Make France Great Again
Chapter 223: The Military Must Not Engage in Commerce

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: The Military Must Not Engage in Commerce

The dense sound of gunshots came from the Boulogne Forest. Soon, two plainclothes patrolling forest guards cautiously approached the forest periphery, following the sounds of gunfire.

As police officers (forest guards are a type of police that belong to the judicial police and are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works) in the vicinity of the Boulogne Forest jurisdiction, they were obliged to enter the forest to inspect the situation. Such intense gunfire was definitely not from an ordinary hunting party, but they dared not rashly enter the forest. If hit by a bullet, their lives and livelihoods would be over.

After all, in the 19th century, the police did not have a well-established pension system, and there were numerous cases where the government was unwilling to pay compensation upon the death of a public official.

Savings for bonds and annuities to ensure a worry-free life for the next generation became the dream of every public official, provided they could live long enough.

In France, the cost of a lifetime annuity would require living at least twenty years to break even; living beyond twenty years would be akin to fleecing the state.

Thus, every French public official cherished their life more than the average person, as only by living could they generate more value.

While the two forest guards lingered at the outskirts of the Boulogne Forest, a group of soldiers with flat-topped caps, blue double-breasted coats, and red trousers discovered them.

"What are you trying to do!" A few soldiers quickly lined up, pointing their guns at the forest guards and sternly questioning them.

The forest guards responsible for the patrol instantly understood that the people inside the Boulogne Forest were probably from the military. They hurriedly raised their hands in a surrender gesture: "Don’t shoot! We are police officers in this area! We came here to investigate because we heard the gunfire."

"Police?" The soldiers exchanged glances but did not lower their rifles.

"That’s right!" The forest guards quickly pointed to their uniforms and the medals hung on their chests to explain the situation to the soldiers, not wanting to die in confusion, "We belong to the judicial police under the Ministry of Public Works, with serial numbers..."

Seeing the two forest guards earnestly defending their identities, the hostility from the soldiers gradually dissipated.

"Lower your guns!" One soldier shouted, and the others lifted their rifles and slung them back over their shoulders.

"Get lost! Don’t let us see you again!" The soldiers loudly scolded the two forest guards, urging them to leave quickly.

Having escaped from the brink of death, the forest guards felt as if they had received an amnesty, nodding and bowing to the soldiers in gratitude.

"Quickly, leave!" A soldier gestured for the forest guards to depart.

"Wait a minute!" Just as the two forest guards were about to leave, a voice came from behind them.

The forest guards quickly turned around and were surprised to find the voice belonged to none other than President Jerome Bonaparte of the French Republic. Behind Jerome Bonaparte was a group of soldiers in uniforms adorned with medals, exuding an aura suggesting their high rank.

If they had known that the random gunfire in the forest was from the President, they wouldn’t have dared to patrol here, even if threatened with death.

Who would have thought the President would appear here?

Jerome Bonaparte, unaware of the forest guards’ thoughts, was smiling, holding a Minie Rifle, and gazing at them.

"M-Mr. President!" The forest guards stammered in response to Jerome Bonaparte.

"You are?" Jerome Bonaparte looked at the forest guards with curiosity.

The two forest guards explained their affiliation to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Hmm? Judicial police also manage forests?" Jerome Bonaparte was a bit curious. Having always focused on the military, he hadn’t paid much attention to the organization and types of the police.

In his impression, only those people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were the police; judicial police should primarily manage judicial matters.

"Mr. President, judicial police not only manage forests but can also appoint district chiefs and deploy gendarmes..." The two forest guards explained the functions of the judicial police to Jerome Bonaparte.

Only then did Jerome Bonaparte realize that the so-called judicial police didn’t just have judicial functions; they also handled roles including district administrative officers (district chiefs), military police (gendarmes), ordinary police officers (police commissioners), and reserve judges (magistrates).

This was possibly the core part of the police force, yet its subordinate institutions were not controlled by the police department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs but managed within the overlapping jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Justice.

"Alright! I understand!" After listening to the forest guards, Jerome Bonaparte once again felt a headache over the unique administrative system of France, where powers were intertwined like two balls of yarn between departments.

Without thinking much, Jerome Bonaparte knew that intertwined departments would inevitably result in power conflicts, often ending with the more powerful side suppressing the weaker one.

