Make France Great Again-Chapter 855 - 846: Ministers and Secretaries with Divergent Minds

The Duke of Newcastle spoke cautiously, calming Prime Minister Palmerston's overheated mind a little. He understood that France was not a small country, but a military power on par with the naval power of the Kingdom of Britain. Reckless suspicion without concrete evidence could easily lead to a diplomatic crisis.

If this prompted a second standoff between England and France, his position as Prime Minister would likely come to an end.

[The last standoff between England and France was during the Orleans period, when Thiers, the then-Orleans Prime Minister, faced off with Britain over the issue of Egypt and was subsequently dismissed by Louis Philippe.]

"You're right!" Palmerston replied calmly to the Duke of Newcastle, "We shouldn't be so hasty! How about this:

Return to the Ministry of War immediately and prepare for military action against the Kai Jia Dynasty.

I will send diplomats to find out where exactly this French fleet intends to go!"

"Prime Minister, if this fleet really intends to head to Asia, should we continue with our plans?" the Duke of Newcastle whispered.

Palmerston paused for a moment before responding to the Duke of Newcastle, "Of course, we must continue! The importance of the Indian Subcontinent to our country should be clear to you! If France does extend its hand there, we must decisively strike them, even at the risk of going to war against France!"

"I understand!" the Duke of Newcastle responded solemnly, nodding to Palmerston, "I'll return to the Ministry of War to arrange it now!"

After the Duke of Newcastle left, Prime Minister Palmerston called in his Cabinet Secretary once again.

"Prime Minister, what are your orders?" the Cabinet Secretary asked humbly.

"Head to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring the Foreign Minister to my office immediately!" Palmerston ordered curtly.

The Cabinet Secretary did not leave immediately. Instead, he took out a pocket notebook, turned to the page with today's schedule, and said to Prime Minister Palmerston, "Prime Minister, I feel obliged to remind you that you have a meeting to attend shortly. Can we postpone the meeting with the Foreign Minister a bit?"

"No!" Palmerston firmly told the Cabinet Secretary, "I must see the Foreign Minister as soon as possible. The meeting can be slightly delayed!"

"Very well, Prime Minister!" the Cabinet Secretary bowed and left the office.

During this interlude, Palmerston continued contemplating the idea of using war to stabilize his political support.

"Perhaps the Kai Jia Dynasty is a good choice!" Palmerston muttered to himself.

After a while, Earl of Clarendon, the then-Foreign Minister of Britain, appeared in Palmerston's office. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Prime Minister!" Earl of Clarendon greeted Jerome Bonaparte with a bow before continuing, "What can I do for you?"

In a few words, Palmerston relayed the news from the Duke of Newcastle to Earl of Clarendon.

Earl of Clarendon pondered for a while before tactfully refusing the Prime Minister, "Prime Minister, if I may speak frankly, it's not the Foreign Ministry's place to inquire about the French Imperial Fleet's deployment. This should be handled by the Ministry of War!"

Clarendon's shirking of responsibility left Palmerston feeling inexplicably frustrated.

Reflecting on the past, it seemed that, over a year ago, no Cabinet Minister would dare refuse a task from him!

Now, with his position as Prime Minister shaky, they too had begun to shirk responsibility.

Realizing this, Palmerston was even more determined to use war to regain his precarious political support.

However, at this moment, he still needed Earl of Clarendon to assist him, so he couldn't afford to offend him.

Therefore, Palmerston spoke kindly to Earl of Clarendon, "Willis, I understand it's more prudent for the Ministry of War to handle this, but they are currently busy deploying troops against the Kai Jia Dynasty!

They have no time to address other matters, which is why I trouble you to inquire in their stead."

"Military operations against the Kai Jia Dynasty?" Earl of Clarendon looked at Palmerston in surprise.

He hadn't expected that in such a short time, Britain would be engaging in another conflict.

It appeared that Palmerston would remain secure as Prime Minister; his luck was indeed remarkable!

Clarendon sighed softly, realizing that his dreams of becoming Prime Minister seemed ever more distant.

Since Palmerston had the potential to continue as Prime Minister, Clarendon had to comply with Palmerston's commands.

After all, he wished to remain in his position as Foreign Minister.

