CHAPTER 555: CHAPTER 547: REWARDS BASED ON MERIT

For Jerome Bonaparte, who had temporarily suppressed the opposition of the Empire, the capture of the Sevastopol Fortress was indeed news worthy of celebration throughout the land, but all this depended on the authenticity of the news itself being able to withstand scrutiny.

If there turned out to be a joke at the other end of the telegraph line, akin to uncorking the champagne at halftime, the consequences of sending out the news would be far more serious than not sending it out at all.

In the situation where the information itself remained uncertain (without having first-hand battle reports, Jerome Bonaparte harbored skepticism, as in his recollection, the historical Sevastopol Fortress took a year to capture), announcing the news of Sevastopol’s capture to the Parisians in advance would merely be embellishing the facts.

However, if the information proved to be a rumor, the consequences would be immeasurable.

Holding to the principle of having no right to speak without investigation, Jerome Bonaparte pointed to the first telegram and ordered Nie’er, "As soon as you return to the General Staff Department, immediately send a telegram to Constantinople inquiring about all the details of their capture of Sevastopol!"

Having said that, Jerome Bonaparte paused for a moment and particularly emphasized, "Remember not to miss a single detail!"

"Yes!" Nie’er hurriedly responded.

Having been with Jerome Bonaparte for quite a while, Nie’er understood the cautious reason of his leader, so he fully agreed with his request for detailed reports from Crimea.

After all, even Nie’er himself, upon receiving this telegram, also somewhat doubted whether Crimea had falsely reported military achievements.

"If the news turns out to be true, then have them report the main personnel involved in the battle! Those who should be commended, commend them; those who should be disciplined, discipline them!" Jerome Bonaparte added.

Brigadier General Nie’er nodded in agreement.

"As for the second telegram..." Jerome Bonaparte slapped the telegram in his hand on the table and sighed, "Tell the Constantinople Military District Hospital to do their utmost to ensure the life and safety of Marshal Saint Arno! If things really don’t work out, bring Marshal Saint Arno back to Paris for treatment! The medical conditions in Paris are far better than those in Constantinople!"

After Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt.

No one was more aware than him, as a traverser, that Marshal Saint Arno had stomach cancer.

However, even though Jerome Bonaparte had long known about Marshal Saint Arno’s stomach cancer, he still resolutely placed Marshal Saint Arno in command of the Crimean Expeditionary Army.

Although this position was something Marshal Saint Arno himself fervently pursued, it did not lack Jerome Bonaparte’s own careful considerations.

For Jerome Bonaparte, someone like Marshal Saint Arno, who was both a major supporter of the throne and the second-in-command in the military, if he died of illness in Crimea, it would be a satisfactory outcome for both parties (as Jerome Bonaparte assumed).

After all, Marshal Saint Arno’s military rank had reached the pinnacle of what could be awarded (Marshal + Chief of Staff).

If Saint Arno did not have stomach cancer, then Jerome Bonaparte would have to consider how to properly transition him to a different post after the war.

If given a sinecure, neither Saint Arno nor his supporters would be satisfied.

Moreover, Saint Arno himself was a former Minister of War, and among all departments, the only positions slightly higher than the War Minister were Minister of State, Minister of the Seal, and President of the Legislative Corps.

Two of these positions (Minister of State and Minister of the Seal) were involved in the right to formulate national policies, and having a military head serve as a national policymaker would essentially be sending France into a pit of military adventurism.

Even if Marshal Saint Arno truly exhibited corresponding abilities, Jerome Bonaparte would still not be pleased; instead, he would be even more frightened.

Why shouldn’t a leader who can both fight and govern not be able to usurp the position to rule France?

Others might not understand the essence of the French Empire, but Jerome Bonaparte surely did!

The current French Empire proclaimed itself as a democratic empire with a universal suffrage system, but in reality, it was a semi-militaristic regime draped in the tricolor flag, backed by bayonets.

No leader of a militaristic regime hopes for their past actions to be replicated by successors, and Jerome Bonaparte, who controlled the bayonet, was no exception. He needed the bayonets to support his rule, yet also feared that they might turn back to harm him.

In summary, if Marshal Saint Arno did not have stomach cancer, Jerome Bonaparte would only face the following three scenarios.

Keep Saint Arno in the position of Chief of Staff: the General Staff would completely become Saint Arno’s one-man rule.

Send Saint Arno to the Senate (Upper House as an Elder for life): outsiders would gossip about His Majesty the Emperor disposing of his faithful subjects, damaging military unity.

