Finale (2)
The first consul's term lasted six years, and Napoleon now has only six months left in his term. France law does not stipulate the number of consecutive terms a first consul can serve, meaning that if Napoleon wished and the France people supported him, he could continue to serve until his death.
In fact, if Napoleon had expressed his desire for re-election, there probably wouldn't have been any need for a campaign. Just like when Napoleon was seeking re-election, he couldn't find anyone to run against him, so they had to forcibly drag out Barras, who was already preparing for retirement, and force him to run. And then what? Barras went out to give speeches, leading the onlookers in chants of "Long live Napoleon! We won't vote for anyone but Napoleon!" And in an interview with * Science Truth Daily *, he once again urged everyone to vote for Napoleon.
"What? You're asking who I'll vote for? Needless to say, it's His Excellency Napoleon Bonaparte! What? You're asking why I'm even running? Hahaha, young man, think about it! In future history books, when they mention the first national election of the French Republic, they'll mention my name along with His Excellency Napoleon Bonaparte. Wouldn't that be wonderful? So, you lot are really too young, too naive... Hahaha."
Now, Napoleon is leading France from victory to victory, and the whole world is cheering for him. If Napoleon wanted to be re-elected at this point, there would be no competition whatsoever. The performance of any other candidate would not be any different from that of Barras.
However, this morning, a major news story broke: the First Minister submitted a new bill to the Council of State, which was then rejected by the Council of State!
Since Napoleon became First Consul, the Council of State and other parliaments have never rejected any of Napoleon proposals. Although the Britain often used this to ridicule Napoleon's democracy as a joke, even fabricating jokes such as "How dare you be the first to stop applauding? Are you out of your mind?", the entire France people firmly believed that this was entirely because the proposals put forward by Napoleon were all well-thought-out and best served the interests of the France people.
This was all flattery, because Napoleon was indeed consistently right. Almost every time, when people's opinions differed from his, he always acted in accordance with the majority. So, when faced with Napoleon's proposals, if people felt they didn't understand something, their first reaction was, "It must be because I'm not good enough." As a result, most people developed the habit of "implementing Napoleon's decisions whether they understand them or not, and strengthening their understanding through implementation."
But this time, instead of "deepening understanding" during implementation, the Council of State outright rejected the proposal despite a lack of comprehension. Is this really...? Are the people in the Council of State plotting a rebellion?
The people of Paris were furious and ready to take up arms to teach those arrogant bastards in the Council of State a lesson. But soon they changed their tune and decided to surround the Consulate instead of the Council of State.
Because the content of Napoleon's proposal was to prohibit anyone from serving more than two consecutive terms as First Consul!
"How can this be! How can this be! How could the First Consul General propose such an absurd bill!" someone said angrily and incomprehensibly.
"Did we do something wrong that hurt the First Minister's feelings, so he doesn't want us anymore?" someone cried out in anguish.
"I suspect that bad people are coercing His Majesty the First Regent. We must go to the Consulate! We must protect the First Regent!" someone shouted.
"Let's go together! Let's go together!" more people responded.
So they went together.
Everyone grabbed their broadswords, steel whips, bombs, cannons, three-pointed double-edged swords, and hook-and-sickle spears, donned white helmets and armor, and headed towards Mozhuang—oh, sorry, wrong stage. Well, everyone went together. Considering that in case some bad elements really did kidnap the First Minister, some of the older women brought along French baguettes.
By noon, the Consulate had been surrounded by Paris citizens, forcing Napoleon to leave the Consulate and come among the people to explain that his proposal was not due to being misled by malicious individuals, nor was it an attempt to abandon the France people, but rather to ensure the perpetuation of France democracy.
"I will not leave the France people, for I myself am one of France. A drop of water will dry up in the sun if it leaves the sea, so how can a person leave his brothers and sisters? I will always be with the France people, and I will never leave them," Napoleon said as he walked into the crowd, found a stone block, climbed up it, and shouted to everyone.
"Then stay and continue to lead us!"
"Stay! France cannot do without your leadership!" the crowd shouted.
"Quiet down, everyone! Listen to me! Listen to me!" Napoleon shouted.
