A little extra chapter to wish you a fulfilling and satisfying year 2021!

It doesn't look like it will be any better than 2020 but let's hope.

Geoffrey d'Arcy's advice for the coming year:

Stay away from all the little critters and crush the big ones.

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Chapter Thirteen: Emperor's burden

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Paris, Palais des Tuileries

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13th July 1824

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- This is a bad idea…

Alexandre couldn't help himself but laugh at his father's frown.

And his father was a great specialist when it came to frown at subordinates.

The problem was that neither Alexandre nor Lexi were his subordinates, at least not in any military fashion, and had a long time ago learned that if Napoleon was a stone-hearted bastard, that character trait disappeared when dealing with his wife and children.

- Whatever, father, said Alexandra, but it has become a necessity. With Willy's New Year speeches, the people and the journalists are wondering why it doesn't happen here too…

- I loath…

- Please, father, don't say things that could be repeated and that could put your reputation in jeopardy. We're not alone and we all know that some of our servants are earning a little bit on the side by informing the journalists.

And Fouché…

All present servants, who were all on a newspaper's paylist, Fluffy had verified, made great efforts to stay stone-faced. But they still paled heavily.

And since they were useful to get certain information to the right people in no time they didn't risk a lot. Just, perhaps, since their boss was at the same time greedy and petty, to be paid less.

- And of course, you can do it, Papa, intervened Alexandre. You are a born seducer and, when you are in the right mind, you could sell Ice-cream to a polar-bear. And Lexi is right, you need to do it. People here want to hear you, nobody else. They know who's the boss and they know that you still make the decisions…

- You and Lexi manage part of the State affairs…

- And we are glad you gave it to us, but still, Education and Colonial Affairs are only secondary subjects and even if they give us the opportunity to manage an important Ministry, it still has nothing to do with what shapes the Consulat's future. What's important is in your hands and the people know it. So, it is the best to have you answering those questions…

- We are, once more, mimicking Britain, grumbled Napoleon.

- We are all mimicking Mamma Jane, said Lexi with a smile. And you cannot deny that her idea to be honest with the press and to give them regular opportunities to ask questions -and to get straight answers- has had amazing results when it came to get the people's approval for the new Dynasty. William is liked by most and worshiped by some. Even the parliamentary opposition shows respect and obedience.

- Your Parliamentary opposition is under the thumb of George Darcy. Of course, they respect the sovereign, they are all d'Arcy's puppets.

- Papa works for you, not William…

- d'Arcy works only for himself and his interests. I'm just lucky that deep down he's a French Patriot who couldn't accept to see his beloved France become England's puppet. Add to that his wife is my wife's best friend and you have the reasons that have warranted my survival a lot more than Fouché's goons.

Lexi looked at her husband and they both hid an exasperated sigh. Whatever else one could say about Napoleon, deep down he was envious of Geoffrey d'Arcy. He had even rediscovered calisthenics to build up his brawniness.

Which satisfied Alexandre's mother quite a lot.

- Don't be ridiculous, Papa, protested Alexandre. My father-in-law really has given up any personal ambition a long time ago. The only thing he truly wants is securing the Alliance between GGB and us. For the rest, you are right, he wants France to be and stay the major player on the international field.

- France or his son's Britain?

- That's a question only he can answer but until now he has always refused any title in relation with Great Britain or the commonwealth. Even mamma Jane's only title is Duchess of Aquitania which places her under your authority, not William's. They both have repeatedly insisted that they are under your authority and they never waste an occasion to remind the journalists that they are members of the French Aristocracy. With the small hick-up, for Papa, because of his little stunt in Persia, to also be a minor Ottoman dignitary, he's French from head to toe. And not Britain's servant.

- He's still the most famous known Frenchman…

- Well, said Lexi with a smile, that's perhaps the case but what is sure is that you are the most famous known Corsican of all times.

That brought a smile on Napoleon's lips.

- You are right, there's that!

- Good, intervened Alexandre, let's go back to tomorrow's interview. We know that Johann von Goethe will come back with his usual political obsession. You know how to answer him?

- Yes, that's a well known verbal fight between us. We have rehearsed it a score of times. It should go without any problem.

- And Chateaubriand will want to have answers about Africa, said Lexi. The fact that France has taken over almost a whole continent inhabited with people that have been for centuries deported to become slaves makes him and his Monarchists friends nervous. A lot of people think that we will enslave the African population. You need to insist on our efforts to pull those populations out of their current technological backyard to bring them at par with France's current Tech Level.

