Make France Great Again-Chapter 777 - 768: Forge Ahead

The National Guard, as a product born in 1789, can be said to have been closely linked with the revolution since the moment of its birth.

Therefore, it was also viewed as a thorn in the side by the monarchs after the Great Revolution. Emperor Napoleon, Louis XVIII, and Charles X all briefly abolished this army filled with revolutionary spirit, but ultimately they had to reestablish it.

During the Orleans Kingdom period, Louis Philippe, who considered himself placed on the throne by the National Guard, regarded it as a strong guarantee for maintaining the regime. However, the National Guard still betrayed him.

When Jerome Bonaparte became the Emperor of the Second Empire, he also gritted his teeth in hatred toward the National Guard, yet he dared not dissolve it outright due to the great disregard of the public.

Thus, he could only choose to keep the National Guard never at full capacity, not even reaching half the number, while deploying a large number of troops around Paris so that if any disturbance occurred in Paris, the surrounding troops would enter Paris immediately and crush the rebels.

Now, Nie’er actually directly abolished the "National Guard" in the next round of military reform, which truly felt dangerous to him.

After all, historically, the abolition of the National Guard happened after 1870, because France suffered unprecedented defeat in the battle with Prussia, causing the entire nation of France to be eager to settle accounts with Prussia. Therefore, they chose to mimic Prussia by establishing a reserve army system and a general staff system.

Even in such an environment, the abolition of the National Guard was only passed after separate negotiations in parliament.

The current French Empire has not yet faced the situation of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Jerome Bonaparte highly doubts whether the reform to abolish the National Guard can be smoothly implemented.

In response to Jerome Bonaparte’s solemn inquiry, Nie’er also responded solemnly: "Your Majesty, I am fully aware of the status of the National Guard in the hearts of our citizens! 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

But I must tell you, the National Guard system is no longer suitable for France."

Then, Nie’er described to Jerome Bonaparte the investigations he sent people to conduct in various provinces and cities.

According to the research results of the Ministry of War, most of the National Guard within France cannot even be called an army. At best, they are local militias; in some places, they even specifically selected people nearing the age of 50 to join the National Guard.

"Your Majesty, is there any necessity for such an organization to exist in France?" Nie’er found himself questioning Jerome Bonaparte, and then continued, "Rather than letting them continue to rot like this, it would be better to abolish them!"

"Nie’er, some things are not done simply because they are right!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head with a wry smile.

As a time traveler, he was well aware of the capability of the National Guard. In the "future" Franco-Prussian War, Gambetta led 600,000 (alleged) National Guards to Paris for rescue, only to be firmly pinned down by a single army from the Kingdom of Prussia.

It was imaginable how inflated the capabilities of the National Guard actually were.

However, as Jerome Bonaparte said, some things, even when known to be wrong, must still be done wrongly.

"Your Majesty, I do not understand!" Nie’er shook his head and answered Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte looked up at Nie’er, and from Nie’er’s eyes, he saw a sense of unwillingness.

Nie’er did understand; he was merely unwilling to see his military reform negated.

"The issue of the National Guard is so extensive that it can be said to affect everything with a single move!" Jerome Bonaparte earnestly advised Nie’er, "We should consider starting anew outside the framework of the National Guard!"

"Start anew?" Nie’er showed a puzzled expression.

"We can establish a new reserve army, which will use all the time outside of farming every year for training!

So that they can be quickly deployed into battle during wartime!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to Nie’er.

This idea similarly originated from Nie’er, but from thirteen years later.

"Your Majesty, what shall we do with those people in the National Guard?" Nie’er asked back.

"Those people, just act as if they don’t exist!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged and answered Nie’er.

"However, they will also consume a large amount of our money!" Nie’er continued to say to Jerome Bonaparte, "And I can guarantee that if you don’t choose to abolish the National Guard, those conscripted soldiers will try everything to escape to the National Guard to evade your conscription!"

"This..." Jerome Bonaparte’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, recognizing that Nie’er did make some valid points.

"Is really abolishing the National Guard the only way forward?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Nie’er once again.

