Chapter 1033: Family affairs, state affairs, world affairs
By the time Jérôme Bonaparte had finished dealing with the potential "opposition" within the empire, time had quietly arrived at the beginning of 1859.
The annual imperial financial royal meeting is about to be held at the Tuileries Palace. The person responsible for organizing the meeting is still the "chief steward" of the French Empire, Achille Fuld. His close war (
Walking) Friend (dog) Minister of Public Transport Barroche, and Governor of the Bank of France, Gilles Lebesgue de Bemini.
Just when everything was ready, a telegram from the Austrian Empire interrupted the upcoming imperial meeting.
"Your Majesty, Marshal of the Austrian Empire, Count Johann Joseph Wenzel Radetzky von Radetz, died of illness in Venice at 5 pm on January 5, 1859 at the age of 93!"
When Foreign Minister De Ruys, holding a telegram, entered the royal meeting hall and read the news of Radetzky's death to Jerome Bonaparte, Jerome Bonaparte showed a look of sadness on his face.
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At the same time, a trace of sadness caused by Radetzky's death also poured into Jerome Bonaparte's heart, causing Jerome Bonaparte to think about it.
Radetzky, a star active in the Napoleonic era, ultimately failed to withstand the erosion of time and unfortunately died in the early stages of the era of change.
But he was very lucky, because he did not have to witness the decline and destruction of Austria with his own eyes.
And I will eventually grow old like Marshal Radetzky. Will I witness the destruction of the empire like the emperor in history (Bonaparte)?
Thinking of this, Jerome Bonaparte had no intention of continuing the imperial meeting. He looked at Achille Fuld and said with a hint of apology, "Fulder, the imperial meeting can be postponed!"
Achille Fuld also saw that Jerome Bonaparte was no longer in good condition at this moment, so he had to stand up and bow to Jerome Bonaparte and said, "Your Majesty, of course!"
Seeing that the royal council was about to end, Barroche and Count Bemini also stood up, and the three of them bid farewell to Jérôme Bonaparte at the same time.
After Bemini, Barosche and Fuld all left, Jérôme Bonaparte extended his hand to invite De Ruys to the smaller room next door for a conversation.
After De Ruys and Jérôme Bonaparte entered the room, a warmth immediately penetrated from the sleeves of his clothes into every pore of his skin.
Compared with the fireplace in the imperial conference hall, the fireplace here is obviously much more useful.
Of course, this also has a lot to do with the size of the room.
Later, Jérôme Bonaparte and De Ruys sat beside the sofa with a burning oak fireplace.
The orange flames illuminated Jerome Bonaparte's serious expression, making him more intimidating than before.
After a while, Jerome Bonaparte asked, "Ruys, should we send a representative to express condolences to Radetzky!"
"Your Majesty, this is exactly the purpose of my visit this time!" De Ruys said to Jerome Bonaparte, "In view of the fact that the Austrian Empire and the imperial government have always been in a friendly and cooperative partnership.
I think the empire should not only express its condolences for Radetzkid’s death in a telegram, but also send a relatively important person to attend Radetzky’s funeral!”
"Who do you think we should send to the funeral?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked de Luys calmly.
"Your Majesty, I think it is best for the people attending the funeral not to be too official figures.
It would be great if he could be someone from the same period as Marshal Radetzki!
Of course, the title of those who attend condolences cannot be too low!" De Ruys said tactfully to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jérôme Bonaparte immediately understood the candidate de Luys had in mind.
"If I guess correctly, you want Prince Montfort (old Jérôme) to come to express condolences!" Jérôme Bonaparte said to De Ruys with a wink.
"If it is Prince Montfort, that would be great!" De Ruys still said to Jerome Bonaparte euphemistically.
De Ruys then begged Jérôme Bonaparte not to betray him to Prince Montfort.
"Don't worry! I won't betray you!" Jérôme Bonaparte couldn't help laughing, and then warned, "But during the funeral of Radetzki, you must pay close attention to all developments in the Apennine Peninsula.
.”
"Your Majesty, are you planning to attack Italy again?" De Luys asked with a somewhat helpless tone.
"It's not me!" Jerome Bonaparte said to De Ruys in a low voice, "I suspect that the Kingdom of Sardinia will take advantage of this gap period to make some big news again!"
"Sardinia? No way! How dare they!" De Ruys looked in disbelief.
You must know that Sardinia was taught a lesson by France and Austria some time ago, and now it is about to start jumping again.
