Chapter 1378 The Second Empire in the Storm (First update, please subscribe)

"Extra! Extra! ... Breaking news! The Empire has entered a state of total mobilization for war! ... Extra! Extra! ... Breaking news! The Empire has entered a state of total mobilization for war! ..."

On this day, countless newspaper sellers shouted the same thing in the streets and alleys of cities, colonies, and overseas territories of the empire. People poured out from everywhere and snatched the newspapers from the newspaper sellers. A whirlwind swept across the empire. It was a whirlwind of fanaticism, a storm of fanaticism. The empire entered a state of total mobilization for war!

Even though it seems that the Empire has not declared war yet!

But as we all know, declaring war... is only a matter of time.

As the Empire entered a state of total mobilization because of the Kuwait Port, the world was changing. Just as the whole world was shocked by the decision of the Ming Empire, observers were muttering in panic - what happened to the world?

In fact, everything was doomed a few days ago when the French came up with the "Jerusalem Incident Investigation Report."

…

On March 1, a black Renault car drove into the Louvre. After the car stopped and the secretary opened the door, Interior Minister Georges Clemenceau, who was sitting in the back seat, did not get out immediately. His fingers were still on the briefcase. His expression changed from time to time and he was in a heavy mood.

"Your Excellency, His Majesty is waiting for you."

At the secretary's reminder, Clemenceau sighed, then shook his head helplessly. When getting off the car, he looked up at the sky again, and at the end, he whispered.

"This world has gone crazy!"

After that, he walked into the Louvre. His footsteps echoed in the corridor. Occasionally, officers could be seen walking back and forth, both army officers and naval officers. Now in this chaotic world, on the brink of war, it was normal for generals to enter and leave the palace.

Finally, they arrived at His Majesty's office and the court attendant said to Clemenceau.

"Your Excellency, His Majesty is discussing matters with the Prime Minister and the Marshals. Please wait here for a moment."

Nodding slightly, Clemenceau walked into the waiting room at the side, where he saw an oil painting - a wounded man was lying in the center of the picture, and dozens of marshals and generals knelt on one knee and swore allegiance to a child.

"Jerusalem……"

This is the scene where the marshals swore allegiance to Napoleon V - Napoleon Judith Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte.

From that day on, Napoleon V was forced to take over the imperial crown. France entered the era of Napoleon V.

For the French Empire, that was also the best era. Both economic and military growth increased rapidly, and it enjoyed a long period of peace without any large-scale military actions such as the Franco-Prussian War and the Turkish War.

Although military conquests in the Middle Eastern colonies to avenge the pope and the emperor continued for many years, the "Second Coming" aimed at bringing the barbarians back to the arms of God had almost no impact on mainland France.

The long-term peaceful social environment has promoted the overall cultural and artistic power of France to a higher level. Paris seems to have given birth to all popular fashions and received respect from all artists. Paris itself has returned to its former self and is no longer the capital of radicalism. People live a carefree life and increase their consumption of alcohol, sex and entertainment. Populism has shifted from politics to leisure and entertainment.

“Paris is a magnet that attracts all kinds of people from all over the world, and it is also a place where gold from all over the world is piled up.”

At the same time, the government built a lot of projects in various places. Although the construction of the Panama Canal failed, the success of the Eastern Railway still won France a reputation. The country's appearance changed rapidly through large-scale infrastructure, but Clemenceau, as the Minister of the Interior, knew what the rapid economic growth in the past 20 years relied on.

The economy was booming due to the over-expansion of the empire's real estate industry and the over-construction of railways. This resulted in government debt and low returns on domestic capital. The empire's economy is now in a downturn and capital is beginning to flow out.

Since four years ago, France's economic and population growth rates have stagnated. Its economic growth rate has been surpassed by Sweden and Denmark, and it has begun to lag behind the UK. Its population growth rate has continued to decline, far behind Germany.

Although France followed the example of the Ming Dynasty and began to establish a social welfare system ten years ago, implementing a ten-hour work system and pension insurance, this only alleviated the internal problems of the empire.

Zola said this when Clemenceau, the Minister of the Interior, was chatting with Zola a few days ago.

"From Napoleon III to the present, all of France's problems have been covered up by economic growth. Every time the economy stagnates, it triggers dissatisfaction and protests. In order to divert domestic attention, Emperor III chose to go to war with Prussia. If it weren't for the intervention of the Ming Empire, we might have been defeated that year, and the Second Empire would have perished. What happened later? In order to secure his crown, Emperor IV conquered Jerusalem before the election. His unprecedented military exploits made him a figure no less than Napoleon, which helped him win a great victory, but he died there in an assassination along with the Pope. France is a Catholic country, and in the hearts of the French, he has become a saint..."

Yes, saints.

From that day on, no one questioned the legitimacy of the Bonaparte family's throne, and in the following fifteen years, the continued rapid growth of the French economy also won the Bonaparte family a reputation and also covered up all the problems. At the same time, Napoleon V also stimulated the support of domestic nationalists by confronting Britain.

Now what?

The continued economic stagnation and even decline has triggered increasing dissatisfaction and protests.

With a frown on his face, Clemenceau thought of what Zola had said that day.

"Perhaps only God can save France... But... Now this war comes at the right time. God bless, once the war breaks out, all of France will be immersed in a patriotic frenzy. You see... Almost all newspapers will be fanatical. Why is this so? This is the inevitable result of the confrontational policy. War... is inevitable."

The war is inevitable... not just because it has come at the right time, but because... this war must be fought.

Staring at the Napoleon brothers in the painting, Clemenceau looked at the dying Emperor IV on the sickbed, and then talked to himself.

“It all started from there…”

Yes, it all started there, from Jerusalem, the Bonaparte family won the crown of the Second French Empire. From then on, they no longer needed to consider the choice of the Legislative Council, and no French would question the legitimacy of that crown.

It was also from that day that the Second Empire was truly born. Napoleon III only stole the crown, while Napoleon IV used his life and blood to crown his brother's head with that crown.

From that day on, the Bonaparte family became the real rulers of the Second French Empire.

It all started in Jerusalem, on that day, but...

After this incoherent remark, the palace attendant walked up to him and said.

"Your Excellency, His Majesty invites you in!"

The old group is down, so I created a new book club group: 739209015. Everyone is welcome to join and discuss and deduce the plot together.

(End of this chapter)