Chapter 299: Chapter 295: The Fall of the Second Republic (Part 2)
After a brief stay at the City Hall, Jerome Bonaparte mounted a white horse and left amidst the "reluctance to part" from the senior civil servants at the City Hall. The soldiers following Jerome Bonaparte had already transitioned from infantry to cuirassiers, members of the elite cavalry of the First Division directly under the control of Kuzen Montebon, the commander of the Paris First Division.
During the coup d’état in the early hours of December 2nd, the Lance Cavalry Corps served as couriers, accurately conveying directives from the Ministry of War to the subordinate three brigades, enabling them to execute arrest operations with utmost speed.
The white horse carried Jerome Bonaparte forward at a slow pace, with the members of the Lance Cavalry Corps positioned around him on all four sides, enclosing him completely. To prevent any ambush during Jerome Bonaparte’s ride to the Bourbon Palace, each member of the cavalry around him was tall and imposing, enough to shield Jerome Bonaparte’s body.
In addition, each saddle of the cuirassiers was equipped with a pistol, enabling them to quickly draw their weapons to eliminate enemies while protecting Jerome Bonaparte. The route Jerome Bonaparte chose to reach the Bourbon Palace was meticulously designed, with every street carefully screened to ensure that no threats lurked along the way.
Under this series of rigorous measures, Jerome Bonaparte safely and steadily made his way from City Hall to the Bourbon Palace. Along the way, he enthusiastically greeted the residents on both sides of the street, who were pre-arranged to respond warmly to Jerome Bonaparte.
After a round of political theatrics, Jerome Bonaparte finally arrived at the Bourbon Palace, which symbolizes the highest authority of France’s Legislative Assembly.
Now, an extra "former" should be added to this so-called highest authority. He had dissolved the Legislative Assembly, meaning that from the early hours of December 2nd, the various powers it held were completely abolished, and the second Legislative Assembly he was about to establish would no longer enjoy the same powers as before.
In other words, as a conqueror, he had completed the government of France.
Gazing at the towering Bourbon Palace before him, Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but feel a multitude of emotions.
After decades, the Second French Empire was about to arrive in France in an entirely new form.
However, the establishment of the Second French Empire was no longer by his cousin Louis Napoleon; he, who should have been a witness of history and a traveler of time and space, had become a creator of history.
The dissolution of the Legislative Assembly was also about a year earlier than in history.
I am creating a whole new history! A history different from that of Napoleon III!
At this moment, Jerome Bonaparte felt a profound sense of pride from the bottom of his heart. He felt an immense honor for being able to create history. He couldn’t help but glance at the sky; a gap suddenly appeared in the oppressive clouds, and a beam of sunlight "happened" to shine down upon Jerome Bonaparte.
Upon witnessing such an almost "miraculous" scene, everyone present couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. Many republicans hidden in the crowd near the Bourbon Palace even began to wonder if "God truly favored the Bonapartes."
Seizing the moment, Valerovsky immediately shouted, "Long live the Empire, long live Bonaparte!"
After a cry of "long live," the troops and the crowd also shouted, "Long live the Empire, long live Bonaparte!" This shout was like a tumultuous wave that completely shattered the last sacred authority of the Legislative Assembly, replacing it with a sculpture named Bonaparte.
Could it be that it was indeed Emperor Napoleon from heaven who sent me to save the Bonaparte? Is Emperor Napoleon III watching me from heaven?
Bathed in sunlight, a surge of indescribable emotion welled up within Jerome Bonaparte. It seemed as if something had been added to his shoulders at that moment.
In a trance, Jerome Bonaparte seemed to see the Emperor who crossed the Alps in the sky above the Bourbon Palace, and he was still so young.
Watch closely then! I will surely become you!
Jerome Bonaparte couldn’t help but clench his fist with determination.
Before long, the clouds overhead the Bourbon Palace dissipated, and sunlight sowed seeds of what was called the future, as if it cloaked the land in a golden robe.
Jerome Bonaparte dismounted, and the surrounding members of the Lance Cavalry Corps dismounted as well, making way for Jerome Bonaparte.
Jerome Bonaparte handed the reins to a nearby cuirassier, and with steady and determined steps, he walked down a corridor formed by soldiers, arriving at a spot less than 20 meters from the Bourbon Palace.
At the entrance of the Bourbon Palace, Jerome Bonaparte encountered Major General Canrobert, commander of the Paris Second Brigade, and Brigadier General Leboeuf, the President’s Aide.
