From the principle of diplomacy, De Luy does not necessarily agree with the use of military as a ans of threat; excessive use of military for coercion can easily bring a nation’s diplomatic credibility to the brink of bankruptcy.
However, based on the principle of pragmatism, De Luy has to admit that military threats are often a quicker way to achieve a goal.
De Luy glanced at the three military managers present and, after weighing a little, tactfully said: "Letting our allies appropriately understand our strength is more beneficial for future alliances!"
"Then it’s settled!" Jero Bonaparte nodded to everyone present.
Then, he assigned them their respective tasks.
This impromptu eting continued until 1 a.m. When everyone who had received their tasks from Jero Bonaparte’s mouth left the Fontainebleau Palace, they also did not rest but returned to their respective departnts/armies for an additional eting.
That night, the entire middle and senior level civil servants/military personnel of Paris did not have a good night’s sleep.
Early the next morning, with the joint efforts of various departnts, the parade ceremony scheduled for the next morning was being prepared in an orderly manner.
And the Ottoman Delegation, which arrived at the Paris Railway Station at 8 p.m. that night, was warmly welcod by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Rifat Pasha.
When the train arrived at the platform, the steam locomotive let out a loud whistle, followed by a piercing brake sound.
The speed of the train began to decrease, and Rifat Pasha, staying in the carriage, saw soldiers standing on both sides of the railway station. They were dressed in uniform sky blue double-breasted military uniforms, wearing tall leather military hats, and carried Minie Rifles on their backs. What was even more surprising was that each soldier’s face was full of vitality and confidence, completely different from the muddled soldiers Rifat Pasha had seen in the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and even Britain.
The train slowly ca to a stop, and Fleury ca to Rifat Pasha and said, "Mr. Rifat, we have arrived!"
"Oh! Oh!" Rifat Pasha quickly nodded to Fleury, then got up and left his seat.
When Rifat Pasha arrived at the railway station, a group of children holding flowers blocked his path, handing them over one by one to Rifat Pasha.
Rifat handed all the flowers from the children’s hands to his delegation’s subordinates, and each mber of the delegation received more than two bouquets of flowers.
With the guidance of the soldiers, the children left, and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, De Luy, appeared in front of Rifat Pasha.
"Mr. Rifat, hello! Welco to France!" De Luy ca to Rifat Pasha and opened his arms to make a hugging gesture while speaking.
"Hello!" Rifat Pasha looked a bit surprised, then also opened his arms to embrace De Luy and imdiately released, half-jokingly said: "Your country’s recent etiquette really startled !"
"We in France are a warm and hospitable nation! Especially in dealing with friends, we treat them with a sincere heart! With sincerity for sincerity, friendship for friendship!" For these smooth diplomatic words, De Luy has beco quite adept to the point of ’doing it effortlessly.’
"I believe the Ottoman Empire will definitely beco the best friend of the French Empire! I am here precisely to promote the friendship between the Ottoman Empire and the French Empire!" Rifat Pasha also responded to De Luy with a sentence.
The first phase of the conversation ended in just a few words, and De Luy asked whether Rifat Pasha was willing to accompany him for a al.
"It is my honor to have dinner with a country’s diplomatic leader!" Rifat Pasha gladly accepted De Luy’s invitation.
The two left the railway station and traveled by carriage to the Louvre Grand Hotel. On the way to the Louvre Grand Hotel, Rifat Pasha once again refreshed his understanding of Paris.
Especially when the carriage was traveling along Rivoli Street, Rifat Pasha felt for the first ti what a world of difference it was compared to the modernized Paris and the more dieval-like Constantinople.
The gap between the two countries living under the sa world was really too large.
When the carriage passed by a roadwork site being expanded, Rifat Pasha pointed at the still-working site, speechless: "This..."
"Paris will be renovated in accordance with His Majesty’s orders, this is just a small part of the project!" De Luy spoke to Rifat Pasha in a plain tone, with Paris’s ingrained arrogance embedded in that plain tone: "Paris will be constructed into a global tropolis, and I hope by that ti, Mr. Rifat will be able to visit again!"
"Certainly! Certainly!" Rifat Pasha nodded in reply.
When the carriage arrived at the Louvre Grand Hotel, the scene that ca into view once again shocked Rifat Pasha.
No one could possibly imagine that this splendid, palace-like building would be a private hotel.
After Rifat Pasha and De Luy disembarked, they found that the general manager of the Louvre Grand Hotel and the various departnt managers had been waiting at the steps of the hotel entrance for quite so ti.
A banner reading "Welco Ottoman Empire Delegation to Visit France" was held above the head of the general manager of the Louvre Grand Hotel.
"Welco, Your Excellency Pasha and Your Excellency Minister, to our hotel; it is our honor!" The general manager of the Louvre Hotel said to Rifat Pasha and De Luy.
