Why is it you?
When faced with Count Opler’s cautious inquiry, Jero Bonaparte was montarily unsure whether it was appropriate to reveal the truth to Count Opler. He certainly couldn’t just tell Count Opler that he was rely being used as a transitional puppet, and once everything settled down, he would be swiftly kicked aside.
Such an honest reply, although sincere, had a connotation of "using soone and discarding them."
If there were no proper arrangents for Count Opler afterward, it would create an impression that "working for the President has no good outco," thereby casting a negative light on Jero Bonaparte’s policy of uniting more allies. He disguised his intentions with a half-truth, half-lie answer: "General Opler, I believe you are aware of what happened recently with Pri Minister Audion Barrot!"
Count Opler nodded, understanding that Jero Bonaparte was referring to Audion Barrot’s news about his visit to London.
Seeing Count Opler nod, Jero Bonaparte tactfully said: "Even though such a ’shocking’ event occurred in the Republic, many mbers of parliant still oppose my dismissal of Pri Minister Audion Barrot!
If I forcibly dismiss Audion Barrot using my authority, the Order Party will undoubtedly retaliate against . Their retaliation will also be limited to the issue of cabinet appointnts, as they’ll incite a group of Order Party mbers to refuse my invitation to join the cabinet.
Even so, I do not wish to make enemies with them, so I need a bridge to ease communication with them. General Opler, you understand what I an, don’t you!"
Count Opler understood the President’s intention; Jero Bonaparte appointed him Pri Minister purely because of his Orléans Faction background, while he was also one of the few people maintaining a good relationship with the President.
Of course, Adolf Fuld was also a political banker who maintained a good relationship with the Orléans Faction, but considering his dual ’debuff’ of being both Jewish and a banker, Jero Bonaparte did not want to stir up people’s disgust towards the Orléans Dynasty, so he excluded him.
"Mr. President, I am a soldier, and you should know that soldiers have no party affiliation. Soldiers pledge allegiance to the entire nation, even though I was once elevated by the Bourbons and Orléans..." Count Opler responded respectfully to Jero Bonaparte.
Soldiers have no party affiliation?
General Opler’s words almost made Jero Bonaparte burst into laughter. Lower and mid-level military officers might not have clear political affiliations; their task is singular: obey the orders from above.
Once entering the upper ranks of the military, claiming the military has no party affiliation is nothing short of a joke; high-ranking officers in the military are often divided into factions.
If the Paris Regular Army and National Guard commander weren’t nad Changarnier, Jero Bonaparte wouldn’t have needed to expend so much effort replacing the cabinet, swapping out the Minister of War, and reallocating combat units to integrate different factions within the military.
With the influence of his uncle backing him, he could easily rally the army to turn Paris upside down.
Though, with Jero Bonaparte’s increasing influence over the military, the only obstacles before him were Changarnier and his few trusted sub-commanders under the First Division.
If not for the ambiguous stance from the Ministry of War, Jero Bonaparte could completely push them out of Paris.
Everything would have to wait for General Renio to return to Paris.
The letter should have already reached General Renio, Jero Bonaparte thought to himself.
"Indeed, soldiers are the guarantors of national stability and also France’s crucial defense against foreign nations. I chose soone like you to be Pri Minister because I see that quality of national loyalty in you! I believe a person’s skills can be developed through training, but a person’s character is innate.
General Opler, you once led France’s courageous soldiers in nurous campaigns, earning significant victories. That itself shows you are a man with rich managent experience, and now it’s just a matter of shifting from commanding the army to commanding the cabinet!"
Since General Opler was willing to pin a "non-partisan" badge on himself, Jero Bonaparte gladly allowed it.
"Mr. President, thank you for your trust in ! I will strive not to disappoint in leading the cabinet!" Count Opler spoke to Jero Bonaparte with excitent, then his expression changed to one of sincere humbleness, as he spread his hands and sighed: "In truth, it’s far too challenging for soone like , with no governance experience, to serve as Pri Minister and lead the cabinet. However, given your enlistnt, Mr. President, I am, of course, willing to serve the nation for a period. I hope, Mr. President, that you can agree to one condition of mine!"
