Chapter 426: Chapter 420 Tiger Tiger Tiger (Part 2)
Seeing the numerous capital commanders turning red in the face over the order of deployment to the Near East, Chief of Staff Marshal Saint Arno got up to restore order in the meeting room under Jerome Bonaparte’s suggestive gaze.
"Quiet!" Marshal Saint Arno shouted sternly at everyone present.
The noise and arguments ceased under Saint Arno’s reprimand, and the fiercely arguing commanders suddenly remembered they were in the Tuileries Palace, not their unruly barracks.
"Look at yourselves! What have you become now? Who do you think you are?" Saint Arno immediately scolded the capital commanders present.
Facing Marshal Saint Arno, who had long established his authority through iron-fisted means, none of the capital commanders dared to contradict him, fearing he would summarily have them stripped of their uniforms and dismissed.
Saint Arno looked around; every commander he gazed at lowered their heads guiltily. Seeing the once defiant commanders now meek as kittens who dared not speak a word, a sense of inexplicable satisfaction filled Saint Arno. He cleared his throat and spoke again: "I know some of you are very dissatisfied with the General Staff’s plan! Now, regardless of how unhappy you are! Since the General Staff’s orders have been issued, your only option is to execute them!"
Then, Saint Arno once again resumed his iron-fisted style, reminiscent of his time as Chief of Staff. Coldly, he said, "If anyone meddles in this issue again, you can take off your uniform and go home immediately! I don’t want foreigners to laugh at our army!"
Saying this, Saint Arno glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Minister of the Navy Deco sitting to Jerome Bonaparte’s right.
Aside from Deco, it was apparent to everyone in the Ministry of the Army who was an outsider and who wasn’t.
As the party involved, Deco managed an awkward yet polite smile, but inside he was quite frustrated.
He had thought he was merely attending a military meeting. Little did he anticipate that the army clique would embarrass themselves with their infighting. Before Deco could mock this army clique, their leader had already shifted the blame onto him.
At this point, Deco truly became an external force accused of disrupting army unity.
"Alright! We’ve had our quarrel! Let’s sit quietly again and listen to the General Staff’s strategic plan!" Jerome Bonaparte also spoke at this time, then he said to Leboeuf, "Please continue!"
Leboeuf continued to describe the General Staff’s arrangements for the Near East war to the generals below.
Following a new round of military reform, the French Empire currently has an army of approximately 550,000 men, including 450,000 on the mainland and about 100,000 in the colonies (including Algeria, French Guiana, and Rome). This expedition plans to mobilize about 130,000 troops, accounting for one-fourth of the French Empire’s total forces.
This includes the First Division, Second Division, Third Division (Guard Division), one division from the Italian Army, one division from Strasbourg’s subordinates, and the Zouave Brigade, a total force of five divisions and one brigade.
The First, Second, and Third Divisions, along with the Zouave Brigade, will serve as the main force of the war, while the divisions from Italy and Strasbourg will serve as reserves, replenishing the main forces as needed.
Each division will be equipped with two infantry artillery companies, each equipped with six 6-pound Little Napoleon Cannons, primarily loaded with solid shot, and two 12-pound Grand Napoleon Cannons, primarily loaded with grape shot. This means each infantry division has 12 6-pound Little Napoleon Cannons and four 12-pound Grand Napoleon Cannons, making them energetically superior. Even the contemporary British Empire has never been as extravagant as Jerome Bonaparte.
The commander responsible for the First Division is Commander Conrobel, leading three brigades.
The commander responsible for the Second Division is Pierre Bolikai, an Algerian veteran skilled in rapid assault. He was promoted by Jerome Bonaparte to the position of division commander.
The Guard Division’s commander is also Pellissier, a veteran general known for his courage and directness. Since becoming the commander of the Guard Division, he has consistently requested that his troops be placed at the forefront of the frontlines to fend off the enemy.
The Zouave Brigade has no set brigadier, with its subordinate two regiments deployed as needed to support troops during the war.
The three main divisions and two reserve divisions headed to Crimea will be reorganized into a Corps (Army Group) to form an Expeditionary Army Group, and the person commanding this new formation is none other than Chief of Staff of France, Marshal Saint Arno.
During Marshal Saint Arno’s immediate dispatch to the Near East, the domestic military training will be entrusted to Major General Niel.
