Make France Great Again-Chapter 135: The Submission of Bi Fei

Jerome Bonaparte quietly watched the "poor creature" sitting beside him, almost in tears.

In the 19th century, a period dominated by conservative moral values, everyone was constrained by the moral order of the era.

Under the oppression of morality and order, people often committed actions that defied conventions.

"Minister, I understand your actions!" Jerome Bonaparte, with a touch of sympathy in his eyes, looked at Mr. Bifei and said, "But sometimes, you have to adapt to this era!"

"I... I didn’t want to either!" Minister Bifei, with his head lowered and his tone choked with emotion, recounted his "history": "I grew up under my father’s harsh discipline... He constantly taught me to reclaim what we lost in that revolution... He was so severe... so unfeeling... Since I was 20 years old, I discovered I enjoyed dressing in women’s clothes... I also found that I didn’t like women... Instead, I developed an interest in various gentlemen... From that time on... I sought to establish connections with various men... When I was 30... I was forced to marry a woman I didn’t know... At that time, I even wanted to flee..."

"Oh?" Jerome Bonaparte slightly raised an eyebrow, gently interrupting, and inquired: "Minister, doesn’t your wife know about this little hobby of yours?"

"Mr. President, since my wife and I are a political and financial alliance, we simply lead our own separate lives!" Minister Bifei explained to Jerome Bonaparte.

The grand Great Revolution abolished the aristocratic privileges that fed off the blood of the French populace, giving rise to new aristocrats represented by military and financial achievements.

Although these new aristocrats bore titles like Viscount, Count, or even Duke, lacking hereditary support, they could not integrate into the circle of the ancient nobility. The ancient nobles, who held sway over the court etiquette and cultural understanding of the upper class, used their status to exclude new noble entry.

A new aristocrat had no choice but to consider marriage alliances if they wished to seamlessly integrate into the society circle. They tried every way to have their son marry a daughter from an old family name, or provided large dowries for their daughters to enter noble marriages.

Such bloodline and financial marriages were common in the 19th century. As long as both parties agreed, their sons or daughters were traded like goods.

"The alienation of capital!" Jerome Bonaparte murmured softly.

"What did you say?" Minister Bifei asked, not hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s muttering clearly.

"Nothing!" Jerome Bonaparte waved his hand and said, "So, Minister, what do you want me to do?"

"Mr. President, I beg you not to report it!" Minister Bifei almost pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte.

"Minister, that depends on your attitude!" Jerome Bonaparte said bluntly, exposing his intentions.

From the beginning, Jerome Bonaparte never intended to use Bifei’s scandal to attack the Cabinet of Audion Barrot.

Just as nuclear weapons are most threatening when held but not launched, scandals wield more intimidating power when retained instead of spread.

Once the scandal is public, Bifei Minister’s reputation would be instantly ruined. He might have to take his life to preserve the Order Party’s future, and even Audion Barrot’s Cabinet might fall due to the homosexual scandal.

It wasn’t until the Third Republic that France abolished the laws imprisoning same-sex intimate acts.

Society’s tolerance for same-sex behavior can be imagined.

If the storm calms and someone investigates thoroughly, the mastermind behind the scenes will likely be uncovered, a fact Jerome Bonaparte never doubted due to the efficiency of Parisian journalists.

By then, Jerome Bonaparte would probably be embroiled in the "secret police" issue.

Given the current situation, defeating Bifei offers Jerome Bonaparte no advantage.

"I am willing to follow your orders!" Bifei, caught in his misdeeds, shed his former arrogance and yielded to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Minister, welcome to our side!" Jerome Bonaparte extended a hand to Bifei.

"You win, Mr. President!" Bifei extended his hand and clasped it with Jerome Bonaparte’s.

Under Jerome Bonaparte’s threat, Bifei had no choice but to form an alliance with him.

"Rest assured, Mr. Bifei, you will not regret today’s decision!" Jerome Bonaparte assured Bifei.

"I hope not!" Bifei, once again showing a bitter smile, murmured to himself, knowing he was likely trapped in this scheme, "I hope I won’t become a casualty of your ambitions!"

His murmur was so faint that Jerome Bonaparte did not hear it, yet he didn’t bother to ask what Bifei had just said.

"Minister Bifei, I expect the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce to present a plan within a month for a nationwide and overseas telegraph line deployment!" Jerome Bonaparte stated his demand.

"I will instruct the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce to act promptly!" Minister Bifei nodded in response.

