War and Peace

Chapter 22

[fourteen]
At around nine o'clock in the evening, the bell of the old prince's carriage sounded outside the door, and they all rushed out, and Andre and Bin-Air also came out to greet him.The old prince recognized Bin-Air, and shook his hand with a smile.During the meal, Duke Andrele came to his father's study and saw the old Duke arguing with Bin Air, his face flushed.Bin-Air proved that there would be no more wars.The old prince retorted with a sneer:

"Drain all the blood in the veins and fill them with water, and there will be no war. This is a woman's opinion." He said, but still patted Bin-Air on the shoulder affectionately.

This time in Bald Mountain, Bin-Air really felt the true meaning and charm of the friendship between him and Duke Andrele.This charm was not so much expressed in his relationship with the Duke Andréle himself, as in his relationship with the relatives and family of the Duke Andréle.When he was with the stern old Duke and the gentle and timid Princess Molière, Bin-Air immediately felt that he had met a confidant.They all loved seeing him so much.In particular, Princess Molière was more fond of him. The princess always looked at him with bright eyes; the one-year-old little prince Malar smiled at Bin Air and flung himself at him with open arms.Miss Pollyeyre often listened when he talked with the old Duke.

After Bin-Air left, the whole family got together to talk about him, and they all saw his good side. It was rare for the whole family to have such a unanimous affection for a guest.

[fifteen]
After returning to the team after the vacation this time, Rose Tafer once again felt how important the team is to him.He strongly feels that the team is also like a home, an unchanging, lovely and gentle home, just like his parents' home.Moreover, there is no boring communication here, no emotional entanglement, everything is natural and sincere.In the regiment Rosetaff felt happy and at ease, as a weary man feels when he lies down to rest.After losing that bet, he made up his mind to serve well and make up for his previous mistakes. It can also be said that being a good man seems to be very difficult in ordinary society, but it is very easy in the army.He is determined to repay the gambling debt to his parents within five years. He earns [-] rubles a year, and only takes out [-] rubles in pocket money, leaving the rest to his parents to pay off the debt.

After many battles, the Russian army gathered near Battenstein, waiting for the emperor's inspection and the start of a new war.

Rostaff's Paulograd regiment was stationed near a dilapidated and desolate Germanic village for more than half a month in April.As the weather warmed up, the roads were muddy and transport convoys couldn't get through, and the people in the village fled to make a living elsewhere, leaving behind poorer than beggars.The officers and soldiers of the army were also hungry.Only two men of Paulograd's regiment were wounded in the battle, but nearly half of them died from lack of food and medicine.

Rosestaff still lived with Jackoff, and since the last vacation in Moscow they had grown closer to each other, and it seemed to Rosestaff that the old hussar's unhappy love for Natess was at the heart of it all. It played a supporting role in increasing their friendship.Jackoff is trying his best to protect Rostaff, and every time after a battle, Jackoff will feel very happy to see Rostaff come back safely.

[sixteen]
In April news of the emperor's review enlivened the troops, but Rostaff's troops did not participate in the emperor's review at Battenstein.

Rustaff, who was resting in bed in the morning, suddenly heard a commotion outside.He walked out of the hut, only to see Jack coming over with several large carts. "I warn you, Captain," said an officer, a diminutive man who was visibly angry. "Didn't I tell you, I won't return it." Jackoff replied.

"You have to be responsible, Captain. How dare you loot the transport vehicle? This is a violation of military regulations! Our people have been hungry for two days."

"But mine hasn't eaten for two weeks," Jackoff replied. "This is robbery! You are responsible, old man!" the officer shouted again.

"Get out of here while you're whole!" Jackoff yelled. "Okay, okay." The officer mumbled fearfully, turned his horse and hurried away.

The next day, Jackoff was sent to the regiment headquarters, and was sent to the headquarters by the regiment leader.At the headquarters, Jackoff made another scene.At noon the next day, the regimental adjutant came to Jackoff with a serious and sad expression, and told him with great regret that the matter was irreversible, and a military court had been established to severely punish the robbery and violation of military discipline. If the investigation is carried out, the lightest sentence may have to be reduced to a soldier.

Although Jackoff didn't take the case seriously on the outside, Rostuff, who knew him well, could tell that Jackoff was actually very afraid of the court-martial.Summons came in every day, and on May [-]st Jackoff was fired.On this day, Jackoff took the initiative to ask to go to the front line. He galloped on the front of the position as before, showing off his bravery.A bullet shot by a French sniper hit him in the thigh. In normal times, Jackoff would not have left the team with such an injury, but this time it was different. He took advantage of the opportunity to recuperate and did not go to the division headquarters. , but was admitted to a field hospital.

