Make France Great Again-Chapter 158: Candidate for Prime Minister

Jerome Bonaparte instantly understood the intention of Count Falu. Between the Royal Family and the Church, Count Falu chose the Church over the Royal Family.

Of course, Count Falu’s choice was not entirely due to his unwavering loyalty to the Church, but rather because he saw no possibility of victory for the Orthodox Royalists.

The Orthodox Faction’s power was not considerable within the Order Party, and their Majesty would not allow them to ally with the Orléans Faction within the Order Party.

This meant they could only rely on their own strength to crown their monarch.

If they had an overwhelming force in parliament, the then-matchless Cabinet would not have tottered under the opposition of all in Paris, and Charles X would not have been exiled.

Let alone now, with the older generation of the Royalist Party withering away, their power is even weaker than before.

Trying to achieve this on their own is nothing short of an impossible task.

Instead of holding on to an unattainable dream, it’s better to let their monarch understand the predicament they face.

Having been suppressed by the Orléans Dynasty for many years, Count Falu likewise learned to hedge his bets.

Although his heart was still filled with respect for the Count of Chambord, reality forced him to lower his head.

The support of Count Falu and a portion of the Church Faction behind him increased Jerome Bonaparte’s confidence.

If the Orthodox Faction and the Orléans Faction were to break up, even with immense capabilities, Audion Barrot would not be able to bridge their differences.

Unless Audion Barrot could transform into Yuri to brainwash the Count of Chambord.

[PS: Since the Count of Chambord’s Imperial Sound was only spreading in a small area, Audion Barrot was still dreaming of a union between the Orléans Faction and the Orthodox Faction.]

"Count Falu, please rest assured! After Audion Barrot is dismissed, the position of Minister of Public Education will still belong to you!" Jerome Bonaparte promised Count Falu.

"No need!" Count Falu shook his head and refused Jerome Bonaparte’s offer.

Having become somewhat disheartened with the Orthodox Faction, he did not wish to linger too long in the position of Minister of Public Education.

"If I remain in the position of Minister of Public Education, my colleagues will surely think I have been bought by you! My loyalty cannot allow me to serve two monarchs simultaneously, please understand!" Count Falu explained to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Alas!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed, knowing that Count Falu had rejected his olive branch.

"Mr. President, I hope that after I step down, the education reform will continue. We cannot let those liberal republicans corrupt our French next generation; we must make them understand reverence and obedience. Only then can your rule become more stable!" Count Falu resolutely told Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte listened intently to each word from Count Falu, knowing that this was the final "compensation" Count Falu wished to acquire.

"Mr. Falu, please rest assured! After you resign, the education reform in France will continue! I will choose a capable and responsible person to lead the education reform! I also agree with your statement; we must root out corrupt liberal ideas from the source of thought to protect the new generation! Only under the guidance of order and morality can France grow stronger!"

Jerome Bonaparte did not like using religious ideas to fool and control people, but the fiery French needed religion as a sedative to be temporarily tamed.

During this time, he would train millions of bureaucrats, generals, and engineers. They would delve into grassroots levels to gradually replace religion.

When the time came, he could ruthlessly kick religion aside.

Jerome Bonaparte continued conversing with Falu for nearly half an hour before personally seeing Count Falu out the back door.

After watching Count Falu leave, Jerome Bonaparte returned to the study, took out a blank red invitation from the desk drawer, and used a water-dipped emerald pen to write the invitee’s name and date, then ordered a servant to deliver the invitation to the recipient.

...

A troupe of Dragoons in green armor arrived at Count Oppel’s castle and knocked on the door of the Oppel household, with Count Oppel himself answering the door.

"Count Oppel, here is your invitation!" The Dragoon respectfully handed the invitation to Count Oppel.

After receiving the invitation, Count Oppel thanked the Dragoon.

The Dragoon who delivered the invitation rode away.

Watching the Dragoon’s departing figure, Count Oppel unfolded the folded invitation.

The invitation generally invited him to attend a dinner at the Elysee Palace the following afternoon.

Having not met with the President in nearly two months, Count Oppel excitedly returned inside the castle and embraced his wife, who was over 20 years younger than him.

"What’s happened?" his wife curiously inquired of Count Oppel.

