CHAPTER 328: CHAPTER 324: MARRIAGE CANDIDATE

On November 14, 1851, the Minister of the Seal of the Third French Republic, De Moreni, was ordered by the Governor of the French Republic, Jerome Bonaparte, to go to Saint-Amand Town to mourn the departed Marshal Surt.

Not long after Moreni left Paris, the news of Surt’s passing inundated the entire city. By that afternoon, all of Paris knew that Grand Marshal Surt had left this world.

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s guidance, some Parisians "spontaneously" went to Concorde Square to pray for the departed Grand Marshal Surt. White candles were held and lit by every "volunteer" participant, illuminating the entire Concorde Square.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of the Paris region was also invited to Concorde Square for the main prayer ceremony. Led by the Bishop, the Parisians sang hymns together in Concorde Square.

At 8 p.m., the prayer concluded under the leadership of the Archbishop of Paris, and people gradually left Concorde Square.

One moment Concorde Square was bustling, and the next it was deserted.

On November 15, by the notice of Jerome Bonaparte, the Legislative Corps of the Third French Republic made an important decision.

Considering Surt’s significant contributions to France, he was granted the privilege of entering the Military Glory Hall as a Grand Marshal. His body would be transported from Saint-Amand Town to Paris, ending his life with a state funeral.

The proposal was unanimously approved by a show of hands in the Legislative Corps and then passed fully in the "Second Institute," with Jerome Bonaparte’s approval.

Following the unanimous passage by both chambers, the Senate communicated the final result to the public and Saint-Amand Town.

To demonstrate respect for the public’s wishes, Jerome Bonaparte also randomly selected ten people from each district for evaluation through sample surveys.

The vast majority believed that although Marshal Surt made some mistakes, his achievements were undeniable and deserved a grand burial.

The results of these surveys were also published in Parisian newspapers, and based on the principle of the democratic majority, no one opposed Jerome Bonaparte’s decision anymore.

In the name of democracy, Jerome Bonaparte conveyed to the opposition and dissidents within the military his esteem among Parisians.

Some opposition factions, consolidated through Jerome Bonaparte’s military reforms, abandoned their plans for direct confrontation after witnessing his prestige.

Generals who had benefitted from Surt’s favors also held Jerome Bonaparte in high regard. It could be said that no one inside France dared to challenge Jerome Bonaparte’s authority.

On November 18, Moreni arrived at Saint-Amand Town and immediately arranged for the transport of Grand Marshal Surt to Paris.

[PS: The telegram reached Bordeaux before Moreni arrived there.]

On November 20, Marshal Surt’s body was transported by carriage to Bordeaux City and then embarked on a ship under the attention of all Bordeaux citizens.

On November 21, the body arrived at Calais Port under the escort of the French Fleet, where the Mayor of Calais and the local garrison general personally went to the dock to welcome Grand Marshal Surt’s body.

On November 22, the body was transferred from Calais to Paris.

Minister Jerome Bonaparte, along with generals and ministers, gathered under the Arc de Triomphe, awaiting the arrival of the body.

Grand Marshal Surt’s body reached near the Arc de Triomphe at 10 a.m. Jerome Bonaparte waved his hand: "Play music!"

The military band began playing the Marching Song from the First Empire. Cuirassiers wearing the First Empire uniform stood on horseback on both sides of the Arc, with a line infantry soldier dressed in the First Empire uniform carrying a Minie Rifle positioned between every two horses.

The First Empire seemed to be gradually reviving within France; some generals who had participated in expeditions even began to sob quietly.

The carriage carrying Grand Marshal Surt’s body halted under the Arc de Triomphe.

Jerome Bonaparte waved his hand again, and a dozen strong soldiers stepped forward, gently lifting the coffin onto their shoulders.

The route from the Arc de Triomphe to the Military Glory Hall would be traversed on their shoulders.

"Set off!" Jerome Bonaparte, dressed in the Emperor’s replica attire and wearing a Napoleon hat, led the procession with an exceptionally solemn demeanor.

Following behind Jerome Bonaparte was the Paris Bishop Team, holding Bibles and Crosses, continuously chanting prayers.

Behind the Bishop Team were generals and ministers, followed by the coffin and the soldiers.