[seventeen]
In June, the two armies fought a tough battle in Feritlan before declaring a truce.The Paulograd Regiment did not participate in the battle this time. Taking advantage of the break, Rostaff asked for leave to visit Jackoff in the hospital.

The hospital was located in a small Prussian town.In summer, the fields are spectacular, and the town's desolation is all the more glaring: dilapidated houses, dirty streets, peasants in rags, and wounded and drunken soldiers wandering the world.

A medical assistant led Lostaff to Jackoff.In the dark corridor, the smell of Lysol from the hospital was so strong that Rostaff had to hold his nose and pause for a while, waiting for courage before moving on.

The wards are rectangular, and sunlight shines into the wards through the windows.The wounded slept with their heads facing outwards in two rows, with an aisle between them.Most of the sick and wounded were still asleep, so no one would pay attention to them.Those who were awake opened their eyes and took a look, then closed their slack eyes and stopped looking at him.All have the same expression: begging for help, envious and condemning of another's health.Rustaff came to the middle of the ward and glanced at the next room, where there were also two rows of people lying there.He stopped and looked around silently. He never expected such a scene.

A wounded Cossack, terribly thirsty and without water, was banging his head on the floor.Another young soldier lay stiff, apparently long dead, but no one carried him away.

"Let's get out." Lowstaff said softly to the medical assistant. He lowered his eyes, shrunk his body, and walked out of the ward through the row of condemning and jealous eyes for fear of being recognized.

[eighteen]
The medical assistant led Rustaff down the corridor to the officers' ward.The first person he encountered in the ward was a small, thin man with a broken arm, whom Rosettaver thought seemed to be acquainted.

"God let us meet at this place," said the little man. "Tosh, I'm Tosh, do you remember? Are you here to see Jackoff? He shares a room with me." So, He led Rustaff to his room.

Jackoff was sleeping with his head covered on the bed at this time, although it was almost noon. "Ah, is that Rostaff? Hello, hello!" It seemed that he was still in the team, but Rosetuff could vaguely feel his displeasure.His injury was not serious at first, but it has been such a long time, and it still hasn't improved.To Lostaff's surprise, Jackoff didn't seem very happy to see him coming, and even smiled a bit reluctantly.Jackoff didn't ask about the situation of the team, nor did he care about the overall situation of the battle. When Rostaff said those things, he just nodded absently to show that he heard.Jackoff seems to be trying to forget his past life, he only cares about his lawsuit.When Rostaff asked about the progress of the case, Jackoff immediately took out a stack of documents from the bedside cabinet, which were the official documents of the court and his defense.He looked suddenly lighter as he read his defense, and called Rosettaver to pay special attention to the sarcastic remarks directed at his enemies.When the patients saw a stranger coming, they all gathered around, but when Jackoff took out the document and began to read it, all the patients walked away unanimously. From their expressions, Rostaff could tell that they had already I am no longer unfamiliar with these words, and should be tired of hearing them.

Tosh suggested that Jackoff give the petition to Rostuff, and let Rostuff present it to the emperor for him.Jackoff didn't take his advice.However, when Rostaff went to say good-bye to him in the evening, he handed Jackoff a large envelope containing the petition.

"Please pass it up..." He didn't continue, revealing a helpless expression.

[nineteen]
Rostaff returned to the team, first reported his visit to Jackoff and the case to the chief, and then went to Tilsit with the letter to the emperor.On October [-], the emperors of France and Russia met at Tilsit.Brits Drubetskoy asked his superiors to serve beside him.

Blitz was one of the few who witnessed the meeting between the two emperors.He saw the boat with the French emblem on the prow, saw Napoleon on the other side passing through his bodyguard, saw Emperor Alexander sitting in a small restaurant on the bank with a heavy face, waiting for Napoleon; he saw the two emperors boarding the boat respectively , Napoleon's boat arrived at the boat first, and he hurried to meet Alexander. The two shook hands and greeted each other, and then they entered the tent on the boat together.After Bolits reached this position, he gradually developed a habit of paying close attention to what happened and things around him, and always recorded everything.He looked at the time when the two emperors entered the tent, and again when Alexander left the tent.The meeting lasted one hour and 53 minutes.At night, he recorded the events of the day and those events that were of extraordinary significance to him.At that time, there were not many people who followed the emperor, but he was able to be among them, so he thought that his official career would become more and more prosperous.

