CHAPTER 615: CHAPTER 606: TOULON MILITARY PORT

With the internal family disputes pacified by Jerome Bonaparte, the plan to head to Constantinople was being executed in an orderly manner.

To prevent Paris from falling into small-scale chaos due to his departure, Jerome Bonaparte specifically summoned Nie’er and Rue again, instructing them not to spread the news of his journey to Constantinople before his arrival there.

Nie’er and Rue assured Jerome Bonaparte that they would strictly restrain their subordinates.

After Nie’er and Rue left, Jerome Bonaparte ordered Mokar to go to the headquarters of the Bonaparte Newspaper and the France Daily to inform them about his impending inspection at the Toulon Military Port.

Upon receiving the orders, Mokar immediately headed to the headquarters of these two newspapers to convey the message.

A long time later, Mokar returned to Jerome Bonaparte’s side to report back.

"You’ve done well!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded with satisfaction, then instructed, "During my absence, your task is to assist my elder sister Mathilde! You are to serve Princess Mathilde just as you serve me!"

"Your Majesty, I will certainly obey your orders!" Mokar responded to Jerome Bonaparte, then emphasized, "However, I might not be able to wholeheartedly serve Princess Mathilde, as the only Monarch I serve is you, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing Mokar’s flattering response, a joyful smile appeared on Jerome Bonaparte’s face.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte waved his hand, signaling Mokar to leave the study.

Left alone in the study, Jerome Bonaparte continued to process documents from the Secretariat.

...

As time passed, Jerome Bonaparte soon reached the day of departure.

At the break of dawn, Jerome Bonaparte got out of bed with the help of his attendants.

After having a simple breakfast, he packed the luggage he had prepared the day before (Mokar had originally helped him with the luggage but was stopped by Jerome Bonaparte) and took a carriage to the temporary (military) train station in the suburbs near Paris.

When Jerome Bonaparte entered the train platform, it was just half-past seven.

At that time, only Jerome Bonaparte and the soldiers responsible for guarding him were on the platform. After a while, with a loud whistle sound from the distance, he understood that the train was about to arrive at the station.

"Richard, why isn’t he here yet!" Jerome frowned and muttered quietly.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from behind Jerome Bonaparte, followed by the panting voice of Ambassador Richard Metternich: "Your Majesty!"

"Still on time!!" Jerome Bonaparte said faintly.

Five more minutes passed, and the steam train slowly pulled into the platform.

This was a steam train with three carriages; the carriages at the front and back were converted from cargo cars into troop transports, and the soldiers standing uniformly in the troop transport cars would be Jerome Bonaparte’s most crucial protectors on this journey.

The middle carriage served as Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich’s "temporary residence" for the journey ahead.

After entering the train, Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich discovered that their shared carriage not only had beds fixed to the floor but also desks for office work, gas lamps hanging on the carriage walls... In addition, they found canned goods and high-end cigarettes and imported cigars from the Northern Industrial Group in the desk drawers.

Jerome Bonaparte opened the cigar box, took out a cigar, and asked Richard Metternich, "Richard, do you want one?"

Richard Metternich nodded, and Jerome Bonaparte tossed him the cigar and a matchbox, then took out another cigar and lit it with a match taken from the drawer.

A while later, wispy white smoke drifted out of the car window into the fields beyond the railway tracks, gradually dissipating.

...

By the time Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich arrived in Toulon, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

Waiting at the platform to greet Jerome Bonaparte were Minister of the Navy Dico and his subordinate naval officers, as well as industrial and commercial giants of Toulon and nearby areas.

Upon receiving the news of Jerome Bonaparte’s inspection trip to Toulon, they had arrived early at the vicinity of the train station, waiting for nearly two hours.

As for why the Minister of the Navy was in Toulon, it was of course because of his habit of taking personal charge of all naval affairs.

Since the construction of the new warship began, he frequently traveled between Toulon and Paris; this time, he just happened to be in Toulon.

Of course, aside from overseeing the construction of new warships, Minister Dico is also responsible for transportation of supplies between Toulon and Sevastopol, arguably making him the busiest member of the entire Cabinet.

