The banquet lasted from seven o'clock to nine o'clock in the evening. At the suggestion of Jerome Bonaparte, everyone who was full of wine and food went to the lounge on the second floor of the Tuileries Palace to play poker.
Unknowingly, everyone was fighting from nine o'clock in the evening to twelve o'clock in the night.
After the copper grandfather clock located in the corner of the room solemnly rang twelve times, Jerome Bonaparte, who had ended the game, put down the playing cards in his hand and yawned.
"It's getting late everyone, let's end today's entertainment and go home early to rest!"
Achille Fuld and Baros quickly stood up and bowed to Jérôme Bonaparte.
Bemini, who was sitting on the sofa in another part of the room, also stopped playing chess with Queen Augusta when he saw this, and bowed down to apologize to Augusta.
Queen Augusta smiled and expressed her understanding, "Mr. Bemini, I hope I will have the opportunity to continue playing chess with you next time!"
"Your Majesty, thank you for your love!" Bemini replied humbly to Queen Augusta.
Later, Jerome Bonaparte called Basilio and ordered him to send a team of guards to deliver the three ministers safely to their homes.
Public security in the 19th century is different from that in the 21st century. Even in Paris, which has experienced many severe crackdowns, organizations similar to the underworld will inevitably reappear in dark corners.
Of course, the threat from the underworld is not that deadly.
Because no matter how desperate the gangster is, he will be restrained by his superiors rationally. Unprovoked killings are rare, and at most they are kidnapping and extortion.
However, there is an organization that is more powerful and extreme than the underworld. They have ideals and courage and can kill people for the "morality" in their hearts.
If they think that killing imperial ministers can help realize their ideals, then they will do it without hesitation.
This group of people is an organization of exiles living in Paris. Some of them are republicans from Hungary (for example: Kossuth), some are Carbonari parties in Italy (for example: Mazzini), and some are Rhineland separatists in the Kingdom of Prussia.
power.
All in all, these people are the most unstable factor in Paris.
However, even if these exiles were so unstable, Jérôme Bonaparte was unwilling to expel them.
Because these exiles represent a political force and the potential opposition force of the enemy country.
This political force is usually of little use, but when Jerome Bonaparte wants to take action against an enemy country, these exiles will give Jerome Bonaparte unexpected help.
Take Kossuth, the Hungarian exile leader.
If one day the French Empire wants to have a war with the Austrian Empire, then Kossuth can use his connections in Hungary to contain the Austrian Empire.
In order to guard against threats in the Hungarian region, the Austrian Empire certainly did not dare to fully commit its main force to the battle.
For the French Empire, this was no less than 100,000 elites.
The previous assassination of Orsini gave Jerome Bonaparte an excuse to intervene in Italy.
If it hadn't been for that assassination, Jerome Bonaparte really didn't know what method he would have used to take Savoy and Nice from Sardinia.
Therefore, these exile organizations are a double-edged sword for the Empire.
While they threaten the order and security of the empire, they are also a valuable asset to the empire.
In order to prevent these exiles from organizing assassinations like they did in the past, it is very necessary to arrange for the Guards to escort them.
The three ministers present also understood Jerome Bonaparte's good intentions, and they expressed their most sincere gratitude to Jerome Bonaparte.
Under the watch of Jerome Bonaparte, Basilio led the three ministers out of the room.
Only Jérôme Bonaparte and Augusta were left in the room.
Augusta asked Jérôme Bonaparte, "Do you really believe that Baros and Achille Fuld will work together?"
Jérôme Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders, smiled and shook his head and responded to Augusta, "How is it possible? Baros's behavior is undoubtedly a shameful betrayal for Achille Fuld!
Just look at Achille Fuld's attitude towards Count Morny and you will know what kind of position Baros holds in Achille Fuld's heart.
Our finance minister only hates Baros more than Morni!
What's more, behind Baros stood Baron George Haussmann.
Our respected Minister Fuld’s hatred for Baron Haussmann cannot be washed away even by all the water in the Seine!”
When Augusta heard Jérôme Bonaparte's metaphor, he couldn't help laughing.
"The reason why Minister Achille Fuld and Baron George Osman are like this is not all because of you!"
"Slander! This is a naked slander!" Jérôme Bonaparte said righteously to Augusta, "When did I become a villain who instigated fights among my subordinates!
Who in the whole of Paris does not know that I am the most just and selfless monarch!
