Slling the scent of war in the telegram, Jero Bonaparte imdiately decided to convene a Cabinet eting to "discuss" counterasures.
Of course, calling it a discussion of counterasures is less accurate than saying it was an inquiry into the readiness of the French Army and the timing of their entry into the Near East.
Although historically the Crian conflict began around October, and the formal clash between the French Empire and the Russian Empire occurred in 1854, no one can guarantee that the Russian Empire won’t launch a war in advance.
According to intelligence from the National Intelligence Bureau’s Foreign Warfare Departnt, Paskievich of the Russian Empire has been deliberately spreading propaganda in the Black Mountain, Serbia, and Bulgarian regions, urging them to rise and overthrow the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
As for those useless spies under the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, they couldn’t even notice Paskievich’s little moves.
Of course, there is also the possibility that they don’t dare to report this information to the Sultan.
In any case, the entire Balkan Region has already beco a powder keg. If the Tsar decides to make a move, the rebels lying low in the Ottoman Empire’s territory will rise up.
These rebels may not be able to defeat the regular army of the Ottoman Empire, but they are more than capable of causing so disturbances.
Jero Bonaparte was sowhat worried that the Russian Empire might launch a two-pronged attack, swiftly piercing through Bulgaria with one force, and having the navy land to occupy Constantinople with the other.
If that happens, the French Empire might find itself in a passive position, which would result in more deaths on their side.
Each person is the most valuable human resource for France.
Without delay, Jero Bonaparte imdiately called in Mokar and ordered him to have the Minister of State, Minister of Finance, Minister of War, Minister of Justice, Minister of the Navy, Minister of Internal Affairs, Chief of Staff, Minister of the Seal, and Minister of Railways summoned to the Tuileries Palace.
"Yes!" Mokar accepted the order and departed.
"Co with !" Jero Bonaparte led De Luy ahead to the Cabinet eting location at the Tuileries Palace.
The two sat quietly at the long table, waiting for the ministers to arrive. After about an hour, all the summoned ministers arrived at the eting room.
"Ladies and gentlen, I’ve called you here today to discuss our next course of action!" Jero Bonaparte wasted no words and got straight to the point.
The attendees displayed a variety of expressions: surprise, excitent, and even lancholy!
Imdiately, Jero Bonaparte handed the telegram to Mornay, the Minister of the Seal sitting to his left, and said: "This is a telegram sent by Valvesky Envoy from Constantinople. Please pass it around!"
Mornay was the first to read the telegram’s contents, then handed it to the Minister of State, Fuld, sitting next to him. Fuld finished reading and passed it on to the Minister of Finance, Mane...
When the telegram returned to Jero Bonaparte’s hand, another half hour had passed.
"Ladies and gentlen, if any of you have ideas, please share them!" Jero Bonaparte addressed the ministers present.
"Your Majesty, does the breakdown of negotiations between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire an that war between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire has already begun?" Minister of State Fuld was the first to speak.
"Nicholas I is definitely not soone who backs down easily! After negotiations break down, he will surely take action against the Ottoman Empire! I believe you all understand that the overreach of the Russian Empire is our opportunity. The Kingdom of Britain, like us, will absolutely not allow the Russian Empire to overstep its bounds! They will stand with us to jointly counter the Russian Empire.
So we don’t need to worry about facing the risk of isolation as before. Instead, we can take this opportunity to close the distance with Europe and then completely exclude the Russian Empire from the system."
Although Jero Bonaparte had repeated this statent countless tis, he continued to repeat it over and over again.
The purpose was to make them believe that he could definitely lead them to victory, as only by doing so would they firmly stand alongside Jero Bonaparte.
No one would want to follow a leader without confidence!
The Minister of State Fuld, seeing this, remained silent.
Seeing that none of the ministers present were willing to speak, Jero Bonaparte had to choose soone to question.
"Minister Montauban, how are the troop numbers, arms, and supplies preparations going?" Jero Bonaparte first asked the Minister of War, Kuzen Montebon.
Kuzen Montebon imdiately inford Jero Bonaparte that all the way stations along the southern line had been completely reorganized, with way stations resuming their conscription functions. As a result, the annual troop replenishnt was about 80,000 n, and the armant factories, clothing factories, and cannery facilities under the War Departnt were working under the committee’s requirents.
