Chapter two hundred and forty seventh dismantling the arrangement of military power
As soon as the "notification" was issued, the entire War Department was enveloped in a tense atmosphere, and the entire department was silent. Both academic technical military bureaucrats and actual combat soldiers knew that the next conflict would be staged in Paris.
If things go wrong, the whole of Paris will fall into civil strife.
Fortunately, the Ministry of War, which had been reorganized by Minister Renault and General Saint-Arnaud, did not fall into the same situation as a month ago because of this notification. The entire department was still operating in an orderly manner.
At 8:30 a.m., the heads of various departments and officials from the Ministry of War at the deputy director level or above received a notice from Minister Renault to convene a meeting at 9:30, and all departments were required to restrain their members to prevent the information from leaking.
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Everyone in the department knew that this was probably the War Department's pre-war mobilization.
Therefore, small and medium-sized bureaucrats in various departments of the Ministry of War first warned their subordinates not to cause trouble for themselves. Some division chiefs even used a model of mutual supervision among department officials to ensure that no one leaked the information and injured themselves.
At around 8:50, department-level and deputy-level officials from the Ministry of War arrived at the meeting location one after another. They found their positions according to their rank and the names placed on the table.
At 9:10, the director and deputy directors were all in place, and the director and deputy directors began to arrive at their corresponding positions one after another.
At 9:20, Bazin and Trochu, representatives of the secretariat members, arrived at the venue and sat down.
Minister Renault and General Saint-Arnault arrived at 9:25. However, what is strange is that Minister Renault and General Saint-Arnault did not sit in the presiding position, but sat on the left and right sides of the presiding seat.
Both sides.
At 9:30, a person who surprised even the members of the War Department appeared at the War Department.
"Hello, everyone!" Jérôme Bonaparte, who was supposed to be at the Elysée Palace, actually appeared at the Ministry of War. Judging from his appearance, he should be the person responsible for presiding over this meeting.
Sure enough, Jérôme Bonaparte smiled and sat in the seat that should have belonged to Minister Regno.
"Originally I didn't want to come!!" Jérôme Bonaparte cleared his throat and said calmly: "However, this action is too important, so I have to come here in person.
!”
After saying that, Jerome Bonaparte's eyes became sharp and his tone became aggressive: "Everyone, I think you don't understand what this morning's announcement is about!"
He paused, and then Ruida, who seemed to be minding his own business, said: "Yes, I want to remove Changarnier, this incompetent commander! Two years, two full years, Changarnier has done nothing in this position.
! I will never allow such people to exist in the army. The existence of Changarnier is the greatest blasphemy to us and this pure army!"
"That's right! We should put an end to incompetent generals like Changarnier!" Minister Renault said in support.
"We will never condone Changarnier's behavior. We must treat guys like Changarnier with a zero-tolerance attitude! I ask you to maintain a state of undisclosed martial law and respond to emergencies at any time.
.As soon as there is a problem, it must be dealt with immediately!" Jérôme Bonaparte's serious expression combined with his uncle-like face gave the War Department bureaucrats an invisible sense of oppression: "For us, it is extremely critical now.
At this time, we must not take it lightly! Whoever dares to neglect his duties and tip off information at this time will be the sinner of the entire country and the entire nation, and military court will be his final destination, do you understand?"
"Got it!" Faced with Jérôme Bonaparte's naked threat, the bureaucrats who had already been tamed and the soldiers who were inclined to Bonaparte had no chance of resisting. They hurriedly shouted and expressed it with a loud voice.
own loyalty.
"Of course, you don't have to be afraid of anything!" Jerome Bonaparte released another good news after being harsh: "The Second and Third Brigades of Paris, as well as most of the National Guard commanders, are inclined to
Our people! He will faithfully carry out the orders of the Ministry of War! You only need to suppress those members who are unwilling to obey the orders!"
"Yes!" The officials of the Ministry of War were obviously relieved. As long as two brigades were willing to obey their command, they would naturally have the confidence to suppress the only brigade under Changarnier.
"Okay! I have finished what I want to say, and the rest will be left to your ministers and state secretaries!" Jérôme Bonaparte calmly bid farewell to the members of the Ministry of War.
Before leaving the meeting, Jérôme Bonaparte did not forget to give the members of the War Department this pie: "Please rest assured! God sees your efforts! God will give them all the rewards they want.
