Jero Bonaparte quietly enjoyed the heartfelt applause from the soldiers of the Guard Army. After a mont, he gestured for them to stop with his hand.
Standing beside him, Louis Feldbu spoke excitedly to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, on behalf of all the soldiers in Senegal, I thank you for your recognition!"
"General Feldbu, I have said that you are fighting for the living space of 35 million French people!
Your actions are carried out under the recognition of the entire French nation!" Jero Bonaparte continued generously, "And I am not only the Emperor of the Empire, but also a part of the 35 million French.
Naturally, I will, like other French people, sincerely acknowledge the efforts you and your soldiers have made for the French nation!"
Louis Feldbu’s eyes moistened slightly; it was the first ti since he took office as Governor of Senegal that he felt the taste of understanding.
During his days in Senegal, the officers under him had quite a few criticisms of Louis Feldbu’s orders to massacre villages and tribes. So officers with a leaning towards Republicanism believed that France should assimilate the indigenous people of Senegal through culture and inclusivity, making them French, rather than resorting to massacre.
Although under Louis Feldbu’s strong pressure, those Republican-minded officers still followed his orders to kill, there was still so criticism of Louis Feldbu within the Governor’s Mansion of Senegal.
This criticism was not only present in Senegal but was also directly reported by Republican officers to Paris.
So Republican representatives gently criticized Louis Feldbu’s actions in Bourbon Palace.
(More radical criticism ca from so radical workers’ newspapers, but their criticism could not be voiced in Bourbon Palace or even published in the newspapers.)
Amidst the dual criticisms from the Governor’s Mansion and Paris, Louis Feldbu pushed forward France’s bloody expansion in Senegal with a strong will.
The Emperor’s understanding was particularly important to Louis Feldbu.
Upon hearing Jero Bonaparte’s praises, Louis Feldbu’s anxious heart finally eased a bit!
"Your Majesty, may I be allowed to relay what you just said to to every soldier in the Governor’s Mansion of Senegal after I return?
I believe that after hearing your praises, the soldiers of Senegal will surely build the land of Senegal with even more enthusiasm!" Louis Feldbu said with a hint of flattery in his voice.
Beside him, André von Beichu noticed that Louis Feldbu seed to want to take over his "job," and he quickly chid in to Jero Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I believe that your recent speech can be used as an imperial docunt to be distributed to all colonies. I believe that every colonial governor will deeply understand your thoughts after hearing your speech and thus convey your will!"
André von Beichu’s flattery made Jero Bonaparte feel a hint of sha internally.
To maintain his humble image, Jero Bonaparte cleared his throat and spoke to André von Beichu, "Secretary Beichu, I need to criticize you!"
"Your Majesty, I am willing to accept your criticism!" André von Beichu straightened his body and responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"Secretary Beichu, whatever we do, we must maintain an attitude of seeking truth from facts! Was my recent speech good?" Jero Bonaparte deliberately paused, then praised himself, "Perhaps it was good, but I know that such a speech can never be distributed as an imperial docunt to all the colonies!
Your recent speech clearly did not conform to the spirit of seeking truth from facts!"
"Your Majesty, I realize my mistake!" André von Beichu adopted a humble and accepting attitude; he understood that the Emperor was not truly criticizing him, but rather acknowledging his recent speech.
If the Emperor truly wanted to criticize him, he would not tell him where he went wrong but would directly remove him from all his positions.
Louis Feldbu did not see through the double act of Jero Bonaparte and André von Beichu.
In order to find an ally in the court, Louis Feldbu decided to share so of the heat with André von Beichu.
"Your Majesty!" Louis Feldbu respectfully said to Jero Bonaparte.
"General Feldbu, what do you wish to say?" Jero Bonaparte maintained a kindly deanor as he asked Louis Feldbu.
"Please allow to dare to criticize you for a mont!" Louis Feldbu said earnestly.
Upon hearing this, those around him showed expressions of surprise.
Throughout the Empire, aside from Achille Fuld and a few other ministers, no one had ever dared to criticize the Emperor.
For a colonial governor as bold as Louis Feldbu, it was unprecedented.
"General Feldbu, speak your mind!" Jero Bonaparte still maintained a relaxed deanor, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, as he "exhorted," "I will certainly humbly accept your criticism!"
