French Empire: But Napoleon IV

Chapter 51: Drema's successful deception and infiltration.

This kind of thing is useless to Eugène. With a few simple adjustments later, the image becomes useless. Moreover, Eugène even planned to use this image to plot against the Republicans.

Unlike Eugène, who was indifferent, Senucci, upon hearing Drema's explanation and realizing the map's value, couldn't help but breathe heavily. He reached out and slowly opened the defense map, examining it carefully.

Because it was given to us by Eugène, the Governor of Paris, the map is incredibly detailed, even clearly marking the entrances to the Tuileries Palace's sewers.

Senucci was surprised that Eugène would give him this; he felt that this was a core secret that only the military police commander could possess.

"However, my brothers cannot work for nothing. Most of them have elderly parents and young children to support. They are risking their lives to follow me in this rebellion. If you can provide 100 million francs to give each soldier a resettlement allowance, I guarantee they will be even more devoted."

This makes even more sense; asking for money is the right thing to do, otherwise Senucci would be uneasy.

Although he was only a vice president, Senucci, with his vast wealth, put away the defense map, pondered for a moment, and then agreed to Drema's request.

"I'll take care of the money. I'll give it to you in three days, at the same time. But remember, you absolutely cannot act rashly before we give you our orders. And you can't let anyone know about your contact with us, including your battalion commanders."

"I understand, don't worry. I've been in the military police for over ten years, I know what I'm doing."

After determining the distribution of benefits and the acceptance of the agreement, the two discussed some details of communication, such as Old John delivering messages every Wednesday evening.

In case of emergency, place a bouquet of red roses in the window of the bakery opposite the military police headquarters, etc.

After discussing the communication issues, Senucci, whose identity was sensitive, left the tavern first, while Drema sat for another ten minutes to make sure it was safe outside before getting up and leaving.

Reaching the alley entrance, Drema glanced back at the sign of the "Old Carpenter" tavern. The French colonel sighed softly, pulled a small notebook from his boot, quickly wrote down the conversation, and then stuffed it into the pocket of a passing newspaper boy.

This newspaper boy wasn't one of the infiltrated secret police, but rather a spy found among the families of the Royal Guard. Upon receiving Drema's report, the newspaper boy didn't dare delay and quickly delivered the notebook to the Tuileries Palace.

While Drema was relaying the message, in the secluded room of the tavern, Gambida frowned as he looked at the defense map Drema handed over.

Do you really believe him?

Gambita, sensing something was amiss but unable to pinpoint what it was, whispered to Senucci beside him, "It all seems too coincidental. Eugene just moved his troops out of the city, and Drema came to join us. I have a feeling this is a trap."

When asked by his friend Gambit, Senucci leaned towards believing that side.

In their previous personal conversations, Cernucci felt that Drema's demands and conditions did not seem like something someone who was determined to infiltrate the Republican Party should be making.

"I believe him. His father was a member of the Republic, and he himself has been secretly helping us for so many years. Drema is now desperate and has no choice but to turn to us."

"Let's hope so, but we still need to be careful. We can't let him get access to core secrets. All communication with him will be handled by you alone."

Putting away the defense map, Gan Bida sighed. In these turbulent times, Gan Bida hoped that he was just being paranoid.

........

Three days later, on the evening of the 17th, news of the Battle of Maslathour on the 16th had reached Paris.

The last large-scale cavalry battle in Western Europe in history still took place as scheduled. The difference was that Bazin had planned to withdraw his troops to the rear to join the Sharon army, but he was hesitant, which led to his army being in a retreating state and hastily dealing with the encircling Prussian Third Army.

Now, from the beginning, Bazan was ordered not to retreat and was told to stay in Metz and wait for the army to come to his aid.

In other words, Nasan clearly told Bazan that he should stay in Metz and wait to be surrounded by the Prussian army. They would find a way to get him out of the siege later, since Metz had enough supplies to feed his legion for more than three months.

In this battle, even with Bazin's hesitation and retreat into skirmishes, the casualty ratio was around 1:1.2. Now that the French army is better prepared and is facing the enemy head-on, the casualties have increased even further.

Bazin's army suffered over 1.5 casualties, while the Prussian army lost over 2, a casualty ratio of 1:1.4. When this battle report reached Paris, both sides felt they had won.

According to the Paris government's propaganda, the Paris army had an advantage in casualties, which meant they had won; according to the Republican propaganda, the Bazin army was besieged, which meant they had lost.

On the 17th, while the theories of winning and losing were spreading throughout Paris, Cernucci arrived at the "Old Carpenter" tavern on time, carrying two heavy leather suitcases.

The two suitcases contained 100 million francs, half of which came from himself and the other half from Fold, who had been swindled by Eugène. The expenditure of 100 million francs was easily covered by the two bankers.

When Senucci arrived, Drema was already waiting for him in the cubicle. The French colonel took the suitcase that Senucci handed him, opened it, glanced at it, and then closed it and placed it at his feet.

"I've accepted the money. Tomorrow I'll start looking for opportunities to distribute it to the battalion commanders. I've already spoken to them, and they're all willing to work for me."

"Very good, remember, don't make a fuss. It's not the right time yet. We need to wait until the Prussian army reaches the Meuse River, and Eugène transfers the troops from the outskirts to the front lines before we make our move."

"I know I want to see the Bonaparte family fall even more than you do, and I will wait patiently."

Drema smiled at Senucci's advice, and the two chatted for a few more minutes about the recent situation, mainly focusing on the Battle of Maslatur.

Senucci was undoubtedly a supporter of the losing school of thought, and Drema publicly echoed his sentiments, but in his heart, Drema held it in utter contempt.

Even though the higher-ups knew that after the negotiations, Bazan's army was destined to be besieged, Drema, who had been informed of the situation at the front by Eugene, looked at the Republican Party's major donor and didn't believe that Senucci was unaware of the government's arrangements.

Knowing the truth, Drema still insisted on losing money, which naturally made him look down on this banker who refused to accept reality even more.

Unaware that he was being utterly despised by Drema, Senucci, after thinking he had brainwashed Drema, got up to leave.

In fact, Drema did wrong Senucci, who was aware of the government's arrangements. However, after internal discussions within the Republican Party, the party still believed the advantage lay with them.

If the government intends to launch a counter-offensive using the Meuse River as a defensive line, then the Paris Legion will inevitably have to go to the front lines to cooperate with the Sharon Legion.

At that time, Paris will be undefended, and with the support of the garrison gendarmes, the Republicans will be able to easily launch an uprising.

If the counter-offensive on the front lines proceeds successfully as the government has planned, then the France they have will be a stable France on the front lines, instead of a collapsed France.

Isn't that an advantage for them?