Make France Great Again-Chapter 176: Guiding Public Opinion

"By the way, there’s one more thing. We can’t let all the newspapers cover the panic. That would make it seem deliberate on our part. Let some of the newspapers that appear to be aligned with the government report more positive news about France, while those that seem opposed to the government ’expose’ the government’s ’lies.’ Then, the entire Parisian public will believe that the government is deceiving them! They will panic, be afraid, and beg the parliament for protection..."

Jerome Bonaparte gazed far along the flowing direction of the Seine River to the horizon, with a cold smile on his face as if talking to himself: "How can the parliament find an invisible enemy? They can only use official channels to publish so-called rebuttal articles! The public will only believe what they ’see’ with their own eyes. They will complain and curse the parliament, and they will pray for a strong figure to protect their property! Citizens who have experienced the February Revolution do not wish to relive those times again."

Public opinion is like a double-edged sword. If handled properly, you can use it to stab your enemy. If not handled well, public opinion will backfire on you.

Having once experienced the era of mass information, Jerome Bonaparte certainly understood the terrifying power of public opinion. To ruin a person, all it takes is to put negative information about them in the popular spots online and completely hide the favorable information, which will lead to some self-righteous people attacking recklessly.

Although this era is different from the era of mass information, and the medium for disseminating information has shifted from the internet to newspapers, the impact of public opinion is even stronger. In this era, when information is not yet fully developed, the news the citizens know comes besides word of mouth is from newspapers.

In this era, there is no other way for people to verify the authenticity of information, or rather, they simply cannot afford the cost of verification. This leads them to only be able to trust the content of the newspapers, compounded by the fact that Parisians are naturally inclined towards office conspiracies. Unfavorable public opinion towards the government will only spread and grow larger.

As the former editor-in-chief and now controller of the "Bonaparte Newspaper," Percy has learned Jerome Bonaparte’s methods of creating public opinion from his teachings.

"Your Majesty, I understand!" Percy nodded in response to Jerome Bonaparte, then hesitantly expressed his opinion: "If... I mean if... the parliament calls on citizens to arm themselves to defend their country, like the French Republic did in the past (referring to 1789 when France rallied the people to arm themselves against foreign intervention), what should we do then? At that time, the power of the Legislative Assembly might strengthen!"

"If the Legislative Assembly were truly capable, I would wish for them to do so!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled, speaking in a light tone: "Percy, do you know? I have been considering changing the existing system of conscription in France, to restore the universal military service of the past."

Percy’s face showed a look of horror. Even though this wasn’t the first time he heard such shocking words from the President, this time it was still frightening.

"Your Majesty, a universal military service would likely lead to a large number of vagabonds and sans-culottes (referring to workers) joining the army, making it difficult for you to control the army!" Percy quickly advised Jerome Bonaparte against harboring such a terrible thought.

"Percy, there’s no need to fear a revolution!" Jerome Bonaparte said quietly: "A revolution is not a plague. Behind every revolution represents a vested interest group... more precisely a class demand. As long as we can sort out the issues behind these demands and the balance between the numbers for and against the revolution, we can steer the revolution!

Having said that, do you think those guys in the Legislative Assembly dare to distribute their weapons again to the Parisians? How can the Order Party members possibly want to see the Parisians take up arms again, will the armed Parisians deal with me, the ’powerless’ President, or will they deal with the Legislative Assembly?"

The Legislative Assembly was born out of revolution, yet buried half of the revolutionary body in the two Junes (June 1848, June 1849).

At this moment, the Legislative Assembly has been taken over by the specter of the Royalist Party, relying on the specter of the Royal Party to launch a revolution is simply a fool’s errand.

"Percy, we have to sway between the parliament and the people! When the momentum of the people is weak, we can support the people to make the Order Party back down for us. When the momentum of the people is enough to threaten the Legislative Assembly, we silently approve of the Legislative Assembly’s action against the people. Only by doing so can we continuously seize power from the Legislative Assembly, forcing them to take desperate measures and trample on their principles, do you understand?" Jerome Bonaparte turned to look at Percy, still with a pleasant smile on his face.

"I... understand!" Percy nodded, finally understanding the President’s intentions.

"Alright, it’s time for us to head back!" Jerome Bonaparte turned and left, with Percy following in step away from the banks of the Seine River.

...

Early the next morning, a thick fog enveloped all of Paris, and droplets of condensation from the fog fell from the railings and casements of the Elysee Palace.