- I have looked at your notes and I like the allusion at my Marshals, general and officers. I think I'll use the overall figures. It sounds better than the fifty-two percent of my Marshals…

He took a deep breath.

- What about Quintana and Sinclair.

- We haven't asked them but we have a few hints. Quintana will ask about Spain and your plans about the Mare Nostrum Scheme…

Napoleon couldn't help but shake his head.

- Will they ever stop shitting their pants? Had I wanted to invade Spain; it would already be done! Why don't they believe my promises?

- Because, said Lexi, they know that their King is an idiot whose intelligence would have made it difficult for him to learn the skills of a cobbler. And the would-be Heirs around him, if not total idiots, are even worse when it comes to character traits. They all know that they still exist only because your advisors have been very insistent to remind you that one does not invade an ally! Even if said ally's ruler is a mental cripple.

She looked at her father in law.

- And please, go on not listening to father's advice in this matter! Let the Spaniards decide what they want to do. Britain has shown that a Nation can change its Dynasty without a Civil War being fought. They will hopefully follow that path and not France's.

Napoleon sighted.

- They don't look like doing anything, at all! But alright I'll prepare something to sooth and smooth the Spaniards' fear. What about our Indian cultural half-blood?

- We have no idea, said Alexandre. She has a reputation to be smart and to select questions that are controversial and biting for those unprepared poor sods facing her. She's touchy when it comes to her gender and skin-color. Don't make any allusion outside of your well-known loathing of journalists. That's why she will be the only pure-bred journalist on stage. You'll have a German Philosopher, a French Writer, a Spanish Poet and an India-born British Journalist. You should be able to easily overcome any contentious question.

- Of course, I will! But it still is a bad idea.

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Paris, Consular Broadcasting Board

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14th July 1824

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The operation was a novelty, and the First Consul was clearly not at ease with what was about to happen.

His wife was trying to get him to stop fidgeting with his cravat and was giving last minute orders to the crew of make-up artists while looking at the control screen to get a feeling for the lighting.

Alexander and his wife, who had been invited to support the First Consul were smiling mockingly at the most powerful man of continental Europe who was, for evident reasons, the man of the day.

There was a prompter but the First Consul had come without a prepared speech. It would be his first interview and he had, as was usual with him, a total confidence in his own wit and sense of repartee to survive against the four journalists the CBB had invited to grill the First Consul.

Two of them were French, at least if you looked at their passports since one of them was of German ascent, and two came from abroad. One, Geraldine Sinclair was a British BBB (British Broadcasting Board) journalist of Malwa Ascent and the second was a Spaniard from the Real Servizios de Diffusion, Manuel José Quintana, who was well known for his poetry and his criticism of Monarchism as a whole and the Spanish Crown as a specialty.

- Five minutes, called out the studio stage manager.

François René de Chateaubriand who would be the leading journalist of the interview was preparing his notes. He was, and he had been chosen just for that by Josephine and Alexandre, a sworn political adversary of Napoleon. The fact that he was also one of the few Monarchists who had always been firmly behind the First Consul's military policy had helped to see his choice been accepted by the First Consul.

As of now he was whispering with his friend and colleague Johann von Goethe who was one of the most famous Napoleonists in Europe and Napoleon's personal choice for the board of journalists.

Satisfied with the light and her husband's overall presentation Josephine glided to her husband, placed a soft kiss on hi brow and joined her son in the background.

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- Five, four, three, two, one… You are on…

François René de Chateaubriand smiled towards the camera and made his usual very elegant head bow.

- Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first official interview of his Grace the First Consul.

He pointed at his immediate neighbor at his right.

- Here with me this evening we have Miss Geraldine Sinclair from the BBB in London and Mr. Manuel José Quintana from the Spanish Real Servizios de Diffusion.

He turned and smiled at his other neighbor.

- And even if everybody knows my last associate, I will still greet Monsieur von Goethe whose intelligence will, as usual when he's with us, light up the whole show.

Johann von Goethe smiled at the camera and bowed in direction of his two younger colleagues and the First Consul.

Chateaubriand looked up and smiled at the First Consul.

- Your Grace, should you want to take the floor for a preliminary statement, you are welcome.

Napoleon smiled back and shook his head.

- No statement, just greetings to all those who make us the honor to be with us this evening. I hope that after the coming hour some of the interrogations the citizens of France have, will be answered.

