"Indeed so, Your Majesty!" Mane answered truthfully.
Afterwards, he paused for a mont and then continued, "However, I believe last year’s fiscal expenditure does not represent the overall state of our nation’s finances.
Because last year’s goal of the Empire was to maintain the employnt rate.
Therefore, concessions had to be made at many tis!
As the Empire’s economic system gradually detached from a state of war, the employnt rate also tended toward stability.
So, I can assert that the Empire’s fiscal revenue this year will inevitably be better than last year, and the situation of revenue exceeding expenditure will also inevitably change!"
As soon as Minister Mane finished speaking, Jero Bonaparte imdiately began to applaud Minister Mane.
Seeing this, the ministers of each departnt and the provincial governors (the eting only invited Baron Haussman, the Governor of Seine Province) also applauded Mane.
Upon seeing this, Mane hurriedly bowed to Jero Bonaparte.
The applause continued for a while and then stopped at Jero Bonaparte’s gesture.
"Minister Mane, your speech was inspiring!" Jero Bonaparte said to Mane with a smile, "Our country needs ministers like you who maintain an optimistic attitude in the face of difficulties!
An occasional fiscal deficit does not an that the Empire’s economy is declining; from a long-term perspective, the Empire’s economy is still on the rise.
Also, I do not believe that issuing governnt bonds is a sinful act. The issuance of 300 million francs in governnt bonds represents the subjects of the Empire believing that the bonds will give them returns, which is why they are eager to purchase them!
If the subjects of the Empire did not have confidence in us, who among them would dare to purchase our bonds?
Moreover, our bonds are financed by the people, for the benefit of the people!
We use the taxes paid by the Empire’s citizens to build railways, bridges, and renovate houses; aren’t all these used for their benefit!
So always say that we are lofty lords, but in my opinion, everyone present here is a public servant working diligently for the people."
After Jero Bonaparte’s shaless speech, he imdiately resonated with the gentlen present, and even more enthusiastic applause resonated through the Imperial Council Hall than before.
Jero Bonaparte calmly accepted the applause from the gentlen.
After the applause ended, Jero Bonaparte turned his gaze to Minister of Justice Rue, "Rue, how about you talk about the situation in the Ministry of Justice!"
"Yes!" Minister of Justice Rue quickly stood up, cleared his throat, and responded to Jero Bonaparte: By the end of December 1856, the Ministry of Justice had processed nearly more than 4,000 cases, the majority of which were dispute cases.
Only a few hundred cases involved the subversion of the Empire. Among these few hundred cases, about 2,000 offenders were tried by the Ministry of Justice and the Supre Court, approximately 1,000 of them were sentenced to imprisonnt (mostly 1 to 2 years) and held in prisons, while the majority of the remaining offenders were transported to Algeria to be responsible for developing the land there.
After listening to Rue’s introduction, Jero Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and said to Rue, "Rue, you have done well. The Ministry of Justice and the Supre Court, as the two highest legislative bodies in our country, should act impartially like this!
However, I have a small request that I hope you can consider!"
"Your Majesty, please speak!" Rue assud a posture of listening attentively and responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"I suggest that the Ministry of Justice and the Supre Court, when dealing with cris committed by entrepreneurs on objective issues, should refrain from arrests where possible," Jero Bonaparte said to Rue, "The private entrepreneurs of the French Empire are the pillars of the entire Empire, and we must protect them!
Training an official is not easy, and training a responsible and dedicated entrepreneur is even more difficult!
We cannot let our impulsiveness lead a company into disaster.
What would happen to the workers without the company?
If workers beca unemployed, this Empire of ours might not last long!"
Jero Bonaparte earnestly advised the gentlen present, as he was well aware of the character of his subordinates.
They registered shell companies and used their authority to strip so valuable enterprises bare.
It would be fine if they were good at managing, but the problem is that most of them are not, wasting a lot of valuable assets.
If they continue to annex unchecked, the Second Empire would eventually be reduced to crony capitalism.
"I understand!" Rue showed an awkward smile.
As the Minister of Justice, he naturally understood Jero Bonaparte’s aning and could only promise to handle entrepreneurial disputes cautiously to Jero Bonaparte.
"Very well! I look forward to your performance!" Jero Bonaparte gestured for Minister of Justice Rue to sit down.
Subsequently, Jero Bonaparte pointed out the Minister of Railways, Barroso, with a jest, "Barroso, you ’Iron King,’ tell us about the state of the Ministry of Railways!"
