Chapter 3 third chapter

One of the great facts of many European events at the beginning of this century (the nineteenth century) was the militarism of the peoples of European countries from west to east, and then from east to west.This activity began with a march from west to east. In order for the Western countries to be able to complete the bellicose action to go directly to Moscow, they must: first, form a large military group capable of dealing with the Eastern army; second, abandon all old traditions and habits; third, have a leader , in carrying out his military activities he was able to justify them as well as his own fraud, robbery and massacres.

With the outbreak of the French Revolution, old less powerful groups crumbled, old habits and traditions died, and groups of new dimensions, new habits and traditions were formed, one who would lead the future movement and take full responsibility for what was to come. A responsible character emerges as the times require. A man without faith, without habits, without tradition, without renown, not even of French ancestry, seemed, by the most peculiar chance, to rise to prominence among the parties which made France fluctuate, without being attached to any of them. "Four Series" and so on. , climbed to a prominent position.

The shallowness of his colleagues, the weakness and insignificance of his opponents, his own ability to lie, pomp and willfulness, made him the chief of the army.The fine qualities of the Italian soldier, the demoralization of the enemy, the childlike impulsive recklessness and blind self-confidence earned him military prestige.Everywhere he encountered so-called opportunities.His fall from favor with the French rulers worked to his advantage.He tried to change his destiny, but failed; he defected to the Russian army, but was not hired; asked to join the army in Turkey, but failed.During the Italian War he was on the brink of death several times, but was rescued by accident each time.The Russian army, which later ruined him, for diplomatic considerations, did not enter Europe until after he left it.

-------- ①This refers to the Russian general Suvorov's expedition to Italy in 1799, while Napoleon was in Egypt at that time. When he returned from Italy, he found that the Parisian government was disintegrated, and all those who participated in this government were purged and destroyed. At this time, he was asked to go on an expedition to Africa irrationally and inexplicably, which naturally saved him from the dangerous situation.At this time, he encountered an accidental situation again.The impenetrable island of Malta surrendered without a fight, and the most indiscreet military orders were victorious.The enemy navy, which was not allowed to pass even a single ship afterwards, let Napoleon's entire army pass.In Africa, he committed a series of crimes against the almost defenseless common people.And the people who committed these crimes, especially their leaders, convinced themselves that it was good and honorable to do so, just like Caesar in ancient Rome and Alexander in Macedonia.

That ideal of glory and grandeur, that Napoleon and his men not only did not think their deeds bad, but took pride in their crimes and gave them an inexplicable supernatural meaning—it was this necessary The ideal that can guide the man and his entourage is at full play in Africa.No matter what he does, he succeeds instantly.Not even the plague caught him.The massacre of captives was not attributed to him.He casts his companions in distress unreasonably and dishonorably like a child, and slips away from Africa as if nothing had happened, and even this is credited to him, while the enemy navy twice lets him pass .Reveling in his crime of getting away with it, and ready to continue his farce, he wandered into Paris aimlessly.At this time, the republican government that might have killed him a year ago was even more corrupt, so he, a newcomer who was aloof from all parties, was naturally worth a hundred times.

He doesn't have any plans, he's afraid of everything, but the parties are courting him and asking him to take part. He planted ideals of glory and greatness in Italy and Egypt, he adored himself madly, he committed crimes with audacity, he lied without scruple, and only he could justify what happened. The place that needed him awaited him, and so, hardly of his own volition, he was drawn, in spite of his indecision, his lack of planning, and his repeated mistakes, into a conspiracy to seize power, and achieved success. He was dragged off to attend a government meeting.He panicked and tried to run away, thinking his doom had come; he feigned a faint and babbled nonsense, meaningless words that might have cost him his life.But the rulers of France, who had been so shrewd, sophisticated, and arrogant, now felt that their drama was over, and looked even more embarrassed than he, and they talked incoherently and incoherently. Put Napoleon to death.

Chance, thousands of opportunities, gave him power, and all the people helped him to establish this power as if they had agreed.Chance made the rulers of France willing to obey him; chance made Paul I willing to recognize his power; chance made the conspiracy against him not only harmless to him, but strengthened his power.Chance brought the Duke of Angien into his hands, and forced him, unexpectedly, to kill him.All this convinced the masses of his power more than any other means.Chance led him to suddenly change his intention of making an all-out expedition to England (which would surely ruin him and never be realized) to attack Mark and the Austrian army he led, which surrendered without a fight.Chance and genius gave him victory at Austerlitz.By chance all, not only the French, but all Europeans (except the English, who were not involved in the events at the time), now, in spite of their former fear and loathing of his crimes, now recognize his power, his self-proclaimed He recognized his great and glorious ideal, and believed that this ideal was beautiful and reasonable.

The Western powers marched eastward several times in 1805, 1806, 1807, and 1809, constantly strengthening and growing, as if they were evaluating their own strength in order to prepare for the upcoming movement. get ready.In 1811, the regiment formed by France and the people of Central European countries merged into a huge group.As the ranks grew, so did the power to create and defend military leaders.In the ten years leading up to the preparations for a great movement, this leading man gathered all the crowned men of Europe.The rulers of the world have shown their true colors and are powerless against Napoleon's glorious and great ideals.One by one they groveled before him.The king of Prussia sent his wife to flatter the great man; the emperor of Austria considered it a great favor for the great man to invite the princess into his bed;Rather than Napoleon himself giving himself the role he was prepared to play, those around him made him take full responsibility for what was happening and what was going to happen.Everything he did, every crime and petty fraud, was immediately held up by those around him as a great example.The best celebrations the Germans could think up for him were those at Jena and Auerstedt, and not only was he a great man, but his ancestors, brothers, adopted sons, and brother-in-laws were also great.Everything happened to rob him of the last sap of reason, to prepare him for the most terrible roles.When he is ready, so are the troops.

The spearhead of the invading army pointed to the east and reached its final destination - Moscow.The capital fell, and the losses of the Russian army were heavier than those suffered by the enemy in previous wars from Austerlitz to Wagram.But suddenly the chance and the genius that had led him from a succession of victories to the intended goal disappeared, and countless opposite chances arose—from his cold at Borodino to the severe cold and the burning of Moscow.At the same time, genius is gone, replaced by unprecedented stupidity and baseness. The invading army has fled, running back again and again, and now all chances and chances are against him instead of helping him.

A reverse military operation from east to west is now being launched, which is very similar to the original movement from west to east.Before the large-scale operation, there were also attempts of the same operation from east to west in 1805, 1807, and until 1809, also forming a large military group; also with the participation of the countries of Central Europe , There are also fluctuations in the middle, and the closer to the destination, the faster the speed of action. PARIS - The final destination reached.Napoleon's government and army collapsed.Napoleon himself was of little value, and all his actions seemed pitiful and regrettable.However, an inexplicable chance appeared again.The Allies hated Napoleon, believing him to be the cause of their misfortune.Napoleon was dispossessed, his crimes and treachery were mercilessly exposed, and he was to be seen, as he was ten years ago and a year later, to be a lawless brigand.However, by some strange chance, no one saw this.His play is not over yet.This bandit, who was considered lawless ten years ago and a year later, was sent to a small island two days away from France, and let him rule the island, gave him a guard, and gave him millions of dollars for some reason .