After reading the plan, Jero Bonaparte patted Leboeuf on the shoulder, encouraging him to go ahead boldly; France (or rather, Jero Bonaparte) would never forget his contributions.
Encouraged, Leboeuf imdiately patted his chest and assured Jero Bonaparte that he would not betray His Majesty the Emperor’s trust and also thoughtfully inquired how these two additional incos should be handled.
Jero Bonaparte, of course, understood that Leboeuf’s implication was to hand over these two "windfalls" outside of the army’s accounts entirely to Jero Bonaparte.
"How much can we earn from the railways and horses?" Jero Bonaparte inquired to Leboeuf after pondering for a mont.
Leboeuf, hearing Jero Bonaparte’s words, thought he was preparing to pocket all the money and hastily replied, "These two incos amount to about 5 million francs together! However, there are also so depreciation funds for the guns... All in all, it should be around more than 10 million francs!"
"10 million francs!" Jero Bonaparte smacked his lips, "That is indeed no small sum! So be it! Leboeuf, in the na of your logistics committee, distribute the entire 10 million francs!"
"Distribute all of it?" Leboeuf looked at Jero Bonaparte in shock, unable to believe that he would issue such an order.
"Yes! Distribute all of it!" Jero Bonaparte emphasized again.
Then, Jero Bonaparte took out a note worth 100,000 francs from his pocket and handed it to Leboeuf.
"Your Majesty, I can’t..." Leboeuf wanted to refuse Jero Bonaparte’s reward.
"This is what you deserve!" Jero Bonaparte stuffed the note into General Leboeuf’s arms, and reiterated, "Do not touch any of that money! If there’s anything you need, feel free to ask anyti!"
"Yes!" Leboeuf nodded to Jero Bonaparte.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte suddenly asked General Leboeuf if he was aware of how French officers handled war loot.
Leboeuf inford Jero Bonaparte that he himself had also acquired loot through raiding tribes in Algeria, so he had so understanding of fencing loot.
Since the army engaged in virtually cost-free business, many of the illiterate sellers had no idea how to maximize the benefits of the loot in their hands, and thus the goods they stole were often extorted by rchants.
"Isn’t there anyone to help them organize a relatively fair platform?" Jero Bonaparte asked in puzzlent.
"If it were in Algeria, it would be easier to handle! Those who want to continue working with us long-term must accept our arrangents! However, in a sudden war like this, it’s difficult for the army to find trustworthy rchants! Many soldiers, in pursuit of quick pleasure, sell items of imnse value at extrely low prices!" Leboeuf answered Jero Bonaparte.
After listening to Leboeuf, Jero Bonaparte remained silent for a mont, then looked up at Leboeuf and said, "Alright, understood!"
Following that, Leboeuf chatted with Jero Bonaparte for a while longer until Jero Patterson entered the room and quietly inford Jero Bonaparte of Marshal Pellissier’s arrival.
Seeing this, Leboeuf promptly stood up to bid farewell to Jero Bonaparte.
"Wait a mont!" Jero Bonaparte called out to Leboeuf, then signaled to Jero Patterson with a glance.
Receiving Jero Bonaparte’s "signal," Jero Patterson turned and left the room. After a while, he returned with a tray in his hands.
On the tray was a silver Legion of Honor dal, and a flash of excitent crossed Leboeuf’s face. He stood tall, waiting quietly for Jero Bonaparte to personally pin the dal on him!
Under Leboeuf’s watchful eyes, Jero Bonaparte picked up the dal from the tray, slowly brought it to Marshal Leboeuf’s chest, and personally pinned it on him!
"Well done!" Jero Bonaparte patted Leboeuf on the shoulder and spoke softly.
Leboeuf shook his head, expressing that it was his honor to serve the Empire.
Following Jero Bonaparte’s order, Leboeuf was escorted out of the Perekop Fortress by Jero Patterson.
Jero Bonaparte, anwhile, under the guidance of his attendants, arrived at the door of Marshal Pellissier’s room.
Upon entering the room, Jero Bonaparte first laid eyes on Marshal Pellissier and Valerovsky, who were seated on the couch, savoring their tea.
The arrival of Jero Bonaparte prompted them to set down their teacups and rise to welco him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Jero Bonaparte apologized to Marshal Pellissier with a look of regret.
