Make France Great Again-Chapter 850 - 841: Governor of Gabon
"However, this rifle might bring significant logistic pressure to our operations!"
Jerome Patterson was correct in pointing out that the advent of rifles, artillery, and machine guns would indeed impose a certain degree of pressure on logistics.
After all, during the era of muzzle-loading firearms, a skilled soldier could only fire twice per minute, whereas the Mauser rifle 2.0 could easily achieve 8 to 9 shots per minute.
If a magazine is added, the rate can completely multiply several times.
This means that the number of bullets each soldier carries is several times what it used to be, thus requiring logistics support of several times the original scale.
Take Crimea, for example. In the Crimean War, Jerome Bonaparte transported over 90 million bullets to Crimea.
Considering the 120,000 French troops, 90 million bullets amount to approximately 750 bullets per person.
In Jerome Bonaparte’s vision, the future Franco-Prussian War would surely be a battle of millions, with millions of bullets squandered daily.
Such slaughter, if not supported by an excellent logistical system, might soon turn France into a nation of clubs.
"The wars of the future will undoubtedly be brutal and cruel!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Jerome Patterson, "This is why I repeatedly emphasize the importance of logistics!
If the Empire wants to emulate Emperor Napoleon, it will certainly risk the complete collapse of our logistics!
However, we cannot refrain from using new weapons because they enable us to quickly eliminate enemy forces!
Thus ending the war, like a bleeding marathon, where every nation must muster all its strength not to fall behind!"
Jerome Patterson fell into contemplation, while Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Old Mauser, "From what I see now, this rifle is ready for deployment!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Old Mauser nodded in response to Jerome Bonaparte.
Even he hadn’t expected to design such a highly efficient rifle so quickly.
In the past, designing a rifle required at least a lengthy period of conception, followed by continuous modifications to become a qualified product.
The entire process would take at least 4 to 5 years, but designing this rifle only took Old Mauser around 2 years.
This was thanks in no small part to the guidance of Jerome Bonaparte and the assistance of his son.
Perhaps William Mauser and Paul Mauser will indeed achieve the greatness that the Emperor spoke of.
As Jerome Bonaparte praised the Old Mauser rifle, a soldier appeared at the shooting range, accompanied by the Secretary of State from the Ministry of War.
"Your Majesty!" The Secretary of State bowed slightly to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Who are you?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at the Secretary of State with curiosity and asked.
"Your Majesty, I am Eugene White, currently serving as the Secretary of State at the Ministry of War!" Eugene White hurriedly introduced himself to Jerome Bonaparte. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
"Ah, Secretary Eugene!" Jerome Bonaparte finally remembered Eugene White, and he asked again, "What brings you here?"
"Your Majesty, there is a telegram for you! Minister Vayan ordered me to deliver it to you!" Eugene White said this while handing the telegram to Jerome Bonaparte.
"My telegram?" Jerome Bonaparte accepted the telegram with a puzzled expression, and then said to Jerome Patterson, "Hand the rifle to Secretary Eugene and let him fire a couple of shots!"
"Yes!" Jerome Patterson handed the rifle to Eugene White.
Receiving the Mauser 2.0 rifle, Eugene White took a glance at it, showing a hint of resistance on his face.
Your Majesty, why develop breech-loading rifles? Doesn’t he know that the gas-sealing in breech-loading guns is a major issue?
Eugene White’s expectations of the Mauser rifle involuntarily dropped significantly.
"Secretary Eugene, here you go!" Jerome Patterson passed the brass cartridge to Eugene White.
Eugene White took a look at the brass cartridge, showing a curious expression.
Jerome Patterson quickly realized that Secretary Eugene White was likely encountering this type of bullet for the first time.
Thus, under Jerome Patterson’s guidance, Eugene White successfully loaded the bullet into the chamber.
"Is that all it takes?" Eugene White asked Jerome Patterson incredulously.
"Indeed!" Jerome Patterson seemed to understand Eugene White’s confusion, and he quickly explained to Eugene White, "This rifle doesn’t use a percussion cap firing method like the Minie rifle; it uses a needle-fire mechanism!
So mercury fulminate is not needed!"
"I see!" Eugene White nodded, then aimed at the distant target and pulled the trigger.