Chateaubriand was quite satisfied not to be on camera while the First Consul was speaking, or the public would have witnesses him losing quite a lot of his proverbial self-control.

Alexander's little smile increased just minimally. It hadn't been easy, but he had, finally been able to convince his father that a lengthy statement wouldn't have been a good idea.

Chateaubriand was his normal self when he went back on camera.

- Miss Sinclair, since you are not only the youngest of us but a lady, please you have the floor for the first question.

- Thank you, Monsieur, agreed Geraldine who had no problems to acknowledge her male counterparts' gallantry. She was one of Jane d'Arcy's pupils and in their minds being a feminist didn't imply no longer being treated with respect and politeness. As long as they had the same political and judiciary rights than the males of the species they were alright with being pampered and supported.

She looked the First Consul in the eyes.

- Last week two hundred and forty-nine French citizens died during an insurrection in Alexandria. It seems like the Muslims under French administration do show some reluctance to accept the new prohibitions the current official redoing of the Quran is privileging. Isn't your current policy in contradiction with the 1810 code of religious rights?

For a fraction of a second a frown had appeared on Napoleon's brow.

Soon he was as relaxed as before.

- No, said he finally. Said policy is not in contradiction with the Consulat's laws.

He took a long breath.

- As you know I'm no longer, to my mother's despair, scuzami mamma, a catholic. I tend and it has been true since I began to rub shoulders with all those feckless French revolutionaries, to consider myself as an agnostic, which means that even if I believe in the existence of a God, I refuse to follow the dictates of a religion and of said religion's dignitaries. The laws the Chambers voted, and I published, are there to ensure that everybody can follow the religion of his choice outside of the public domain. Streets and marketplaces are part of the public domain and cannot be left over to religious factioneers. And even less so to religious fanatics.

He took a longer breath.

- As an agnostic I have a specific problem with Islam's Holy Book which specifies in at least seven Suras that every Muslim has the duty to kill all Heathens. Which, I'm sorry to have to note it, means also me! Most Muslims are smart enough, or , some would say, deceptive enough, not to try, but some, like those who gathered last week in Alexandria were neither smart nor deceptive and they gathered to demonstrate that they were more respectful of the Quran and the Sharia than of the Consulat's laws.

Napoleon's eyes became quite threatening.

- Which is a losing proposition since I do have armed police officers and Gendarmes who are specifically paid to enforce the Consulat's laws.

Once more he forced himself to relax and looked at the Camera.

- Let me speak to all my Muslim citizens. There is only one thing you need to understand: I won't let you kill me because you believe Allah wants you to kill or forcefully convert Heathens! Because if it comes to that, I can give you the very first agnostic prophecy: it won't be me who dies!

He took a long breath.

- But I'm not here to threaten anybody. I want all of you to remember that as it is currently, the Quran orders Muslims to kill people who aren't of the right faith. Which is against the laws of the Consulat. Only the Consular Justice officers can order an execution. Nobody else. The problem with Islam is that most Muslim consider that the Holy Book is also a judiciary codex. A judiciary codex that orders to kill not only Heathens but also Christians and Jews. It is written and professed within the holiest book of Islamic Faith. That's the facts and that's the truth nobody can deny. And even if only one percent of all Muslims wish to follow those orders it still remains that those suras exist and will go on existing giving every fanatic a reason to take a knife and stab a non-believer whenever he feels in the mood. With Allah's blessing and the promise to go to Heaven if killed in action.

Napoleon shook his head.

- That's not how it can work within territories under consular laws. That's why I asked a college of Muslim wisemen to work on the Quran to determine what are really Allah's dictated words and what has been added later to please the Sultans.

He pointed a finger at the camera.

- We have proof that the Quran as it is today has been doctored. More than a hundred different copies have, as we speak, been found and are studied to find out what the original teachings were. What is sure is that the original integrity of the Quran some of the Muslims of the past have pushed, is a myth. Pure propaganda. It's now time to determine what is really Allah's original message and what has been added afterwards. I really hope that what will come out of these studies will show that Islam is a religion of Peace and Tolerance. A religion that fulfils those conditions will always be welcomed and will be promoted within the Consulat's borders.

Napoleon's eyes turned to look at Geraldine.

