Make France Great Again-Chapter 732 - 723 Knocking on Deco
When Minister Dico saw Valerovsky appear before him, he immediately realized that he might be facing a big trouble.
Sure enough, Valerovsky, who had just arrived in front of Minister Dico, immediately said to Dico, "Mr. Dico, His Majesty invites you to come over!"
"Your Excellency Valerovsky!" Minister Dico said, while calmly handing a note to Valerovsky, "How is His Majesty’s mood now?"
Valerovsky skillfully accepted the note handed over by Minister Dico (mainly to reassure Dico) and responded to Minister Dico with a solemn tone: "Before I left, His Majesty was in a very bad mood!
Don’t blame me for being talkative, Minister Dico, what’s going on with your Toulon shipyards?
His Majesty clearly ordered you before he left to appropriately slow down the expansion of enterprises!
Our current prosperity is built on the foundation of war. Now that the war is over, where do you expect His Majesty to conjure up so many orders for you!"
Faced with Valerovsky’s complaint, Minister Dico also showed a helpless smile.
Poor him, how could he have known that the war would end so quickly.
According to his estimation, the war would end at least by mid-year (1855), and he only needed to use the Maritime Transport Commission at the beginning of the year to make directive adjustments to the enterprises within the committee to barely get through the crisis of overcapacity.
The sudden peace talks left no room for the Maritime Transport Commission to make appropriate adjustments.
Stopping orders abruptly would also lead to a severe impact on Toulon Port’s shipbuilding industry.
"Your Excellency Valerovsky, we really didn’t expect Russia to surrender so quickly!" Minister Dico responded to Valerovsky with a bitter face, and then asked Valerovsky for help: "Tell me, what should we do now!"
"Your Excellency Dico, regarding the shipbuilding industry, I’m not very knowledgeable either!" Valerovsky shook his head and then continued, "However, I don’t think His Majesty’s purpose is to punish you. In His Majesty’s heart, you are still a person who can take on important responsibilities!
Later, you only need to explain the difficulties you are facing to His Majesty, and at the same time tell His Majesty that you are working on solving these problems! I don’t think His Majesty will be too harsh on you!"
Hearing Valerovsky’s words, the huge weight in Dico’s heart was slightly lifted.
As long as he can continue to stay in this position, he is willing to do whatever His Majesty asks him to do with all his might.
"Thank you for your guidance!" Minister Dico sincerely responded to Valerovsky.
"It was a small matter!" Valerovsky waved his hand, pretending not to care, "I am most enthusiastic about making friends!"
As someone who had just been promoted to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Valerovsky understood that his position had an expiration date.
If he couldn’t advance further, once De Luy’s side ended, Valerovsky would have to roll off the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in embarrassment.
However, it would not be easy to advance to the position of Minister of State or Minister of the Seal.
Fuld, the Minister of State, had allies like Finance Minister Mane and the governor of the Bank of France, while Minister of the Seal Mornay’s allies were Minister of Internal Affairs Percy and Minister of Justice Rue (currently Rue and the Mornay-Percy alliance were almost breaking apart, because Rue himself was one of Jerome Bonaparte’s appointees to administer France.
His influence started to grow during this period, posing a threat to Mornay.
An alliance with two equally powerful leaders means the alliance is close to breaking.)
As for Valerovsky, he couldn’t form relations with every minister like Fuld and the others.
Wanting to replace them was not an easy matter, so Valerovsky must find suitable allies.
His friendliness towards Dico also signified an intent to win over Dico.
"Your Excellency Valerovsky, we’ve been friends for a long time!" Minister Dico evidently understood Valerovsky’s intentions and also expressed his own desire to approach Valerovsky.
"Yes, yes! We are already friends!" Valerovsky also smiled and nodded repeatedly, "It’s getting late! We should set out! Otherwise, His Majesty might get anxious waiting!"
Afterwards, Valerovsky and Minister Dico reached their destination, with Valerovsky leading and Dico following into the living room.
In the living room at that time, besides Jerome Bonaparte, there was also Vilnius.
When Vilnius saw Valerovsky and Minister Dico arrive, he quickly stood up and nodded at Jerome Bonaparte.
"Hmm! You go and rest first!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a smile.
After Vilnius left the living room, Jerome Bonaparte’s expression turned cloudy again. Sitting on the sofa, he wore a stern face without saying a word.
