Make France Great Again

"Mr. President, I'm fine!" Deco's slightly puffy face showed a flattering expression.

"Minister Dico, you will be serving the government for a long time! Health issues cannot be taken lightly!" Jerome Bonaparte sternly "reprimanded" Deco.

"I understand!" Deco realized it was the President's concern for him, a kind of concern ordinary people wouldn't show.

"Minister Dico, the future road is still long, no need to rush!" Jerome Bonaparte softened his tone.

"Yes!" Minister Dico readily admitted his "mistake," then changed the subject and asked, "Mr. President, why didn't you notify us in advance before coming to the Ministry of the Navy, so we could prepare!"

"If I had notified in advance, I probably wouldn't have seen this scene!" Jerome Bonaparte said teasingly to Deco.

The Secretary of State, seeing this, tactfully left the office of the Minister of the Navy.

After all, the President was here to meet the Minister, and he was just a Secretary of State.

After the Secretary of State left, Jerome Bonaparte invited Deco to sit down and asked, "How does it feel to be a Minister? Have you encountered any difficulties?"

"Mr. President, the Ministry of the Navy is united, we follow the President's directives, and have not encountered any difficulties!" Minister Dico immediately assured Jerome Bonaparte.

"I know!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded.

After chatting casually for a while, Jerome Bonaparte gradually led the topic to naval construction and warship escort.

"If we have a force of a hundred thousand people landing in the Near East, can the naval escort fleet provide support quickly?" Jerome Bonaparte tactfully asked Minister Dico about his views on Near East supplies.

"Mr. President, my view is the navy can complete the escort mission, I have confidence in our fleet!" Deco first expressed unwaveringly, then revealed his concern: "In terms of supplies, I'm afraid our current ships can't complete this task!"

"How much more budget is needed?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Deco directly.

"It's not a budget issue!" Deco thought for a few seconds and said to Jerome Bonaparte: "I personally believe that producing too many transport ships could lead to them being unmanageable in the later stages of the war. We should appropriately delegate some transport to civilian vessels! On this point, I believe the Ministry of the Navy should establish an institution to coordinate with civilian ships."

To prevent Jerome Bonaparte's suspicion, Deco spoke as tactfully as possible.

"You mean organizing civilian ships to complete supply tasks during wartime?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Minister Dico.

"That's correct!" Deco nodded and explained to Jerome Bonaparte: "This way, we can save unnecessary expenses and stimulate the French economy."

"You try to address this issue! If there are any problems, feel free to report to me!" Jerome Bonaparte continued speaking to Deco: "Are there any other issues?"

"Our ships don't have enough iron..." Minister Dico requested Jerome Bonaparte.

"Iron?" Jerome Bonaparte suddenly remembered the reason for his visit was to understand the issue of ironclads: "By the way, I've heard you've researched a new type of warship! I wonder if that's true!"

Minister Dico showed a surprised expression, as if asking how the President knew, he nodded acknowledging Jerome Bonaparte's statement: "Correct! We plan to mass-produce a batch of fleets with iron plates, which can effectively defend against enemy coastal artillery and conduct close-range combat defensively."

Speaking, Minister Dico placed a stack of documents from the office in front of Jerome Bonaparte, showing a proud expression and said: "This is the blueprint of our latest model fleet!"

Jerome Bonaparte picked up the first sheet of documents to look at, the blueprint was marked with numerous Latin numbers, each number's lower right corner had the corresponding name written in French.

Judging by the style, it should be a type of small gunship.

Jerome Bonaparte pointed at the gunship image on the blueprint and asked Deco: "Has the stuff on the blueprint been tested?"

"Not yet..." Minister Dico replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Not yet tested... not yet tested..." Jerome Bonaparte muttered softly while flipping through the contents of the documents.

Minister Dico watched Jerome Bonaparte apprehensively, fearing the President might inadvertently veto his carefully researched project.

When Jerome Bonaparte flipped to the gunship's gun positions, he suddenly discovered that even this advanced ironclad was a semi-finished product, still using the early 19th-century full-length artillery deck. Multiple layers of artillery indeed aided firepower output but significantly reduced combat capability.

The half-ironclad enthusiast Jerome Bonaparte pointed at the main artillery positioned on both sides of the blueprint and suggested to Deco: "Mr. Minister, can the main artillery positions be adjusted to move them to the center of the warship! This way, we can strengthen the fleet's defense and enhance its survivability."

Jerome Bonaparte's method was what later British designer Edward Reed used, the central artillery method.

Minister Deco seemed intrigued; increasing fleet survivability was indeed a tempting choice. However, he hesitated and said: "This may require sacrificing our firepower!"

"Firepower does not depend on the number of naval guns!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to Deco: "Moreover, every outstanding naval personnel is an indispensable resource; I'd rather sacrifice some firepower to increase their chance of returning home!"

A decade for the army, a century for the navy, every maritime power requires long-term accumulation.

A ship can be rebuilt, but without crew legacy may collapse.

Jerome Bonaparte, having experienced it once, understood the pain of having ships without people. The Industrial World's strongest nation, the United States, despite having extensive fleets, initially faced a woeful cannon accuracy rate.

Without Britain's help and their policies, the United States couldn't have become a true naval power in the short term.

Jerome Bonaparte's "concern" for naval personnel warmed Deco's heart; he believed the President genuinely shared his dedication to building the French Navy.

"Regarding the choice of steam engines, make sure to be diligent! Every warship should be a pride of France!" Jerome Bonaparte continued ordering.

"Yes!" Minister Dico responded.

"You should make strides; once such gunships pass trials, expand them! Strive for the main fleet of the French Navy to transition to this type!" Jerome Bonaparte encouraged the Ministry of the Navy: "If anything is lacking, feel free to tell me..."

"Actually, there's a minor issue!" Minister Deco spoke to Jerome Bonaparte.

"What issue?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Deco.

Deco explained the lack of skilled workers in the national shipyard to Jerome Bonaparte, who instantly assured a batch of workers would be deployed there.

"Yes, Mr. President!" Minister Dico responded to Jerome Bonaparte.

After encouraging Minister Dico, Jerome Bonaparte made a request: "Mr. Minister, actually I have a favor to ask of you!"

"Please go ahead!" Minister Deco said humbly, knowing it was just the President's politeness.

Jerome Bonaparte mentioned Marquis Alet's situation to Minister Dico and discussed some naval matters he had with Marquis Alet.