In name, the police department was a department but, in reality, was a sub-department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Neither the Ministry of Public Works nor the Ministry of Justice could compare to the police department.

This was not the most important issue. The most crucial point was why Minister of Justice Rue and former Minister of Public Works Mornay did not report the situation of the Ministry of Justice to him.

Was it forgotten or intentional?

A shadow flickered across Jerome Bonaparte’s heart.

If it was just forgetfulness, that would be all right! If it was the latter, then Jerome Bonaparte would have to consider replacing the heads of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Railways.

However, Jerome Bonaparte still hoped to believe it was the former.

Even if the Bonaparte Faction were to engage in a struggle, it should wait until they have truly achieved victory.

What group starts fighting without having won yet!

Now is not the time to settle accounts with them, Jerome Bonaparte could only suppress his desire to call over Mornay and Rue.

"I understand! You may go!" Jerome Bonaparte gestured to the Forest Guards.

The two Forest Guards quickly made their escape.

Jerome Bonaparte also returned to the main topic: "Gentlemen, do you think this gun can serve as a new weapon?"

Minister of War Renio, who was very satisfied with the Minie Rifle, immediately expressed: "Mr. President, with this gun! Our army’s combat capability will reach another level. I personally hope that every unit of the French Army can be equipped with this rifle!"

Major General Niel, as Director of Logistics, also expressed his stance: "Indeed! Mr. President, I believe France should be equipped with such rifles!"

"Exactly!"

"Well said!"

The department leaders, who were tamed by Renio and Saint Arno, collectively stated that France should indeed use this rifle.

"I think so too!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded empathetically, then he turned his gaze to General Lang Dong, the "treasurer" of the Ministry of War, and half-jokingly, half-seriously asked: "What does our army’s chief steward think?"

General Lang Dong, responsible for the budget and allocation of the Ministry of War, responded with a look of trepidation: "I think the Minie Rifle can definitely be equipped in the army!"

"What is the budget situation of the Ministry of War? Is there a need to adjust the budget?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired again about the budget issue, understanding well the principle of never compromising on the army, no matter how tight things get.

Especially since he had to rely on this army to teach the Russian Empire a lesson, the budget could not be neglected at all.

"The annual budget for the army can support the re-equipment!" Lang Dong responded firmly.

"How do you plan to deal with the previous firearms?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired again.

"According to past practices, the MTE1842 smoothbore musket will gradually be phased out of the active forces and then stored!" Major General Niel, Director of Logistics, provided Jerome Bonaparte with the customary solution of the French Army.

"Perhaps we could try a different approach!" Jerome Bonaparte suggested to the generals present: "We could sell a batch of unwanted weapons to countries that want them!"

"Mr. President, do you mean the arms trade?" Lang Dong immediately understood Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning.

"Exactly!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and said: "The world has many places in need of arms, such as the Cape of Good Hope Region, the Indochina Region, or the United Mexican States! I believe the United Mexican States would love to avenge past grievances! Oh, and also Haiti, I believe their Emperor definitely needs these things!"

General Lang Dong hesitated for a moment before saying: "Mr. President, aside from Mexico, none of the places you mentioned have spare finances!"

"They can offer collateral if they have no money! Land, silver, tariffs, anything usable as collateral will do! As long as they can integrate with the world!" Jerome Bonaparte righteously taught the army methods of earning money.

You know, a hundred years later, France would be capable of overthrowing a nation to boost arms sales.

How did the ethics of the French Army become so lofty in the 19th century?

Jerome Bonaparte did not know that the French arms trade advanced steadily alongside France’s industrialization process, and any remaining ethics were gradually discarded in the grand arms trade.

"General Lang Dong, Major General Niel!" Jerome Bonaparte ordered.

"Present!" Lang Dong and Niel responded in unison.

"You two gather and catalogue the weapons the army will decommission or is about to decommission! I will help you find a financial backer!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Lang Dong and Niel.

Despite the fact that in the 19th century it wasn’t a major issue for the army to engage in commerce, Jerome Bonaparte still hoped to separate the army from money matters.

After all, once the army engaged in commerce, it would not only affect combat effectiveness but also cause the army to gain autonomy and become unruly.

"Understood!" Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s orders, Niel and Lang Dong could only agree.