"Alright! I will dispatch a telegram to Ambassador Kaoz, inquiring about their situation!" Earl of Clarendon nodded, responding to Palmerston.

"Thank you for your hard work, Willis!" Prime Minister Palmerston felt a sense of relief as Clarendon finally yielded to his semi-coercive, semi-deceptive orders.

However, this also meant that he had to concretely execute the plan for war against the Kaijia Dynasty.

After Earl of Clarion departed, Palmerston ordered the Cabinet Secretary to call in his personal secretary.

Although the Cabinet Secretary was displeased with Palmerston summoning his personal secretary, he still followed Palmerston's orders.

Once Palmerston's personal secretary appeared in the office, Palmerston immediately put on a stern face and asked, "Can I continue to trust you?"

"Prime Minister, it was you who personally brought me into 10 Downing Street!" the personal secretary promptly straightened his attitude and pledged loyalty to Palmerston.

"Now I have a task for you!" Palmerston spoke in a lowered voice while pulling out the British securities from the drawer, "You must immediately go to the various major newspaper offices..."

Palmerston entrusted a segment of his plans to the personal secretary, who showed an expression of surprise upon listening.

"If this succeeds, I might continue serving as prime minister!" Palmerston patted the personal secretary's shoulder and said, "And you will continue to serve as my secretary! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Prime Minister!" The personal secretary, who had previously been anxious about Palmerston's position, excitedly responded.

"Off you go!" Palmerston waved his hand at the personal secretary, "I look forward to your good news!"

Leaving the Prime Minister's office, Palmerston contemplated his plan in the office.

Only, Palmerston probably would never fathom that his personal secretary would "betray" him right after stepping out the door.

After leaving the room, the personal secretary encountered the Cabinet Secretary at a corner. He quickly greeted, "Secretary-General, thank you for your hard work!"

"You've worked hard too!" The Cabinet Secretary replied with a coaxing smile, then quietly said to the personal secretary, "I was specifically waiting here for you, could we find a place to talk?"

The personal secretary hesitated for a moment before responding, "Okay!"

The personal secretary and Cabinet Secretary went to an empty room, where the Cabinet Secretary continued smiling at him.

However, in the personal secretary's eyes, the Cabinet Secretary's smile was oppressively intimidating.

After a while, the Cabinet Secretary spoke candidly, "William, you should know which side you're on!"

"I!" The personal secretary swallowed his saliva and replied, "Secretary-General, I don't understand what you mean!"

"Don't understand, huh!" The Cabinet Secretary smiled slightly, shrugging his shoulders, "Then I won't inquire further!"

He paused, and continued "earnestly," "But remember this! Our Prime Minister does not stay forever; his term is only two to three years.

Once the Prime Minister's term ends, what becomes of some secretaries?

Sometimes, we must consider our own future!"

With that, the Cabinet Secretary cast a meaningful glance at the personal secretary and continued, "Of course, I don't deny that some prime ministers continue to find a place in the cabinet after their term, but ministers don't have the power to appoint positions like a prime minister! Do you understand my point?"

The personal secretary swallowed again, quietly replying, "Secretary-General, honestly, I know nothing!

I only heard that a war with the Kaijia Dynasty was imminent, and Palmerston wants me to communicate closely with the newspaper offices ahead of time.

Beyond that, I know nothing!"

Upon hearing the personal secretary's report, the Cabinet Secretary understood Palmerston's intentions and patted the personal secretary's shoulder, saying, "We need secretaries like you!"

"Sir, what do you intend to do?" The personal secretary quietly asked.

The Cabinet Secretary shook his head, expressing part of his thoughts, "I don't intend to do anything! Actually, I would also be pleased to see Palmerston continue as Prime Minister!"

"But then you just..." the personal secretary hesitated to finish.

"Sometimes, I must have all the information in hand!" The Cabinet Secretary concluded, "Once you've reached my position, you'll understand! For now, you should go carry out the task the Prime Minister entrusted to you!"

Turning to leave, the personal secretary was stopped when the Cabinet Secretary added, "Some of your purchased bonds are still with me, you can come to retrieve them when you have the time!"

Understanding the Cabinet Secretary's implication, the personal secretary replied, "Yes, Sir!"