"Sir, no matter how sincere you say these words, I am very happy anyway."
This sentence clearly revealed that Archduke Karl did not quite believe in Aigron's sincerity.
It didn't matter, Aigron didn't expect that he could charm others with just a few words. What's more, the Grand Duke had never seen anything in his life, how could he be easily deceived by him?
Anyway, nice words are worthless, so it’s good to just liven up the atmosphere.
Eggron just smiled and said nothing, not arguing with the Archduke about how sincere his love for Austria was.
Then, Archduke Karl took the lead and took Aigron and others for a walk in the garden, while Aigron and others followed suit, chatting with the archduke.
Although he had served in the military for decades, the Grand Duke was already 55 years old after all, and his energy was finally running low, so he stopped in the corridor of the Botanical Garden and looked at the flowers and plants in the garden with interest.
"It was a lot more lively here when I was a kid!" He suddenly exclaimed, "Sometimes it's hard to imagine that you are the last child to grow up here."
Although the Grand Duke's words may seem a bit meaningless, people in the midst of them can understand them.
Although the Habsburg family faced a crisis of extermination before Queen Marie Theresa came to power, after a wave of success through the adoption of sons-in-law, it suddenly became famous for its "high productivity".
Teresa and her husband were very loving and gave birth to 16 children, 9 of whom lived to adulthood; and her two sons Joseph and Leopold ascended the throne successively, and Leopold also had 16 children - the current emperor
Archduke Franz and Karl himself were one of these children.
It can be imagined how prosperous the main branch of the Habsburg family was during the Grand Duke's childhood. This huge palace was once filled with the laughter and laughter of children.
However, perhaps because the new blood of the Duke of Lorraine has expired, the situation seems to be different under the current emperor.
His Majesty Emperor Franz married four times, but only the first two marriages continued the bloodline. He gave birth to a total of 12 children. Although it seemed like a lot, only two sons survived to adulthood - one suffered from epilepsy and seemed to have no ability.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand, who could never leave an heir despite being able to govern the country, was Princess Sophie's husband, the mediocre Archduke Franz-Karl.
Therefore, Aigron, who came here in 1814, is the only descendant of the imperial family who grew up in Schönbrunn Palace in the past twenty years. It is really ridiculous to think about it.
However, although what Archduke Karl sees now can be called desolate, if he knew what happened later in history, he would probably be even more discouraged and desperate——
After Emperor Franz, the imperial bloodline of the Habsburg family became even thinner, and everyone seemed to be unlucky. Crown Prince Ferdinand was forced to abdicate due to mental illness and passed the throne to his nephew Franz (also known as Sophie
The son of a princess), and Franz was even more unlucky. His only son Rudolf committed suicide, his nephew Ferdinand died in the Sarajevo incident, and after his death in 1916, he could only pass the throne to his grandnephew Karl.
Emperor Karl I became the last emperor of the empire. He was deposed in 1918 due to the failure of the World War and lost the empire. He died of pneumonia in 1922 at the age of 34.
In other words, in the next century, the Habsburg family had no direct inheritance of the throne...
What would Archduke Karl's expression be like if he knew about it? Aigron thought maliciously in his heart.
"It's my honor." He replied calmly. "I am full of love for this place."
"Yes, who wouldn't love it?" The Grand Duke shrugged, "Because I love it, as a member of the family, I have to defend it, no matter what the cost."
"I must say that you have done very well in this job." Aigron said half sincerely and half as a compliment.
"Achievements? If I leave the stage, no one will care about how many things I have done. The world will only remember me as a failed commander, or even not remember me at all. And your father will enjoy more than he deserves."
More honors." Archduke Karl curled his lips and smiled slightly with self-deprecation, "Sometimes I am really jealous of the Duke of Wellington. Fate allowed him to enjoy the glory of defeating Napoleon in a majestic way, but I was at the last moment.
Being thrown aside, if I had been in Leipzig in 1813 instead of Schwarzenberg, my name would have been much more dazzling than it is now!"
After the defeat at the Battle of Wagram in 1809, Archduke Karl was at a disadvantage, but he still believed that he had the strength to continue fighting Napoleon. After all, the French army suffered huge casualties, and even Napoleon himself was still frightened.
However, his brother Emperor Franz was tired of the war and finally chose to sue for peace with Napoleon. Archduke Karl angrily resigned to His Majesty the Emperor and was then put in cold storage, never being able to command the Austrian army again.
Later, Napoleon began to decline. He suffered repeated setbacks in Spain and Russia, and was eventually annihilated by various European countries. The commander-in-chief of the coalition forces at the Leipzig Battle was his former chief of staff, Prince Schwarzenberg. It is conceivable that without this,
The situation is turbulent, the commander-in-chief should be this emperor's younger brother.
