Make France Great Again

Commander Shangjia Ren was unaware of what was happening on Puevert Street. If he had known, he might have surrendered his military command to join Jerome Bonaparte.

The internal conflict within the Order Party had never stopped; it had remained largely within a broad framework, but this framework was about to crumble because of the Count of Chambord.

Returning to the barracks from Puevert Street, Commander Shangjia Ren, using the title of Garrison Commander of Seine Province, gathered all the regimental commanders (National Guard) and brigade commanders (Field Army) of the Paris Guard for a meeting.

The majority of the National Guard regimental commanders obeyed Shangjia Ren's order to come to the barracks, but from the Field Army, only Paris First Brigade's Major General Norman was present. Major General Conrobel of the Second Brigade and Major General Pello of the Third Brigade were nowhere to be found.

Shangjia Ren looked around and did not see any trace of Major Generals Conrobel and Pello.

Not just them, even their officers didn't show up for the meeting.

The situation made Shangjia Ren extremely angry; he slammed his fist on the operations table, causing the ground and the new meeting table to tremble slightly.

At this moment, Shangjia Ren's expression was like that of a fierce wolf wanting to swallow a lamb whole. He scanned the officers present once more with his sharp gaze and asked in a cold tone, "Can anyone tell me where the Second and Third brigade have gone? Are they all dead? Where's Conrobel? Where's Pello? Do they still want their jobs?"

The regimental commanders and the First Brigade's commanders lowered their heads. Of course, they knew the whereabouts of those two brigade commanders, and they believed that Commander Shangjia Ren also knew. It was just that Shangjia Ren was venting his emotions.

"Have you all lost your voice? Speak up!" Shangjia Ren shouted at the senior officers in the barracks.

"Commander!" Norman stammered as he spoke to Shangjia Ren, "Major Generals Conrobel and Pello were invited by Marshal Monfort!"

"Who permitted them to leave the barracks without authorization!" Shangjia Ren shouted again, venting his dissatisfaction and frustration.

The senior leaders remained silent. This was truly a battle of titans, and they did not wish to involve themselves.

Whether it was President Jerome Bonaparte or Commander Shangjia Ren, they were not individuals to be easily provoked!

After a moment, Commander Shangjia Ren once again gave an order: "Brigadier General Norman!"

"Yes!" Brigadier General Norman immediately responded.

"Now, send someone to take over the Second and Third Brigades!" ordered Shangjia Ren.

Brigadier General Norman's face stiffened instantly. The sudden order left his mind blank, and a chill ran up his spine to his brain.

All the soldiers present knew what it meant for Commander Shangjia Ren to issue this order. Conrobel and Pello must have had follow-up plans to confidently leave the barracks; the army might face internal division.

"What's wrong? Not moving yet! Does my word no longer hold weight?" Shangjia Ren's cold voice echoed in Brigadier General Norman's ears again.

Brigadier General Norman, finding himself in a dilemma, could only reply reluctantly, "Commander, should we wait a little longer?"

"Wait a little longer?" Shangjia Ren's eyes revealed a strong intent to kill, "Do we wait until we fight amongst ourselves? Brigadier General Norman, go carry out the order now!"

"Yes!" Unable to refuse Shangjia Ren, Brigadier General Norman could only obey the order, leaving the operations meeting alone, then riding off with his adjutant towards the First Brigade's station.

Midway through the journey, Brigadier General Norman tightened the reins, causing the running horse's front hooves to lift slightly, its head rearing up.

The horse stopped upon receiving the signal, prompting Norman's adjutant to stop as well.

"Brigadier, what's the matter?" the adjutant asked Brigadier General Norman.

"Do you know what will happen once we follow Commander Shangjia Ren's order to take over the Second and Third Brigades?" Brigadier General Norman said softly, looking at the few floating clouds in the azure sky.

"Could it be an internal war?" the adjutant joked, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere.

"You're not wrong at all! An internal war might indeed occur!" Brigadier General Norman nodded, agreeing with the adjutant.

"No… it can't be!" the adjutant replied reluctantly; he couldn't imagine what an internal military conflict would be like.

An internal conflict within the Paris First Division was not like the previous suppressions of mobs. They were well aware of each other's combat capabilities.

"Very possible!" Norman reaffirmed, "So we must prevent it!"

"Brigadier, what should we do?" the adjutant asked Brigadier General Norman for a plan.