"If there is a big country behind Sardinia to support it..." Jérôme Bonaparte meant it.
De Luys immediately understood which great power Jérôme Bonaparte was talking about.
"If Sardinia really cooperates with Britain, should we give Austria a reminder?" De Ruys asked Jerome Bonaparte again.
"No need to remind! We have already helped the Austrian Empire enough!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his head and said to De Ruys.
"Understood! I will always pay attention to the movements of Apennines!"
After the conversation, De Ruys said goodbye to Jerome Bonaparte.
After De Ruys left, Jérôme Bonaparte called for Basilio, the steward.
"Prepare a carriage for me, I'm going to Prince Montfort's house!"
Basilio quickly provided Jerome Bonaparte with a carriage and a company of guards.
At this moment, the snow in Paris has not completely melted. The horses with iron nails in their horseshoes are walking on the well-trodden snow step by step. The cold wind slaps the glass of the car window wantonly, making a clicking sound.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Sitting in the carriage, Jerome Bonaparte looked out the window at the scenery slowly moving backwards, quietly waiting for the arrival of the carriage.
The carriage drove for about 20 minutes and finally arrived at the Bois de Boulogne on the outskirts of Paris. The residence of Prince Montfort is located at the top of a slope in the Bois de Boulogne.
The carriage climbed slowly through the garden outside the mansion (the garden was located on a slope), and then stopped in an open space outside the mansion.
The stewards of the Montfort Mansion saw all this early, and they immediately reported the situation to Prince Montfort.
Therefore, when Jerome Bonaparte stepped off the carriage, Prince Montfort and everyone in the mansion were already waiting at the gate.
"His Majesty the Emperor is welcome to the residence!" Prince Montfort said to Jerome Bonaparte in a playful tone.
"Father!" Jérôme Bonaparte responded half helplessly and half respectfully.
Later, Jérôme Bonaparte entered the mansion under the guidance of Prince Montfort.
Sitting on the sofa, Jérôme Bonaparte informed Prince Montfort of the death of Radetzky.
"Our generation is running out!" After hearing that Radetzky died of illness, Prince Montfort had a complicated look in his eyes. "I'm afraid it won't be long before I go to meet your mother!"
"That will wait until Frederic grows up!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Prince Montfort, "Radetzky is already 93 years old, and you are only 76!"
"So, I still have more than ten years!" Prince Montfort said with a hint of ridicule.
"certainly!"
Then, Jérôme Bonaparte told Prince de Luys's proposal to Prince Montfort.
After hearing this, Prince Montfort did not express his approval or disapproval, but instead discussed the issue of Jerome Paterson with Jerome Bonaparte.
"That child Patterson is so difficult! His mother has been since he was a child..." Prince Montfort told Jerome Bonaparte about Jerome Patterson's past.
"Father, what do you want me to do for Paterson!" Jérôme Bonaparte immediately understood what Monfort meant.
"Well... you are already the emperor of the empire, so you don't need the title of Montfort, so can you transfer this title to someone else!" Prince Montfort said hesitantly to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte immediately showed a gloomy expression after hearing this. He understood that his father still did not give up the idea of transferring the title to Jerome Patterson.
Prince Montfort curled up slightly and his tone became softer: "If it really doesn't work, then forget it!"
Looking at his frightened father in front of him, Jerome Bonaparte's expression gradually calmed down. He asked calmly, "Father, in addition to telling me about the transfer of the title, you also told other people.
No!"
"No!" Prince Montfort shook his head and replied, "I have only been thinking about this matter recently!
I'm getting old and don't have much time left!
So I want to give them some compensation within my ability at the last moment of my life!"
"Compensate!" Jerome Bonaparte showed a mocking look on his face, "Father, you have to compensate your son and grandson who were abandoned by you in the early years. I don't care!
However, I hope you don’t compensate with something that is not entirely yours!
The title of Montfort does not entirely belong to you, it is equally important to my sister (Mathilde) and me!"
"I know, that's why I want to ask for your opinion!" Old Jerome, who knew he was in the wrong, said with a smile.
"I will not agree with you giving this title to Jerome Patterson!
If Augusta and I are lucky enough to have a second child, I will let him inherit this title!" Jerome Bonaparte replied without any hesitation.
"Okay!" Old Jerome had no choice but to give up the thought in his heart.
"However!" Jerome Bonaparte changed the topic and continued: "If Jerome Patterson obtains merit commensurate with his status, I will also consider canonizing him as an imperial prince!"