Make France Great Again

The establishment of Jerome Bonaparte's super-class cabinet, though dampening the enthusiasm of some members of the Elysee Palace Faction, also sparked endless speculation among some "Social Democratic Faction" individuals.

Many "Republican Faction" members suspected that Jerome Bonaparte might be trying to use the position of Cabinet Prime Minister to win over some recognition from the Republican Faction, thereby allowing his constitutional amendment proposal to pass unopposed.

In the minds of the vast majority of Republican Faction members, the name Jerome Bonaparte had already become synonymous with "Power Stick," a person who would use any means necessary for power.

Some members of the Mountain Faction (for example: Victor Hugo) speculated that Jerome Bonaparte might be using this method to deceive, and he might become furious due to the unsuccessful constitutional amendments and launch a coup.

Of course, such statements were opposed by the majority, arguing that Jerome Bonaparte still had more than a year, and he had time to continue seeking constitutional consent, then complete a coup within the constitutional framework.

After all, for Jerome Bonaparte, the risk of a coup was too great, and his legitimacy came from the Republic.

Recklessly denying the Republic would not be beneficial for his rule, a view widely accepted by those in the "Social Democratic Faction."

No secrets can be kept indefinitely, especially for Marcel Yale, who controlled the entire Paris underworld and secret police.

Having received intelligence from a servant planted in a certain "Social Democratic Faction" member's home, Marcel Yale reported the situation to Jerome Bonaparte as soon as possible.

Upon hearing Marcel Yale's report, Jerome Bonaparte couldn't help but laugh loudly at the "foolishness" of the "Social Democratic Faction."

To cater to this notion shared by the "Social Democratic Faction," Jerome Bonaparte decided to first lull this group of "Social Democratic Faction" members into complacency.

...

On the morning of November 6th, a sudden rainstorm enveloped all of Paris, and cold currents accompanied the storm, sweeping through the city.

At the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées, the Elysee Palace.

Jerome Bonaparte walked out of the Elysee Palace alone, taking an umbrella handed to him by Valerovsky, carefully holding it over his head, and with Valerovsky accompanying him, he slowly walked out of the garden outside the Elysee Palace to the palace gates.

By this time, the Champs-Élysées under the rainstorm was already deserted, with only the distant sound of horses' hooves and howling winds, dense raindrops falling on the umbrella with a pitter-patter, and rainwater trickling down the ribs of the umbrella, forming a natural curtain.

Going out in such a rainstorm was not a wise choice, Valerovsky quietly mused to himself.

However, since the President wanted to go out, he had no choice but to follow Jerome Bonaparte outside.

Valerovsky and Jerome Bonaparte set out south along the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées, soon reaching the edge of the Seine River. Jerome Bonaparte gazed into the distance, feeling a sense of openness, while Valerovsky, standing beside him, did not share the same sentiment. He carefully avoided puddles and came to Jerome Bonaparte's side to ask, "Sir, should we head back?"

"No need to rush!" Jerome Bonaparte laughed as he walked under an eave, gently shaking his leg, sending countless water droplets flying in all directions.

Despite the sudden rainstorm, and although Jerome Bonaparte held an umbrella, he could only keep his upper body dry, while everything below his knees was completely soaked.

After waiting under the eave for about 10 minutes, the force of the rainstorm began to lessen.

"Let's go!" Jerome Bonaparte reopened the umbrella and stepped into the rain once more.

Valerovsky had no choice but to follow closely behind Jerome Bonaparte.

The two continued walking in the rain for nearly half an hour until Jerome Bonaparte finally stopped in front of a mansion.

"Let's go!" Jerome Bonaparte entered the courtyard of the mansion amid Valerovsky's astonishment.

He climbed the steps of the mansion to the front door, put away his umbrella, and gently knocked on the door of the mansion.

"Who is it?" A woman's voice came from inside the mansion.

"Is Deputy Tocqueville at home?" Jerome Bonaparte asked amiably.

The mansion door opened just a crack, and a woman with coffee-colored hair appeared in between.

"Mr. President!" Seeing who it was, the woman's face showed a look of surprise.

"Madam!" Jerome Bonaparte continued to smile and asked Madam Tocqueville again, "Is Deputy Tocqueville at home?"

"Yes! Yes!" Madam Tocqueville nodded eagerly, opening the door wide and inviting Jerome Bonaparte in, "Mr. President, please come in quickly!"

Jerome Bonaparte and Valerovsky were arranged by Madam Tocqueville to sit on the sofa in the first-floor living room. Madam Tocqueville apologetically told Jerome Bonaparte that her husband did not know he was coming, so he was still resting on the second floor.

