Fox of France

　　 Following the words of the Marquis of Lafayette, a middle-aged man with a lame foot of about 40 years old in a black bishop's robe walked in and bowed to the others.

　　 "Bishop Talleyrand!" Several people in the small reception room recognized the priest at once.

　　 This bishop is a celebrity in Paris salons and various recreational venues. He was born in a declining aristocratic family and was sent to study in seminary since he was a child. This is also the path that many children from noble families often take.

　　 Generally speaking, the children of aristocratic families often have several outlets like this.

　　 First, inherit the wealth of the ancestors, and then become a happy fat mansion waiting to die-but Talleyrand’s property has been exhausted by the happy fat mansion of previous generations.

　　Secondly, go to be an officer and live a good life with His Majesty’s salary-but the army does not need a lame officer.

　　Third, to become a civil servant, and then live a good life with His Majesty’s salary, embezzled public funds and bribes from others-but to get the position of a civil servant, you need to pay bribes to others. Talleyrand's family couldn't get the money.

　　 So Talleyrand had the last way to go, and that was to become a priest.

　　Being a priest is actually a good way. In theory, all believers are God’s people and are equal before God. But in fact, there are always some people who are more equal before God than others. Generally speaking, in the church, the priests of civilian origin are at most the priests in the church, and the clergy above the bishop are all nobles.

　　 The church has a lot of assets, can be a bishop and live a good life.

　　 There is a story in Boccaccio’s Decameron. It is said that a Catholic persuaded his friend-a Jew to convert to Catholicism. The Jew became a little tempted, and he told his friend that he was going to see Rome, the capital of the Christian world.

　　His friend was shocked when he heard this decision. He felt that his preaching would definitely fail, because no one had ever seen the arrogance and luxury of the Catholic Church after they arrived in Rome. There is no virtue at all, only all kinds of sins.

　　 However, the Jew went to Rome. He was baptized and converted to Catholicism as soon as he returned, because he felt: "The Catholic Church is so corrupt and degenerate, but it still stands tall. This must be because there are real gods behind it."

　　 Talleyrand is not the same as that Jew. He was originally Catholic and studied theology at St. Sulbis Theological Seminary for five years. The five years of study did not make him "closer to God", but made him an atheist. However, he still pretended to be very religious for the money the church could give him.

Relying on this pretended piety, when Louis XVI enthroned, he won the post of the head of the Abbey of Saint-Rémy in Reims, and up to 18,000 livres (a silver coin later developed into francs) Annuity.

　　 With this money, Talleyrand spent a lot of time living the life of a secular nobleman in Paris. Because the position of the dean is a beautiful job that only takes salary but not work, he has time. He bought a cozy little house in Paris, lived in Reims and the capital alternately, drank and gambled and asked for flowers.

Taking this opportunity, he got to know some bankers. He helped them get news from the church and even the Royal Government. Those people provided him with various opportunities to make a fortune. By speculating on various securities, he didn’t make any money. Less money.

　　 Talleyrand is not a miser. The money comes quickly and he spends it simply. With the help of his friends, after the necklace incident, if it weren't for the queen's obstruction, he almost succeeded in replacing the cardinal of Roanne.

　　 Although he failed to become the cardinal, he still got the position of the Archbishop of Orton in his hands.

　　 Because Talleyrand relied on the king to climb up step by step, in the eyes of most people, he should be a **** conservative and royal party, but now he is here.

　　 "Gentlemen, it is an honor to meet you." Bishop Talleyrand said.

　　 "Your Excellency, what do you want to tell us when you come to our meeting suddenly?" Siers asked.

　　 "Count Artois is ready to leave France with his family for Italy." Bishop Talleyrand replied.

　　 "Count Artois" was the younger brother of Louis XVI and the most determined conservative. Later historian Tocqueville once commented on him:

"We have seen many leaders in history. His knowledge structure, cultural level, political judgment, and value choices will remain at a certain stage of his youth. Then no matter how long he lives, no matter how many changes occur in the world, He appears as a zombie at a certain moment.

　　 If there is a chance that allows him to rise to the top, he will definitely look for resources at the moment when his intellectual and knowledge development process stops, and construct his political ideas, value choices, and strategy for governing the country. This kind of person is generally stubborn and paranoid, and stupidly confident, foolish and self-serving, thinking that he defends a certain value and can open up a new direction for the country's development.

　　 Actually, they often wear ancient costumes, but perform on modern stages, like a ghost in a tomb suddenly appearing in broad daylight. Everyone knows that he is a ghost, but he thinks he is a true god. However, the concepts he chose and the policies he pursued were all moldy and old goods. "

　　 "Count Artois is going into exile?" Siers smiled contemptuously, "He is going to run? Isn't he trying to suppress us? Now he is going to run?"

　　 "He ran away, I'm afraid that certain His Highness will be happier." Barnaf frowned.

　　 "But this is also a good thing, isn't it?" Marquis Lafayette said, "The king's power has been weakened, and now there is no more power to rely on except us."

　　 "But we don't have much to do with the mob inspired by the highness." Barnaf said.

"Then let him continue his performance. We can't give the things that the mob wants. Is it possible that His Highness can give it? When he set fire to his brother's house, he didn't think about it. Is the house connected to my brother's house?" Marquis Lafayette asked.

　　 "Our house is also adjacent to their house." Barnaf replied.

"Mr. Barnaf, you are right. In fact, the third level is a false concept." Bishop Talleyrand said, "The three levels, this division is all nonsense, but some fools actually believe it. ."

