Lightly equipped Jero Bonaparte and William I rode their horses towards the north, escorted by the Württemberg Guard Cavalry, and soon arrived at the forest on the outskirts of Stuttgart.
Riding on horseback, William I tightened the reins and stopped at the edge of the forest, turning his head to ask Jero Bonaparte, who was half a horse’s length behind him, "Shall we see who can hunt more?"
"Of course!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and responded to William I, then grabbed the reins with one hand and pulled out the Minie Rifle strapped to the horse with the other hand, placing it on his shoulder like a western cowboy.
By the way, the Württemberg Kingdom’s army is equipped similarly to the French Empire, with their main weapon also being the Minie Rifle, which is also manufactured by the French Empire.
William I looked at his spirited son-in-law with a slight smile and continued driving his horse forward.
Jero Bonaparte also gently tapped the horse with the barrel of his gun, and the horse, receiving the signal to speed up, started trotting to catch up with William I.
The Württemberg Guard Cavalry followed far behind Jero Bonaparte and William I.
This way, they wouldn’t disturb the delightful hunting of the father and son-in-law, while also providing good protection for them.
And so, the father and son-in-law silently trekked deeper into the forest.
After advancing about five hundred ters, Jero Bonaparte and William I simultaneously spotted their first prey, a young deer that was grazing with its head down, seemingly oblivious to the danger it was in, just continually munching on grass.
"You go first!" William I let Jero Bonaparte take the first shot at the target.
"Then I’ll be impolite!"
Jero Bonaparte did not show any restraint, swiftly dismounting and handing the reins to the Guard Cavalry who followed behind them, then took a Minie bullet from the ammunition pouch at his waist.
He tore open the Minie bullet packaging and poured the gunpowder and bullet head into the barrel, then used a ramrod to compress the bullet and gunpowder completely, finally leveling the rifle and placing the rcury fulminate on the firing pin.
The entire process took less than 30 seconds to complete, surprising William I who was watching from horseback.
Jero Bonaparte aid at the prey and pulled the trigger.
The sound of gunfire echoed through the entire forest, and the prey which was about 200 ters away from Jero Bonaparte fell to the ground within a second of the shot.
Blood gushed from the young deer’s wound, and as it lay dying on the ground, it let out a sad cry.
At that mont, Jero Bonaparte rely looked calmly at the fallen animal, his lips unconsciously forming a satisfied smile.
For hunters, the sound of an animal’s cry is the most pleasant sound.
"Nice! Nice!" William I also praised Jero Bonaparte’s marksmanship, "Your speed in loading ammunition and shooting accuracy is comparable to that of so veterans!"
"Just a hobby! Just a hobby!" Jero Bonaparte modestly replied to William I.
Then Jero Bonaparte mounted his horse again and continued moving forward with William I.
As for the dying young deer, there are people specifically tasked with collecting the ga, and it will be served at dinner without Jero Bonaparte having to worry about it.
About 50 ters further along, William I again asked Jero Bonaparte, "Jero, what do you think about the current situation of the Russian Empire?"
Jero Bonaparte was stunned for a few seconds, secretly thinking: This old man wouldn’t be trying to speak on behalf of Alexander II!
"That’s Russia’s internal affairs, I have no right to intervene!" Jero Bonaparte diplomatically responded to William I.
"Then what’s with the rifles and cannons of the Golitsyn Governnt?" William I questioned Jero Bonaparte once more.
Sure enough, Alexander’s spokesperson!
"Those are rely comrcial exchanges and do not represent the attitude of the French Governnt!" Jero Bonaparte replied to William I without showing any sign of nervousness, "Our governnt can’t possibly supervise even enterprise orders, can it? If they control everything, then how can the Empire develop!"
"Then what about the Polish and Hungarian volunteers appearing in the Golitsyn Governnt?" William I asked Jero Bonaparte once again.
"You should ask Franz Joseph and Maximilian about that!" Jero Bonaparte continued to shirk responsibility.
William I looked at Jero Bonaparte, sighed, and said to Jero Bonaparte, "Ah! I knew you would say that!"
"Cough... cough, Lord Mount Tai! I honestly don’t know!" Jero Bonaparte continued denying.
In any case, as long as he insists he knows nothing, then Alexander II won’t be able to do anything to him.
