Make France Great Again-Chapter 979 - 970: Compromise and Toughness

After Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, Minister Vayan still appeared somewhat resistant. He immediately inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, how are we supposed to explain to them? That territory was hard-won by them!"

"Vayan, stop talking nonsense!" Jerome Bonaparte sternly criticized, "What do you mean by ’territory hard-won by them’?

Do you take this place as a bandit’s lair, or a mob boss’s den?

For the territory they’ve conquered, should I, like a medieval monarch, enfeoff you as the Count of Rabat and delegate you to manage Rabat, and then enfeoff Montauban as the Count of Tangier to manage the lands around Tangier!

If you want me to do so, just tell me!

I guarantee to find you a fiefdom in Morocco, where you can serve as the highest official there!"

Seeing this, Minister Vayan had no choice but to smile awkwardly, indicating that he didn’t mean it that way.

As the Minister of War, he certainly didn’t want to run to Morocco to serve as a so-called feudal noble. With that time, he might as well throw himself into the financial market once.

A single financial speculation could earn him more money than he could make in a lifetime on a fief.

"So what did you mean just now? Were you implying that the entire France is only the military working, and other departments are not doing anything?" Jerome Bonaparte decided to give Vayan a proper reprimand.

"Your Majesty, I didn’t mean that either!" Minister Vayan denied again.

"Then what do you mean?" Jerome Bonaparte continued his intense questioning.

"I... I..." Minister Vayan was at a loss for words, and could only mumble incoherently.

"Your Majesty, I think Minister Vayan meant that the Kingdom of Morocco was conquered through the joint efforts of the military and all departments!

Simply giving it up would be difficult to explain!" At this moment, De Luyis interjected.

"Yes! That’s what I meant!" Minister Vayan quickly nodded, looking at De Luyis with gratitude.

If not for De Luyis’s interjection, he might have been at a complete loss.

"So that’s it!" Jerome Bonaparte’s expression softened, and he slowly said, "Vayan, if you had put it this way earlier!"

Upon hearing this, Vayan also breathed a sigh of relief, "Your Majesty, your imposing aura just now was so overwhelming that it made me a bit nervous, and I forgot what I wanted to say!"

"So, it’s my fault then!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a smile and a light-hearted tone.

"No, it’s my own fault!" Minister Vayan replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alright, enough about this!" Jerome Bonaparte said earnestly, placing his conjoined hands on his parted thighs, "Vayan, I understand the military’s perspective, and I know this may face opposition from some soldiers and officers in Algeria. However, what I want to say is that the military should not only focus on immediate interests, but we should look towards a broader future!

Africa still has many areas yet to be discovered, and many territories remain unclaimed!

We have plenty of time and energy to complete the occupation of the African region; the Kingdom of Morocco is not the end point; our journey is long!

Only by uniting more countries can France truly secure its leading position in Europe!"

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Vayan nodded in response to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Vayan once more, unsure whether Vayan truly understood or was simply acquiescing under pressure.

However, Jerome Bonaparte did not concern himself with whether Vayan was genuinely following orders or not.

As long as he was able to proceed according to his plan, it was sufficient.

With Jerome Bonaparte’s decision to focus the Moroccan Kingdom’s partition plan on winning over the Kingdom of Spain, De Luyis and Vayan began a new round of discussions.

In the end, Vayan and De Luyis each made a concession; Vayan agreed to cede the regions of Uzhan and north of Oujda to Spain, and De Luyis agreed not to give Tangier to the Kingdom of Spain.

"Now that’s settled!" Jerome Bonaparte clapped his hands with a smile, "There is no problem that cannot be solved through communication!

Whether in war or diplomacy, mutual exchange and communication should be achieved!

If you don’t communicate with others, how will they know what you are thinking..."

"Yes!" Minister Vayan and De Luyis responded to Jerome Bonaparte in unison.

"Minister Vayan, upon returning to the Ministry of War, immediately coordinate with the Colonial Department and the General Staff to issue orders to the Governor’s Mansion of Algeria, instructing them to withdraw from the territory we designated for the Kingdom of Spain as soon as possible!" Jerome Bonaparte first addressed Minister Vayan.

