"Come in!"

Faced with the sudden knocking, Jerome merely lifted his head slightly and said indifferently, then lowered his head again.

A "click" of the door opening sounded at the doorway, and Jerome Patterson’s figure appeared in the room.

Before Jerome Patterson could speak, Jerome, who had his head down, responded blandly, "Is it another telegram from the National Intelligence Bureau?"

A look of surprise appeared on Patterson’s face, not understanding how Jerome was able to predict it, "Yes!"

"Bring it over!" Jerome lifted his head and said to Patterson.

Patterson hurriedly walked to Jerome’s presence and placed the telegram on the table.

Jerome put down the report in his hand and picked up the telegram.

After a while, he set down the telegram and smiled softly, saying, "Not bad!"

Saying that, he picked up the report to continue reading.

Seeing Jerome’s indifferent attitude towards the telegram from the National Intelligence Bureau, Patterson couldn’t help but feel a pang of injustice for the bureau.

Patterson gently asked Jerome if perhaps a telegram of praise should be sent to the National Intelligence Bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their contributions to France.

"You do have a point; we cannot let those with merit feel disheartened!" Jerome temporarily took his gaze off the report and nodded, with a suggestive smile to Patterson, saying, "Then you shall write two letters of commendation for me to them!"

"Me?" A look of surprise reappeared on Patterson’s face, then he shook his head and replied to Jerome, "I can’t!"

"How can a man say he can’t!" Jerome continued to "encourage" Patterson, "Alright! I’ll leave the matter of the commendation telegrams to you!"

Faced with Jerome’s mandate, Patterson had no choice but to follow Jerome’s order and replied, "Yes!"

Then, Jerome laid out some requirements for the letters of commendation to Patterson: each letter should be no less than two thousand words, creative in content, and not follow the repetitive style of certain newspapers (like the Observer)...

As Jerome’s demands increased, Patterson’s expression gradually stiffened, and he began to regret pushing himself forward.

When Jerome finished listing all his requirements, Patterson’s expression had already turned somewhat numb.

"Young man, don’t be afraid of hardship!" Jerome, speaking from experience, counseled Patterson, "When I was your age, countless newspapers sought me for articles... The reason I achieved what I have today is because I am not afraid of hardship..."

Under Jerome’s motivational speech, Patterson was no longer resistant and even began to see it as a challenge.

"Patterson, you must remember!" Jerome’s expression gradually became serious, and Patterson’s expression mirrored Jerome’s seriousness, "The reason you’re now able to serve in the French Army and be flattered and pampered by various forces is that you’re a member of the Bonaparte Clan! Everything you and your father have is due to the Bonaparte name! As long as the Empire exists, there’ll be a place for you in the Tuileries Palace! Conversely, if the Empire falls, all will turn to dust.

Therefore, as your uncle, I hope you will use your own hands to defend France and everything we possess!"

Jerome’s expectations made Patterson feel an unprecedented sense of pressure.

He knew that everything he had now stemmed from his surname.

If the Empire were to be destroyed one day, then the Bonaparte name would become worthless.

He didn’t want to live a wandering life again, nor depend on others.

Hence, he must use his own hands to protect everything he has!

"Rest assured, I certainly will not disappoint your expectations!" Patterson answered Jerome with a resolute gaze.

"Very good!" Jerome revealed a satisfied smile and promised him that he would be elevated to Viscount after the war ends.

However, Jerome Patterson refused Jerome Bonaparte, telling Jerome Bonaparte that he wanted to earn a ducal title through his own efforts, rather than relying on the name Bonaparte.

For Jerome Patterson’s ambition, Jerome Bonaparte still chose to offer encouragement.

"Your Majesty, your high expectations leave me no room for complacency, so please allow me to take my leave first!" Jerome Patterson said solemnly to Jerome Bonaparte, taking his leave.

"Go ahead!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and said.

As Jerome Patterson left the office, Jerome Bonaparte’s stern face revealed a sly smile. He picked up the summary report again, shook his head, and murmured to himself: "Tsk, tsk, tsk! The young people of this era are really so naive! If it were the young people of my era, they would certainly not believe such invigorating nonsense!"

