Make France Great Again

"Jerome Bonaparte, you shameless thief! You use despicable means to steal France, and deceive Paris with lies..."

The half-drunk, half-awake Changarnier hurled curses at Jerome Bonaparte, his pent-up gloom turning into the most venomous words against Jerome Bonaparte.

The officers present all changed their expressions, focusing their gazes on Jerome Bonaparte. The two officers responsible for escorting Changarnier quickened their pace, wanting to take Changarnier "away."

Even though Commander Changarnier was removed by the President, the President did not intend to get rid of Commander Changarnier.

However, Commander Changarnier's nonsense could really cost him his life.

The officers supporting Changarnier could only silently pray in their hearts that the President wouldn't make them stop, otherwise, it might just be the end for Commander Changarnier.

But things did not develop as they hoped; Jerome Bonaparte's voice echoed from behind the officers: "Wait a minute!"

The two officers had no choice but to stop in their tracks. Behind them, the sound of Martin boots clattering on the floor grew closer, and Jerome Bonaparte walked around them to appear in front.

"Heh... heh..." Under the influence of alcohol, a dazed Changarnier showed a smile of senility, his face flushed as he pointed at Jerome Bonaparte with a hiccup.

The strong smell of alcohol mixed with a sour stench made Jerome Bonaparte frown. Looking at the utterly drunk "drunkard" before him, he couldn't tell whether he was truly drunk or faking it for a moment.

"Jerome Bonaparte... do you really think you're nothing more than a vile imitator... You imitate great men, but you'll never become one!" Changarnier's words to Jerome Bonaparte were intermittent, his finger drowsily pointing at him from an officer's shoulder.

"General Changarnier, can't we show each other some decency?" Jerome Bonaparte spoke calmly to Changarnier without any anger, "In the end, this political game is one you lost! The loser should voluntarily exit the game, just like how you all treated the Republican Faction back then!"

"Game?" Changarnier raised his head, his bleary eyes gazing at Jerome Bonaparte, almost shouting, "That's right, to you this is a game! You and your followers intend to turn all of Europe into your gaming battlefield, drag the whole of France's soldiers into your slaughter! Leading France once again to the brink of collapse as some sort of game! Back then, the Emperor dragged the entire nation into the icy wilderness for his own selfish desires, making countless pay the price for his ambition... and now you want to do it again... what disaster does France have to endure at your hands before you'll stop!"

Changarnier's desperate shout nearly made Jerome Bonaparte feel like he was facing not a profit-obsessed warlord, but a true patriot.

After closely examining Changarnier, Jerome Bonaparte confirmed that Changarnier hadn't been possessed by anyone.

Jerome Bonaparte clapped, seemingly amazed by Changarnier's eloquent speech, though a disdainful smile played at the corner of his mouth. Coldly, he addressed Changarnier, "Brilliant! Brilliant! General Changarnier, how do you manage to say such words with such self-righteousness! Who was it that hinted for me to launch the action? Who dispersed the Mountain Party! Who was the first to trample on the Republic's democracy, leading troops to occupy Bourbon Palace? Have you forgotten all this? Can someone comfortably climb onto the moral high ground and criticize after a failure?

Wake up! General Changarnier! Your morals are not much higher than mine! At least I know that workers without jobs will revolt, lack of rest affects fertility, and soldiers should be treated with love and dignity... And what about you? Instead of resolving problems, you create one after another. Beyond killing, what solutions do you offer?"

Jerome Bonaparte also shouted at Changarnier, living in this damn era, the best he could do was ensure France accelerated at double or even faster its competitors, during which unavoidable labor-capital conflicts might arise, and his position allowed him only to mediate these as reasonably as possible.

A hundred years from now, perhaps he would be fiercely criticized in some textbook, but all he could do was remain true to his conscience.

"My heart and my deeds are as clear as a mirror, and all my actions are for justice!" Jerome Bonaparte uttered the most classic line.

Blasted with Jerome Bonaparte's spittle, General Changarnier looked at him, a beam of sunlight passing through the glass of Tuileries Palace fell upon Jerome Bonaparte, making his figure somewhat glaring.

Instinctively, Changarnier wanted to cover his eyes with his hand.

"Take him away!" Jerome Bonaparte ordered the officers.

The officers, relieved to receive the order, responded to Jerome Bonaparte, "Yes!"

