Make France Great Again-Chapter 754 - 745: Driven by Interests
Faced with Grand Duke Maximilian’s condition that his father either personally or appoint someone to the cabinet, Mr. Weir Aid felt somewhat tempted.
Whether it was his father personally forming the cabinet (which was almost impossible, as Prince Czartoryski was already 84 years old), or appointing someone to form the cabinet, it would allow him to accumulate deep connections in the newly established Kingdom of Poland, which would also benefit his future political career.
It should be known that Weir Aid was only in his early thirties now.
For an ordinary person, being in their early thirties might mean a life of mediocrity ahead, but for a politician, being in their thirties is precisely a golden age for political development.
Once the new cabinet, appointed by his father, was established (Weir Aid assumed his father couldn’t form a cabinet), Weir Aid could fully inherit his father’s favor and serve as the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw in his lifetime.
This was far better than wasting half his life in France!
Sitting next to Weir Aid, both Grand Duke Maximilian and Jerome Bonaparte exchanged a knowing smile upon noticing the subtle changes in Weir Aid’s expression.
They knew Weir Aid was about to be persuaded by Grand Duke Maximilian’s terms.
So, Jerome Bonaparte decided to pour more oil on the fire and looked at Grand Duke Maximilian with a smile, saying, "Maximilian!"
Grand Duke Maximilian, surprised at being addressed by Jerome Bonaparte, quickly responded, "Your Majesty!"
"Who handles your daily affairs in Habsburg?" Jerome Bonaparte blatantly hinted to Grand Duke Maximilian.
Grand Duke Maximilian immediately understood Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning and hastily replied, "Your Majesty, I personally handle all my daily affairs!"
"This won’t do!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Grand Duke Maximilian, "You are at least the future monarch, how can you not have someone to handle your daily affairs?"
"Your Majesty, you are right!" Grand Duke Maximilian promptly agreed, "I will find a suitable candidate once I return to Vienna!"
"No need to return to Vienna for that! I think Mr. Weir Aid is a good choice!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Grand Duke Maximilian and then added, "What do you think?"
Grand Duke Maximilian pretended to scrutinize Weir Aid before smiling and inviting him, "Mr. Weir Aid, would you be willing to condescend to become my secretary?"
Upon hearing Grand Duke Maximilian’s invitation, Weir Aid trembled as he replied, "Gr... Grand Duke... no, Your Majesty, I would be most willing to serve you!"
"Mr. Weir Aid, from now on, you are my first secretary!" Grand Duke Maximilian extended his hand to Weir Aid and said, "I hope we can be open with each other in our future collaboration!"
If before Weir Aid was only tempted, now he was determined to help Maximilian become the Grand Duke of Warsaw.
Because, from just now, he and Maximilian had become an interest-aligned community.
Of course, he also knew clearly that the reason why Grand Duke Maximilian was willing to let him be secretary was nothing more than using his father’s influence, allowing him to succeed as the Grand Duke of Warsaw with the recognition of all parties.
However, that was precisely his capital.
Both he and his father knew that Poland’s success in establishment did not depend on them but rather on the Emperor of France.
So they had no choice from the start; his father’s purpose in sending him here was also to negotiate a good price. (At least that’s what Weir Aid thought)
"Your Majesty, I’m honored to become your secretary!" Weir Aid shook Grand Duke Maximilian’s hand excitedly.
"Mr. Weir Aid, what do you think of the previous condition?" Grand Duke Maximilian once again returned to the previous question.
"Your Majesty!" Weir Aid respectfully said to Maximilian, "My father just wants to ask you one question!"
"What question?" Grand Duke Maximilian asked Weir Aid.
"After you become the Grand Duke of Warsaw, what political system will you implement in the Grand Duchy of Warsaw?" Weir Aid inquired of Grand Duke Maximilian.
Maximilian told Weir Aid: Since Poland’s political system is different from that of the French Empire, they cannot follow France’s universal electoral system.
If he was fortunate enough to become the Grand Duke of Warsaw, he would learn from the Orléans Dynasty’s system and implement "universal" elections in Poland.
