"Really? That’s wonderful!"
Jerome Bonaparte feigned a delighted expression, clenching his fist as if he had seized something: "We can finally teach those grandstanding members of the assembly a lesson!"
"Indeed!" Audion Barrot’s weary face broke into a smile, and the gloom in his heart disappeared without a trace due to the upcoming military parade. His slightly hoarse voice was firm and unwavering as he said, "The Constitutional Assembly has completed its task and should be dissolved immediately to elect a new Legislative Assembly!"
In recent days, the relentless offensives from the National Assembly had left Audion Barrot with a splitting headache.
Now, he could finally use the military to eliminate certain unstable elements from the National Assembly.
"Mr. Barrow, I look forward to the parade proceeding on schedule!" Jerome Bonaparte secretly hoped that Audion Barrot would stir more news, aiming to place him and the Order Party he represented in the spotlight. Jerome Bonaparte continued to encourage Audion Barrot: "It’s best to let those guys in the National Assembly see our resolve that the rats disturbing Paris’s peace should be driven out of the assembly!"
Jerome Bonaparte’s encouragement gave Audion Barrot a sense of "the upper hand." After hesitating for a moment, he spoke: "How about we disclose some details of the parade to the Paris press upfront? That way, those guys in the assembly won’t dare to act rashly!"
"Prime Minister, feel free to act!" Jerome Bonaparte assumed a laissez-faire posture: "I will fully cooperate with your work!"
Audion Barrot left the Elysee Palace with his head held high, now resembling a gladiator who had vanquished all formidable foes in the arena.
Jerome Bonaparte, leaning against the back of his chair, quietly watched Audion Barrot’s departing figure, murmuring to himself: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
Afterward, Jerome Bonaparte summoned Secretary General Percy and handed him a note: "Tell the ’Bonaparte Newspaper’ that President Jerome Bonaparte will review the French troops on January 29th!"
"Hmm?" Percy nodded in understanding as he took the note, "Your Majesty, should the newspaper be issued tomorrow or?"
"Contact the ’Constitutional Newspaper’ and try to schedule the issue for tomorrow or the day after," Jerome Bonaparte responded once more.
Jerome Bonaparte believed that the ’Constitutional Newspaper,’ being the throat of the Order Party, would not miss this golden opportunity.
"Yes!" Percy answered respectfully.
"By the way, how is the current scale of the ’Bonaparte Newspaper’?" Having acted as a hands-off manager for some time, Jerome Bonaparte inquired about his own enterprise.
"Since Your Majesty became President, the scale of the newspaper has been thriving! Many newspapers want to collaborate with us! We’ve also merged with several newspapers that were on the verge of bankruptcy, and now it’s considered a small-scale operation in all of Paris!" Percy beamed with pride as he spoke about the ’Bonaparte Newspaper,’ feeling immensely satisfied with the achievement of seeing the newspaper he managed flourish.
"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, unhurriedly continuing to ask: "And what about the Havas News Agency?"
Hearing the ever-busy Jerome Bonaparte ask about the Havas News Agency, Percy was slightly stunned, unsure of Jerome Bonaparte’s intentions regarding the agency. He carefully rephrased his words: "The boss of Havas News Agency often contacts us, seemingly wanting to collaborate with us once again!"
"A turncoat!" Jerome Bonaparte spoke calmly.
"I understand your meaning!" Jerome Bonaparte’s attitude set Percy’s imagination running wild.
"What do you understand?" Jerome Bonaparte’s lips curled into a smile as he looked at Percy with interest.
"Starting tomorrow, Havas News Agency will no longer appear in Paris!" Percy responded decisively.
As the chief secretary to an emperor-like President, a single word from him could decide the survival of a newspaper.
"No need to be so fierce!" Jerome Bonaparte raised a hand to stop Percy, giving Havas News Agency a final verdict with his head tilted back and eyes closed. "The high ground of public opinion, if we don’t occupy it, the enemy will! Rather than let the enemy use it against us, we should occupy it first! Tell the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce to cease all cooperation with Havas News Agency! Have the ’Bonaparte’ Newspaper smoothly take over the cooperation with Havas News Agency."
"Yes!" Percy nodded in response.
Poor Havas News Agency, unaware that their future historical prominence tempted a certain time traveler to seize all of Havas News Agency’s achievements.
However, Jerome Bonaparte believed that even if they knew, they wouldn’t dare complain or harbor resentment; they would only pray for Jerome Bonaparte to quickly complete his four-year term.
The power of the President of the Second Republic is limitless! (Tactical Recline)
"Go!" Jerome Bonaparte gestured for Percy to leave.
Percy left with a respectful bow to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Even I cannot resist the poison of power," Jerome Bonaparte chuckled, self-deprecatingly.
The light outside the window shone on Jerome Bonaparte’s face, and he rose to draw the curtains.
On January 26th, the "Constitutional Newspaper" and the "Bonaparte Newspaper" simultaneously published a piece of news about President Bonaparte holding a military parade on January 29th, which sparked an uproar throughout Paris upon its release.
Anyone with discerning eyes understood the implications of this news at this critical juncture of cabinet and National Assembly struggle.
General Changarnier had always sided with the Royalist Party.
Upon hearing the news, the Republican Faction immediately grew restless and had no choice but to seek out Cafenak, who had once served as Governor of the French Republic.
From Cafenak’s mouth, they understood what it meant to be ’abandoned when out of favor.’
Currently, besides controlling a small number of special teams, they lacked any motivation to resist.
The Lamartine Apartment on Saint Honoré Street.
Lamartine, Bastide, Cafenak, and other Republican leaders gathered to jointly discuss the "raid" by the Order Party.
As the organizer of the meeting, Lamartine spoke with concern: "If those guys launch a coup..."
Before Lamartine could finish, Cafenak interrupted him, saying: "They won’t launch a coup!"
"Why?" Everyone focused their gaze on Cafenak.