Chapter 235 Opportunities in a Crisis

Chapter 236 Opportunities in a crisis

When Joseph came out of the "White Maple Forest" manor, he was already confident.

The archbishops of the Paris region and three other regions, including Valois, have reached an agreement with him to "exchange shares for grain". Together with Talleyrand in Autun and Brian in Toulouse, nearly half of the most influential clergy in the French church will now participate in this matter.

The rest is for them to collude with the archbishops of the southern dioceses for their interests.

From the information just revealed by Archbishop Beaumont, the church's "private grain" is quite large, and can even fill the food gap in France to a certain extent.

However, in this case, the church's cellars could not be relied on for the frost disaster in 1792. But Joseph believes that with the continuous development of Tunisia, the increased grain production in two years should be enough to cope with the short-term famine in spring.

After all, Tunisia alone has one-third of the current arable land area in France, but only needs to feed 1.8 million people.

In order to ensure that Beaumont and others can be most efficient, Joseph also drew a big pie for them, the "Pope's throne".

Although the Holy See is currently ruled by Italians, in the 14th century, the Holy See was in Avignon, France!

It was not until nearly a century later that Gregory XI moved it back to Rome.

The southeast of France still retains Avignon, a territory belonging to the Papal States.

Although the French Catholic Church is currently self-contained, it is impossible to say that the high-ranking priests have no idea about the Pope's throne.

So Joseph revealed his "grand blueprint" to several archbishops in the "White Maple Forest" to move the Holy See back to Avignon.

If the Holy See returns to France, then the Pope will inevitably be born among them and Brian.

Beaumont and others were all excited. This was said by the Crown Prince himself, which may represent the will of the royal family-the French royal family has already had the ambition to command Catholicism.

Of course, Joseph does not have this strategic plan for the time being, it is just a pie in the sky.

However, if the army really came to Rome one day, he would not mind using the political resources of the Church - to hold the Pope hostage to control the believers. Whoever France attacked would be a crusade, which would be so cool.

He would never do it like the emperor in history, turning against the entire Church for the little money of the Papal States, and losing huge political interests.

Several archbishops secretly decided in their hearts that they should perform well in this grain release to add points for themselves in the future competition for the Pope.

Before going to Montmartre, Joseph had already made a rough plan for the rest. After returning to Paris, he went directly to the headquarters of the police intelligence department.

After listening to Joseph's plan, Fouché immediately showed a crazy and excited expression:

"Your Highness, I can't express my admiration for you. You can even find opportunities in this situation!"

He felt his blood boiling just thinking about the grand scene planned by the crown prince.

Joseph interrupted his flattery and also painted a pie for him:

"The last time the Police Intelligence Department performed very well in North Africa, if it can successfully complete the task this time, I think it should be upgraded to the Police Intelligence Department. Oh, the name "National Intelligence Department" seems to be more appropriate."

Well, with a pie in front of them, the subordinates will be more motivated.

Fouche and others heard the words, and their eyes really lit up - if it is directly promoted to the Intelligence Department, then the head of the department is likely to enter the cabinet and become the Minister of Intelligence. The managers at all levels below will definitely rise with the tide.

Everyone in the Police Intelligence Department was eager to fight for a while, and they couldn't wait to fly to the southern provinces immediately.

After doing all this, Joseph immediately rushed to the Paris Police Academy without stopping.

All other plans can only succeed if they rely on the army as a foundation.

The Berthier Corps and the Moulin Corps have received orders long ago and are gathering at the new campus of the police academy.

The new campus is the manor that Louis XVI and the Queen gave to Joseph. It covers an area of ​​more than ten hectares. If there is no crop, it is more than enough to accommodate 30,000 to 50,000 soldiers.

There is nothing new about the pre-war mobilization. Joseph gave a speech and told the soldiers that they will shoulder the historical responsibility of France's turning point and will receive supreme glory. Then there is the routine display of the formation.

The more practical operation is to replace the Auguste percussion gun for the Moulin Corps. The performance of the Moulin Corps in Tunisia is quite satisfactory. The most important thing is that it shows absolute loyalty to the crown prince, which also won them the latest weapons and equipment.

Joseph told Andre very tyrantly that all soldiers should practice shooting 20 rounds of bullets every day these days until the troops set out.

