Make France Great Again-Chapter 804 - 795: Setting Out

"Mr. Philip, I hope that in the future, France and Belgium can collaborate and achieve mutual benefits within the framework of the Coal and Steel Community! Also, please convey my greetings to your King Leopold! Tell him that the conflicts of the previous generation will never entangle the next!" (This refers to Emperor Napoleon’s past conquests of King Leopold I’s father’s territory, which led Leopold to become Napoleon’s opponent.)

"Therefore, my wife and I especially hope he can visit France!"

After reaching the Coal and Steel Community agreement, Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with Minister Philip as usual.

"Your Majesty, I will convey your words verbatim to our King, and on behalf of His Majesty the King, I wish you good health!" Minister Philip responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a calm and dignified demeanor.

Subsequently, Minister Philip was also taken to a room by Mokar and was given a "gift."

Minister Philip gladly accepted Mokar’s gift and expressed his gratitude to Jerome Bonaparte through Mokar.

That afternoon, Minister Philip, escorted by the Imperial Guard, left Paris by train.

Crown Prince Leopold, however, remained in Paris to continue his amorous adventures!

Two more days passed, and Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta were fully prepared and ready to depart at any moment.

However, before Jerome Bonaparte set off, there was one issue he needed to address, which was concerning Crown Prince Leopold.

"What should we do about Leopold?" Empress Augusta asked Jerome Bonaparte.

"In a moment, I will call him over to inquire personally, and I will find out! Meanwhile, you should check if there’s anything else that needs to be loaded into the carriage!" Jerome Bonaparte lightly replied to Empress Augusta.

"Alright!" Empress Augusta nodded and left Jerome Bonaparte’s study.

After a while, Jerome Bonaparte ordered Mokar, "Bring Leopold to me immediately! Did you hear clearly?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mokar promptly responded after receiving the order.

About half an hour later, Crown Prince Leopold was brought to the study by Mokar.

Seeing the somewhat disheveled Crown Prince with a lipstick mark on his neck, Jerome Bonaparte’s lips twitched slightly.

How did such a well-behaved Crown Prince turn into this in just a few days in Paris?

"Leopold, you’re becoming more like a libertine!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Crown Prince Leopold with a slightly admonishing tone.

"Your Majesty, I..." A look of shame appeared on Crown Prince Leopold’s face.

During this period, his behavior had indeed been quite indulgent.

But it wasn’t just Marguerite’s influence; his "friend of the age difference" also played a catalyzing role.

This "friend of the age difference" was none other than Ludwig I.

"Let’s not discuss this anymore!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately changed the subject and said to Leopold: "Augusta and I will be leaving Paris in the next two days, and Mokar will accompany us on this journey!

If you encounter any difficult problems in Paris during our absence, you can contact Percy in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for solutions, or directly seek out my aide Jerome Patterson at the Tuileries Palace for assistance!"

"I understand, Your Majesty!" Leopold nodded to Jerome Bonaparte and then cautiously inquired about which country Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta were preparing to visit.

"Augusta and I have been invited by Grand Duke Maximilian of Warsaw to attend his coronation ceremony in Warsaw!" Jerome Bonaparte said in a calm tone, then half-jokingly added to Crown Prince Leopold, "Leopold, when you have your coronation, be sure not to forget to invite me to watch! I really enjoy being part of the festivities!"

"Naturally!" Leopold nodded and then wished Jerome Bonaparte, "I wish both Your Majesties a smooth journey to Warsaw!"

"Thank you for your kind words!"

...

Having resolved the issue with Crown Prince Leopold, Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta could finally set off for Vienna with peace of mind.

On September 20, 1855, with everything arranged and in place, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta departed Paris by special train and arrived in Strasbourg that same day.

Renio, Commander of the Strasbourg Garrison, had been waiting at the train station for some time. Upon disembarking, Jerome Bonaparte warmly shook hands and embraced Renio.

Jerome Bonaparte immediately ordered Marshal Renio to prepare a carriage to cross the border; he wanted to depart overnight.

"Your Majesty, you should rest for a while! There is still a long journey ahead!" Renio earnestly advised Jerome Bonaparte.

