General Renault watched happily as all the officers present were courting him, or to be precise, the president behind him.
In the French army, gaining the allegiance of others is nothing more than fame and fortune.
He has led them to gain enough benefits in the Roman campaign.
In order to protect the vested interests of the army, General Regno often received complaints from the bishops under Pope Pius IX.
This army can be said to have pocketed one-third of the wealth of the city of Rome. Everyone in the expeditionary force owed General Regno a favor, so General Regno was unanimously supported by all members of the expeditionary force.
Now, General Reño is using the Ministry of War to attract them. How can this not make these Qiuba even more loyal to the president?
Not to mention them, even Brigadier General Niel, who usually has no obvious partisanship, was also a little moved.
The chaotic scene gradually came to an end when General Rennault remained silent, and everyone focused their attention on General Rennault.
"It's making trouble! Keep making trouble! Why don't you make trouble any more!" General Renault pointed at all the officers present in a mocking tone and said with a smile: "Look at what you are like now, you are just like a group of bandits gathered together to make a fuss.
Divide the spoils! Do you still look like a soldier?"
Fewer officers showed shameful smiles, while more had developed a thick skin.
After "reprimanding" these gangsters, General Renault then reassured: "Don't worry! Can the President forget your merits? Didn't the letter say that you will get the rewards you deserve!"
"Long live the President, long live the Empire!"
Edgar Ney shouted loudly, and all the officers present also shouted with Edgar Ney.
After that, several military officers took advantage of the situation and shouted, "We don't know anyone except the president!"
For a time, the entire conference hall was filled with an atmosphere of "loyalty".
"Okay!! Your loyal president already understands, there is no need to continue shouting slogans over and over again!" General Regno raised his hand to lower his voice, and then said: "I will leave for Paris tomorrow!"
Except for Edgar Ney, everyone expressed surprise at General Renault's sudden departure.
Brigadier General Niel hesitated for a moment and then said: "Commander, if you leave rashly without an order from the Ministry of War, I'm afraid..."
Niel suddenly realized that General Renault did not necessarily need an order from the Ministry of War to take over the position of Minister of War.
As long as the president opens the back door for him and makes up for the formalities afterwards, it will be fine.
"Don't worry!" General Renault said nonchalantly: "Those guys in the Ministry of War can't do anything to me!"
"General, what will happen to the expeditionary force while you are away?" Brigadier General Niel then asked General Regio.
"Brigadier General Niel!" General Renault said to Niel with a serious expression.
"Yes!" Brigadier General Niel instantly stood up and waited for General Regno's next order.
"During my absence, you will serve as acting commander of the Roman Expeditionary Force!" General Regno gave the order to Brigadier General Niel, and then turned to all the officers present and said: "During my absence, you will
Strictly keep confidentiality to the outside world! Don’t let the outside world know that I have left the army! Although I am not afraid of impeachment by those weaklings in the Department of War, I also don’t want to cause trouble to the president at this juncture! Do you understand?”
"Got it!" the officers responded to General Renault with great enthusiasm.
"Don't worry! It won't be long before you can escape from Rome and return to Paris! By then, you will all be the pillars of the Ministry of War! By the way, I heard that your Excellency the President also has a military secretariat. Maybe you can
Will be assigned there!"
As the Papal State gradually entered the formal stage, the French army of nearly 20,000 people became a burden on the entire Papal State. Therefore, under the "negotiation" between Pius IX and the French ambassador to the Papal State, the French army retained a force of nearly 3,000 people.
The troops are protecting the safety of Rome and the Pope near Rome. The remaining troops will be withdrawn to Paris one after another after October. Therefore, General Renault drew a big visible and tangible picture to everyone present.
Pie, but they need to wait some time.
Witnessed by General Renault and Edgar Ney, the officers once again shouted for loyalty to the president.
The meeting ended at 11 o'clock in the evening, and Brigadier General Niel was once again specially retained by Renault.
"General Rennault!" Niel still adhered to the military style and said to General Rennault without being humble or arrogant.
"Not bad!" General Renault nodded with satisfaction and said: "It seems like a real general. It is worthy of His Majesty to mention you in the letter!"
Brigadier General Niel was stunned for a moment. When he reacted, he instantly understood that "Your Majesty" was referring to Jérôme Bonaparte of the Elysee Palace. He was surprised that his reputation could reach the ears of the president.
"General, thank you!" Brigadier General Niel believed that it was because of the general's recommendation that he was able to appear in the president's perspective.
