Make France Great Again-Chapter 847 - 838: Departmental Summaries (Part 2)

Chapter 847: Chapter 838: Departmental Summaries (Part 2)

After listening to General Vayang’s explanation, everyone present gained some understanding of the tremendous expenditure of the French Army.

"The army is the foundation of France, and we cannot afford to slacken even a bit in this area! Even the slightest slackening could cause us to be overtaken!" Jerome Bonaparte said solemnly to everyone present, "I hope you understand, our world is not a static world.

It is constantly undergoing rapid changes, and clinging stubbornly to outdated practices will only lead to being abandoned by this era.

The Russian Empire is a typical case; their defeat on the Crimea battlefield was not because their soldiers were cowardly."

Jerome Bonaparte paused, then passionately continued to address everyone present, "Imagine how a cowardly nation could expand its territory from a corner in Moscow to its present vast lands.

On the contrary, each of their soldiers is as excellent as the French ones, but their superb soldiers are paired with administrative machinery and mobilization systems that do not match their quality.

The soldiers cannot get enough food on the front lines, and the generals just stay in the command units watching outdated maps... I have seen the Russian Army’s map; even their maps do not match the boxes from British journals, whereas our General Staff has long produced the clearest Near East map to date!

This is the reason for their failure... If our army does not progress, we will be surpassed by newcomers.

Vayan, you must remember that there are no perpetual military powers in the world.

The reason why France has come this far is due to countless generals and soldiers who exchanged their lives for it.

Therefore, I will absolutely not allow anyone, in any way, to obstruct the progress of France!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s powerful speech won Minister Vayan’s enthusiastic applause.

Although Minister Vayan could not understand why the Emperor always gave people a sense of urgency when discussing military reform, as if someone was chasing him, he was still very happy that the army welcomed a second commander.

Having climbed from the army’s grassroots to the minister’s position, Vayan knew the French Army well; without someone managing them with a tough attitude, they would swiftly deteriorate.

On the contrary, if the army has a tough-minded leader, the French Army will undoubtedly undergo a transformation.

Soon, the ministers who regained their composure applauded Jerome Bonaparte’s remarks once more.

After the applause lasted for a while, it finally ended.

"Alright! Minister Vayan, my remarks end here! You may sit down!" Jerome Bonaparte gestured to General Vayan that he could sit down.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Minister Vayan saluted Jerome Bonaparte and then resumed his seat.

Then, Jerome Bonaparte continued speaking to everyone present, "Ministers, please promise me! For the following part of my speech, whether good or bad, do not applaud, okay!

If this goes on, we fear it will be difficult to conclude within a morning."

Everyone present nodded to indicate their understanding, and Jerome Bonaparte then turned his attention to Minister Dico.

"Minister Dico, you may begin!" Jerome Bonaparte softly replied to Minister Dico.

Minister Dico immediately stood up straight and responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Then, Minister Dico reported to Jerome Bonaparte on the comprehensive financial expenditures of the French Empire Navy in 1855.

In the past year, the French Empire Navy spent a total of 150 million francs, equivalent to one-third of the entire French Army.

"As of the end of December 1855, we are building four ships, one of which is a new ironclad ship aimed at enhancing the French Navy’s deterrence in the Mediterranean!

The remaining three are foreign trade warships, with two commissioned by the Ottoman Empire and one by the Kingdom of Sweden.

The three foreign trade warships are one generation behind compared to the new ironclad ship..." Minister Dico enthusiastically addressed those present.

After Minister Dico finished speaking, Jerome Bonaparte said to the crowd, "Minister Dico showed me the plans for his new ironclad ship; the data on the plans indicate it is indeed an excellent ship.

However, I hope your plans can match the actual product.

Do not let the plans show one set of data, but the reality show another."

"Of course, if your actual data turns out to be even better than what’s on paper, that would be great."

"Your Majesty, rest assured!" Minister Dico quickly promised Jerome Bonaparte, "The actual data will certainly be superior to what’s on paper!"

Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly and responded to Minister Dico, "Good! Minister Dico, I look forward to you giving me a surprise!

You may now sit down!"

"As you command!" Minister Dico returned to his original seat.

Next, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Percy, was also called upon by Jerome Bonaparte.

Despite the Ministry of Internal Affairs (also known as the Ministry of Home Affairs) having lost some of its functions under Jerome Bonaparte’s weakening (the functions of the National Intelligence Bureau should not rudely have belonged to the Ministry of Home Affairs), it still manages the Empire’s vast police, gendarmerie, fire, and city management forces.

He is considered the fifth-ranking minister in the Cabinet, right after Minister of State Fuld, Minister of the Seal Mornay (Mornay’s position as Minister of the Seal doesn’t grant much power, but his role in the Secretariat is immense), Minister of War Vayan (Vayan’s power isn’t significant, but combined with Nie’er, their power is notable), and Minister of Justice Rue (Rue, having garnered Jerome Bonaparte’s trust, once served as "Vice Emperor," giving him considerable power).

Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s order, Percy likewise rose to report to Jerome Bonaparte the various accomplishments completed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs last year.

This included but was not limited to apprehending criminals, regulating markets, extinguishing fires, and combating floods, and the completion rate was quite satisfactory.

"Excellent!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and encouraged, "I hope your Ministry of Internal Affairs will continue to strive for excellence in the new year, aiming for even better performance!"

After Percy sat down, Jerome Bonaparte summoned Minister of Education Montalambre and inquired about the state of imperial education.

Montalambre informed Jerome Bonaparte that last year alone, several hundred new schools under church jurisdiction had been established within France, each annually providing thousands of outstanding students to France.

More importantly, the expenses for these students in school do not require significant investment from the French Government, as the majority of the costs are covered by the Church.

Jerome Bonaparte and those present clearly understood that the Church aims to cultivate more individuals inclined towards the Church through the establishment of church schools.

Most of these expenses are covered by banks established by Rome within France.

After all, the Pope State also needs to nurture a group of students who lean towards the Church, so they can influence the government’s support for the Pope State.

"Convey my gratitude to the Church!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Montalambre, "Our society needs more heartfelt organizations like the Church, which can help ease some of our government’s burdens."

Montalambre smiled slightly and nodded.

"Alright! Minister Montalambre, you may sit down!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Montalambre.

Once Montalambre was seated, Jerome Bonaparte called upon the next minister.

One by one, ministers began to report their progress in 1855 under Jerome Bonaparte’s orders.

When everyone had finished, Jerome Bonaparte turned his attention to the last person seated, Baron Haussman, the Governor of Seine Province. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

As the first person to attend a ministerial-level internal affairs meeting in the capacity of a governor, Baron George Haussman was trusted by Jerome Bonaparte.

[PS: Generally, department governors are ranked lower than ministers; their direct contact should be the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Due to Paris’s unique geographical position, Jerome Bonaparte elevated Baron Haussman’s administrative ranking by half a level.

He is allowed to attend ministerial meetings, but must sit at the back.

Furthermore, the Governor of Seine Province may report directly to Jerome Bonaparte, bypassing the Ministry of Internal Affairs.]

"Baron Haussman, please say a few words!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a smile to Haussman, and then added.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Baron Haussman obeyed Jerome Bonaparte’s command and rose to report the progress of renovations in the Paris Region to those present.

"As of December last year, nearly a third of the entire Paris Region has been renovated (this refers to the pre-expansion Paris, which is larger after expansion!). Both banks of the Seine River have been essentially fully renovated..." Baron Haussman proudly reported Paris’s impressive achievements to Jerome Bonaparte, while informing Jerome Bonaparte and his colleagues that this renovation did not involve excessive financial expenditure (A total of 3 billion francs was contributed by the government and the city government).

He hoped to use this to have Jerome Bonaparte appoint him as Minister of Public Works, or change his position from Governor of Seine Province to Minister of Paris.