Make France Great Again-Chapter 130 Settling the Dust

June 13, 1849, 3 PM.

Under the "brilliant" leadership of President Jerome Bonaparte and the "excellent" command of General Shang Jia’nie, Lederer Roland and his accomplices were swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.

This time, Lederer Roland had no opportunity to flee to the National Museum and then make his way to London to act as a political fugitive.

Locked in prison by rude soldiers, he had only one path left—await trial.

On the other hand, the Order Party and Jerome Bonaparte, as victors, were in high spirits.

For the Order Party, the National Assembly would become solely their "Public Security Committee" after eliminating the Mountain Party.

For Jerome Bonaparte, after clearing away the stubborn Mountain Party and Republican Faction, the seemingly large Order Party became nothing but a paper tiger.

The Order Party with the Mountain Party and Republican Faction as enemies would not collapse due to interests; however, without these two parties, the secondary contradictions would become the primary ones.

Jerome Bonaparte only needed to sit back and reap the benefits.

Accompanied by Shang Jia’nie, Jerome Bonaparte, on a white horse, once again inspected the regular army and the National Guard.

The soldiers formed into squares, awaiting the review by President Jerome Bonaparte and Commander Shangjia Ren. Whenever Jerome Bonaparte arrived at a square, the commanding officer would order their soldiers to shout: "Long live Napoleon!"

This was a slogan used by General Shang Jia’nie and Jerome Bonaparte after consultation to identify those loyal. Any army shouting "Long live Napoleon!" was considered loyal.

Indeed, when Jerome Bonaparte and Shang Jia’nie inspected the 8th, 9th, and 12th Corps of the National Guard, the officers of the 8th, 9th, and 12th Corps shouted: "Long live the Republic!"

General Shang Jia’nie gave a look to the adjutant beside him; the adjutant, having received Shang Jia’nie’s signal, nodded in understanding. He had secretly noted these three corps, just waiting for the parade to conclude, after which they would request Prime Minister Barro and Minister Liu Aili to sign papers disbanding the three corps, then swiftly dissolve them.

Poorly, the three colonels in charge of the corps were still unaware of the fate awaiting them.

After all the troops were reviewed, Jerome Bonaparte, escorted by the Dragoons of the army, headed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Minister Leon Fushi led the directors under the Ministry of Internal Affairs to welcome him personally.

"Mr. President!" Leon Fushi showed a flattering expression to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Minister Fushi, where are the traitor Lederer Roland and his accomplices currently held?" Jerome Bonaparte handed the white horse to a soldier beside him and dusted himself off.

"Report to the President, Lederer Roland and the others are confined in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ prison!" Leon Fushi responded.

"I’d like to see him! Is it possible?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired of Leon Fushi.

"Of course, Mr. President, please follow me!" Leading the way, Leon Fushi took Jerome Bonaparte to the prison under the police department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In this cellar-like prison, Jerome Bonaparte once again met Lederer Roland.

At this moment, Lederer Roland was no longer as he was before, covered in dust, with his forehead bruised as if he had been beaten up by someone.

Jerome Bonaparte speculated that Lederer Roland might have been beaten by the rough soldiers while resisting.

In just one day, a former parliamentarian had fallen to a prisoner, which was a great irony to France, who prided itself as the beacon of democracy.

"Mr. Lederer Roland, how did you become like this in just one day?" Jerome Bonaparte feigned surprise as he looked at Lederer Roland from outside the cell.

"Jerome Bonaparte!" Lederer Roland raised his head to look at him, shouting: "Don’t be complacent for too long! It won’t be long before you end up looking like me! They won’t spare you!"

"Mr. Roland!" Jerome Bonaparte gathered his surprised expression and then turned to one of mockery: "I wouldn’t want to overthrow the Republic like you. I respect the authority of the National Assembly and am willing to serve it! My colleagues in the Order Party are my closest allies; how could they become my enemies?"

"Yes! You’re just a puppet they’ve propped up, a thief squandering the legacy of a great man! They hardly have time to thank you!" Basically resigned, Lederer Roland laughed maniacally, as if bewitched: "History won’t spare you! The French people will definitely see through your ugly faces!"

"The people?" Jerome Bonaparte sneered dismissively: "What the people understand doesn’t depend on themselves, but on what we want them to understand. Which version of history are you talking about?"

"You ambitious man! You will eventually ruin the entire Republic!" Lederer Roland pointed at Jerome Bonaparte and exclaimed in grief and indignation.

