Make France Great Again
Chapter 210 Prince Marshal

Chapter 210: Chapter 210 Prince Marshal

"Consider it... I need someone capable of taking charge..."

Jerome Bonaparte’s honest gaze and words gave Percy a slight comfort in his anxious heart. He didn’t know how much sincerity there was in Jerome Bonaparte’s words, nor did he dare to presumptuously guess the thoughts of someone who had already transformed into a Monarch.

The only thing Percy could be sure of was that the President likely still needed him. His possible transfer was for the sake of balancing power.

If the President truly didn’t need him, he could easily have expelled him from Paris.

"Your Majesty, I will give you a reply soon!" Percy replied humbly to Jerome Bonaparte.

Percy could not go against the President; he could only strive to delay time, which could not be delayed for too long.

"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded with a smile, indicating his understanding. He didn’t know what kind of outcome his impulsive idea would bear.

When he first promised Percy the position of Secretary General in the Pope State, he hadn’t considered that the Secretariat could become a behemoth in less than a year.

Jerome Bonaparte was somewhat concerned that too much power might swell Percy, and he had to adjust the functions under the Secretariat, promoting some departments with subordinate relations to the Secretariat to prevent the risk of the Secretariat becoming too unwieldy.

However, splitting up the Secretariat would require moving Percy away, and Jerome Bonaparte thought of the position of Minister of Public Works.

In terms of position, the role of Minister of Public Works was higher than that of the "Advisor" to the President.

This indirect promotion would reduce the impact of splitting up the Secretariat.

"Go ahead!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Percy.

"Yes!" Percy turned and left Jerome Bonaparte’s study.

"Wait!" Just as Percy was about to leave the study, Jerome Bonaparte called out to him.

"Your Majesty!" Percy turned back to inquire if Jerome Bonaparte had any further instructions.

"Never mind!" Jerome Bonaparte muttered softly.

If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have agreed so readily!

After contemplating for a long time, Jerome Bonaparte said something inexplicable to Percy: "Ask Minister Renio! Whether there is a suitable candidate for promotion to Marshal this year!"

"Yes!"

Percy left Jerome Bonaparte’s study and went to the Ministry of War. After handing the promotion documents to Minister Renio, Percy relayed Jerome Bonaparte’s words to Minister Renio: "Minister, the President asked me to inquire if there is any candidate in the army for promotion to Marshal."

Percy’s question left Minister Renio stunned for a moment. After a while, he subconsciously asked, "Mr. Percy, is the President preparing to appoint a Marshal?"

"I don’t know! The President may consider the development of events..." Percy replied in an official tone.

"Currently, there are no candidates in the army for promotion..." Minister Renio told Percy, suddenly having a flash of insight, and hastily added, "However, there is a suitable candidate among the non-army personnel!"

"Who?" Percy seemed to have a mutual understanding and thought of someone, but he was not sure if the person he thought of was the same as the one Renio had in mind.

"Prince Monfort!" Minister Renio mentioned the "suitable" candidate, then kindly explained, "I’m not trying to flatter the President; Prince Monfort is indeed the most suitable candidate for promotion to Marshal. He is the Great Emperor’s brother, and once fought alongside the Emperor. No one is more suitable than Prince Monfort to be a Marshal!"

Although Minister Renio repeatedly stressed that he wasn’t trying to flatter, his examples clearly showed that he was indeed flattering the President.

Any general who experienced that era knew about Prince Monfort’s notorious past. He had never commanded a single battle. The reason he was nominated by Minister Renio was because he was the Emperor’s brother and the President’s father. Otherwise, even a dog would be chosen over a deserter like Prince Monfort to receive the Marshal’s Staff.

Of course, with the passing of the older generation, not many of the new generation of young generals knew about Prince Monfort’s notorious past.

If Prince Old Jerome became Marshal, it would enhance the army’s sense of identity with them.

"I think so too!" Percy nodded and said to Minister Renio, "Minister Renio, could you please draft a separate Marshal promotion list?"

"Of course!" Minister Renio immediately responded without hesitation.

The Marshal promotion list was quickly completed in Minister Renio’s hands, with only Prince Old Jerome as the promotion candidate. In the reason for promotion column, it was written "For having fought for France"!

Minister Renio handed the Marshal promotion list to Percy. Percy received the list, kept it safely, and took his leave of the Ministry of War.

