Make France Great Again-Chapter 840 - 831: The Arrogant Bismarck

"If we can defeat the Austrian Empire, then the Rhine will no longer be a problem..."

Von Bismarck’s arrogant remarks made Regent William feel a bit of displeasure. He reminded Von Bismarck, with a hint of rebuke, that the military strength of the French Empire far surpassed that of the Austrian Empire. Even if the Kingdom of Prussia could defeat the Austrian Empire, it would not necessarily be a match for the French Empire.

After listening to Regent William’s words, Von Bismarck immediately realized that Regent William was still filled with fear of the French Empire.

However, Von Bismarck could understand.

After all, Regent William came of age during the time when the Kingdom of Prussia was invaded by the French Empire. Growing up surrounded by the French Empire, it was hard for that generation not to fear it.

Von Bismarck himself was born around the time of the signing of the Vienna Congress, so his only impression of the French Empire was during the period when the Vienna Congress was signed.

Therefore, Von Bismarck believed that as long as the Kingdom of Prussia could exploit the conflicts among the European countries to restrain the French Empire, it would be enough to achieve the set goals.

However, to completely complete the transformation of the Kingdom of Prussia, defeating the French Empire was necessary.

Of course, Bismarck wouldn’t tell Regent William all his thoughts.

He hurried to explain to Regent William, "Your Majesty, we do not need to strike against the French Empire. As long as we defeat the Austrian Empire, we can use the conflicts among the European countries to restrain the actions of the French Empire.

Thereby safeguarding our interests in the Rhine Region!"

"Can we really stop the French Empire from coveting the Rhine?" Regent William still had some doubts about Von Bismarck’s words.

"Your Majesty, we definitely can!" Von Bismarck replied with unwavering conviction, and then shifted his tone, "However, before that, we must ensure the French Empire remains relatively neutral; otherwise, our confrontation with the Austrian Empire could turn against us!"

Regent William pondered for a moment and then gave Von Bismarck an appointment, "Mr. Bismarck, I will send you to France as Prussia’s ambassador to France at the appropriate time, and I hope you can prepare in advance!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Von Bismarck responded excitedly to Regent William, "I will definitely live up to your trust!"

...

On the other hand, Jerome Bonaparte and Empress Augusta were also lying on the bed in a hotel discussing Mokar’s position.

"Which department do you think I should transfer Mokar to?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Empress Augusta while lying in bed.

After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Augusta was stunned for a few seconds, and then asked Jerome Bonaparte in return, "Are you planning to remove Mokar from the Tuileries Palace?"

"That’s right!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, saying with a hint of anger, "Mokar has really been out of line at the Tuileries Palace these years! He dares to take anyone’s money.

I’ve heard that in these years, just by accepting bribes, he has accumulated nearly a few million francs!

If this continues, the entire Tuileries Palace might become a den of criminals later.

Therefore I plan to transfer Mokar out of the Tuileries Palace, but I am uncertain about which position would be suitable for him!

So I wanted to ask for your opinion!"

"Once Mokar leaves, who do you plan to appoint as the Chief Steward of the Tuileries Palace? Percy?" Empress Augusta asked Jerome Bonaparte.

She recalled that before Jerome Bonaparte left the Tuileries Palace, he had Percy take charge of the various affairs in the Tuileries Palace. Reappointing Percy as Royal Palace Chief Steward also met the requirements.

"No! It’s not!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to Empress Augusta, "Percy is doing well as Minister of Internal Affairs; transferring him back to the Tuileries Palace would be quite a waste!

Therefore I plan to appoint Mr. Baxilio as the Royal Palace Chief Steward, responsible for overall management of internal and external affairs of the Royal Palace!"

"Baxilio?" Empress Augusta thought carefully for a long time, but couldn’t recall such a person, "What position does he hold now?"

"Baxilio is the current general manager of the Northern Industrial Group!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to Empress Augusta.

"So it was him!"

Augusta finally remembered that such a person existed, but because Bashirio rarely met her in formal settings, her impression of him was not very deep. "But, can someone like him really manage the Tuileries Palace so well?"

"Don’t worry! Bashirio can manage a group of nearly ten thousand people, so naturally, he can manage a Tuileries Palace with less than a thousand people!" Jerome Bonaparte confidently assured Augusta. He had faith in Bashirio’s management abilities.

