CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 319 THE EMPIRE IS THE REPUBLIC

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte solemnly assure him that he would definitely improve France’s public health system, the doctor somewhat believed him, and his gaze gradually softened from sternness.

"Your Excellency, your illness is not a serious one, just drink two more doses, and you will completely recover!"

Saying this, the doctor once again took out two bottles of green viscous potion from his medicine box.

Looking at the two bottles of viscous potion the doctor held, Jerome Bonaparte’s face showed a look of resistance, as if his stomach began to churn in response to a specific signal, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

After a while, Jerome Bonaparte, having calmed his turbulent stomach, pointed at the potion and asked, "Should these two potions be taken as before?"

The doctor shook his head and replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "That is not necessary! If you find the taste of the potion unbearable, you can dilute it with water."

"What!" Jerome Bonaparte looked at the doctor in front of him with surprise, at this moment, he could hardly believe his ears: "You just said that the potion can be mixed with water!"

"That’s right!" The doctor nodded naturally and replied, "If it couldn’t be diluted with water, then no one would be willing to try such a bitter and astringent thing!"

After speaking, a slight smile appeared at the corner of the doctor’s mouth.

Jerome Bonaparte was sure that the previous bottle of potion was deliberately not pointed out to him by the doctor.

"So, just now I..." Jerome Bonaparte spoke with a hint of anger in his words.

"Your Excellency, I’m truly sorry!" The doctor immediately apologized to Jerome Bonaparte, then responded frankly, "If you really want to hold me accountable, I have nothing to say!"

The doctor’s attitude of admitting his mistake made it hard for Jerome Bonaparte to pursue further, so he could only awkwardly smile and reply, "It won’t happen again."

Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte ordered Mornay to settle the medical bill and then see the doctor off.

Faced with Mornay’s exorbitant fee of two thousand francs, the doctor refused to accept it and expressed to Jerome Bonaparte that his reason for helping with the treatment was only to offer some advice on hygiene, and he would be satisfied as long as Jerome Bonaparte accepted his suggestions.

Seeing the doctor refuse to accept the fee, Jerome Bonaparte dared not insist, so he ordered Mornay to escort the doctor back.

After Mornay left, Jerome Bonaparte began to ponder over the advice given by the doctor. After much deliberation, he resolved to try establishing a nursing hospital upon returning to Paris.

Just as the doctor had said earlier, a good nurse can effectively reduce patient mortality rates.

To prevent forgetting his increasingly complicated affairs, Jerome Bonaparte once again took out slightly yellowed stationery, pulled out a quill dipped in ink, and wrote down his plans entirely, intending to use Paris as a testing ground for experiments.

If the construction of the public health system goes well, it could be extended to all of France.

Thinking about hygiene, Jerome Bonaparte thought of the filthy and chaotic environment of the Saint-Denis District and the Montmartre District. He understood that to solve the problem at its root, a large-scale transformation of Paris was necessary, turning it into a modern city, a task only that individual could accomplish.

The "Renovate Paris" plan was also written down by Jerome Bonaparte on the stationery to prevent forgetting.

Just as Jerome Bonaparte was "filling in the gaps," the sound of Martin boots stepping on the wooden staircase reached his ears, and he looked up at the open door.

A few seconds later, Commander Reniao of Strasbourg appeared before Jerome Bonaparte, accompanied by the deputy commander and the chief of staff of the field army.

"Your Majesty!" After entering the room, Commander Reniao stood upright and saluted Jerome Bonaparte, speaking loudly.

Jerome Bonaparte stood up in silence and returned the salute to Commander Reniao. Even as the highest commander, he could not bypass military protocol. Only this way could there be true unity between ranks.

After a mutual exchange of courtesies, Commander Reniao informed Jerome Bonaparte that the Mayor of Strasbourg, the District Chief of the Eastern Region, the Governor of the Lower Rhineland Province, and the elites of Strasbourg were already at the City Hall awaiting Jerome Bonaparte’s arrival, and invited him to accompany them to Strasbourg.

[PS: Strasbourg is not only the capital of the Eastern Region and the Provincial Capital of the Lower Rhineland, but also the forward position for France in the war against Germany.]

Jerome Bonaparte nodded at Commander Reniao and followed Reniao and the others out of the inn.

Before leaving, Jerome Bonaparte especially instructed the guards in charge of the hotel to inform Mornay of his departure to the City Hall upon his return.

