Chapter 1297: A Superpower
Everyone craned their necks, gazing in one direction. The city was hushed, with only the occasional birdsong breaking the silence.
Golden Fleur-de-lis banners hung from the windows of every building. The nobles displayed theirs embroidered on silk, while the poor had iris patterns cut from paper painted gold. The streets rippled like a golden sea of flowers.
The moment the brilliant sunlight swept over the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris's bell tower, a tsunami of cheers erupted at the end of the King's Highway. Immediately after, the court orchestra struck up the stirring "Marching Song."
"He's here! It's the great Son of Divine Favor!"
The cry was like a spark falling into an oil drum, and the thousands lining both sides of the road instantly erupted, nearly collapsing into a state of religious fervor as they frantically shouted, "Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"May God bless France's God of War!"
"Louis! Louis, who conquers all!"
First, the Guard Grenadier Battalion rode past, their heads adorned with bearskin caps, their military banners held high. Then, the Crown Prince appeared at the end of the road, clad in a Hussar officer's uniform, a dark blue cloak draped over his shoulders. His handsome face now carried a touch more gravitas and authority as he smiled and waved to the crowd.
Everyone began pushing forward frantically, the agile ones scrambling up the trees lining the road, while children were held aloft by their parents.
No wonder the people were so excited.
France had faced a siege by hundreds of thousands of enemy troops. Every Parisian citizen had personally witnessed entire companies of new recruits boarding trains for the front lines almost daily, a testament to the ferocity of the war.
Even the most optimistic had believed this would be a difficult war lasting several years, possibly even reigniting a conflict akin to the Thirty Years' War.
Yet, in less than a year, their Crown Prince had decisively crushed all enemies, forcing the great powers of the entire European continent to bow their proud heads to France.
This was a glorious victory unprecedented in French history!
From then on, France's status on the European continent was completely transformed, leaping from a "first-rate power" to a singular "superpower." This brought with it an unprecedented surge in the confidence and morale of the French populace.
There was no doubt that France would usher in a new "Golden Age"!
Following the Crown Prince's procession were Murat's cavalry regiment, their heads held high, the Twelfth Infantry Division marching in uniform steps, and the Seventh Horse Artillery Regiment, showcasing their imposing "big guns."
Behind them, at a distance of forty to fifty meters, was a square formation composed of over a thousand dejected British prisoners of war.
Several dwarf actors dressed in British and Russian uniforms surrounded the prisoners, mimicking the Duke of York and Korsakov, riding comical short-legged horses, performing how they had been humiliated during the Siege of Karlsruhe.
Joseph's ears buzzed with the cacophony of sounds. He finally managed to walk outside Paris, and as he looked up, he saw his parents waiting under a canopy, with Alexandra standing beside them.
Joseph quickly dismounted from his Arabian horse. Before he could even complete his bow, Queen Mary's eyes welled with tears, and she rushed forward to hug him tightly. "Thank God, you've returned unharmed," she murmured.
She wiped away her tears, looking him up and down, a lingering fear in her voice. "They said you charged into the Russian positions, bayonet in hand, leading soldiers, and fought for seven hours before repelling them..." she said.
Joseph was Not Knowing Whether to Laugh or Cry. "Who on earth spread such a rumor?" he chuckled. "Rest assured, I'd need a bayonet two kilometers long to reach the Russian lines."
Alexandra curtsied beside him, then leaned in and whispered, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen prayed for you for several hours every day. She just wore through her third kneeling cushion last week."
Joseph felt a warmth in his heart as he gently patted Queen Mary's back. "You see, God has always favored me," he said.
Seeing his mother still whimpering, he joked, "By the way, I diligently ate three meals a day, just as you instructed. Oh, and the peppermint candies you gave me before I left are all gone. I can't do anything without them now, so you'll have to get me some more."
Queen Mary finally smiled. "I told you, peppermint candies are a gift from God. I'll have Mr. Cécilien make a few crates for you immediately."
When Joseph heard "a few crates," he felt his teeth would ache from the sweetness.
Still speaking, Queen Mary looked at her younger son behind Joseph, embraced him, and her smile turned fond. "Oh, my dear darling, your chest has grown stronger, and you've grown taller..." she cooed.
Charles's skin had been tanned to a wheat color by the battlefield sun, and it was a bit rougher, clearly having undergone true tempering.
The young man quickly struggled to push her away, awkwardly whispering, "Mother, I'm not a child anymore. Please don't always say things like that."
Joseph smiled. "Charles is already a sergeant, and he's excellent in drill and shooting."
Charles immediately puffed out his chest, telling his mother with immense pride, "Do you know, I even accepted Archduke John's surrender! That was an army of 40,000, and at the time..."
As he pulled Queen Mary, recounting the grandeur of the surrender ceremony, Louis XVI finally got a chance to speak to his son. But the sea of people around them made him blush, and it was only after a long while that he managed to squeeze out, "You truly are my pride!"
Before Joseph could say anything, he saw his father nervously retreat back under the canopy.
Alexandra followed closely, linking her arm with his and whispering, "Mother always wanted me to go with her to the palace chapel to pray for you, but I haven't been many times..."
She looked at Joseph, her eyes full of admiration and adoration. "Because I knew that no one could defeat you, and you would certainly return triumphantly with great prestige. I just needed to be there to welcome my great hero on that day."
A stir went through Joseph's heart, and he felt that everything he had given on the battlefield was worth it, even if it was just for his family.
The Crown Princess then playfully winked at him. "Besides, I have to go to Strasbourg every few days, so I can't spend all my time in church."
Joseph leaned in and whispered praise. "I've already heard from Mr. Lavalette; you've done an excellent job."
Indeed, while the front lines were ablaze with war, Alexandra had undertaken an important task: to 'educate' specially selected Russian prisoners of war.
"This is my own revenge," Alexandra said, grinding her teeth, then added with a touch of regret, "It's just that we haven't been able to send those men back home yet."
Joseph asked, puzzled, "Why?"
According to the original plan, those prisoners should have returned to Russia over two months ago.
"Mr. Lavalette said that Saint Petersburg still hasn't offered to redeem the prisoners of war."
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