Chapter 16 Volume 1 Chapter 9-2

This day, the sky has been gloomy.Just when Napoleon's cavalry was about to catch up to the enemy's rear, it suddenly rained heavily.The heavy rain blocked the sight of the French army, making it impossible to see the targets ahead.Fire launch was also affected.In particular, the movement of the cavalry is restricted. The cavalry can only pursue along the road, otherwise the horses will get stuck in the muddy cultivated land and it will be difficult to run.Napoleon, too, was drenched, his gray overcoat dripping with rain, and his hat badly battered by the storm.Half an hour later, the storm stopped.Although the Anglo-Dutch troops in the rear were dismayed and embarrassed, they successfully withdrew and entered the positions that the main force had occupied south of Waterloo.

Napoleon tried to take advantage of the enemy's hasty occupation of the position and break through his defensive position in one fell swoop.He immediately ordered the transfer of four artillery companies from behind to suppress the enemy with firepower, and at the same time ordered the Fourth Cavalry Division to launch an attack.However, under the condescending artillery fire of the British army, the French army was quickly defeated.At this time, Napoleon deeply realized that due to Ney's carelessness and slow action, he had lost a good fighter opportunity, and it was impossible to launch another attack today.He said with infinite emotion: If there is divine power, it would be great to delay the enemy's march for two hours.

On the evening of the 17th, Napoleon spent the night at Li Keluo Farm.He got up from bed just after midnight, and he was very worried that Wellington would slip away in the night. At 1 o'clock in the morning on the 18th, he couldn't sit still at the headquarters. Accompanied by General Bertrand, he walked through the muddy water, passed through rows of soldiers lying on the ground, and approached the enemy's front line.Listen carefully to the sound of the pattering rain to judge whether the enemy has withdrawn.He listened like this until the east turned pale before returning to the headquarters.

As soon as he returned to the headquarters, he saw a report from Grouchy, which said that part of the Prussian army had retreated in the direction of Huaferi, and its attempt may be to join the Wellington army; Retreat in the direction of Liege.Napoleon comprehensively analyzed all the information, and finally concluded that the main force of the Prussian army was concentrating on Huaffili in an attempt to join the Wellington army.At 10 o'clock in the morning, Soult was ordered to write to Grouchy: "The Emperor has received your first report from Gumblaus. You only told your Majesty that there are two Prussian columns, but we have received them from another Prussian column. It is reported that there is a third group also moving in the direction of Huaferi. The emperor ordered me to tell you that he is preparing to attack the British army at Waterloo. His Majesty wishes you to enter Huaffili, so as to maintain contact with us and drive out the British army. Prussians ahead of you."

The decisive battle of Waterloo was just when Napoleon received Grouchy's report, and Wellington also received a letter from Blücher from Valferi.Blucher told Wellington that at dawn on the 18th, he would first dispatch the Fourth Army commanded by Bülow to attack Napoleon's right flank, followed by Piersch's Second Army.The other two armies followed suit after getting ready.Blucher's letter strengthened Wellington's determination to fight Napoleon at Waterloo. The fields of Waterloo are open and flat, covered with lush crops. Wheat, barley, soybeans, peas, potatoes, radishes, etc. cover the entire land like a green carpet.In addition, there are several fields that have just been plowed, and two roads criss-cross in the fields and stretch into the distance.The whole Waterloo presents a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.However, since the dawn of the 18th, the tranquil atmosphere here no longer exists, and all the Anglo-Dutch forces have begun to move.This green plain is full of moving people, and the various sounds of people gather together like the roar of the distant sea.Due to a heavy rain at night, the faces of officers and soldiers were livid with cold, their long beards were beaded with water, and their clothes were covered with mud.

Many soldiers could hardly stand up due to exhaustion and hunger. Despite this, they still worked hard to make various preparations before the battle. Wellington set up his position on a hilly area about 22 kilometers south of Brussels and about 3 kilometers south of Waterloo. The Saint-Jean highland is the main position, from which he can overlook the entire battlefield.Hoggomont Villa on the right flank of the position is the focus of Wellington's defense, where he used the British Guards.The Dutch army and other motley troops of the Allies were placed in the center and left positions.At the outermost point of the left wing, a British cavalry brigade was deployed.At the same time, behind the central position, that is, between the Saint-Jean Mountain and the forward position, there is a relatively strong reserve team, and most of the Allied artillery is equipped here.Wellington once made clear regulations for artillery: ignore the artillery of the French army, concentrate firepower and shoot directly at the advancing enemy infantry and cavalry.