Alexander II can’t possibly turn against him right now, and Jero Bonaparte believes that even after the war ends, Alexander II will have to carefully consider the cost of turning against him.
Because the Russian Empire’s post-war reconstruction relies heavily on the support of the French Empire.
"I knew it! You would say that!" William I repeated once more, then changed the subject, "However, Augusta might not be able to hold the line over there!"
Jero Bonaparte’s expression froze. He had forgotten that Empress Augusta was with his mother, Queen Paulina, whose family hailed from the Russian Empire.
If Augusta were to soften montarily, Jero Bonaparte would find it hard to manage the situation.
Of course, Jero Bonaparte did not worry that William I and Paulina would cause them harm.
After all, the interests of the Kingdom of Württemberg and France were essentially intertwined.
"It’s alright! I believe Empress Augusta won’t know either!" Jero Bonaparte responded to his father-in-law with a smile still on his face. (The implied ssage being that he did not wish to discuss these matters.)
"Alright then!" William I nodded, not dwelling on the discussion of these matters.
The two continued their hunting until around 5 PM when they concluded.
"It’s getting late! We should head back!" William I said to Jero Bonaparte upon hitting a hare in the distance.
"Indeed!" Jero Bonaparte nodded in agreent.
The father-in-law and son-in-law turned their horses around and retraced their steps along the path they had taken into the forest. The hare shot by William I was also conveniently carried back by the Guard Cavalry.
After a thorough tally, Jero Bonaparte had shot eight ga animals, each with a single shot.
William I shot seven ga animals, two of which required a second shot to be brought down.
Therefore, the victor of this hunting ga was undoubtedly Jero Bonaparte.
At 5:30 PM, Jero Bonaparte and William I arrived at the royal palace in Stuttgart.
The father-in-law and son-in-law entered the palace together, after which Jero Bonaparte inquired about Empress Augusta’s whereabouts.
"Her Majesty the Empress is currently in Her Majesty Queen Paulina’s room!" the Royal Chief Steward hurriedly replied and then further inquired, "Your Majesty, would you like to summon Her Majesty the Empress?"
"No, that’s not necessary!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head and then went with his father-in-law to the parlor to rest.
With about an hour and a half remaining until dinner, Jero Bonaparte and William I sipped tea and chatted.
After about an hour, the Royal Chief Steward appeared in the parlor and inford Jero Bonaparte that Empress Augusta requested his presence.
Jero Bonaparte quickly set down his teacup with an apologetic smile.
"Go on!" William I waved his hand, indicating that Jero Bonaparte could leave.
Under the guidance of the Royal Chief Steward, Jero Bonaparte arrived at the door of a room.
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is inside!" the Royal Chief Steward respectfully inford Jero Bonaparte.
"Thank you for your hard work!" Jero Bonaparte nodded slightly and then pushed the door open and entered.
"Jero, you’ve co!" Empress Augusta said as she glanced at Jero Bonaparte entering the room.
"Yes!" Jero Bonaparte nodded and then asked Empress Augusta why she had summoned him.
Empress Augusta relayed to Jero Bonaparte the conversation she had with her mother.
As expected by William I, the entire conversation between Empress Augusta and her mother, Queen Paulina, revolved around the Russian Empire.
However, Queen Paulina did not directly broach the subject like William I initially suggested. She first chatted with Augusta about childhood matters, then gradually steered the conversation towards certain individuals in the Russian Empire, eventually guiding it to the entire Russian Empire.
By the ti Empress Augusta realized that her mother was intentionally steering the conversation, Queen Paulina had already begun asking about the French Empire’s views on the situation in the Russian Empire!
"What did you say?" Jero Bonaparte asked Empress Augusta.
"I told my mother, I don’t know!" Empress Augusta replied to Jero Bonaparte, "I told her that all of the Imperial Governnt’s policies are independently decided!"
"What else did Mother-in-law say?" Jero Bonaparte continued to ask.
"My mother hopes I can persuade you to stop supporting the Golitsyn governnt and uphold the Holy Monarchy!" Empress Augusta answered Jero Bonaparte.
"The Holy Monarchy!" Jero Bonaparte let out a mocking smile, "Now, in the land of Russia, there are two governnts, two Tsars. Which one truly represents the Holy Monarchy?"
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