"No need!" Jerome Bonaparte decisively rejected Renio’s suggestion, "Augusta and I still have to visit Karlsruhe (the capital of the Baden Duchy), Stuttgart (the capital of the Württemberg Kingdom), as well as Munich and Vienna, so there’s absolutely no time to delay!

Quickly find us suitable carriages!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Seeing he couldn’t sway Jerome Bonaparte, Renio could only comply with Jerome Bonaparte’s wishes and prepare carriages for him.

About an hour later, several carriages were ready, and Jerome Bonaparte, Augusta, and the entourage boarded the carriages one after another.

To prevent any unexpected incidents with the carriages, Renio personally led a battalion of elite cavalry, carrying torches to escort Jerome Bonaparte eastward. After more than an hour’s journey, Jerome Bonaparte’s carriage reached the riverside.

On the other side of the river lay the territory of the Baden Duchy. At this moment, the soldiers stationed at the riverbank of the Baden Duchy, upon seeing the actions of the French Army, thought France intended to attack them, and the Baden Duchy soldiers began to stand guard.

About five minutes later, seeing no movement on the opposite shore, a Baden Duchy officer shouted in French with a German accent, "Friends from France on the other side, what are you doing?" (In the German Region, especially in Southern Germany’s military courses, French is still offered. Similarly, the French Military Academy hasn’t abandoned German courses.)

"German brothers on the other side, don’t be nervous!" Marshal Renio replied: "I am Imperial Marshal Renio of France, and we are escorting our Emperor and Empress to Warsaw!"

Upon hearing that the other party was escorting the French Emperor, the Baden Duchy soldiers immediately withdrew their guns.

If they accidentally hit Jerome Bonaparte, it would undoubtedly provoke a war between the Baden Kingdom and the French Empire.

By then, even the German Confederation wouldn’t be able to protect the Baden Duchy from the wrath of the French Empire.

"Please allow the carriages of Their Majesties to cross over, we assure you that we will safely escort Their Majesties out of Baden!" a Baden Duchy officer said aloud to the French Army.

"Alright!" Marshal Renio replied.

Several carriages, escorted by over twenty Dragoons, advanced onto the bridge towards the territory of the Baden Duchy.

The Baden Duchy soldiers hurriedly ordered their troops to remove all barricades and instructed the soldiers to stand in two rows to welcome them.

When the carriages reached closer to the Baden Duchy’s side of the bridge, they stopped. Two people got off from the leading carriage and continued forward.

The whole procession followed the lead of these two, slowing their pace.

The silhouettes gradually approached the Baden Duchy soldiers, and the originally blurred outlines became clearer.

"Thank you for your hard work!" A flawless Southern German-flavored German voice came, and the speaker was none other than Jerome Bonaparte, next to whom stood Empress Augusta.

"Yo... Your Majesty!" the Baden Duchy officer stammered in response upon seeing Jerome Bonaparte.

"Hello! Sir!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to the Baden Duchy officer with a smile and extended his hand.

The Baden Duchy officer hurriedly wiped his hands vigorously on his uniform and then shook hands tightly with Jerome Bonaparte.

From birth until now, he had never shaken hands with any monarch, and now he could shake hands with Europe’s most powerful monarch, who warmly addressed him as "friend."

What an honor it was!

"Your Majesty, I am unworthy..." the Baden Duchy officer responded to Jerome Bonaparte, trembling with a bowed posture.

"Sir, we apologize for any inconvenience!" Jerome Bonaparte glanced at the officer, then at the soldiers, and politely said.

"Not at all! Not at all!" The Baden officer quickly responded to Jerome Bonaparte and then extended his hand to invite Jerome Bonaparte into the Baden Duchy.

Led by the Baden Duchy officer, Jerome Bonaparte gradually entered the border of the Baden Duchy.

The soldiers of the Baden Duchy cast curious glances at Jerome Bonaparte, who paused to shake hands with each of the Baden Duchy soldiers.

Each time a Baden Duchy soldier shook hands with Jerome Bonaparte, a proud expression appeared on their face.

It was evident that Jerome Bonaparte...or rather France, still had considerable influence in the Baden Region!

Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte stood in the Baden Region’s camp and encouraged the soldiers of the Baden Region for a while.

He generously praised the Baden soldiers for their dedication to duty and patriotism.

If an outside observer unaware of Jerome Bonaparte’s identity witnessed this scene, they might have thought a Baden noble general was addressing them.