According to the deployment of the coalition forces, Napoleon decided to concentrate his main force to first break through the weakly defended central position of the coalition forces, seize Mount Saint-Jean, and then expand the results to the two wings, dividing the enemy into two and defeating them one by one.To this end, Napoleon formulated a feigned attack on the Hogaumont Villa to contain the enemy's forces and ensure a breakthrough in the center. A huge fight is soon ready.At this time, in front of Waterloo, Napoleon concentrated 72,000 troops and equipped with 240 artillery pieces.Wellington's strength was 68,000 men and 160 artillery pieces.

At 8 o'clock in the morning on the 18th, Napoleon had breakfast with the senior generals.He was very happy that Wellington accepted the battle, and at the same time he was full of confidence in the victory of the upcoming war. He said to the marshals: "The chance of being favorable to us is no less than 90%, and the chance of being unfavorable is less than 90%. Ten." But Soult, Reyer, Delon and others were not as optimistic as he was. They had experienced Wellington's strength on the Spanish battlefield.Soult cautiously suggested to Napoleon that Grouchy's troops be transferred back to the Battle of Waterloo to increase their combat effectiveness, but Napoleon refused. He said sharply to the generals: "Because you were defeated by Wellington, you think that He was a great general. I tell you now that Wellington was not a good general, nor was the British Army a good army, and it was no more difficult to beat them than to eat breakfast."

The French army's attack time was set at 9:00 am, but the drizzle continued until 8:00 am.As soon as Napoleon finished his breakfast, he rushed to various places to inspect the pre-war troops.During the inspection, an artillery officer suggested to him that it is best to postpone the attack time for 3 hours, because the muddy ground will make it difficult for cavalry and artillery to move as soon as the rain stops, and the shells will be stuck in the mud, which will affect the lethality.Napoleon, by training as an artillery officer, readily accepted the suggestion. After 10 o'clock, Napoleon set off again to inspect the troops that were entering the attack state.Wherever the emperor in a gray coat went, bursts of cheers of "Long Live the Emperor" erupted.The raging waves of joy lasted for a long time, resounding across the front line and sky.This was the last review of the army in Napoleon's life. The enthusiasm that erupted in the army was unprecedented since the battle of Austerlitz. It left a deep impression on Napoleon and all those present.

At 11:30, 80 French artillery bombarded the British positions at the same time, and the battle began.The Sixth Division of the Second Army, which was in charge of a feint attack, was ordered to dispatch and gradually approached Hoggomont.The division commander is Jerome, Napoleon's younger brother.Although Jerome is over 30 years old, he is still a worthless royal young master.He led the army in two charges and occupied a wood south of Hogomont.According to Napoleon's plan, the attack should stop here, and the next step is to consolidate the occupied territory in order to further contain and attract more enemy troops.Commander Reyer also repeatedly ordered not to attack the main body of Hoggomont Villa.But Jerome was reluctant to give up the Hoggomont Villa, which seemed to be at his fingertips, so he ignored the order and led the troops to continue to charge forward.

As a result, all three charges were repulsed and suffered heavy losses.The army commander had no choice but to deploy another brigade to support the younger brother, so that the number of troops attacking Hoggomont reached 12,000.Facing the French army ten times larger than itself, the British Guards put up tenacious resistance and repelled the French army's attacks again and again.The French army fell into a meaningless and bitter battle. Not only failed to attract the main force of the British army, but dragged their own troops in, the feint attack became a hard attack with increasing troops. Around 1:00 pm, Napoleon was about to order the First Army to launch an attack.Implement a central breakthrough.Before giving the order, he habitually picked up the binoculars and observed the enemy's rear and flanks.Suddenly, he found a dark thing on the edge of a forest about 10 kilometers away from the northeast.Then all the telescopes saw the thing.Is this a forest?Or an approaching army?Staff members have different accounts.Based on his extensive experience in the field, Napoleon determined that it was an army.But which side's army is it?For a while, no one could tell. Not long after, scouts from the French army escorted a captain of hussars from the Prussian army.Some papers were found on his body, which showed that the black mass was the vanguard of the Prussian Fourth Army, and