Make France Great Again-Chapter 159: Cleansing the Ministry of War

Why is it you?

When faced with Count Opler’s cautious inquiry, Jerome Bonaparte was momentarily unsure whether it was appropriate to reveal the truth to Count Opler. He certainly couldn’t just tell Count Opler that he was merely being used as a transitional puppet, and once everything settled down, he would be swiftly kicked aside.

Such an honest reply, although sincere, had a connotation of "using someone and discarding them."

If there were no proper arrangements for Count Opler afterward, it would create an impression that "working for the President has no good outcome," thereby casting a negative light on Jerome Bonaparte’s policy of uniting more allies. He disguised his intentions with a half-truth, half-lie answer: "General Opler, I believe you are aware of what happened recently with Prime Minister Audion Barrot!"

Count Opler nodded, understanding that Jerome Bonaparte was referring to Audion Barrot’s news about his visit to London.

Seeing Count Opler nod, Jerome Bonaparte tactfully said: "Even though such a ’shocking’ event occurred in the Republic, many members of parliament still oppose my dismissal of Prime Minister Audion Barrot!

If I forcibly dismiss Audion Barrot using my authority, the Order Party will undoubtedly retaliate against me. Their retaliation will also be limited to the issue of cabinet appointments, as they’ll incite a group of Order Party members to refuse my invitation to join the cabinet.

Even so, I do not wish to make enemies with them, so I need a bridge to ease communication with them. General Opler, you understand what I mean, don’t you!"

Count Opler understood the President’s intention; Jerome Bonaparte appointed him Prime Minister purely because of his Orléans Faction background, while he was also one of the few people maintaining a good relationship with the President.

Of course, Adolf Fuld was also a political banker who maintained a good relationship with the Orléans Faction, but considering his dual ’debuff’ of being both Jewish and a banker, Jerome Bonaparte did not want to stir up people’s disgust towards the Orléans Dynasty, so he excluded him.

"Mr. President, I am a soldier, and you should know that soldiers have no party affiliation. Soldiers pledge allegiance to the entire nation, even though I was once elevated by the Bourbons and Orléans..." Count Opler responded respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

Soldiers have no party affiliation?

General Opler’s words almost made Jerome Bonaparte burst into laughter. Lower and mid-level military officers might not have clear political affiliations; their task is singular: obey the orders from above.

Once entering the upper ranks of the military, claiming the military has no party affiliation is nothing short of a joke; high-ranking officers in the military are often divided into factions.

If the Paris Regular Army and National Guard commander weren’t named Changarnier, Jerome Bonaparte wouldn’t have needed to expend so much effort replacing the cabinet, swapping out the Minister of War, and reallocating combat units to integrate different factions within the military.

With the influence of his uncle backing him, he could easily rally the army to turn Paris upside down.

Though, with Jerome Bonaparte’s increasing influence over the military, the only obstacles before him were Changarnier and his few trusted sub-commanders under the First Division.

If not for the ambiguous stance from the Ministry of War, Jerome Bonaparte could completely push them out of Paris.

Everything would have to wait for General Renio to return to Paris.

The letter should have already reached General Renio, Jerome Bonaparte thought to himself.

"Indeed, soldiers are the guarantors of national stability and also France’s crucial defense against foreign nations. I chose someone like you to be Prime Minister because I see that quality of national loyalty in you! I believe a person’s skills can be developed through training, but a person’s character is innate.

General Opler, you once led France’s courageous soldiers in numerous campaigns, earning significant victories. That itself shows you are a man with rich management experience, and now it’s just a matter of shifting from commanding the army to commanding the cabinet!"

Since General Opler was willing to pin a "non-partisan" badge on himself, Jerome Bonaparte gladly allowed it.

"Mr. President, thank you for your trust in me! I will strive not to disappoint in leading the cabinet!" Count Opler spoke to Jerome Bonaparte with excitement, then his expression changed to one of sincere humbleness, as he spread his hands and sighed: "In truth, it’s far too challenging for someone like me, with no governance experience, to serve as Prime Minister and lead the cabinet. However, given your enlistment, Mr. President, I am, of course, willing to serve the nation for a period. I hope, Mr. President, that you can agree to one condition of mine!"