"Yes!" Minister Vayan replied forcefully.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to De Luyis, and continued, "Minister Luyis, the issue of Tangier’s jurisdiction is the focus of your talks with the Kingdom of Spain. I suspect they will use the previous verbal agreement as a pretext to occupy Tangier.

At that time, it will be the moment to witness the capabilities of your Ministry of Foreign Affairs!

I hope you won’t let me down like before!"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty!" De Luyis replied to Jerome Bonaparte with full confidence, "Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will definitely not disappoint you!"

"That’s good!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction twice, then turned his gaze back to Vayan and issued the order to leave: "Minister Vayan, I have some matters I want to discuss with De Luyis!

You can go back to your own affairs now!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Although Minister Vayan was curious about what Jerome Bonaparte and De Luyis would discuss, since Jerome Bonaparte had asked them to leave, Vayan naturally couldn’t refuse, and he reluctantly departed.

After Minister Vayan left, Jerome Bonaparte began to speak to De Luyis, "Luyis, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ report on the assassination case will soon be out!

Then, it’s up to you!"

"Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will definitely give it our all!" De Luyis assured Jerome Bonaparte, then he tactfully inquired which countries were involved in the assassination case.

"This assassination case involves two countries: the Kingdom of Britain and the Kingdom of Sardinia!" Jerome Bonaparte spoke slowly, calmly addressing De Luyis.

De Luyis showed a hint of surprise upon hearing this; he could understand the connection with the Kingdom of Sardinia.

After all, Jerome Bonaparte mentioned at the meeting more than ten days ago that Orsini was employed by the Sardinian Carbonari.

But the connection with the Kingdom of Britain truly surprised De Luyis.

However, upon reflection, De Luyis felt it made sense.

Because the government of the Kingdom of Britain is the country that harbors the most exiles from Europe.

Every exile would have some ties with the British Kingdom Government.

"Your Majesty, what role did the Kingdom of Britain play in this assassination case?" De Luyis swiftly asked, eager to know whether the assassination case would affect the Anglo-French Alliance itself.

"The Kingdom of Britain actually had no contact with Orsini, but I hope your Ministry of Foreign Affairs can put pressure on the London Government to extradite the Carbonari members who fled to London to France!" Jerome Bonaparte said to De Luyis.

"Your Majesty, the London Government is likely to be difficult to agree to our terms!" De Luyis said tactfully to Jerome Bonaparte.

In fact, based on De Luyis’s understanding of the London Government, the probability of them agreeing to this condition is practically zero.

"Just exert pressure on them!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly at De Luyis.

His intention was never to gain agreement from Britain!

His aim was merely to create some trouble for Britain’s Parliament and Cabinet, and by doing so, give Jerome Bonaparte cover for his subsequent actions.

As long as Jerome Bonaparte exerts enough pressure, Palmerston will certainly choose to fulfill his wish.

At that time, a distrustful Palmerston Cabinet will collapse and be replaced by a cabinet led by that fool Derby.

[As for why it’s Derby, it’s because the Earl of Derby is currently the leader of the Conservative Party!

After Palmerston steps down, he’s the only one capable of becoming the Cabinet Prime Minister.

As for Disraeli, although he is capable, he is not the leader of the Conservative Party.]

Facing an Earl of Derby who desperately wants to avoid falling into a large-scale war, Jerome Bonaparte only needs to control the intensity, maintaining the façade of European coordination.

"Once the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ report is released, have them shut down newspapers within Sardinia’s borders!

If they refuse to shut them down, immediately sever ties with them!" Jerome Bonaparte continued speaking to De Luyis.

Jerome Bonaparte’s decisive attitude left De Luyis feeling somewhat puzzled.

In De Luyis’s view, even if Sardinia chooses not to shut down the newspapers, there is no need to offend an ally over such a minor issue.

Thus, De Luyis kindly reminded, "Your Majesty, Sardinia is our most loyal ally! Is it perhaps inappropriate to treat them this way?"

"Luyis, don’t you think our ally is far too ambitious!" Jerome Bonaparte expressed his concern to De Luyis, "I’m really worried that one day, we’ll be dragged onto their chariot, only to meet defeat! 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Thus, we must give them some profound lessons!

Firstly, I want to sever some of their connections with the revolutionaries, tear off their hypocritical mask, and completely expose their true face to everyone!

Just like the Kingdom of Prussia now!"