CHAPTER 344: CHAPTER 339 MILITARY DEPOT RECOVERY AND NEAR EAST

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s command for a naval escort, Deco, the Minister of the Navy, hesitated for a moment before responding in a firm tone.

Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Deco, pocketed the last ball to end the game, and then, while collecting all the billiard balls from the net with Deco, asked him, "What were you hesitating about just now?"

"Your Majesty, I was just thinking that according to the provisions of the ’London Treaty,’ all warships are prohibited from passing through the Dardanelles Strait. What we are doing might cause some conflicts," Deco expressed his concerns to Jerome Bonaparte.

"According to the treaty, the Dardanelles Strait indeed cannot be traversed by warships!" Jerome Bonaparte first nodded in agreement with Deco, then smiled slightly, saying, "But this treaty now only applies to the ships of the Russian Empire. Have you forgotten that two years ago, the Kingdom of Britain also intruded near the Dardanelles and even used naval guns to threaten Greece!"

With Jerome Bonaparte’s reminder, Deco recalled a series of actions by Britain in the Dardanelles Strait in 1850. Britain’s reckless behavior at that time led to a severing of communications with France, which turned to engage with Russia instead.

After securing all the billiard balls, Jerome Bonaparte returned the two billiard cues to their original positions. He raised two fingers and said to Deco, "The Mediterranean already has two naval powers; it does not need a third. The so-called London Treaty is merely to restrict the Russian Empire’s access to the Mediterranean, something that Nicholas I should have anticipated when the treaty was signed.

Great powers do not need to be bound by anything; all treaty initiators will use the treaty to serve their own countries. Unless the Russian Empire’s Black Sea Fleet can defeat the navies of France and Britain, the London Treaty will only unilaterally restrict them!

If the Russian Empire dislikes it, they can use their power to disrupt these rules!"

Deco quickly understood Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning, realizing that all treaties ultimately boil down to power-based choices.

"Alright! I should be leaving! I’ll leave the matter of the warship to you!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Deco while taking his coat from the hanger and putting it on.

Deco and Jerome Bonaparte left the naval club together, and outside the navy, they each took a carriage parked at the entrance and went their separate ways.

Returning to the Tuileries Palace, Jerome Bonaparte was ready to plunge into his busy work. Unlike his historically laid-back cousin, Jerome Bonaparte clearly understood how to be an excellent leader.

Before fully immersing himself in his work, he surreptitiously took a glance at Vilnius, who was studying.

In mid-April 1852, Vallette was granted the title of the French envoy to Constantinople, preparing to head to Constantinople to assume the position from the predecessor.

When Vallette arrived at Marseille Port from Paris, a steam warship equipped with ninety cannons appeared in the port, serving as Vallette’s means of transportation to Constantinople.

Under the eyes of Vallette and all the onlookers at the port, a small boat was slowly lowered onto the sea from the steam warship.

The naval crew on the small boat gently rowed the oars. With their skillful technique, the small boat drifted away with a light touch of the oars.

The small boat approached the port of Marseille, and the crew standing on the boat loudly called out Vallette’s name.

Vallette quickly emerged from the crowd, waving to the crew, who swiftly brought the small boat closer to Vallette.

Thus, Vallette boarded the warship headed for Constantinople for his post assignment.

The propeller at the base of the steam warship slowly started under the powerful thrust of steam, gradually disappearing from people’s sight.

The day after Vallette left Paris for Constantinople to assume the position of envoy, Regent King William I of the Kingdom of Prussia (Frederick William IV was unable to govern due to mental issues) publicly declared "Welcome to the French Empire joining the European family."

This implied that France had been accepted by two of the Great Powers, leaving only Russia and Austria yet to acknowledge France.

After the Regent King of the Kingdom of Prussia recognized the French Empire as a brother among monarchies, the Austrian Empire, which had been in fierce debate over the French Empire issue, finally reached a consensus. The aristocrats, fearing that Prussia might win France’s favor, decided not to persist in opposing France’s diplomatic stance. Following instructions from Emperor Joseph Franz of Austria, Austrian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Felix Schwarzenberg recognized the establishment of the French Empire and welcomed the Bonaparte "brother" on behalf of his monarch.

The Russian Empire suddenly realized that at some point, England, Prussia, and Austria had gradually diverged from its pace.