　　 "What do you mean?" Siers frowned. His famous work is "What is the third level". Now Talleyrand actually said that the "third level" is a false concept, which naturally made him unhappy.

　　 "Gentlemen, please take a look at our neighboring country to the west, the most successful country in the world today. Think about it again, what is privilege?" Talleyrand said.

　　 "I don't understand what you mean." Siers said. He failed to follow Talleyrand's thoughts, which made him dislike Talleyrand even more.

"Privilege, in the final analysis, is the priority of getting a good life." Talleyrand said, "Traditional aristocrats enjoy this priority by their birth. But in modern times, this priority of birth has been done to a large extent. It doesn't work. Even if there is no revolution, the priority of birth is inevitable, even the priority that has been converted into property."

Seeing Siers who seemed a little unconvinced, Talleyrand smiled again: "Take me as an example. I was born in a small noble family. When I was born, I didn't catch up with the good times. Decline. The wealth of the past has long been in the hands of the Jews. Except for an affix (referring to the word "German" in the name) that indicates his aristocratic status, there is nothing left. Our family's life is no better than the first Three-level decent people are good, even far inferior to them. Because they have more money. Money is privilege."

　　 At this point, Talleyrand paused for a while, so that everyone could digest his words. After a while, he continued: "Let’s take a look at the British. Does the UK have aristocrats? Yes, are there decent people who are aristocrats in the UK? The same. So is there a mob in the UK? Of course there are. Which country will not have those poor people who have nothing and are fearless? So why, in Britain, there can be a bloodless'Glorious Revolution'?"

　　 "Why?" Siers asked.

Talleyrand laughed: "Because the British understand that money is power, and power is money. These two things can be transformed into each other. A person can be a nobleman, a priest, and a rich man at the same time. There is a gap that cannot be crossed."

　　 "Like you, Master Bishop?" Siers asked with an ironic smile.

"Yes." Talleyrand smiled disapprovingly. "Only poverty can have a deep gap with privilege. Nobles should be aware of this and should open the door of power to those decent people. And those decent people People should also be united with the nobles, let decent people share power, and let the nobles share wealth. In the end, everyone got what they wanted. This is the reason why Britain is strong and stable.

　　 For a long time, I have been trying to convince the king and other nobles, hoping that they can imitate the British, so that all decent people can reach an alliance.

　　 But in France, there are too many fools. Among the nobles are zombies living in the Middle Ages like Count Artois. He thought he could rule France according to medieval practices, and he was unwilling to give any profit to those rich and decent people, but he didn't know that money was power. Those who are rich, or more accurately, are powerful and decent people, how can they be at his mercy?

　　 There are smart fools like the Duke of Orléans, who casually opened the bottle sealed with the devil without thinking about how it would end in the future! Do we really want to share power and wealth with those without pants? Although France has a lot of wealth, it cannot be shared equally among these gangsters. But now, the Duke of Orleans has released them, allowing them to see their power. Once they realize their power, they will not use it to seek benefits for themselves. But we can't give what they want, because they want to live the same life as us! This is impossible!

　　Whether they are aristocrats or rich people, they should naturally reach a sacred alliance. However, because of stubbornness, stupidity, and **** arrogance and ambition, they all went down the wrong path. One stubbornly refused to move forward, even if moving forward should have brought them a better life; one released the devil regardless of the consequences.

　　 Now France is in great danger because of these fools. I think that the king can no longer save France. The only one who can save France is everyone here. This is why I appear before you now. "

　　 Siers stared at Talleyrand with wide eyes for a long time, and then he breathed out: "Master Bishop, you are Machiavelli of France, a man of no faith."

　　 "No, Mr. Siers." Talleyrand said seriously, "You have a prejudice against me. I don't really believe in God, but I love France."

"Your Excellency," Barnaf said, "I am not interested in your beliefs. I know you have been reprimanded for visiting Voltaire (Voltaire was expelled for his fierce opposition to Catholicism). www.readwn.com~ And you confessed to the cardinal cardinal. It is said that the confession is very sincere. But we don’t care about it. What I care about is that now the devil has been released from the bottle, how can we put them out again? Put it back. Is there anything you can teach us about this?"

　　 "If you want to put the devil out of the bottle back, there have been only two ways since ancient times." Talleyrand replied immediately.

　　 "Which two kinds?"

"The first method is King Solomon's method, relying on his own power to overwhelm the devil and force them into the bottle. The other method is the fisherman's method, using lies to deceive them and lure them into the bottle. ."

　　 "As a bishop, you actually use the story of a pagan as an analogy." Siers couldn't help but interrupt again.

　　 "Seek the truth, even if it is far in the east and eat the country." Talleyrand replied.

　　 "This is another pagan saying."

　　 "It's not a day or two for France to form an alliance with heretics."

　　 "Let's get back to the topic, Mr. Siers, Your Excellency." Barnaf said, "Your Excellency, which method do you think we can use?"

"Two-pronged approach." Talleyrand replied, "However, before we are ready to put the devil into the bottle, we must first find a way to dispose of the guy who released the devil from the bottle for our own ambitions. Otherwise, this Although his Royal Highness has limited abilities, he may not be able to do anything that he really wants to do. But for many years, he has been messing up with the king. There are not many people who are more proficient than him in France. Clean him up first, it is not easy for us to succeed."

　　 "How should we deal with him?"

　　 "Don't worry, wait until he makes a mistake." Talleyrand said.