Georges Ossman entered the room and straightforwardly asked.
Barroso placed the proposal on the table, nodded, and said to Georges Ossman, "Yes! Just recently, Colonel Bulbaski, the Emperor’s adjutant, ca by to deliver a notification from His Majesty."
Georges Ossman glanced at the proposal on the table, and bluntly remarked, "Minister, I suppose you are prepared to break with Minister Achille Fuld!"
"Break? Why would I break? Deputy Minister Georges Ossman, this isn’t your concern!"
Despite Barroso’s internal indecision, his expression still projected the assertiveness expected of a minister.
However, Barroso’s assertiveness had no effect on soone like Georges Ossman, who held in his heart that only His Majesty the Emperor deserved true respect.
The rest, be it the Legislative Corps or ministers, were insufficient to elicit awe from Georges Ossman.
"Minister, are you still dreaming of seamless cooperation with Minister Achille Fuld?" Georges Ossman said to Barroso with exaggerated expressions.
"Shouldn’t cooperation between ministers be a given?" Barroso retorted to Georges Ossman, "His Majesty the Emperor encourages us to cooperate!"
"Indeed, ministers should cooperate seamlessly!" Georges Ossman initially affird Barroso’s viewpoint and then shifted his tone, "But seamless cooperation is only feasible between ministers with shared ideologies!
If two ministers have conflicting ideologies, no amount of cooperation would prevent them from undermining each other!"
"This..." Barroso was at a loss for words, forcing a defense of Achille Fuld, "How do you know that Minister Fuld and I don’t share the sa ideology!"
"Minister, may I ask, what is the function of the public transportation departnt?" Georges Ossman didn’t answer directly, instead posing a question to Barroso.
"Drafting road and waterway developnt plans, implenting relevant policy standards, and overseeing their execution..." Barroso answered Georges Ossman without hesitation.
"Wouldn’t significant fiscal expenditures be generated during the drafting and implentation periods?" Georges Ossman continued to question Barroso.
"Of course!" Barroso responded.
"Our esteed Minister Achille Fuld has consistently opposed excessive fiscal expenditures!" Georges Ossman unabashedly mocked, "He is like a miser, wishing to split a gold coin in half to spend!
Would soone like that truly agree with our plan?"
Barroso remained silent, understanding that presenting this plan to Achille Fuld would result in absolute refusal.
Yet the public transportation departnt’s power cannot be detached from infrastructure.
The monuntal benefits tied to any infrastructure are alluring to countless individuals, even if it’s rely lending support to a project.
Barroso understood that his swift takeover of the public transportation departnt was entirely due to the departnt staff’s great hopes in him.
They hoped he could secure benefits for them.
If he couldn’t advocate for benefits within the public transportation departnt, it would be challenging for him to issue commands.
Authority relies on appreciation from superiors and obedience from subordinates.
Barroso knew that to continue controlling the public transportation departnt, he must fight and compete!
"Georges!" Barroso’s tone grew amiable.
Georges Ossman realized Barroso had made up his mind!
"I..." Barroso hesitated for a mont, then stamred, "I... being able to serve as the Minister of Public Transportation relies entirely on the strong support of Mr. Fuld!
I’m not ready to betray that!"
"No, no..." Georges Ossman shook his head at Barroso, "Minister, you’re mistaken!
The position of Public Transportation Minister is one of the Empire’s most crucial roles, and those who hold it can only be personally appointed by His Majesty the Emperor!
No one has the right to privately grant it, not even Fuld!
So, Minister, you owe nothing to Minister Fuld!"
"But... Fuld has the trust of His Majesty... would opposing him recklessly not be sowhat unwise?" Barroso remained apprehensive.
"Your Excellency, the Empire is not a one-man show for Fuld!" Georges Ossman subtly advised, "From what I know, Count Moreni, the Minister of the Seal, hasn’t been able to get along with Fuld!"
Barroso stared wide-eyed at Georges Ossman before inquiring, "Georges, tell honestly, have you aligned yourself with Moreni?"
"Minister, my loyalty is solely to one entity, and that’s the Emperor of the Empire!" Georges Ossman declared unwaveringly, "The relationship between the Count and is purely an alliance."
"Then... is Count Moreni truly willing to accept us?" Barroso was still sowhat anxious.
"Rest assured! Count Moreni will definitely accept!" Georges Ossman asserted confidently.
Georges Ossman’s words were like a reassurance, prompting Barroso to firmly decide to oppose Achille Fuld!
...
Let us return our focus to the Imperial Council.
When Jero Bonaparte inquired about whether the public transportation departnt required funding from the Ministry of Finance, Barroso reflected briefly before responding promptly, "Your Majesty, road renovations indeed require assistance from the finance departnt!
However, we haven’t inford Minister Fuld yet."
"Minister Fuld, what are your thoughts?" Jero Bonaparte stroked his chin, his eyes showing a hint of irony.
It was obvious that Achille Fuld was now being backstabbed by Barroso.
"Your Majesty, I’m unaware of which road Minister Barroso wishes to renovate, hence, I dare not make a rash judgnt!"
Although Achille Fuld wished to tear Barroso apart, he needed to remain calm.
He raised his head, coldly looking at Barroso, and with a detached tone asked, "Minister Barroso, such an important matter!
Why didn’t you discuss it with earlier but decided to present it in such an important forum?"
Having decided to break with Achille Fuld, Barroso wasn’t afraid to offend him.
Barroso spoke magnanimously, "Minister Fuld, I don’t believe you would permit to realize the contents of the proposal!
In your mind, road renovation symbolizes wasting money!"
"Minister Barroso, I won’t allow you to disparage a ritorious minister like this!" Jero Bonaparte promptly "rebuked" Barroso.
Then he turned his gaze to Achille Fuld and earnestly questioned, "Mr. Fuld, I’d like to know your opinion!"
On the spot, Achille Fuld was at a loss for words.
"Your Majesty, road renovation is indeed a strategy beneficial to the nation and its people, but it’s based on the empire’s fiscal balance!
Given the current financial situation, I do not endorse increasing fiscal burdens in these circumstances!"
"Minister Fuld, I disagree with your viewpoint!" Barroso spoke passionately.
"Minister Barroso, what differing viewpoints do you have!" Jero Bonaparte inquired with interest.
In this unexpected "party feud," Jero Bonaparte, as the arbitrator, leaned more toward Barroso’s side.
"Your Majesty, road renovation and canal widening are essentially ant to enhance the flow of goods between regions, thereby stimulating economic growth!
Especially for major regions like Alsace-Lorraine, which specialize in textile and manufacturing, we must ensure their roads are accessible!" Barroso eloquently explained to Jero Bonaparte, "...I have conversed with nurous cotton textile rchants from Alsace, who frequently lant to about the inconvenience of Alsace’s roads, resulting in their textiles’ inability to swiftly reach various parts of the nation, causing losses upwards of millions!"
"Really?" Jero Bonaparte feigned surprise, "That’s truly terrible!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty!" Barroso, too, displayed a deeply pained expression, "Therefore, road renovation is paramount, even if Mr. Fuld doesn’t allocate funds, our transportation departnt will proceed regardless!"
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