CHAPTER 324: CHAPTER 320 CHANGE

Next, apart from the routine "in-depth" interaction with the social elites, all that remained was the inspection of the troops in the Strasbourg region.

On October 17, 1851, in a desolate area 30 kilometers from the suburbs of Strasbourg, 40,000 troops stationed in the vicinity of Strasbourg gathered under the command of Commander Reniao.

After the small-scale Prussia and Austria war last December, Strasbourg, which originally assembled 130,000 men, went through constant "downsizing." Troops were dispersed by battalion unit to every city and fortress near the Alsace-Lorraine region, reducing 130,000 to 60,000 in just one month.

After that, the troops continued to split, and soon only about 40,000 troops remained near Strasbourg.

These troops bore the "heavy responsibility" of invading the German Region.

Commander Reniao and Jerome Bonaparte rode together to review the troops, and at each military formation, there was always a shout of "Long live the Emperor" from the ranks.

Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and praised Commander Reniao along with his deputy commander and chief of staff.

Jerome Bonaparte spent nearly an entire afternoon reviewing the troops. Overall, the entire unit still ranked among the world’s leading armies, although some troops exhibited issues with their military posture. However, these were not significant problems.

After all, not every unit was the formidable force of future generations; the discipline of a dynasty’s army couldn’t contend with an ideally disciplined military.

Even the strict Prussian army was such!

After the review, Jerome Bonaparte expressed to Reniao the hope of visiting the military station.

Commander Reniao, with a face full of embarrassment, said to Jerome Bonaparte: "Better not!"

"It’s nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte, who was already well aware of the situation of the military stations, merely wished to observe up close just how rotten the French military station was.

Commander Reniao had no choice but to accompany Jerome Bonaparte to a military station.

When Jerome Bonaparte entered the military station, he suddenly realized he might have underestimated the extent of its corruption.

Rather than a place for soldier training, it was more like a gathering place for elderly people.

Those stationed at the military location were mostly old veterans in their fifties, some lounging on beds, others leaning against the door. An officer with graying hair, speaking in a heavy German accent, stammered to Jerome Bonaparte about the condition of the station.

If Jerome Bonaparte himself wasn’t fluent in three (four?) languages, he almost wouldn’t have understood the veteran’s speech.

When asked about the elderly officer’s age and education, the officer, showing a set of yellowing teeth, proudly declared he never went to school at all.

"School? What for?!"

The old officer’s impenetrable demeanor almost disrupted Jerome Bonaparte’s years of cultivated composure. Jerome Bonaparte did not have the patience to persuade them to continue their education. In his eyes, the best outcome for these veteran soldiers was to be retired.

At that time, he would arrange a better job for them.

After leaving the military station, Jerome Bonaparte immediately gave a stern order to Reniao, strictly reforming the army’s discipline, while also rigorously tackling the issue of soldiers’ education.

No need for soldiers to know everything; mastering the most basic commands would suffice.

For officers promoted from the ranks, they only need to master military terms and be able to read marching maps.

As for officers above the school level, those who cannot pass the cultural courses must be retrained.

Commander Reniao assured Jerome Bonaparte that he would strictly follow his commands and urge them to complete the tasks as soon as possible.

On October 17, Jerome Bonaparte took a train departing Strasbourg, with the Major Region Governor and social elites seeing him off at the train station.

In "reluctance," Jerome Bonaparte left Strasbourg for Lyon.

On October 20, after three days of transit and stops, the train finally arrived in the not-so-friendly Lyon.

Commander Liu Yifei of the Italian Army personally welcomed Jerome Bonaparte to the meeting, which was no longer filled with the intense tension of the last encounter.

At Lyon’s train station, Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with Liu Eri.

Looking at the former minister before him, whom he had dismissed and reassigned twice (the first time as Strasbourg’s deputy commander, the second as the commander of the Italian Army), Jerome Bonaparte said gently: "You’ve worked hard!"

"Not at all!" Liu Eri promptly replied.

Jerome Bonaparte and Liu Yifei went to Lyon City Hall together. There, he again delivered a speech on "The Empire as the Republic." This time, his promises extended further, proposing to broaden the Marseille waterways, construct railways radiating outward from Lyon as the center, support the textile and shipbuilding industries in the Lyon region, improve labor conditions, and establish a comprehensive health safeguard.

For the residents of the Lyon region, more job opportunities meant the employment issue could be resolved.

Health security means Lyon does not have to face the risk of cholera.

Although some residents of Lyon are somewhat reluctant to believe that Jerome Bonaparte can deliver on all his promises, at least Jerome Bonaparte has boasted, so they will support him for now.

