It was summer, and the night sky was filled with stars. The wind blowing from the low hilly areas took away the heat accumulated during the day. At the highest point of Putnam Fort, the breeze was gentle and very cool.
Sean invited Colonel Frank to tea.
In fact, if he had the choice, Sean would not want to meet Frank. Frank came this time not only because it involved the most egregious treason case in the history of the empire, but also because it involved the dark force of bloodthirsty. He was a secret
The National Chief of the Police, of course, needs to go there. But Frank's public task is to preside over the reorganization of the Genoa Civil Defense Force, so Sean has to be with him all the time.
"The Crown Prince speaks very highly of you!" After talking a lot of irrelevant gossip, Frank suddenly changed the subject.
"As a noble, I only did what I should do. I was loyal to the emperor and fought for the emperor. This is both my obligation and my right." Sean said modestly.
"Haha. Sean, I have to say, you are very humble." Frank smiled, "You have to know that the Crown Prince rarely praises others, even the people around him, rarely get praise from him. So some people say that the Crown Prince is too
He was too serious and even a little unhuman, which made him lose many friends."
"Colonel, this makes me a little uneasy. I cannot bear his praise." Sean said, "However, to say that the crown prince is unreasonable is probably an exaggeration. He is just being more serious."
"Being more serious?" Frank laughed again, "You are right. He is very familiar with the actual situation of the empire. Whether it is the military or finance, the reality makes him very worried, so he has no choice but to be serious. Corruption, waste,
Dereliction of duty and wrangling all make him worried. Although the rebellion caused by the True God Party has been put down, bad signs coming from within us are eroding the power and authority of the empire. This includes the authority of the crown prince."
Sean laughed: "This is a headache for the big guys. I am a local nobleman and a small viscount, and I can't think about so many big things. In short, a mayor only considers the affairs of a city, and a governor can only govern
For a province, whatever position you are in, you do what you do. In other words, as great as your power is, so is your responsibility. In other words, as high as your position is, so is your responsibility."
Although Jean Sauron is the crown prince, it is an open secret that he does not like the emperor, so it is not surprising if someone violates his orders. But what does this Frank colonel mean by talking to him?
"Indeed, the higher you stand, the farther you can see. In the distance, there is not only sunshine and beautiful scenery, but also darkness and ruin."
Colonel Frank said: "In the past ten years, a group has appeared in the military. This group calls itself the 'Honorable Officers Corps'. Have you heard of it?"
"I've never heard of this. You know, I was just a non-commissioned officer back then." Sean said, "And we in Genoa are always closed-minded in some aspects. Just like women's fashionable clothing, the most popular in the Holy City the year before last
The style is also popular among women in Poitou this year.”
As for the "group" Frank referred to, this word was a common word in this era. It was seen in newspapers, political debates, and people's reports to the emperor.
Groups are everywhere, including nobles, priests, judges, scholars, freelancers, financial groups, business guilds, etc. There are also various subdivided groups among them. Senior priests and those lower-level priests who abide by the doctrine and devote themselves to preaching have ideological differences.
The difference is that practitioners in the traditional handmade textile industry and those in the textile industry that use steam engines as power are different groups that are often in tit-for-tat opposition.
Someone gave a definition of a group: an organization formed by people united for common interests. What they pursue is common interests. A well-organized group has its own name, badge, social status and privileges, and reports to the emperor and cabinet.
Duties include submitting remonstrances and submissions to the emperor and the cabinet, and assisting in the implementation of imperial power in various ways, such as supervising the execution of decrees, apportioning taxes, participating in elections, and assuming military obligations, etc.
Group is also another synonym for privilege. This is why many rich people in the countryside move to the city. Once you become a member of a group, you are an organized group of people who support each other and enjoy some privileges.
The military also has groups, which may be due to a heroic battle, a group of heroes, or from an important military fortress, etc.
The Honorable Officer Corps is one of them. It is composed of professional soldiers with noble backgrounds, many of whom come from military families.
Nobles were originally military leaders who were canonized by kings or emperors for their military exploits. Therefore, traditionally speaking, nobility was the natural backbone of the army.
Due to the primogeniture system, the second son or other sons in aristocratic families cannot inherit the family business, so they usually choose to join the army, which is a good way out. There is a natural loyalty relationship between these officers born in the nobility and the emperor.
It was through these people that the emperor controlled the army.
Colonel Frank mentioned this to Sean, obviously implying that he hoped Sean would join in.
"Colonel, I am no longer a soldier." Sean emphasized, "Just like you announced in front of the entire brigade during the day."
