Make France Great Again

Due to Changarnier's tough attitude, those National Guard regiment leaders who wanted to attend the presidential banquet dared not leave the military camps by a single step.

Of course, these regiment leaders couldn't help but resent Changarnier. It was clearly a struggle between the President and Changarnier, yet they became the cost.

In order not to offend either side, the National Guard regiment leaders, who had been invited by Jerome Bonaparte, could only choose not to attend the banquet while ordering their trusted aides to deliver their apology letters to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte's desk was filled with apology letters from the National Guard regiment leaders, who expressed their stance in the letters and hoped the President could continue to lead the army.

For Jerome Bonaparte, it was not easy for the National Guard to make such a statement. He didn't hope that the National Guard could help him with a coup; he only needed them to remain neutral in the face of whatever happened next.

Jerome Bonaparte also responded to the National Guard regiment leaders, understanding their inability to attend the banquet, while encouraging them to continue serving France. The future was still long.

The letters were sent through the military department, and at the same time, Jerome Bonaparte also used the military department to instill his influence into the grass-roots level of the army.

With the addition of the Bonaparte name, Jerome Bonaparte gradually infiltrated the Paris First Brigade. Even Changarnier's trusted First Brigade experienced minor disturbances. Afterwards, Changarnier forcibly ordered that under no circumstances should the military department be contacted through letters.

Changarnier's actions could indeed effectively suppress the Bonaparte Thought within the army, but they also made the grassroots soldiers in the army increasingly dislike Changarnier. This feeling of aversion gradually affected battalion-level soldiers, with many waiting eagerly for Changarnier's "exit."

Changarnier was unaware that his image in the Paris army was gradually worsening. He only saw that, through his efforts, the Paris army was moving in a favorable direction.

No matter how Comrobel and Pello controlled the Second and Third Brigades, in the end, they still had to listen to him.

After the army power structure experienced the Great Revolution, it changed from private troops to "national" troops. No one could monopolize the army, and all the power of army leaders came from higher-level officers, meaning only the Minister of War could dismiss him.

Once the Minister of War ordered his dismissal, Thiers in the Legislative Assembly would inevitably take action, and the dismissal would become empty talk.

...

At least in Changarnier's estimate, his position was tied to the Order Party.

However foolish the Order Party was, they wouldn't allow him to be dismissed by the Minister of War... right!

Since leaving the Elysee Palace, Changarnier seemed like an emperor welded onto a golden toilet, firmly holding onto the Paris army. Whenever possible, he would reach out against Conrobel and Pello's Second and Third Brigades. He had even coerced and enticed the chiefs of staff of the Second and Third Brigades, but his plans ultimately failed. Conrobel and Pello could only continue to stalemate with Changarnier.

However, Changarnier's actions also aided Thiers in the Legislative Assembly. The struggle within the army meant that Thiers and others didn't need to worry about a coup... at least not in the near future. This allowed Thiers to comfortably strategize against Jerome Bonaparte, who held administrative power.

Jerome Bonaparte in the Elysee Palace also realized that resolving the issue with Changarnier couldn't be done quickly. He could only instruct Conrobel and Pello to hold onto the Second and Third Brigades controlled by the Bonaparte Faction while continuously inviting some generals to attend banquets, where Jerome Bonaparte freely criticized Changarnier and stated that Changarnier was not a qualified general.

The army's Changarnier was equally unwilling to yield, retorting that Jerome Bonaparte was not a qualified Leader, just a clown sheltered by his ancestors.

The entire military scene in Paris was stirred by the struggle between the President and Changarnier, and reporters from the Paris Newspaper also acted on the news, finding General De Castelana.

At that time, General De Castelana happened to be watching Victor Hugo's play "The Castle Guard Officer" in a box at the Paris Opera. A lady wearing a rose-colored form-fitting dress, with brown curly hair adorned with a sky-blue hairpiece, holding a fan, entered General De Castelana's box, and gracefully greeted General De Castelana.

"Esteemed Madam!" General De Castelana also returned the greeting to the Duchess before him.