General Opler looked at him intently, believing that Jero Bonaparte had already tacitly allowed him to be indecisive.
Aware that he had little experience in governance, through his conversation with Jero Bonaparte, he understood that he was rely a transitional figure. After his departure, this position might very well be promised to soone else at the banquet; his aim was to gather enough experience in this role, and serving as the Pri Minister under the Emperor’s nephew might not necessarily be better than staying in the military.
"What condition?" Jero Bonaparte asked imdiately.
He wasn’t afraid of Opler having conditions, but of him having none.
Having conditions ant there could be a trade of interests; no conditions ant Jero Bonaparte might face a troubleso problem.
"Mr. President, please allow to resign from this position at the appropriate ti! I am a soldier, my life should belong to the army!" General Oppel said forcefully, with a genuine touch of a soldier’s iron blood in his words.
"General, I can assure you, you won’t be detained for long! A general indifferent to fa and wealth will always be favored by destiny." Jero Bonaparte replied to Count Oppel.
Having never expected Count Oppel to beco a true figure of power, Jero Bonaparte planned to quickly oust Oppel from the cabinet once the Ministry of War stabilized. If Oppel voluntarily proposed to resign, that would be even better.
The principle of Jero Bonaparte is that as long as you don’t block my path, then we can part amicably and wait for a promotion.
If you block my path, then I will not hesitate to kick you out.
"Mr. President, thank you again for appointing as the Pri Minister!" General Oppel bowed slightly to Jero Bonaparte, having decided to serve as the cabinet Pri Minister, even if it is just a puppet position.
"I hope we will have a pleasant cooperation in the future!" Jero Bonaparte extended his hand to General Oppel.
"I also wish you all the best!" Count Oppel, equally in tacit understanding, shook hands with Jero Bonaparte, as he had understood what Jero Bonaparte intended to do.
The position of President could not satisfy the ambitions of the Emperor’s nephew.
...
While Jero Bonaparte was conversing with Oppel, a secret eting was also taking place in a villa near Ro.
The participants included the deputy commander of the Roman Expeditionary Army Edgar Ney, the commander of the Roman Expeditionary Army General Reniao, the "Chief of Logistics" of the Roman Expeditionary Army Brigadier General Nie’er, as well as so officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel and colonel. They were the backbone mbers of the Expeditionary Army and loyal supporters of the Bonaparte Faction.
With subtle influences over three months, General Reniao had turned them into supporters of the Bonaparte Faction.
Under the light of the glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling, General Reniao, seated at the head of the long mahogany table, nodded to Edgar Ney beside him, who imdiately took out a letter and handed it to General Reniao.
Everyone’s attention focused simultaneously on the letter, knowing that the letter was the key to this eting.
"Ladies and gentlen, I have received a handwritten letter from His Highness Prince! His Highness Prince comnds your brave and fearless performance in the Roman War and the handling of post-war Ro! He assures you that your contributions will be duly rewarded!" General Reniao began by lavishly praising the officers.
In so ways, these soldiers indeed brought him glory.
Everyone present smiled; there’s no one who doesn’t like receiving praise from their leaders and then getting promoted.
Then, General Reniao dropped a "bombshell" to everyone present: "The President said he will nominate to serve as the Minister of War of France!"
The mont Reniao announced his appointnt as the Minister of War, all the officers present couldn’t remain calm, knowing that the difference in power between a Minister of War trusted by the President and one not trusted by the President was as far apart as the ground and the sky.
If General Reniao wanted to, as the Minister of War, he could completely clean up the entire Ministry of War and then place so of his people there.
This ant that those who had fought alongside General Reniao also had the opportunity to enter the Ministry of War.
After honing their skills for a few years in the Ministry of War, it would be easy for them to be assigned as a division commander elsewhere.
"General, you mustn’t forget us!"
"Yes! General, we are all supporters of the President..."
"General, we are your soldiers! Wherever you go, we will follow..."
"General, those weaklings in the Ministry of War are unreliable; only we are the President’s most loyal troops!"
...
The soldiers present shouted loudly, wanting to follow Reniao into the Paris Ministry of War, with a few bold ones openly declaring "I support the President’s coronation."
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