My government supports me, my ministers admire me, my army loves me, and even my wife (Jérôme Bonaparte glanced at Augusta subconsciously) adores me!”
After hearing Jerome Bonaparte's shameless speech, Augusta immediately rolled his eyes at Jerome Bonaparte and said, "My great Majesty!
Can you please tell me about this ignorant wife!
You hinted that Baron Georges Haussmann could use hidden bonds to maintain the construction of Paris, and at the same time appointed a "budgetist" like Minister Achille Fuld as Chancellor of the Exchequer!
Isn’t it a check and balance?”
"Cough...cough!" Jérôme Bonaparte cleared his throat and said fiercely, "My wife, you seem to know too much!
What should I do with you!"
Empress Augusta raised her hands in a standard Third Republic state ceremony.
Just as Jérôme Bonaparte and Augusta were laughing and joking, the three ministers, guided by Basilio, arrived at the open space under the steps of the main entrance of the Tuileries Palace. Basilio said to those present
The three of them bowed and said, "Your Excellencies, please allow me to go to the stables to make arrangements first!
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The carriage responsible for delivering the three Your Excellencies safely will arrive soon!"
Having said that, Basilio drifted away under the illumination of the tall street lamps on both sides of the garden.
As Basilio gradually disappeared into the night, Baros, who wanted to make peace with Achille Fuld, opened his mouth to express his goodwill to Achille Fuld, "Your Excellency Fuld,
I hope the Ministry of Finance can take good care of it!"
Baros reached out his hand to shake hands with Achille Fuld as a sign of reconciliation.
Had George Haussmann's large-scale infrastructure project not hit his restless heart of power, Baros would not have chosen to break with Achille Fuld.
Since the emperor has said that they should reconcile, he believes that Achille Fuld will not embarrass him too much.
Baros thought so.
However, there is always a big difference between ideal and reality.
Faced with Baros's overtures of kindness, Achille Fuld still maintained an attitude of rejecting others.
"Mr. Baros, there is no need to shake hands between the two of us!"
Baros couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in his heart, but he did not explode. Instead, he said to Achille Fuld in a half-threatening and half-pleasant language, "Your Excellency Fuld, Your Majesty ordered our two departments to work together."
Cooperate, I don’t think you will refute it!
If you need it, my public transportation department and I are willing to complete the tasks assigned by His Majesty under your leadership!"
"No need!" Achille Fuld shook his head and rejected Baros again, "Neither of our two departments is a vassal of the other, so there is no such thing as one leading the other!
Since His Majesty ordered our two departments to work together, then I will naturally obey the order!"
Having said this, Achille Fuld changed the topic, looked at Baros coldly and said, "However, I will send full-time personnel from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Public Transport to supervise every money of the Ministry of Public Transport.
circulation to prevent the Ministry of Public Transport from wasting money in unnecessary places!
I think Mr. Baros would agree with me doing this!
Of course, even if you don’t agree, I will still do it!”
"Agree! How could you disagree? We wish our colleagues in the Ministry of Finance would be stricter on us!"
The veins on Baros's temples popped out, and his hands that were hanging down unconsciously clenched into balls.
Not to mention how aggrieved he felt at this moment!
"If you are willing to cooperate, that would be great!" Ashil Fuld still maintained a proud posture.
Then, Achille Fuld paused for a moment and continued, "By the way, please congratulate Mr. George Osman on my behalf!"
"Congratulations?" Baros looked at Achille Fuld in confusion.
"Yes!" Achille Fuld nodded and responded to Baros, "Now that he has successfully taken control of the Ministry of Public Transport, isn't it something worthy of congratulations?
Believe me, you will become a puppet in his hands before long!
When he held important positions in other provinces, he liked to evade his superiors."
Baros only showed timidity for a moment, and then quickly calmed down and said, "Mr. Fuld, I can think that you are sowing discord!"
"If you think so, then I have nothing to say!" Achille Fuld showed an indifferent attitude, "However, I want to remind you one thing!
In the emperor's mind, the initiator of this project (road renovation) will never be you, but George Osman!"
Having said that, Achille Fuld said no more.
Soon, three carriages and dozens of heavily armed guards appeared in front of them.
Achille Fuld, Baros, and Bemini got into the carriage prepared by Basilio.
After everyone got on the carriage, the carriage moved along the Tuileries Garden under the flickering candlelight of the tall street lamps on both sides.