Make France Great Again-Chapter 118 The Empire’s "Three Heroes

Compared to Thiers, who is limited by "historical constraints," Jerome Bonaparte, with his "God’s perspective," is clearly on the right path.

Since the Order Party crushes him in political capital within the National Assembly, why should he confine himself to the framework of the National Assembly? Stepping out and crushing the framework of the National Assembly is Jerome Bonaparte’s best choice.

On May 20th, after nearly more than two months of preparation, the Military Secretariat (Staff Department) directly under the President was officially established.

To show the President’s emphasis on the Secretariat, Jerome Bonaparte specially instructed Percy to choose a suitable location near the Elysee Palace as the office of the President’s Military Secretariat.

Percy visited all the mansions near the Elysee Palace and finally found a suitable residence.

After inquiring from multiple sources, it was discovered that the original owner of the palace was Louis Philippe, who was in exile in London.

Initially planning to nationalize the palace, Jerome Bonaparte abandoned this idea considering the proportion of the Orléans Faction within the Order Party.

Instead, he negotiated with Audion Barrot to use the unoccupied palace as the office of the President’s Military Secretariat.

Audion Barrot immediately agreed with Jerome Bonaparte’s idea. In his view, letting Jerome Bonaparte play with his "little toy" was much less harmful than him meddling in politics.

After a conversation, Audion Barrot subtly hinted at the idea of wanting to allocate funds to Louis Philippe, living in London. Unwilling to allocate funds for Louis Philippe, Jerome Bonaparte had to change the subject.

On May 23rd, all the military personnel selected for the President’s Military Secretariat arrived early at the newly established office waiting for the arrival of President Jerome Bonaparte.

At 9 a.m., a gilt open-top bridge-style carriage stopped below the Military Secretariat.

Noticing the striking Golden Bee emblem on the carriage, the officer guarding the Secretariat’s entrance hurriedly ran inside.

Soon after, three lieutenant colonels appeared at the entrance, hurriedly running to greet, "Mr. President!"

Jerome Bonaparte nodded to each and called out their names and ranks: "Lieutenant Colonel Edmond Leboeuf, Lieutenant Colonel François Achille Bazaine, Lieutenant Colonel Louis Jules Trochu!"

The three lieutenant colonels showed excited expressions when their names were called. They hadn’t expected the President to remember their names, clearly underestimating Jerome Bonaparte’s regard for the Secretariat.

If Jerome Bonaparte knew their thoughts, he would definitely retort in his heart, "Your names are resounding in future textbooks."

Edmond Leboeuf, future Marshal of the French Empire, succeeded the deceased Nie’er as Minister of War, and was the last Minister of War of the Second Empire, accompanying his cousin during the Franco-Prussian War in a bridge-style carriage prepared by Bismarck.

François Achille Bazaine, future Marshal of the French Empire, "commanded" the French war in Mexico, was besieged by Old Maoqi in Metz during the Franco-Prussian War, surrendering 170,000 soldiers without a fight, and thus losing France’s last Field Army.

Trochu during the Franco-Prussian War served as Governor of Paris and Commander of the National Guard, later became President of the National Defense Government after the overthrow of the Second Empire, and subsequently discussed French surrender with Thiers and others.

If Old Maoqi, Ron, and Bismarck were known as the Three Masters of the German Empire, Leboeuf, Bazaine, and Trochu could be called the Three Masters of Imperial Doom.

When Jerome Bonaparte first received the list, he nearly suspected if this was a hint from God.

Others have the talents of Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix, but I have even more than a Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix.

Of course, jokes aside, Jerome Bonaparte had some understanding of the Franco-Prussian War; the Second Empire’s problems were not entirely due to military command errors, but deeper institutional and systemic issues.

The 400,000 French Army had to fight against the 1,000,000 Prussian Army (standing forces + reserve), and even if the French Army had supernatural abilities, it was impossible to win.

Therefore, when General Liu Eri handed over the officers’ information to Jerome Bonaparte, he did not dismiss them. He believed in human initiative and was willing to give them an opportunity to learn.

"Good day, Mr. President!" The oldest of the three lieutenant colonels, Leboeuf, respectfully greeted Jerome Bonaparte.

Seeing this, Bazaine and Trochu also showed due respect to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte smiled and extended his hand to shake hands with each of them.

Led by Leboeuf and others, Jerome Bonaparte came to a hall large enough to accommodate 200 people.

The entire Secretariat team formed a formation, solemnly watching the front.

Meeting them for the first time, Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with each and asked for their names and ages.

After thoroughly questioning everyone, Jerome Bonaparte now had full knowledge of the officers’ complete information.

Overall, this is a group of Young Turks; except for a few 40-year-old officers, most officers were generally in their 20s to 30s. Most of them joined as junior officers from military school directly into Algeria, possessing significant practical experience and yet not having ossified minds, exactly the sharp, innovative military command personnel Jerome Bonaparte needed.

"Sit down!"

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s order, the officers took seats according to their ranks.

Leboeuf and Bazaine sat on either side of Jerome Bonaparte.

"Gentlemen, I think many of you may have doubts in your hearts!" Jerome Bonaparte scanned all the officers present, seeing confusion, apprehension, and the ever-burning ambition in their eyes.

These are exactly the kind of people I’m looking for! Ambition can drive them to serve me and crush all enemies in the name of the country!

Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly and said calmly, "You want to ask what is the Secretariat? What functions do they have? More frankly, what benefits can it bring us!"

No one present spoke, but their eyes spoke for them.

"If I tell you that the President’s Military Secretariat is an auxiliary institution, would you still be willing to continue working?" Jerome Bonaparte changed his tone, placing his hand on the table as he spoke.

"Of course!" Lieutenant Colonel Bazaine was the first to express his loyalty to Jerome Bonaparte: "Since Mr. President brought us from Algeria, we are already prepared!"

"That’s right!"

"Exactly!"

Many agreed with Lieutenant Colonel Bazaine.

Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction, knowing that at any time, flattery is never annoying, provided that the flattery is in due order.

"Your institution is somewhat special!" Jerome Bonaparte eyed everyone present sharply: "Its uniqueness lies in that your every move concerns the lives and deaths of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands."

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