Make France Great Again-Chapter 905 - 896: Kaiji Kingdom Envoy
Faced with Chief of Staff Nier’s explanation, Minister Vayan, who held a conservative military style, was unwilling to believe him.
"Chief of Staff Nie’er, can you guarantee that your tactics are more suitable for the army than our existing tactical systems?" Minister Vayan bluntly questioned Chief of Staff Nier.
Nie’er was silent for a moment, then shook his head and responded to Minister Vayan: "Every change in military systems comes with certain risks!
Therefore, I cannot guarantee that the new tactical system will definitely be superior to what we are currently implementing!"
"Since you cannot guarantee this, then why should we take the risk to reform?" Minister Vayan continued to question Chief of Staff Nier: "The tactical system we are currently implementing was derived from two wars, in Algeria and Crimea!
I believe even if our army were all using ’Enema Guns’ (Minister Vayan’s mocking term for rifles), this system would still be applicable!
The so-called difference between muzzle-loading and breech-loading tactical systems is nothing more than your rhetoric!"
Vayan’s sharp retort left Nie’er silent for a long time.
It was true what Vayan said: replacing a battle-tested tactical system with a brand new one is indeed hard to accept.
Especially since this new tactical system has not undergone any real combat testing.
Seeing Chief of Staff Nier not speaking, Minister Vayan pressed his advantage: "Moreover, Chief of Staff Nier, if I’m not mistaken, your new tactical system’s inspiration probably comes from the First Republic period, right!!"
"There is indeed some reference!" Nie’er nodded and admitted, then explained: "However, there are significant differences between the First Republic era and now!
In terms of shooting speed, accuracy, and range, the Mauser Rifle far surpasses the Charleville 1776 and even the Minie Rifle.
The Mauser Rifle can eliminate some of the shortcomings of the skirmish line, and the interval distance between each soldier can effectively reduce our casualties during frontal assaults!"
Chief of Staff Nier had barely finished speaking when Minister Vayan reiterated the question Nie’er had previously posed to Jerome Bonaparte.
Chief of Staff Nier also repeated the answer Jerome Bonaparte had given to General Vayan to Minister Vayan.
"I see!" Minister Vayan suddenly realized, "No wonder, in your submitted military reform report, you requested artillery to train in rapid movement and the ability to fire at any time!"
"During the First Empire, our artillery could achieve this!
I believe in the Second Empire, our artillery can do the same.
When I led a team to inspect the artillery exercises in the Paris Military Region today, I noticed our artillery was like stationary targets, with no mobility to speak of!
This situation must be improved!" Chief of Staff Nier said sternly.
Minister Vayan did not refute Chief of Staff Nier’s words because, in his heart, the Empire’s artillery indeed was somewhat lacking.
When he joined the army, the First Empire’s artillery’s mobility and accuracy were considered the best in all of Europe.
However, during the Restoration of Bourbon and Orleans, the mobility of the artillery declined significantly, and accuracy was much poorer than during the First Empire.
The French Empire indeed needed to reorganize its artillery units; otherwise, the Napoleonic Empire, founded on artillery power, might face the risk of falling behind in artillery technology.
"Reorganizing the artillery units is indeed an urgent matter!" Minister Vayan first acknowledged Chief of Staff Nier’s initiative regarding the artillery, and then continued to Nie’er: "But agreeing to reorganize the artillery units doesn’t mean I agree to change our existing tactical systems!"
"What if I say, this tactical system is a conclusion jointly discussed and agreed upon by His Majesty the Emperor and myself!
Would you still oppose it, Minister Vayan?" Chief of Staff Nier had no choice but to bring out his "trump card."
Upon hearing of Jerome Bonaparte’s involvement, Minister Vayan’s expression changed, and he immediately realized the complexity of the issue.
If His Majesty the Emperor was truly involved, then this tactical system is likely to be implemented.
"Even if you have already obtained His Majesty the Emperor’s consent, I would still oppose it!" Minister Vayan gritted his teeth and persisted.
"In that case, we can only seek a holy judgment from His Majesty the Emperor!" Chief of Staff Nier couldn’t help but feel a trace of admiration for Minister Vayan.
Although General Vayan denied some parts of his military reform, based on his ability to openly express his thoughts, General Vayan was also a general worthy of respect.
After all, not everyone can withstand the pressure from the Emperor.
"Alright! Let’s do it this way!" Minister Vayan replied to Chief of Staff Nier.