they were about to come to attack the French right flank.The captain of the Prussian army confessed to this fact, but he cunningly concealed the fact that there was a first and a second army behind the fourth army.Faced with the sudden change of the situation, Napoleon was extremely calm. He firmly believed that the French army could destroy the enemy in front of him before the Prussian army came for reinforcements.Now that the Prussian Fourth Corps had come to flank the French right flank, Grouchy's army should also come to flank the French army's left flank.Napoleon immediately ordered Soult to write to Grouchy, in which he said: "At present we are fighting fiercely near Waterloo, and the center of the enemy army is on Mount Saint-Jean, so please come and join us on the right flank immediately. The intercepted letter states that Bülow's Fourth Corps will attack our right flank. We can already see the Corps on the Ridge of St. Nanbert, please don't lose a minute, come and cooperate with us to defeat the Prussians." Meanwhile, Napoleon also ordered two cavalry divisions and the Sixth Army to rush to St. Nanbert to prevent the Prussian army from advancing towards Waterloo. The courier set off at 2:00 p.m., but due to the difficult road, the letter was not delivered to Grouchy until 5:00 p.m. Unfortunately, it was too late, and Grouchy's troops had been besieged by the Prussian Third Army in Waferri. get away. At 1:30 in the afternoon, the French army's full-scale offensive began.The first army lined up from left to right. The left wing was the first division. With the support of the light cavalry brigade, it attacked the La Haisheng Manor directly in front of the enemy's central position, and the remaining three divisions attacked the enemy's left wing.The French army besieged La Hai Saint Manor from all sides, and the defenders of La Hai Saint Manor, which was at a disadvantage in numbers, were almost exhausted.Wellington stood anxiously under a big elm tree on the main position of the coalition forces, and hurriedly sent a battalion to reinforce it, but the battalion was dispersed by the French cavalry on the way forward.Since the main body of La Hai Saint Manor is a very strong masonry building, the defenders huddled inside to resist tenaciously, and it was difficult for the French army to capture it for a while. At the same time, relying on superior forces and powerful artillery fire, the other three divisions made an extremely rapid attack and quickly occupied the forward positions.The French army on the top of the hill was dazzled by the quick victory. They cheered and hugged constantly, and the battle formation disappeared.Just as the French army cheered victory and got carried away with triumph, a British infantry division concealed on the reverse slope on the north side of the ridge, with a total of about 4,000 troops, suddenly rushed out from behind the bushes.They fired violent volleys of guns continuously at a position only about 40 steps away from the French army.Then, holding a bayonet, he rushed into the chaotic formation of the French army.A fierce hand-to-hand battle broke out on the top of the mountain, and the British division commander Yorkton was shot and killed in the melee. Wellington saw that the hand-to-hand battle on the top of the mountain was not decided for a while, so he saw the opportunity and promptly mobilized two cavalry brigades, a total of six regiments, to counterattack the French army.Facing the sharp increase of the British army, the French army couldn't support it and began to retreat.The British army took advantage of the victory to pursue, and six cavalry regiments crossed the middle valley and rushed to the starting point of the French army's attack, destroying part of the French army's artillery firing positions.Seeing that the situation was not good, Napoleon immediately invested two cavalry brigades.The French cavalry were condescending, and like a tiger descending a mountain, they rushed at the British army whose movement speed had slowed down, killing the British cavalry and retreating in a hurry.In this round, the French army lost nearly 4,000 people and was captured by the British army and lost two military flags.On the part of the British army, all 4,000 people originally deployed on the positions were wiped out, and about 2,500 outstanding cavalry were lost in the counterattack. The French army was unable to attack Hogomont and La Hai Saint for a long time, so that the army could not advance in depth. Napoleon began to worry a little, and kept sniffing snuff.At 3:30 in the afternoon, the French army launched a fierce attack on these two places again. Napoleon was determined to pull out these two nails before the enemy reinforcements arrived, no matter how much he paid.Facing the fierce attack of the French army, the defenders in the two places suffered heavy losses and were running out of ammunition, but they