"I hope I didn't disturb you!" The Duchess opened her fan to cover her lips and said.

"Madam, I wonder what brings you to me?" General De Castelana curiously looked at the Duchess in front of him.

"It's like this... I have a friend... who hopes to interview you! I wonder if you could..." The Duchess made the request to General De Castelana, then, knowing she might be being impolite, added, "I know this request might be inappropriate, but I promise it won't touch upon your privacy!"

Listening to the Duchess's slightly pleading voice, General De Castelana understood that the so-called friend of the Duchess must be her lover. In the aristocratic circles, matters between the Duchess and journalists could be talked about for days on end.

"Very well..." General De Castelana immediately replied, "However, I have the right to decide whether I need to answer!"

"Thank you so much!" The Duchess expressed her gratitude excitedly. She hadn't held out much hope for this request: "I will bring him over right away!"

With that, the Duchess turned and left.

After a while, a curly-haired, handsome young man with a hint of youthful innocence appeared before De Castelana. At first glance, De Castelana was certain that this young man had just arrived in Paris not long ago, as he still had not shed the non-Parisian rusticity. However, he had to admit that the young man did have some charm.

"Hello, General!" The young reporter greeted De Castelana.

After slightly nodding to the Duchess, De Castelana said in a smooth tone: "Let's begin!"

The young man hastily took out the prepared paper and pen and arranged them for De Castelana.

The Duchess watched the reporter with a gaze full of love and admiration.

The young reporter posed a series of questions to De Castelana, to which De Castelana responded one by one.

However, due to the excessive number of questions, De Castelana's attitude gradually became perfunctory.

The astute reporter also noticed the change in De Castelana's attitude. He decided to ask one last question: "General, what do you think about the issue between the President and Commander Changarnier?"

De Castelana's face slightly changed as he gazed sharply at the reporter, attempting to analyze the reporter's content.

The young reporter fearlessly straightened his chest and met De Castelana's gaze. Seeing this, the Duchess wanted to rise and ease the atmosphere.

"You indeed have some remarkable qualities!" De Castelana's sharp gaze gradually softened, and he said with a smile: "This is not an issue that cannot be talked about! Not only I but the whole of Paris also believes that Changarnier should not speak ill of the President, especially letting such words reach certain people's ears. General Changarnier has now been blinded by Paris's lust for power.

Although his actions during the severe situation gave him the opportunity to ascend to this position, he excessively believes his power can be sustained... indeed, now he does have certain influence over the Assembly; he assumes that if a new presidential election is held, no one will get the necessary votes. At that time, the Assembly would self-appoint someone as President, and he would be undoubtedly selected, but I don't think he will be chosen... or rather, I don't think there will be a next time."

De Castelana's words left the young reporter with an astonished expression.

If this is truly the will of the high ranks of the Paris military, then the entire Republic may be heading towards a new crossroads.

"Young man, do you have the guts to publish this article in the newspaper? You might go to prison for it!" De Castelana asked with a laugh.

"No!" The Duchess hurried in front of the young reporter and said.

After hesitating for a moment, the young reporter looked up and resolutely said to De Castelana: "Thank you! General, I will publish this report unchanged!"

After finishing, the young reporter bowed to De Castelana.

De Castelana showed a rare look of surprise and then said with a smile: "I look forward to your article! Young man, what is your name?"

"Rastigne!" The young reporter responded with a smile.

"Alright! Rastigne, I hope you can establish yourself in this city! From you, I see the shadow of a person! Was he just like you in the beginning?" De Castelana sighed.

"Who is it?" Rastigne curiously asked De Castelana.

"Thiers!" De Castelana said with a serious expression.

"Then I truly am flattered!" Rastigne also showed a smile.

Rastigne left De Castelana's box along with the Duchess.

"Rastigne? Rastigne?" De Castelana repeated the name continuously.

The next day, a little-known small newspaper published the interview with De Castelana.

The conflict between Changarnier and the President instantaneously surfaced from the shadows.

Before this, no newspaper dared to directly unravel the conflict between the two, and the name Rastigne appeared in everyone's sight.