Chapter 136: With the Army in Hand, I Own the World!
Chapter 136: With the Army in Hand, I Own the World!
The selection process for ordinary soldiers was relatively straightforward: prioritize those with good service records and disqualify any with disciplinary violations or criminal histories. An infantry regiment plus a cavalry squadron, totaling over 1,700 soldiers, were selected within a few days.
The screening of officers, however, proved more challenging.
Following the Crown Prince's instructions, Berthier dismissed all officers above the rank of Captain.
There was no concern about a shortage of mid-to-high-level commanders, as many captains possessed the capabilities of more senior officers but had been stuck in their current rank due to their background or lack of funds.
Identifying and promoting exceptional individuals from this group would result in a fighting force far more capable than the previous hereditary officers.
Among the remaining officers, those from grand noble families were also removed, and a portion with poor conduct was further culled. The entire screening process lasted more than ten days.
Upon receiving Berthier's report that the unit's formation was complete, Joseph "miraculously" rose from his sickbed and removed the bandages from his arm—the wound had actually healed days ago, leaving only a faint scar.
The following day, he arrived in Paris to attend the public trial of Théodore, the mastermind behind the cannon attack on the farmhouse, and several of his subordinates.
Théodore and Camus, who had given the order to fire on site, were sentenced to beheading, while their other accomplices received various punishments such as imprisonment or hard labor.
When the military court judge announced the verdicts, the square in front of Paris City Hall erupted in thunderous cheers.
Many people shouted, "Avenge the Axel couple!" and a hail of stones rained down on Théodore. If not for the Military Police shielding them, the accused would have perished right there, never reaching the execution ground.
Subsequently, Joseph ascended a platform amidst the crowd's cheers and declared:
"The injuries I sustained during the attack have healed. After careful review, the 'scourges' within the French Guards have been purged. The other officers and soldiers are innocent. I ask that you no longer disturb them."
The people immediately cheered again:
"Thank God, the Crown Prince is safe and sound!"
"Praise the Crown Prince's benevolence!"
"May God grant the Crown Prince health!"
"Long live the Crown Prince!"
Concurrently, newspapers under Joseph's control began to cooperate, placing all blame on Besenval, Théodore, and their ilk, proclaiming that the other members of the French Guards bore no responsibility.
Only a few officers, initially reported for corruption or mistreatment of soldiers, suffered; their crimes were confirmed, and they became sacrifices to appease public anger.
Less than a week later, the review of the French Guards concluded. The once-raging public opinion soon forgot the matter.
The officers and soldiers of the French Guards, having narrowly escaped disaster, were ecstatic and eager to celebrate. But then they remembered that the responsibility for guarding Paris had been handed over to the two regiments from the Flanders Brigade—now renamed the Paris Legion.
Meanwhile, they had been stripped of their French Guards title and renamed Marrier's Corps, relegated to garrison duty in a remote small town...
However, some of them soon saw a glimmer of hope: their new regimental commander, Lieutenant Colonel Berthier, led them, along with Odoric's cavalry squadron, away from Marrier's Corps' garrison, heading to the familiar Champ de Mars on the southern outskirts of Paris.
These more than 2,200 soldiers largely comprised the most elite elements of the former French Guards.
The newly appointed commander of Marrier's Corps, Marquis de Marrier, gazed at the remaining 1,500-plus officers and soldiers with utter helplessness.
At present, any capable or well-connected officer would be unwilling to take over the disaster that was the French Guards. Marrier was simply the incompetent pushover assigned to clean up the mess.
He had heard before taking up his post that Regimental Commander Berthier wielded immense influence and had been instrumental in averting the crisis for the French Guards. Therefore, Marrier dared not utter a single word about Berthier's or Odoric's actions, treating them as if they were not his subordinates at all.
On the Champ de Mars, the two thousand-plus officers and soldiers brought by Berthier stood in neat formation, looking with nervous anticipation toward the reviewing stand, wondering what instructions their new regimental commander would impart.
However, the first to ascend the reviewing stand was a young man in a blue and white military uniform, with their regimental commander and several officers clustered behind him.
Joseph looked at the dense ranks of soldiers below, his heart filled with excitement and satisfaction.
After being in this world for so long, he finally possessed an army that was completely loyal to him!
Though small in number and even lacking a full complement of officers, this was a profoundly significant starting point: the consolidation of royal and military power. From this moment, he truly possessed the ability and means to change the future of France!
No, perhaps all of Europe would be fundamentally altered from this very moment!
Below, a bugle call sounded. An officer announced loudly, "Present arms!"
The signalman swiftly waved his small flag, gesturing several movements. Two thousand soldiers instantly raised their rifles in salute simultaneously.
Joseph raised his hat in acknowledgment, silently commending the soldiers' training. They were, after all, the elite troops guarding Paris.
The officer below then commanded, "Attention!"
Joseph then declared in a clear voice, "I believe you all recognize me. Today, I represent the Royal Family, here to visit His Majesty the King's most loyal troops."
The signalman immediately waved his flag to relay the command, and the soldiers on the training ground promptly responded in unison, "Long live His Majesty the King!"
Joseph continued, "From this day forward, you shall become the model for all French soldiers, a new type of army unlike any before!"
The officers and soldiers below were all utterly astonished. They had assumed that, having been implicated in the attack on the Crown Prince, their military careers were over. Yet, the Crown Prince had suddenly graced them with his presence and declared they would become the model for all French soldiers?
However, once the Crown Prince on the platform merely spoke of the new promotion and pay mechanisms, everyone lost their composure. For a moment, they even forgot their discipline, breaking into murmuring and whispered conversations.
"Non-nobles can also be promoted to mid-level officers?"
"His Highness said, 'capable of rising to any position,' meaning high-ranking officers too."
"Promotion based solely on ability and military merit! Thank God, we all have a chance to become officers!"
"And promotions don't require any fees — that's the most crucial part!"
"Did you hear? His Highness said that from now on, military pay won't go through officers, but will be directly disbursed to us by a paymaster."
"I heard! The paymaster will be directly appointed by the Minister of War! No more worrying about withheld wages!"
"His Highness also said he would increase our pay. Oh, thank God, thank His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Joseph did not order the officers to maintain order. He knew that with just these two reforms, he had already won the absolute loyalty of these more than two thousand officers and soldiers.
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