Percy, returning to the Elysee Palace from the Ministry of War, was about to head to the study on the second floor to inform Marshal Jerome Bonaparte about his promotion when he was stopped by Wardley at the staircase.

"Sir, you shouldn’t enter right now!" Wardley shook his head and quietly reminded Percy.

"Wardley, please tell me, did someone enter the room after I left?" Percy halted and asked Wardley.

"Sir, after you left! The father of Mr. President, Prince Monfort, came here!" Wardley explained to Percy.

"His Highness the Prince?" Percy responded with a frown.

"Exactly!" Wardley nodded in response.

"Then I shall wait here for a moment!" Percy said with a smile to Wardley, then took out a ruby and handed it to Wardley: "Thank you for providing me with this information!"

Wardley looked at Percy in astonishment, not understanding why Percy gave him the ruby. Even if Wardley didn’t tell him, Percy would find out eventually.

After all, Percy was the most trusted person of the President, Wardley hurriedly declined, saying: "Sir, there’s really no need! This isn’t a matter of importance!"

"It may not be important now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future, take it!" Percy said something that sounded baffling to Wardley.

While by the President’s side, Percy indeed didn’t need to give gifts to colleagues.

Once he left the Elysee Palace, his colleagues at the Elysee Palace became Percy’s most important source of information. He had to maintain this line; otherwise, he could completely lose the President’s trust due to an incident.

Due to Percy’s persistent request, Wardley felt embarrassed to refuse; he accepted the gift from Percy, becoming even more respectful towards him.

Of course, he didn’t yet know that Percy was about to be reassigned.

Apart from Jerome Bonaparte and Percy himself, no third party knew about this information.

While Percy and Wardley were waiting for the study on the second floor to reopen, inside the study, Jerome Bonaparte was having a dispute with his father, Prince Mondo, Old Jerome.

"When are you planning to let Parson come over?" Old Jerome, sitting opposite Jerome Bonaparte, demanded.

Jerome Bonaparte responded coldly: "Once the affairs in America are sorted, that half-brother of mine, that nephew can come over! Father, ultimately, it was your own mess back then; why should my sister and I bear the burden!"

Jerome Bonaparte’s merciless words left Old Jerome in an awkward situation. He understood that his son and grandson were not favored by Jerome Bonaparte and Mathilde, but they were his own flesh and blood, after all.

Old Jerome, who had reached his sixties, couldn’t bear the thought of his son and grandson wandering outside, hoping the family could live harmoniously together.

"You promised me!" Prince Old Jerome’s words inadvertently revealed a pleading tone. He knew that he could only appeal to his presidential son at the moment: "My son, for my sake as I’m nearing my end..."

Old Jerome’s plea made Jerome Bonaparte shake his head, his tone softened considerably: "Father, I understand your current feelings! I promise, once the matters in America are on track, they can come back!"

"That’s wonderful!" Prince Old Jerome smiled.

"However..." Jerome Bonaparte’s tone suddenly became harsh again: "They cannot join the Bonaparte Clan, this is my final condition!"

"My child, they are your brother and nephew!" Old Jerome still wished they could join the Bonaparte Clan.

"This is the bottom line for my sister and me!" Jerome Bonaparte displayed an uncompromising expression, firmly opposing his half-brother joining the Bonaparte Clan.

"Alright then!" Unable to persuade Jerome Bonaparte, Prince Old Jerome had to agree: "But you must offer them some compensation!"

"Rest assured! If they truly demonstrate their talents, I will bestow them the title of Duke!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Old Jerome.

"That works as well!"

Despite Prince Old Jerome feeling guilty about Jerome Patterson not being able to join the Bonaparte Clan rightfully, he also knew this was undoubtedly the best solution.

If Jerome Patterson joined the Bonaparte Clan, it would cause significant issues for the leader of the Bonaparte Clan.

"Father! If there’s nothing else, I’d like to take a walk!" Jerome Bonaparte issued a subtle order for Old Jerome to leave, fearing his indulgent father would raise difficult demands.

"By the way, about the Marshal’s matter..." Old Jerome hurriedly asked.

Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Prince Old Jerome disdainfully, responding, "I’ve already asked Percy to go to the Ministry of War to inquire if there’s a suitable candidate!"