- And so yes, my men have killed religious fanatics who were trying to rouse people to fight against me in the name of Allah. A lot of those rioters were killed because they refused to disband and go home when my officers requested them to obey. The others have been apprehended after the rout and await their sentences in jail. Those who have attenuating circumstances will be set free. The others, those who came knowing that they were going against the law, will have to acknowledge that Penal Consular laws are still preeminent within the territories the Consulat rules. Meanwhile we haven't closed a Mosque or apprehended regularly appointed Muslim Preachers. Everywhere in France Muslims are free to follow their religion within their Mosques or at home like every other French citizen who believes in God and who follows the prescription of a religion. We make no difference amongst religious followers. We don't understand why you still do it but we won't try to stop you as long as your faith doesn't put other citizens at risk.

Once more he looked at the camera.

- It is a shame that some people are unable to learn from their mistakes. But those people who died in Alexandria died not because they were Muslims but because they were insurgents who were abused by shameless religious leaders to send us a message. We got the message and we answered with a message of our own. I really hope that this time, the message will be heard and understood.

- Thank you, Your Grace.

Chateaubriand looked at his neighbor at his left.

- Monsieur von Goethe. It seems that, since you are the most senior amongst us, that it is your turn to ask your first question.

von Goethe nodded and smiled at the camera.

- Let's use the privilege of age then to point at what I personally consider as a great failing of the Revolution.

He smiled at Napoleon's frown that just comforted him in his will to speak about what he considered the real failing of the revolution.

- You are going to ask me about your democratic illusion, said Napoleon. We've already spoken about that hundreds of times.

- Never with millions of witnesses, Your Grace. And never in those present political circumstances. As I see it, this world has entered a phase of political and strategic stability that was never even imaginable until now. There is what one could call a balance of power amongst the current political powers that should be used to give the people, at last, the power back…

- You are perhaps right for the political and geostrategic balance but that doesn't mean that the world is ready for the illusion of democracy.

- As you know I do not agree with your vision in that matter. It is not an illusion; it is just a difficult endeavor we, now that we have something that looks like a peace guarantee, should finally be able to master.

- Of course, Herr von Goethe it is an illusion. Democracy is the twin sister of demagogy and if it is the first that show herself to the people, it is the last who finally climbs on the seat of power.

Napoleon took a few moments to gather his thoughts before going on.

- I was in Paris at the end of the revolution, I have seen what those who believe in the illusion of democracy end up doing. When they say: give the power back to the people, what they really mean is: give it to me I know what the people want. Power is a powerful drug, and it is always a bad idea to give too many people a snivel of it! Our experience in France seems to show that it always ends with a bloodbath.

Goethe shook his head vehemently.

- As you very well know I never supported an approach of democracy intended to let the executive branch be elected. For that we, evidently, need a Monarch who's able to steer the Nation towards its future. But, as it exists just on the other side of the Manche, a democracy to chose the legislative is a much better tool than having the Despot handing out places in the Assemblies as rewards for services rendered.

- Would you mean me with the word Despot?

- Since you've not yet used your great literary talent to meddle with the dictionaries I do believe that it is a good definition for a man who, whatever his great merits and achievements besides, is concentrating every shred of power in his hands and those of his cronies. Having a Despot at the helm is not necessary to have a well-oiled and efficient society. Some examples abroad seem to show us ways to do it differently.

- Well what those examples abroad really show is that a family, because of its wealth and influence all over the world, has been able to concentrate economic and political Power into the hands of a few of its members. Of course, in the eyes of a neutral observer it is more diluted and hidden but still should be seen as a rather despotic trait. There is a spider in the middle of the British web and even if said spider prefers not to be seen and to go on acting like an unambitious bystander, she's still there, spinning its web from the Far East to the North and to the most Southern countries.

As one man all eyes made a fast right move to look at Her Grace Princess Alexandra whose smiling face and eyes acknowledged them with a small head bow. Clearly, she wasn't shocked and even found her step-father's comments amusing.

Not sure that her father would like to be called a Spider -because nobody had the least doubt that Napoleon had spoken about him- but what was sure for everyone was the fact that he wouldn't react in any official manner.

- Your observation, Your Grace, only makes my example a little less acceptable, but it changes nothing to the fact that more democracy should be a goal every ruler whose political clout finds his roots in the French Revolution, should pursue. The high ideals of the Revolution have been slaughtered by men whose ambitions clearly were too high when compared to their smartness. You, whose intelligence is clearly at par with your ambition, you should do everything in your Power to finally make those ideals come true.