That is, every Polish citizen residing within the Kingdom, as long as they meet the electoral conditions (annual tax amount at or over 100 francs, with the right to vote; annual tax amount exceeding 200 francs, with the right to be elected), can participate in the Kingdom of Poland’s elections.
Upon hearing Maximilian’s words, Viereid couldn’t help but look forward to Grand Duke Maximilian becoming the King of Poland with even more anticipation.
This is because the system implemented by Grand Duke Maximilian can effectively secure the monopolistic political position of the property owners within Poland, namely the political elite.
Only with the support of the political elite can Grand Duke Maximilian truly take root in Poland.
"Viereid, what do you think?" Grand Duke Maximilian asked Viereid.
"Your Majesty, your idea is excellent!" Viereid replied to Grand Duke Maximilian, "Though my father might not like this idea, it effectively safeguards the interests of Poland’s property owners."
"Why wouldn’t Prince Czartoryski like it?" Grand Duke Maximilian asked in confusion.
"Your Majesty, actually, my father has always wanted to establish Poland as a Republic!" Viereid explained to Grand Duke Maximilian, "At the very least, he wants it to have a universal suffrage system like the French Empire!"
"How should I persuade Chaltokoski?" Grand Duke Maximilian pursued further.
"Your Majesty, you don’t need to persuade my father!" Viereid shook his head, replying to Prince Czartoryski, "In fact, my father already has the lowest expectations by asking me to come!
As long as you properly respect the interests within Poland, my father will support your appointment as Grand Duke of Warsaw!"
Subsequently, Grand Duke Maximilian and Viereid negotiated for quite some time, both surprised to find that their political views coincidentally aligned in some respects (both were broadly liberal).
Thus, they discussed even more passionately, leaving Jerome Bonaparte, originally the meeting’s moderator, overlooked to the side.
It wasn’t until Jerome Bonaparte gently coughed twice and pointed to the time on the grandfather clock, indicating that it was almost time for dinner, that Grand Duke Maximilian and Viereid stopped.
Shortly afterwards, at Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation, Grand Duke Maximilian and Viereid accompanied him to dinner.
Upon entering the dining room, they saw Augusta already seated, and each greeted Augusta with a salute.
Empress Augusta, smiling, invited Maximilian and Viereid to sit down, with Viereid and Maximilian sitting to the left and right of Jerome Bonaparte, respectively.
After the banquet officially began, Jerome Bonaparte first proposed a toast to the friendship between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Poland, then proposed another toast to the friendship between the French Empire and the Austrian Empire!
After two glasses of wine, Jerome Bonaparte immediately entered into a chatterbox mode.
Jerome Bonaparte told Viereid that his reason for choosing Grand Duke Maximilian as Grand Duke of Warsaw, aside from easing relations between Poland and Austria and jointly curbing the Russian Empire, was because Grand Duke Maximilian himself is a capable leader willing to reform.
He hoped that Grand Duke Maximilian and Viereid could sincerely cooperate to jointly build a new Poland.
The French Empire would also assist the newly established Poland to the extent of its abilities.
If Poland is willing, they can also provide sufficient funds for Poland’s development.
Grand Duke Maximilian immediately expressed gratitude to Jerome Bonaparte on behalf of the Kingdom of Poland.
After the banquet, Viereid casually chatted with Grand Duke Maximilian for a while, then was escorted back to Prince Czartoryski’s residence by a person sent by Jerome Bonaparte.
Back at the residence, Viereid was immediately called into the bedroom by Czartoryski, who asked, "Did you meet Grand Duke Maximilian?"
Viereid nodded and replied to Czartoryski, "I did!" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
"What kind of person do you think he is?" Czartoryski asked Viereid again.
"Grand Duke Maximilian is unlike his rigid and cold brother; he is a generally tolerant person!" Viereid replied to Czartoryski.
"Did he tell you what political system he intends to implement in Poland?" Czartoryski inquired once again to Viereid.
Viereid immediately conveyed Maximilian’s words to Chaltokoski, and though Czartoryski felt a slight sense of disappointment, he still remarked, "Not bad!"
"By the way, Father! Grand Duke Maximilian plans to invite me to serve as his secretary!!" Viereid further said to Czartoryski, "And he has also entrusted you with the power to form the first Cabinet!"
