Make France Great Again-Chapter 166 Prime Minister’s Doomsday

Eugène Schneider only then realized that another benefit of cooperating with the President was that he no longer had to kowtow to local powers. When he initially went to Le Creusot, it was not only because of the ample trees for producing charcoal and the small amount of iron ore but also because the local power in Le Creusot was weak.

If it were Lorraine, Eugène Schneider would probably have to haggle with the various local forces there for quite some time.

None of the German nobility and bourgeoisie who had enclosed land in Lorraine were easy to deal with.

As long as the President remained in office, the Schneider Steel Company would grow increasingly stronger.

"By the way, Mr. Schneider, you should know some giants in the steel industry!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Eugène Schneider.

"Your Majesty, behind every steel company like mine, there is always a backing bank!" Eugène Schneider tactfully said to Jerome Bonaparte.

With Eugène Schneider’s reminder, Jerome Bonaparte recalled that the unique path of French industrialization relied on bank investment, and to make them yield, it was necessary for the banks behind them to yield as well.

Jerome Bonaparte thought for a long time and felt that he must have a friendly meeting with the "giants" of the Paris banking sector. Otherwise, he would be nothing but a figurehead president.

However, the timing of this exchange had to be set after he dismissed Audion Barrot.

Otherwise, those banking giants would not understand what presidential power truly meant.

"I understand!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in acknowledgment: "Regarding the Lorraine steel plant, I’ll leave it to you! If there are any difficulties, feel free to come to me! If you can’t find me, you can look for Percy!"

"I understand!" Eugène Schneider nodded with joy.

"Take this blueprint with you!" Jerome Bonaparte pointed at the blueprint and said to Eugène Schneider. He then suddenly remembered a flaw in the Bessemer Steelmaking Method and advised: "By the way, the inner wall of the furnace needs to use dolomite as lining, or else the steel produced won’t meet standards!"

Because the iron ore in the Lorraine region was high-phosphorus, impurities couldn’t be extracted without using alkaline lining, which resulted in brittle steel that was not suitable for practical use in rails and iron plates.

For a long time after the advent of the Bessemer Steelmaking Method, the steel output across Europe did not significantly increase; instead, Sweden made a big profit.

Since Sweden’s iron ore was low-phosphorus, even during World War II, Nazi Germany praised it.

Until after the 1870s, the emergence of Siemens Flat Furnace Technology made iron ore a cheap commodity, and at the same time, improvements in the Bessemer Steelmaking Method also narrowed the gap between converters and flat furnaces.

Now, with Jerome Bonaparte’s maneuvering, it’s uncertain whether the Siemens Flat Furnace Technology in Germany could continue to exist.

After all, capitalists are unwilling to invest in climbing the tech tree when there are convenient products available.

"I understand!" Eugène Schneider tucked the rolled-up blueprint under his arm, cherishing it like a treasure.

Jerome Bonaparte and Eugène Schneider chatted for a long time; during the conversation, Jerome Bonaparte tentatively asked Eugène Schneider whether he was interested in entering the cannon business.

Although Schneider Cannon Company’s most famous "Miss 75" would not debut for over 40 years, Jerome Bonaparte still held some hope for Eugène Schneider.

If they truly succeeded, even if it wasn’t a cannon like Miss 75, just being similar to the steel cannon used by Krupp in 1870 would satisfy Jerome Bonaparte.

During the Franco-Prussian War, Krupp used their specialty breech-loading steel cannon to shatter the pride of his cousin’s Napoleon Cannon and, in turn, dashed the French artillery superiority dreams.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the company’s expansion could lead to unpredictable situations," Eugène Schneider indirectly refused Jerome Bonaparte’s suggestion.

Since Eugène Schneider was unwilling to enter the arms industry now, Jerome Bonaparte wouldn’t force him either.

After sending Eugène Schneider out of the Elysee Palace, Jerome Bonaparte returned to his study.

Looking at the setting sun outside, a cold smile appeared on Jerome Bonaparte’s lips, and he muttered, "The showdown is about to begin!"

...

October 1, 1849.

The Legislative Assembly officially convened with Speaker Marast’s solemn announcement.

All 750 members of the Legislative Assembly were present.

Located in the corridor on the right side of the Legislative Assembly, all the cabinet members led by Jerome Bonaparte were present. At the invitation of Speaker Malaste, they would enter the podium one by one to explain everything that happened in the first half of 1849 in the French Government to the 750 members of the Legislative Assembly.

"Please, Citizen President Jerome Bonaparte, come to the stage!" Speaker Malaste said solemnly to the podium.

Jerome Bonaparte adjusted his sleeves and slowly walked up the steps, placing the documents he held under his arm on the podium.

