Chapter 152 Resuming Contact
Ernst was generally satisfied with the work of the Marseille Hechingen branch and would give it at least an eight.
However, after rewarding and punishing where necessary, praising and rewarding some outstanding employees, we still made adjustments to some of the shortcomings here.
Apart from the company's business situation, there was nothing in Marseille that Ernst particularly wanted to see.
After a brief tour of some of the unique sights of Marseille the next day, Ernst and his party left.
Traveling north along the railway, Ernst first arrived in the French textile city of Lyon, and then went to Paris.
October 18, 1868.
Paris, France.
At this time, it is completely impossible to find a city in Europe that can compare with Paris in scale and quality. Of course, this is just Ernst's personal opinion.
At the same time, the black chimneys and rivers flowing with black water in London, England were suffocating.
Although the environments in Vienna and Berlin are not bad, they are not outstanding in scale.
St. Petersburg is filled with gloom and depression.
Napoleon III carried out large-scale renovation and reconstruction of the old town of Paris, making the city vibrant and showing artistic value.
Of course, the citizens of Paris at that time were not interested in this new city. The French criticized it, probably thinking that it destroyed the unique flavor of old Paris.
Ernst had a great appreciation for Paris from his previous life's perspective, so naturally he could not understand these people's thinking.
Of course, this did not prevent the Parisians of that era from hating the new city, and among the critics there were many elites, including writers and artists.
Finally, under pressure from public opinion, Napoleon III's designer Haussmann resigned to calm the situation, but the transformation of Paris continued.
Later, Paris built the Eiffel Tower, which was hated and complained by the citizens of Paris at that time.
The transformation of Paris by the government of Napoleon III laid the foundation for the later urban form of Paris. There are more green plants on both sides of the new streets, and urban parks can be seen everywhere.
Ernst's motorcade moved slowly through the streets of Paris, through the crowds, and headed towards where the rich and nobles of Paris lived.
…
A manor in Paris.
Led by his entourage, Ernst came to a reception room.
"Oh, I didn't expect that Constantine's son has grown up so much!" said a white-haired French old man sitting on the sofa and looking at the visitors.
This is Ernst’s grandfather’s former comrade-in-arms, Count Jacob Medina of France (fictional).
"Jaime Medina, come and meet this person, the grandson of my old friend. I didn't expect that after all these years, that little Constantine still has such a young son. He must be in his sixties or seventies now!" Jacob Medina said to his son.
Jacob Medina's son is estimated to be in his sixties or seventies this year and is of the same generation as Prince Constantine.
"Hello, I am Baron Jaime Medina, welcome to Paris." Jaime Medina said politely to Ernst.
"Baron Jaime Medina is pleased to meet you, and the old count wishes you good health," Ernst said to the father and son.
"The little ones are not at home today, otherwise it would be nice for you to meet them," said Jacob Medina.
The little ones refer to Jacob Medina's three grandchildren.
Jacob Medina's family was obviously more prosperous than the Hechingen royal family. He had several brothers, two sons and three grandsons.
"It's a pity that the commander settled in Bavaria and never came back. Otherwise, the remnants of us from the old times might have been able to get together. Now I, an old guy, am the only one left." Jacob Medina sighed.
The commander that Jacob Medina was referring to was Ernst's grandfather, Eugene de Beauharnais, Napoleon's stepson and adjutant. However, after Napoleon restored the country, Eugene de Beauharnais did not return to France to support Napoleon, but stayed in Bavaria according to the advice of his father-in-law, the then King of Bavaria.
"Back then, your grandfather and I fought under the same commander. Although we later served different masters, we can't forget our friendship. At that time, there were swords and sabers..." The elderly Jacob Medina recalled the past in a low and slow voice.
Ernst and Jaime Medina listened quietly as Jacob Medina described his experiences as a young man.
"What is your main purpose in coming to Paris this time, little Ernst?" After recalling the past, Jacob Medina began to inquire about the purpose of Ernst's trip.
Ernst said respectfully, "Your Excellency, I came here to visit my father and grandfather's old friends as my father instructed. I have no other purpose."
Jacob Medina nodded. "It's hard! There are still people who remember us old guys. When you go back, you must say hello to your father for me."
"At your service." Ernst said.
"We old guys probably don't have much time left, so you young people should move around more, make more friends, and explore more paths, especially exchanges between nobles..." Jacob Medina said to the young people.
…
Ernst stayed in Paris for three days and visited all the former partners of the Hechingen royal family. Many of them were no longer around due to their age.
However, the Hechingen royal family still re-established its network of relationships in France. In the future, as long as the two sides have more exchanges and contacts, they can at least support each other in public opinion.
In addition, Ernst also visited other great nobles in Paris, including various factions, and even the Bonaparte family.
As for the past between the Hechingen royal family and the Bonaparte family, it is nothing in European history. For the sake of interests, enemies can become friends.
The Hechingen royal family and the Bonaparte family obviously did not reach the level of enemies. In fact, Constantine had grown old and rarely traveled abroad in recent years, so his contacts with these forces had decreased.
They often contacted the Prussian royal family in neighboring Sigmaringen. For example, Carol I was able to become the Emperor of Romania because of the operation of Napoleon III.
But history has proven that this investment was a failure, and Carol I ultimately sided with his own family and stood on the side of Prussia.
Where there is cooperation, there is stabbing, like the current dispute between the two sides over Leopold and the Spanish throne.
Therefore, in the aristocratic world, people are not happy with things, nor sad with themselves; everything is based on practical interests.
Ernst came to Paris not necessarily to gain the support of these people. The most important thing was to rebuild the network of contacts. Intelligence was an important bargaining chip in exchanges between nobles. As local tyrants, the information they possessed could better help the Hechingen royal family avoid risks.
(End of this chapter)
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