Even in the most stubborn parts of Lyon, the slogan "Long live the Emperor" appeared.

This made Jerome Bonaparte decide that his inspection was undoubtedly the correct choice.

Support for establishing the Empire is steadily increasing.

On October 23, accompanied by the Italian Army Commander Liu Yifei, Jerome Bonaparte once again reviewed the Italian Army.

Compared to the Strasbourg Army, the Italian Army was evidently less imposing.

However, Jerome Bonaparte already planned to have the Italian Army go to Crimea in the future, so there was no need to worry.

He believed that an army that had undergone the baptism of war would not look like it does now.

On October 24, Jerome Bonaparte traveled by train to Marseille Port once again, where he received a warm welcome from the Mayor of Marseille and the citizens.

After a brief stay in Marseille Port, Jerome Bonaparte departed on October 26 by steam warship from Marseille Port, passing through the Gibraltar Strait towards Bordeaux.

[Jerome Bonaparte believed that traveling by sea was more convenient than by land.]

With the power of the steam engine, Jerome Bonaparte arrived in Bordeaux on the afternoon of the 27th.

Disembarking from the warship, Jerome Bonaparte quickly encountered the City Hall officials who had come to greet him at the port dock.

"Governor, it is an honor that you could tire yourself to visit Bordeaux City. On behalf of all citizens of Bordeaux, welcome!"

One official took a step forward from the crowd, distancing himself from the officials behind him, and bowed to Jerome Bonaparte.

Only then did Jerome Bonaparte notice the government official in front of him. From the looks of his age, he appeared to be about thirty-nine to forty years old, with a full black German-style dress tailcoat complemented by a plump, round face and a smooth, full forehead, making him look more like a seasoned butler. Although there was slight balding, it didn’t detract from an overall generous appearance.

Indeed, he was Georges Ossman, the Governor of Bordeaux Province, and also the target of Jerome Bonaparte’s visit.

"Mr. Ossman, we finally meet!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded satisfactorily, shaking hands with Georges Ossman with a smile.

Georges Ossman looked at Jerome Bonaparte, his voice trembling with excitement and said unparalleled, "Governor, it is a great honor that you are able to inspect..."

"I have remembered all your contributions to France!" Jerome Bonaparte patted Georges Ossman on the shoulder and said earnestly.

Ossman’s government colleagues, who accompanied him, all cast envious looks at him. As a provincial governor of the Republic, to be remembered by the Governor assured future career advancement.

"I..." Georges Ossman also felt that his diligence in recent years had finally paid off.

As a senior civil servant, his future would no longer be limited to his current position.

"Let’s go!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Georges Ossman.

Under the guidance of Georges Ossman, Jerome Bonaparte entered Bordeaux city, looking at the wide, tidy streets and the trees planted in the middle of the roads as dividers, Jerome Bonaparte once again was certain that Ossman was an indispensable tool for governing Paris.

After exchanging pleasantries with Bordeaux Province’s social elites at a ball, Jerome Bonaparte had a private discussion with Georges Ossman.

"Mr. Ossman, I wonder if you would be interested in taking on the role of Governor of Seine Province?" Jerome Bonaparte extended an olive branch to Georges Ossman.

The sudden surprise made Georges Ossman find it hard to believe what was happening before him. As the heart of all France, Paris was of utmost importance. Due to its special geographical location, the city had not set up a mayor for a long time. (The Second Republic briefly did, then it was abolished by Jerome Bonaparte.)

The Governor of Seine Province was the highest administrative official of Paris (referring to the City Hall), whose administrative level was only slightly lower than that of the Cabinet ministers.

As long as Ossman could achieve results during his tenure as Governor of Seine Province, his future was certain to become a minister.

(At this time, Georges Ossman did not know that Jerome Bonaparte would consolidate his position, and he was destined never to become a pivotal minister.)

"I...thank you for this honor!" Georges Ossman, trembling with excitement, expressed his gratitude to Jerome Bonaparte.

"However, let me say this first! I’m appointing you as Governor of Seine Province not so you can do nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte stated, stern before conciliatory: "You must make Paris the most brilliant jewel in Europe and the entire world!"

"I will strive to!" Georges Ossman responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"It’s not just about trying! I demand that you achieve it!" Jerome Bonaparte emphasized to Georges Ossman: "The government can’t provide you with too much renovation funding, so everything depends on your efforts! Of course, I won’t interfere too much with your actions! As long as you believe you are right, go ahead and do it! I’ll have your back!"