"Honorable Speaker, fellow members of the Assembly, I am Jerome Bonaparte. I am here to represent the French Government to report to the sacred and solemn National Assembly about everything that happened in the first half of this year..." Jerome Bonaparte elaborated passionately to the attending members about everything that happened in France during the first half of ’49, including Prime Minister Audion Barrot’s two major taxes, the war of intervention in the Roman Republic, and the ’diplomatic achievements’ in the German Region, among others.

After completing his report, Jerome Bonaparte stood silently awaiting inquiries from the members of the Assembly.

"Mr. President, I would like to ask about the military expenses of the Roman Republic intervention? I did not hear any specifics about military expenses in your report!" A Republican member rose to question Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte appeared to hesitate as he glanced at Audion Barrot in the corridor, then replied to the member with a slightly apologetic tone, "Regarding the military expenses of the Roman Republic, I am not very clear on the details! For specific questions, you would need to ask Prime Minister Audion Barrot!"

"Alright!" The Republican member "beat the drums and withdrew the troops," as they aimed to concentrate all their firepower on Audion Barrot and did not consider the seemingly ineffective "puppet" President as their target.

At that moment, no one wanted to find fault with Jerome Bonaparte, so he courteously bowed and stepped down from the podium.

Audion Barrot entered the Legislative Assembly with an uplifting stride, like a gladiator entering the arena. He outlined all the regulations of the Cabinet Council during the first half of the year and the government’s spending situation to the Legislative Assembly.

He also proposed to the Legislative Assembly that they needed 9 million francs for the French Army and an annual compensation of 300,000 francs for the "war widow," Countess of Orleans.

In Audion Barrot’s words, these were issues that the Legislative Assembly should resolve.

Upon hearing the two proposals put forward by Audion Barrot, a minor commotion erupted in the Legislative Assembly.

The remnants of the Mountain Party in the Assembly stood up excitedly, retorting to Audion Barrot, "Prime Minister Audion Barrot, I find both of your proposals unreasonable! You intervened in the Roman Republic without the Assembly’s prior consent, and now you want us to approve it! As for the compensation to the Countess of Orleans, I have never even heard of a compensation of 300,000 francs annually! Prime Minister, this is already a Republic!"

The member made a point of emphasizing.

Audion Barrot straightened his slightly rounded abdomen and, placing one hand on the podium, assumed the posture of a rooster about to enter battle, saying, "Sir, the two objections you raised, I find completely unreasonable! Although the intervention in the Roman Republic commenced before the Assembly’s consent, the Assembly ultimately approved our action, which means the entire intervention process adheres to the constitution, and requesting funding for the army is also logical. As for the widow’s pension to the Countess of Orleans, I am also aware of the significant amount, but we cannot deny the contributions the Count has made to France."

As he spoke, Audion Barrot glanced towards the Order Party and the Republican Faction and said, "I believe it is necessary to approve the widow’s pension for the Duchess of Orleans!"

Subsequently, Audion Barrot decisively turned his head to address Malaste with an authoritative tone, "Speaker Malaste, I urge the Assembly to commence voting immediately!"

Audion Barrot’s aggressive posture somewhat perturbed Malaste, prompting him to comply with Barrot’s request and initiate the vote, harboring slight sympathy for the Orleans family in London, to whom he too owed some personal gratitude.

"Voting begins!" Under Malaste’s gavel, all officials commenced voting on the two proposals.

Ultimately, the proposal to cover the Roman military expenses passed with a 600 to 150 vote margin.

The proposal for compensation to the Orleans widow also passed with a 450 to 300 vote, with the opposing votes coming largely from the Orthodox faction of the Order Party, apart from a few Republicans and Mountain Party members.

Alas!

Despite passing the vote, Audion Barrot could hardly rejoice as he understood that the rift between the Orthodox faction and the Orléans Faction might not heal anytime soon.

Next, the various departmental ministers reported, with the exception of a few who withheld some of their expenditures due to special circumstances (such as the Minister of Public Works Mol and Minister of Agriculture and Commerce Bi Fei), the remaining ministers reported honestly.

The Assembly members did not inquire further into them either.

The first National Assembly of October came to an end.

In the following days, Audion Barrot frequently visited the Order Party headquarters on Puevert Street to unite the Orléans Faction members.

Under the "golden signboard" of Louis Philippe, Audion Barrot persuaded many of the Orléans Faction members to temporarily mitigate their conflicts, seemingly regaining the trust of his Order Party comrades once more.

On October 15th, Audion Barrot was urgently summoned by Jerome Bonaparte to the Elysee Palace.

"Prime Minister Audion Barrot, from now on, you will no longer hold the position of Prime Minister!"

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