When the dragoons riding on uniform chestnut horses conveyed the orders to the commanders of each formation and gradually returned to the viewing platform, the loud bugle calls echoed through the formations filled with infantry and cavalry.
As the bugle sounded through the parade formations, the artillery positioned on the open field 500 ters away from the parade ceremony began to take action. The wooden boxes filled with smoke shells were pried open, revealing smooth, round, black shells. The artilleryn responsible for loading the ammunition carefully lifted the smoke shells with both hands and gently placed them into the gun barrels already filled with gunpowder.
Once all the barrels were loaded with the specially-made shells, the commander of the artillery unit extended his forearm to form a 90-degree angle with his upper arm and shouted loudly, "Prepare!"
All the artilleryn were tense, the fuses clasped in their palms were pulled taut.
"Fire!" With the order from the artillery commander, nearly all the artilleryn pulled hard at the sa ti, the shells shot out from the cannon muzzles at supersonic speed like untad wild horses, and the powerful recoil drove the supports of the cannon bases firmly into the ground.
The rumble of the cannon sounded a fraction of a second after the shells left the muzzles, and Jero Bonaparte, far off on the parade ground, understood that the twelve-pound bronze cannons, the pinnacle of muzzle-loading cannons, had fired the smoke shells forcefully. A few seconds later, the red, blue, and white smoke representing the French flag began to rise from a distance, influenced by the air density, and the parade ceremony officially comnced amidst the salutes and bugle calls.
As the invited audience (ambassadors from various countries) speculated on the type of cannons, a squad of new French cavalry was first to appear, clad in sky-blue double-breasted uniforms (accented with silver breastplates), and wearing plu-adorned black steel helts, with command sabers and portable pistols at their waists. They were the Imperial Guard Dragon Cavalry, the most loyal subordinates of Jero Bonaparte.
This cavalry of the Guard, initiated during the Republic, flourished in the First Empire, and then was obliterated during the Restoration of Bourbon, was resurrected by the hands of the Second Empire’s Emperor.
The silver breastplates glead dazzlingly under the lazy sunlight, and each Imperial Dragon Cavalryman ca to Jero Bonaparte’s viewing stand with full enthusiasm and coordinated steps.
"Long live Napoleon, long live the Empire!"
Under the leadership of their brigadier general, the seasoned General Pellissier, the Guard Dragon Cavalry skillfully shouted the slogan they had rehearsed countless tis.
Jero Bonaparte, standing silently on the platform, upon hearing the call from the Guard Dragon Cavalry, smiled and doffed the tricorne (also known as the Grand Napoleon Hat) from his head, waving it towards these loyal warriors.
The Guard Dragon Cavalry, under Pellissier’s leadership, slowly left the viewing stand, followed closely by the Guard Grenadier unit led by Brigadier General Leboeuf.
"Long live Napoleon! Long live the Empire!"
The grenadiers, wearing tall furry military hats and carrying Minie guns on their backs, expressed their due respect to Jero Bonaparte with the sa enthusiastic deanor.
This group of soldiers, ticulously selected to join the parade formations, was remarkably similar in height and build, from a side perspective only the lead person in each row could be seen. Even more remarkable was their stride and the height of their knee lifts, coordinated as if molded from the sa template.
The majority of ambassadors standing behind the viewing platform could not help but praise the French Army’s strict discipline upon witnessing such uniform movents.
Only a few ambassadors showed disdain for the actions of the Guard Grenadier Regint, with the Russian Envoy disdainfully referring to their conduct as a "show regint."
At the mont, the Russian Envoy did not know that the so-called "show regint" he mocked would later defeat several tis the number of Russian Imperial Army troops in the Crian War and would be the first to capture the Sevastopol Fortress.
As for Rifat, the ambassador of the Ottoman Empire delegation, nothing could be more exciting than what he was witnessing now.
The actions of the French Empire undoubtedly demonstrated to him what a world-class powerful army looked like. Rifat was certain that no army, throughout Russia... no, throughout Europe, could perform like this.
If every French army could be like the one before him, then the world would have no match for France.
Of course, based on the number issued by the units, this should be the French Empire’s most elite force, not all troops could be like those in front.
Even so, Rifat Pasha was optimistic about the French Empire’s army.
Regardless of the cost, a union with France must be established!
