Chapter 311: Chapter 307 Government Reorganization and Louis Pasteur
May 4, 1851.
Alexander Valerovsky, then the Secretary General to the Governor of the Third French Republic, carried the mission entrusted to him by Jerome Bonaparte and went with the exhibition delegation to secretly meet with Queen Victoria and her consort in Britain.
The position of Secretary General was once again vacant, and all members inside and outside the Tuileries Palace turned their attention to Mokar, who was serving as the Director of General Affairs. According to the unwritten rules of power in the Tuileries Palace, after Valerovsky’s departure, Mokar was bound to succeed him as Secretary General, leading the secretaries of the Secretariat and assisting Jerome Bonaparte in handling affairs related to the Tuileries Palace and the government.
Not only within the Tuileries Palace, but even some members outside (such as the Minister of Public Works, Percy) were secretly congratulating Mokar, as if the position of Secretary General was already certain to be his. Mokar humbly expressed to those who congratulated him that he only wished to serve the Governor better.
However, as the compliments increased, Mokar couldn’t help but feel a bit of expectation in his heart.
Yet, just when Mokar was full of anticipation, believing that the position of Secretary General would undoubtedly be his, Jerome Bonaparte ruthlessly shattered his expectations.
On the morning of the 7th, Mokar went to the Secretariat as usual to collect and summarize the documents organized by the subordinate secretaries, preparing to place them in Jerome Bonaparte’s study.
When Mokar pushed the door open and entered the study, he found that Jerome Bonaparte was already there approving documents and budgets.
"You’re here!" Jerome Bonaparte looked up and smiled at Mokar, who was holding documents.
"Your Majesty!" Mokar responded respectfully to Jerome Bonaparte, then placed the documents in front of Jerome Bonaparte and said, "These are the documents organized by the Secretariat for your review!"
Jerome Bonaparte glanced through all the documents briefly and then slightly tilted his head to Mokar and said, "Sit down!"
Mokar sat on the chair directly opposite Jerome Bonaparte, spreading his hands evenly over his thighs, looking at Jerome Bonaparte with a serious expression.
Looking at the Director of General Affairs who had followed him for more than two years, Jerome Bonaparte showed a kind smile, then while seemingly casually inquiring as he modified parts of some drafts, said, "How do you feel about recently taking over the Secretary General’s duties from Valerovsky?"
Jerome Bonaparte’s casual inquiry made Mokar’s heart somewhat fearful, and he replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
"Your feelings! Nervous, flustered or..." Jerome Bonaparte paused, glanced at Mokar, and said, "Joyful?"
"I feel exhausted!" Mokar became even more apprehensive, hurriedly expressing to Jerome Bonaparte how difficult it was for him to take on this temporary position, organizing numerous documents every day and communicating with various sections.
"Exhausted... being exhausted is right!" Jerome Bonaparte stopped his pen, stood up, walked briskly to the window, squinted as he gazed at the sky as blue as the ocean, and sighed, "Only by being exhausted can you feel your presence in this world! As those who maintain the communication channel between the Governor and the departments, you must not be idle. If you are idle, it proves that I, as the Governor, am perhaps unable to manage the departments effectively, or in other words, the Secretariat and the subordinates might connive to fool me! Am I right?"
Jerome Bonaparte turned and gave Mokar a meaningful smile. Coupled with his earlier words and his current smile, Mokar felt even more uneasy and admitted that he received some people’s receipts but denied colluding with them to hide anything from Jerome Bonaparte.
"Your Majesty, I... I..." The power from Jerome Bonaparte’s presence oppressed Mokar, causing his hands on his thighs to unconsciously clench into fists, his arms trembled involuntarily, and his forehead slightly damp with tension as he stammered, "I was wrong!"
"Wrong? In what way?" Jerome Bonaparte continued questioning Mokar.
"I shouldn’t have gotten too close to Minister Percy behind your back! I shouldn’t have..." Mokar continuously recounted his wrongdoings, portraying himself as a heinous villain.
Jerome Bonaparte listened quietly to Mokar’s self-reflective speech. It wasn’t until Mokar stopped and looked at him earnestly that Jerome Bonaparte began to comfort, "I am pleased you’re able to speak honestly with me!"
"Your Majesty, I..." Mokar wanted to continue to confess.
"In my view, these issues of yours are not serious errors! Just be cautious next time!" Jerome Bonaparte forcibly interrupted Mokar, standing behind him, gently patting Mokar’s shoulder in encouragement.
