Make France Great Again-Chapter 946 - 937: Being True to Yourself and Smearing Others
The news of the bloody crackdown by the Kingdom of Prussia on the residents of Koblenz quickly caught the attention of the entire Paris once it reached there.
The Parisians, originally enveloped by the cloud of unemployment, instantly calmed down as if a splash of cold water had hit their hearts, agitated by the prospect of unemployment, upon seeing the tragic plight of Koblenz’s residents.
Given Paris’s current unemployment rate of less than 5%, the people of Paris hadn’t reached the point of needing to rebel to survive.
At most, the standard of living was slightly worse than before, and prices had risen somewhat compared to before.
Moreover, the Sena Province Government and the Imperial Government were doing their utmost to help the unemployed workers of Paris find new jobs. Some banks, under governmental guidance, were providing low-interest or even interest-free loans to small and medium-sized enterprises that hadn’t gone bankrupt yet, allowing them to barely survive the waves of the economic crisis.
Despite some minor criticisms directed at the Empire, the people of Paris, on the whole, could still accept the Imperial framework.
After all, many people still vividly remember the dual political and economic crisis from nine years ago.
The Empire indeed fell short in certain aspects, but the middle class feared disorder and chaos even more.
Meanwhile, Jerome Bonaparte, troubled by unemployment rates at the Tuileries Palace (due to the telegraph, the people of Paris received intelligence at the same time as Jerome Bonaparte), came up with a bold idea upon hearing of the tragedy in Koblenz.
As the old saying goes: it’s better to belittle others than to excel oneself.
Paris was indeed suffering from an economic crisis, but the Kingdom of Prussia, Austrian Empire, United States of America, and even the Kingdom of Britain were much worse off than the French Empire.
Since the economic crisis couldn’t be eliminated, Jerome Bonaparte could show the people of France the distant conditions in the Kingdom of Britain and the United States of America.
The saying goes that comparison can be painful; as long as other countries are at the same level as or below the French Empire, Jerome Bonaparte could still prevail!
"Damn, how could I have forgotten!" Jerome Bonaparte muttered quietly.
Immediately afterward, Jerome Bonaparte dispatched Bashirio to call the Secretary General, Lucien Murat.
"Your Majesty!" Lucien Murat responded respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Lucien, instruct the News Department under your command to order all the newspapers we control within Paris to report energetically on unemployment-related content in the coming days!" Jerome Bonaparte, somewhat excited, gave Lucien Murat an incomplete order.
Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s command, Lucien Murat almost believed Jerome Bonaparte had gone mad.
Unemployment in Paris was already a deadly topic; the Emperor didn’t try to cover it up but instead planned to discuss it openly.
Truly unafraid of a popular uprising in Paris!
Although the Emperor’s orders must be strictly obeyed, Lucien Murat still felt it was necessary to remind the Emperor of the consequences of such actions.
"Your Majesty, do you truly want to report on Paris’s unemployment rate?" Lucien Murat cautiously inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.
"Who said I wanted to report on Paris’s unemployment rate?" Jerome Bonaparte retorted, "Reporting Paris’s unemployment rate at this time would be suicidal!"
"But you just said to report more on unemployment-related content!" Lucien Murat was similarly momentarily stunned, slightly confused by Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning.
Jerome Bonaparte then realized his previous expression was erroneous and quickly corrected himself: "My intention was for newspapers to report more on foreign unemployment rates!
I think the Prussian tragedy in Koblenz this time should be extensively covered, to let the people of Paris know what kind of torment citizens in other countries are suffering!"
Lucien Murat showed an enlightened expression, immediately understanding Jerome Bonaparte’s intention.
After all this, His Majesty the Emperor was preparing to compare failures with other countries!
As long as France isn’t worse than other countries, the people of Paris won’t be too disappointed in the Imperial Government.
After all, the whole world is already so rotten that France standing out is already quite noteworthy.
"I understand, Your Majesty!" Lucien Murat nodded in response to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Good that you understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded to Lucien Murat and then continued, "And by the way, have newspapers mention the unemployment rate of the United States of America frequently when drafting news!"