"It's not me!" Renault shook his head and responded to Niel. He also didn't understand why the president specifically singled out Brigadier General Niel. Is it just because he was the largest officer in the expeditionary force besides himself?
General Regno and Brigadier Niel would probably not know it even if they broke their heads, because their president has read the entire magnificent chapter of the Second Empire. In this magnificent chapter, Niel and his "Nielfa"
It occupies an important part of the entire chapter.
It is a pity that the "Niel method" was formed too late.
If the "Nierfa" had appeared earlier, France could have used the Nielfa to expand its army by 500,000 and its reserves by 300,000, which is equivalent to more than 800,000 troops. If the National Guards from various places are included,
, the outcome of the Franco-Prussian War will probably end with Napoleon III entering the Rhineland.
As long as Prussia shows its decline, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will never mind stabbing Prussia when it resists Germany, and then stage the drama of "the return of the Austrian Emperor".
"Your Majesty wants you to serve as the engineering director of the Ministry of War and manage the logistics work of the army! I don't know, what are your ideas?" General Renault asked General Niel in a consultative tone.
"I obey His Majesty's orders!" Brigadier General Niel immediately showed his intention to move closer to the President.
"Yes! After I become the Minister of War, I will immediately transfer you to the Ministry of War!" General Renault assured Brigadier General Niel.
…
Early the next morning, when it was still dark.
General Regno, wearing civilian clothes, hurriedly left Rome without anyone noticing and arrived at the port of Civitavecchia around 10 noon.
The ship arrived at the port of Marseille after a night's journey. After disembarking, General Renault hired a carriage to go to Lyon.
Finally arrived in Lyon from Marseille Port in the evening.
The depressed scene in Lyon surprised Renault. It was only after Renault found a hotel to spend the night that he learned about it from the hotel owner.
A cholera outbreak occurred in Lyon half a month ago. Cholera caused the loss of a part of the population of Lyon, which was already affected by the "red" infestation, and was once again plagued by the disease.
The unexplained cholera lasted for two weeks before it was brought under control with the cooperation of Dr. Lyon.
"Alas! I heard that a marshal died in the military camp! Lyon's life is getting worse and worse!" the hotel owner sighed.
marshal?
General Renault remembered that the Italian Front was stationed in Lyon, and the person in charge of the Italian Front seemed to be Marshal Biro.
Thinking of this, General Renault couldn't help but regret the death of Marshal Biro.
After a night of repairs, General Renault set off again by train to Paris.
When the train entered Paris that night, General Renault, who did not want to be exposed prematurely, had to change his appearance and live in the mixed Saint-Germain district. At the same time, he wrote a letter and delivered it to Eugène Rouet's mansion.
After receiving the letter, Eugène Rouet immediately went to the Elysée Palace to report the news about General Reignaud to Jérôme Bonaparte.
"Huh? General Rennault is back? Where is he now?" After hearing the news about Rennault, Jérôme Bonaparte immediately stood up and asked Eugène Rouet.
Eugène Rouet handed the letter to Jérôme Bonaparte. After reading the letter, Jérôme Bonaparte nodded to Eugène Rouet, and then ordered the dragoon general to be the military secretary.
The adjutant in the office, Canrobert, called over.
After receiving the order from Jérôme Bonaparte, the dragoons quickly rode to the Military Secretariat to convey the president's order to Canrobert.
While discussing with Leboeuf and others to draw a military defense and topographic map of the Near East, Canrobert could only put down the work at hand and go to the Elysée Palace.
"Your Majesty, do you have any new instructions?" Canrobert asked, standing upright in front of Jerome Bonaparte.
"General Renault, the commander of the expeditionary force, has arrived in Paris! It is not convenient for me to meet with him now. I want you to get in touch first! You will become colleagues working together in the future!" Jérôme Bonaparte said to him
Conrobel said.
"General Renault? I am willing to serve you, Your Majesty!"
Since the last banquet, Canrobert already knew that General Renault would become the Minister of War.
However, he just kept a calm mind about it.
After many days of working with the President, Canrobert discovered that the President attached far greater importance to the Office of the Military Secretariat than to the Department of War, and some of the functions of the Department of War had been divested by Minister Liouelli.
Although the Presidential Military Secretariat is currently only a department under the Ministry of War and under the jurisdiction of the President, the future Military Secretariat will definitely become the person who actually commands the military.
As the first leader of the Military Secretariat, he will surely be the one to command the entire French army.
Thinking of this, Canrobert couldn't help but straighten his back.