"Yes!" Mokar promptly stood up and responded to Jerome Bonaparte.
"Alright! There’s nothing more; you may leave!" Jerome Bonaparte issued a dismissal order to Mokar, then added, "You don’t need to bear any psychological burden either!"
Watching Mokar leave, Jerome Bonaparte understood that he had successfully dispelled Mokar’s thoughts of succeeding as Chief of the Secret Technique Room.
As Jerome Bonaparte anticipated, Mokar heaved a sigh of relief upon leaving the study, as if he had been reborn.
Soon after, to express his intentions, Mokar returned the "small gift," including the notes given by Percy, back to Percy intact.
Mokar’s actions greatly shocked Percy. After an in-depth conversation with Mokar, Percy realized that his friend was likely out of luck for the position of Secretary General.
"Alas! We’ve hurt you!" Percy responded, patting Mokar on the shoulder.
"It’s nothing! Hic!" Mokar, with flushed cheeks, held a whiskey glass in hand, hiccupped, and complained to Percy, "Our monarchs are all the same. When you’re useful, they treat you as a cherished confidant. When you’re not, they don’t even want to look at you!"
Percy certainly understood this was just Mokar venting, but afraid the walls had ears, he could only frown and persuade Mokar to say less.
"Hic! Aren’t you also..." Mokar babbled on, pointing at Percy, about everything Percy once did for Jerome Bonaparte, which ultimately merely earned him the position of Minister of Public Works, while Mornay, just by being slightly associated with Bonaparte, got the lucrative position of Minister of Railways.
Not to mention Alexander Valerovsky, who just joined and directly gained the position of Chief of the Secret Technique Room.
Percy also remained silent, with some complaints in his heart about Jerome Bonaparte’s "unfair actions."
Percy and Mokar drank until very late, and their conversation was entirely overheard by the servants in Percy’s home.
Taking advantage of going out, a servant quickly informed their superior, who in turn reported to the National Intelligence Bureau, and after several layers of reports, it finally reached Marcel Yale.
Upon receiving the intelligence from the Internal Intelligence Bureau, Marcel Yale shook his head and muttered to himself, "Forget it! It’s ultimately just a complaint!"
Afterward, Marcel Yale returned to working on the construction of the Foreign Intelligence Bureau.
On May 10th, under Jerome Bonaparte’s adjustment, the Cabinet and the President’s Mansion welcomed a new round of changes, with a name symbolizing the restoration of power of the old monarchy appearing.
The Minister of Railways, De Moreni, was transferred to the Tuileries Palace to serve as Minister of the Seal concurrently as Chief of the Secret Technique Room. Minister of Internal Affairs, Barroso, was transferred to the Ministry of Railways as Minister. Minister of Public Works, Percy, was transferred to Minister of Internal Affairs. Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, Bi Fei, was transferred to Minister of Public Works, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce was taken over by Jean Dulles, a member of the French Academy of Sciences.
[Jean Dulles might not be known to many, but one of his students is well-known, Louis Pasteur, the inventor of the pasteurization process]
This guy, who once served as a teacher at Louis Pasteur University, was not only a genuine magnate in chemistry and biology but also dabbled in agriculture, particularly the grape industry.
Despite being a potential moderate Republican, Jean Dulles’s knowledge and vision allowed Jerome Bonaparte to set aside prejudices and appoint him.
Jean Dulles, eager to display his knowledge, also accepted Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation to serve as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce.
Invited by De Moreni, Jean Dulles attended Jerome Bonaparte’s private banquet.
When Jean Dulles alighted from the carriage at the entrance of the Tuileries Palace, he was surprised to find his former student Louis Pasteur.
At this time, Louis Pasteur had just turned 28, and although he had some achievements, compared to Jerome Bonaparte, all his accomplishments seemed somewhat laughable.
"Teacher!" Louis Pasteur approached Jean Dulles with some trepidation and respectfully greeted his former teacher.
"Not bad! You’ve grown!" Jean Dulles looked at this student in front of him with great satisfaction, for Louis Pasteur’s diligence and eagerness to learn left a good impression on him.
Subsequently, Jean Dulles inquired about Louis Pasteur’s current situation, and upon learning that Louis Pasteur was serving as a professor of chemistry at the University of Strasbourg, a comforting smile appeared on his face.
After the two talked for a while, Minister of the Seal De Moreni appeared before them to invite them into the Tuileries Palace.
Jean Dulles and Louis Pasteur followed De Moreni one after the other into the palace.