Rifat resolved firmly in his heart.
After the departure of the Guard Grenadier Regint, the next showcase was from the Seine Province First Military District.
More than 200 soldiers of the First Brigade in the First Military District, led by Brigadier General Troche, entered for inspection.
The first regint, stared ahead with high spirits, the spacing between each row began to expand amidst the puzzled gazes of everyone on the viewing platform, until the distance between the front and back of the formations was about 0.5 ters, then halted.
Next, the most shocking scene of the parade appeared.
"Prepare!" General Troche, standing to one side of the units, drew out his command saber and shouted.
More than 200 soldiers held the Minie guns on their shoulders and dragged them in their hands.
Could they possibly be thinking...
Standing on the platform, Jero Bonaparte suddenly recalled that scene from a later PLA parade docuntary; he rembered ntioning it briefly to Conrobel and others.
Did they really succeed?
With so doubt, Jero Bonaparte and the bewildered envoys continued watching.
"Release!"
With Trocch’s second command, the most awe-inspiring scene unfolded.
More than 200 soldiers uniformly made the bayonet preparation move, placing the bayonet very close to the back of the person in front, aning that if the person behind moved even slightly faster, the person in front would face the risk of death.
This required sufficient team coordination to achieve, and this handpicked unit of 200 n clearly t this standard.
Under Trocch’s command, while watching the distance to the row in front, soldiers also observed with their peripheral vision whether their distance to the person beside them was consistent.
The entire unit moved forward with compressed steps, and the envoys and generals on the platform watched in awe, never having imagined they would one day hold their breath and appreciate a parade ceremony.
Even the Russian Envoy, who originally looked down on the French Imperial Army, couldn’t help but worry for the Russian Empire at that mont. Could they truly defeat this army before their eyes?
Everyone on the platform montarily forgot to breathe, forgot everything, until the First Brigade parade personnel completely put away their rifles and left the platform, returning the way they ca.
Under the guidance of a certain general, the envoys and generals on the platform erupted in thunderous applause, and Jero Bonaparte likewise applauded the bold behavior of the First Brigade.
It’s known that any mistake in the parade ceremony would lead from Conrobel to the regint commander facing severe punishnt, and the soldiers participating might also perish because of it.
However, having succeeded, they would not face any rebuke; instead, they would receive applause from the platform and accolades from Jero Bonaparte.
After the First Brigade, the Second and Third Brigades dispatched three tis more personnel than the First Brigade to participate in the parade. Although they had more soldiers than the First Brigade, the impact they delivered was far less, all in all relatively average.
Once all the elite units had been reviewed, the next to march were other units from the Seine Military District, whose soldiers also, under the command of their regint commander, enthusiastically chanted "Long live the Empire!"
After each unit passed, Jero Bonaparte always removed his hat in respect.
The entire parade ceremony lasted nearly more than two hours, and when the last reviewed artillery unit appeared, it ant that all parade events had concluded.
Every 12-pound Grand Napoleon Bronze Cannon was pulled into the parade ground by two horses, and everyone was once again astonished by the caliber of the Grand Napoleon Cannon.
However, no one felt particularly shocked, as there were indeed too many large-caliber cannons of this era, most of them cumberso and with relatively short firing range.
In their eyes, the Grand Napoleon Cannon was at most a miniature version of the 24-pound siege cannon, with even less range than the Napoleon Cannon.
"France is just doing a lot of pointless work!" The Russian Envoy in the crowd seized another opportunity to quietly mock the French artillery unit, saying, "Such cannons with diocre power and range applied on the battlefield would probably be laughed at."
The Swedish envoy standing beside the Russian Envoy rely smiled slightly and did not respond.
The self-deflated Russian Envoy could only curse Jero Bonaparte in his mind while fixing his gaze on Rifat.
At this ti, Rifat was still intently observing the Napoleon Cannon, afraid of missing any detail.
The hazy subconsciousness told him that a cannon showcased in such a setting must be sothing worthwhile.
The departure of the artillery unit marked the complete end of the parade ceremony. Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte delivered a farewell address, and the troops from the Chatori region began to take over.
Under the leadership of officials from various departnts, the troops successively went to designated low-profile dining locations, where garlic sausages, cold chicken, and diluted champagne beca the main als for the soldiers.
Jero Bonaparte and others once again dined inside the castle.
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