Chapter 903: The Leverage That Moves the World
The Navy Minister had planned everything, but he never imagined that the people who would eventually form the "chain of evidence" would be the port director and the director of the affairs bureau, people he had never met before.
Coupled with the joint questioning of the United States and Italy, even the British officials who had close relations with the Secretary of the Navy did not dare to protect him.
So the next day, the "deeds" of the Minister of the Navy set off a storm of public opinion in France, and the streets were full of news that the Minister of the Navy had been taken away for trial:
"It is said that the Minister of the Navy has embezzled tens of millions of francs."
"That's just the amount of bank deposits of the gold bars seized from his home, in addition to the funds he transferred abroad."
"This bastard has used his power to do so many bad things."
"The most unbearable thing is that he actually united with the colonies to fight against Charles. I heard that the Mediterranean area has become a forbidden area for the Bernard Group!"
"I can't stand it. This is not just corruption, this is treason!"
…
(Note: During his tenure as French Navy Minister Auguste was accused of taking kickbacks in coal purchases, causing the government to pay high prices, awarding contracts to designated companies instead of bidding, and illegally misappropriating funds, but he was not prosecuted and was only transferred from his position)
The citizens' thinking was simple: if the Minister of the Navy was just greedy for money, they could tolerate it, after all, there were few corrupt officials in the French top leadership.
But if we confront the Charles and unite the colonies to form small groups and cause division, it will undoubtedly be treason and will never be allowed.
So in less than an hour, the Navy Minister's villa was surrounded by an angry crowd, and some people even threw homemade Molotov cocktails into it.
If Gallieni had not sent Lieutenant Colonel Fernan to protect it and repeatedly stated that he was still looking for evidence, the villa might have been burned to the ground.
The Navy Minister was handed over to the Second Bureau for questioning because of the possibility of infiltration by foreign forces.
The Secretary of the Navy originally thought that he still had the last straw in his hand: the dealings between him and the colonial governors. As long as he confessed, the "scandals" of the governors would be exposed one by one.
So, the governors will not let anything happen to him!
However, the one who interrogated him was Bureau Two, the intelligence department controlled by Ciel.
Lieutenant Colonel Dura sat down in front of the Navy Minister with a large stack of documents. "Tell me about the financial transactions with the governors."
The Navy Minister looked at Lieutenant Colonel Dura in surprise: "You already know?"
"Of course." Lieutenant Colonel Dura nodded.
There was anger in the eyes of the Minister of the Navy. If he knew this, why didn't he bring all the governors here instead of just him?
Besides, doesn't this just prove that the Harbour Master and the Director of the Bureau are lying?
But the next second the Secretary of the Navy understood.
The governors were fine because they had military power, and Charles needed to cooperate with them.
The reason the Minister of the Navy is in trouble is because he holds military power, and Charles needs to get rid of him!
After realizing this, the Navy Minister gave up the fight. He sighed and said, "Tell me, what will be my fate?"
Lieutenant Colonel Dura stood up and handed the Minister of the Navy a cigarette: "It depends on you, Your Excellency."
"It depends on me?" The Navy Minister didn't understand and took the cigarette blankly.
Lieutenant Colonel Dura nodded and lit a cigarette for the Minister of the Navy:
"If you cooperate and give us the details of your dealings with the governors, we will provide you with the best suites and food, and you can enjoy your old age in peace and contentment."
“You’ll even have access to the best medical care available, so you can live as long as possible.”
"But if you don't cooperate, we'll let you go home!"
"Let you go home" meant handing him over to the angry citizens, and the Secretary of the Navy understood what that meant.
And the cooperation is to use the Minister of the Navy as a handle.
If the governors do not obey one day, the Secretary of the Navy will be the lever that pries them!
The Secretary of the Navy had no other choice. He took a deep puff of his cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and began to recall the details of his "cooperation" with the governors.
Every governor, every detail.
…
Charles saw this information on the plane returning to Paris.
Charles was fortunate that he was facing an extremely corrupt French regime.
If every officer had been as upright and a believer in the republican system as Gallieni, Charles and his Bernard group would probably not have been able to win, even though Charles had the support of the people and equipment that was ahead of its time.
It’s a pity that they are not. The vast majority of aristocratic officers have corruption problems to some extent.
Therefore, Charles could easily overthrow key elements through intelligence, public opinion, and even frame-up, and then use it to coerce other forces.
Charles put the documents into his briefcase and looked out the window at France below the wing. The vast Paris Basin stretched as far as the eye could see.
Forests, houses, farmland, and troops rushing to the front line.
Does all this belong to me?
Charles couldn't believe it. He was only one step away from completing the unification of France.
…
Charles arrived at the House of Representatives at around ten in the morning.
There was a lot of noise in the conference room, with members of Congress arguing about the selection of the new Secretary of the Navy, and some trying to save the Secretary of the Navy.
“We cannot remove the Navy Minister at this time, let alone investigate his corruption, as this will affect the citizens’ trust in the government.”
"Yes, the Minister of the Navy knows the Toulon fleet and the Mediterranean, and we need him to stabilize the situation."
"Without him, our reinforcements to Italy might not be able to be deployed, and our control over the colonies would also be impossible!"
…
This attracted a lot of opposition.
Gallieni was trembling with rage.
These guys openly defended the Secretary of the Navy and tied him to national security and war interests.
It seemed that without the Minister of the Navy, France would be in chaos and doomed to failure.
At this time, Charles walked into the conference room, and the whole place fell silent instantly.
"I will answer these questions." Charles walked up to the podium and said calmly:
"We have removed the Navy Minister, investigated his corruption and exposed his crimes to the public, but the fact is that this has not affected the trust of citizens in the government."
"Not only has it not affected public confidence, what I see is that citizens have more ownership of the current government."
"I even heard them cheering, did you guys?"
Members of parliament expressed their agreement, while opposition members could only remain silent.
They dare not say:
The citizens are supporting and cheering for the Shire, not the government. They are supporting the Shire to defeat the corrupt government!
Charles continued:
"As for control of the colonies."
"Why should we control them? Why should we enslave them? Even send troops to suppress them?"
"Why can't they be our allies and equals like us? Isn't that their right?"
Thunderous cheers broke out in the conference room, with many people shouting the French spirit, freedom, equality and fraternity.
They think this is the only right choice!
(End of this chapter)
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