General Opler looked at him intently, believing that Jerome Bonaparte had already tacitly allowed him to be indecisive.

Aware that he had little experience in governance, through his conversation with Jerome Bonaparte, he understood that he was merely a transitional figure. After his departure, this position might very well be promised to someone else at the banquet; his aim was to gather enough experience in this role, and serving as the Prime Minister under the Emperor’s nephew might not necessarily be better than staying in the military.

"What condition?" Jerome Bonaparte asked immediately.

He wasn’t afraid of Opler having conditions, but of him having none.

Having conditions meant there could be a trade of interests; no conditions meant Jerome Bonaparte might face a troublesome problem.

"Mr. President, please allow me to resign from this position at the appropriate time! I am a soldier, my life should belong to the army!" General Oppel said forcefully, with a genuine touch of a soldier’s iron blood in his words.

"General, I can assure you, you won’t be detained for long! A general indifferent to fame and wealth will always be favored by destiny." Jerome Bonaparte replied to Count Oppel.

Having never expected Count Oppel to become a true figure of power, Jerome Bonaparte planned to quickly oust Oppel from the cabinet once the Ministry of War stabilized. If Oppel voluntarily proposed to resign, that would be even better.

The principle of Jerome Bonaparte is that as long as you don’t block my path, then we can part amicably and wait for a promotion.

If you block my path, then I will not hesitate to kick you out.

"Mr. President, thank you again for appointing me as the Prime Minister!" General Oppel bowed slightly to Jerome Bonaparte, having decided to serve as the cabinet Prime Minister, even if it is just a puppet position.

"I hope we will have a pleasant cooperation in the future!" Jerome Bonaparte extended his hand to General Oppel.

"I also wish you all the best!" Count Oppel, equally in tacit understanding, shook hands with Jerome Bonaparte, as he had understood what Jerome Bonaparte intended to do.

The position of President could not satisfy the ambitions of the Emperor’s nephew.

...

While Jerome Bonaparte was conversing with Oppel, a secret meeting was also taking place in a villa near Rome.

The participants included the deputy commander of the Roman Expeditionary Army Edgar Ney, the commander of the Roman Expeditionary Army General Reniao, the "Chief of Logistics" of the Roman Expeditionary Army Brigadier General Nie’er, as well as some officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel and colonel. They were the backbone members of the Expeditionary Army and loyal supporters of the Bonaparte Faction.

With subtle influences over three months, General Reniao had turned them into supporters of the Bonaparte Faction.

Under the light of the glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling, General Reniao, seated at the head of the long mahogany table, nodded to Edgar Ney beside him, who immediately took out a letter and handed it to General Reniao.

Everyone’s attention focused simultaneously on the letter, knowing that the letter was the key to this meeting.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have received a handwritten letter from His Highness Prince! His Highness Prince commends your brave and fearless performance in the Roman War and the handling of post-war Rome! He assures you that your contributions will be duly rewarded!" General Reniao began by lavishly praising the officers.

In some ways, these soldiers indeed brought him glory.

Everyone present smiled; there’s no one who doesn’t like receiving praise from their leaders and then getting promoted.

Then, General Reniao dropped a "bombshell" to everyone present: "The President said he will nominate me to serve as the Minister of War of France!"

The moment Reniao announced his appointment as the Minister of War, all the officers present couldn’t remain calm, knowing that the difference in power between a Minister of War trusted by the President and one not trusted by the President was as far apart as the ground and the sky.

If General Reniao wanted to, as the Minister of War, he could completely clean up the entire Ministry of War and then place some of his people there.

This meant that those who had fought alongside General Reniao also had the opportunity to enter the Ministry of War.

After honing their skills for a few years in the Ministry of War, it would be easy for them to be assigned as a division commander elsewhere.

"General, you mustn’t forget us!"

"Yes! General, we are all supporters of the President..."

"General, we are your soldiers! Wherever you go, we will follow..."

"General, those weaklings in the Ministry of War are unreliable; only we are the President’s most loyal troops!"

...

The soldiers present shouted loudly, wanting to follow Reniao into the Paris Ministry of War, with a few bold ones openly declaring "I support the President’s coronation."

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