Napoleon couldn't help but shake his head.

- I have been there, remember? There were no high ideals. There was only ambition and hatred. The rich Merchants were frustrated out of their minds because the foolish French Aristocracy had spent at least a century refusing them to get a part of the power. And then came the drought years that pushed the people into bread riots. And the Merchants immediately saw how they could use the people's frustration to further their ambition. And once said ambition was out of the bag, the massacre began.

Napoleon finally pointed at his son.

- Try to convince Alexandre, I'm a lost battle. For evident reason he's quite fascinated by what happens in Britain and he has a plan, should he ever become First Consul, to introduce democracy on the communal and regional level. I won't do it even if it is perhaps a good choice at those levels. I prefer nominating the people who receive a part of the Nations's power. My gut-feeling says that it is safer.

He made a placating gesture in Goethe's direction.

- Believe me when I say that France has witnessed too many clashes of unbound ambition for quite a few decades. I won't let it happen again under my watch. I'm perhaps a Despot…

And his smile was proof enough that he wasn't too peeved.

- …but I think that I have given my fellow Frenchmen every reason to be proud and satisfied to be a part of France. And since our political and military successes have been complemented by a huge economic boost, I'm quite sure that the French citizens are satisfied with what they have and, for the most of them, not frustrated that the high ideals of Hellenic democracy have not yet been introduced in the Consular regime.

He smiled in Goethe's direction.

- I know how much you've hoped that the French Revolution would be catalyst of a new Era of Human History. And you can't deny that it is what we got. We are living today in a whole new world and we are writing a whole new chapter of Mankind's History.

He shook his head while smiling.

- I cannot not admit that it wasn't totally because of France but France's role in what has happened these last decades cannot be denied. Our Revolution and my politics brought Great Britain and all those other major Nations into overdrive! That cannot be ignored. The Revolution has been the spur that has pushed the world into, what I will go on calling the right direction. Democracy will perhaps, one day, become a main feature of some of those Nations' political substrate but I really hope that it will arrive long after my demise. Because for what can see of Human Nature Democracy is the political façade of Plutocracy, which is the scientific word describing a world where Rich People finance charismatic leaders, who are their employees, to get the policies that will give them further means to enrich themselves.

He looked at the camera.

- Let's take the shortcut, no need to have rich puppeteers manipulating their pretty dolls. No need to have voters convinced to elect said puppets because of huge sums used to make them look great! Let's go on with what we've built in reaction of a very bad series of rulers at France's helm. Let's competent charismatic leaders who are just at the service of their Nations' future, take and hold power. It's not as shiny as what some believe democracy to be but let's be honest, at least those rulers you have now, have shown their valor and their usefulness. History contains ample proof that it won't last forever but for now those who are at the top are amongst the best. And something tells me that they will be there for quite a satisfying long time.

There was a little hesitation since nobody seemed to know if Napoleon had finished and then Chateaubriand took the floor.

- Senor Quintana, it seems that it will be your turn to ask a question.

Manuel José took a small breath and looked Napoleon in the eyes.

- France has already gobbled Cataluña and it has been your plan for years now to recreate the Roman Mare Nostrum concept. The only thing that' still not under French law are a few Spanish provinces. What are your intentions about Spain and the Spanish Empire.

Napoleon didn't react immediately but a small repeating nod began to show itself.

- I do not have any intention regarding Spain or the Spanish Empire. I will admit that, for a time the Mare Nostrum Concept has been used by me to get your King under pressure. But all my advisors had, from the very beginning, warned me that attacking Spain, who's ruler is a stout ally, would destroy any trust we have all over the world. So, I repeat, even if my teeth cringe each time I see the mess your Kings have created all over the world when they could have built something admirable, I have no intention to either attack Spain or manipulate the Spanish people to change the current dynasty.

He looked at Quintana.

- I will use your question to give a few more precisions about France's intentions regarding the few still independent States all over the world.

His eyes strayed towards his son and his daughter in law.

- As you know France has lately began to entertain real and steadfast diplomatic relations with quite a few of said independent States. The Treaty of Alliance and Cooperation my son has signed last month with the Kingdom of Ethiopia will only be the first of a lot of others. Alexandre will, next month fly to Norway to discuss about a similar Treaty with the Scandinavian Powers.

He looked at Alexandre.