The journey from the Arc de Triomphe to the Military Glory Hall, which usually took only over 20 minutes, took more than 40 minutes this time. Parisians, eager to witness the spectacle, filled the streets and second-floor balconies. Each person took a look at Jerome Bonaparte at the forefront, then at the exquisitely carved coffin, and could not help but feel sorrow for Surt’s passing.

Upon arrival at the Military Glory Hall, Jerome Bonaparte halted, and the procession following him did the same.

Jerome Bonaparte arrived at the gate of the Military Glory Hall and gently knocked on the door as he looked at the closed hall before him.

"Who is it?" The solemn voice of the bishop came from inside the door.

"Marshal of the French Empire, Grand Marshal of France, Duke of Dalmatia, Jean de Dieu Surt!" Jerome Bonaparte also solemnly announced Surt’s titles.

[PS: Funerals in the 19th century were complicated, especially state funerals. The funeral used here is modeled after the one Austria held for the last Habsburg Crown Prince, Grand Duke Otto, which can be considered a simplified version of a noble funeral.]

"May the Lord be able to..." After the bishop mumbled a series of phrases, the door of the closed Military Glory Hall opened, and a cardinal appeared before Jerome Bonaparte, making an inviting gesture.

Jerome Bonaparte moved again, and apart from the line infantry and cuirassiers, the procession following behind him moved simultaneously.

The coffin holding Marshal Surt was brought before the coffin of Emperor Napoleon, and the cardinal once again narrated the life of Marshal Surt, leading everyone present in prayer.

Meanwhile, outside the door, the line infantry also raised their guns and fired into the sky as a final farewell to Grand Marshal Surt.

Standing on the highest step, Jerome Bonaparte looked at his uncle’s coffin only a step away and silently swore to himself: Just wait! I will make the Empire great once more!

After the prayer concluded, Jerome Bonaparte and other government officials left the Military Glory Hall.

On November 23, a letter from London crossed the English Channel and reached Jerome Bonaparte’s hands.

The letter’s sender was none other than one of the few remaining generals of the previous era, the Duke of Wellington.

Jerome Bonaparte was very surprised that the Duke of Wellington sent a letter.

Reasonably speaking, the Duke of Wellington should soon depart, so why would he send a letter?

Driven by curiosity, Jerome Bonaparte opened the letter, which, aside from expressing sorrow for Marshal Surt’s death, also expressed hope for France to establish a friendly relationship with Britain under his rule.

Wellington hoped that the mistakes made by their previous generation could be corrected by the next, preventing the tragedy from recurring!

Looking at the letter, which was filled with hints of British superiority, Jerome Bonaparte’s lips curled into a cold smile before tossing it into the drawer.

No matter the situation, Britain could never let go of its superior demeanor.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte politely wrote back to Wellington, thanking the Duke for his concern about Marshal Surt and expressing hope for the Duke’s health, as well as wishing for the friendship between Britain and France to continue.

The letter was sent to the Duke of Wellington through Rothschild’s secret channels.

On November 25, after being busy for more than half a month, Jerome Bonaparte finally had a day of leisure for himself.

Just as Jerome Bonaparte planned to go on an outing with Eugenie, Valerovsky, who had been missing for almost two months, suddenly appeared before him.

With a tired face, he forced a smile at Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, regarding your wedding, Minister De Luyis and Princess Mathilde and I have finalized the candidates!" Valerovsky said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"So soon? Who are they?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at Valerovsky in surprise.

"After discussions, we have selected these..." Valerovsky reported the suitable candidates for Empress to Jerome Bonaparte: "Carolina Vach, formerly a Swedish princess, born in 1833, just 18 years old, currently living under the Habsburg Clan’s protection."

"18 years old?" Jerome Bonaparte’s lips twitched slightly, thinking that in his past life, she wouldn’t even have reached the legal marriage age: "Isn’t that a bit too young!"

"Not at all!" Valerovsky said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Are there others?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired once more.

"Yes!" Valerovsky continued to report to Jerome Bonaparte, the other candidates for Empress included: a niece of Queen Victoria, a daughter of the King of Sardinia, and a daughter of the King of Württemberg, who was also Jerome Bonaparte’s cousin.

"The daughter of the Sardinian Kingdom?" If Jerome Bonaparte’s memory wasn’t failing him, in the original timeline, he married her under his cousin Louis Napoleon’s pressure, although he recalled she should have been much younger. He instinctively asked: "How old is she now?"

Valerovsky’s face was full of awkwardness: "8 years old!"

"Damn!"