Transfer from the General Staff to become Minister of State/Minister of the Seal: if his abilities were lacking, it would worry the Emperor about national affairs. If too competent, the Emperor would have to worry about his own position.

Marshal Saint Arno’s stomach cancer effectively avoided potential conflicts between the two sides, and his volunteering to go to the Near East was equivalent to hastening his own death, further causing the conflict to disappear quietly.

Now, Marshal Saint Arno existed in Jerome Bonaparte’s mind only as a positive figure; everything he had done in the past was subconsciously beautified by Jerome Bonaparte, along with feelings of guilt and remorse toward Marshal Saint Arno.

"Alas!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed once again and reproached himself, "It’s all my fault! If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have never allowed the marshal to go to the Near East!"

Unaware of Jerome Bonaparte’s inner thoughts, Nie’er felt a spontaneous admiration after hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s self-reproach.

What subordinates fear most is when a superior shifts the blame downwards; a superior who actively takes responsibility is truly rare.

Especially someone like Jerome Bonaparte, who actively relieves the burdens of his subordinates.

"Your Majesty, this is not your fault!" Nie’er thoughtfully diverted the blame from Jerome Bonaparte, "Perhaps the marshal himself accidentally contracted some disease!"

"Alas! No matter what is said, it is my own lack of consideration as the Emperor!" Jerome Bonaparte sighed again, then pulled a promissory note worth 100,000 francs from the drawer, "Nie’er, could I trouble you to visit the marshal’s home before returning to the General Staff and deliver this to the marshal’s family? If they ask who the check is from, just say it’s from the marshal, sent from Crimea!"

Nie’er took the promissory note and solemnly responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Rest assured! I will definitely complete the task you have entrusted to me!"

Just as Jerome Bonaparte was about to say something, he noticed the grandfather clock in the corner, which showed it was already 5:10 PM, five minutes past his scheduled meeting with Count Algou, the president of the Bank of France. Jerome Bonaparte hurriedly changed his tune, "Alright! Nie’er, you shouldn’t have anything else to report, right?"

"Nothing more, Your Majesty!" Nie’er shook his head and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Then let’s leave our conversation here!" Jerome Bonaparte indicated the grandfather clock to Nie’er as an explanation, "I have another meeting to attend to, so I won’t keep you any longer!"

"Pardon the intrusion, Your Majesty!" Nie’er quickly saluted Jerome Bonaparte and then rose from the opposite side, leaving the study.

Standing at the door of the study, Mokar, who hadn’t seen any movement inside for a while, looked at his pocket watch, anxiously awaiting movement from the study.

Just as Mokar was about to knock and remind Jerome Bonaparte to attend the meeting, the study door opened, and Nie’er’s figure appeared before Mokar.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Looking at Mokar who was waiting outside the door, Nie’er instinctively said.

"It’s nothing!" Mokar similarly shook his head in response.

"Mokar, help see General Nie’er out!" Jerome Bonaparte’s voice came from the study.

"Yes!" Mokar quickly responded and then smiled at Nie’er.

Nie’er and Mokar walked side by side from the study on the second floor to the hall on the first floor, neither speaking a word in between.

Standing in the open ground outside the Tuileries Palace, Mokar watched as General Nie’er left in a carriage, then turned and quickly ascended the steps.

When Mokar re-entered the hall of the Tuileries Palace, Jerome Bonaparte was surprisingly already there.

"Your Majesty!" Mokar respectfully responded.

"How is the carriage prepared? Are we ready to depart?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired in a calm tone.

"The carriage has long been prepared for you!" Mokar quickly responded.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Mokar.

"Please follow me!" Mokar promptly led Jerome Bonaparte to the side entrance of the Tuileries Palace.

A luxurious double-canopied carriage appeared before Jerome Bonaparte, flanked by two teams of Dragoons in silver breastplates.

"Is it really necessary to be so extravagant?" Jerome Bonaparte furrowed his brows and asked Mokar.

"Your Majesty! I believe it is quite necessary!" Mokar confidently replied to Jerome Bonaparte, "If we don’t do this, how can we possibly demonstrate the might of the Empire!"

Faced with Mokar’s logic of "luxury equating to strength," Jerome Bonaparte did not offer any rebuttal.

From a certain perspective, luxury can indeed enhance social cohesion and help people forget politics.

After all, in this era, the field of entertainment distraction is not yet fully developed!

Jerome Bonaparte and Mokar left and entered the already-prepared carriage, which carried master and servant towards the Elysee Palace.