- Contrary to what happened in Africa with the Negusta Negast, we will use another approach in Skandinavia. We hope to be able to convince the three Kingdoms up there to forget their petty rivalries to enter, if possible, a merger, if not, at least a Federation under one unique Ruler. And we will do the same all over the world in order to reduce the number of Nations existing on Earth. We hope to avoid a mess similar to what existed in Germany prior to our invasion which had clearly been a huge handicap for the German Nation. Too many petty ambitions smother even the smartest people around.

Once more he looked in his family's direction.

- I have decided under quite a strong pressure coming from almost all of my advisors, that we, and with that I mean France and its people, want to make it clear that we no longer have territorial ambitions…

There he smiled his usual mischievous smile.

- At least when it comes to territories situated on Earth. We will of course be a part of the race towards the other planets of the Solar system. The British Orbiter has opened the way and the Five Nations Council is, as we speak, hammering out -or, at least, trying to- an Agreement that will regulate the outer Space colonization. Should they fail to reach an understanding, the race will begin for good… And even if Grand Great Britain has a small lead on us, I'm quite sure that it won't last. Indeed, I'm happy to announce that France's First exploration Spaceship will reach orbit before the end of the year. We've already favorably answered to GGB's proposition to grant Earth Orbit and the Moon extraterritoriality which will give to all Nations which have the technology to reach orbit to use said orbit and the Moon as Mankind's Common Property. We will, within the coming months propose the creation of a Moon and Orbit Commission within which technological projects concerning the orbit and the Moon could be discussed and prioritized after the means to create them have been gathered. The Moon and Orbit Commission -we call it the MOC- will not have a ruling mission over anything outside of Earth Orbit. Those, what we call the outer Space, will be reserved for the Nations' further expansion. It's not yet done and still under discussion but we are confident that, at least for Earth's Orbit and the exploitation and colonization of the Moon, we will get a Treaty signed by all Earth Nations.

He looked at the Camera .

- We have… I should say, I have, a long history of military campaigns and conquests. And so, the military answer to problems has always been my more immediate one. I have spent a lot of time with my Marshals and the Proconsul discussing our chances to, should we push it, take over the whole of Earth.

He smiled at the unanimity of reprobation that just appeared at the Journalists' bench.

- Don't look so surprised, I'm a man of war and war has always been the immediate answer I've used to get rid of problems. So, no surprise there, that I had contingency plans created to take over everything. And, to be very honest with you, until Athena, those contingency plans had been revisited and updated every year. With the arrival of Athena, though, things changed since we lost the possibility to win without paying too great a price. So, with that possibility out of the equation, I've decided that France would officially announce on this Celebratory day that we renounce to any future annexation if we haven't been attacked first.

He let out a long sigh.

- I put that reserve into my declaration to give all those idiots who think themselves apt rulers the possibility to attack France for whatever foolish reason they deem acceptable.

He pointed a threatening finger at the camera.

- Should you come at me, even if it is by sending terrorists or assassins or killing French citizens who work under your government's protection, be warned that I'll come after you too. My armies will crush you and invade you and France will annex everything that belonged to you. And don't hope that I will believe excuses about foreigners having used your country to attack us without you knowing. Because, for me there will be only one alternative. Either you're lying or you are incompetent! In both cases your people clearly need a better Government and guess what? I know one!

He stopped pointing and crossed his hands in front of him.

- But should you be able to behave like civilized, honest, and competent Nations, I give you my word that you risk nothing from me or France. France, whose future unavoidable expansion will be, from now on, Spacewards.

He forced himself to relax and sat back into his armchair. A smile blossomed on his lips.

- As you see, France's territorial expansion is a long way from over, but it won't be done at the expense of other Peaceful Earth Nations.

Chateaubriand who had a lot of experience of Napoleon's bad manners took immediately the floor in the hope that nobody would insist on matters that clearly could be taken badly by quite a few foreign countries.

- Your Grace, said he, I'd like to have your comments about the situation in Africa. You've spoken about the Treaty with Ethiopia and we are all very satisfied to see that France has been able to overcome the need to secure all the borders to warrant to the oldest Nation of Africa a safe future. But there are other Nations still present in Africa and we've heard that quite a few African tribes have chosen to left the parts of the continent under French rule to find refuge in those parts that are under British, Spanish of Portuguese rule. Why does France accept that they run away?

Napoleon listened and nodded twice.

- To answer crudely your question, because we don't give a damn if those losers run away or not. Most will stay and, even if my words risk angering or humiliating some other tribes, the best, and I mean the Zulu Nation, have decided to stay and to work with France.

