The National Guard, as a product born in 1789, can be said to have been closely linked with the revolution since the mont of its birth.
Therefore, it was also viewed as a thorn in the side by the monarchs after the Great Revolution. Emperor Napoleon, Louis XVIII, and Charles X all briefly abolished this army filled with revolutionary spirit, but ultimately they had to reestablish it.
During the Orleans Kingdom period, Louis Philippe, who considered himself placed on the throne by the National Guard, regarded it as a strong guarantee for maintaining the regi. However, the National Guard still betrayed him.
When Jero Bonaparte beca the Emperor of the Second Empire, he also gritted his teeth in hatred toward the National Guard, yet he dared not dissolve it outright due to the great disregard of the public.
Thus, he could only choose to keep the National Guard never at full capacity, not even reaching half the number, while deploying a large number of troops around Paris so that if any disturbance occurred in Paris, the surrounding troops would enter Paris imdiately and crush the rebels.
Now, Nie’er actually directly abolished the "National Guard" in the next round of military reform, which truly felt dangerous to him.
After all, historically, the abolition of the National Guard happened after 1870, because France suffered unprecedented defeat in the battle with Prussia, causing the entire nation of France to be eager to settle accounts with Prussia. Therefore, they chose to mimic Prussia by establishing a reserve army system and a general staff system.
Even in such an environnt, the abolition of the National Guard was only passed after separate negotiations in parliant.
The current French Empire has not yet faced the situation of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Jero Bonaparte highly doubts whether the reform to abolish the National Guard can be smoothly implented.
In response to Jero Bonaparte’s solemn inquiry, Nie’er also responded solemnly: "Your Majesty, I am fully aware of the status of the National Guard in the hearts of our citizens!
But I must tell you, the National Guard system is no longer suitable for France."
Then, Nie’er described to Jero Bonaparte the investigations he sent people to conduct in various provinces and cities.
According to the research results of the Ministry of War, most of the National Guard within France cannot even be called an army. At best, they are local militias; in so places, they even specifically selected people nearing the age of 50 to join the National Guard.
"Your Majesty, is there any necessity for such an organization to exist in France?" Nie’er found himself questioning Jero Bonaparte, and then continued, "Rather than letting them continue to rot like this, it would be better to abolish them!"
"Nie’er, so things are not done simply because they are right!" Jero Bonaparte shook his head with a wry smile.
As a ti traveler, he was well aware of the capability of the National Guard. In the "future" Franco-Prussian War, Gambetta led 600,000 (alleged) National Guards to Paris for rescue, only to be firmly pinned down by a single army from the Kingdom of Prussia.
It was imaginable how inflated the capabilities of the National Guard actually were.
However, as Jero Bonaparte said, so things, even when known to be wrong, must still be done wrongly.
"Your Majesty, I do not understand!" Nie’er shook his head and answered Jero Bonaparte.
Jero Bonaparte looked up at Nie’er, and from Nie’er’s eyes, he saw a sense of unwillingness.
Nie’er did understand; he was rely unwilling to see his military reform negated.
"The issue of the National Guard is so extensive that it can be said to affect everything with a single move!" Jero Bonaparte earnestly advised Nie’er, "We should consider starting anew outside the frawork of the National Guard!"
"Start anew?" Nie’er showed a puzzled expression.
"We can establish a new reserve army, which will use all the ti outside of farming every year for training!
So that they can be quickly deployed into battle during warti!" Jero Bonaparte explained to Nie’er.
This idea similarly originated from Nie’er, but from thirteen years later.
"Your Majesty, what shall we do with those people in the National Guard?" Nie’er asked back.
"Those people, just act as if they don’t exist!" Jero Bonaparte shrugged and answered Nie’er.
"However, they will also consu a large amount of our money!" Nie’er continued to say to Jero Bonaparte, "And I can guarantee that if you don’t choose to abolish the National Guard, those conscripted soldiers will try everything to escape to the National Guard to evade your conscription!"
"This..." Jero Bonaparte’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, recognizing that Nie’er did make so valid points.
"Is really abolishing the National Guard the only way forward?" Jero Bonaparte asked Nie’er once again.