still held on.Napoleon was anxious about this. At this time, Ney suddenly found that the defenders in the enemy's central position were retreating to the back of the position. He thought that the British army was beginning to retreat, so he did not wait for Napoleon's order, and ignored the danger that the enemy's two strongholds had not yet been captured, he made his own decision and ordered Mihaud's cavalry division and some guard cavalry, about 5,000 people, attacked the enemy's main position. At around 4 o'clock, under the cover of artillery fire, 5,000 card soldiers rushed towards the narrow front between Hogomont and La Haisheng like a tide, and quickly rushed to the opposing position, capturing all the artillery of the coalition forces.Seeing this scene, Wellington immediately mobilized the infantry and formed a neat square formation to carry out a counterattack.At this time, the French infantry did not keep up, and the artillery also stopped shooting for fear of accidentally injuring their own people. As a result, it was difficult for the 5,000 soldiers to move forward, unable to break through the enemy infantry phalanx firing fierce volleys of gun fire.Just as the advance of the French bannermen was blocked, Wellington put his 5,000 reserve troops into battle.The situation immediately reversed, the French army was repulsed again, and the coalition artillery, which had become the trophy of the French army, rang out from behind again. Seeing that the attack of the French bannermen was repulsed, Napoleon was so distraught that he disregarded Soult's advice, threw out the entire reserve of the French bannermen, and launched a second large-scale attack on the enemy's positions.Suddenly, hooves roared on the battlefield, and the sun was covered with dust.Ney took the lead, followed by tens of thousands of soldiers, and swept towards the enemy's position like a whirlwind. On the narrow battlefield, horses crowded head to head, with only a platoon battery behind them for cover, and the infantry failed to follow.At this time, the coalition forces also strengthened their defenses. The British artillery continued to shoot violently, and the infantry also gave full play to the firepower of their platoon guns. As a result, the French army was repulsed after five consecutive large-scale attacks and suffered heavy losses. Napoleon rode to the troops again, while reassuring people and boosting morale, he ordered Ney to capture La Hague at all costs.After 6 o'clock in the afternoon, the French army carried out the sixth attack.Ney was jealous, he shouted loudly, and rushed to the forefront of the cavalry team recklessly.During the battle, three of his mounts were shot down in succession, and without fear, he put on another mount and still led his troops forward. The British army was attacked by Ney six times in a row, and the casualties were extremely heavy, almost to the point of desperation.The guard of La Haisheng asked Wellington for help, and Wellington said helplessly: "In this case, let everyone sacrifice their posts! I've run out of reinforcements.However, even if the last person is sacrificed, we still have to persist until the arrival of Blücher. " After a long period of fierce fighting, the French army finally captured La Haisheng.Ney immediately moved an artillery battery there.Under the cover of artillery fire, the attacking French army continued to advance, and finally occupied part of the British central position.Due to the heavy casualties, the French army was unable to expand the results in depth and on the two wings.Ney asked Napoleon for support, but Napoleon refused.At this time, Napoleon still had 8 battalions of the Old Guard and 6 battalions of the Middle-aged Guard, but he dared not throw out the little reserve, because the right wing of the French army was facing The Prussian army was a serious threat, and he was not sure whether Grouchy's army would arrive in time.Due to lack of reinforcements, the French army who attacked the British position was driven down again. Just as the French army stormed the main position of the British army, there was a sudden burst of shouting and shooting from the right wing of the French army.It turned out that the 30,000 people led by Blücher repelled the French army that was going to stop them, and rushed to the battlefield.After several fierce battles, the Prussian army occupied the village of South Pusite, which was only more than 1,000 meters away from Napoleon's command post.Napoleon hoped to see Grouchy's troops behind Blücher's army, but Grouchy's army was never seen.Napoleon immediately ordered an old guard battalion and a middle-aged guard battalion into battle.These battle-hardened warriors dashed forward with bayonets to the sound of drums.They fought hand-to-hand without firing a single shot, and in just over 20 minutes, they recovered the village of South Puset, and then handed it over to the Young Guards