Make France Great Again

"General Canrobert, I have said! The army should avoid politics as much as possible! Didn't you understand?"

Shang Jia'nie gazed coldly at the more than 40-year-old Major General. Had it not been for the opportunity he provided, Canrobert would not have reached his current status.

After all, he was just a dog of Bonaparte, daring to put on airs in front of him.

"I think..." Canrobert looked around and said assuredly, "The President is not a politician; he is the leader of the Republic and the supreme commander of the army! We can only build a better army by maintaining regular contact with the supreme commander!"

"I think General Canrobert is right!" Pello immediately supported General Canrobert, being in the same camp.

Not only Pello, but some National Guard legion commanders leaning towards the President also nodded slightly, agreeing with Jerome Bonaparte's words.

Shang Jia'nie's worst fear was happening. If even the National Guard was won over by them, as the highest administrative officer of the Seine Province, he would have no choice but to submit to his fate.

Years of military life had taught Shang Jia'nie how to control his subordinates. In the military, obedience is paramount. He just needed to express his stance and use his rank to ensure their compliance.

The rest would depend on whether Thiers could lend him a helping hand.

"I don't want to explore whether the President is a political figure!" Shang Jia'nie decided to use his advantage to make them obey: "As the commander of the National Guard and the Garrison of the Seine Province, I issue an order: from now on, no one is allowed to leave the barracks without my approval, or face military justice!"

With these words, everyone's face turned pale.

Even Brigadier General Norman looked at Shang Jia'nie with astonishment; Commander Shang Jia'nie's orders were truly shocking.

If not handled well, Shang Jia'nie might provoke a backlash from the army, leading to total disaster.

"Did you understand?" Shang Jia'nie sternly asked everyone present.

The people in the operations meeting did not respond to Shang Jia'nie.

"I'll say it again, did you hear me clearly?" Shang Jia'nie's tone was even more severe the second time, and his voice was increasingly loud.

"Understood!" This time, there were finally a few scattered responses.

"Very well!" Shang Jia'nie nodded satisfactorily and waved his hand, saying, "Today's meeting is over! It's late now; you should go back and rest!"

Shang Jia'nie turned and disappeared into the darkness, and the National Guard legion commanders also left one after another.

Canrobert and Pello frowned and fell into deep thought.

After a while, Major General Canrobert called Brigadier General Pello. After leaving the operations meeting, the two rode away.

"What should we do now? That old undying Shang Jia'nie is clearly suppressing us with authority!" Pello spoke without any respect as Shang Jia'nie had already turned hostile.

"Don't rush!" The cunning moonlight shone on Canrobert's slightly receding hairline as he spoke seriously, "We just need to control the army; the rest can be left to His Majesty and the Minister. Shang Jia'nie can suppress us with his position, but naturally, there are others who can suppress him. Besides, Shang Jia'nie cannot dismiss us."

Although Shang Jia'nie was the Commander of the National Guard and the Garrison of the Seine Province, his rank was only equal to Canrobert and Pello's.

To dismiss Canrobert and Pello, the order must come from the Ministry of War, which was under the control of the President.

Under the moon's glow, Canrobert and Pello headed back to their station.

...

The next morning at 9 o'clock.

Jerome Bonaparte, who had just awoken from sleep, had a simple breakfast and, upon entering his study, received news from Canrobert.

"What?" Canrobert looked at Valerovsky in astonishment, "You mean Shang Jia'nie is no longer allowing the army to go to the Elysee Palace?"

"That's correct!" Valerovsky replied confidently, "General Canrobert told me that Shang Jia'nie held a meeting after returning, which explicitly stated the army could not..."

Valerovsky recounted Canrobert's words, causing Jerome Bonaparte's expression to become increasingly dissatisfied. Of course, his dissatisfaction was with Shang Jia'nie's policy, not with Valerovsky.

It seemed Shang Jia'nie was determined to target him.

"I want to dismiss Shang Jia'nie!" Jerome Bonaparte said in a steady tone.

"Sir, I think we are not ready for a full-scale war with the Order Party yet!" Valerovsky advised his cousin, "I believe we still need to wait for a while!"

Valerovsky's words made Jerome Bonaparte, who was almost overwhelmed by anger, regain his composure instantly.

