Hundreds of thousands in battle?
Jerome Bonaparte’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it sent a chill and fear through all the officers present.
Since the Emperor’s abdication, France hadn’t engaged in a battle with over a hundred thousand troops for over 30 years. During this time, France focused only on small-scale pacification and anti-guerrilla wars, where small enemy forces were defeated by deploying just a few thousand to ten thousand troops.
It can be said that both France and Europe as a whole were losing the ability for large-scale coordinated operations, with the Austrian Empire as the most notable example. After thirty years of peace and stability, even Austria couldn’t defeat its own militia.
[Between 1848 and 1849, the Habsburgs attacked the Hungarian region three times, yet Governor Josip Jelačić of Croatia, Prince Windischgrätz, and even the Emperor on a personal campaign couldn’t defeat the Hungarian National Guard. It wasn’t until the Russian Empire invaded Hungary from Transylvania that Hungary gave up resistance.]
The military had generally started to decline after the Napoleonic Wars.
Of course, fighting more wars doesn’t necessarily make an army stronger. Endless pacification wars could potentially drag the military into an abyss of mediocrity.
Jerome Bonaparte clearly remembered how after the disintegration of Mao Bear, the Eagle Commander’s forces were encircled by two tank divisions during their operations at a second-rate family’s command. Despite their rich experience in pacification warfare, they suffered continuous defeats thereafter.
By the end of the war, the second-tier government’s army, originally on the offensive, was counterattacked by the divided Eastern second-tier forces.
This shows how excessive pacification warfare can easily lead to a significant decline.
After a brief moment of surprise, the expressions of all the officers present became excited.
No matter what, having an "auxiliary institution" commanding hundreds of thousands couldn’t just be taken literally.
Lieutenant Colonel Leboeuf suddenly remembered hearing in the Algerian colony from a Prussian military officer that the power center of the Prussian army wasn’t in the Ministry of War but in the General Staff, which was indeed an auxiliary institution to the army!
Remembering this, Leboeuf’s long-dormant enthusiasm reignited.
For every soldier eager to make a mark, commanding a war with over a hundred thousand troops is undoubtedly a great honor.
History would grant them a vibrant legacy, just like the Emperor and his marshals.
Instinctively, Leboeuf glanced at Jerome Bonaparte, unsure if the Emperor’s nephew could achieve the same feats as his uncle, yet he was willing to try.
As the discussion in the war conference room grew louder, Leboeuf, who ranked high in both authority and age aside from the President, cleared his throat and shouted, "Quiet!"
Everyone stopped the commotion and focused their attention on Leboeuf.
Leboeuf signaled with his eyes for Jerome Bonaparte to continue.
Jerome Bonaparte repeated to the present officers the words he told Minister Liu Aili two months ago.
Sensing potential benefits, the officers expressed that there must be a separation of administrative power and ideally, they should wield the authority to issue commands to the army.
Jerome Bonaparte indulged their fantasies, indicating each officer present with his finger, "You shall be the witnesses to this separation of powers, and participants too! Do you understand?"
"Understood!" all the officers present were eager to shout with all their might, unable to restrain their excitement.
"Good! Very spirited!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction. He needed a wolf that would bark and hunt, not a flock of soft lambs.
"Mr. President!" Trocch signaled to Jerome Bonaparte that he had a question, "What exactly are our tasks? I’m ready to start!"
Bazan bluntly asked, unwilling to waste his time in endless meetings.
After a moment of thought, Jerome Bonaparte continued, "A good question! As the Military Secretariat, you bear the fate of France. Your task is to make practical preparations for potential wars!"
This statement stunned everyone present for a moment, not understanding Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning.
Could it be that other countries are about to invade France again?
After hesitating for a moment, Leboeuf cautiously raised his hand to ask, "Mr. President, is someone going to invade us?"
"No... no... no!" Jerome Bonaparte shook his finger and explained, "No one is invading us!"
All the officers present breathed a sigh of relief.
Although they liked invading others’ territories, they didn’t enjoy stretching the front lines domestically, as that could potentially ruin France.
"What I mean is that in peacetime, we need to draft some responsive plans, predict the possible enemies and their locations, foresee various complexities, and rationally distribute forces!" Jerome Bonaparte earnestly told the officers, "This is not easy work, which is why I need you here! We are not invading any country; we are merely creating more maneuverability to mobilize quickly when the enemy arrives."
Many present grasped part of Jerome Bonaparte’s meaning. They remained silent, their eyes revealing complex emotions.
"Thus, your first task is to collect all the information in the regions you’re responsible for. I need to know their numbers, religious beliefs, and all of the enemy’s military forces in those regions." Jerome Bonaparte pointed at Leboeuf, "Lieutenant Colonel Trocch!"
Trocch, still contemplating the President’s words, quickly reacted, stood up, and said, "Yes!"
"You will lead a team to survey all the terrain, culture, and military deployments in the German Region of Eastern France. I need detailed information and maps!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Leboeuf.
"Yes!" Trocch responded again.
"Lieutenant Colonel Bazan, you are responsible for the Southern France Italian Region’s terrain and all information. You can liaise with the Ministry of War regarding this aspect!" Jerome Bonaparte issued another order.
Trocch also accepted Jerome Bonaparte’s order gladly.
"Lieutenant Colonel Leboeuf, you are responsible for the Near East’s current news. I must know the troop mobilization available once war begins and the supply issues that the Near East can handle. If you encounter any difficulties, contact me immediately!" Jerome Bonaparte instructed Leboeuf.
"Yes!" Leboeuf responded again.
Leboeuf’s heart vaguely sensed the President’s focus on the Near East, suspecting that the previous two regions might have been mere distractions deployed by the President.