Make France Great Again-Chapter 846 - 837: Departmental Summary (Part 1)

"Indeed so, Your Majesty!" Mane answered truthfully.

Afterwards, he paused for a moment and then continued, "However, I believe last year’s fiscal expenditure does not represent the overall state of our nation’s finances.

Because last year’s goal of the Empire was to maintain the employment rate.

Therefore, concessions had to be made at many times!

As the Empire’s economic system gradually detached from a state of war, the employment rate also tended toward stability. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

So, I can assert that the Empire’s fiscal revenue this year will inevitably be better than last year, and the situation of revenue exceeding expenditure will also inevitably change!"

As soon as Minister Mane finished speaking, Jerome Bonaparte immediately began to applaud Minister Mane.

Seeing this, the ministers of each department and the provincial governors (the meeting only invited Baron Haussman, the Governor of Seine Province) also applauded Mane.

Upon seeing this, Mane hurriedly bowed to Jerome Bonaparte.

The applause continued for a while and then stopped at Jerome Bonaparte’s gesture.

"Minister Mane, your speech was inspiring!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Mane with a smile, "Our country needs ministers like you who maintain an optimistic attitude in the face of difficulties!

An occasional fiscal deficit does not mean that the Empire’s economy is declining; from a long-term perspective, the Empire’s economy is still on the rise.

Also, I do not believe that issuing government bonds is a sinful act. The issuance of 300 million francs in government bonds represents the subjects of the Empire believing that the bonds will give them returns, which is why they are eager to purchase them!

If the subjects of the Empire did not have confidence in us, who among them would dare to purchase our bonds?

Moreover, our bonds are financed by the people, for the benefit of the people!

We use the taxes paid by the Empire’s citizens to build railways, bridges, and renovate houses; aren’t all these used for their benefit!

Some always say that we are lofty lords, but in my opinion, everyone present here is a public servant working diligently for the people."

After Jerome Bonaparte’s shameless speech, he immediately resonated with the gentlemen present, and even more enthusiastic applause resonated through the Imperial Council Hall than before.

Jerome Bonaparte calmly accepted the applause from the gentlemen.

After the applause ended, Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Minister of Justice Rue, "Rue, how about you talk about the situation in the Ministry of Justice!"

"Yes!" Minister of Justice Rue quickly stood up, cleared his throat, and responded to Jerome Bonaparte: By the end of December 1856, the Ministry of Justice had processed nearly more than 4,000 cases, the majority of which were dispute cases.

Only a few hundred cases involved the subversion of the Empire. Among these few hundred cases, about 2,000 offenders were tried by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, approximately 1,000 of them were sentenced to imprisonment (mostly 1 to 2 years) and held in prisons, while the majority of the remaining offenders were transported to Algeria to be responsible for developing the land there.

After listening to Rue’s introduction, Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and said to Rue, "Rue, you have done well. The Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, as the two highest legislative bodies in our country, should act impartially like this!

However, I have a small request that I hope you can consider!"

"Your Majesty, please speak!" Rue assumed a posture of listening attentively and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"I suggest that the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, when dealing with crimes committed by entrepreneurs on objective issues, should refrain from arrests where possible," Jerome Bonaparte said to Rue, "The private entrepreneurs of the French Empire are the pillars of the entire Empire, and we must protect them!

Training an official is not easy, and training a responsible and dedicated entrepreneur is even more difficult!

We cannot let our impulsiveness lead a company into disaster.

What would happen to the workers without the company?

If workers became unemployed, this Empire of ours might not last long!"

Jerome Bonaparte earnestly advised the gentlemen present, as he was well aware of the character of his subordinates.

They registered shell companies and used their authority to strip some valuable enterprises bare.

It would be fine if they were good at managing, but the problem is that most of them are not, wasting a lot of valuable assets.

If they continue to annex unchecked, the Second Empire would eventually be reduced to crony capitalism.

"I understand!" Rue showed an awkward smile.

As the Minister of Justice, he naturally understood Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning and could only promise to handle entrepreneurial disputes cautiously to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Very well! I look forward to your performance!" Jerome Bonaparte gestured for Minister of Justice Rue to sit down.

Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte pointed out the Minister of Railways, Barroso, with a jest, "Barroso, you ’Iron King,’ tell us about the state of the Ministry of Railways!"