Since Changarnier dared to openly restrict my communication with the army, it must mean that Thiers is behind him.

The Order Party may be on the verge of splintering, but their beliefs have not been completely shattered. Only by having the Count of Chambord break them can Jerome Bonaparte completely defeat them.

Time will not wait long.

"Cousin, go and bring that old rascal Changarnier here for me! I want to question him face-to-face! Don't worry, I won't harm him!" Jerome Bonaparte also showed no respect for the 60-year-old Changarnier.

"Yes!" Valerovsky immediately responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

After Valerovsky left, Jerome Bonaparte, bored, continued to leaf through the newspaper.

It wasn't long before there was a knock on the study door.

Jerome Bonaparte sat upright and put on a solemn, dignified expression, saying, "Come in!"

The door slowly opened, and Valerovsky and Changarnier appeared outside the door.

"General Changarnier, please!" Valerovsky naturally maintained proper courtesy and said to Changarnier.

"Thank you!" Changarnier politely responded as well.

After Changarnier entered the study, the door closed again, leaving only Jerome Bonaparte and Changarnier.

"General Changarnier, please sit!" Jerome Bonaparte "warmly" extended his hand to invite General Changarnier to sit down.

The expressionless General Changarnier sat on one side of the sofa, while Jerome Bonaparte sat opposite him.

With his legs slightly apart and his elbows hanging on his thighs, Jerome Bonaparte presented a relaxed posture and said kindly to Changarnier, "General Changarnier, it has been a long time since we have had a face-to-face conversation like this!"

"Mr. President, I am a soldier! I should not be overly involved in politics!" Commander Shangjia Ren said with a serious expression, telling the world's funniest joke.

Jerome Bonaparte's lips curled into a slight smile, and he said in a teasing tone laced with a touch of satire, "General Changarnier, do you know? Comedy is comedy because they often say incongruous things with a serious face, you have the potential to be an actor!"

"Mr. President!" Changarnier's words carried a trace of anger, and he said word by word, "If you called me here just to say some playful words, then I think you have found the wrong person, the Opera House next door is apparently more suitable for someone like you!"

"General, why must we engage in conflict? What benefits has Thiers given you? We can have an open and honest discussion!" Jerome Bonaparte decided to speak frankly.

"At least they are not like you!" An uncooperative Changarnier stood up, intending to leave.

"Not necessarily!" Jerome Bonaparte straightened his body and sighed, saying, "General, if you don't have a foot in both camps, we could become excellent partners!"

"Mr. President, stop joking!" Changarnier retorted, "You have never trusted me, you only trust those you have promoted!"

"That's not entirely true; most of those colleagues in the Ministry of War were not promoted by me!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Changarnier.

"Yes! They were not your selections, but they have all become your minions, ready to serve your whims! These spineless people will kneel at the slightest show of strength..." Adhering to the North African Faction's disdain for government bureaucrats, General Changarnier also disapproved of the people in the Ministry of War.

As soon as he finished speaking, Changarnier turned his back on Jerome Bonaparte, ready to leave.

"Commander Shangjia Ren, you are trying to provoke me! I will send you to Vansen!" Jerome Bonaparte threatened Changarnier.

"No! I will send you to Vansen!" Changarnier unhesitatingly threatened Jerome Bonaparte in return.

[Vansen: A prison in Eastern France where political prisoners are held.]

After mutual threats, an unfruitful meeting came to an abrupt end.

Jerome Bonaparte sat back on the sofa, waiting for Valerovsky's arrival.

"Your Excellency, what happened? Commander Shangjia Ren looked very angry!" Valerovsky asked, puzzled. He didn't expect that in such a short time, the two would part on bad terms.

"He wants to send us all to Vansen!" Jerome Bonaparte said in a flat tone.

"That's really bad news!" Valerovsky frowned, "You must retaliate!"

"Cousin, go to the Ministry of War and inform Minister Renio and Saint Arno about everything that just happened, and have them prepare to dismiss Changarnier!" Jerome Bonaparte ordered Valerovsky item by item.

"Yes!" Valerovsky responded immediately.

"Also, leak what happened here with Changarnier to those guys in the Paris army (the generals idling at home), and have them be mentally prepared!"