for defense. After the right wing stabilized, Napoleon concentrated his energy on the frontal attack.He clearly knew that the Anglo-Dutch coalition forces in front of him were exhausted and riddled with holes, and whoever would win would be the last move.He handed over all the remaining 8 Guards battalions to Ney's command and asked him to make the final assault. At about 7:00, Ney was ready, and when he was about to launch the final assault, a French army officer defected to join the enemy. He told all the French army's strength and attack plan, and Wellington immediately redeployed his troops to deal with the upcoming attack. incoming attack. The final impact began, and the most spectacular scene appeared on the battlefield: about 4,000 guards officers and soldiers who had experienced many battles formed an extremely tight attacking phalanx. Under the cover of artillery fire, they advanced towards the enemy's position.They marched forward and shouted "Long live the emperor" in unison.Ney's mount was killed by shells again, and Ney got up from the ground and continued to lead the troops to charge.The French army quickly broke through the Allied defenses and rushed to the British position on the top of the hill.Seeing that the work was about to be completed, Wellington suddenly heard an order: "Guards, stand up and prepare to fight!" From the reverse slope behind the mountain, two battalions of the British Guards suddenly appeared. When they were only fifty or sixty paces away, they fired violently together.Facing the British army that seemed to emerge from the ground, the French army had no time to fight back, and they fell down row by row.In less than a minute, the invincible guards left more than 300 corpses and retreated.At the same time, the British army in other areas also actively supported the main position, and the two armies of the Prussian army launched an attack on the right wing of the French army more violently.The French army was attacked on both sides, and their positions were in chaos.At this time, Napoleon no longer had a reserve team available, and Wellington realized that the time had come to launch a counterattack across the board.He rode to the prominent position in front of the formation, took off his hat and shook it in the air, shouting loudly: "It's time, my children!" As soon as the counterattack signal was sent out, 40,000 coalition officers and soldiers rushed from the mountain with their weapons. Straight down, the French army couldn't stand it, and retreated one after another. Seeing that the situation was not good, Napoleon hurried to the south of La Hai Sainte and regrouped the three Guards battalions.He personally led the three battalions to stand at the front of the position in an attempt to stop the fleeing French army in order to stabilize their position and organize another battle.When the British army approached, seeing the French army standing on the edge of the position like a fortified wall, they couldn't help feeling terrified and stopped their attack.Seeing this scene, Wellington immediately shouted: "Come on, come on, they can't stand it!" The British army rushed up again, and the French Guards in a square formation resisted desperately, but in the end they had to fight because of their weakness. defeated.They fought and retreated, covering Napoleon's withdrawal from the battlefield.The French army in other places also fled in different directions under the attack of the Prussian army. It was a clear summer evening, and there was still a faint afterglow in the sky. Under the pursuit of the British army, the French fled in embarrassment. After chasing to 3 miles from the main battlefield, Wellington handed over the pursuit task to Blucher.That night, the remnants of the French army prepared to set up camp seven times, and were overtaken by the Prussian army seven times, and they kept running away.Napoleon, together with several marshals, fled to Catalbras about one o'clock at night.Here, Napoleon tried to gather his troops to compete with the chasing enemy, but before the troops were concentrated, the chasing troops arrived again. At 5 o'clock in the morning on the 19th, Napoleon retreated to Charleroi. He once again tried to gather his troops to fight the enemy. At this moment, news came that Grouchy was missing and all the Prussian troops were destroyed. Napoleon was completely disappointed. He gave up the idea of ​​another decisive battle and retreated quietly to Paris. In the Battle of Waterloo, the French army suffered 25,000 casualties, 8,000 were captured, and most of the rest fled.Wellington's corps suffered 15,000 casualties and Blücher's 7,000.The green fields and hillsides that day before were covered with bloody corpses, wounded and countless mutilated limbs, and the green plain became a sea of ​​blood. The French army was completely defeated. The second abdication on June 21, Napoleon returned to Paris.At