If the battles of Silistra and Armagh are compared to the wood that rekindled the flames of war enthusiasm among the British and French people, then the capture of Sevastopol undoubtedly put a barrel of purified oil into the hearts of the British and French people.
The fire of enthusiasm made the British and French people more confident in defeating the Russian Empire.
Especially in France, the original doubts about the Crimean War were completely drowned out by the fanatical national pride. With the strong promotion of the imperial government, major newspapers began to rush to report on the French army's performance in the Crimean War.
Such a brave and fearless performance, some tabloids even shouted the slogan "Strike to Moscow and hang Nikolay".
Here are some excerpts from newspapers in Paris:
This is a victory for the empire, and it is also a victory for 30 million French people. Forty-two years ago at this time, the tyrant Alexander used despicable means to defeat the French Empire under the leadership of the late emperor. Today, forty-two years later,
The entire French people, under the leadership of the great Emperor Jérôme Bonaparte, successfully washed away this humiliation branded on France.
History has proven that only by adhering to the imperial system and firm Bonaparte leadership can France win a new tomorrow!
——Excerpt from "Le Bonaparte"
Only by adhering to the principle of one country, one nation, and one leader...can France unite the French people and carry forward the policy of concentrating the power of the majority to do major things, can France stand firm in the international community again...France in the past was too free.
, So that all our strength has been concentrated on party struggle, thus neglecting the development of France... From now on, we should unite closely in the imperial government with the emperor as the core to make France great again...
——Excerpt from "Pravda Daily"
...Although this newspaper does not agree with the ideas of His Majesty Jérôme Bonaparte, this newspaper has to admit that the French army was able to capture Sevastopol this time because of the credit of His Majesty Jérôme Bonaparte.
…
——Excerpt from "National Newspaper" (Republican newspaper)
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Regardless of whether they are leftists (or republicans), centrists, or rightists (orthodox, Catholics), after the news of the Sevastopol Fortress was released, they all chose to temporarily unite around the government of Jerome Bonaparte.
Because only in this way will they not be overwhelmed by the turbulent public opinion and become one of the "non-nationals".
The authority of the imperial government has been strengthened as never before with the blessing of "Sevastopol".
In a short period of time, there will be no more voices that go against the will of the empire.
Just like a certain steel father in the future said, the winner can avoid any criticism or questioning, and can even make the people temporarily forget the pain they are facing now.
Under the grand narrative view, the French people only saw that the coalition forces won one victory after another, but selectively forgot that behind each victory, thousands of deaths were paid as a price.
The people who were obsessed with victory even forgot that the soldiers who fought bloody battles on the Crimean battlefield were people like them, not a series of numbers.
Of course, the price paid for victory by the coalition forces this time was much easier than in history.
From the Battle of Armagh to the capture of Sevastopol, the number of deaths among the coalition forces was only about 6,500, of which the British army itself contributed 3,000.
This is less than the death toll in the Battle of Inkelmann in history, and after the Battle of Inkelmann, there were a series of wars.
The coalition forces (mainly the British army) launched an attack on Sevastopol despite enduring unfavorable factors such as lack of food and clothing and poor environment.
The British and French coalition forces in this time and space are infinitely better than the British and French coalition forces on the historical line.
Jérôme Bonaparte, who was the biggest beneficiary of this war, had already boarded the carriage heading to the Bourbon Palace. He wanted to take advantage of the current fanatical atmosphere to deliver his speech to the representatives of the Legislative Council of the Bourbon Palace.
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Although the power of the current legislative body has been weakened by Jérôme Bonaparte to the point where it only has the function of voting, it can still represent the will of the entire French people, especially those farmers who have their backs to the loess and their faces to the sky.
This seemingly illusory will is precisely an important tool that can suppress careerists and military leaders.
Leaders who rely on the military to gain power are afraid of being imitated by those who come after them, so they do everything they can to coat their actions with the will of the people.
Jérôme Bonaparte also used this method to curb the rise of careerists and make military leaders worry.
After all, no military leader, large or small, in France could win the favor of 70% of French peasants like Jerome Bonaparte.
When the costs paid are not directly proportional to the benefits generated, most military leaders naturally think of obeying Paris' will.
Not to mention, Jérôme Bonaparte now controls the central theater and the eastern theater, and simultaneously exercises infiltration control over the northern and southern theaters.
Those fearless French generals could only choose to obey Jérôme Bonaparte, who was supported by public opinion.
When Jerome Bonaparte's carriage arrived at the Bourbon Palace, pro-government representatives who had been waiting at the gate of the Bourbon Palace for a long time hurried forward to greet him.
Jérôme Bonaparte came down from the carriage, shook hands with each representative with a smile, and said "Thank you for your hard work" to them.