In fact, the percussion gun is not much different from the flintlock gun, but it reduces a few actions of loading the propellant, which can be mastered with a little practice. Not to mention the proficiency of hundreds of bullets.

You know, many veterans of the old French army had no experience with 100 guns.

In addition, the Guards Corps also replaced the 12-pound heavy artillery this time. This was mainly because after the Tunisian campaign, Joseph found that the previous heaviest 8-pound artillery was not strong enough to suppress the enemy, so he simply followed the organization of the emperor later and replaced the entire army with 12-pound and 6-pound artillery.

The former is used for fire suppression, and the latter is used in battlefield environments that require mobility and flexibility.

Anyway, the cavalry artillery has not been built yet, so the bulkiness of the 12-pounder gun is not a big problem. Just add a few more dragging horses.

After arranging the hardware matters, Joseph summoned Berthier, Friant and other officers together and issued a series of orders on improving the mental level of the soldiers.

After Joseph finished speaking, Berthier said with a bitter face:

"Your Highness, the 'Department of Military Affairs' you mentioned involves so many matters that it may be difficult to start operations in a short period of time."

Andre also nodded:

"Your Highness, in terms of manpower alone, it is impossible to solve it now. According to your requirements, at least more than 200 people will be needed to barely complete the work within Paris. As for the families of soldiers in other provinces, more manpower is needed... "

Joseph smiled and nodded: "You don't have to worry about this. The required manpower can be transferred directly to the Invalides. We only need to send some civilian officials for command. Oh, and let the Invalids pay for the expenses as much as possible."

Today's French Invalides is no longer a department that took care of disabled soldiers during the Sun King era, but has become a pure sanatorium for retired officers, which ordinary soldiers cannot enjoy at all.

There is really no big use for leaving such a department except to provide weapons to rioting citizens when there is a big fate. It would be better to take advantage of the time when the top military officials left Paris and just empty it out.

Berthier and the others looked at each other after hearing this, and they all showed knowing smiles.

Immediately, Joseph came among the soldiers of the Guards Corps and tried his best to encourage each soldier face to face. It was not until noon the next day that he dragged his tired body back to the Palace of Versailles.

All preparations are done, it’s time to start harvesting!

…

Rue Olay, Saint-Antoine district, Paris.

A melodious bugle sound accompanied by fast-paced drumbeats came from the south side of the street, causing residents on both sides to look over there curiously.

Soon, they saw a team of about 20 people, dressed in elegant ceremonial uniforms, forming two straight columns and walking towards this side in an orderly manner.

An old man selling fish frowned and whispered to the middle-aged man next to him:

"What happened? So many soldiers were sent to arrest people!"

The middle-aged man shook his head:

"Why do you want to make such a big fuss when arresting people? Are you afraid that the people you want to arrest won't escape?"

The young reporter behind them looked around and explained to the two of them: "That is the newly established Ministry of Military Affairs. I heard that it serves the Berthier Corps and the 'Combat Police' unit."

The old fish seller said doubtfully:

"We don't seem to have any big officers here, right?"

According to his habitual thinking, this so-called "service to the troops" department is equivalent to serving officers.

The team from the Ministry of Military Affairs stopped in front of an inconspicuous residence. The queue turned sideways and stood on both sides of the gate.

Several soldiers walked out of the team, first checked the address, and then began to hang red and blue ribbons on the door, and placed several baskets of bouquets in front of the ribbon door.

Following the order of the leading officer, two soldiers pulled apart a half-meter-wide banner, and what they saw read on it was: The light of glory of France! Congratulations to Corporal Adrian for receiving the Medal of Courage!

There is also a row of small words below: The reputation of bravery spreads. One person's meritorious deeds bring glory to the whole family.

According to the level of meritorious service of the Guards Corps, the Medal of Courage is the "fourth class merit" under the Bronze Iris. A total of 23 people received the Medal of Courage during the Battle of Tunisia.

The citizens immediately surrounded Adrian's house, looking at the banner and talking about it:

"Didn't Adrian go to the police academy? How did he get the medal?"

"I heard that he went to North Africa. It seems that he performed meritorious service there."

"With such a huge pomp, Adrian really stole the show!"

"He is just a corporal. Why did the military come to his home to congratulate him in such a grand manner?"