this time, the two houses had betrayed the emperor, and they declared that the country was in danger, and Napoleon must abdicate to ensure the safety and peace of the country.But in the workers' districts, people were shouting loudly: resolutely oppose the abdication of the emperor, and resolutely defend Paris. For two whole days on June 21 and 22, there were constant parades shouting: "Long live the emperor! Down with the traitors! Support the emperor or die! No need to abdicate! Want the emperor and national defense! Down with the parliament!" Angry crowds on the street Beating half to death some flamboyantly dressed people whom they suspected of being nobles, because they refused to join the crowd in shouting: "No need to abdicate!" Re-raise the army and prepare to fight again.The republican Carnot also asked Napoleon to implement a dictatorship and launch a people's war to deal with the critical situation.But Napoleon believed that the times were different, and the bourgeoisie he relied on had completely abandoned him. He was unwilling to confront the common people with the bourgeoisie, and he did not want to see a civil war in his country, so he succumbed to the parliamentary resolution. On June 22, he signed the decree of abdication again, which reads as follows: "French! At the outset of this war for the independence of the country, I counted on the unity of all efforts, all will, and all the bureaucracies of the country. On the basis of my hope for the success of this union, I defied All proclamations made. The situation has changed. I have made my own sacrifice in the face of the hatred of the enemies of France. If only they were sincere, as they say in their statement, that they hate me only personally! My political life has been It is over, and I declare: My son shall be Emperor of the French under the title of Napoleon II. The present Ministers shall constitute provisionally a Council of Government. My concern for my son prompts me to ask Congress to establish a regency swiftly and legally. Unite for the security of the country, for the preservation of the independence of the nation." After receiving the decree of Napoleon's abdication, the two houses sent a committee to thank Napoleon in order to maintain due respect for the emperor.Napoleon, donning his imperial robes for the last time, received the commission which had come to thank him, accompanied by the ministers of the people.He looked pale and miserable, yet determined and self-possessed.In his reply, he suggested that the whole country should unanimously prepare for defense quickly, and he also reminded everyone that his abdication was conditional, including the interests of his son.The Speaker of the House of Commons replied with sincere respect that the House of Commons had given him no instructions on the various questions he had just asked.By this time Napoleon had seen clearly that his son's succession was hopeless.He sent off the committee with dignity and courtesy.The period of Napoleon's reascension to the throne-the Hundred Days regime came to an end. After Napoleon's downfall, Fouche served as chief consul and formed a provisional government.The Allied forces were approaching Paris. Napoleon repeatedly wrote to Fouché, expressing his willingness to command soldiers to defend Paris. The answer he got was to ask him to leave Paris and go to the port of Rochefort, where two cruisers were prepared to carry him to the United States. Napoleon resigned himself to his fate without complaint and without loss of dignity. On June 29, Napoleon left Malmaison. Arrived at the port of Rochefort on July 3.The provisional government asked Wellington to issue Napoleon a passport to go to the United States, but Wellington refused to issue it because he had not received an order from his own government. Now the provisional government tried to arouse the enthusiasm of the soldiers for the War of Resistance as it did in 1794, but failed. The soldiers refused to fight, "because they have no emperor." At this time, the remnants of Soult and Grouchy were driven to Paris Under the city, the British and Prussian troops followed closely behind.After a period of useless resistance, Davout, commander-in-chief of the French army, concluded an armistice agreement with the coalition forces on July 3, the capital surrendered to the coalition forces, and the French army withdrew to the south of the Loire River.The countries of the alliance immediately informed the provisional government that their powers had come to an end and that Louis XVIII was about to resume his reign within a few days.The Provisional Government dissolved itself. On July 8, the potbellied Louis XVIII once again lived in the palace of his ancestors. As the British fleet tightly blocked all exits to the ocean, Napoleon had to stay in the port of Rochefort.When people here heard that the emperor was coming, they gathered at Napoleon's residence