"Jerome Bonaparte, I'll be watching you!" were Changarnier's final words.

From this moment forward, Changarnier would forever part with the army, and only one sun would shine in the sky of Seine Province.

Jerome Bonaparte lingered for a moment and then smiled again, speaking slowly, "Who here can show me around Tuileries Palace!"

Noticing this, the regiment commander hastily offered to guide Jerome Bonaparte, while the other officers wore expressions of regret, until Jerome Bonaparte's next words brought smiles back to their faces.

"You all join me as well!"

Under the regiment commander's guidance, Saint Arno and the officers of the First Regiment visited several study rooms in Tuileries Palace. According to the commander, every Emperor/King would work in different rooms.

Next, the commander led Jerome Bonaparte and others to a gilded throne inlaid with gems.

It is said that Jerome Bonaparte's uncle, Emperor Napoleon, also officiated here once.

"Your Majesty, you must be weary from the journey! Perhaps a rest is in order!" General Saint Arno gently suggested to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Indeed!" The captain followed suit immediately.

Jerome Bonaparte glanced over the remaining members of the officers' corps, who also indicated it was time for a rest.

At the "urging" of the officers' corps, Jerome Bonaparte ascended to the throne step by step with steady strides and sat down slowly.

To Jerome Bonaparte himself, apart from a bit of chilliness, the throne offered no other sensation.

The officers' corps, led by General Saint Arno and the captain, lined up neatly on both sides, solemnly chanting, "Long live! Long live! Long live!"

Such a scene inevitably reminded Jerome Bonaparte of a certain world-famous painting with a backdrop of the Palace of Versailles.

The protagonist of the painting is William I.

When Jerome Bonaparte rose from the throne, the officers' corps changed their form of address for him; they no longer called him "Mr. President" but instead used "Your Majesty."

In their hearts, there was no difference between Jerome Bonaparte and ascending the throne.

Accompanied by the officers' corps, Jerome Bonaparte and Saint Arno left the Elysee Palace.

On the evening of October 2, 1850, General Shang Jia'nie left the Tuileries Palace, refusing to take up a position under Jerome Bonaparte.

It can be said that Shang Jia'nie had now become a "man of leisure."

On the evening of October 2, Montalambert went to the Elysee Palace to seek an audience with Jerome Bonaparte.

After a lengthy conversation, Montalambert finally departed.

On October 3, acting on Montalambert's "suggestion," the Permanent Committee stationed at the Bourbon Palace decided to "return" the Tuileries Palace to the President for use as an office location.

The Elysee Palace and the Tuileries Palace became the residences of Jerome Bonaparte.

To evoke more memories of the Empire's legacy, Jerome Bonaparte invited social elites, former generals of the First Empire, current generals of the Bonaparte Faction, and envoys from various countries to the Elysee Palace.

Meanwhile, Mokar was appointed as the temporary Chief Steward of the Tuileries Palace, responsible for preparations prior to the commencement of the ball.

The ball was scheduled for October 7.

Mokar took three days to clean the interior and exterior of the Tuileries Palace thoroughly.

On the evening of October 7, the splendid Tuileries Palace glowed with candlelight.

"Mr. President, I am truly delighted to witness the presence of Bonaparte's descendant in the Tuileries Palace during my lifetime!" exclaimed Artuna Amorlan, a celebrated figure of the Republic and a "widow" of the First Empire, embracing Jerome Bonaparte warmly.

Gazing at the elderly lady, Jerome Bonaparte kindly replied, "Lady Altuna! Before long, you will see an empire reestablished in this country!"

Jerome Bonaparte then added, "By the unanimous vote of the entire French people!"

"I have always believed! God will not forsake the Bonaparte Clan! Thank God for showing mercy on me, allowing me to witness this moment in my dotage!" exclaimed Artuna Amorlan, her voice trembling with excitement.

Jerome Bonaparte smiled at the elderly lady, personally escorting Artuna Amorlan to the side of Prince Monfort and the former generals of the First Empire.

Carriages continued to flow into the Tuileries Palace Garden from all directions, passing the inspection of the guards at the garden entrance to enter the Tuileries Courtyard.

The Tuileries Palace, once a social venue for the Royal Family, had risen anew from its ashes, only this time it welcomed a new master.