"Long live the Empire, long live Bonaparte!"

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the Guard Army, Jerome Bonaparte took Friedrich’s hand and shook hands with each officer of the Guard Army.

When shaking hands with Jerome Bonaparte, each Guard Army officer could hear their name precisely called out by him, as he warmly inquired about their family situations.

The Guard Army officers, when asked about their family situations, gratefully expressed their thanks for Jerome Bonaparte’s concern, and silently vowed in their hearts to swear loyalty to the Monarch before them.

Apart from kinship, few could care for them like the Emperor did.

Of course, the Guard Army officers present were well aware that the Emperor’s concern was merely to win their hearts; they were willing to be wooed this way, willing to be loyal to such an affectionate Emperor.

After Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with all the Guard Army officers stationed near Fontainebleau Palace, he and his son stood on the temporary open-air platform built by the Guard Army, under the watchful eyes of all soldiers and officers.

Standing on the stage laid with a red carpet, Jerome Bonaparte scanned the soldiers and officers below with his gaze, discovering nearly all eyes directed at him, which made the Emperor feel a long-lost sense of pressure.

This pressure was even greater than when he faced representatives of the Legislative Corps in the Bourbon Palace.

After all, the Guard Army stationed near Fontainebleau comprised nearly an entire division, with almost ten thousand soldiers appearing here, if not eight thousand.

They represented the most violent mechanism of France, and there was no other mechanism comparable.

No one and no organization could confront such a violent mechanism head-on, even though the Emperor knew they were loyal to him, facing such a mechanism inevitably brought unknown pressure to anyone.

Thus, Jerome Bonaparte was somewhat worried whether Friedrich could handle the scene before him, and out of concern, he carefully glanced at Friedrich.

At this moment, Friedrich’s face was pale, a few drops of sweat trickled down his forehead, and his hand continuously rubbed against Jerome Bonaparte’s hand.

It was clear that Friedrich was very tense; it was his first time facing so many soldiers and officers.

The fact that he was not overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere was enough to prove Friedrich’s psychological resilience far exceeded that of other children his age.

However, Friedrich was after all only a five-year-old child.

So, Jerome Bonaparte, in front of the soldiers and officers present, held Friedrich in his arms, pointing at the soldiers and officers in the distance and said to Friedrich, "Friedrich, don’t be afraid!

The uncles present are the Bonaparte Clan’s most loyal partners and friends, their presence is to protect the Empire, so they will never harm us!

Therefore, I hope you will never forget them, forget these most adorable people of the Empire!

Without them, there would be no Empire; as long as the Bonaparte family exists, the status of soldiers will never be harmed!

The Army and Bonaparte coexist!"

As soon as Jerome Bonaparte’s words fell, he immediately received cheers from the officers and soldiers below the stage.

For these soldiers, no words sounded as appealing as the Emperor’s recent speech.

The army created the Empire, and deservedly enjoyed the honor of rebuilding the Empire.

And these Guard Army members were the honor within the Imperial Army, and deservedly closer to the Emperor than other armies.

The Emperor, in return for this priceless loyalty, naturally should give them more generous treatment than ordinary armies.

This is equivalent exchange.

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire! Long live Bonaparte!"

Cries resounded across the open-air venue, all the officers and soldiers in the place shouted more frantically than before, hoping to make their Monarch aware of their loyalty in this manner.

Facing the shouts from the officers and soldiers, Jerome Bonaparte smiled and waved in acknowledgment.

Friedrich, held in Jerome Bonaparte’s arms, watched the hysterical shouts in the venue, showing a mix of fear and excitement; such feelings were beyond what he could ever experience in learning.

The young Friedrich imitated his father’s gesture, waving his tender palms towards the soldiers and officers below the stage.

Soon, the sound "Long live the Crown Prince" emerged among the crowd below, adding "Long live the Crown Prince" amidst "Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire."

"Friedrich, they are offering their loyalty to you!" Jerome Bonaparte whispered to Friedrich Bonaparte.

"Father, how should I respond to them?" Friedrich asked Jerome Bonaparte with a slight tremor in his voice.

