Chapter 133: Lieutenant Colonel Berthier, the Newly Appointed Regimental Commander
Berthier took a deep breath and walked between the guards into the Crown Prince's bedroom. He immediately saluted Joseph, placing his hand over his chest. "Your Royal Highness, I trust your health has improved?"
Joseph sat up straighter in his sickbed and smiled, nodding. "I'm much better, Commander. I'm pleased you came to see me."
He then had Eman excuse the observing nobles, stating he needed rest, and saw them out.
"Commander?" Berthier paused, thinking the Crown Prince had misspoken. He quickly whispered, "Your Highness, I'm only a Major..."
Joseph acted as if he hadn't heard, gesturing to a chair beside the bed. "Please, have a seat. Oh, right, do you recall me mentioning military reform to you before?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Berthier nodded. Although the Crown Prince had only briefly mentioned it when they watched drills at the Police Academy, Berthier often visited the academy afterward and had heard Dubois explain His Highness's military reform plan in detail.
"I was particularly impressed by the points regarding 'military service regulations,' 'the promotion system,' and 'the establishment of a General Staff Headquarters.'"
"Oh? It seems you've gained a considerable understanding of the reform's content." Joseph nodded with satisfaction. "So, what do you think of my military reform plan?"
Berthier felt a slight sense of relief that the Crown Prince hadn't brought up the French Guards. He immediately voiced what he had wanted to say during his previous discussions with Dubois:
Joseph immediately responded, "Then, do you believe it's possible to implement military reform now?"
Berthier instantly furrowed his brows. After a moment, he shook his head. "It would likely be very difficult to implement. Just the adjustment of the promotion system alone would face opposition from almost all officers."
Currently, military officer positions in France are firmly controlled by the nobility. Firstly, it's extremely difficult for commoners to enter military academies, and even if they do, most pursue engineering or technical fields, making it nearly impossible for them to access combat command roles.
After graduating from military academies and joining the army, commoners, no matter how capable, cannot be promoted above junior officer ranks.
In fact, let alone commoners, even minor nobles cannot become Majors. Besides the suppression and exclusion by hereditary military aristocrats, the cost of promotion is something minor nobles simply cannot afford.
Yes, in contemporary France, officers must pay a substantial sum for promotion. The higher the position, the greater the cost. Even some influential nobles from less affluent families often get stuck at their current rank for over a decade upon reaching Colonel, simply due to a lack of funds.
Furthermore, just like in the bureaucracy, officer positions in the French army can be directly purchased. And these bought officers hold the same command authority as those who are professionally trained!
Such "purchased officers" account for a full one-third of the French army.
This means that if a full-scale war were to break out, at least one-third of French soldiers would be fighting under the command of complete amateurs. The consequences of this are easy to imagine.
A crucial aspect of Joseph's proposed military reform is promotion based solely on ability and military merit, regardless of background. Simultaneously, no fees would be required for promotion, and the sale of military positions would be strictly prohibited.
This would undoubtedly allow more talented individuals to rise to high ranks in the French army, but it would also break the military aristocracy's monopoly on officer positions, so they would certainly strenuously resist the reforms.
"Yes, you're quite right," Joseph stated solemnly. "Not just the promotion system; changes to weapon procurement, recruitment, and the military merit system will all face opposition from those people."
Berthier's expression grew somewhat somber.
Although he came from a minor noble family, he was a victim of the existing military system—he had nearly incurred debt to achieve his current rank of Major. This time, to join the French Guards, he had emptied his family's coffers, yet it was still far from enough. Had it not been for the Crown Prince's generous assistance, he would have shamefully returned to Soissons by now.
He murmured, "Yes, Your Highness. Therefore, military reform will be a very lengthy process..."
"Not necessarily," Joseph suddenly chuckled. "For instance, there's an opportunity right now for my military reform to take its first step immediately."
He looked at Berthier. "Of course, this will require your assistance."
The latter immediately stood and bowed. "Your Highness, I am at your command."
"Thank you, Major Berthier. Oh, and first, you are to be promoted to commander of an infantry regiment."
"Huh?"
...
"Baron Breteuil said you have a way to calm things down?" War Minister Saint-Priest eyed the middle-aged man before him skeptically.
If he weren't truly out of options, he certainly wouldn't believe a mid-ranking officer could resolve the current predicament.
He had simply never imagined that the investigation into the French Guards would escalate to this point.
Théodore and others, who orchestrated the tragic cannon attack on Axel Farmhouse, had already been handed over to a military court for prosecution. However, this did nothing to lessen public dissatisfaction with the French Guards, and after news of the Crown Prince's attack spread, the citizens of Paris grew even more enraged.
The Crown Prince had spearheaded Police Reform, improving Paris's public safety, and his prestige among the citizens was extremely high. This led to an increasing number of people protesting outside the French Guards' camp. Citizens, especially from the Saint-Antoine district, continuously threw dirt and cursed loudly at the barracks, almost on the verge of storming inside.
Meanwhile, his office was besieged by numerous noblewomen demanding a thorough investigation into the officers responsible for the attack on His Highness, leaving him afraid to show his face in his office for a long time.
At the same time, military officials were constantly pressuring him to protect the officers of the French Guards...
Just as he was in a terrible fix, the Minister of Justice informed him that this mid-ranking officer named Berthier might be able to help him resolve the crisis. Feeling desperate to try any remedy, he decided to meet the man.
Berthier, seated opposite him, appeared somewhat reserved. "General, do you know why people keep reporting officers of the French Guards, even implicating the matter of Axel Farmhouse?"
"Oh? Do you know something specific?"
Berthier immediately replied according to Joseph's "script." "Yes, General. As far as I know, it's because Her Majesty the Queen is very angry about the Crown Prince's injury, and wishes to vent her anger by punishing the Guard's officers."
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