"Your Majesty, the Tuileries Palace is not a corporation! Just a slight mistake, and I’m afraid your general manager might have to leave in disgrace!" Empress Augusta responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a playful smile at the corner of her lips.

"Let’s see who dares!" Jerome Bonaparte replied with a firm tone.

"Your Majesty, you can certainly parachute Bashirio in, but you should also consider the thoughts of those seniors in Mokar who have worked diligently for years!" Empress Augusta reminded Jerome Bonaparte, "They just managed to see off Mokar, and now you suddenly parachute Mr. Bashirio in! It’s hard to guarantee that they won’t have other ideas!"

"Augusta, are you suggesting that I have to use some of the seniors?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Augusta.

"Your Majesty, I suggest having Vilnius replace Mokar as the Royal Palace Chief Steward, with Bashirio assisting!" Empress Augusta proposed her opinion to Jerome Bonaparte with a concealed smile.

"Vilnius as the Royal Palace Chief Steward?" Jerome Bonaparte expressed a hint of surprise, then responded to Augusta, "Isn’t that a bit reckless!"

"I believe it’s appropriate for Vilnius to be the Royal Palace Chief Steward!" Augusta replied righteously to Jerome Bonaparte, "Vilnius has stayed in the Tuileries Palace for nearly 4 years and knows it inside out! Besides, she also serves as my secretary and the Tuileries Palace’s nurse (the Tuileries Palace has a medical team responsible for regular health checks of all its members), giving her a certain degree of prestige in the Tuileries Palace.

Letting Vilnius take the position of Royal Palace Chief Steward would likely face little opposition from the majority of the Tuileries Palace’s members, and Your Majesty, you can proclaim this appointment as the Empire’s respect for women’s social status!"

Augusta’s words stirred a thought in Jerome Bonaparte; if this method could indeed garner support from women, Jerome Bonaparte wouldn’t mind appointing Vilnius as the Royal Palace Chief Steward.

However, Jerome Bonaparte was worried that this move might not only fail to gain women’s support but also arouse dissatisfaction from the Church.

The Church is the staunchest supporter of masculine dominance in France; during the Second Republic, the liberty of divorce laws proposed by women couldn’t pass because of the Church’s obstruction.

Nevertheless, Jerome Bonaparte didn’t use this reason to refute Augusta but rather attempted to reject Augusta by expressing concern that they might not do well in some aspects.

"I’ve said, Mr. Bashirio can assist Vilnius!" Augusta responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Vilnius would only be the nominal Royal Palace Chief Steward, while Mr. Bashirio would actually perform the role!"

"Let me think about it!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Augusta, "But, for now, the most pressing issue is where to transfer Mokar!"

"Your Majesty, Mokar knows far too many secrets!" Empress Augusta reminded, "We absolutely cannot let him out of our sight!"

"That’s exactly what I’m considering, which is why I find it a headache to arrange for Mokar!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Empress Augusta with a wry smile.

"Your Majesty, how about... making him silent forever!!" Empress Augusta’s eyes showed a hint of ruthlessness; she wouldn’t allow anyone who threatened the position of the Emperor of France to survive in this world.

"This..." Jerome Bonaparte, unable to bear it, said to Empress Augusta, "Mokar is an old friend who has been through hardships with me. I really cannot bear to kill him (it’s indeed impossible). Let’s find a position that keeps him silent!"

After thinking for a moment, Empress Augusta suggested again, "Your Majesty, how about letting him work with Percy!"

"Are you suggesting giving him a position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Jerome Bonaparte asked back.

"Exactly!" Empress Augusta nodded and answered Jerome Bonaparte, "Appointing Mokar as a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Internal Affairs provides him a similar identity and status to that of the Royal Palace Chief Steward without letting him escape our control!"

"That is indeed a good idea!" Jerome Bonaparte clapped his hands and responded to Empress Augusta, "Let’s do as you say!"

Downstairs from Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, Mokar would probably never imagine that his destiny would be entirely determined by the two Majesties.

At this moment, Mokar was still fantasizing that upon returning to Paris, he could once again lead the servants of the Tuileries Palace.

...

Early the next morning, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta rose early to board a steamship headed for Normandy at Danzig Pier.

At 10 a.m., the steamship departed from Danzig Port, first sailing north out of the port, and then all the way west, leaving the Baltic Sea.