Chapter 300: Chapter 296 Record of the Fall of the Second Republic (Part 2)
"Members of the assembly, a tragic event occurred early this morning, a heart-wrenching incident of bloodshed!" Jerome Bonaparte’s face showed an expression of anger and grief, as if genuinely lamenting the coup that transpired early today. "However, it is something we have no choice but to face!"
Jerome Bonaparte then shifted his tone to a firm one and said, "If we do not take action, the entire nation and country will fall into misfortune, and this unfortunate situation will worsen as time passes until we reach an irretrievable point. Our great country, this exceptional nation, will fall into the mire!"
As he spoke, Jerome Bonaparte’s mind flashed back to the Franco-Prussian War. Twenty years later, that war utterly shattered France’s proud sense of pride, the monarchy was completely erased from France, and the once-dominant first land army of Europe had to act at the whims of the Russian Empire.
"The National Assembly, which was supposed to be the pillar of order and morality and lead the French forward, has now turned into a breeding ground for a dreadful conspiracy group. Within this breeding ground, a terrifying monster is being nurtured. This monster does not make laws for the overall benefit but creates wars in an attempt to eliminate all competitors via civil war. They mock ideals, call incompetence reality, and the Republican Faction, Mountain Faction, and even parts of the Order Party have all become components of this conspiracy beast..."
Jerome Bonaparte’s tone grew increasingly fervent, and the Bonaparte Faction members were similarly stirred by Jerome Bonaparte’s passionate speech, responding with thunderous applause, continuous and resounding.
After criticizing the Legislative Assembly, Jerome Bonaparte continued, "Fortunately, the eyes of the French people are clear; they see this conspiracy beast, they fear the decline of France! Thus, they used their silent cries, their ballots, to push me to this position! I must take responsibility for their will, for the entire future of France!"
Everyone held their breath, focused intently, awaiting Jerome Bonaparte’s next words, as the crux of the Legislative Assembly session was about to be revealed.
"In the name of thirty million French people, as President of the Republic and the Republic’s Supreme Military Commander, I declare:
1. The National Assembly is dissolved!
2. Universal suffrage is restored, and all French people can participate in the elections.
3. From December 14 to December 17 of this year, the French people will hold a citizens’ meeting, and the Republic’s legislators must be successfully re-elected to maintain their status as legislators.
4. Martial law will be enforced in the Seine Province First Military District, with the duration to be determined based on the situation. During martial law, all entry and exit must be declared.
5. The Council of State is dissolved!"
Jerome Bonaparte proclaimed each point to the Bonaparte Faction members within the Legislative Assembly. All of their faces showed signs of happiness; they were not afraid of losing their status as legislators because, in the upcoming elections, they would run as "official candidates," and most of their competitors were unknown.
"Let the voting begin now!" Jerome Bonaparte spoke once more.
All present members simultaneously raised their blue voting cards in agreement.
Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction and said, "Very well! The entire National Assembly has approved! From now until December 14, the National Assembly will recess! I wish all members a pleasant holiday!"
Having said this, Jerome Bonaparte bowed slightly to all the members present.
The members seated also stood up and responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a thunderous round of applause.
From this moment, the National Assembly was completely dissolved, and over 120 members left the National Assembly in groups.
As the last person to leave the National Assembly, Jerome Bonaparte gazed at the empty seats below, a smile of joy appearing at the corner of his mouth.
After two years of "combat" with the Legislative Assembly, he finally resolved the entity that made him feel nauseated.
"Let’s go!" Jerome Bonaparte slowly rose from the Speaker’s seat and said to Valerovsky.
It wasn’t time to fully declare victory yet. Only by capturing those who escaped in the night would this coup be considered a complete success.
Accompanied by Valerovsky, Jerome Bonaparte left the Bourbon Palace.
At the entrance of the Bourbon Palace, Jerome Bonaparte once again met with Conrobel and Leboeuf and issued the latest orders to Leboeuf.
"Brigadier General Leboeuf!" Jerome Bonaparte looked sternly at the adjutant Leboeuf.
"Present!" Brigadier General Leboeuf immediately responded.
"In the coming days, you will lead a regiment of soldiers to guard the Bourbon Palace. Ensure that no one approaches it!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed. "If anyone attempts to visit the assembly as a legislator, issue three warnings! If they are unwilling to leave after three warnings, then use the cannons to disperse them! I recall there are cannons at the Bourbon Palace, correct?" Jerome Bonaparte turned his gaze to Conrobel.