Archduke Karl, who was idle, could only watch the fall of the most dazzling star of this era, but he did nothing in it. As a soldier and a commander, this was almost an unbearable torture.
Even now, more than ten years later, he still seems aggrieved.
Aigron could understand the Grand Duke's depressed mood, but with his complicated position, it seemed that nothing he said at the moment was right, so he simply chose to remain silent.
After all, for him to continue to compliment the Grand Duke and say that he is stronger than Napoleon or the Duke of Wellington is a bit too condescending, and may lead to contempt from others.
Unfortunately, although he didn't want to continue, Archduke Karl continued to look at him.
"I know that from your position, you may naturally be more inclined to Napoleon. I must admit that I hated him, but as a colleague, I also respect him very much. This is the same as the Duke of Wellington. We
I was once an opponent, but I can see the flash of genius from him, and it is an honor for this generation to play against him. What I regret is that I have never been able to fight like him. He is the unparalleled master of a nation.
The people follow him with their eyes closed, and he can squander French lives as he wants - just as he did in 1809 - but I can only restrain my hands and watch my due honor being deprived of me. If
If I could be as free as he is, things would definitely be different!"
Seeing Archduke Karl look so serious, Aigron couldn't help but laugh in his heart.
Although he is so old, he seems to be stubborn like a child on this issue - yes, men can be tolerant on any issue, but they will never give in on the topic they cherish most.
"I think it is a very childish behavior to put aside all factors of war and simply discuss the general's personal ability. Fighting a war is not like playing chess, and you also divide the king and the queen. The vulgar opinions of the world cannot be used to evaluate you.
Your peers will definitely recognize your abilities and talents.”
Aigron looked at the other party and replied seriously, "Objectively speaking, your record is not as good as Napoleon and Wellington, and you can't catch up with their honors; but as you said, there are complicated factors involved.
There are too many, some of which are not your responsibility. Your formation and command on the battlefield have greatly appreciated both of them, and your works are equally valuable."
"Have you read my article?" Archduke Karl asked.
"Yes, my teacher once asked me to read your "On the Tactics of Generals". This is part of my studies." Aigron smiled, "In addition, I may need to be grateful for your defeat in 1809.
Because it was precisely because of that setback that my grandfather decided to sue for peace with the French and finally agreed to Napoleon’s proposal, so I existed - otherwise I would not have the honor to listen to your teachings today!"
Hahahaha... The Grand Duke was stunned at first, and then couldn't help but laugh. "That's quite true."
"You are his military teacher, right?" He turned to look at Captain Foresti, "It seems you taught him well."
"Your Highness is very talented and an outstanding student that I have never met before." Captain Foresty lowered his head and replied respectfully.
"Yes, it's pretty good." He looked at Aigron again, and then nodded, "That person is extraordinary after all, and even the kind he left behind is a bit different. It's a pity that he has finished his empire.
Otherwise, people are looking forward to what you can do."
"Maybe it's a good thing for me not to be an emperor. I have no interest in carrying the desires of a nation like him, and I don't want to be ruthless enough to squander the lives of a nation. I may live quietly in a corner as an old scholar.
It's more suitable for me." Aigron still smiled, sinking all his true emotions to the bottom of his heart, "Being an emperor is not the only way to make achievements in the world, don't you think so?"
"Having said that, in my opinion, it is better to be an emperor. Not to mention the empire, my brother can also be at the mercy of him." Archduke Karl muttered, and everyone pretended not to have heard the words "slandering your Majesty."
.
At this moment, Archduke Karl raised his hand, waved from afar, and then said hello, "Here!"
Aigron subconsciously followed his gesture and looked over, then found a light figure walking out of the botanical garden and slowly walking towards them.
Soon, he discovered that this was a girl wearing a light blue skirt. She had long brown hair, pinned back with a butterfly-shaped gem hairpin.
She looked to be about the same age as Aigron, with a pale complexion and a slender figure. Her willow-leaf eyebrows and slender eyelashes made her eyes large and shining. Her gray-brown eyes were looking towards the Archduke and the group, scrutinizing them.
.
She held a sketchbook in her right hand. It looked like she had gained a lot in the botanical garden just now.
"Franz, this is my daughter, Theresa." After she came over, Archduke Karl glanced at Aigron, "You should have met her a long time ago, when I brought her here - but I
I guess you don’t remember.”
He indeed no longer remembers it.
Judging from the other party's eyes, Aigron was sure that he had never left any impression on her.
Aiglon bowed to the girl.
"Nice to meet you, Her Royal Highness Princess Theresa."