Make France Great Again-Chapter 958 - 949: The Flag Wrapped Around the Bayonet

Chapter 958: Chapter 949: The Flag Wrapped Around the Bayonet

"That’s truly unfortunate!"

Bi Yao said dismissively, not caring about the injuries of the ordinary soldiers, only concerned about whether Jerome Bonaparte was hurt, "The Ministry of War will provide condolences for the fallen soldiers, as long as you’re safe!"

Subsequently, Bi Yao asked Jerome Bonaparte if the assassin who attempted to kill him had been captured.

"Percy just came over to tell me that the assassin has already been apprehended on the spot by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is currently detained in their prison, awaiting the next round of interrogations!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Bi Yao in a calm tone.

"There must be a thorough interrogation!" Bi Yao feigned an indignant appearance, gritting his teeth as he spoke, "Those damned assassins must have a conspiracy group lurking behind them!

They constantly aim to disrupt the stability and unity of the Great French Empire!"

"Bi Yao, you’re right!" Jerome Bonaparte agreed, then resolutely said, "I believe this conspiracy group has connections not only domestically but also with foreign forces colluding together!

Their aim is to overthrow the established order of Europe, and we must uproot this conspiracy group entirely!"

Inwardly, Bi Yao actually doubted the existence of the international conspiracy group mentioned by Jerome Bonaparte.

However, due to Jerome Bonaparte’s status, Bi Yao had no choice but to echo his sentiments, "Your Majesty, you’re absolutely right! We can only truly eradicate evil by uprooting this deeply buried cancer!"

"Speaker Bi Yao!" Jerome Bonaparte continued to address Bi Yao, "Since that’s the case, let you, the President of the Legislative Council, represent the Legislative Corps as one of the members investigating this assassination! This way, you can report to the Legislative representatives at any time!"

The saying goes that the name must justify the actions. As the nominally highest authority of the French Empire, the Legislative Corps represents the collective will of France.

Once a decision is made, even as Emperor, Jerome Bonaparte cannot defy its will (though this is in name only).

The representatives sitting in the Legislative Corps are all chosen by countless French voters.

Although it is now suppressed by executive power, in principle, the Legislative Corps’ authority to make constitutional judgments surpasses executive power.

However, most representatives in the Legislative Corps are officials selected by the government, making them natural allies of the Imperial Government.

Therefore, judicial authority of the Legislative Corps remains in the hands of Jerome Bonaparte.

Historically, because Napoleon III turned a blind eye to the Pope State territory being annexed, he suffered unanimous disdain from the domestic Catholic and Conservative Factions.

To maintain balance, he attempted to recall the previously exiled Republican Faction and Left Wing members.

Attempting to leverage the Republican Faction to maintain balance, little did he know this action gave the Republicans a pretext to grow stronger. The Republicans quickly defeated several official candidates in Paris, becoming the electorate in the Paris region.

If not for Paris being segmented by Napoleon III into several areas and rural population predominantly being in the outskirts, Paris would have long been completely lost.

Those Republican and Left Wing representatives who entered the Legislative Corps used their constitutional judgment authority to relentlessly veto all Napoleon III’s policies, preventing any proposals from passing during the late Second Empire.

This forced the Second Empire to transition into Liberal Imperialism in its last two years.

The topic digresses, but the reason Jerome Bonaparte wanted Bi Yao to participate was mainly to have legitimate grounds for dealing with Sardinia.

Additionally, it was to demonstrate to the Republican members of the Legislative Corps through Bi Yao, warning these Republicans who defeated official representatives to behave themselves.

Otherwise, he would consider initiating a second expulsion of the Republicans.

And this time’s reason for expelling the Republicans would clearly be more justified than the first.

"At your command, Your Majesty!" Speaker Bi Yao vaguely grasped Jerome Bonaparte’s purpose and quickly replied.

"As for the specific investigation, leave it to Percy; you just need to submit the investigation materials to the parliament!" Jerome Bonaparte added.

Bi Yao nodded, indicating his understanding.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte and Bi Yao casually discussed the current situation in France.

Jerome Bonaparte tentatively asked Bi Yao whether to impose some form of martial law in Paris.

Bi Yao hurriedly replied that there was no need for martial law, only increased police patrols would suffice.