Although Jero Bonaparte’s deanor was relaxed, those familiar with the Emperor’s micro-expressions understood that the Emperor’s mood was certainly not good at this mont.
As the monarch of a nation, the Emperor could accept criticism, but not in public!
Criticizing the Emperor in public was akin to slapping him in the face and then asking if it felt good.
No Emperor, regardless of how broad-minded, could endure such "humiliation."
An invisible gunpowder ignited in the air, just waiting for Louis Feldbu’s criticism to end before the gunpowder exploded.
However, Louis Feldbu’s next words dispelled the hint of gunpowder in the air.
He spoke confidently to Jero Bonaparte, "I think you are being too harsh on Secretary Beiqiu!
I believe your recent speech could be distributed unaltered as an official imperial docunt to governors and soldiers nationwide, to make them understand who they are fighting for!"
After hearing Louis Feldbu’s words, Jero Bonaparte’s smile beca more sincere than before.
"General Feldbu, how co you are not being realistic either!" Jero Bonaparte gently criticized Louis Feldbu.
"Your Majesty, I believe that distributing your speech as a docunt to the colonies for everyone to study is truly being realistic!" Louis Feldbu argued to Jero Bonaparte.
André von Beichu, who witnessed the entire exchange, showed a slightly amazed expression, and his evaluation of Louis Feldbu elevated again, as he had never thought soone could flatter the monarch so smoothly.
This fellow might serve as my ally!
André von Beichu thought to himself.
As a newly appointed secretary, André von Beichu had not yet established his own influence and was currently just a mber of the Empress Faction.
The reason Beichu joined the Empress Faction was his German heritage.
Currently, nearly all officials and nobles of German descent at the court, except for the founding Elders of the Empire, are part of Empress Augusta’s faction, gathering around Empress Augusta and Crown Prince Friedrich, forming a significant force within the Empire.
Recruiting Louis Feldbu to beco a mber of the Empress Faction and making him an ally to André von Beichu in the military was also a good choice.
After all, with Beichu’s resources, he could hardly attract the empire’s "Young Turks" (referring to Trocch, MacMahon, Bazan, and others); he could only attract so mid-level generals in the empire.
A General like Louis Feldbu is exactly the type Beichu needs to win over.
Given ti, Beichu believed Louis Feldbu would be no less than the "Young Turks."
With this thought, André von Beichu gave a friendly smile to Louis Feldbu.
Louis Feldbu naturally understood the aning behind the smile, and imdiately decided he would visit Beichu’s residence while still in Paris.
Although they had never t before, the two quickly reached a preliminary cooperation agreent after a brief exchange of glances.
Naturally, the small interaction between Louis Feldbu and André von Beichu did not escape the eyes of Jero Bonaparte.
When it ca to the behavior of ministers forming factions and groups, Jero Bonaparte had always adopted a tacit approval, even encouraging approach.
As long as the struggle between groups did not escalate to partisan strife, Jero Bonaparte would turn a blind eye to it.
Moderate strife among ministers could help consolidate Jero Bonaparte’s power.
After all, the Emperor was the source of all authority.
"Since General Feldbu has said so, you can handle it as you see fit!" Jero Bonaparte ambiguously gave instructions to Beichu.
"At your command!" Beichu imdiately replied to Jero Bonaparte.
Subsequently, Louis Feldbu gradually shifted the topic to the Mauser Rifle.
Louis Feldbu first praised the performance of the Mauser Rifle lavishly, and then asked Jero Bonaparte if the troops in Senegal could be equipped with Mauser Rifles.
"If our army could have such an excellent rifle, the French Nation’s expansion speed would significantly accelerate!" Louis Feldbu said to Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte deliberately feigned a conflicted silence, then after a while, he spoke to Louis Feldbu, "General Feldbu, this rifle is currently equipped only with elite troops.
Its performance is still under developnt!"
"Your Majesty, nothing tests a rifle’s performance like war!" Louis Feldbu responded to Jero Bonaparte, "Based on my many years of military experience, this rifle is already excellent enough to be equipped across all ard forces!"
"Since General Feldbu praises it so highly, then it would be rather dull of to disagree!
However, I hope you will use it cautiously!
To prevent it from falling into the hands of certain hostile nations!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)