The temperature in all of Paris dropped more than ten degrees overnight, and the bustling citizens on the streets changed from autumn to winter clothing.

Early in the morning, Percy, who left the Elysee Palace, also changed into winter attire.

To avoid drawing attention from others, the Elysee Palace did not use the palace’s carriage and instead randomly hailed one far from the palace.

The carriage carried Percy slowly through the dense fog and soon arrived at a modest three-story townhouse.

"Sir, we’ve arrived!" The coachman, having stopped the carriage by the roadside, gently tapped on the carriage where Percy was dozing off, reminding him.

"Hmm... have we arrived?" Percy, inside the carriage, opened his eyes and repeated to the coachman drowsily.

"That’s right, sir!" the coachman replied.

Percy, inside the carriage, adjusted his attire slightly, opened the door, paid the fare, and proceeded on foot toward the townhouse.

Passing through the small garden arranged outside the townhouse, Percy quickly reached the main door of the townhouse.

The imperial-style decorations were carved onto the auburn door, with a bronze lion’s head adorning the spot of the door knocker. The lion held two serpents in its mouth, sculpted from bronze, with their heads connected by a small ball.

Percy grasped the door knocker and gently tapped it, producing a clear and crisp sound from the door.

Soon, a middle-aged man’s voice came from inside, "Who is it?"

The auburn door opened, and the middle-aged man leaned out to observe the person outside.

"May I ask if Mr. Havas is home?" Percy politely replied to the man before him.

"And who might you be?" The middle-aged man asked, looking puzzled at the person in front of him.

"My name is Percy!" Percy continued with a smile as he spoke to the middle-aged man before him.

"Percy?" The middle-aged man murmured, suddenly recalling that this person before him was the "distinguished guest" his father often mentioned to him.

"Sir, please come in!" The middle-aged man hurriedly opened the door, inviting Percy inside.

"Thank you!" Percy nodded kindly to the middle-aged man.

"Mr. Percy, my name is Augustus Havas. My father, Charles Havas, is currently resting. I will fetch him immediately!" The middle-aged man hurriedly introduced himself to Percy, knowing that to gain the power to run the Havas News Agency in the future, the person before him was someone essential to flatter.

Though his father, Charles Havas, was akin to the uncrowned king of the Paris newspaper world, compared to those influential in Paris politics, his father had no choice but to humble himself with a smile.

The reason why the Havas News Agency was not struck in the November association law incident is largely due to this person in front of him.

"Sorry to trouble you!" Percy nodded slightly at Augustus Havas, then sat silently on the sofa.

"Please wait a moment!" Augustus Havas quickly walked up to the second floor and barged straight into Charles Havas’s room.

Sixty-five-year-old Charles Havas swiftly opened his eyes upon hearing Augustus Havas’s commotion. Rarely could he enjoy a peaceful sleep at his advanced age, and Augustus Havas’s sudden intrusion left Charles Havas somewhat irked.

"What happened?" Charles Havas coldly inquired of his son, with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Father, Mr. Percy has arrived!" Augustus Havas told Charles Havas.

"What?" The news of Percy’s arrival immediately dispelled Charles Havas’s anger. He hurriedly lifted the covers and complained, "Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"Mr. Percy just arrived, and it was a sudden visit!" Augustus Havas softly justified as he helped Charles Havas change his clothes.

With Augustus Havas’s assistance, Charles Havas quickly dressed and headed downstairs. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Mr. Percy, welcome to my home!" Charles Havas bowed slightly in greeting to Percy. The man before him was a vital benefactor to the Havas News Agency; he must be well attended to.

"Mr. Havas, I am here to convey the President’s order!" Percy got straight to the point without superfluous words.

Upon hearing the words "Mr. President," Charles Havas’s expression immediately turned serious, and he swiftly pledged loyalty, "If the President finds my old bones useful, my son and I are willing to serve him to the utmost of our abilities!"

"Mr. President mentioned to me that your Havas Newspaper once followed His Majesty Napoleon! He trusts in your loyalty to the Bonaparte Clan!" Percy first praised Charles Havas and then said.

"My son and I are willing to serve the Emperor’s nephew with the same devotion as to the Emperor!" Charles Havas once again expressed his loyalty.

"Mr. President wishes..." Percy recounted everything Jerome Bonaparte had told him to Charles Havas and his son, then asked, "Do you have any difficulties?"

"None! We promise to accomplish the tasks assigned by Mr. President!"

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