"Very good!" Jero Bonaparte nodded at Kuzen Montebon.
Then, he turned his gaze to Chief of Staff Marshal Saint Arno: "How is the situation in the various levels of staff departnts?"
"The army, division, brigade, and regint staff departnts are all ready! Ready to move at any mont!" Marshal Saint Arno replied to Jero Bonaparte.
"Hmm!" Jero Bonaparte nodded slightly to show understanding, then turned his gaze to his Minister of Railways, Barroso: "What about your Ministry of Railways?"
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Railways..." Faced with Jero Bonaparte’s sudden inquiry, Barroso was montarily at a loss, not comprehending Jero Bonaparte’s intent.
"The Ministry of Railways is the most crucial link in war! You must coordinate well with the Ministry of War’s work!" Jero Bonaparte said sternly to Barroso: "Starting next month, all railroads must operate punctually and as planned! No one, including myself, is allowed to alter the plan arbitrarily! Extend the train departure tis!
Therefore, during this period, you must establish even closer contact with the military!"
A glint of lancholy flashed in Barroso’s eyes. After a mont of hesitation, he could only respond to Jero Bonaparte with a "Yes!"
"Marshal Saint Arno, you must consult closely with Minister Barroso! When it cos to military matters, not a single detail can be neglected!" Jero Bonaparte said sternly to Saint Arno and Barroso.
"Understood!" Saint Arno and Barroso responded promptly to Jero Bonaparte.
Next, Jero Bonaparte inquired about the state of French finances from Minister of Finance Mane.
Under the influence of high luxury taxes, France’s overall financial situation appeared favorable.
However, the fiscal surplus was not significant, making it impossible to initiate a war.
Issuing governnt bonds externally was a necessity.
In the 19th, 20th, and even the 21st centuries, no capitalist country has ever initiated a large-scale war solely relying on its fiscal surplus.
Even a global empire like Britain had more debt than France.
The debt of 450 million British Pounds from the Napoleonic Wars still stood at around 240 million today.
Although Britain successfully wielded the Gold Pounds to destroy the First Empire, it too suffered equally in the process.
"How much might this war cost?" Jero Bonaparte asked a seemingly foolish question.
"Your Majesty! I cannot predict the start of the war, nor the end! All of this depends on your will!" Mane replied diplomatically to Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte suddenly realized how foolish it was to estimate the cost of a war while making decisions within a war.
Though Jero Bonaparte was confident in defeating the Russian Empire within two years, there was no telling if the Russian Empire would be more stubborn in reality, or if unforeseen events might occur; such things were unpredictable.
At present, all Jero Bonaparte could do was issue war bonds as needed,
for the Russian Empire’s current finances could not hope to compete with France’s.
Jero Bonaparte vowed to reclaim twice as much from the Russian Empire after the war.
"Very well! Regarding the war bonds, have those bankers ready themselves at any ti!" Jero Bonaparte could only instruct them to be prepared.
"Yes!" Mane promptly responded deferentially to Jero Bonaparte.
Imdiately after, Jero Bonaparte asked the Minister of the Navy about the status of transport ships and warships. Deco naturally did not disappoint Jero Bonaparte’s expectations, with all state-owned factories under the Navy Departnt, as well as factories controlled by the Navy, working overti to ensure the launch of a second ironclad by the end of September.
"There’s no rush on the ironclad! Your current focus is ensuring the smoothness of the mariti routes!" Jero Bonaparte issued a new round of instructions to Deco.
As for the Minister of Internal Affairs, Percy, Jero Bonaparte’s instructions were even simpler, strictly monitoring those social celebrities imprisoned during the coup on December 2, 1850.
Although Jero Bonaparte had issued two acts of amnesty in the past (once when he proclaid emperor, another during his wedding), it did not an he would ease his surveillance over them.
During warti, their voices must be stifled to prevent reckless talk.
After the eting, Minister of Railways Barroso once again approached Jero Bonaparte to disclose the current plight faced by the Ministry of Railways.
Under massive debt, the Ministry of Railways might be unable to simultaneously pay bonds and interest and cover additional costs above the war, potentially leading to bankruptcy.
Over the past few years, the Ministry of Railways issued bonds exceeding at least 10 billion; bankruptcy could trigger an economic collapse across France.
In response, Jero Bonaparte offered a solution.
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