Upon hearing Jero Bonaparte’s address, Barroso inevitably showed a touch of embarrassnt.
"Your Majesty, the total length of the French Railways had reached 9,000 kiloters by the end of December last year! The first phase of railway stations (major cities are all connected by rail) is complete, and we are now proceeding with the second phase of construction (secondary city railway construction is 30% complete)," Barroso responded to Jero Bonaparte.
"How are the railway bonds?" Jero Bonaparte inquired further.
"Railway bonds are generally trending well," Barroso answered Jero Bonaparte. "Bankers both dostic and international are willing to purchase bonds issued by the ministry’s five major companies (East, West, South, North, and Central Railway companies)!"
"Very good!" Jero Bonaparte was equally pleased.
Currently, the speed of railway construction in France has greatly accelerated compared to the past, and Jero Bonaparte believes it won’t be long before French railways reach the level of 1870.
By then, Jero Bonaparte will have ample ti to integrate the military and railways.
"The secondary railway line from Strasbourg to Nancy to tz must be repaired quickly; do you hear ?" Jero Bonaparte reiterated to Barroso.
"Yes!" Bashler responded sternly.
Everyone present naturally understood why Jero Bonaparte placed special emphasis on the railway from Strasbourg to tz.
From the start, this line was never about profit; its strategic significance made Jero Bonaparte willing to incur losses to get it right.
Once the Strasbourg railway network is fully built, France will be able to mobilize more quickly to invade the German heartland and crush the Kingdom of Prussia.
"By the way! Let the Eastern Railway Company show so lenience in the Luxembourg Duchy!" Jero Bonaparte reminded again.
"Yes!" Barroso had no choice but to nod in agreent.
After the Minister of Railways, Barroso, sat down, Jero Bonaparte called up the Minister of Agriculture and Comrce, Duress, to inquire about the opening of Dulles Agricultural College and the progress of sending agricultural students to the countryside.
Duress told Jero Bonaparte that thanks to the persistent efforts of the Imperial Governnt, the initiative had begun to show results.
"You in the Ministry of Agriculture and Comrce must intensify your support for rural areas. If you lack funds, you can directly ask our Chief Financial Officer, Minister Mane. If Mane doesn’t agree, you can co directly to !" Jero Bonaparte jokingly but seriously advised Duress. "Agriculture is the foundation of survival for the French Empire!
No matter how difficult, the farrs must not suffer!"
For the Second Empire, an alliance with the farrs is indispensable.
Only by gaining the support of the widespread farrs throughout French soil can Jero Bonaparte’s empire beco strong.
The urban petite bourgeoisie is a group of fickle fence-sitters; farrs alone are the Second Empire’s most steadfast allies.
"I understand, Your Majesty!" Duress solemnly replied to Jero Bonaparte.
After concluding his conversation with Duress, Jero Bonaparte focused his attention on the two "big spenders."
You could say that at least half of the French Empire’s finances end up with these two.
Indeed, they are the French Empire’s Minister of War Vayang and Minister of the Navy Deco.
"Vayang, why don’t you start first!" Jero Bonaparte pointed to Vayang.
"Yes!" Vayang stood up and responded to Jero Bonaparte.
Subsequently, Vayang introduced to Jero Bonaparte that the French Empire’s army expenses in 1855 amounted to 500 million francs.
Aside from Mane, Fuld, and Jero Bonaparte, everyone present was shocked by the comprehensive fiscal expense of the French Imperial Army consuming one-fifth of the revenue.
Even the Minister of the Navy Deco, upon hearing such enormous expenditures, couldn’t help but envy the army.
If only the 500 million francs could be entirely dedicated to the navy, he was confident he could build an expeditionary fleet.
Unfortunately, such a vast military budget can only be used on the army.
Seeing the situation, Vayang imdiately explained to everyone present that the army’s significant expenses were primarily due to three factors.
The first was the establishnt of supply depots. The Crian War exposed the importance of railroads and supplies to the army, necessitating the reconstruction of supply depots from the Napoleonic Wars era, thus incurring enormous costs along railway lines.
The second was the dismissal of overaged veterans. The French Army had a large number of overaged veterans who, according to the Chief of Staff’s orders, had to be dismissed, and part of the funds were allocated to compensate these veterans.
The third was the ongoing formation of the reserve system, which also represented significant expenditure.
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