After speaking, Jerome Bonaparte took out a silver pocket watch from his pocket and glanced at it. There were about 10 minutes left until 3 o’clock.

"He should be back now!" Jerome Bonaparte put the pocket watch back in his pocket and continued to review the summary report.

Just as Jerome Bonaparte finished reading the last page of the summary report, a knock on the door sounded again. Jerome Bonaparte exhaled, closed the report, and said to the outside, "Come in."

This time it was Marshal Pelissier who entered the room. Dressed in his military uniform, he walked in dust-covered and reported to Jerome Bonaparte the distribution of the new batch of firearms and ammunition that arrived yesterday!

"Well done!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and then extended his hand, inviting Marshal Pelissier to sit down.

As soon as he sat down, Marshal Pelissier immediately saw the telegram on the desk. He pointed at it and inquired Jerome Bonaparte whether there were any new developments in Paris!

"You only need to take a look to understand everything!" Jerome Bonaparte pushed the telegram in front of Marshal Pelissier.

Reading the telegram, Marshal Pelissier eagerly asked Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, does this mean we can launch an attack on Simferopol?"

Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and replied to Marshal Pelissier, "No rush! We still need to wait a while!"

"Your Majesty, what are we waiting for?" Marshal Pelissier asked in confusion and then voiced his concern: "If the Crown Prince Alexander escapes, wouldn’t our plan fail?"

"I am certain Alexander II will not abandon the army and leave at this time!" Jerome Bonaparte responded confidently to Marshal Pelissier, then placed the summary report in front of him, saying, "Here is the summary report the Intelligence Bureau handed over when you left. Take a look!"

Hearing the three words "Intelligence Bureau," Marshal Pelissier’s expression changed slightly. As a soldier, he held some disdain for such organizations within the army that were not directly controlled by the military.

[Note: Although the Mechanical Command is affiliated with the Ministry of War as a branch, it does not report to the Ministry of War directly. They are a force directly controlled by Jerome Bonaparte. Therefore, the relationship between the Intelligence Bureau and the Staff Department is not one of superiors and subordinates, but rather collaborators.]

If not for Jerome Bonaparte’s strong insertion, coupled with the sparse numbers of the Mechanical Command (the entire Mechanical Command, at most, numbers about 2,000 people, spread amongst an army of nearly 550,000), the military would never allow such an organization to exist.

"Enough! Take a look quickly!" Jerome Bonaparte gently tapped the summary report and said to Marshal Pelissier.

Marshal Pelissier flipped through the report page by page, with his expression becoming more enriched over time.

The report indicated that ever since Jerome Bonaparte had people transmit the "false" news to Simferopol and Bakhchisaray that Alexander II was about to abandon the Crimea Peninsula’s army and return to St. Petersburg alone (due to the appearance of Duke Golitsyn, the original plan to announce Tsar Nicholas I’s grave illness to the Russian Army by Jerome Bonaparte had to shift from driving Alexander II away to keeping him here. Therefore, he concealed the illness and emphasized the propaganda that Alexander II planned to abandon them and leave), the morale of the Russian Imperial Army suffered a devastating blow.

Perhaps even Crown Prince Alexander did not anticipate that his previous announcement to fight alongside them to save the Russian Empire’s morale would now become shackles limiting his departure.

For the Russian soldiers who had never interacted with Tsar Nicholas I, Crown Prince Alexander was their "Little Father" in Crimea, whom they were willing to fight for. Now that the "Little Father" was preparing to abandon the Crimea Peninsula, what reason did they have to continue fighting?

Every day, dozens to a hundred Russian soldiers would leave Bakhchisaray, and this trend intensified over time.

As a result, Alexander II had to publicly declare his intent to continue standing with the Russian soldiers.

If Alexander II left now, the entire Russian Imperial Army would become incredibly weak.

Alexander II cannot, and dares not, leave.

"If we launch an attack now, then Alexander II will have every reason to leave here! Conversely, if we do not launch an attack, but instead pose as if negotiating for peace..."