"Everyone, quiet down, quiet down, listen to His Excellency the First Consul!" shouted the person closest to Napoleon. The crowd gradually quieted down, and everyone looked up at Napoleon standing on the stone pier.
Napoleon glanced down, then said to the man closest to him, "Your name is Morand. We fought side by side at Valmy."
"Yes, yes!" Morand exclaimed joyfully, "Yes, First Consul, I was with the infantry back then, we even talked."
The people around him looked at him with envy, which made him feel much lighter all over.
"How have you been these past few years?" Napoleon asked kindly.
"Reporting, sir, life is good, much better than before the revolution. I've gotten married and have three children. They're all quite good-looking."
"Good job!" Napoleon patted him on the shoulder.
"Sir, it's mainly because of your excellent leadership. When you lead us in battle, we win every battle; when you lead us in living a good life, our lives get better and better!" Morand quickly puffed out his chest and said.
"Morand, I remember you were just a little kid back then, and now you're a father of three... Hmm, you have gray hair now, you've aged quite a bit," Napoleon said again.
"That was back in Ninety-Three, more than 20 years ago. How can I not be old? But seeing the children grow up and go to school makes me really happy," Morand replied.
"That's how all parents are," Napoleon said. "Actually, twenty years have passed. Not only have you aged, but I've aged a lot too. Back in Valmy, I could easily jump up this high stone pier with a single leap, but now I need someone to help me up."
After saying this, Napoleon sighed, then looked up and said to everyone, "However, I found something Brother Morand said very insightful. He said that although he is old, he is very happy to see his children grow up healthy. I am also a father, as you know, I have a daughter, and my wife is currently pregnant again. Soon God will grant me another child, and I completely understand Brother Morand's joy."
"May God bless you and your child!" someone shouted from the crowd, followed by a chorus of blessings.
As the noise gradually subsided, Napoleon smiled happily and said, "Actually, besides these two children, I have another beloved child..."
Everyone's gossip-loving spirit was instantly ignited. As for anything else, well, do the France even care about that? Isn't that perfectly normal?
"This child is called the Republic," Napoleon continued. "He was born in the great year of Ninety-Three, and from the moment he was born, he was attacked by evil enemies, just as the great Heracles was bitten by two venomous snakes at birth. In order to ensure his growth, I, my brother Morand, and many other heroes, whose names have been recorded or whose names have not, did not hesitate to sacrifice our lives to protect him. The Republic is the child of all of us."
Now that child is in his twenties, he's an adult. He needs to learn to live independently in society. We, as his fathers, should also let go and allow him to freely develop his talents. Of course, we won't really abandon him. Just like when a child is learning to walk, we let go and let him walk on his own, but we will follow behind him, ready to pull him up from the ground at any time.
Look, my body is clearly not as good as it was twenty years ago. Ah, don't flatter me, we all know this. My cognitive abilities haven't declined significantly yet, but my energy is not what it was twenty years ago. And the Republic, it has become too dependent on me to help it walk. I think, if I don't take advantage of the present, while I can still walk alongside it, and help it up when it falls, do I really have to wait until I'm old and gray, toothless, and unable to stand up, before letting it walk on its own, watching it fall, even into a deep pit, with no one to help it up?
It is precisely for this reason that I intend to relinquish the position of First Consul. This is not because I do not love you all, nor do I love our France, but because I know that when parents love a child, they must consider their long-term interests. For the long-term benefit of our children, it is time for us to let go a little."
"But..." The crowd seemed to want to say something more.
"Furthermore, you know me and know that I am loyal to democracy, but what about the future? One day I will also leave this world. Will there be hypocrites and schemers among those who will serve as First Consuls of the French Republic in the future? Will they talk about 'freedom and democracy' but take advantage of their long tenure as First Consuls to exclude dissidents, install their own party members, and eventually turn our republic into a kingdom? No, we must never leave such danger to the republic, just as a father would never allow a hole in his house that could let a poisonous snake in."
Therefore, I proposed to the Council of State that it approve my resignation as First Minister and pass a law stipulating that no one may serve more than two terms in this position. I hope everyone can understand my predicament and support me as before."