"Long live the Empire, long live Bonaparte!"
Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the Guard Army, Jero Bonaparte took Friedrich’s hand and shook hands with each officer of the Guard Army.
When shaking hands with Jero Bonaparte, each Guard Army officer could hear their na precisely called out by him, as he warmly inquired about their family situations.
The Guard Army officers, when asked about their family situations, gratefully expressed their thanks for Jero Bonaparte’s concern, and silently vowed in their hearts to swear loyalty to the Monarch before them.
Apart from kinship, few could care for them like the Emperor did.
Of course, the Guard Army officers present were well aware that the Emperor’s concern was rely to win their hearts; they were willing to be wooed this way, willing to be loyal to such an affectionate Emperor.
After Jero Bonaparte shook hands with all the Guard Army officers stationed near Fontainebleau Palace, he and his son stood on the temporary open-air platform built by the Guard Army, under the watchful eyes of all soldiers and officers.
Standing on the stage laid with a red carpet, Jero Bonaparte scanned the soldiers and officers below with his gaze, discovering nearly all eyes directed at him, which made the Emperor feel a long-lost sense of pressure.
This pressure was even greater than when he faced representatives of the Legislative Corps in the Bourbon Palace.
After all, the Guard Army stationed near Fontainebleau comprised nearly an entire division, with almost ten thousand soldiers appearing here, if not eight thousand.
They represented the most violent chanism of France, and there was no other chanism comparable.
No one and no organization could confront such a violent chanism head-on, even though the Emperor knew they were loyal to him, facing such a chanism inevitably brought unknown pressure to anyone.
Thus, Jero Bonaparte was sowhat worried whether Friedrich could handle the scene before him, and out of concern, he carefully glanced at Friedrich.
At this mont, Friedrich’s face was pale, a few drops of sweat trickled down his forehead, and his hand continuously rubbed against Jero Bonaparte’s hand.
It was clear that Friedrich was very tense; it was his first ti facing so many soldiers and officers.
The fact that he was not overwheld by the oppressive atmosphere was enough to prove Friedrich’s psychological resilience far exceeded that of other children his age.
However, Friedrich was after all only a five-year-old child.
So, Jero Bonaparte, in front of the soldiers and officers present, held Friedrich in his arms, pointing at the soldiers and officers in the distance and said to Friedrich, "Friedrich, don’t be afraid!
The uncles present are the Bonaparte Clan’s most loyal partners and friends, their presence is to protect the Empire, so they will never harm us!
Therefore, I hope you will never forget them, forget these most adorable people of the Empire!
Without them, there would be no Empire; as long as the Bonaparte family exists, the status of soldiers will never be hard!
The Army and Bonaparte coexist!"
As soon as Jero Bonaparte’s words fell, he imdiately received cheers from the officers and soldiers below the stage.
For these soldiers, no words sounded as appealing as the Emperor’s recent speech.
The army created the Empire, and deservedly enjoyed the honor of rebuilding the Empire.
And these Guard Army mbers were the honor within the Imperial Army, and deservedly closer to the Emperor than other armies.
The Emperor, in return for this priceless loyalty, naturally should give them more generous treatnt than ordinary armies.
This is equivalent exchange.
"Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire! Long live Bonaparte!"
Cries resounded across the open-air venue, all the officers and soldiers in the place shouted more frantically than before, hoping to make their Monarch aware of their loyalty in this manner.
Facing the shouts from the officers and soldiers, Jero Bonaparte smiled and waved in acknowledgnt.
Friedrich, held in Jero Bonaparte’s arms, watched the hysterical shouts in the venue, showing a mix of fear and excitent; such feelings were beyond what he could ever experience in learning.
The young Friedrich imitated his father’s gesture, waving his tender palms towards the soldiers and officers below the stage.
Soon, the sound "Long live the Crown Prince" erged among the crowd below, adding "Long live the Crown Prince" amidst "Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire."
"Friedrich, they are offering their loyalty to you!" Jero Bonaparte whispered to Friedrich Bonaparte.
"Father, how should I respond to them?" Friedrich asked Jero Bonaparte with a slight tremor in his voice.