"Lead the way ahead!" De Luy said lightly to the general manager of the Louvre Grand Hotel.
The general manager of the Louvre Grand Hotel led the two and the delegation mbers into the deluxe room in the Louvre Hotel.
De Luy and Rifat Pasha and others sat down one after another, and De Luy spoke again: "You can stay here for all the ti you’re in France! I can assure you that we will not charge you any fees!"
Hearing De Luy’s words, Rifat Pasha said: "Thank you very much for the French Empire’s affection for us! However, I think it would be better for us to stay at the embassy!"
After Rifat Pasha finished saying this, several mbers of the delegation showed expressions of disappointnt.
Indeed, the comfort of residing at the Louvre Grand Hotel is far beyond compare to that of staying at the embassy.
"That is truly regrettable!" De Luy said regretfully.
After a while, the dishes were served. To accommodate the Ottoman delegation from afar, De Luy specifically chose a grand feast primarily featuring Turkish cuisine, complented by French dishes.
"Everyone, please indulge and enjoy the feast!" De Luy extended his hand to invite the delegation mbers to dine.
The delegation mbers glanced at Rifat Pasha, and after receiving a slight nod from Rifat, they began to eat heartily without reservation.
Seeing the delegation mbers devouring the food ravenously, De Luy gently stirred the milky mushroom soup in his plate with a spoon, then scooped a spoonful into his mouth to savor carefully.
Sitting beside De Luy, Rifat Pasha also cut a piece of steak and began to chew.
The entire dinner lasted nearly an hour. As the dinner was nearing its end, Rifat Pasha inquired about when they could et with the Emperor of the French Empire, expressing his desire to et Jero Bonaparte as soon as possible.
"Rest assured! Tomorrow, Our Majesty the Emperor will et with you!" De Luy said to Rifat Pasha.
"That’s wonderful news!" Rifat Pasha exclaid with joy.
"However, the eting will take place in Chatori!" De Luy added, emphasizing once again.
"Chatori?" Rifat was startled, then asked, "Is His Majesty not at the Tuileries Palace?"
"No, no, no!" De Luy shook his head and replied to Rifat, "There will be a parade in the Shatorri Region tomorrow, and His Majesty will be there!"
"A parade?!!!" Rifat Pasha looked at De Luy in astonishnt.
"Indeed! A parade!" De Luy nodded slowly, responding with certainty.
"I wonder if I would be fortunate enough to attend your country’s parade?" Rifat inquired from De Luy out of curiosity.
"Of course you can!" De Luy agreed to Rifat’s request without hesitation.
This parade was originally prepared for him. Even if Rifat hadn’t ntioned it, De Luy would have asked if he wished to attend the parade.
"I’ll have soone co and get you when the ti cos!"
"Alright!"
After dinner, De Luy sent soone to escort the Rifat delegation back to the embassy, and then he returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The next morning after Rifat Pasha arrived in Paris, a group of dragoons dressed in formal attire appeared at the gates of the Ottoman Empire’s embassy.
After entering the gates and explaining their purpose, Rifat Pasha and the dragoons rode a carriage to the Paris Railway Station, took the train passing through Versailles, and arrived at the parade location, Chatori.
There, Rifat Pasha t Jero Bonaparte.
At that ti, Jero Bonaparte was dressed in Lev’s Formal Suit, once worn by his uncle, riding a white steed through the phalanx.
Wherever Jero Bonaparte went, a cheer always erupted from the soldiers in the phalanx.
From a distance, Jero Bonaparte now bore a remarkable resemblance to the late Emperor Napoleon.
Under the guidance of the dragoons, Rifat proceeded to the viewing podium where Jero Bonaparte would stand after the inspection to once again receive the cheers from the troops.
After riding through the phalanx for over an hour, Jero Bonaparte finally completed the inspection of all phalanxes, and he returned to the viewing podium.
As Jero Bonaparte stood on the viewing podium, waves of cheers erupted from the platform below.
"Long live the Empire! Long live Bonaparte!"
"Long live the Empire! Long live Bonaparte!"
The sound echoed like ocean waves, causing Rifat, who was experiencing the parade up close for the first ti, to almost lose his balance.
After the chants of ’Long Live’ echoed three tis, Saint Arno, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Marshal, rode a reddish-brown horse to the viewing podium. He first saluted Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte solemnly returned the salute to Saint Arno.
"Your Majesty, on behalf of all the officers and soldiers in the Seine Province First Military District, I salute you! Please conduct the review!" Saint Arno said with a strong and confident voice to Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte, without expression, nodded again to Saint Arno. Saint Arno then turned his horse and left, along with the orderlies responsible for conveying commands.
One by one, the troop formations began to enter in an orderly manner, and the review was about to officially comnce!
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