The Holy Alliance seemed to be on the brink of collapse. Noticing the crisis facing the Russian Empire, Nicholas I sent emissaries to Prussia and Austria to inquire about their true stance (suspecting whether internal conflicts had arisen within Prussia and Austria), while also secretly dispatching an envoy to the French Empire to be ready to mend relations at any moment.

Poor Vladimirovich made the wrong bet. He had anticipated Tsar Nicholas I’s animosity towards the French Empire but failed to foresee the shift in attitudes of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire towards the French Empire.

Just a few months ago, he was Tsar Nicholas I’s favored one, but now he’s become the scapegoat, taking the blame for the deteriorating relations between the Russian Empire and the French Empire.

Meanwhile, Carl Nesselrode, who had been idle at home, once again welcomes his own springtime.

Under the suggestion of Carl Nesselrode, Tsar Nicholas I decided to mend the fractured diplomatic relations with the French Empire.

While mending, Nicholas I was not persuaded by Carl Nesselrode regarding the issue of titles. Steeped in the principle of legitimacy and religion, he firmly believed that the crown was divinely granted, and Napoleon III merely wore a "crown of the rabble."

How could someone like Jerome Bonaparte be equated with these legitimate monarchs?

Therefore, on the issue of titles, Nicholas I remained steadfast in his view, using "friend" to denote his disdain for Jerome Bonaparte.

This action by Nicholas I successfully angered some members of the Bonaparte Faction (such as Percy), who joined forces with members of the army department — those hoping to delay certain reforms through war — clamoring for war.

Jerome Bonaparte was not influenced by Percy and continued with the next steps in an orderly fashion.

Fighting the Russian Empire was something that had to be done, but only after the French Empire’s arrangements were in place.

So, Jerome Bonaparte once again summoned Nie’er, who was overseeing logistical reforms, to inquire about the progress of the reforms.

"Your Majesty! As of now, we have basically completed the transformation of the Seine Province Military District’s logistics post, and it has essentially resumed its recruitment functions!" Nie’er reported the status of the logistics post to Jerome Bonaparte: "Additionally, nearly ten thousand veterans who did not meet the service age have been properly settled... Each station is equipped with several officers to ensure that recruitment can continue..."

Under Nie’er’s radical reforms, the Seine Province’s First Military District had discharged a total of 11,468 personnel, including 11,000 ordinary soldiers who exceeded their service years and 468 low-ranking officers.

It could truly be called a military meat grinder.

Meanwhile, nearly 20,000 soldiers and over 600 military academy graduates were incorporated into the Seine Province’s First Military District.

Despite the greenness of these soldiers and officers, they greatly enhanced the French Army’s mobility and eliminated some bad habits.

The average age of the military district dropped from the original 40-plus to about 35 years old.

Although combat power decreased slightly, discipline steadily increased.

The Seine Province army also increased from the original 60,000 to now over 70,000, nearly 80,000 troops.

It could definitely be considered a case of pros outweighing cons.

The Strasbourg Military District similarly discharged over 6,000 soldiers and over 300 military commanders, with plans to continue discharging soldiers with bad habits.

However, when it comes to officer replenishment, the Strasbourg region does not have the convenience of Paris, and many vacancies must await deployment from the Ministry of War’s Personnel Department. This is precisely why Renio’s reforms were not as forceful as Nie’er’s.

"You have done very well!" Jerome Bonaparte, having listened to Nie’er’s report, stood up and patted Nie’er on the shoulder with a smile of encouragement: "Strive to keep it up; several other military districts await our reform!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Nie’er responded forcefully.

After Nie’er left, Jerome Bonaparte called in the Head of the President’s Military Secretariat, his aide, Major General Leboeuf.

"Please, have a seat!" Jerome Bonaparte gestured for Leboeuf to sit and inquired, "How is the situation in the Secretariat?"

"Your Majesty, under your leadership..." Leboeuf flattered Jerome Bonaparte vigorously.

"Don’t speak too much nonsense. How far have you progressed in the survey of the Near East region?" Jerome Bonaparte interrupted Leboeuf forcefully.

Leboeuf responded earnestly: "The Secretariat has completed the topographical survey of the Near East region and drawn a map of its terrain!"

"May I take a look at the map?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Leboeuf.

"Please wait a moment!" Leboeuf stood up and left the study.

After waiting alone in the study for more than twenty minutes, Jerome Bonaparte finally waited for Leboeuf.

At this point, Leboeuf held in his hand the map drawn by the Secretariat.