from all directions, shouting "Long live the emperor!" Don't want to do that. On July 8, Napoleon boarded a cruiser and came to a large island called Aix in the northwest of Rochefort.The people of the island recognized him immediately, and sailors, soldiers, fishermen, and residents flocked to the cruiser from all directions, hoping to catch a glimpse of the emperor.The soldiers guarding the island also asked the emperor to review their troops. Napoleon granted their request and watched the fortifications they had built on the island according to his order.The arrival of the emperor brought the soldiers of the island into a carnival. When Napoleon returned to the cruiser, Paris sent orders advising him to go to sea only if there was no British fleet in the adjacent sea.However, the British were ready for battle and patrolled the exits of the harbor at all times.Napoleon immediately made a decision to send the Duke of Savary and the Earl of Lasgas to meet with Captain Maitland of the British fleet and ask whether Captain Maitland would allow his two cruisers to pass through the Americas.Captain Maitland received Napoleon's envoy on board the "Berrelophone", and he politely and resolutely rejected Napoleon's proposal.He said: "What guarantee is there that the Emperor Napoleon will now go to America and not come back again and inflict new blood and material losses on England and all of Europe?" The Duke of Savary replied: "In 1814 The first abdication was very different from the present second abdication. Now he abdicated completely voluntarily, although after Waterloo he was still able to be emperor and continue to fight. The emperor was determined to retire forever to private life. ""If that's the case, then why doesn't the Emperor go to England and make England his hiding place?" Maitland retorted. The French officers and soldiers on the cruiser were filled with righteous indignation when they learned that their emperor might fall into the hands of the British. The captain of the "Medusa" Bonnet said to General Montoron: "I just talked to my officers and all the crew. After discussion, it was decided to use the Medusa to attack the British ship Belerowind at night, entangle the British fleet, and the Shahlie, carrying the emperor, could take the opportunity to rush into the ocean." General Montoron sent Captain Bonet's The plan was told to Napoleon, who disagreed.He said that he was no longer the emperor, and that sacrificing the French cruiser and all its crew in order to save a single person was absolutely unacceptable.He had already decided his fate and was going to spend the rest of his life in England. On July 14, Napoleon sent a letter to the British Regent: "Your Royal Highness: I have ended my political career due to the factions that divided my country and the hostility of European powers; As Stocker once did, I claim a place at the fireside of the English people. I place myself under the protection of English law—I ask Your Highness, I ask my strongest, hardest, and most magnanimous protection from the enemy." ------------------------------①Themistoker: The commander of Athens in ancient Greece, he went to Athens after the defeat the enemy of the king of Persia to find shelter. On July 15, Napoleon boarded a small boat and headed for the British ship "Belie Luofeng".Wearing his favorite light cavalry uniform and a three-cornered hat, he approached the "Berrelowind" amidst the shouts of "Long live the Emperor" among the sailors.Captain Maitland greeted Napoleon at the foot of the gangway and bowed to him.Napoleon boarded the ship and said to Captain Maitland in a firm tone: "I have come to place myself under the protection of your monarch and laws." Then he walked into the last place Maitland prepared for him. nice room.Berello was in good spirits, and he didn't seem particularly distressed by his situation. On the 24th, the "Belieluofeng" sailed into Torbe. On the 26th, he was ordered to circumnavigate the Plymouth Strait.As soon as the news of Napoleon's arrival came out, the "Berrelowind" was immediately surrounded by a large number of small boats, which were crowded with people who could not restrain their curiosity.Napoleon appeared on deck, the crowd cheered him, and he smiled and bowed in answer. On July 31, the British government notified him of the final decision: he was not allowed to disembark in England, but to immediately transfer to St. Helena.In addition to the status of general, he is not recognized as having other titles.Napoleon listened to the reading of the letter calmly, without any sign of impatience or surprise.When asked what he had to say, he began with a very serene manner and a kind countenance, sternly protesting the order just read, and refusing to be taken as a captive to St. Helena.He insisted on his right to be considered a sovereign monarch, not just a general. However, no matter how much a doomed hero protested, it was