"Your Majesty, we must have the determination to cut off our own arm!" Nie resolutely said to Jero Bonaparte.
The Nie of 1855 had less compromise and more determination for reform compared to the Nie of 1868.
Seeing Nie’s unwavering desire to implent the reform of abolishing the National Self-defense Army, Jero Bonaparte pondered for a mont and eventually chose to agree with Nie’s viewpoint.
After all, the only path for the future of the French Army was to establish a perfect reserve system.
Jero Bonaparte was determined to move forward, no matter the cost.
"Your General Staff must produce a report on the National Self-defense Army in the shortest possible ti, and the content of the report must clearly state the situation and status of the National Self-defense Army in each locality!
At that ti, I will take the report and military reforms to the Bourbon Palace, and I think that should suffice to convince those stubborn old n in the Legislative Corps!" Jero Bonaparte said to Nie.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Nie nodded and responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"I am quite satisfied with the rest of the military reforms!" Jero Bonaparte encouraged Nie, "I hope you will continue to work diligently!"
"I certainly will not disappoint your expectations!" Nie earnestly replied to Jero Bonaparte.
He knew that whether it was enhancing the authority of the General Staff or abolishing the National Self-defense Army, Jero Bonaparte was using his prestige to shield him.
If his reforms did not et Jero Bonaparte’s expectations, he would likely be dismissed by Jero Bonaparte.
Therefore, Nie had to muster all his energy to complete this work.
Thus, from late May to early June, Marshal Nie tirelessly gathered the General Staff officers, who wore civilian clothes to the provinces and cities of France, to collect materials unfavorable to the National Self-defense Army, so that Jero Bonaparte could completely bury the National Self-defense Army.
anwhile, Jero Bonaparte took advantage of this period to turn his attention to Algeria, a land that had been conquered by France for about 25 years.
As a result, Jero Bonaparte summoned Minister of Internal Affairs Percy and inquired about the situation of Abdul Kader, who was in custody.
Percy inford Jero Bonaparte that it had been eight years since Abdul Kader, the last (organized) rebel leader of Algiers, was captured. During these eight years, Abdul Kader had quietly remained in a prison near Paris.
Intrigued, Jero Bonaparte asked Percy whether Abdul Kader had ever thought of escaping during this ti.
Percy replied to Jero Bonaparte that due to Abdul Kader’s unique status, his place of detention was different from ordinary political prisoners; the previous Orléans Governnt had specially arranged a private prison for him.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte ordered Percy to take him to where Abdu Cadivin was held.
Percy had no choice but to comply with Jero Bonaparte’s instructions. After a carriage ride brought Jero Bonaparte and Percy to a prison on the outskirts of Paris, Jero Bonaparte t the solitary prisoner, Abdu Cadivin.
Although Abdu Cadivin appeared slightly haggard after eight years of imprisonnt, he still maintained a spirited deanor.
"Your Majesty, this is the traitor Abdu Cadivin!" The prison warden, responsible for guarding Abdul Kader, enthusiastically introduced Abdul Kader’s history to Jero Bonaparte.
"No need for introductions! I know all about it!" Jero Bonaparte raised his hand to stop the warden, then casually asked Abdu Cadivin, "Mr. Cadivin, are you willing to regain your freedom?"
Upon hearing the word "freedom," Abdu Cadivin’s eyes lit up, and he quickly ran to Jero Bonaparte and responded, "Your Majesty, I dream of regaining my freedom!"
"As long as you agree to a few of my conditions, I am willing to grant you freedom!" Jero Bonaparte said to Abdu Cadivin.
"Great Majesty, what conditions would you like to agree to?" Abdu Cadivin inquired to Jero Bonaparte again.
"First, you must promise that after your release, you will not engage in any activities opposing France!" Jero Bonaparte said to Abdu Cadivin.
"Your Majesty, I think no one, however arrogant, would dare to oppose a monarch who has conquered all of Europe!" Abdul Kader praised Jero Bonaparte.
"And after your release, you shall not return to Algiers!" Jero Bonaparte reiterated to Abdul Kader.
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