It is written in "The Biography of Napoleon". .

The following is a short story``

Napoleon and Josephine

□ (USA) Dale Carnegie

Josephine Six years older than Napoleon. When they first met, she was thirty-three and he was just twenty-seven. She was not very pretty, had bad teeth, had two and a half-year-old children, and was deeply in debt. But she has one huge asset: she knows how to manipulate men. She is a widow and has experience.

When the French Revolution beheaded her first husband, she found herself unable to make ends meet. So, as the wisest woman would do, she set out to find a husband.

One of her friends told her about Napoleon. He was not yet famous and penniless. In fact, he just came back from the war and the only thing he brought back was scabies on his head. He had to shave his head to get rid of the disease.

But Josephine's friends told her that Napoleon would become famous. Then Josephine was eager to see him.

But how to see him? She came up with a clever idea. She sent her twelve-year-old son to Napoleon to ask him if he could have his dead father's sword back. Naturally, Napoleon said he could. So the next day, with heavy makeup and light makeup, Josephine went to thank Napoleon and shed tears of gratitude for his great mercy.

Napoleon was deeply impressed by Josephine's personality and special charm. When she invited him to her house for tea, he was absolutely flattered. When he came for tea, she said he would become the greatest general in history. Three months later, they announced their engagement.

Napoleon was always true to his words and resolute in his deeds, and never missed an appointment. His famous saying is: "Timing is everything." Once he said: "I may lose victory, but no one will see me lose even a minute." However, he was two hours late for his own wedding. The priest officiating at the wedding yawned and fell asleep before Napoleon arrived.

Forty-eight hours after the wedding, Napoleon set out for Italy to start a new war. His troops were underfed and poorly clothed, but he fought a brilliant battle that shocked the entire European continent. Europe has not experienced such war for thousands of years.

The most amazing thing is that even on the battlefield, Napoleon actually found time to write a letter to Josephine every day. What a letter! Passionate rush. In 1933, eight love letters from Napoleon to Josephine were sold at a public auction in London for $20,000. I have read these letters and believe they would have been worth that much even in 1933.

For example:

“My dear Josephine:

“You fill my whole body and soul with a love for you, a love that It took away my sanity - I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, ignored my friends. I don't care about glory. The reason why I long for victory is just to make you happy. Otherwise, I will leave the army, run back to Paris, and fall at your feet.

"You fill my whole body and mind with infinite love and an intoxicating enthusiasm. There is not a moment when I am not looking at your photo, and there is not a moment when I am not in your photo. Covered with my kisses”

However, he did decide to divorce her. He made this decision for one reason only: he needed a wife who could give him children. He broke his own heart in doing so. He cried as he signed the divorce papers. For the next three days, he sat in the palace, meditating with dull eyes, refusing to see anyone or do anything. Shortly after their divorce, Napoleon married Marie Louise. Like all Austrians, she was born to despise Napoleon. When he began to fail, she abandoned him and even taught his son to hate him.

Napoleon's first, last and only true love was Josephine. After her death, he went to visit her grave, cried, and said:

"My dear Josephine, at least she will never abandon me."

Napoleon passed away The last word spoken before was "Josephine."

◎Host’s remarks: Shocking love is always worthy of being praised and immortalized. In history, such love is not uncommon. In China, there are Overlord and Concubine Yu, Emperor Ming of Tang Dynasty and Yang Yuhuan; abroad, there are Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson, and Napoleon and Josephine.

But what is Carnegie trying to tell us in this article? Is it Josephine's scheme? Or Napoleon's infatuation? Or is there always a great woman behind a successful man? Maybe we don't need to guess or analyze, it just tells a touching love story, which is so beautiful and fascinating because of its passion and loyalty. It's that simple.