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After rejecting the escort request of Minister Regno and Minister Saint-Arnaud, Jérôme Bonaparte left alone from the back door and took an inconspicuous black carriage to leave the Ministry of War. He was about to go to the second place.
The location was the headquarters of Havas News Agency, and he wanted to use this time to find something to do for Commander Changarnier.
After Jerome Bonaparte left, Minister Renault sat in Jerome Bonaparte's seat. He said sternly in a characteristic rough voice: "Everyone, I believe you should understand. Now you are going to face
What is it! So, I want to remind you that what we are about to face is a war that absolutely cannot be lost. I know that some people will be paralyzed and careless because of the president’s words just now, so we must be more cautious about form...
"
General Saint-Arnault also took over what Minister Renault said and continued: "No matter what, challenges and opportunities always coexist in this world. You have to work hard to get what you want. The president has just said that we are facing
The right risks are nothing compared to the rewards! I sincerely hope that you can work hard for your own future!"
Next, Minister Renault began to make strategic arrangements.
Thanks to the decree a month ago, the Ministry of War has absolute control over the military.
Minister Renault quickly ordered members of the Ministry of War to go to the garrison of the National Guard and the army, and deliver Jérôme Bonaparte's report to the commanders of each of his subordinate units. If necessary, he could also use appropriate threats.
The commander made them afraid to disobey orders.
"Once Changarnier is dismissed from his official position, his position as commander of the regular army will be taken over by Major General Charles Couzin Montauban, and his position as National Guard officer will be taken over by General Barague Dillier!" Regno
The minister went on to explain Changarnier's official position arrangement to the bureaucrats of the Ministry of War: "In the final analysis, the commander of the regular army and the commander of the National Guard was originally an expedient measure! The National Guard formed by those rich men is no more loyal than our army... They
It will always cause us a series of troubles!"
The bureaucrats at the Ministry of War who were present all understood what Minister Renault meant. Compared with the "honest and humble" army, the National Guard was too noisy.
From the First Empire to the Kingdom of Orleans in 1815, 1830, and 1848, the armies formed by these small bourgeoisie could always play a role in fueling the war.
Whether it was Jérôme Bonaparte or Louis Napoleon in history, they didn't like such a noisy guy.
Not to mention that the cost of using the National Guard is several times higher than that of the regular army, but the efficiency shown is far less than that of the regular army.
"Okay! The meeting is dismissed! It's time for you to perform your duties!" Minister Renault and General Saint-Arnault stood up and left.
Officials from the Ministry of War also left one after another, following the footsteps of Minister Regno and General Saint-Arnaud.
A big net is wrapping up Changarnier, and at the end of the net is the figure of Jérôme Bonaparte's gang preparing for a coup.
…
In the afternoon of the same day, the newspaper affiliated with the Elysee Palace published an order that seemed to be issued to the First Division in May. (At this time in May 1848, Changarnier served as the commander of the First Division, so the order could only be from him.
Type it out. This order was found by Jérôme Bonaparte after flipping through the scrolls of the Ministry of the Interior.) The content is to advise officers not to tolerate traitors in their own ranks when they rebel, and they must follow the guidelines of the National Assembly.
Send troops.
As soon as this news was released, Changarnier once again became the most handsome boy in Paris.
Although Changarnier has repeatedly denied that he did not issue this order at the time, and claimed that all this was a false accusation by a newspaper affiliated with the Elysee Palace, considering Changarnier's status in May 1948 was problematic, this order may also have been
Proposed by Changarnier.
At the suggestion of Jérôme Bonaparte, the cabinet raised questions on this issue. Interior Minister Baros and Justice Minister Rouet even pointed the contradiction of questioning at the Legislative Assembly.
The Permanent Committee had to personally defend Changarnier during the recess.
On September 29, Rouet appeared in the Bourbon Palace. Standing on the podium, Rouet shouted to General Changarnier in the audience: "I hope General Changarnier can take action against the May 1848 incident."
A detailed explanation! Why did you issue such an order at that time!"
"I did not give such an order!"
Faced with Rouet's groundless accusations, Changarnier responded decisively.
"Then what's going on with the information in my hand?" Rue vigorously patted the information on the podium and scolded loudly.
"Who knows where you got the fake information from!" Changarnier looked at the members of the Standing Committee and said bluntly: "Gentlemen, you can completely trust me! You and I are together now!"
"We require Changarnier to prove his innocence within twenty-four hours, otherwise we will prosecute General Changarnier!"