After the sound of a "bang," the imagined phenomenon of a leak from the breech by Eugene White seemed not to have occurred.
"Mr. Oren, now you can eject the shell casing!" Jerome Patterson said to Eugene White with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Eugene White placed his hand on the bolt, attempting to open it, but found the bolt stuck as if something was blocking it, stubbornly refusing to open.
Jerome Patterson and the old Mauser and his sons also came forward to offer assistance.
Meanwhile, having read the letter, Jerome Bonaparte noticed the commotion involving Jerome Patterson and the others, and approached them, asking, "What’s going on?"
"Your Majesty, the bolt appears to be jammed and won’t come out!" Eugene White informed Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte furrowed his brow slightly and said to Eugene White, "Try using a little more force."
After a good while of working on it, the metallic shell casing inside the Mauser Rifle 2.0 was finally extracted.
"Mr. Mauser, does this rifle have other issues?" Jerome Bonaparte asked the old Mauser in a gentle tone.
"It shouldn’t!" the old Mauser muttered quietly, furrowing his brows.
Both William Mauser and Paul Mauser also displayed serious expressions, and Jerome Bonaparte decided to dismiss the Secretary of State and others, allowing the Mauser family to ponder the issue at hand.
"Secretary Eugene, have you read the contents of the telegram?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired of Eugene White.
"No!" Eugene White shook his head decisively and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"I see!" Jerome Bonaparte patted Eugene White’s shoulder and said, "You should return first!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Eugene White bowed to Jerome Bonaparte and then departed.
Once Eugene White was out of sight, Jerome Bonaparte asked Jerome Patterson with a serious expression, "Patterson, would you like to go to Africa as a Governor?"
"Governor?" Jerome Patterson’s eyes widened as he looked at Jerome Bonaparte, hardly believing his ears.
Governors of France are typically generals, and how could he, a Lieutenant Colonel, possibly take on the role of Governor?
"Yes, indeed! Governor!" Jerome Bonaparte confirmed to Jerome Patterson, "Although your rank is just Lieutenant Colonel, holding a position as Governor of a small region is feasible!
As Governor, you’ll be able to lead your subordinates as a small-scale monarch!
France gives you ample freedom as long as you avoid conflicts with major powers!
You may do anything you wish!"
Jerome Bonaparte’s tempting words successfully aroused Jerome Patterson’s adventurous spirit, prompting him to eagerly ask Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, which region are you preparing to appoint me as Governor?"
"Here, take a look at this!" Jerome Bonaparte handed the telegram to Jerome Patterson.
Jerome Patterson looked at the contents of the telegram, which was sent from Lyon Military Region Commander Trocch.
[PS: After returning to Paris, Trocch was appointed by Jerome Bonaparte as Commander of the Italian Army.]
The telegram stated that Jerome Bonaparte’s training of ten thousand Croatian laborers over six months had been completed.
Now, each laborer can basically be considered a qualified militia soldier.
"Your Majesty, this is..." Jerome Patterson looked at Jerome Bonaparte in confusion.
"These Croatian laborers... No, I should say these members of the French Foreign Legion are your initial capital!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to Jerome Patterson, "I will appoint you as Governor of the Gabon Region! When you arrive in Gabon, you will lead these Croatian laborers to expand externally!
I will equip you with the best gear, so you can suppress the kingdoms of the African interior with absolute firepower!
Your task is simply to expand the territory in the Gabon Region; the rest is of no concern!"
"What should I do if I encounter people from other countries?" Jerome Patterson asked again.
"If it’s a regular armed force, then defeat and expel them! If it’s some private armed groups..." Jerome Bonaparte said with murderous intent to Jerome Patterson, "Then kill them!"
"I understand!" Jerome Patterson nodded in response to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Your goal is to expand the territory as far as possible towards Central Africa!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed again, "When dealing with native chiefs, you can compel them to sign agreements by deception!"
"Will this really work?" Jerome Patterson couldn’t help but ask.
"It won’t work with the natives themselves, but for those other countries eyeing our land! A written and signed agreement can shut their mouths!" Jerome Bonaparte replied with a cunning smile to Jerome Patterson.
At this moment, the Mauser family finally discovered the source of the problem.