"Alright! That’s all I’m asking for at the moment!" Jerome Bonaparte spread his hands towards Mr. Bifei and said.

"Anything else..." Mr. Bifei subconsciously asked, then he widened his eyes with an expression of disbelief and asked Jerome Bonaparte: "Is that all?"

"Exactly! That’s all!" Jerome Bonaparte repeated once more.

"Alright! I understand!" Mr. Bifei felt slightly relieved, a bittersweet smile appeared on his lips. He hadn’t expected that the matter for which the President had circled around so much, and even risked his (Mr. Bifei’s) downfall, would be so simple.

If he had known earlier, he should have directly agreed to the President.

"Oh, and one more thing!" Jerome Bonaparte continued, "I hope that the upcoming construction of the telegraph lines can follow the routes of the railway network currently being planned by the Ministry of Public Works!"

The railway lines under construction are undoubtedly being built with future wars in mind, and the telegraph network should equally be designed around warfare.

Only a developed telegraph network can ensure that the troops stationed along the railway lines receive messages dispatched from Paris promptly to take the next step.

Mr. Bifei did not realize that a well-connected telegraph network would become a tool as critical as the railways in directing the course of war,

In his view, it was merely a trivial matter, yet in Jerome Bonaparte’s eyes, it was a significant issue determining the outcome of war.

Small steps lead to a thousand miles.

The victory or defeat of a war comprises the various minor matters in Mr. Bifei’s eyes,

"Yes!" Mr. Bifei nodded to Jerome Bonaparte to show his understanding.

"To our future cooperation, cheers!" Jerome Bonaparte raised his glass and proposed a toast to Mr. Bifei.

"Cheers!" Mr. Bifei also raised his glass and responded.

As the dinner neared its end, Mr. Bifei hesitated for a moment before asking, "Mr. President, recently the Prime Minister is planning a partial cabinet reshuffle, I suppose you know about it!"

"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and candidly said, "I think the Prime Minister suggests cautiously introducing some republican members into the cabinet to silence those people!"

"Is that so!" Mr. Bifei steadied himself and spoke again, "Mr. President, you should know that I have some ties with Count Morel and the Orthodox Faction. Recently, things have been quite unpleasant between the Prime Minister and Count Morel, so..."

Jerome Bonaparte clearly understood Mr. Bifei’s implication, fearing that he might become a sacrifice of Audion Barrot before he even warmed his seat, he reassured, "Rest assured! The cabinet members replaced this time are mostly from departments without substantial power and will not affect you!"

Hearing Jerome Bonaparte’s assurance, Mr. Bifei’s anxious heart finally settled down.

The dinner continued until it ended at 11 o’clock, and after sending the heavily intoxicated Mr. Bifei off in a carriage, Jerome Bonaparte also returned to his bedroom to focus.

In the following two weeks, aside from the "Construction Plan for the French Telegraph" submitted by Mr. Bifei, no other minister went to the Elysee Palace to report.

On July 15th, the list of new cabinet members was announced. As Jerome Bonaparte had anticipated, apart from the replacement of the Foreign Minister De Ruyi with Tocqueville (Moderate Republican) and the Finance Minister Pasi with Barroso (Order Party), the rest of the cabinet members remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, a stringent censorship law and state of martial law were submitted to the Legislative Assembly and passed.

The law stipulates that Articles 1 and 2 of the press law of August 11, 1848, "shall apply to attacks on the power and authority of the President, as well as personal attacks on the President," and shall be prosecuted by the procuratorate.

All incitations aimed at undermining the military duties and obedience of the army and navy shall incur imprisonment from 1 month to 2 years, along with fines ranging from 25 to 4000 francs.

Any act attacking the inviolability of the law and rights, any defense of criminal acts legally determined, shall be punished: imprisonment from 1 month to 2 years and fines from 16 to 1000 francs.

Any information published or reprinted with malicious intent, false news, false documents aimed at disrupting public order shall incur imprisonment from 1 month to 1 year and fines from 50 to 1000 francs.

Distributors and mobile vendors of essays, booklets, engravings, and lithographs must obtain official permission. The approving authority has the right to revoke such permission at any time.

The transient spring for newspapers ended; winter was coming.

On August 1, 1849, during the solemn declaration by Audion Barrot, the Legislative Assembly officially entered a two-month recess.

Except for a small group of over twenty members responsible for staying on duty at the Bourbon Palace, most members were enjoying a rare break.

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