He made a non-committal gesture.

- Of course, they don't like the situation and they don't love us. But luckily for us Chaca Zulu is not only a superb strategist and military thinker, he's also a subtle politician who's immediately understood the opportunity France was offering him. If there is a man in Africa who will be able to convince the people to work for France, it is him. He is now officially Prince of Zimbabwe and all the men of any tribe who have gathered around him have been granted French Citizenry. And half of the army's engineers are currently building roads, bridges, dams and ports all over Southern Africa. GBB has India and we have Africa. We don' have the huge amount of people India offers but Heidelberg's geologists who have been roaming the continent for the last fourteen years, have already found a treasure trove of natural resources. France need those resources and Africa needs to be pulled up at Europe's level. That's what we are doing in Africa. And the Zulu, as a Nation, have accepted to be France's agents to get done what needs to be done. They have also taken over the job of policing the Continent and I'm very happy they did. It would have been awkward for me to send white soldiers to corral black skinned natives. We believe in the Human Rights Bill and that the color of the skin has nothing to do with a man's skills and achievements and Chaca Zulu's decision has offered us the opportunity to pull Africa into France's orbit while avoiding any ethnocentricity based on racial slurs.

He nodded twice.

- Chaca has a real understanding of what his people and the other African people need. He's very aware that France's intervention has been an opportunity not only for the Zulu but for the whole African Continent.

He made a calming gesture.

- I'm not saying that we invaded Africa because we had the welfare of its people in mind. We did it because we wanted the land and the resources. But as d'Arcy always reminds us, the people are a land's ultimate resource. And the Zulu who have the right mentality to work with us and for us in Africa are the best resource we are going to get there.

- You seem quite impressed with the Zulus…

- They are men and women whose motivations I understand. They were up and ready to invade and submit the Southern half of Africa. We could have fought each other, and we would both have failed a real opportunity. Luckily for France they had Chaca at their head and he immediately understood what our meeting meant for both of us. There is only one other man on Earth who has been able to impress me like Chaca did when we first spoke, and I don't regret a second of the time I've spent with each of them.

- It seems that there are very few white immigrants in Africa. Why is that?

- There are a few because we need teachers to give the locals the opportunity to learn French and the basic skills workers need when entering a factory. But apart from those teachers who often stay only three to five years, not a lot of Europeans want to immigrate. Because we have better -in a climate way of thinking- territories to send people and with the huge number of workers needed in Europe's factories only those who love or are fascinated with Africa go South.

He shrugged.

- And it's no real problem. I'm very convinced that a man's -or a woman's- worth is to be found in his competence and skills not on his pedigree or his skin-color. Within the old rules of Monarchist France, I would never have been able to become an officer of renown. I would have finished my career as a colonel in a garrison. The Revolution changed that and I have every intention to export that new way of selecting leaders everywhere in the world. I have really no intention to export even a part of our white aristocracy to Africa. What I want to do is educate enough local smart boys and girls to help them to become their people's leaders. The natives are numerous enough to manage the land and we have no reason to replace those people's elites with white people who have no idea of those people's traditions and even don't know how to survive down there! There will be new elites, not because we love chopping heads off, but because we need people who are in synch with our time. And the members of those new elites will be black-skinned Frenchmen native of Africa. Everything else would generate resentments and uprisings and we've had enough of those for quite a few centuries!

He looked all the journalists in the eyes.

- Remember that more than eighty percent of my Field-Marshals, generals and other officers have been raised up in extremely poor households. They have climbed up the ranks and proven with their deeds and exploits that are worthy leaders. And despite their parents and their poor upbringing, now they are Dukes and Princes and among the most important people in France.

He balled his fist.

- And we will do the same in Africa. I'm quite sure that within our local African population there are enough smart and interesting people who will be able to embrace every imaginable career if we give them the opportunity to learn and to embrace those new times of theirs. Give us five more years to complete the solid net of schools and universities that is being built and the people down there will soon be able to transform their environment and chose how they want to live within African France. And they will be, despite their skin-color and past, proud French Citizens whose opportunities will be like those of a man or a woman born in Paris, Spalatro, New Orleans, Warsaw, Cairo or Berlin. A lot of what we wanted when we toppled the King didn't become the truth but that peculiar point had been achieved and I will do everything in my power to see it become the norm everywhere in French Territory.

I

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Soon to come: Boss Questions