"Your Majesty, we must have the determination to cut off our own arm!" Nie resolutely said to Jerome Bonaparte.

The Nie of 1855 had less compromise and more determination for reform compared to the Nie of 1868.

Seeing Nie’s unwavering desire to implement the reform of abolishing the National Self-defense Army, Jerome Bonaparte pondered for a moment and eventually chose to agree with Nie’s viewpoint.

After all, the only path for the future of the French Army was to establish a perfect reserve system.

Jerome Bonaparte was determined to move forward, no matter the cost.

"Your General Staff must produce a report on the National Self-defense Army in the shortest possible time, and the content of the report must clearly state the situation and status of the National Self-defense Army in each locality!

At that time, I will take the report and military reforms to the Bourbon Palace, and I think that should suffice to convince those stubborn old men in the Legislative Corps!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Nie.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Nie nodded and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I am quite satisfied with the rest of the military reforms!" Jerome Bonaparte encouraged Nie, "I hope you will continue to work diligently!"

"I certainly will not disappoint your expectations!" Nie earnestly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

He knew that whether it was enhancing the authority of the General Staff or abolishing the National Self-defense Army, Jerome Bonaparte was using his prestige to shield him.

If his reforms did not meet Jerome Bonaparte’s expectations, he would likely be dismissed by Jerome Bonaparte.

Therefore, Nie had to muster all his energy to complete this work.

Thus, from late May to early June, Marshal Nie tirelessly gathered the General Staff officers, who wore civilian clothes to the provinces and cities of France, to collect materials unfavorable to the National Self-defense Army, so that Jerome Bonaparte could completely bury the National Self-defense Army.

Meanwhile, Jerome Bonaparte took advantage of this period to turn his attention to Algeria, a land that had been conquered by France for about 25 years.

As a result, Jerome Bonaparte summoned Minister of Internal Affairs Percy and inquired about the situation of Abdul Kader, who was in custody.

Percy informed Jerome Bonaparte that it had been eight years since Abdul Kader, the last (organized) rebel leader of Algiers, was captured. During these eight years, Abdul Kader had quietly remained in a prison near Paris.

Intrigued, Jerome Bonaparte asked Percy whether Abdul Kader had ever thought of escaping during this time.

Percy replied to Jerome Bonaparte that due to Abdul Kader’s unique status, his place of detention was different from ordinary political prisoners; the previous Orléans Government had specially arranged a private prison for him.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte ordered Percy to take him to where Abdu Cadivin was held.

Percy had no choice but to comply with Jerome Bonaparte’s instructions. After a carriage ride brought Jerome Bonaparte and Percy to a prison on the outskirts of Paris, Jerome Bonaparte met the solitary prisoner, Abdu Cadivin.

Although Abdu Cadivin appeared slightly haggard after eight years of imprisonment, he still maintained a spirited demeanor.

"Your Majesty, this is the traitor Abdu Cadivin!" The prison warden, responsible for guarding Abdul Kader, enthusiastically introduced Abdul Kader’s history to Jerome Bonaparte.

"No need for introductions! I know all about it!" Jerome Bonaparte raised his hand to stop the warden, then casually asked Abdu Cadivin, "Mr. Cadivin, are you willing to regain your freedom?"

Upon hearing the word "freedom," Abdu Cadivin’s eyes lit up, and he quickly ran to Jerome Bonaparte and responded, "Your Majesty, I dream of regaining my freedom!"

"As long as you agree to a few of my conditions, I am willing to grant you freedom!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Abdu Cadivin.

"Great Majesty, what conditions would you like me to agree to?" Abdu Cadivin inquired to Jerome Bonaparte again.

"First, you must promise that after your release, you will not engage in any activities opposing France!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Abdu Cadivin.

"Your Majesty, I think no one, however arrogant, would dare to oppose a monarch who has conquered all of Europe!" Abdul Kader praised Jerome Bonaparte.

"And after your release, you shall not return to Algiers!" Jerome Bonaparte reiterated to Abdul Kader.