Make France Great Again-Chapter 976 - 967: Committee Member List Announced
Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s proposed list of Regency Council members, Empress Augusta shook her head and responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "No, it’s not enough! Just them alone won’t be sufficient to ensure Friedrich can smoothly inherit the throne!"
"Moreover, why are all outsiders appointed to the Regency Council? Shouldn’t a few members of the Bonaparte Clan be appointed to assist?"
Thinking of the misfit bunch in the Bonaparte Clan, Jerome Bonaparte felt a surge of anger.
"Augusta, haven’t I told you before? The current Bonaparte Clan is filled with worthless people who can’t accomplish much. If they could recognize their abilities like my father, it would be fine!
But they can’t see themselves clearly; their abilities don’t match their ambitions at all!
Appointing them to the Regency Council, I’m afraid the Empire wouldn’t last a year under their mismanagement!" Jerome Bonaparte spoke vehemently.
In Jerome Bonaparte’s mind, the Second Empire could fall, but preferably at the hands of "Napoleon," or at worst, Mao Qi, and if no one else is found, even at the hands of "Kerensky" would be acceptable.
If those in the Bonaparte Clan whose abilities didn’t match their ambitions were appointed, the Second Empire might meet a fate like the Soviet Union’s, undone by a "drunkard."
This is something Jerome Bonaparte would never allow, so excluding members of the Bonaparte Clan from the system was the only way to ensure they couldn’t inflict too much damage.
"Sister Mathilde should be suitable, right?" Augusta said to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte paused and, after pondering for a moment, shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly, "Sister Mathilde is indeed a suitable choice, but she’s not fit to join the Regency Council!"
"Why?" Empress Augusta retorted, "Last time when you went to Crimea, Sister Mathilde was able to assist me in handling domestic issues!
Having her as a member of the Regency Council should be logical!"
"If Sister Mathilde were a man, there’d be no opposition to her joining the Regency Council!" Jerome Bonaparte replied slowly to Augusta, "But Sister Mathilde is a woman, and her joining might cause dissatisfaction among some!
Moreover, Mathilde hasn’t worked within the imperial system!
Her appointment to the Regency Council might dampen the spirits of some loyalists!"
Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s remarks, Augusta couldn’t help but feel somewhat indignant for Mathilde Bonaparte.
In terms of ability, Mathilde’s skills are not inferior to those of imperial ministers.
Unfortunately, Mathilde’s gender limits her career path within the Empire.
At this moment, Jerome Bonaparte suddenly thought of someone, and he patted his head, muttering to himself, "Right! How could I have forgotten him!"
"Your Majesty, who is this person you speak of?" Empress Augusta asked curiously.
"Jerome Patterson!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Augusta, "You’ve forgotten, he too is a member of the Bonaparte Clan!"
"But..." Empress Augusta said with some concern, "Isn’t he a bit too young?"
"The Regency Council is essentially an institution to guard against unforeseen emergencies! As long as emergencies don’t occur, our ages are more than enough to witness Friedrich safely grow up, and the likelihood of activating the Regency Council is quite small!
Thus, Jerome Patterson is there to guard against possible unforeseen future events within the next five to ten years!
Five years later, Jerome Patterson won’t be so young anymore!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to Empress Augusta.
Reluctantly, Augusta agreed with Jerome Bonaparte’s viewpoint and added, "However, isn’t he still in Senegal right now?
Should we recall him to Paris?"
"My dear Augusta, are you so keen for both of us to depart from this world sooner and hand over all power to the Regency Council?" Jerome Bonaparte said with a wry smile.
"I simply want to establish a comprehensive safeguard mechanism sooner!" Augusta replied to Jerome Bonaparte.
This assassination attempt made Augusta more attentive to Friedrich’s future, spurring her urgent desire to establish a comprehensive mechanism to ensure Friedrich grows smoothly and assumes the throne.
"I understand your feelings, Augusta. Friedrich is not only your child, but also ours!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Augusta in as calm a tone as he could, "But we can’t do this!
The Bonaparte Clan has finally produced a promising individual, and we can’t settle him under our watchful eyes!
This would hinder his progress!
Only when the eagle breaks free from the nest’s constraints and bravely charges into the sky can it truly grow!"
After hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s words, Empress Augusta sighed and responded, "You always have a plethora of grand principles! Fine then, let’s do as you say!"
Subsequently, Jerome Bonaparte addressed the imbalance between civil and military members on the Regency Council by adding Marshal Canrobert, commander of the Seine Province Military District.
Although Marshal Canrobert’s command style was somewhat conventional, he was loyal to the Empire.
Historically, after the fall of the Second Empire, Marshal Canrobert still identified with the Bonaparte Faction.
Having him as a member of the Regency Council is also a form of cooptation.
Ultimately, Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta finalized the entire list of Regency Council members: Jerome Patterson, Nie’er, Rue, Minister Barroso, Speaker Bi Yao, Minister Pessini, and Marshal Canrobert.
Of course, this list is just an initial draft; as time changes, the names on the list will also change accordingly.
...
After confirming the members of the Regency Council, Jerome Bonaparte convened another Imperial Council on February 3rd.
Once all the officials of the Imperial Council were present, Jerome Bonaparte spoke to everyone in attendance, "Ladies and gentlemen, due to this unexpected assassination attempt, the very foundation of the Empire was nearly shaken!
Therefore, both Augusta and I believe that the French Empire should establish an effective Regency Council system.
This system will begin to operate in the unfortunate event that both Augusta and I pass away!"
As soon as Jerome Bonaparte finished speaking, the expressions of the Imperial Ministers below the throne immediately became varied.
As Minister of State, Guizot understood it was time for him to speak politely, and he hurriedly said to Jerome Bonaparte, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, and that assassination was merely an unexpected incident!
I personally think that the establishment of the Regency Council system should be postponed!"
"Minister Guizot!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Guizot with a smile, "An incident is called unexpected because it often happens beyond human anticipation!
Since we don’t know for sure whether it will happen, why not prepare thoroughly in advance!
In this way, we might just be able to handle the unexpected smoothly!
This Regency Council system is essentially a preventive mechanism, and my purpose in setting it up is to maintain the stability of the Empire to the greatest extent possible!
Imagine, if someday Augusta and I suddenly encountered misfortune, how many of you would be willing to defend the Empire, and how many would wish to welcome back Henry V from Austria and the Count of Paris from London!"
After speaking, Jerome Bonaparte glanced at the Imperial officials with an aggressive look; a small number of them instinctively shrank back, while others still stood upright.
The entire Imperial Council went exceptionally quiet, and after a while, Jerome Bonaparte spoke again in a calm tone to the people present, "Of course, what I just said is merely a hypothesis; don’t take it too seriously!
I established the Regency Council with the aim of ensuring that the Second Empire runs smoothly even in the absence of Augusta and myself!"
Then Jerome Bonaparte continued to speak to the crowd, "In a moment, I will call out the names; please respond!"
Everyone present perked up to listen seriously to Jerome Bonaparte’s forthcoming declarations.
In a sense, those entrusted with important tasks by Jerome Bonaparte could be considered the Emperor’s closest confidants.
"Chief of Staff Nie’er!"
"Present!"
"Minister Rue!"
"Present!"
"Minister Barroso!"
"Present!"
"Speaker Bi Yao!"
"Present!"
"Minister Pessini!"
"Present!"
"Marshal Canrobert!"
"Present!"
Nie’er, Rue, Barroso, Bi Yao, Pessini, Canrobert all responded to Jerome Bonaparte, who then said to them, "You and Jerome Patterson, who is currently serving as Governor in Senegal, are the designated members of the Regency Council!
If ever Augusta and I were to unfortunately leave this world!
I hope that you will assist Friedrich with dedication, just like you have assisted me!"
Nie’er and others quickly acknowledged, after which Jerome Bonaparte once again spoke to them, "Let me remind you, the list of members of the Regency Council is not fixed; it is fluid."
Jerome Bonaparte paused for a moment, looked at Nie’er and others, and said, "If I feel that any of you are inadequate, I will also remove you from the Regency Council.
On the contrary, those who have not entered the Regency Council.
If there is anyone who can satisfy me, I will include him in the Regency Council!
Well then! Let’s leave it at that for today!
Everyone but Pessini may leave!"