Frank was dazed for a moment, slapped his forehead and laughed at himself: "It seems that I have lost my mind. What a pity. The Honorary Officer Corps is composed of outstanding officers with noble backgrounds. You are a noble yourself, and you have won the gold medal of the Grand Dragon in Northern Xinjiang.
Not long ago, he commanded a team of more than 2,000 people, performed meritorious service, and is fully qualified to become a member of the Honorary Officer Corps."
"However, our Honorary Officer Corps still has the option of being a candidate member. Sean, I formally invite you to join the Honorary Officer Corps. If the Assyrians provoke a war again in the future, the imperial army will need you, and I hope you will fight for the country.
,Fight for the royal family!" Frank's seemingly calm face revealed an irresistible temperament.
Are there any candidates? Fighting for the royal family? This idea is quite new. Why not fight for the great emperor?
"Can I know which general is the head of the Honorary Corps?" Sean asked curiously.
"Is this important?" Frank asked.
"Of course it's important!" Sean believed what he meant. Frank would definitely understand that these were not the various football groups in the 101st Guard Brigade - there was one for each company.
Frank did not answer Sean's question directly, saying: "Some people divide officers into four categories: smart, stupid, diligent and lazy."
"What does this mean?" Sean asked.
"Every officer possesses at least two of these qualities. A smart and diligent person is suitable to be a senior staff officer; a stupid and lazy person can be controlled and used; a smart and lazy person is suitable to be a senior commander; as for a stupid and lazy person, he is suitable to be a senior commander.
And diligent people, such people are very dangerous, so drive them out of the army as soon as possible."
"Haha, although this classification is a little general, it is very insightful. But I think this classification is suitable for everyone, not just soldiers." Sean smiled, "So, respected colonel, which category do I belong to?"
"You?" Frank took a sip of tea. "Before leaving the Holy City, I had a conversation with General Schmidt. Unfortunately, he still failed to become a marshal this time. He always challenges others again and again.
face."
"It's a pity indeed. This is probably because character determines fate. I guess General Schmidt must have bad words for me," Sean said.
"General Schmidt thinks you should go into politics." Frank's expression was very strange. "That would have a better future than being in the army. Anyway, he doesn't want to have subordinates like you. To be honest, this is what I heard in the Holy City.
The review that surprised me the most.”
"But in Daguerre, I have always fulfilled his orders well." Sean complained.
"Haha, because you can't find any reason for him to teach you a lesson." Frank laughed, "You are like a piece of soap, although it is slippery, it cannot be thrown away."
"I thought I was a brick, I could put it anywhere and work hard without complaining," Sean said.
"The Honorary Officer Corps has marshals and generals, and the lowest rank is also a captain. Our members are spread throughout the army, and they are all professional soldiers who can be trusted." Frank said.
Frank talked a lot, but still didn't tell Sean who was the leader of the Honorary Corps. But he believed that Sean could guess who it was, because in his opinion, Sean was a smart and lazy guy.
Frank has known Sean since he was a sergeant. Because of this, every change in Sean's status left a far deeper impression on Frank than others.
Sean didn't know that the personnel arrangements for the Genoa Civil Defense Force, or the 101st Guards Brigade, were a compromise after a heated debate.
In view of Sean's excellent management skills and his outstanding performance in counterinsurgency, some people advocated that Sean should continue to serve as the commander of this local garrison, but they were blocked - this resistance was legitimate and in line with normal politics.
judge.
So as a compromise, Herbert Wells was made brigade commander.
Frank invited Sean to join the Honorary Officers Corps and opened the back door for him. In fact, there is no such thing as a candidate. This also has a kind of comfort in it. At least the so-called bosses of the Honorary Officers Corps saw Sean's
potential, worth their while.
This kind of invitation is extremely tempting. Frank himself comes from a military aristocratic family. He has a large number of big bosses behind him, not to mention the close relationship between this family and the crown prince. If Sean accepts this invitation, he will immediately have a big backer.
Wait for him.
But as Sean himself said, the higher you stand, the farther you can see. Another thing he didn't say is that the higher you stand, the harder you will fall.
This kind of multiple-choice question is quite embarrassing. Sean's weakness is that he is tough enough in character, but not decisive enough, especially on such a potentially fatal issue.
"There is no need to give me the answer now, you are still very young." Frank did not force Sean to express his position immediately.
"In addition, Sean, you should consider getting married." Frank added, "Producing offspring is also a noble's obligation to the family, and it may be the first obligation."
"Why do so many people care about my marriage?" Sean asked because he didn't understand.
"Because for a noble, the choice of spouse also reflects his position!"