After leaving the hotel, Jerome Bonaparte, along with Commander Renio, rode horses to the City Hall, protected by the same cuirassiers in Imperial Army Uniform as the day before.

From the hotel to the City Hall, Jerome Bonaparte received a warm welcome from the residents of Strasbourg, who greeted him enthusiastically in "German".

Jerome Bonaparte smiled as he returned the friendly gestures of these genuine French. In his opinion, as long as one identifies as French in their heart and abides by the Constitution of France, they are truly French, and the difference in language cannot hide a passionate French heart.

Moreover, Alsace-Lorraine’s actions throughout history have perfectly illustrated that they are true French, and any attempt by ambitious individuals to divide Alsace-Lorraine through language will inevitably be resisted by the people.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Jerome Bonaparte once again arrived at the entrance of the City Hall, where he was welcomed by the head of the Eastern Region, the governor, and the mayor of Strasbourg.

After dismounting and shaking hands with each one of them, Jerome Bonaparte looked at the crowd before the City Hall and delivered an impromptu speech: "People of Strasbourg, thank you for casting a decisive vote for me last December. It is because of you that I was able to save France from the brink of collapse amidst chaos! You are the ones who saved France!"

After finishing the first part, Jerome Bonaparte politely bowed to the crowd of Strasbourg.

The crowd erupted with the slogan "Long live the Emperor."

After the slogan subsided, Jerome Bonaparte continued: "...We all know that the republican system of 1851 once headed towards demise, with the various parties in Parliament unable to feel pain for the system’s destruction, instead hoping to raise their banners on the floating remnants. Now, the Second Republic is destroyed, and the Third Republic is established.

Many parties think I am about to abandon the Republic. Here, I solemnly declare, I will never abandon the republican spirit."

Jerome Bonaparte cleverly used the republican spirit to conceal his imperial ambitions.

The head of the Eastern Region, the governor, and the mayor, upon hearing that Jerome Bonaparte would not abandon the Republic, showed slight doubt on their faces.

Could it be that their flattery backfired?

Jerome’s next words dispelled all their doubts: "Then what is the republican spirit? In my view, it is the implementation of the universal suffrage system. As long as universal suffrage exists, the republican spirit will never disappear, be it Empire or Republic, it’s merely a different title!

Does Empire necessarily mean war? Does Republic necessarily mean peace?"

Jerome Bonaparte posed the question, and the City Hall was silent. He shook his head, speaking to himself: "No! That’s not the case! To me, Empire does not mean war; on the contrary, it means peace. Peace within a moderate system, the fervor of revolution has dissipated, and we should cherish peace more, the Empire is peace!

However, I also admit, like the Emperor, I have much conquest work to do. I want to coordinate the interests of all parties like him, and direct all mutually destructive and meaningless opposition factions into the flow of the public, gradually build more railways, improve more road networks, establish more steel processing plants, and try to safeguard the interests of workers and small and medium enterprises, with government departments supporting small and medium enterprises... I believe that with our joint efforts, France will embark on a new path!

Empire is Republic!"

Finally, Jerome Bonaparte ended with "Empire is Republic," and after a brief silence, the City Hall burst into even more enthusiastic applause and cheers.

The slogan "Long live the Emperor" rose and fell in waves.

Amidst fervent slogans, Jerome Bonaparte waved and, led by officials from the City Hall, entered the City Hall.

"Your Majesty, your speech was really excellent!" The head of the Eastern Region flattered Jerome Bonaparte with a sycophantic expression.

Jerome Bonaparte smiled without speaking, well aware of these bureaucrats’ lack of integrity; despite being highly lauded now, should he show any signs of losing power, they would abandon him without hesitation.

Led by the head of the region and others, Jerome Bonaparte met with the notables of the Eastern Region in the City Hall’s conference hall.

This group of mine owners, deeply benefited by rail and steel factories, greeted Jerome Bonaparte with great enthusiasm. Jerome Bonaparte also encouraged the mine owners and factory owners to serve France more and hinted that the government would tilt tax policies in favor of the Eastern Region in upcoming actions, as long as they actively purchased the national bonds that France was about to issue.

The mine owners immediately patted their chests and promised Jerome Bonaparte that they would actively purchase the national bonds.

In an atmosphere of laughter and joy, Jerome Bonaparte completed half of his Strasbourg trip.