"Mr. Roland! Quite the opposite, I will protect this beautiful Republic!" Jerome Bonaparte replied, adding internally: As long as this Republic can turn into an Empire!

Then Jerome Bonaparte asked again: "Mr. Roland, don’t you want to know your fate?"

Lederer Roland, inside the cell, sneered with disdain: "It’s no more than death!"

"No, no, no!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to Lederer Roland: "You will not die! After all, sentencing a few parliamentarians to death is embarrassing for the National Assembly, and after all, you were elected by workers’ votes. Let me tell you! You will be exiled as political prisoners to the South American Colony, where hopefully your theories can teach those natives to learn truth, goodness, and beauty." freёweɓnovel_com

In the unwritten exile policy of France, those with reputable status who have not caused significant harm to France are sent out of the country; whether they go to Brussels or London is up to them. The next tier of political offenders is exiled to the colonies in Algeria, and the lowest tier is exiled to French Guiana.

The first two tiers of offenders, if pardoned, might still have a chance to return to France.

For the lowest tier of political offenders, it means the French Government has no desire to even see them, and thus they are never granted a pardon.

"I will be there to witness your destruction!" Lederer Roland gritted his teeth and said word by word.

"Mr. Roland, you may not live to see that day! I wish you happiness in South America!" Jerome Bonaparte said politely, bowing to Lederer Roland before leaving.

Before leaving the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ prison, Jerome Bonaparte reminded Leon Fushi once again not to let Lederer Roland take his own life and to ensure that the judiciary system completes its trial. During Roland’s confinement, he must not meet with anyone.

Leon Fushi solemnly promised Jerome Bonaparte that he would not let him down.

Jerome Bonaparte got back on his horse and returned to the Elysee Palace.

On June 14, as soon as the news of Lederer Roland’s arrest spread, many sympathizing members of parliament visited the Elysee Palace. Some were members of the Moderate Republicans, others were from the Order Party; all pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte to pardon Lederer Roland.

Initially, Jerome Bonaparte pretended to be conflicted for a while, but eventually, he "could not resist" the entreaties and assured those who came to plead that he would do his utmost to help spare Roland the death penalty. However, while he may avoid death, he cannot escape punishment.

During the conversation with the members of parliament, Jerome Bonaparte clearly sensed that some of them seemed inclined to align themselves with the Elysee Palace.

The "Elysée Palace Faction" was no longer an empty shell in name only.

Evening of the 14th at 7 PM.

As the last ray of dusk disappeared over the horizon, night fell.

Minister of War Liu Eri took a carriage to the Elysee Palace for an appointment, the carriage drove straight through the gates of the Elysee Palace, and Liu Eri got off.

"Welcome, Mr. Earl Liu Eri!" Conrobel addressed him by his title while receiving him.

"Hmm!" Liu Eri nodded slightly.

Under Conrobel’s guidance, Liu Eri arrived at the dining room for the banquet.

"Mr. President is inside!" Conrobel said, pointing at a large door at the end.

Liu Eri walked to the door, and the two servants guarding it quickly opened it upon his arrival.

Once Liu Eri entered the room, the door closed again.

President Jerome Bonaparte was seated solemnly at the main table. Upon seeing Liu Eri’s arrival, he nodded slightly and invited him, "Please take a seat!"

"Good morning, Mr. President!" Liu Eri took his seat.

"Would you prefer red wine or brandy?" Jerome Bonaparte asked again.

After pondering for a moment, Liu Eri replied, "Brandy!"

Jerome Bonaparte gestured with a wave, and the servant quickly poured a glass of brandy for both Liu Eri and himself.

"Let’s begin!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the servant.

The servant, having received orders, promptly served dishes to Jerome Bonaparte and Liu Eri. Since the banquet used the French serving style, where all the dishes are served at once,

the table was laden with food, including caviar, foie gras, and escargot, all essentials for such an event.

Gazing at the steaming, fragrant delicacies before him, Liu Eri felt somewhat puzzled; what was the President’s purpose in inviting him here?

With this thought, a tinge of worry crept into Liu Eri’s heart.

He hoped the President wouldn’t ask him to do something beyond his capabilities.

"Mr. Minister!" Jerome Bonaparte raised his glass in a gesture.

Liu Eri hurriedly raised his glass as well, saying, "Mr. President!"

After taking a sip of his drink, Jerome Bonaparte joked half-seriously to Minister Liu Eri, "Mr. Minister, what are your thoughts on the Alps Army?"

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