According to the Third Republic Constitution established by Jerome Bonaparte, the Legislative Corps does not vote on the budget in such a way that Achille Fuld proposes an overall budget number and then it’s voted on.

Instead, Achille Fuld represents the government by integrating the budget expenses submitted to him by various departments of the Empire, and then presents them to the Legislative Corps one by one, where they vote on the expenses proposed by Achille Fuld.

[Only the expenses of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Navy are merged together for the Legislative Corps to review.]

During the passage/rejection of proposals, as long as Achille Fuld does not want to tell the Legislative Corps representatives about the purpose of the expenses, they will never know the use of that money; the allocation of the budget is entirely resolved by decrees.

In other words, as long as Achille Fuld has a little strategy in mind, the road renovation plan proposed by Barroso could quietly be distributed across various departmental budgets, making the public transportation department’s budget appear unobtrusive.

However, is Achille Fuld kind enough to let the public transportation department pass safely!

The answer is obviously no.

He must provoke opposition from some members of the Bourbon Palace parliament, creating difficulties for this proposal.

Only in this way can he have sufficient reason to intervene in the public transportation department during the renovation work afterward.

Of course, Achille Fuld is not afraid that this proposal won’t pass.

Before arriving at the Bourbon Palace, Achille Fuld had obtained authorization from Jerome Bonaparte for discretionary action and also received a "trump card" from him.

Therefore, the first budget proposed by Achille Fuld was not to vote on the national debt issue as before, but rather to present the proposal of selling 80,000 hectares of state-owned forest to the Legislative Corps members.

Upon hearing the proposal from Achille Fuld, the Republican Faction representative Favre immediately "revived," stood up, and loudly questioned Achille Fuld.

"Minister Fuld, according to your summary just now!

Last year, the Empire’s entire fiscal surplus was positive, so I would like to ask why the government wants to sell 80,000 hectares of state-owned forests to society!

Could it be that the government’s finances have reached the point where it cannot survive without selling land?"

As soon as Favre finished his words, a small wave of discussion emerged in the Bourbon Palace, including some representatives (members) who originally supported the Imperial Faction.

For some members of the Imperial Faction, the reason they are willing to support the Empire is not because they were favored by Emperor Napoleon.

Quite the opposite, some Imperial Faction members’ fathers were originally the oppressed subjects of Emperor Napoleon.

But because the Empire could bring them order, stability, and economic prosperity.

However, the government’s repeated increases in spending made them worried.

They feared that one day the government would completely collapse due to enormous expenditures, like those bankrupt Empires of the 17th and 18th centuries.

[Of course, this type of person has always been the subject of Jerome Bonaparte’s ridicule, standing in the 21st century, Jerome Bonaparte always felt that all their economic actions were too conservative when looking at the 19th century economy, afraid that the government would inadvertently fall into financial ruin.

Yet, from the 19th to the 21st century, Jerome Bonaparte has never seen which large government completely collapsed due to economic problems.

Most of them were due to military and political issues other than the economy, leading the entire economy into dire straits.

Take the South America and Central America economies, prone to inflation, for example.

If the American economy was not controlled and suppressed by the United States of America, they would definitely not reach their current predicament.

Even Cuba, "blockaded" by the United States of America, their economy does not experience frequent inflation like in South America governments.

It’s precisely the different perspectives that determine different approaches.

People in the 19th century focused on countries that went bankrupt in the 17th and 18th centuries for fiscal reasons, while Jerome Bonaparte focused on the end of this century and the 20th century.]

The 80,000 hectares state-owned forest sale proposal by Achille Fuld and Favre’s earlier words just happened to touch the hearts of members who were content with the status quo, causing an inexplicable anxiety in their hearts.

Seeing the growing noise in the Bourbon Palace, Deputy Speaker Bijou was forced to knock on the table with a gavel several times, and then solemnly said.

"Representatives, please refrain from making noise in public places!"

The noise in the Bourbon Palace immediately ceased, and everyone again focused their attention on Achille Fuld at the speaking platform,

Immediately afterward, Bijou further suggested to Achille Fuld, "Minister Fuld, do you have anything else to add?

If not, we are going to start this round of voting!"

Achille Fuld responded to Favre again, "Representative Favre, based on your previous remarks, you have already constituted the crime of slander against the Empire. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

However, as a member of the Empire’s parliament, you inherently enjoy certain immunity in your speech.

Moreover, everything discussed within Bourbon Palace is restricted to dissemination within Bourbon Palace.

Thus, you need not worry about police coming to your residence to arrest you!"

