"If you can complete the mission excellently, there will definitely be a place for you as an Imperial Marshal!"

Upon hearing the promise of "Imperial Marshal" from Jerome Bonaparte, Louis Feldbu discarded the last trace of hesitation in his heart.

For someone like Louis Feldbu, an officer of the mid-level of the Empire, becoming an Imperial Marshal was undoubtedly the only goal he strived for in life.

Though the stature of a Second Empire Marshal was significantly lesser than that of a First Empire, it was still a position that most officers could only aspire to, with many ending their careers at the rank of Major General, which used to be known as division-level officers.

Only a few lucky ones could climb up to Imperial Marshal step by step through foreign wars.

(Saint Arno achieved it through deeds in the Crimea, Pellissier was promoted to Marshal after winning the Crimean War.

Conrobel and Bosskay later became Marshals also due to the advantages gained from the Crimean War.)

The Emperor’s willingness to motivate him with the title of "Imperial Marshal" also indirectly proved his importance.

Of course, even if the Emperor hadn’t dangled the title of "Imperial Marshal," which could drive all officers to madness, in front of Louis Feldbu.

The mere attention from the Emperor was enough to make Louis Feldbu determined to follow the Emperor’s footsteps forward.

Louis Feldbu once again assured Jerome Bonaparte that he would complete the mission assigned by the Emperor excellently.

To demonstrate his support for Jerome Bonaparte and the military reforms of the General Staff, Louis Feldbu proactively suggested to Jerome Bonaparte about dispatching some staff officers from the General Staff to Senegal to guide the colonial troops there in forming a new tactical system.

"Aren’t you afraid those staff officers will meddle on your turf and upset your soldiers?" Jerome Bonaparte said half-jokingly to Louis Feldbu.

There was a certain level of conflict between the ideas of the General Staff and the grassroots military officers of the military districts.

According to Jerome Bonaparte’s understanding, every officer who had been transferred from the General Staff to serve as a company commander or a regiment-level chief of staff often encountered some conflicts with the officers of the military district after being assigned to grassroots.

In the eyes of those sent down to the grassroots from the General Staff, their colleagues and subordinates were considered a bunch of socially worthless, incomprehensible bastards.

Every staff officer, in the initial period of being commissioned as a company commander, would inevitably suggest to the General Staff to retire all existing officers and soldiers and recruit a new batch of soldiers and officers for the company.

Some even suggested large-scale elimination of unqualified soldiers by regiment and brigade, to ensure the combat effectiveness of the French Army.

Of course, all such suggestions were rejected by Chief of Staff Nie’er.

Having climbed up the ranks from the engineering troops at the grassroots, Nie’er was fully aware of the mentality of those "cadet soldiers" who were sent directly from the academy to the General Staff and then assigned to companies.

These officers, ingrained with the innocence of their student days, sometimes made statements that couldn’t be taken seriously.

And for those grassroots officers who had experiences in the field, the "prodigies" from the General Staff were equally seen as heartless machines.

Not only did they not indulge in the typical eating and drinking of ordinary officers (gambling was strictly prohibited), but they also demanded strict adherence to French military regulations by grassroots officers.

Anyone assigned to a company led by a "prodigy" had to endure a difficult period.

Therefore, many grassroots officers would complain up the ranks, hoping that their superiors would curtail the influence of these "prodigies."

However, such reports were often suppressed at the regiment level.

Even superior officers acknowledged that these "cadet soldiers" were being too meticulous in some aspects, but that’s precisely what they valued in them.

These "cadet soldiers" deployed by the General Staff acted like catfish in a stagnant pond, constantly stirring it up, so that other "fish" in the pond would have to act, keeping the army vibrant.

Of course, such dynamics were still manageable within the French Mainland.

In the vast colonial areas beyond the Mainland, the governor enjoyed both financial and military power locally, effectively ruling as a closed-door vassal Emperor.

Considering that the "catfish" from the Mainland often clashed with local garrisons upon entering the colonies.

The General Staff abandoned plans to deploy "catfish" across the colonies, opting only to station staff in Algeria, a region that was semi-integrated into the Mainland.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured!" Louis Feldbu, fully aware that Jerome Bonaparte had his best interests at heart, quickly responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "The entire military personnel in Senegal and I would warmly welcome guidance from the General Staff!"