After a night of commotion, Canrobert and Leboeuf’s faces showed slight fatigue, but there was still firm determination in their eyes.
"The Paris Second Brigade has smoothly completed its mission, encountering no resistance!" Canrobert reported to Jerome Bonaparte in a tense tone, "We have succeeded!"
"Yes... We have succeeded!" Jerome Bonaparte also displayed a heartfelt smile on his face, extremely excited as he tightly shook hands with Canrobert, "I will never forget your achievements!"
Then, looking at the officers behind Canrobert, Jerome Bonaparte said loudly, "The Bonaparte Clan will always remember you!"
The officers’ faces also revealed smiles as they had worked hard for Jerome Bonaparte to secure their own positions in the future.
After a while, Jerome Bonaparte sobered up from his excitement and slowly released Conrobel’s hand.
"By the way, Conrobel! Have all the representatives arrived?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired about the representatives from Conrobel. After Jerome Bonaparte detained most of the representatives in the coup, he informed the Bonapartist representatives and invited them to attend the Legislative Assembly on December 2nd.
"Mr. President, the number of representatives might be a bit low!" Conrobel awkwardly responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
Of the more than 750 representatives, only about 180 were truly loyal to Bonaparte, and only about 120 were able to reach the Bourbon Palace Assembly.
"Hmph!" Jerome Bonaparte sneered dismissively, "Forget it! I don’t expect them to accomplish anything significant!"
Under the framework designed by Jerome Bonaparte, the Legislative Assembly representatives only had the power to agree to proposals, and all their speeches would be confined within the Bourbon Palace, preventing them from reaching the outside.
This regime was generally similar to that of the historical Napoleon III, with some changes in the proposals being set in five-year templates. This meant that the Assembly would approve five-year proposals and have no authority to intervene in expenditures within those five years, such a "rogue" loophole could effectively prevent Jerome Bonaparte from having his neck choked by a second assembly.
Historically, his cousin failed several times to increase military spending because there were too many opposition members in the second assembly.
From Prussia and Austria to the Franco-Prussian War, the Second French Empire was entangled in the parliament and military for four full years, thus missing the final opportunity.
400,000 versus 800,000; unless Old Maoqi’s brain was kicked by a mule, they would only need a frontal assault to defeat France.
Learning from previous lessons, when Jerome Bonaparte dealt with the regime, he left enough buffer for himself, allowing him to bypass constitutional stipulations with different methods.
Of course, regarding unnecessary issues, Jerome Bonaparte still chose to respect the Assembly’s decisions.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Conrobel nodded empathetically, "Only the military is your most reliable ally!"
Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Conrobel again, a smile at the corner of his mouth as he said, "Let’s go! Let me see who exactly is present!"
Jerome Bonaparte and Valerovsky entered the Bourbon Palace together, while Conrobel and Leboeuf guarded outside the Bourbon Palace to prevent anyone from disrupting the "sacred" National Assembly.
Even though the military had already completely controlled Paris, a few runaway representatives were still a hidden danger. Conrobel and the others didn’t want to fail at the most critical moment.
...
"The President is here!"
With a shout from the conference hall of the Bourbon Palace, everyone’s eyes inside the Bourbon Palace simultaneously turned towards the right corridor.
Jerome Bonaparte and Valerovsky appeared in the conference hall from the corridor.
At the instant Jerome Bonaparte’s figure appeared in the conference hall, all the Bonapartist representatives, including Jerome Bonaparte’s father, Prince Monfort, quickly rose to show their respect to the new ruler of France.
With a smile on his face, Jerome Bonaparte looked at the group of Bonapartist representatives before him, motioning with a wave, "Please sit down!"
Upon hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s command, the representatives quickly sat down.
With Speaker Dubin of the Legislative Assembly having been arrested, Vice President Blair became the presiding officer of the Bourbon Palace Legislative Assembly.
As the presiding officer, he did not sit in the original Speaker’s position but rather in the Deputy Secretary-General’s position to the left of the Speaker.
Jerome Bonaparte sat step by step in the Legislative Assembly Speaker’s position, which also represented Jerome Bonaparte’s complete control over executive power and judicial interpretation rights.
Sitting in the Speaker’s position, Jerome Bonaparte looked at the representatives in the gallery below, and almost every representative’s demeanor and actions were captured in Jerome Bonaparte’s view.
Very good! Just like this!