"Could you please ask Deputy Tocqueville to come down?" Jerome Bonaparte politely responded to Madam Tocqueville.

In a hurry, Madam Tocqueville had the servant bring up cakes and coffee, then went to the bedroom herself to wake Tocqueville.

After Jerome Bonaparte and Valerovsky finished enjoying the cakes, Deputy Tocqueville finally came downstairs.

Seeing Tocqueville's weary look and red eyes, Jerome Bonaparte instantly knew that Tocqueville must have stayed up all night.

"Mr. President, please forgive a man who hasn't slept all night for being neglectful towards you!" Tocqueville, sitting on the sofa, said to Jerome Bonaparte with a yawn.

"Hmm? It seems Mr. Tocqueville has a rich nightlife!" A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of Jerome Bonaparte's mouth.

Tocqueville spread his hands and smiled helplessly, not wanting to explain anything.

After slightly livening up the atmosphere, Jerome Bonaparte moved on to the main topic: "Mr. Tocqueville, I believe you are aware of the constitutional amendment a few days ago!"

Jerome Bonaparte's inquiry swept away Tocqueville's drowsiness, and he revealed a stern expression: "If you are here to persuade me, Mr. President, there is no need because I voted in favor at the time."

"Thank you very much!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled and said to Tocqueville.

"It's nothing! I just believe that if you continue to lead France, it can slowly transition to a true republican system. God knows what the next president will be like. If things go wrong, we might end up choosing a king to take the stage!" Deputy Tocqueville waved his hand and said.

Of course, there was one thing he didn't say out loud. That was that he was equally afraid of Jerome Bonaparte launching a military coup.

"No one understands the republican system better than I do!" Jerome Bonaparte responded without any modesty.

"But Mr. President, you still failed! Your votes still fall short of the three-quarters needed to amend the constitution!" Tocqueville regretfully said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"That's why I came to see you!" Jerome Bonaparte seized the opportunity to say.

"Mr. President, I have no ability to persuade my colleagues to support you! They are more stubborn than I am!" Tocqueville wanted to refuse Jerome Bonaparte.

"Please tell your Republican friends that there were some misunderstandings between us before, but I believe these misunderstandings will fade over time! Now I need a group of talented Republicans in my cabinet to help me govern this country!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Tocqueville.

A surge of impulse welled up uncontrollably in Tocqueville's heart; under France's officialdom mentality, no one disliked holding a ministerial or leading position in the cabinet.

After a momentary impulse, Tocqueville calmed down again: "Mr. President, if I'm not mistaken, taking a ministerial position in your cabinet comes with a certain price, right?"

"I hope the Republicans can cast their supporting votes in the next constitutional amendment!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Tocqueville: "Don't the Republicans advocate that all power comes from the people? As long as the French people support me, why do we still need the Legislative Assembly's agreement? Conversely, if the French people do not support my retention, then I will have no attachment whatsoever. Everything shall be decided by the people!"

Jerome Bonaparte, adopting a democratic stance, spoke to Tocqueville.

After a moment of silence, Tocqueville responded to Jerome Bonaparte: "Mr. President, I can try to persuade my colleagues for you, but I cannot guarantee whether they will indeed change their stance."

"Mr. Tocqueville, as long as you are willing to help, that is enough!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Tocqueville with "great delight."

After finishing the business discussion, the two chatted for a while longer. From Tocqueville, Jerome Bonaparte learned that he seemed to be conceiving a book about the late Bourbon Dynasty.

Jerome Bonaparte suddenly recalled Tocqueville's famous work, "The Old Regime and the French Revolution," and half-jokingly, half-seriously, promised Tocqueville he would certainly read it once it was completed.

By the time Jerome Bonaparte and Valerovsky left Deputy Tocqueville's mansion, it was already eleven in the morning, and the heavy rain had turned into a gentle drizzle.

Jerome Bonaparte looked up at the dark clouds in the sky and uttered a mysterious phrase, "Tomorrow should be sunny!"

Valerovsky looked at Jerome Bonaparte with a puzzled expression, not quite understanding his meaning.

Was the President talking about the weather, or was there a hidden implication?

"Let's go!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Valerovsky.

Holding umbrellas, the two took advantage of the slightly lessened rain to return to the Elysee Palace.

Meanwhile, several hundred kilometers from Paris, in the Hesse-Kassel Principality, a great war was about to break out between two of the most powerful countries in the entire German region, Prussia and Austria.