"You don’t need to respond to them, just silently enjoy this moment and then firmly imprint it in your heart!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Friedrich.

Friedrich obediently followed Jerome Bonaparte’s advice. His eyes, like black pearls, scanned around as if wanting to imprint everything around him into his memory.

Once the cheers gradually subsided, Jerome Bonaparte began his formal speech.

He first praised the Guard Army soldiers for their recent diligent duties and then announced the list of units that achieved excellent results in the recent "Grand Contest."

"Next, Crown Prince Friedrich will personally read the names of the outstanding units!

All commanders of the units whose names are called, please come forward to receive the honors on behalf of your unit!"

Jerome Bonaparte loudly informed the audience, then let Friedrich down.

Friedrich was clearly at a loss at the moment; he didn’t understand why his father had not discussed this with him beforehand and had instead made the decision that he would read the list.

Although Friedrich’s mental resilience had already far surpassed others of his age, he was ultimately still just a child.

Under the gaze of so many people, Friedrich couldn’t help but feel a bit timid, especially concerning the very important task of reading the commendation list (something very ordinary for Jerome Bonaparte but very significant for Friedrich for the first time),

So, with a slight plea in his eyes, Friedrich hoped his father would retract the order.

However, at that moment, Jerome Bonaparte seemed unwilling to retract the command, patting Friedrich’s shoulder to encourage him, "Be brave! You are the future of the Empire!"

Immediately, the Emperor’s Aide Bulbaski came forward, handing Friedrich the document containing the commended units’ information with both hands and quietly encouraging Friedrich.

"Your Highness, be courageous! This is a test from Your Majesty!"

After saying this, Bulbaski rose and returned from the stage to the floor.

Friedrich, feeling immense pressure, had tears welling in his eyes, but the young boy understood from his time spent with his father that crying wouldn’t solve any problems.

His mother would compromise because of his tears, but his father would not condone his behavior because of them.

Therefore, Friedrich chose to read the names of the units on the list.

As Friedrich read the names of the companies in his childish voice, the commanders of those companies stepped out from the crowd onto the stage. They each saluted Jerome Bonaparte and Friedrich Bonaparte with a standard military salute and then stood behind the Emperor and Crown Prince.

When the Crown Prince finished reading all the names, more than ten commanders were already standing on stage.

Next, Bulbaski walked up the stage again, followed by a line of soldiers, each holding a bronze plaque inscribed with "First Prize of the National Grand Contest," "Second Prize of the National Grand Contest," and "Third Prize of the National Grand Contest." Each plaque had Jerome Bonaparte’s signature at the bottom right.

Jerome Bonaparte handed out the plaques to the commanding officers who had received awards one by one, shaking hands with them and encouraging them to continue their efforts.

The commanding officers who received the "First Prize" plaque enthusiastically promised Jerome Bonaparte they would maintain their current performance, while those who received the "Second" and "Third Prizes" vowed to Jerome Bonaparte that in the next "Grand Contest," their units would strive for the "First Prize."

Looking at the competitive commanders, Jerome Bonaparte’s heart was delighted.

For him, a small plaque didn’t cost much, but it could instill a sense of collective honor in an army, making them eager to offer their loyalty.

Is there any better deal than this under heaven!

Subsequently, at Jerome Bonaparte’s call, all soldiers in the venue applauded the awarded units, the venue filled with applause like waves.

Amid the continuous applause, the company commanders left the stage.

Jerome Bonaparte gestured for silence with his hand, then spoke to halt the applause.

Once the applause ceased, Jerome Bonaparte announced once again that units receiving "First, Second, and Third Prizes" would also receive a substantial bonus bestowed by the royal family.

Of course, those guarding troops who did not receive awards would still receive some extra stipend.

[Jerome Bonaparte had already calculated the bonuses, totaling around five million francs.

Though said to be royal stipends, they were actually contributions from Parisian entrepreneurs to the Emperor.]

For a moment, cries of "Long live the Emperor" reached Jerome Bonaparte’s ears once more.

Jerome Bonaparte and Friedrich left the stage amid cheers, arriving at a small independent building near the military camp.

Bulbaski came to Jerome Bonaparte’s side, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress’s envoy has arrived!"