If it weren’t the Emperor arriving this time, nothing would have convinced Dico to come in person.

In his eyes, every second he stood there was a desecration of the naval service.

The whistle of the steam train finally softened Dico’s worried face. He turned and smiled at the generals behind him, saying, "Your Majesty is coming!"

The naval officers standing behind Minister Dico had no doubt in his judgment and likewise, issued orders to the naval band to prepare.

About 5 minutes later, the train carrying Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich smoothly stopped in front of Minister Dico.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte and Richard Metternich inside the carriage, Minister Dico showed a surprised expression. Why would the Austrian Empire’s master, Richard Metternich, come here with His Majesty?

Still puzzled, Minister Dico quickly approached the carriage door. After Jerome Bonaparte disembarked, he gave Minister Dico a hug, "Thank you for your hard work!"

"Not at all!" Minister Dico shook his head.

Then, under Minister Dico’s introduction, Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with naval leaders and business giants, encouraging them with a few words.

Everyone who shook hands with Jerome Bonaparte showed an excited expression, much like fans meeting a celebrity in later times.

In a certain sense, Jerome Bonaparte was indeed a "celebrity," and a marketing-savvy "superstar" at that.

Having introduced the officers and moguls, Minister Dico told Jerome Bonaparte that he had arranged a grand welcome ceremony for him at Toulon’s most luxurious hotel.

"There is no need for a ceremony!" Jerome Bonaparte declined under the eager eyes of the business moguls, "I’m more concerned about the progress of the new warship than any so-called welcome ceremony!"

"Through continuous improvements by our Navy Department team, we’ve built a warship superior to the previous ’Napoleon’ (the initial ironclad, currently on patrol in the Black Sea)! If you don’t mind, I can take you there now!" Minister Dico said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Certainly!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and then inquired of Richard Metternich, "Richard, would you be willing to accompany me?"

"It would be my honor, Your Majesty!" Richard Metternich replied to Jerome Bonaparte eagerly, also curious about this so-called new warship that Minister Dico spoke of.

The three of them, Dico, Jerome Bonaparte, and Richard Metternich, opted out of the welcome ceremony and switched to a carriage to head to Toulon Military Port with Minister Dico.

During the journey to Toulon Military Port, Minister Dico cautiously asked Jerome Bonaparte why Ambassador Richard Metternich was present.

"Dico, actually, Richard Metternich and I didn’t aim for Toulon! Toulon is merely a stopover; our destination is Constantinople!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Dico.

"Ah!" Dico was shocked upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s answer, "Your Majesty, you... just said you are heading to Constantinople?"

"Exactly!" Jerome Bonaparte replied matter-of-factly, "Constantinople is the ultimate destination!"

"What about Paris..." Dico further inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.

"You need not worry about that; I have everything arranged! You just need to conduct your work step by step as planned!" Jerome Bonaparte assured Dico.

Then, in Richard Metternich’s presence, Jerome Bonaparte asked about the daily number of ships departing from Toulon Military Port towards the fleets.

Dico informed Jerome Bonaparte that hundreds of ships shuttle between the two places daily and that France can fully supply another 150,000 troops for combat.

Dico’s reply left Richard Metternich greatly shocked, prompting him to think of Venice Port.

If the warships Dico mentioned attacked Venice, they might face a similar fate to the Russian Empire.

"Your Majesty, we have already understood the concept of the new battleship and are currently optimizing it step by step!" Minister Dico responded to Grom Bonaparte.

"Very good!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded approvingly, "We just need to proceed steadily and cautiously to close the gap with Britain, without daring to advance recklessly!"

The carriage gradually came to a halt in front of the wharf, and the coachman on the driver’s seat said to the "distinguished guests" inside the carriage, "Your Majesty, Minister, we have arrived!"

Jerome Bonaparte and three others slowly alighted from the carriage, closely followed by the naval officers and business giants trailing behind them.

At this moment, Toulon Military Port was still bustling. Merchant ships traveled back and forth, transporting industrial goods (including canned food, rails, and artillery) from all over France to the Crimea Peninsula (some of which had already reached the Ottoman Syria Province), allowing this war to continue.