Make France Great Again-Chapter 128: Fabricating a Treason Group

"Bishop, I don’t think it’s necessary!"

Jerome Bonaparte said calmly.

For Jerome Bonaparte, this conflict was undoubtedly a godsend opportunity to expel the Mountain Party from the National Assembly. He must seize the chance to bind the followers’ [referring to the Mountain Party followers] actions together with the idol [referring to Ledru Roland], ideally sending Ledru Roland and his associates to French Guiana on charges of betraying France.

"Mr. President, if you cannot uphold justice for us, then who in all of France can stop those mobs? They are the embodiment of Robespierre’s ghost, intent on destroying all of France!" The Bishop of Reims showed a look of sorrow and anger and said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Bishop, I never said I wouldn’t punish those people!" Jerome Bonaparte explained to the Bishop of Reims, "The source of this riot isn’t those people, but the Mountain Party in Parliament, Ledru Roland and his group! Only by completely driving them out of Parliament can France return to peace!"

"Then what should we do?" the Bishop of Reims immediately asked.

"Bishop, all that is needed is for you and your party [Order Party’s Clerical Faction] to support us as usual!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a smile to the Bishop of Reims.

Satisfied with Jerome Bonaparte’s assurance, the Bishop of Reims left the Elysee Palace and went to the Police Department to release people.

After the Bishop of Reims left, Jerome Bonaparte called Percy over and instructed, "Percy, I order you to go immediately to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and tell Leon Fushi (Minister of Internal Affairs). I don’t care what method he uses, he must make those people say that everything they did was under Ledru Roland’s instructions, understand?"

"Understood!" Percy quickly responded.

"Go!" Jerome Bonaparte waved his hand, and Percy left the study to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In the study, Jerome Bonaparte was left alone, and after a moment of contemplation, he picked up the bell on the corner of the desk.

The clear sound of the bell traveled from the study to the outside, and soon, the Elysee Palace office director Mokar pushed the door open and entered.

"Your Majesty!" Mokar greeted Jerome Bonaparte respectfully.

"Go and invite Prime Minister Barro and Senator Thiers!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed Mokar.

"Yes!"

Mokar, having received the task, also left the study.

Jerome Bonaparte got up and went to the window, muttering while looking at the blistering bright orb in the west, "Soon! Soon!"

...

Under Mokar’s guidance, Audion Barrot and Senator Thiers arrived at Jerome Bonaparte’s study.

The three sat on the sofa, sipping tea and chatting.

"Prime Minister, Senator Thiers, you must be aware of what happened today in Vendôme Square!" Jerome Bonaparte took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, glanced at the two deep in thought, and continued, "I would like to ask your opinions!"

"What happened today in Vendôme Square is the most vile incident since the founding of the Republic! Those mobs dared to attack unarmed priests; I suspect there’s a secret group behind them plotting to overthrow the entire Republic!" Thiers started off by directly labeling the Mountain Party with the charge of conspiring to overthrow the Republic, displaying a posture eager to see the Mountain Party perish immediately.

"That’s right! I suspect this conspiracy group is nowhere else but within the National Assembly!" Audion Barrot naturally wouldn’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and echoed Thiers’ sentiments.

To match Audion Barrot and Thiers’ performance, Jerome Bonaparte displayed a surprised expression, "Excellent! I think so too! If someone weren’t backing them, they wouldn’t be so rampant!"

Jerome Bonaparte, Thiers, and Audion Barrot exchanged smiles, all understanding each other’s intentions.

From this moment on, the Mountain Party would be rendered a historical symbol.

...

On the 12th, the National Assembly convened at the Bourbon Palace.

Except for a few deputies who were not in the Seine Province, all deputies were present.

Jerome Bonaparte also arrived on the scene, sitting in a private box in the audience area, quietly waiting for the show to begin.

Parliament officially began under the Speaker Marast’s gavel.

"I accuse!" Ledru Roland from the Mountain Party was the first to stand up and shout.

Everyone focused on Lederer Roland, who walked confidently to the podium and declared loudly: "In the presence of this sacred National Assembly and all its members, I propose the impeachment of Jerome Bonaparte, Audion Barrot, and his Cabinet!"

At these words, everyone except Jerome Bonaparte showed a slight change of expression. Was it Lederer Roland who had gone mad, impeaching the President, Prime Minister, and Cabinet all at once, or had the world gone mad?

