Chapter 97: The First Step of Burying the Party of Order
For the several "big figures" present who control the direction of French policy, Rome and Pope Pius IX are indeed a thorny issue. The reason why the problem is thorny is that this matter itself is not a problem for France.
Strictly speaking, the Rome issue is an internal affair of that country. If France intervenes rashly, it may cause Europe to fear the Republic.
Of course, everyone present is not afraid of war. Anyway, once the war starts, as the controllers of the entire France, they can shout: "France will never surrender until the last French man is killed."
The ideal "aspirational young man" joins the battlefield.
However, this would not be of any benefit to them. No one is willing to start a full-scale war. Once the war starts, no one can escape.
On the other hand, if they do not interfere, Rome in the anarchic stage will inevitably slide to the side of revolution. Once Rome, the Holy Land of Catholicism, is lost, French Catholic conservatism will inevitably suffer a blow, and together with the conservatives who are also subordinate to it,
The communist Party of Order will also suffer, and the republicans in the National Assembly will be shocked. The National Assembly is likely to become a world dominated by the republicans and the Montagnards.
Not to mention that when Jerome Bonaparte was in Rome, he had already promised Pius IX that if one day he was really kicked out of Rome, he would definitely help him suppress the unruly people when he became president.
In Jerome Bonaparte's plan, there was no way that Pius IX, who had a majority in the Assembly and the local peasant self-defense forces under the leadership of priests to defend the Pope, could lose to the Roman people.
Compared with the vast countryside and honest peasants of the Papal State, the Roman city had no ability to fight against it. Who knew that Pius IX could forcefully turn a steady winning situation into such an embarrassing situation now.
Jérôme Bonaparte, who was thinking divergently, couldn't help but think of the classic words of Chairman Kong Yige during the Battle of Huaihai in his previous life: "Six hundred thousand versus eight hundred thousand, the advantage is mine!"
Thinking of Chairman Kong Yige's slightly funny face, Jérôme Bonaparte couldn't help laughing.
Jerome Bonaparte's laughter successfully alarmed Thiers and others who were still thinking. They all turned their attention to Jerome Bonaparte. They seemed to be looking forward to Jerome Bonaparte's answer.
, even if the answer is a wrong answer.
Jerome Bonaparte could only clear his throat, stretched out a finger and said solemnly: "Gentlemen, we must determine a direction! Do we want to interfere with the Roman issue, or do we have the ability?
Interfering with Rome!"
Jérôme Bonaparte set his sights on Changarnier. Among the few people present, only Changarnier was born in a regular military school and then fought in Algeria with Marshal Biro.
Changarnier instantly understood the meaning in Jérôme Bonaparte's eyes, and he said in a hoarse, dry voice: "From a military perspective, France does have the ability to interfere with Rome!"
"How many people are needed exactly?" Jérôme Bonaparte then asked.
"If it were me, I would need about 10,000 people!" Changarnier responded arrogantly. In the eyes of this African general, Rome was simply a product that could be easily obtained.
"Okay, I'll calculate it based on 20,000 people!" Jérôme Bonaparte decisively doubled Changarnier's number. In his memory, General Oudinot seemed to have spent 14,000 people and still hadn't finished it.
Suppression of the Roman Republic.
Of course, this was in 1849.
"Where is the best place to draw a team of 20,000 people from?" Jérôme Bonaparte asked next.
"The best is the Alpine Front, which is closer to Rome!" Changarnier responded again.
"Then, Mr. Prime Minister, what is the approximate budget for a team of more than 20,000 people? Can we pass the National Assembly's plan?" Jérôme Bonaparte, who controlled the rhythm, asked Odilon Barro again.
Odilon Barrot, who had no experience in thinking about military finances, couldn't say anything for a while. He could only turn his attention to Thiers, who had served as prime minister and led the Near East crisis.
Thiers also thought for a moment and then gave the answer: "If it is on-site supply, it will cost about 7 to 9 million francs to maintain a team of 20,000 people for about a month!"
The on-site supplies Thiers mentioned were of course the old French tradition of grabbing supplies along the way. The generals became so rich just by following this.
"If we really decide to interfere, the National Assembly may not agree to our request for funding!" Count Molay, one hand hanging on the sofa, made a relaxed gesture and said: "They don't want to waste citizens' money on
To maintain the rule of their enemies!"
The Count of Morlay refers to the Republicans and the Montagnards in the National Assembly.
"Perhaps we can allocate funds directly without going through the National Assembly!" Odilon Barrow took over Count Molay's words and said with a smile: "The National Assembly will not trace the ins and outs of every money. We only need us to provide the funds to the National Assembly every quarter.
Just erase some of the minutiae from the parliamentary report."
"However, the mobilization of the army cannot be hidden from the National Assembly!" Changarnier added.
"This depends on our President!" Thiers turned his attention to Jérôme Bonaparte.
As the highest military commander in France, Jérôme Bonaparte has the right to mobilize the army without going through parliament. Although he cannot directly control the army, with its endorsement, the army can undoubtedly drink and move freely.
"Of course, I am still happy to do something for the army!" Jérôme Bonaparte said without any hesitation: "So, who is the person to control this army?"
"How about General Oudinot?" Barro asked.
"Oudinot? No! He's from over there!" Thiers immediately rejected General Oudinot.
"I think so too!" Jerome Bonaparte also objected to Oudinot. He and his father were traitors who betrayed Bonaparte. Jerome Bonaparte did not want to earn this in vain.
The opportunity for prestige was given to him: "How about General Regno?"
"Huh?" Thiers looked at Jérôme Bonaparte in surprise. He didn't understand when Jérôme Bonaparte got involved with Regno.
Jérôme Bonaparte understood what Thiers meant, and he said calmly: "General Reignaud left a deep impression on me today!"
"I thought Mr. President would nominate General Opule? It seems that our General Opule has no chance!" Thiers said with a hint of ridicule, but he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. It seems that this stupid man has no chance!
The president doesn't want to get involved with the military.
"The interests of the Republic outweigh private feelings!" Jérôme Bonaparte responded seriously, but he couldn't help laughing in his heart.
How did these guys know that the future General Renault would take away Changarnier's military power and make the Party of Order completely lose its protection?
Everything from team deployment to financial expenditures to military commanders has been determined, and the choices they make are self-evident.
"But before that, we still need to negotiate with the Austrian Empire! Mr. Prime Minister, I leave this matter to you!"