After a while, Valerovsky reported to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, Minister Dico has been summoned by me!"
"Oh!" Jerome Bonaparte just uttered the word "oh" and then said no more.
As time ticked by, a silent pressure weighed heavily on Minister Dico’s heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
At that moment, Dico wished Jerome Bonaparte would scold him harshly, thinking that even being scolded would be much better than the current situation.
Often, a superior’s scolding contains the implication of disappointment.
The most terrifying situation in the world is to be neither hit nor scolded, but directly ignored.
This means, in the superior’s heart, you are not even worthy of being scolded.
Gradually, sweat appeared unconsciously on Minister Dico’s forehead, and his expression slowly turned to one of regret.
Seeing the time was ripe, Jerome Bonaparte said to Dico: "Dico!"
"Your Majesty, I am here!" The voice of Jerome Bonaparte, like heavenly music, echoed in Dico’s ears, and he replied to Jerome Bonaparte excitedly.
"What do you think of how I’ve treated you?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Minister Dico softly.
"Your Majesty has been incredibly kind and generous to me, like a second creator!" Minister Dico quickly praised Jerome Bonaparte: "It was you who promoted me from an obscure congressman to Minister of the Navy, allowing me to fulfill my dreams!"
"You do know!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a hint of anger to Minister Dico: "I promoted you to Minister of the Navy, giving you the power to manage the navy! Granting you the power to appoint and dismiss naval officers, to establish the Navy Staff Headquarter and the Maritime Transport Commission!
For the navy’s military budget you submitted, did I ever scrutinize it like the army’s?
Your relatives and friends, aren’t they all expanding continuously with national orders?
I have already given you the greatest powers!"
"Your Majesty, your kindness is something I can never repay in a lifetime!" Minister Dico knelt before Jerome Bonaparte with a thud.
"Stand up!" Jerome Bonaparte frowned at Dico and said: "I haven’t adopted the tradition of making ministers kneel! If you continue kneeling, our discussion can end right here!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Dico slowly rose and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
After Minister Dico stood up, Jerome Bonaparte asked him again: "Dico, what exactly is happening in your Navy Committee? Before I left, I repeatedly instructed you to slow down production, did all of you just ignore it?"
At this point, Minister Dico could only admit his mistake to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, we were wrong! I mistakenly believed that the war between the Empire and Russia might last for a while, so I did not issue a strong order to the Navy Committee!
This has caused serious consequences! I am willing to accept any punishment!"
"I don’t wish to punish anyone now! I just want to know, what do you plan to do?" Jerome Bonaparte did not want to dismiss Dico, a key figure in the navy, over this small matter.
"Your Majesty, I plan to gradually reduce the demand..." Minister Dico told Jerome Bonaparte, he intended to submit a new shipbuilding request to the parliament, and then gradually cut down the excess shipbuilding personnel.
At the same time, for the organized shipping companies, he would lead the sale of surplus transport ships to countries along the Mediterranean coast.
"A new round of shipbuilding?" Jerome Bonaparte muttered quietly.
"Yes! Your Majesty! We must admit to the pursuit, striving to organize a new fleet with Ironclad ships as the core! To maintain our trade in the Mediterranean!" Minister Dico told Jerome Bonaparte.
"How do you plan to handle our current fleet?" Jerome Bonaparte asked again.
"Your Majesty, Mexico and Chile have expressed their willingness to purchase our fleet!" Minister Dico quickly responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Additionally, a country in the Far East called Samo (which is actually Japan’s Satsuma Domain, but Minister Dico was unfamiliar with the Far East, so he thought it was a country called Samo) is also willing to buy!"
"The country of Samo!" Jerome Bonaparte muttered softly, quickly asking if the people Dico mentioned were not from the Satsuma Domain.
Minister Dico looked at Valerovsky for help, not understanding why Jerome Bonaparte suddenly cared about the Far East, so Valerovsky told Jerome Bonaparte everything he knew.
"The Satsuma Domain of Japan contacted us half a year ago, expressing their interest in purchasing our steamships in hand!
Meanwhile, another faction in Japan, the Choushuu Domain, also contacted us, hoping to buy a batch of Mini Rifles and requested us to send instructors to help train an excellent army!"
