Make France Great Again-Chapter 73: Feast at Hongmen?

"Alas! Unfortunately, all their officers look up to that fellow Cafenak!"

Jerome Bonaparte lamented, the massacre during the June Revolution allowed some officers in the army to be promoted, and these "heroes" of the revolution rallied around Cafenak to legitimize their achievements.

Now, seeking their support is as difficult as climbing the sky. Only when Jerome Bonaparte becomes President can he rope them in under the name of the Emperor’s nephew, allowing these officers to enter his ranks.

"Your Majesty, I don’t think we need to worry too much about the military!" Roué comforted, "According to my observation of Cafenak, that fellow still wants to take the electoral route. On this path, you are firmly in the lead! We just need to quietly wait for the final result!"

"Indeed! Your Majesty, at least the soldiers adore you!" Percy also responded in agreement.

Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said with a slightly grim expression, "I don’t want their adoration; I want to control them like my uncle did. I want to lead them to achieve everything! This beast of an army must be tamed, I want to crush the honor that the Russian Empire stole that winter, I want to flatten the hideous German Confederation that makes me nauseous!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s "mad speech" sent chills down Percy and Roué’s spines, they could not have imagined that their Leader was a war maniac like his uncle.

Oh, heavens! Is France destined to be carried away by a group of madmen?

Roué felt a wave of sadness for the future of France, but this did not hinder him from continuing to pledge allegiance to the Bonaparte Faction.

Only regime change can grant Roué everything he desires.

Even if His Majesty the Emperor is indeed a Devil, he must bite the bullet and accompany the Devil.

Moreover, having experienced the previous failure, His Majesty must now have a strategy in mind.

To lighten the atmosphere, Jerome Bonaparte once again smiled, clasped his hands together, and said, "Of course, all of this can only happen when we thoroughly grasp power in our hands!"

"Your Majesty, I firmly believe that you can lead France to reclaim its lost glory!" Percy sincerely replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I also firmly believe! Under your leadership, we will undoubtedly achieve even greater victories than before!" Roué echoed insincerely.

"Gentlemen, spare me the flattery! I’m losing myself!" Jerome Bonaparte chuckled lightly, then turned his head to see the vast wheat fields and the farmers working hard outside the window and said, "Those people are our voter base, and they are also the ones we protect! We must unite them to oppose those against us!"

"Yes!" Percy and Roué both corroborated.

Jerome Bonaparte chatted with Eugène Roué all the way and finally figured out Eugène Roué was a person with whom he could share power.

Time gradually moved from 11 AM to 6 PM, after nearly 7 hours of travel, Jerome Bonaparte and others arrived from Marseille to Lyon.

This city, which has existed since Ancient Rome, appeared particularly solemn under the sunset. On the Rhône and Seine rivers that nurtured Lyon, several inland river sailboats were sailing downstream, and small black spots could faintly be seen on both sides of the river, where river-dwelling residents were cautiously holding vegetable baskets to wash vegetables.

Sitting in the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte admired the natural scenery before him.

As the carriage entered the inner city from the outskirts of Lyon, Lyon once again transformed into a traditional inland river trade city like Marseille.

Many people on the streets also turned their eyes toward Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, we need to spend a night in Lyon before setting off tomorrow!" Eugène Roué said to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte slightly nodded in approval.

The carriage stopped at the steps of a high-end mansion on Mermoz Street, and Jerome Bonaparte and his entourage got off.

The mansion’s owner warmly received Jerome Bonaparte and his party and arranged the best room in the mansion for Jerome Bonaparte.

Just as Jerome Bonaparte entered the room and was about to lie on the bed to enjoy a moment of tranquility, he heard Percy’s voice from outside the door, "Your Majesty, Marshal Biron’s adjutant requests an audience!"

What? Marshal Biron!

Upon hearing the words "Marshal Biron," Jerome Bonaparte instantly thought of that "hero" of Algeria, the "clown" under Louis Philippe.

[This refers to the incident in 1848 where Louis Philippe, unable to withstand public pressure, replaced Marshal Biron, who could have quelled the Parisians’ uprising. Marshal Biron came to Paris like a clown and was then discarded by the Monarch like a clown.]

Oh right, he seems to be the current commander of the Italian Army!

Eager to establish connections with the military, Jerome Bonaparte immediately jumped up from the bed upon hearing Marshal Biron’s name and, after tidying his appearance slightly, opened the door.

Percy and a man in his forties dressed in uniform stepped into the room.

The adjutant, polite and courteous, greeted Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Highness, good day!"

"Good day!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to the middle-aged man.

"On behalf of my superior, Marshal Biron, I wish Your Highness success in the election!" the middle-aged man continued to flatter Jerome Bonaparte.

"Thank you for Marshal Biron’s blessings!" Jerome Bonaparte casually replied.

"Marshal Biron hopes Your Highness can grace the military camp and review the troops!" the middle-aged man added.

This old fellow is trying to trap me!

Such a thought popped into Jerome Bonaparte’s mind; now, with Cafenak still in power, if the Emperor’s nephew were to visit the military camp, it would provoke internal strife within the Republic, wouldn’t it?

Jerome Bonaparte’s eyes flashed with a hint of disgust, but it was quickly concealed, and he maintained a professional fake smile as he said, "Thank you for Marshal Biron’s kindness! However, I’m concerned that my sudden appearance at the military camp might trigger unnecessary disputes, so let’s pass on it!"

The middle-aged man showed a look of disappointment, "Since the Prince is unwilling to inspect the army, then let’s drop the matter. The Marshal hopes Your Highness will honor us by attending the banquet!"

Then, the middle-aged man added, "At the banquet, there are many young officers of the Republic who wish to meet Your Highness!"

Should I go or not?

Jerome Bonaparte pondered in a dilemma; Marshal Biron’s banquet would surely invite some promising officers from the military.

If they were willing to support him, his future path would certainly become much smoother.