"Since you’re confident in avoiding conflicts, take some time to visit the General Staff and discuss with Nie’er!

See how many people need to be dispatched to Senegal!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately decided.

After the reforms of the General Staff were concluded, Jerome Bonaparte decided to discuss the issue of the telegraph in the coming days.

After all, the purpose of Jerome Bonaparte’s trip was hunting, with discussions about work taking place during hunting.

If they continued the discussion, they wouldn’t have time to think about hunting.

Furthermore, for the telegraph issue, just Jerome Bonaparte and Louis Feldbu were obviously not enough.

Jerome Bonaparte needed to wait for another guest to arrive, and he was a crucial person in executing the telegraph plan.

"General Feldbus, let’s forget the worries of work for now and fully enjoy the pleasures of the hunt!"

...

In the time that followed, Jerome Bonaparte no longer spoke with Louis Feldbu about anything work-related. The two roamed the forested outskirts, hunting and chatting about the interesting things of daily life.

Until the fiery sunset cast evenly over the earth, Jerome Bonaparte and Louis Feldbur finally stopped walking.

Standing on a knoll, gazing at the sky as if scorched by flames, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but exclaim, "It’s beautiful!"

Louis Feldbu agreed, "Indeed, very beautiful!"

After appreciating the beautiful sunset, Jerome Bonaparte decided to leave the forest and return to Fontainebleau Palace before the sky completely darkened.

The group followed Jerome Bonaparte in the direction out of the forest.

Because Jerome Bonaparte had been hunting along the forest’s edge, it took the group less than half an hour to exit the forest.

Then, it took them another ten minutes to find the carriages they rode in on.

As the last glimmers of sunlight vanished, the sky draped in a black curtain, Jerome Bonaparte boarded the carriage back to Fontainebleau Palace.

Once Jerome Bonaparte sat in the carriage, Louis Feldbu and others boarded their original carriages, and cavalry escorting the Emperor raised torches, guarding on both sides of Jerome Bonaparte.

The carriage traveled on the gravel road for nearly 20 minutes before reaching the main gate of Fontainebleau Palace.

At this moment, Colonel Bulbaski, along with the secretaries, staff, and attendants in Fontainebleau Palace, stood neatly at the last step of the horseshoe-shaped staircase, waiting for Jerome Bonaparte’s return.

When an orange-yellow light appeared at the front of the palace, Bulbaski knew Jerome Bonaparte’s carriage had returned.

Everyone readied themselves, striving to greet the Emperor with full enthusiasm.

Soon, the carriage passed through the cross avenue in front of the palace, stopping directly before the horseshoe-shaped staircase.

Bulbaski hurried over to Jerome Bonaparte’s carriage and thoughtfully opened the door for him.

Seeing his aide open the door, Jerome Bonaparte suddenly thought of his father, Prince Monfort.

"Bulbaski!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately asked Bulbaski, "Has my father arrived at Fontainebleau Palace?"

"Your Majesty, the Prince arrived at Fontainebleau Palace at noon today!" Bulbaski responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Since he has arrived at Fontainebleau, why didn’t you inform me?" Jerome Bonaparte expressed a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

Hearing this, Bulbaski hurriedly defended himself, "Your Majesty, I did not intentionally fail to inform you!

It’s because the Prince specifically instructed not to disturb you before he went to rest!"

"Alright! I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and replied to Bulbaski.

Accompanied by Bulbaski and others, Jerome Bonaparte entered Fontainebleau Palace.

Immediately after, Jerome Bonaparte ordered André von Beichu to arrange for General Louis Feldbu’s accommodations.

"General Feldbu, I apologize! I have some matters to attend to and cannot join you for dinner!" Jerome Bonaparte apologized to Louis Feldbu.

"Your Majesty, it’s I who should apologize! My sudden visit interrupted your daily work!"

Louis Feldbu understandingly responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte reminded Beichu once again to ensure Louis Feldbu’s needs were well taken care of at Fontainebleau Palace.

After seeing Louis Feldbu off, Jerome Bonaparte then said to Bulbaski, "Which room is Prince Monfort in? Take me there!"