The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1265: Chapter 158: Iron and Blood

The late autumn evening light gently filtered through the heavy velvet curtains into the dining room, with several chandeliers hanging above the long table, illuminating the room as bright as day.

The dining table was covered with a clean linen tablecloth, adorned with exquisite tableware and silver candlesticks, the candlelight flickering with a warm glow.

An array of dishes was orderly arranged, filling the table to the brim, featuring French Provencal beef stew with potatoes, the German classic salted pork knuckle with bread, and the purple-red Russian borscht.

In addition, Arthur carefully selected wines that suited the students’ tastes, though they had low alcohol content. He wanted everyone to relax, but not lose control.

Among them was the lifelong favorite of the Great Dumas: the eight-year reserve from the Bordeaux Margaux Vineyard, and Napoleon’s most frequent choice, Gevrey-Chambertin.

There was also the Englishman’s beloved, the port wine from Portugal’s Douro Valley and sherry from Spain’s Jerez region.

Of course, the drinks naturally included the German nobles’ favorite ”Rheingau Riesling,” a wine also from a renowned European vineyard—Schloss Johannisberg.

The diverse array of dishes and wines seemed to suggest to the guests that the evening’s atmosphere was diverse and open.

Compared to someone like Bismarck, a member of the Gestapo, the American student Mr. John Motley was evidently more at ease.

He picked up the bottle of Gevrey-Chambertin on the wine table, and couldn’t help but laugh as he stared at the label: ”I know this wine; Mr. Gauss would likely go mad if he saw it.”

The Great Dumas laughed heartily at this: ”It seems Mr. Gauss is someone who knows how to enjoy life; his taste is exactly like Napoleon’s.”

A member of the Light Sword of the Pomeranian Sword Society, already recruited by Bismarck, Mr. Schublan replied nervously: ”Sir, I’m afraid you misunderstood. Motley said Mr. Gauss would go mad precisely because this wine is Napoleon’s favorite. Everyone who’s taken Mr. Gauss’s class knows how much he detests Napoleon and the Great Revolution.”

”Gauss hates Napoleon and the Great Revolution?” The Great Dumas reflexively mused, ”Is he a conservative? I thought a scholar like him would support Republicanism.”

Bismarck, aware of the true identity of the people before him, replied awkwardly: ”Mr. Gauss may not be a conservative, but he has every reason to detest Napoleon. After all, when Napoleon’s army occupied Gottingen, the teaching and research work at the University of Gottingen came to a standstill, and the French even demanded he pay a war tax of 2000 Francs.”

Schublan added: ”But that wasn’t the worst. You should know, Mr. Gauss’s background wasn’t good, and he was only able to attend university thanks to the recognition of Duke Carl Ferdinand of Brunswick. From the age of 14, the Duke never ceased his support. Mr. Gauss has always been grateful for the Duke’s appreciation, and even inscribed ’dedicated to the Duke’ in the preface of every academic work he published.

However, during the 1806 Battle of Jena, the Duke bravely died in the confrontation with Napoleon. And nine years later, at the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke’s son, ’the Black Duke’ Friedrich Wilhelm, also gloriously died in the course of commanding the army. To Mr. Gauss, no one likely brought him more harm than Napoleon.

The Great Dumas, hearing this, felt a wave of cold water pour over the budding Republican spirit he had just kindled.

Though he wanted to point out that Gauss’s viewpoint was incorrect, considering the events that happened to Gauss, it seemed there was nothing to criticize about hating Napoleon.

However, the Great Dumas still intended to salvage some dignity for the Great Revolution: ”Disliking Napoleon could be fine, as there are many within France’s Republican faction who opposed him. But for Gauss to loathe the Great Revolution because of his dislike for Napoleon, isn’t that somewhat misplaced?”

Bismarck, usually hesitant to express his views in front of Arthur due to ’recommendation letters’, took the opportunity to rebound.

”I actually think that Professor Gauss’s views have great continuity; if it weren’t for the Great Revolution, how could France possibly produce a freak like Napoleon who seized power? The ideals of the Revolution, Napoleon’s slogans, all sound very bizarre. Speaking of uniting all of Europe in freedom and democracy, while in reality deploying the National Guard and the old Imperial Guard; if anyone opposed their views, they would be labeled as reactionaries against progress. There’s no bigger farce than this in the world.

As based on the historical records I’ve read, one can easily derive a clear viewpoint: if anyone thinks Europe is a unified entity capable of common action, then he’s gravely mistaken. Europa is merely a geographical concept, nothing more than a customary expression. And those who love using this expression are mainly those who prod others into pulling chestnuts out of the fire under the guise of Europe. The European Community is like a ghost, a completely unreal fantasy.”

At this point, Bismarck didn’t forget to cover himself: ”Of course, what I read in books may not necessarily be correct. Historians often view issues from their own standpoint; everyone has a subjective perspective, and the truly important things are often left undocumented.”