"Overly tarnishing may provoke protests from the United States of America’s ambassador!" Lucien Murat quietly said to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Protests?" Jerome Bonaparte showed a faint sneer and spoke righteously, "We are merely recounting the events of the United States of America; how could it be called tarnishing!
If it weren’t for the disorderly railroad projects by the United States of America, we wouldn’t be suffering from such unwarranted disasters!
They are the root cause of all troubles!"
Jerome Bonaparte’s earnest statement nearly convinced Lucien Murat of Jerome Bonaparte’s words.
This economic crisis, although triggered by the United States of America, is merely a catalyst. The real culprit is Europe’s mismatch between productivity and the consuming population, leading to Europe’s overproduction.
Even without the United States, Europe’s economic crisis would still have erupted.
However, the crisis might have erupted in the German Region, with the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire replacing the role of the United States.
Nonetheless, since this economic crisis was triggered by the United States, the United States should be the scapegoat.
The Parisians don’t need to understand abstract concepts like productivity and consumption; they just need to know that their deteriorating life is due to the United States.
As long as they transfer their hatred from the Imperial Government to the United States,
then Jerome Bonaparte’s strategic goal would be basically achieved!
"Understood!" Lucien Murat quickly responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Also, in a few days, I will be inspecting construction sites and hospitals with the Empress. Your office should arrange it as soon as possible!" Jerome Bonaparte continued to say to Lucien Murat.
"Your Majesty, it’s better not to do this during such times!" Lucien Murat, worried about extremist elements with ill intentions, advised Jerome Bonaparte.
"No way!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head resolutely and said, "The more it is during times like this, the more I, as the Emperor, need to go there!
Only by letting the Parisians feel that the Empire truly values them will they be willing to support us!
If one always places oneself on a high pedestal, sooner or later, one will fall and shatter!"
"Yes!" Unable to persuade Jerome Bonaparte, Lucien Murat had no choice but to agree.
After Lucien Murat left, Jerome Bonaparte called Bashirio to order him to bring over Minister Barroso from the Ministry of Public Transport and Minister Fuld from the Ministry of Finance.
After receiving Jerome Bonaparte’s order, Bashirio immediately sent someone to invite them.
Taking the opportunity, he placed his treasured two boxes of cigars on the table.
About ten minutes later, Minister of Public Transport Barroso appeared before Jerome Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty!" Barroso respectfully said to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Barroso, come and have a seat first!" Jerome Bonaparte invited Barroso to sit down.
Barroso sat opposite Jerome Bonaparte, who opened the box of cigars and handed one to Barroso, "Let’s smoke while we wait."
Barroso showed an expression of being flattered, accepted the cigar handed by Jerome Bonaparte, then took out his own match to light Jerome Bonaparte’s cigar, and then lit his own.
When Fuld arrived, a peculiar fragrance filled the air around the sofa. Fuld immediately recognized it as the scent of Havana cigars.
It is generally the case that when His Majesty the Emperor offers Havana cigars, he certainly has something to entrust!
Thinking this, Fuld felt an inexplicable apprehension.
At this moment, Jerome Bonaparte’s voice reached Fuld’s ears: "Fuld, why don’t you come over too!"
"Yes!" Having recovered his senses, Fuld hurriedly responded and then strode to the side of the sofa.
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte also handed Fuld a Havana cigar.
Fuld lit the cigar and savored it carefully.
After Fuld exhaled the smoke, Jerome Bonaparte began to speak to them: "This time, the reason I called you over is to discuss the present and future of the French Empire!
Given the current circumstances, it’s almost impossible for our economy to maintain the same rapid growth as in the past two years!
Therefore, how to reduce the unemployment rate is the issue we need to discuss today!
Fuld, as the Minister of Finance, let’s have your input first!"
Fuld pondered for a moment before saying to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Finance!
Since December early last year, after being affected by the American economic crisis, our textile and steel industries have declined to 75% of the early year’s level, and the financial sector declined to 70% of the early year’s level. It can be said that this is the most dangerous year since 1848.
Fortunately, while we have made some declines in regulation, we haven’t faced widespread unemployment like other countries, nor have our banks faced mass bankruptcy.
Our overseas investments also haven’t suffered significant losses due to our early sell-offs..."
