier on the topic of the Battle of Yorktown.

"Oh? Major Dubois invited you to visit the police academy?"

Joseph said, giving Dubois an approving look without any trace.

"Oh, yes, Your Highness." Berthier was still a little nervous and babbled, "Actually, I have a cousin in Paris who is going to hold a wedding, so I came over, and Francois just said in the letter , he served at the Paris Police Academy and said it was very special..."

Joseph waited for him to finish speaking, and then asked like a normal person: "By the way, Major Berthier, are you serving in Soissons now?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Dubois came over and whispered: "Your Highness, Francois has been serving in the engineer battalion. In fact, he came to Paris this time just to find a way to be transferred back to Paris. However, I'm afraid he hasn't had enough conditions of'."

Joseph knew that the "conditions" he was talking about meant the cost of smoothing the relationship. He didn't expect that the dignified Chief of General Staff would be so miserable in the old military system.

But for me, it doesn't take much effort just to break through the iron shoes and find nowhere.

He was secretly happy, thinking about returning to Paris. I really need manpower right now.

He smiled and looked at Berthier: "Perhaps I can recommend you to the Marquis de Saint-Prince and let you serve in the Forbidden Army or the French Guard."

Berthier did not expect that the Crown Prince would help him so much, and immediately stood up excitedly: "Your Highness, I really don't know how to express my gratitude to you!"

…

Besonval pulled up his collar, and the cold winter wind made him unable to open his eyes: "This damn weather."

He shook the reins, turned around and asked the officer beside him: "How far is it?"

"General, there are less than three miles to go."

"Okay, let's go faster."

"Yes, General."

As the officer gave the order, the drum beat immediately increased a few minutes, and hundreds of soldiers from the French Guard quickly followed suit.

Besonval lowered his head and muttered: "Why don't those distinguished ladies wait until it gets warmer before coming back..."