7 January 1849, 10:50 a.m.

Prime Minister of the French Republic, Odillon. Barrow led the entire newly formed cabinet team, led by the secretary general of the Elysée Palace, Pesini, to the conference hall of the Elysée Palace to wait for Jérôme. The arrival of Bonaparte.

"Gentlemen, please wait a moment! Your Excellency the President will be here soon! Pesini, who retreated to the door of the conference hall, bowed slightly politely.

After more than ten days of running-in, I have long been accustomed to Jérôme. Odilon of President Bonaparte's rest. Barrow, of course, understood that Mr. President should still be asleep at this time, and he bowed his head slightly with a smile on his face.

Pessini turned to leave the conference hall, carefully closing the door.

Odilon watching Pesini leave. Barrow stretched out his hand to make a gesture to sit down and said, "Colleagues, don't be too restrained! I think Mr. President should be coming over soon! ”

The ministers of the various departments present at the scene were in Odilón. Barrow was invited to sit on the left and right sides of the sofa respectively, according to the same Odilon. Barrow sat in different positions.

Sit at the distance Odillon. Barrow's most recent position was Foreign Minister Drouen. Morality. Ruiz with Interior Minister Leon. Fushi, followed by Minister of War Lullie, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Finance, Pasi...... As a non-Odilon. Barrow personally appointed Minister of Justice Eugène. Rue and the Minister of Public Works, Morny, are a short distance from Odilón. Barrow's location is further away.

However, the most unexpected person was the Minister of Public Education, the Count of Falou, who was supposed to be sitting in Odillon. Near Barrow, he consciously stayed away from Odillon. Barrow and Eugène. Ruby and the others sat together.

Odilon. Barrow showed a look of displeasure, if it weren't for the dual identity of the Farlu orthodox and the Catholic right, as a leftist of the former dynasty, Odilon . Barrow would never have hired this guy.

"That's it! Gentlemen, from now on we will be seated in the same position as we are now! "Odillon. Barrow made a final decision on the position of the rear, and then he looked at his "money bag" Finance Minister Passy and said: "Mr. Passy, what is the current financial situation of the Republic?" ”

Patsy shook his head and got up and handed it to Odilon. Barrow had several papers filled with dense French, which he had carefully put together since he became minister.

Odilon. Barrow flipped through the pages of the documents that Patsy had organized, and as he learned better, Odilon . Barrow's expression became more and more solemn, and after reading the data provided by Patsy, he threw the data on the walnut production desk, raised his head and said solemnly: "Chief Patsy, I want to hear your opinion!" ”

"Mr. Prime Minister, our republic is facing a huge fiscal deficit! The previous year's political turmoil had hit our markets hard, and if we didn't think about a solution, our government would be faced with a situation where we would not be able to pay the interest on our national debt! Treasury Secretary Passy said exaggeratedly.

"Do you have any solution to that?" Odilon. Barrow then pressed on the fact that while he knew that the alleged inability to pay interest on the national debt was just an exaggeration by Patsy, the fiscal deficit was not a good sign.

"In view of the fact that the Constituent Assembly abolished some taxes, such as the progressive income tax, I suggest that we should reinstate some of the taxes that were previously abolished! For example: reinstate the salt tax! "Patsy to Odillon. Barrow made his own proposal.

As soon as the proposal to restore the salt tax came out, Eugène was arrested. Rue felt an inexplicable malice.

Regardless of whether Passy's proposal to "restore the salt tax" was sincere or an opportunity, Eugène. Ruai only knew that once the proposal to "restore the salt tax" was passed by the National Assembly, Mr. President would have to face the evil ideas of the basic base.

If you were to rank all the taxes in France, the salt tax would undoubtedly be the first, because it represented the frenzied exploitation of the small peasants by the old system, and as the tax that the small peasants hated the most, it would affect the basic plate for the president's senses.

This tax is simply digging into the roots of the Bonapartist sect.

But now Mr. President has not yet arrived. Ruai could not interfere in the issue of the Ministry of Finance on behalf of the people, he could only make a reluctant expression.

Molny, who was sitting on the sidelines, also looked at Patsy in amazement, he did not understand what the Minister of Finance was thinking.

"Then you're ......"

Odilon. Barrow was about to ask Passy to prepare a proposal for a "reinstatement of the salt tax" when the door to the Cabinet hall suddenly opened.

Everyone subconsciously looked in the direction of the door, looking at the "guest" Odilon who appeared at the door. Barrow fell into a brief trance.

"Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Ministers, hello!" Dressed in the Napoleonic Emperor's cosplay uniform and trousers, a triangular cap and a Legion of Glory medal pinned to his chest, Jérôme was dressed in a military uniform and trousers. President Bonaparte greeted him warmly.

Except for Eugène. Everyone outside of Rue is Jérôme. Bonaparte's outfit was shocked, and Jérôme. Bonaparte was more like a trumpet emperor.

Odilon in a trance. Barrow even "saw" the emperor's soul lingering behind the president's back, he raised his hand and rubbed his eyes, and the emperor disappeared, replaced by a lame imitator.

Some of them look like people in this outfit!

"Hello, Mr. President!" Odilon. Barrow and the ministers stood up to greet him.

Jérôme. President Bonaparte shook hands with the Prime Minister and the ministers in turn, and when his hand shook Eugène. When Rue was on the hand, he patted Rue on the shoulder and said, "Do it well!" ”

"Yes!" Eugène. Rue replied in a firm tone.

In Odilon. Barrow's strong invitation to Jérôme. President Bonaparte replaced Odilón. Barrow became the central figure in the Cabinet meeting.

"Governor Paxi, report to the president the fiscal plan you just proposed!" Odilon. Barrow gives orders to Patsy.

Explaining the necessity of "reinstating the salt tax" to the "peasant" president is an act of death from any point of view, and it is difficult to become the fastest minister to be removed in the history of France.

For Odilon. Barrow openly "betrayed his teammates" Patcy was silent for a moment, but still asked Jérôme. President Bonaparte clarified the importance of the "restoration of the salt tax".

Jérôme. Bonaparte listened attentively to Patsy's proposal, nodding his head in affirmation from time to time.

After Patsy's presentation was finished, Jérôme. Bonaparte spoke: "You can talk to Prime Minister Barrow about this issue!" If there is no problem, you can submit it directly to the National Assembly! ”

In Barrow with Eugène. In Rue's surprised expression, Parcy said with a hint of tremor: "Yes! ”

"If there is anything else that needs to be reported, report it all!"