"According to Article 110 of the French Republic’s Constitution, the French Republic shall not use force to threaten the freedom of others!" With full preparation, Lederer Roland said energetically: "President Jerome Bonaparte, Prime Minister Audion Barrot, and all Cabinet members have violated the Republic’s Constitution. They concealed information and secretly appointed General Reniao to launch an attack against Rome! Disregarding the friendship between the Roman Republic and the French Republic, they infringed on the personal safety of another country! Jerome Bonaparte and Audion Barrot should relinquish their positions, and the French Army should immediately release Mazzini and withdraw from Rome!"

As soon as Lederer Roland finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted from the Mountain Party camp, and the Republican Faction also greeted Roland with smiles.

The Order Party responded to Ledru Roland’s accusations with silence, while the eyes of Thiers and Molay were filled with disdain.

"The Republicans will take every measure to force respect for the Constitution, even if it means resorting to force!" Lederer Roland issued a threat of war to the Order Party camp.

"Resort to force!" The Mountain Party also shouted loudly.

"Quiet!" Marast once again struck the gavel in an attempt to stabilize the situation.

"I propose that Jerome Bonaparte, Audion Barrot, and their Cabinet members be immediately handed over to the court for trial!" With that, Ledru Roland immediately handed the proposal to Marast, completely oblivious to the subtle change in Marast’s expression.

Lederer Roland’s folly was about to lead him to complete ruin.

Jerome Bonaparte, watching the drama unfold from the box, showed a mocking expression and said to Eugène Roué beside him, "Roué, did you hear? Our Mr. Roland wants us all to be sent to court!"

"Your Majesty, Roland is courting death!" Eugène Roué sneered, looking at Roland on stage with eyes as if seeing a dead man.

"Let’s continue watching Senator Roland’s performance!" Jerome Bonaparte leaned back in his chair and said to Eugène Roué.

Once Lederer Roland’s proposal was submitted, Marast had no choice but to say, "Regarding the proposal to hand over the President, Prime Minister, and Cabinet members to the court for trial..."

The deputies below raised their exquisite paper pieces in hand, blue with black letters for approval and white with black letters for opposition.

All the Order Party deputies raised opposition cards, nearly 20 of the Republican Faction deputies raised blue ones, the remaining 40 raised white ones, and the Mountain Party was entirely blue.

"260 to 450 votes!" Marast said after striking three times, "Senator Lederer Roland, your proposal has not passed!"

"You... you will regret this later!" Lederer Roland pointed at some Order Party deputies after stepping down, some of whom were originally from the Republican side.

"Since Lederer Roland has finished, it’s my turn!" Thiers stood up and said.

"Senator Thiers, what do you want to say?" Marast asked Thiers.

Parliamentary struggles were becoming increasingly intense, and Marast really did not want to continue.

Otherwise, who knows what kind of big troubles might arise.

"I have some interesting information to report to the Assembly! May I go up, Mr. Speaker?" Thiers asked Marast politely.

"Of course, Senator Thiers! The National Assembly is not the stage for one person or one group!" Marast glanced at Lederer Roland, increasingly disliking the man.

Once on stage, Thiers handed Marast several sheets full of writing, then turned and said, "Just now, Senator Roland said that if the proposal is unsuccessful, they will demand a resolution by force!"

"Ah!" Lederer Roland snorted coldly.

"I happen to have some testimonies here that say Senator Roland and his party intend to attack us in parliament! Outside parliament, they incite class struggle, and they aim to establish a Public Security Committee, attempting to overthrow the entire Republic!" Thiers’ voice grew louder, like a storm attacking Roland.

"No... I did not!" Lederer Roland, who had never entertained such thoughts, insisted on his denial.

"So, Senator Roland, why are you painstakingly seeking military support? And why tell your party members that you’ve obtained military support?" Thiers accused Lederer Roland of two counts, then said to Marast, "Mr. Speaker, all signs show that Lederer Roland is the one who intends to overthrow the Republic. I propose that Lederer Roland be arrested, and his Mountain Party undergo thorough scrutiny!"

"This is slander!" Lederer Roland screamed hysterically.

"Senator Roland, how can you prove your innocence!" Thiers’ lips curled into a contemptuous smile.

Marast initiated a vote on whether to investigate if Lederer Roland and the Mountain Party had committed acts of treason.

The result was 380 votes in favor and 330 votes against; the parliament agreed to the investigation.

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