Make France Great Again

"That's right! The Minister often spends entire nights in the office handling documents. Each time, he lets us leave first, and then he handles the remaining work alone. Sometimes, he doesn't rest for several consecutive days. We've become accustomed to it!"

The Secretary of State's words were full of respect, indicating that the Minister appointed by Jerome Bonaparte had gained the unanimous recognition of the Ministry of the Navy in a very short time.

For someone who is relatively new to the Ministry of the Navy to serve as Minister of the Navy and coordinate the entire department is indeed challenging. It requires a firm hand as well as leading by example.

Jean Etienne Theodore Dico, born into a merchant family in Bordeaux Province, inherited the family business upon reaching adulthood and became a shipyard owner in his port city. During his career as a businessman, he accumulated substantial wealth and established a certain amount of prestige locally.

In France, any businessman with prestige will choose a path in politics. Dico seized the opportunity during the revolutionary turmoil of 1848 to become a representative of Bordeaux Province and then entered the Paris political arena.

As someone without a clear political belief, Dico first joined the Republican Faction, then turned to the Order Party after June, and after Jerome Bonaparte was elected President of the Republic, he decisively sided with Jerome Bonaparte. He believed that with the connections of the Bonaparte Clan, as long as Bonaparte did not make any decisive mistakes, everything would be very stable.

Of course, what truly decided Dico's ministerial position was last October's Cabinet dismissal incident. After Jerome Bonaparte decisively dismissed the members of the Audion Barrot Cabinet, he struggled to find a qualified Minister of the Navy and began looking within the Bonaparte for candidates to replace the Ministry of the Navy. Dico's status as a ship owner caught Jerome Bonaparte's eye, and he quickly rose to become the Minister of the Navy as a temporary measure.

"Didn't you ever complain that I chose a Minister of the Navy for you who wasn't from within your system?" Jerome Bonaparte asked with interest as he and the Secretary of State sat together on the navy-exclusive light blue padded sofa.

The Secretary of State smiled without speaking. Seeing this, Jerome Bonaparte encouraged him, "Rest assured! I won't tell your Minister, nor will I give you any trouble! I just want to understand!"

Then, he made a vow, "I promise in the name of the Bonaparte Clan!"

In the late 19th century, vowing in the name of a family was also a strict oath, especially for a "prestigious" family like the Bonaparte Clan (in the eyes of non-royals).

"Actually... there's nothing I can't say!" The Secretary of State hesitated for a moment, then reorganized his words and said, "When you ordered Minister Dico to lead our navy, we indeed had some doubts. Some believed the Republic had given up on the navy, and some work began to be delayed!

When the Minister first took office, he led by example and required us to keep pace with his work. Under his guidance, the entire department operated at high speed, even more decisively than the previous Minister."

"Do you all find it very tiring?" Jerome Bonaparte continued to ask.

The Secretary of State nodded and responded, "At first, it was indeed very tiring, but over time we gradually kept pace with the Minister."

Subsequently, the Secretary of State paused for a moment and looked earnestly at Jerome Bonaparte, "Before the Minister took office, he told us that France should not only build a first-class army but also a navy equal in strength to ensure France's interests and maintain regional peace. This is our mission!"

"Exactly!" Jerome Bonaparte couldn't help but hold Dico in even higher regard: "We must build a global navy to better maintain France's interests! This is also why I came over today!"

As Jerome Bonaparte spoke softly, there was a noise from the Minister's office desk, and both Jerome Bonaparte and the Secretary of State turned their attention to it.

At this moment, Dico was waking from his drowsiness, yawning and stretching.

As he got up from his chair, he suddenly noticed the people sitting on the sofa were none other than the President and his Secretary of State.

"Mr. President!!!" Minister Dico exclaimed in surprise at the sight of the President in his office.

"Good morning, Minister Dico!" Jerome Bonaparte greeted Dico with a friendly expression.

Seeing this, Minister Dico hurried over to Jerome Bonaparte's side, "When did you arrive?"

Jerome Bonaparte took out his pocket watch and glanced at the time. It was already around 8:30.

"About half an hour ago!"

"Why didn't you wake me when His Excellency the President came in?" Dico's strong face showed a hint of anger, and he lashed out at the Secretary of State without holding back, treating Jerome Bonaparte as if he were not an outsider.

"I told him not to wake you!" Jerome Bonaparte quickly intervened to resolve the situation, patting Dico on the shoulder and saying earnestly, "Minister Dico, the matters of the Ministry of the Navy are indeed important, but so is your health!"