After Bi Yao’s departure, Augusta, who had been silent, spoke to Jerome Bonaparte: "Jerome, I believe now is the time for the military to control Paris!"

Hearing Augusta’s shocking statement, Jerome Bonaparte was also taken aback, quickly asking, "Augusta, how did you come up with such an idea!"

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs, City Government, and your carefully organized National Intelligence Bureau played absolutely no role in this assassination!" Augusta said, slightly radical, "If any of them had functioned, you wouldn’t have suffered such a misfortune!

Only the military is trustworthy!"

"Augusta!" Jerome Bonaparte said firmly, "If that’s what you think, then it’s not wrong!

Not to mention the entire population of Paris being very hard to control with precision, even the trustworthiness of the military is disputable!"

"Aren’t the generals under your command all promoted by you?" Augusta said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"They indeed were promoted by me!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, then changed his tone, "But that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own agendas. Weren’t my uncle’s generals all promoted by him as well?

In the end, when the critical moment arrived, didn’t they all choose to betray him and align with the Holy Alliance!

A military only sides with you when you’re in a position of strength.

Once you lose that advantage, it’ll surely bite you hard."

Even though the Second Empire was established with bayonets wrapped in the national flag, it doesn’t mean Jerome Bonaparte will abandon the flag and use bayonets to rule the country.

The flag draped over the bayonets is indispensable; only in this way can he use the national will to suppress the restless ambitions below.

Without the facade of national will, the progressive nature of the Empire would be utterly lost.

At that time, the Paris Platinum Duke living in London for 9 years and the Count of Chambord living in Austria for 27 years would seize the opportunity to launch a wave of propaganda.

Jerome Bonaparte’s situation would become extremely passive.

"Then... then there will be no martial law!" Augusta, after hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s explanation, also abandoned the idea of martial law, "However, there must be an increase in police presence!

And lately, you shouldn’t meander out of the Tuileries Palace as much as before!"

"Alright! I’ll listen to you!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and replied.

The performance concluded at 10 o’clock in the evening, by which time the imperial officials had already lined up in two rows outside the room, waiting for Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta to come out of the box. They wanted to see with their own eyes whether the Emperor was injured.

After a while, the door of the box opened, and Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta stood before everyone.

"Hmm! You’re all here!" Jerome Bonaparte looked at the nervous expressions of the imperial officials and said with a smile.

"Your Majesty!" The imperial officials responded in unison to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Since you are all here, accompany me and Empress Augusta for a short walk!" Jerome Bonaparte continued.

Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta walked at the front of the team, with the imperial officials closely following behind Their Majesties.

As the royal couple exited the Paris Opera House, the blood on the street had already been covered with sand, and the bodies of the loyalists had long been dragged elsewhere.

At this moment, on both sides of the street, a police-formed cordon was filled with people, and the buildings on both sides were also crowded with people waiting for Jerome Bonaparte and his wife to emerge.

Jerome Bonaparte looked at the crowd ahead and softly said to Empress Augusta by his side, "Look how much the people of Paris care for you! Yet you still wanted to suppress them!"

"Hmph!" Augusta snorted softly, with a hint of a smile on her lips.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte said to the assembled crowd, "Citizens of Paris, thank you for your concern for my and the Empress’s safety!

Now I can loudly tell you that neither I nor the Empress suffered any harm in this sudden assassination!

However, regrettably, this assassination caused me to lose three loyal soldiers, causing three French families to lose their children!

Here, I hope that everyone present will join me in mourning for the parents who lost their children!"

The entire street fell silent; everyone seemed to be silently mourning in their hearts.

After a minute passed, Jerome Bonaparte spoke again to everyone present, "This morning, I said that a monarch fears no assassination... Any assassin and their faction will be despised by everyone!

Now, I will keep my promise!

No matter who is behind this assassination, whether it is an organization or a country, there will be absolutely no leniency! 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

I will expose all their actions and let the entire French citizenry judge them!"

After Jerome Bonaparte righteously spoke, applause immediately erupted from both sides of the street.

After the applause ended, Jerome Bonaparte continued, "Of course, we will not wrong any kind-hearted person!

Whether they are from the Royalist Faction, Republican Faction, or Socialists!"