Although as a monarch he naturally enjoyed the privilege of not abiding by ti, keeping others waiting repeatedly was not exactly comndable either.
"It’s nothing! We just got here ourselves!" Marshal Pellissier quickly extended a step for Jero Bonaparte.
"Alright! Marshal Pellissier, there’s no need to make excuses for , let’s get straight to the point!" Jero Bonaparte said to Marshal Pellissier with a wave of his hand.
"Yes!" Marshal Pellissier promptly resud his military deanor and responded firmly to Jero Bonaparte.
"Marshal Pellissier!" Jero Bonaparte too showed a serious expression, earnestly speaking to Marshal Pellissier: "In light of your outstanding performance in the Crian War, and with the unanimous consent of the Legislative Court and the Senate (the Legislative Court and the Senate weren’t aware of this yet; Jero Bonaparte intended to act first and seek permission later), you are granted the title of Count of Bakhchisarai!
It is hoped that in the days ahead, you will continue to make efforts and further expand the frontiers of France!"
Upon hearing that he was granted a count title, Marshal Pellissier felt as though he had been struck by a lottery ticket worth millions of francs, feeling rather elated.
Bear in mind that this world line differs from the one where his cousin is the emperor; in the Second Empire, titles are not handed out so freely that conquering a place would earn one a count or duke title.
Since the inception of the Empire until now, including Pellissier, only two counts and three marshals have been appointed, seemingly aligning with the standards of the First Empire.
As the saying goes, scarcity lends value, and naturally, Pellissier greatly cherished the title of Count.
Of course, if Marshal Pellissier were aware that in another world line, he received the title of Duke Malakhov rely for breaking through Sevastopol, he would definitely grumble about Jero Bonaparte being stingy.
"Your Majesty, I pledge my allegiance with my Silent Empire until my heart stops beating!" Marshal Pellissier responded to Jero Bonaparte with resolute determination.
"Very well!" Jero Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and then inford Marshal Pellissier that along with the count title, a Glory dal and a mansion befitting his count status would be bestowed upon his return to France.
Marshal Pellissier nodded in understanding. Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte inquired of Marshal Pellissier as to when the French Army would be able to complete its withdrawal from the Cria Peninsula.
Marshal Pellissier inford Jero Bonaparte that the complete withdrawal from Cria might take one to two months.
After all, nearly half a year had elapsed since France landed on the Cria Peninsula.
It would be impossible to transport all 100,000 soldiers back in a short period.
Therefore, they would have to return in batches, which would undoubtedly take a considerable length of ti.
"When will the first group of soldiers begin their departure?" Jero Bonaparte inquired of Marshal Pellissier.
"In a week!" Marshal Pellissier said to Jero Bonaparte and then suggested that Jero Bonaparte return to France along with the first group of soldiers.
"Nonsense!" Jero Bonaparte furrowed his brow, reprimanding Marshal Pellissier, "I shall leave here with the last group of soldiers!"
"Your Majesty, regarding the Crown Prince over there..." Valerovsky, standing by, hesitated before speaking.
"Friedrich, what’s the matter?" Jero Bonaparte responded after a few seconds.
"His Holiness Pope Pius IX said he would personally be present for the Crown Prince’s baptism at his full month!" Valerovsky reminded.
"Humph!" Jero Bonaparte snorted coldly, a trace of a mocking smile on his lips as he said, "Our Pope Pius didn’t co personally for Friedrich’s baptism (the baptism of Friedrich Bonaparte was officiated by the Archbishop of Nancy Cathedral; back then, the baptisms and coronations of the Bourbon Dynasty were all handled solely by Nancy Cathedral)!
Instead, he rushed to Paris from afar at the full month!
Such dedication!"
Facing Jero Bonaparte’s mockery of Pope Pius IX, neither Marshal Pellissier nor Valerovsky dared to make rash comnts.
So matters, like those casually discussed by a monarch like Jero Bonaparte, if casually critiqued by his ministers and caught by those with vested interests (the influence of the Church Faction in France is second only to the three main factions), would undoubtedly cause trouble.
However, the issue with Pope Pius IX did warrant Jero Bonaparte’s ridicule, as his actions did seem overly opportunistic.
Valerovsky believed that had Pope Pius IX not received news of the Russian Empire’s complete surrender, he would have remained indecisive for so ti.
Not rushing to Paris so fervently, fearing Paris might do sothing disappointing.
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