Fleury stared in surprise at Jerome Bonaparte riding on a white horse; he couldn’t understand why Jerome Bonaparte, who was supposed to be reviewing the troops from a carriage, was on horseback.
Does the Majesty not know the current situation in Paris?
Thinking of the recent rumors about rebels wanting to assassinate the President, Fleury couldn’t help but furrow his brows.
Of course, Fleury wasn’t the only one surprised; his deputy, Edgar Ney, and the (fake) dragoon soldiers were equally astonished as they approached Jerome Bonaparte on horseback.
After a moment of surprise, these dragoons felt a sense of shared honor and disgrace, and they instinctively straightened their bodies, their expressions becoming increasingly solemn.
The subtle changes in the dragoons did not escape Fleury’s attention.
Since the situation had already occurred, it was impossible for Fleury to stop it.
The urgent task was to protect Jerome Bonaparte.
Fleury shouted again with his unique voice: "Mount up! Form two groups on the left and right to protect the President!"
The dragoons, coming to their senses, quickly mounted their horses, and one group of dragoons divided into two, approaching Jerome Bonaparte.
The commander, Fleury, came up to Jerome Bonaparte, placed his right hand on the brim of his high military hat, and saluted Jerome Bonaparte. Following his lead, the deputy commander and the dragoons also saluted. Jerome Bonaparte smiled slightly at the sight of this group of still-juvenile Guard Army members and returned the salute earnestly to everyone present.
"Mr. President, we will act as your guard during the review to ensure your safety," Fleury reported to Jerome Bonaparte as a matter of protocol after lowering his right hand.
Likewise, lowering his right hand, Jerome Bonaparte nodded slightly to indicate his understanding.
Two groups of dragoons tightly surrounded Jerome Bonaparte on both sides, with Edgar Ney, Fleury, and Percy leading the way. Jerome Bonaparte was securely encircled within the protective formation formed by the dragoons, who would guard him with their lives.
Fortunately, from the Elysee Palace to the City Hall, no insurgent attacks occurred, and the group proceeded orderly to the City Hall.
Thousands of armed soldiers lined up in rows of formations, encircling the entire City Hall.
Although the mayor and the senior officials at the City Hall knew that such a large formation was not aimed at them, they didn’t dare to make any movements.
Riding a white horse, the elderly General Changarnier, upon seeing the green dragoons, whispered mockingly to Audion Barrot, who shouldn’t have been there, "Our President truly is a competent imitator. He’s brought back things from over thirty years ago!"
Audion Barrot merely smiled slightly, then said to Changarnier, "General Changarnier, we can begin!"
General Changarnier solemnly ordered his adjutant beside him, "Begin!"
"Yes!" The adjutant, upon receiving the order, hurriedly drove his horse to the flag officer and asked him to convey the command using signal flags.
The flag officer waved the flags in both hands to give the command, which was transmitted layer by layer. After a brief commotion, the troops returned to calm.
The dragoons dispersed about 50 meters away from Changarnier and Audion Barrot, and Jerome Bonaparte appeared.
Audion Barrot and General Changarnier rode up to Jerome Bonaparte.
The presence of Audion Barrot took Jerome Bonaparte by surprise, but he quickly understood. After all, Audion Barrot and Changarnier were from the same political faction. Although their party ideologies were quite divergent, the focus now was on the Republican Faction.
"General Changarnier, Mr. Prime Minister!" Jerome Bonaparte addressed the two.
"Mr. President, the Paris National Guard and the Paris Capital Guard await your review!" The elderly General Changarnier saluted Jerome Bonaparte.
"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte returned Changarnier’s salute.
Accompanied by Changarnier and Audion Barrot, Jerome Bonaparte began the review of the troops.
Through Changarnier’s introduction, the unit at the forefront was the one that contributed most during the June Revolution, the executioners with hands covered in blood, who gave Jerome Bonaparte a salute of respect while chanting, "Long live the Republic!"
Jerome Bonaparte showed a forced smile and rode away. The second phalanx had contributions second only to the first. Like the first, the second shouted loudly, "Long live the Republic!"
Jerome Bonaparte reviewed more than a dozen phalanxes, each with slogans largely saying "Long live the Republic." Some phalanxes, leaning slightly toward the Left Wing, even shouted, "Long live the Social Republic!" This led Jerome Bonaparte, who had hoped to hear the troops shout "Long live Bonaparte" or "Long live the Prince," to feel somewhat disappointed.
[PS: Jerome Bonaparte did not know that Changarnier had moved the majority of the troops loyal to the "Emperor" to the suburban army corps. In the suburbs of Saint-Denis and Saint Anthony, the cries of "Long live the Emperor" were deafening, unheard in the city center.]
Jerome Bonaparte, on his white horse, continued his review journey from City Hall to the Bourbon Palace.
Just as Jerome Bonaparte was about to review the troops at the Bourbon Palace, an "accident" occurred.
One of the colonels responsible for waiting at the "Bourbon" Palace came to Changarnier and Jerome Bonaparte looking pale and reported, "Report to the President, Commander! We’ve discovered another batch of mobs of the same kind as the previous day!"
It turned out that as Changarnier entered Paris, he had already begun consciously arresting members of the Mountain Party.
Fifty members of the Mountain Party were directly detained in the Police Department prison without trial.
"What? There are more mobs!" Changarnier feigned "surprise" as he glanced at the colonel, then turned his gaze to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Since they are mobs, just arrest them directly!" Jerome Bonaparte said, playing along with Changarnier’s act.
"But..." The colonel, mastering the art of acting, showed a hesitant expression that could rival future Oscar winners.
"What is it? Is there some difficulty?" Jerome Bonaparte, following the script, asked.
"Those mobs have a rather special status!" the colonel began, "They are members of the Special Team!"
"What! The Special Team is also involved in the rebellion?" Jerome Bonaparte "exclaimed" in shock at the colonel, then gritted his teeth and said to Changarnier, "Disbanding the Special Team cannot be delayed! They can no longer serve as armed protectors of the Republic! If they continue to be left unchecked, they’ll become mobs disrupting the Republic’s order!"
Changarnier gladly accepted Jerome Bonaparte’s order!