It can be said that Niel will become the de facto Chief of Staff on the mainland after Saint Arno leaves France.
This is excellent news for Niel, who is engaged in military line restoration work, as the influence of an acting Chief of Staff far exceeds that of a logistics director.
After the personnel structure of the Ministry of the Army was fully introduced, Leboeuf began drafting the war plan against the Russian Empire.
When the Imperial Navy delivers everything to Varna, a radio station must be established in the Varna Region as soon as possible to maintain communication with Paris at all times.
Then, the French Army can decide according to the situation. If the Ottoman Empire can still manage to defend the Silistra—Ruse line, France will sail on navy warships to attack the Sevastopol Naval Fortress, eliminating the Russian Empire’s base in one fell swoop.
The French Empire Army that captures the Sevastopol Fortress can strike the Caucasus forces jointly with the Ottoman Empire to the east or launch an offensive against Odessa to the west, eliminating the Russian Empire’s viable forces.
Conversely, if the Ottoman Empire faces defeat in its battles with the Russian Empire, the French Empire Army will immediately proceed to the Silistra Fortress to help the Ottoman Empire drive the Russian Empire out of the Five Wallachian and Moldavian Principalities and then seize Odessa by moving northwards.
"I hope that group of fervent religionists can hold on! I don’t want to fight those damned Slav animals unprepared!" Marshal Saint Arno said half-jokingly and half-seriously.
Everyone present wore cheerful smiles as the detailed plan of the General Staff instilled confidence in them for the impending victory in the war.
Then, Jerome Bonaparte once again inquired of Minister of the Navy Deco whether the navy could safely transport the French Empire Army to the Ottoman Empire.
Deco quickly rose to assure Jerome Bonaparte that the Imperial Navy would indeed safely deliver the Imperial Army to the territory of the Ottoman Empire.
At the same time, Deco told Jerome Bonaparte that France’s new... ah no! The new ship is about to be launched, and it will become another monument of France.
"I’m looking forward to the excellent results that the new warship can achieve!" Jerome Bonaparte said, encouraging Deco with a smile.
The advent of the ironclad did indeed change the dynamics of naval warfare to some extent.
Unfortunately, as a pioneering nation, France could not concentrate all its efforts on the navy like Britain; it is foreseeable that the slight advantage of the French Empire Navy will soon be surpassed by the neighboring Kingdom of Britain.
However, even so, France must still build a new navy.
The military competition is a grueling marathon, and France must continue to chase Britain’s shadow unceasingly, hoping for a moment when it can overtake Britain with a sharp curve.
"Everyone, start taking action! I will be waiting for your triumphant return at the Tuileries Palace!" At the meeting’s conclusion, Jerome Bonaparte made his final summary remarks.
Chief of Staff Saint Arno hurriedly stood up to assure Jerome Bonaparte, "Rest assured, we will not disappoint your trust in us!"
All the military command personnel present simultaneously saluted Jerome Bonaparte and shouted their loyalty, and Jerome Bonaparte also returned the salute, thus ending the pre-war mobilization meeting.
The doors of the Tuileries Palace slowly opened, and the carriages carrying the military commanders of the Capital Circle departed from the Tuileries Palace one after another.
After Jerome Bonaparte bade farewell to the last military commander, Mokar approached Jerome Bonaparte to report on the news of Richard Metternich’s audience.
"Your Majesty, Secretary Richard Metternich is just outside the Tuileries Palace. Would you like to meet with him?" Mokar respectfully inquired of Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte pondered for a moment and then replied with a smile, "It’s no harm meeting him! We must make our prospective ally aware of the current situation of the Austrian Empire! Mokar, please invite Mr. Richard Metternich to my study!"
Upon receiving the order, Mokar left the conference hall, and Jerome Bonaparte also departed the conference hall, intending to wait in the study for Mokar to bring Richard Metternich over.
Just as Jerome Bonaparte returned to his study from the conference hall, Mokar led Richard Metternich into the study.
"Your Majesty!" Richard Metternich quickly kneeled to salute Jerome Bonaparte and called out.
Seated on a gilded mahogany chair (more elegantly known as the throne), Jerome Bonaparte crossed his legs, his hands clasped in front of his chest, adopting a very relaxed posture as he addressed Richard Metternich, "Mr. Richard Metternich, please have a seat!"