Two nights later, while Bolitz was having a dinner with his colleague Zhilinsky at his home for Napoleon's adjutant, Rostaff came to him.When he saw Rostaff, Blitz looked bored.After that, he changed to a happy look, and he hid his dissatisfaction with him behind a hypocritical face.

Rostaff noticed the expression on Bolitz's face when he first saw him, and he was disgusted by the French soldiers present. He thought that he shouldn't come now, so since he came, he could do whatever he wanted, and called Bolitz outside. , said to ask him something, and left after finishing speaking.

Following Rostaff's narration, Blitz frowned more and more tightly: "I have heard of such cases before, and I know that the emperor is very strict with such things. I think it is better not to alarm the emperor. I See, it's better to go directly to the regiment commander... but, anyway, it seems to me..."

"In this way, you don't want to help me with this job, you just have to just say it, why bother?" Lostaff almost shouted, and he didn't look into Britz's eyes.

Blitz smiled. "On the contrary, I will try my best, but I think..."

[twenty]
On the day Rostaf came to Tilsit, he was eager to intercede for Jackoff. His luck was too bad, because on the second day, June 27, the two emperors were busy signing an agreement to award each other, It was also decided that on this day a battalion of the French army would give a banquet in honor of a battalion of the Russian army, and that both emperors would attend the banquet.Even if Bolitz wanted to help, he dared not submit the paper to the emperor at this time.

Lostaff thought that being with Blitz was too boring, so he avoided him with excuses, and secretly made up his mind to do it himself.

Lostav rushed directly to the place where the emperor collapsed impatiently, but was stopped by the officer on duty.As a last resort, he had to withdraw, but he happened to meet the former division commander, a cavalry general, at the door, so the flustered Lostaf told the general about Jackoff.

"It's a pity, he is an excellent person, please give me the report." The general said.

As soon as Rostaff handed the paper to the general, he heard a rush of footsteps and spurs coming from the door, and the general left him and went inside.The emperor's entourage came downstairs to prepare their horses.Then, there was a slight sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Lostavs pushed forward with all his strength, no matter what, so, after two years, he saw the emperor he admired again, and his love for the emperor, It burned again in his heart.The emperor wore the uniform of the Preobrazhensky regiment, white deerskin trousers, high leather boots, and a medal of the French Legion of Honor, which Rostav had never seen, and he put his hat on Under the armpits, with gloves on the hands.After getting down, he stood there looking around, and everything he looked at was illuminated.He said a few words to a general.He recognized Lowstaff's former commander, gave him a slight nod, and called him to him.The people around the emperor backed away, and Rostav saw the emperor talking with the general for quite a long time.

"I won't do that, General, because the law doesn't allow it," said the emperor, and turned to mount his horse.

[21]

On the square where the emperor was going, a battalion of the Preobrazhensky regiment stood on one side, and opposite them stood the French soldiers in blue uniforms, and the two battalions waited silently.

When the emperor arrived on horseback, another group of riders appeared opposite, and Rostaff recognized that the leader was Napoleon.Napoleon was dressed in a crisp French uniform with a shiny coat of arms on the brim of his hat, and his jacket was unbuttoned to reveal a white waistcoat underneath. He rode an unusual gray thoroughbred horse with a saddle covered with gold embroidered Line of red saddle pads.He rode up in front of Alexander, and raised his hat in salute to him.Napoleon said something to Alexander, and then both emperors dismounted and joined hands in a gesture of intimacy.Napoleon wore an extremely hypocritical and contrived smile, but Alexander talked to him excitedly.

The two emperors chatted happily, reviewed the troops, and Napoleon personally awarded a Russian soldier with a medal.Finally, the two emperors got on their horses and left, and the soldiers happily started the banquet.

Rose Taf stood there blankly, looking at the rejoicing soldiers from a distance, he couldn't help flashing some terrible thoughts, and felt a heart-wrenching feeling in his heart.He thought of Jackoff, his changed expression and surrender, the scene in the hospital, the wounded soldiers with few hands and legs, the filth and injuries in the hospital, he seemed to smell The smell of dead bodies in the hospital, and he looked around, trying to figure out where it was coming from.He thought of the self-satisfied Napoleon, with his little white hands, who now commanded the respect of Emperor Alexander as a ruler.But why?Is it the limbs that were maimed for the war, or the soldiers who died in battle?He thought of the soldier who won the medal, and thought of Jackoff who could not be forgiven.In the end, he was so frightened by the strange thoughts in his heart that he trembled all over.

(End of this chapter)