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s address, Barroso inevitably showed a touch of embarrassment.

"Your Majesty, the total length of the French Railways had reached 9,000 kilometers by the end of December last year! The first phase of railway stations (major cities are all connected by rail) is complete, and we are now proceeding with the second phase of construction (secondary city railway construction is 30% complete)," Barroso responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"How are the railway bonds?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired further.

"Railway bonds are generally trending well," Barroso answered Jerome Bonaparte. "Bankers both domestic and international are willing to purchase bonds issued by the ministry’s five major companies (East, West, South, North, and Central Railway companies)!"

"Very good!" Jerome Bonaparte was equally pleased.

Currently, the speed of railway construction in France has greatly accelerated compared to the past, and Jerome Bonaparte believes it won’t be long before French railways reach the level of 1870.

By then, Jerome Bonaparte will have ample time to integrate the military and railways.

"The secondary railway line from Strasbourg to Nancy to Metz must be repaired quickly; do you hear me?" Jerome Bonaparte reiterated to Barroso.

"Yes!" Bashler responded sternly.

Everyone present naturally understood why Jerome Bonaparte placed special emphasis on the railway from Strasbourg to Metz.

From the start, this line was never about profit; its strategic significance made Jerome Bonaparte willing to incur losses to get it right.

Once the Strasbourg railway network is fully built, France will be able to mobilize more quickly to invade the German heartland and crush the Kingdom of Prussia.

"By the way! Let the Eastern Railway Company show some lenience in the Luxembourg Duchy!" Jerome Bonaparte reminded again.

"Yes!" Barroso had no choice but to nod in agreement.

After the Minister of Railways, Barroso, sat down, Jerome Bonaparte called up the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, Duress, to inquire about the opening of Dulles Agricultural College and the progress of sending agricultural students to the countryside.

Duress told Jerome Bonaparte that thanks to the persistent efforts of the Imperial Government, the initiative had begun to show results.

"You in the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce must intensify your support for rural areas. If you lack funds, you can directly ask our Chief Financial Officer, Minister Mane. If Mane doesn’t agree, you can come directly to me!" Jerome Bonaparte jokingly but seriously advised Duress. "Agriculture is the foundation of survival for the French Empire!

No matter how difficult, the farmers must not suffer!"

For the Second Empire, an alliance with the farmers is indispensable.

Only by gaining the support of the widespread farmers throughout French soil can Jerome Bonaparte’s empire become strong.

The urban petite bourgeoisie is a group of fickle fence-sitters; farmers alone are the Second Empire’s most steadfast allies.

"I understand, Your Majesty!" Duress solemnly replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

After concluding his conversation with Duress, Jerome Bonaparte focused his attention on the two "big spenders."

You could say that at least half of the French Empire’s finances end up with these two.

Indeed, they are the French Empire’s Minister of War Vayang and Minister of the Navy Deco.

"Vayang, why don’t you start first!" Jerome Bonaparte pointed to Vayang.

"Yes!" Vayang stood up and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

Subsequently, Vayang introduced to Jerome Bonaparte that the French Empire’s army expenses in 1855 amounted to 500 million francs.

Aside from Mane, Fuld, and Jerome Bonaparte, everyone present was shocked by the comprehensive fiscal expense of the French Imperial Army consuming one-fifth of the revenue.

Even the Minister of the Navy Deco, upon hearing such enormous expenditures, couldn’t help but envy the army.

If only the 500 million francs could be entirely dedicated to the navy, he was confident he could build an expeditionary fleet.

Unfortunately, such a vast military budget can only be used on the army.

Seeing the situation, Vayang immediately explained to everyone present that the army’s significant expenses were primarily due to three factors.

The first was the establishment of supply depots. The Crimean War exposed the importance of railroads and supplies to the army, necessitating the reconstruction of supply depots from the Napoleonic Wars era, thus incurring enormous costs along railway lines.

The second was the dismissal of overaged veterans. The French Army had a large number of overaged veterans who, according to the Chief of Staff’s orders, had to be dismissed, and part of the funds were allocated to compensate these veterans.

The third was the ongoing formation of the reserve system, which also represented significant expenditure.