Subsequently, Chief of Staff Nier and Minister Vayan agreed to go together to the Tuileries Palace the next morning to seek the judgment of Emperor Jerome Bonaparte.
Following this, Chief of Staff Nier returned to the General Staff, and Minister Vayan also took a carriage and left the Ministry of War.
...
The next morning, Chief of Staff Nier and Minister Vayan arrived at the Tuileries Palace at the appointed time.
Upon seeing this, Bashirio hurriedly ran up to Nier and Vayan, eagerly inquiring about the purpose of their visit!
"Chief of Staff Nier and I have some matters to discuss with His Majesty the Emperor. Please inform him immediately!!" Minister Vayan said to Bashirio with a hint of indifference.
After hearing this, Bashirio smiled and replied to Minister Vayan, "Minister, it is quite unfortunate! His Majesty is currently in the study talking with another guest.
If you and Chief of Staff Nier do not mind, could you please wait a moment!"
"I have no objections!" Nier promptly responded to Bashirio.
"I can wait as well!" Minister Vayan also replied to Bashirio.
"Thank you for your understanding!" Bashirio courteously bowed to Minister Vayan and Chief of Staff Nier.
Led by Bashirio, Minister Vayan and Chief of Staff Nier arrived at a guest room in the Tuileries Palace to wait.
Bashirio thoughtfully closed the door for them, then proceeded directly to the reception hall where Jerome Bonaparte was located.
At this moment, Jerome Bonaparte was also seated on a sofa in a reception hall of the Tuileries Palace, talking with a guest seated on the other side of the sofa.
This guest was none other than Farokh Khan Aminmoruk, the envoy from Persia who had traveled from Constantinople.
After resting for just one night upon arriving in Paris from Constantinople, he was summoned by Jerome Bonaparte.
The discussion between Jerome Bonaparte and the Persian envoy today was equally simple: what price was the Persian envoy willing to pay to end the war.
The Persian envoy told Jerome Bonaparte that they were willing to abandon the territorial sovereignty of the Herat Duchy and Herat Region in exchange for the Kingdom of Britain’s armistice.
"Impossible!" Jerome Bonaparte decisively shook his head and said to the Persian envoy: "Britain would never agree to such an armistice condition. Your conditions don’t even count as conditions for them!
Whether or not you recognize the territorial sovereignty of the Herat Duchy and Herat City has little effect on them!
Are you really prepared to be locked in your ports for life?"
After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, the Persian envoy’s face changed, and he hurriedly asked Jerome Bonaparte what Britain would need to agree to conclude peace with them!
Just as Jerome Bonaparte was about to speak, a knock on the door was heard.
"Come in!" Jerome Bonaparte turned and said to the person outside the room.
"Your Majesty!" Bashirio entered the room, responding to Jerome Bonaparte. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
"Speak! What’s the matter?" Jerome Bonaparte lightly tapped the armrest with his hand and asked Bashirio.
Bashirio came to Jerome Bonaparte’s side and quietly informed him of the arrival of Minister Vayan and Chief of Staff Nier.
Hearing this unexpected yet reasonable news, Jerome Bonaparte nodded to Bashirio, saying, "Let them wait for 15 more minutes, I’m about to finish!"
Sitting beside Jerome Bonaparte, the Persian envoy could not fail to understand Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning and hurriedly said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty, I apologize for disturbing you!"
"It’s nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and replied to the Persian envoy, "Shall we continue?"
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte began to conclude matters swiftly, informing the Persian envoy that according to his understanding of Britain, their bottom line should be a complete renunciation of sovereignty over Herat and even Afghan territory, while the Kingdom of Britain likely wanted some privileges in the Kaiji Kingdom.
As long as Persia could agree to these two points with the Kingdom of Britain, then it was highly probable that Britain would agree to it.
"If you can hold out for a while, I think Britain’s conditions might become more lenient!" Jerome Bonaparte again hinted ambiguously to the Persian envoy.
"Why?" The Persian envoy looked at Jerome Bonaparte with confusion.
"The leader of this war is Prime Minister Palmerston, and now he is about to be impeached because of this war!" Jerome Bonaparte casually made up a reason to placate the Persian envoy.
He dared not tell the Persian envoy that the reason he advised them to hold out for a while longer was that in a month, the great uprising in India was about to happen.
Once the Indian uprising began, Britain would have to muster all its military forces to suppress India.
By then, even if they wanted to linger on Persian territory, they would have no choice but to leave because of the Indian uprising.