"Yes, Your Majesty! Three 8-pound field guns!" Conrobel answered.
"Can we deploy seven 8-pound guns from the military to enhance the defenses around the Bourbon Palace?" Jerome Bonaparte inquired of Conrobel in a commanding tone.
"Of course!" Conrobel replied promptly.
In the exchange between Jerome Bonaparte and Conrobel, Brigadier General Leboeuf was granted the authority to use artillery.
At this moment, Brigadier General Leboeuf hoped that the members would retreat in the face of difficulties; using cannons would lead to unprecedented disaster.
"Yes!" Brigadier General Leboeuf could only accept Jerome Bonaparte’s suggestion with a heavy heart.
With Conrobel and Valerovsky accompanying him, Jerome Bonaparte arrived at the Ministry of War.
Looking at the busy members of the Ministry of War, Jerome Bonaparte smiled.
It was precisely because of the efforts of these members of the Ministry of War that he was able to smoothly dissolve the National Assembly.
Under the lead of Secretary of State Benjamin Clemenceau, Jerome Bonaparte arrived at the Minister’s office.
[Benjamin Clemenceau had accepted the fact of the coup d’état.]
"Minister Saint Arno, thank you for your hard work!" Jerome Bonaparte shook hands with Saint Arno.
"Nothing at all!" Saint Arno responded humbly.
The two of them came to a map, marked densely with the garrison locations of the Paris First Division.
"Your Majesty, our troops are primarily stationed here... here... and here!" Minister Saint Arno pointed to Saint-Germain District, Saint-Ono District, and Saint-Maso District respectively.
These three places are the power core of the entire France.
"And in the districts of Monte Mar, Saint-Denis, Saint Anthony, and Saint Martin, each has a battalion stationed! Such forces are really insufficient against the vast population!" Saint Arno explained to Jerome Bonaparte.
"How many parliament members have not been detained now?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Saint Arno.
"According to preliminary statistics, there are still about more than 40 members at large!" Saint Arno responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"More than 40 members!" Jerome Bonaparte crossed his arms and thought carefully.
Having such a number of escaped members is indeed not insignificant, after pondering for a moment, Jerome Bonaparte asked again: "Did you post a reward for these members’ photographs?"
"Yes, I did!" Saint Arno responded to Jerome Bonaparte: "Each member is worth 5,000 francs, with a reward of 1,000 francs for providing clues!"
"Directly increase it to 10,000 francs, with a reward of 3,000 francs for providing clues!" Jerome Bonaparte told Saint Arno.
"Wouldn’t that be too much!" Saint Arno responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Not at all!" Jerome Bonaparte said with a smile: "We have already taken all of France, this amount of money is nothing more than a drop in the ocean for the entire France!"
"Alright! I will let someone handle it immediately!" Saint Arno responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"By the way, you just said that a battalion is too little, what do you plan to do?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Saint Arno about the solution.
"I plan to concentrate all the forces, then lure the enemy out of hiding!" Saint Arno shared his plan with Jerome Bonaparte.
"Good! Execute it as you said!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and told Saint Arno.
At 3 PM on December 2, the troops of the Paris First Division began to contract.
Simultaneously with the contraction of the First Division’s forces, some members of the National Guard began to stir in small-scale disturbances in the Saint-Denis District.
Some Left Wing members began to gather people for demonstrations.
Jerome Bonaparte and others paid no attention to such demonstrations.
On December 3-4, under the joint action of the Left Wing and Right Wing members, they formed a small National Guard of only 40 people and announced the deposition of Jerome Bonaparte as President.
Under the deliberate indulgence of Jerome Bonaparte, the opposition’s movements gradually shifted towards the Bourbon Palace in the Saint-Germain District.
On December 5, the opposition arrived at the gates of the Bourbon Palace in the Saint-Germain District, protesting against Jerome Bonaparte’s dictatorial actions, hoping to persuade the military to defect.
At 3 PM that day, Jerome Bonaparte at the Elysee Palace announced the start of the closing action.
Thousands of soldiers began to surround the demonstration from all directions, making it a trap for the demonstrators.
"Down with Jerome Bonaparte, long live the Republic!"
The demonstrators shouted for the Republic and condemned the military’s betrayal.
Under the orders of officers at all levels, the military charged at the demonstration.
Almost a thousand people in the demonstration were instantly broken up, and the fleeing members were all netted and detained in prison as well.
Thus, the coup d’état of December 2 came to a successful conclusion.