The officer from the Ministry of Military Affairs was about to knock on the door, when Adrian's parents and sister pushed the door open in surprise.

Old Mr. Adrian looked around nervously, bowed in front of the officer, and whispered:

"Master, what are you..."

The officer hurriedly supported him, raised his hat and saluted him, and said loudly:

"Good morning! Are you Mr. Adrian? Your son won the Medal of Courage for his bravery in the battle to prevent the Algiers from invading Tunisia. I am here to tell you the good news on behalf of the Paris Police Academy."

Adrian and his family were all stunned in place, unable to react for a long time.

The officer stepped forward and thrust a "certificate of medal" and 200 livres of silver coins into old Adrian's hands, and said with great enthusiasm:

"This is Corporal Adrian's certificate and bonus. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked me to thank your family for supporting him. You also contributed to France's great victory. Oh, please sign here, I It’s better to go back and make business.”

Adrian's family seemed to be in a dream, as if their son had done something extraordinary.

Not only did an officer bring people to congratulate him, but he also received a bonus of 200 livres!

Old Adrian finally came to his senses and asked his wife to quickly prepare water and food to entertain the congratulatory soldiers. Then, he turned around and invited people from the Ministry of Military Affairs into the house.

The latter first loudly told the crowd at the door about Adrian's meritorious service. The manuscript was obviously carefully prepared, and everyone was extremely nervous just by listening to it, as if they had seen with their own eyes the thrilling scene of Adrian desperately blocking the gap opened by the Algiers cavalry at a critical moment and keeping the French army's formation intact.

Then, the officer talked about the various treatments enjoyed by the families of meritorious soldiers, including: they will receive priority treatment from the police in case of accidents; family members can get jobs related to the military; if they encounter problems, they can directly go to the Ministry of Military Affairs to solve them, etc.

In short, Adrian's family will definitely be the most prestigious one on this street in the future.

The onlookers were all envious and talked loudly:

"I didn't expect that going to the police academy could make a name for oneself!"

"Oh my God! That's a bonus of 200 livres!"

"Did you hear that? If his family has any problems, they can go directly to this officer to solve them."

"Alas, my third child originally wanted to go to the police academy, but I didn't let him go. I really regret it!"

There was even a young man who had previously rejected Adrian's sister's confession, and he shamelessly approached the girl on the spot...

For a while, the entire Paris was full of busy figures of the Ministry of Military Affairs. The soldiers of the Guard Corps who had made meritorious contributions immediately became the focus of people's attention - led by the Paris Business Daily, all newspapers spent a lot of space to introduce their heroic deeds. Even the news of riots in the southern provinces was suppressed by them.

The families and friends of the meritorious soldiers soon wrote to them to tell them about the commendation, and the letters encouraged them to fight bravely and strive to win medals again.

Improving the reputation of the soldiers of the Guards Corps and enhancing their sense of honor and belonging is what Joseph has wanted to do for a long time.

Before, because he did not want to stimulate the military nobles too much, this operation could only be carried out within the army.

Now that the military nobles have made it clear that they want to make trouble with the royal family, there is no need to hide it.

The soldiers in those old-style armies are just menial servants and inferiors, while in the Guards Corps, they are soldiers of high status and the glory of France.

If the two sides fight, even if the difference in combat effectiveness is not considered, the Guards Corps can crush the opponent in terms of morale alone!

However, Joseph's move made the Paris Police School and the Berthier Corps suffer. They had to deal with citizens who came to register for the police school or serve in the army almost all day long...

Less than five minutes after Joseph returned to the Palace of Versailles, Brian came to him anxiously.

The Archbishop bowed hastily, waving the document in his hand and said:

"Your Highness, you are finally back! The scope of the riot is getting bigger and bigger, and the Queen has asked you for countermeasures many times..."

Joseph smiled and asked him to sit down, and said slowly:

"I was just about to find you. Archbishop, please issue an order to the army in the southern provinces in the name of the king, asking all middle and senior officers to come to the Palace of Versailles immediately. Those who do not come within a week will be charged with treason!"

Brian was shocked and stood up:

"Your Highness, how can this be done? If all the officers are summoned to Paris, who will command the army to quell the riot?"

Joseph smiled:

"Please rest assured, the church will help me solve the problem of the riot."