"Immediately head to the Elysee Palace and inform the two generals of the commander's situation! I will head to the First Brigade and delay action as much as possible. Remember, be quick!" Brigadier General Norman commanded the adjutant.

To ensure the adjutant understood the seriousness of the situation, Norman emphasized, "Our actions determine the fate of the entire army!"

"Yes!" The adjutant promptly spurred his horse toward the Elysee Palace.

Brigadier General Norman, while admiring the scenery along the way, leisurely headed towards the First Brigade's barracks.

For Brigadier General Normar, the one thing he doesn't lack right now is time.

...

"You two did a great job!" Jerome Bonaparte pulled out two notes from the Bank of France worth 50,000 francs each and encouraged Conrobel and Pello.

"Your Majesty..." Conrobel and Pello, who received the checks, looked at Jerome Bonaparte with excitement, yet hesitated to reach out their hands.

"Take them! They're well-deserved!" Jerome Bonaparte stuffed the notes into their uniform pockets.

Just as Jerome Bonaparte was about to invite them to dine, Valerovsky burst in with a serious expression.

Jerome Bonaparte showed a surprised look, not understanding why the usually composed Valerovsky was so flustered.

"Your Majesty! We've received news from the barracks; Changarnier is ordering his subordinate Normar to take over the Second and Third Brigade!" Valerovsky voiced his alarming news as soon as he entered.

"Who is the source of this information? Is it reliable?" Jerome Bonaparte urgently wanted to verify the accuracy of the news.

"Brigadier General Normar's adjutant is waiting outside!" Valerovsky responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Quick! You two hurry back!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed Conrobel and Pello, "Make sure Changarnier's conspiracy doesn't succeed! Valerovsky, have some men bring the two horses from the stable in the back courtyard of the Elysee Palace to them!"

"Yes," Valerovsky quickly ran off.

"Your Majesty, we will return to the barracks now to restrain our soldiers!" Conrobel and Pello bid farewell to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte personally escorted Conrobel and Pello out of the main gate of the Elysee Palace, watching them leave.

Jerome Bonaparte then remembered about Normar's adjutant, and ordered Valerovsky to bring over Brigadier General Normar's adjutant.

"Hello, Mr. Adjutant!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled and said to Normar's adjutant, "May I have the honor of asking your name?"

"Alye Ados, with the rank of Major, currently serving as Brigadier General Normar's adjutant!" Ados replied to Jerome Bonaparte firmly.

"Good! Major Ados, you've done well! You successfully thwarted a premeditated rebellion and saved the peace of the Republic!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Ados.

"Mr. President, I don't believe this was a rebellion!" Ados mustered the courage to respond to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Then Major Ados, what do you think Changarnier, that son of a bitch, is up to?" Jerome Bonaparte unabashedly referred to Changarnier as a "son of a bitch."

"Commander Changarnier, perhaps... he was just too furious!" Major Ados tried to defend his superior's superior.

"Who gave him the authority to deploy troops on his own? Is he planning a coup?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Ados sternly.

Ados remained silent. Commander Changarnier's orders indeed seemed to disregard the commands of both the President and the Ministry of War.

"Major Ados, I'm not targeting you specifically!" Jerome Bonaparte's tone shifted to one of calm, "You've done well; your actions effectively prevented civil unrest! Tell me, what do you want?"

After hesitating for a moment, Major Ados pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte: "I hope you can pardon my officer!"

"Hmm? Are you referring to Brigadier General Normar?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Ados.

"Exactly! To be honest, I'm here following the orders of my officer, Normar! If possible..." Major Ados candidly told Jerome Bonaparte.

"Of course, no problem!" Jerome Bonaparte replied without hesitation.

At this moment, stabilizing the First Brigade was the utmost priority.

"I assure you, both you and your officer will receive a medal!" Jerome Bonaparte promised Ados.

"Thank you for your generosity! I sincerely hope you will lead the French Army to prosperity!" Ados saluted Jerome Bonaparte.

"I also hope France will have more officers like you!" Jerome Bonaparte solemnly returned the salute.

...

After Conrobel and Pello hurried to their respective armies, they immediately issued battle orders to their subordinates.

The army quickly assembled amidst the sounds of orders and cannon fire, just as the commander of the First Brigade, Brigadier General Normar, "hurriedly" arrived.

"Commander Conrobel, what are you doing!" Brigadier General Normar addressed Conrobel with respect, as he had not yet relinquished his post as Deputy Commander of the Paris Guard.