useless.In the end, he had to silently accept the arrangement given to him by the British.The fallen emperor was allowed to choose 4 officers and 12 servants to go to St. Helena. He chose Bertrand, Montoron, the three counts of Lascasse and General Gurgo to accompany him. On August 7, Napoleon was transferred from the "Berrelo Wind" to the cruiser "Northumberland" and began his exile voyage. On August 8, 1815, the sun rose in the east, and a strong sea breeze blew up on the English Channel.The flagship "Northumberland", flying the white flag of the Royal Navy, hoisted its sails and braved the waves under the low sky.From emperor to captive, Napoleon had silently resigned to his fate, and he no longer wanted to formulate any plans for a comeback.But the days of eating all day and doing nothing made him unbearable, especially the monotonous and boring voyage on the sea made him even more upset. He complained from time to time: "I was born to work. Doing nothing is the cruelest punishment for me. On August 27th, Napoleon was talking endlessly about the Battle of Brienne and the French Revolution to the people around him, and at this time he had the idea of ​​writing a memoir.From then on, the learned Count Lasgasse was seen every day, carrying a stack of manuscript papers under his arm, walking towards Napoleon's cabin, and Napoleon dictated everything that happened in that glorious era.Because of the work, the days at sea become more relaxed and happy. After 67 days of sea voyage, on October 15, 1815, the highest peak of St. Helena finally emerged from the clouds.Then a heavily fortified fortress with battlements rose out of the sea, precipitous and steep, lofty and towering, with watchtowers and walls thrusting into the sea.Napoleon observed the forbidding island carefully with a telescope, and then said: "This is not a good place. At first, I wished I stayed in Egypt, and now I am emperor of the whole East." St. Helena is a very desolate island in the South Atlantic Ocean. The island belonged to the United Kingdom in the second half of the 17th century.It is about 2,000 kilometers away from the nearest coast (the coast of Africa), coupled with the gloomy cliffs and piles of volcanic rocks on the island, it seems to have become Napoleon's natural prison, and the European powers no longer have to worry that Napoleon will escape St. Hele Take the island and reproduce the scene of the "Hundred Days Regime". Because there is no decent building on the island that can receive such a special prisoner, Napoleon temporarily lodged in the home of the British businessman Balcombe after he landed.Two months later, he moved into the extended Longwood Cottage.In order to prevent the slightest chance of Napoleon's escape, the British adopted a heavy vigilance method.他们在朗伍德的四周划出了一块周长约１２英里的地方，拿破仑可以在此范围内自由运动，无须任何陪伴。在此界外，则布置了一连串的哨兵，除非有一名英国军官陪同，否则拿破仑不得自由出入。在房屋的进门处也布置了岗哨，巡逻兵来回不断。晚上９点以后，拿破仑不得擅离房屋，不凭口令任何人不得随便进出。岛上每个登陆地点，甚至类似登陆地点都设有哨兵，连通向海面的每条羊肠小道上都布置了岗哨。在海岛附近的海域，有两艘英国战舰不断巡游。外国船只不准在海岛附近停泊，如果有船只因重大灾难而不得不在此停泊时，那也不准任何人上岸，英国战舰将派一名军官和一队人马上船，严密监视着船上人的一举一动，防止他们与岛上有联系。岛上的每一艘渔船都编了号，每晚日落时在一名海军少校监督下抛锚停泊。日落后，任何船只不准下海，只有英舰上放下的巡逻艇整夜在岛旁巡游。值日军官必须在２４小时内两次查明拿破仑的实际所在。另外，英国总督还与岛上居民约法三章：“居民们应提高警惕，提防企图帮助或鼓动波拿巴及其随从潜逃的阴谋诡计；未经总督或海军少将许可，不得同将军及这些人接触或通信，违者将被驱逐出境，并视其罪行判处劳役。” 一个习惯于指挥千军万马驰骋疆场的人，突然间被囚禁在这个远离大陆和世人的荒岛上，在英国总督吹毛求疵的监督下生活，其精神上的折磨和痛苦可想而知。拿破仑不甘心顺从英国人加给他的种种限制，更不愿忍受孤独寂寞、无所事事的囚徒生活，他经常歇斯底里地大叫：“海岛阴森恐怖，令人毛骨悚然，我们像被关在监狱里。我们应当大声疾呼，进行控诉。"从１８１５年到１８２１年间，他多次向英国政府提出抗议，但英国内阁佯作不知，避免答复。 这位天才的活动家身陷囹圄，毫无作为，他只有在这被人遗忘的海岛上默默等死。为了打发孤寂无聊的时光，他和小女孩一起做游戏，和园丁们一起修剪花木；他大量地读书、骑马，与人交谈，口述自己的历史。他的才智在衰退，意志在消沉，精神受到压抑。心理上的毁灭加上胃部的病变使他的健康每况愈下。１８２０年末，他的病情加剧，精神越来越差。 他往往几个小时沉默不语，忍受着来自胃部的剧烈疼痛。１８２１年１月，他试图用体操来制服疾病，可他发现自己力不从心，体力在迅速下降。３月，病痛发作越来越频繁，发烧、呕吐、胃部及肩部疼痛使他苦不堪言。他开始意识到自己活不多久了，他对身边的人说： “在过去的那些日子里，我是拿破仑。但是，现在我一无所有，我的体力、我的智力都离开了我。我不能再活下去了。"他拒绝服用英国医生给他开的药，他大叫着：“我不吃药，既然英国要我的尸体，我不愿让它久等，我现在用不着毒药就可以死去。” ４月１３日，拿破仑开始口述他的遗嘱。尽管病痛在不断地折磨着他，他还是对遗嘱字斟句酌，反复推敲。他认为君主的遗嘱首先应是一份政治文件。这份遗嘱中有评论、有解释，还有谴责。他在遗嘱中写道： “５０多年前，我生于罗马教会的怀抱，死也属于这个教会。我希望将我的遗体安葬在塞纳河畔，在我如此热爱的法兰西人民中间安息。 “我对于我最亲爱的妻子玛丽亚·路易莎是感到满意的，直到临终时刻，都对她怀有最深厚的感情。我请她悉心保护我的儿子，他从孩提时代起，身边就布满了陷阱。 “我嘱咐我的儿子，千万不要忘记，他生为法兰西皇太子，决不能成为压迫欧洲人民的执政者手中的工具，也永远不要以任何方式对抗和损害法兰西。他应当牢记我的座有铭：一切为了法国人民。 “我因遭受英国寡头政治及其雇佣的刽子手谋害而过早地死去，法国人民迟早会为我报仇。 “我之所以会失败，乃是由于我的部属马尔蒙、塔列兰等背叛所致。但我决意宽恕他们，愿法兰西的后代子孙也同我一样宽恕他们。……” ４月１４日和１５日，拿破仑继续口述着遗嘱，他决定将他的两亿法郎财产分成两半，一半留给从１７９２年到１８１５年间曾在他旗帜下战斗过的军官，另一半则捐给１８１４年和１８１５年遭受入侵的法国各省市。 " ４月１６日，拿破仑勉强迫床执笔，将这份遗嘱抄写了一遍。 ５月４日夜是拿破仑临终前的最后一夜。他不停地呻吟，直打呵欠，显得异常痛苦。他喃喃自语：“谁在后退……军队首领……冲锋……"这天夜里，岛上掀起了最猛烈的风暴，狂风拔起了大树，刮走了小屋，震动了朗伍德别墅。第二天，当晨光照亮了狭小的房间时，风暴平息了，拿破仑已僵硬得如同一座横卧的雕像，眼角边还挂着一颗泪珠。不过，医生还可摸到他那一息尚存的脉搏。下午５点５０分，一声炮响划破长空，太阳落山了，拿破仑也停止了呼吸。 哭泣着的仆人马尔尚把一件拿破仑曾在马伦哥战役中穿的大氅盖在他的身上。然后，总督和军官们走了进来，向死者低头致哀。 ４天以后，岛上的人为这位征服者举行了葬礼。在礼炮的轰鸣声中，棺木徐徐下葬在圣赫勒拿岛上的托贝特山泉旁。在这幽静的峡谷深外，几棵垂柳掩映着一淙流水，秋海棠、海芋和美人蕉竞相开放。拿破仑，这位一度叱咤风云、有功也有过的盖世英雄，便长眠在这些绿叶鲜花之下。 １９年后，法国旗月王朝的路易·菲力气派军舰到圣赫勒拿岛接回了拿破仑的遗骨。１８４０年１２月１５日，巴黎人民满腔热情地举行了隆重的接灵仪式。数不尽的人群冒着严寒、迎着风雪，护送着灵柩前往塞纳河畔的荣军院。从此，拿破仑的遗愿得到了实现，他以一个老兵的身份安息在塞纳河畔，安息在他热爱的法国人民中间。