"You don’t need to respond to them, just silently enjoy this mont and then firmly imprint it in your heart!" Jero Bonaparte replied to Friedrich.
Friedrich obediently followed Jero Bonaparte’s advice. His eyes, like black pearls, scanned around as if wanting to imprint everything around him into his mory.
Once the cheers gradually subsided, Jero Bonaparte began his formal speech.
He first praised the Guard Army soldiers for their recent diligent duties and then announced the list of units that achieved excellent results in the recent "Grand Contest."
"Next, Crown Prince Friedrich will personally read the nas of the outstanding units!
All commanders of the units whose nas are called, please co forward to receive the honors on behalf of your unit!"
Jero Bonaparte loudly inford the audience, then let Friedrich down.
Friedrich was clearly at a loss at the mont; he didn’t understand why his father had not discussed this with him beforehand and had instead made the decision that he would read the list.
Although Friedrich’s ntal resilience had already far surpassed others of his age, he was ultimately still just a child.
Under the gaze of so many people, Friedrich couldn’t help but feel a bit timid, especially concerning the very important task of reading the comndation list (sothing very ordinary for Jero Bonaparte but very significant for Friedrich for the first ti),
So, with a slight plea in his eyes, Friedrich hoped his father would retract the order.
However, at that mont, Jero Bonaparte seed unwilling to retract the command, patting Friedrich’s shoulder to encourage him, "Be brave! You are the future of the Empire!"
Imdiately, the Emperor’s Aide Bulbaski ca forward, handing Friedrich the docunt containing the comnded units’ information with both hands and quietly encouraging Friedrich.
"Your Highness, be courageous! This is a test from Your Majesty!"
After saying this, Bulbaski rose and returned from the stage to the floor.
Friedrich, feeling imnse pressure, had tears welling in his eyes, but the young boy understood from his ti spent with his father that crying wouldn’t solve any problems.
His mother would compromise because of his tears, but his father would not condone his behavior because of them.
Therefore, Friedrich chose to read the nas of the units on the list.
As Friedrich read the nas of the companies in his childish voice, the commanders of those companies stepped out from the crowd onto the stage. They each saluted Jero Bonaparte and Friedrich Bonaparte with a standard military salute and then stood behind the Emperor and Crown Prince.
When the Crown Prince finished reading all the nas, more than ten commanders were already standing on stage.
Next, Bulbaski walked up the stage again, followed by a line of soldiers, each holding a bronze plaque inscribed with "First Prize of the National Grand Contest," "Second Prize of the National Grand Contest," and "Third Prize of the National Grand Contest." Each plaque had Jero Bonaparte’s signature at the bottom right.
Jero Bonaparte handed out the plaques to the commanding officers who had received awards one by one, shaking hands with them and encouraging them to continue their efforts.
The commanding officers who received the "First Prize" plaque enthusiastically promised Jero Bonaparte they would maintain their current performance, while those who received the "Second" and "Third Prizes" vowed to Jero Bonaparte that in the next "Grand Contest," their units would strive for the "First Prize."
Looking at the competitive commanders, Jero Bonaparte’s heart was delighted.
For him, a small plaque didn’t cost much, but it could instill a sense of collective honor in an army, making them eager to offer their loyalty.
Is there any better deal than this under heaven!
Subsequently, at Jero Bonaparte’s call, all soldiers in the venue applauded the awarded units, the venue filled with applause like waves.
Amid the continuous applause, the company commanders left the stage.
Jero Bonaparte gestured for silence with his hand, then spoke to halt the applause.
Once the applause ceased, Jero Bonaparte announced once again that units receiving "First, Second, and Third Prizes" would also receive a substantial bonus bestowed by the royal family.
Of course, those guarding troops who did not receive awards would still receive so extra stipend.
[Jero Bonaparte had already calculated the bonuses, totaling around five million francs.
Though said to be royal stipends, they were actually contributions from Parisian entrepreneurs to the Emperor.]
For a mont, cries of "Long live the Emperor" reached Jero Bonaparte’s ears once more.
Jero Bonaparte and Friedrich left the stage amid cheers, arriving at a small independent building near the military camp.
Bulbaski ca to Jero Bonaparte’s side, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress’s envoy has arrived!"
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