Achille Fuld deliberately paused as if intentionally to gauge Favre’s reaction, and he turned his gaze towards Favre after saying this.

Named "threatened" by Achille Fuld, Favre looked indescribably unpleasant. He stood up and shouted at Achille Fuld, "As a member of the Legislative Corps, I have the undeniable right to supervise the government, and the power to veto all unreasonable proposals!"

"Representative Favre, we are not restricting any of those rights of yours!" Achille Fuld retorted sharply, "However, according to the constitution of the Empire, you also have the duty to uphold the government’s authority as a member of parliament, don’t you!"

"If the government acts correctly, I certainly wish to uphold it!" Favre’s momentum quickly weakened significantly, and he replied rather angrily to Achille Fuld, "The current lack of transparency in fiscal policy from the government leaves us completely unclear about the government’s actual state!"

"So you maliciously undermine the Empire’s economy to achieve your undisclosed goals!" Achille Fuld smiled intriguingly and said, "You Republican Faction representatives, can’t you come up with different rhetoric!"

"Minister Fuld, you..."

Triggered by Achille Fuld, Favre couldn’t help but curse, and Achille Fuld quickly seized the opportunity to say to Bijou, "Respected Deputy Speaker, I request that Favre be expelled from Bourbon Palace!"

Bijou glanced at Favre in the distance and said indifferently, "Representative Favre, your recent remarks are no longer suitable for remaining in Bourbon Palace, I ask you to leave as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Corps!

If you are unwilling to leave, then I will have the guards escort you out!"

Having said this, Bijou was about to order the guards to remove Favre.

"There’s no need! I’ll leave on my own!"

In order to preserve a last shred of dignity, Favre firmly refused to be escorted away by guards, instead getting up and leaving on his own.

The few Republican Faction members seated around Favre seemed to rally behind his action, voluntarily opting to leave together with him.

Originally, there were over forty seats allocated to Republican Faction members in Bourbon Palace; in an instant, it diminished by one-eighth.

The remaining members in Bourbon Palace were only Olivier and Dariemon, known for their moderate Republican stance, and Jules Simon, who was wavering between sides!

Watching Favre leave Bourbon Palace, Achille Fuld once again spoke to everyone present, "Gentlemen, let’s continue the previous discussion!

I understand many of you here are worried about the situation mentioned by Representative Favre earlier; let me clearly tell you that Representative Favre’s claims are nonsense!

The financial reports presented to the Legislative Corps by the government have no concealment (except for the bonds of Paris city construction kept under wraps by Georges Ossman), our government is not yet at the stage of financial deficit like living beyond its means!

Regarding the proposal to sell 80,000 hectares of national forests, it’s intended to support the infrastructure of Upper and Lower Rhine, Moselle, and Vosges provinces!

Especially Moselle Province, which has become the Empire’s largest textile production base, from which countless cotton textiles are produced and circulated to other provinces and abroad!

Upper Rhine and Lower Rhine Provinces are likewise the economic regions second only to Paris within the Empire, where steel and grain produced are transported across the Empire via waterways and highways.

I wish to say that the economic benefits generated by the Empire’s expenditure here far surpass those from 80,000 hectares of forest!"

Upon hearing Achille Fuld’s words, the Alsace-Lorraine Region representatives immediately cheered for Achille Fuld.

The Imperial Faction members similarly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Achille Fuld’s explanation of the fiscal trajectory.

Anyway, the Empire’s money was spent on the rightful path.

Following this, Achille Fuld continued speaking to everyone present, "Furthermore, His Majesty the Emperor, to express support for infrastructure, has particularly proposed that this year’s 20 million francs allocated to the Imperial Family by parliament be fully invested into the infrastructure development of Alsace-Lorraine Region!

Additionally, representing the Imperial Family, he voluntarily donates 10 million francs to construct worker apartments in Paris!

Striving to ensure every Parisian worker enjoys the benefit of low rental rates!"

All parliament members were astonished at Jerome Bonaparte’s decision, including Bijou, the Deputy Speaker.

After a while, an angry shout rose in Bourbon Palace: "Long live the Empire, long live His Majesty the Emperor, long live freedom!"

Subsequently, all parliament members, whether willingly or not, gathered in unison to chant, "Long live the Empire, long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

The resounding voices spread beyond Bourbon Palace, from which the expelled Favre, upon hearing this series of chants, bore even more ferocity in his gaze.

Standing on the podium, Achille Fuld felt a genuine admiration for Jerome Bonaparte upon witnessing the room filled with applause.