"I’ve received an invitation from the President!" Count Oppel responded excitedly to his wife.

"Hmm?" His wife remained puzzled; after all, it was just an invitation; what was the big deal?

"You don’t understand!" Count Oppel noticed his wife’s confusion, yet he had no mind to explain it to her just then.

On the evening of September 21st, the night descended.

Under the star-studded sky, a carriage set off from Opel Castle heading to the Elysee Palace.

The carriage journeyed smoothly and soon arrived at the Elysee Palace.

Led by a servant, Count Opler was brought to the dining room, where two servants opened the door together.

Jerome Bonaparte, seated at the head of the table, and the others at the long table quietly watched him.

Hmm? Why are they all here too?

Count Opler suddenly realized he recognized many people in the dining room, and the presence of some even surprised him a bit.

"Our main character has arrived!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a hint of teasing in his voice.

"Mr. President!" Count Opler respectfully saluted Jerome Bonaparte.

"Have a seat!" Jerome Bonaparte pointed to the first empty seat on his right.

Looking at the seat beside Jerome Bonaparte, Count Opler already had an inkling that this dinner was more than just about eating.

However, he had prepared for this before he came.

Count Opler sat beside Jerome Bonaparte.

With Count Opler seated, the dinner officially commenced, and delicious dishes were placed in front of everyone.

After all the dishes were served and the wine poured, Jerome Bonaparte stood up and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, let us toast to the Republic!"

Everyone present stood and raised their glasses, and Adolf Fuld immediately shouted: "Long live Bonaparte, long live the Republic!"

Everyone present joined in shouting "Long live" with Adolf Fuld.

Then they all drank the brandy in their glasses in one go.

"Please be seated! Please be seated!" Jerome Bonaparte motioned for everyone to sit back down.

After everyone was seated again, Jerome Bonaparte surveyed everyone around him, then said: "You are all faithful friends of the Bonaparte Clan, so there are some things I won’t hide from you! I will dismiss Audion Barrot when the parliament reconvenes."

Everyone except Count Opler showed indifferent expressions.

Even Ferdinand Barrow, the brother of Audion Barrot, showed no excessive expression about his brother’s dismissal.

It seemed as if Count Opler was the only one at the dinner who was completely unaware of this.

[Ferdinand Barrow (January 10, 1806 - November 12, 1883): French Bonapartist politician, brother of Audion Barrot, participated in the unsuccessful coup launched by Louis Napoleon in Strasbourg in 1836, acquitted by a jury "review".]

"You will become the new Minister of Finance!" Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Adolf Fuld, his meaning obvious.

"Minister of Internal Affairs!" Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Ferdinand Barrow, who smiled in return.

"And ministers of other departments!" Jerome Bonaparte leisurely said: "Of course, there is also the most important position of Cabinet Prime Minister."

Jerome Bonaparte’s blatant act of favoritism ignited a flame of ambition in the hearts of those present.

Sitting next to Jerome Bonaparte, Count Opler also pondered which department the President might assign him to.

After a moment’s consideration, Count Opler believed if the President truly wanted him to take an important post, the most likely position would be as Minister of War.

Thinking of replacing Liu Eri to take control of military power, Count Opler’s heart burned even hotter with excitement.

The entire dinner lasted nearly two and a half hours, and the guests gradually took their leave from Jerome Bonaparte.

Count Opler likewise prepared to take his leave from Jerome Bonaparte, but was stopped by Jerome Bonaparte, who said: "General Opler, please wait a moment!"

Count Opler stood quietly in place as Jerome Bonaparte saw everyone out of the Elysee Palace.

"Let’s talk in the study!" Jerome Bonaparte led Count Opler to the study.

Upon entering the study, Jerome Bonaparte immediately said to Count Opler: "General Opler, I would like you to serve as the new Cabinet Prime Minister! What do you think?"

Count Opler looked at Jerome Bonaparte with a surprised expression, having expected to possibly become the Minister of War, he was instead told he would be appointed as Cabinet Prime Minister.

Count Opler’s first reaction was not joy but a sense of absurdity.

Appointing a soldier with no experience in governance to rule France??

"Mr. President, why me?"

A cautious Count Opler asked.

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