The representative who was shaken by Jerome Bonaparte responded with a trembling voice and said to Jerome Bonaparte, "It's not hard, this is what they should do."
Just when the pro-government representatives thought that Jerome Bonaparte would enter the Bourbon Palace after shaking hands with them, Jerome Bonaparte's next move surprised them.
Jérôme Bonaparte came to the only opposition representatives, stretched out his hand with a smile and said: "You have worked hard too!"
Opposition representative Favre froze in place when he saw Jérôme Bonaparte extending his hand.
"Mr. Favre, are you saying that you, a tough guy who is not even afraid of death, are afraid of shaking hands with me?" Jérôme Bonaparte said in a calm tone.
Favre had no choice but to stretch out his hand and shake it with Jérôme Bonaparte.
Jérôme Bonaparte repeated to Favre in a low voice: "Thank you for your hard work, Representative Favre!"
Favre responded in a low voice to Jérôme Bonaparte with a straight face: "Your Majesty, congratulations on winning the favor of the French people! You have temporarily won a round! But the French people don't know it yet. They are cheering now.
The price of victory!"
"Mr. Representative, you are right! I only temporarily defeated you!" Jérôme Bonaparte nodded empathetically, then shrugged his shoulders and said: "As for the price you mentioned, it is actually not too high.
More! All the costs need to be divided by 30 million, and they will become insignificant values!"
"Your Majesty, you want to pull everyone onto your chariot!" Representative Favre said with a hint of anger.
"If you think so, then I have nothing to say! Just watch! I will make France great again!" Jerome Bonaparte let go of Favre's hand and talked with the remaining few
Opposition representatives shook hands one after another.
Surrounded by pro-government representatives and under Favre's angry eyes, Jérôme Bonaparte entered the right corridor of the Bourbon Palace chamber and waited for the pro-government representatives and opposition representatives to sit down
In the parliament hall.
After all the representatives were seated, Jérôme Bonaparte, who was wearing a suit, walked firmly to the central podium of the same meeting hall.
In an instant, the entire parliament hall burst into warm applause, and all representatives in the Bourbon Palace stood up at the same time to show respect to Jerome Bonaparte.
Jérôme Bonaparte came to the podium amidst warm applause. The applause continued for a long time after he came to the podium. It was not until he raised his hand to indicate that the delegates could stop that the delegates stopped applauding again.
He sat back on his seat.
Standing on the podium, Jérôme Bonaparte looked at the representatives in the audience and said confidently: "Members of Congress, I am very happy to be able to speak with you in this hall that represents the will of the 30 million people of France.
meet."
"Hypocrisy!" Favre muttered disdainfully in the audience.
"You come from various regions in France and are trusted by the people in your region. They voted for you with their precious votes, hoping to express their attitude to me through your mouth, so I hope you can act with caution."
Rights, do not betray their trust in you!" Jérôme Bonaparte reiterated as usual the right of representatives of the Legislative Council to act.
Then after a moment of pause, he got to the point and said: "Members of Congress, everyone here must have heard the news! Yes! France's loyal and brave soldiers defeated the forces entrenched in Serbia on the Crimean Peninsula.
The defenders of Vastopol occupied Sevastopol! In this war, we defeated a total of 30,000 Russian soldiers, shattering the Russian Empire's strategy of relying on Sevastopol for a defensive war!
Now, let us French boys applaud!"
The congressmen in the audience applauded repeatedly, and the pro-government representatives stood up and shouted loudly: "Long live the Empire!"
Even representatives of the die-hard opposition like Favre were forced to stand up together with pro-government officials in this atmosphere and shout "Long live the Empire!"
The applause and shouts stopped abruptly at Jerome Bonaparte's signal, and Jerome Bonaparte spoke again: "On the Crimean battlefield, we not only thank the French youth for their hard work and progress, but also
I would also like to pay tribute to the commanders headed by Marshal Saint-Arnaud and General Pellissier. It is precisely because of their command that the French army can firmly hold victory in its hands."
…
As Jérôme Bonaparte became more and more immersed in his speech, he gradually began to break away from the speech script and recounted the victory of Sevastopol with passion.
The emotions of the representatives in the audience were aroused by Jerome Bonaparte. From time to time, some representatives shouted slogans such as "Long live the Empire" and "Long live the Emperor", so that Jerome Bonaparte's speeches often
Interrupted by a sudden shout.
At this time, Jérôme Bonaparte would always stop and let the MPs finish shouting before speaking again.
At the end of his speech, Jérôme Bonaparte, in a slightly tragic tone, hoped that the legislative body would make additional funds for the French army's operations in Crimea.
"We cannot allow our brave and fearless soldiers to fight the aggressive Russians with a fire stick!"
The speeches in the audience all agreed with Jerome Bonaparte's suggestion, and the resolution of additional military expenditure of 200 million francs was passed unanimously.