Chapter 146: Chapter 132 New Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Bertier

Major Bertier took a deep breath and walked into the Crown Prince’s bedroom through the guards, immediately bowing to Joseph with a hand on his chest:

“Your Highness, how are you feeling?”

Joseph sat up in bed, smiled, and nodded:

“I am much better, Captain. I’m glad you could come to see me.”

He then had Eman excuse the spectating nobles from the room on the pretense of needing rest.

“Captain?” Major Bertier was taken aback, thinking the Crown Prince had misspoken, and hurriedly reminded him in a low voice, “Your Highness, I am only a company commander…”

Joseph, as if he hadn’t heard, gestured to the chair beside his bed, “Please, take a seat.

“Oh, right, do you remember the military reform measures I discussed with you before?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Major Bertier nodded.

Although the Crown Prince had only mentioned it briefly during an exercise at the police academy, Bertier had since visited the academy often and Dibowa had thoroughly introduced him to the prince’s military reform plan.

“I am particularly impressed with the ‘Conscription Regulations’, ‘Promotion System,’ and the ‘Establishment of the General Staff’.”

“Oh? It seems you already have a considerable understanding of the reform content.” Joseph nodded appreciatively, “So, what do you think of my military reform plan?”

Relieved that the Crown Prince had not brought up the matter of the French Guard, Major Bertier immediately expressed what he’d been wanting to say since discussing it with Dibowa:

“Your Highness, although France has what appears to be a very strong army, it is, if I may be so bold… more like a decaying tree from the inside. The loss in the Seven Years’ War is a testament to that.

“Our generals seem to have realized this and have made some changes, but in my opinion, it’s still far from enough.

“I took part in the American Revolutionary War. Our troops held no advantage even when facing the British Army.

“And your reform proposal almost corrects all the shortcomings of the current army and introduces many innovations, which is exactly what France needs right now!”

Joseph immediately responded:

“Then, do you think it’s possible to implement the reforms now?”

Major Bertier immediately frowned, and after a moment, shook his head and said:

“It would be very difficult to carry out. Just adjusting the promotion system would meet with opposition from almost all officers.”

Currently, the officer class in France is firmly controlled by the nobility. Firstly, it is extremely difficult for commoners to enter military academies, and even if they can, most specialize in engineering or technical fields, almost never touching upon combat command.

Upon graduating from military academies and entering the army, it is impossible for commoners, no matter how capable they are, to rise above the rank of junior officer.

In fact, not just commoners, but even lesser nobility are unlikely to become majors. Apart from suppression and exclusion by the hereditary military nobility, the costs of promotion are not something lesser nobles can afford.

Yes, in contemporary France, military officer promotions require a large payment. The higher the position, the higher the fee. Even some not so wealthy major nobles get stuck in the same position for over a decade upon reaching the rank of colonel because they can’t afford the promotion.

Furthermore, like the bureaucratic system, military officer positions in the French Army can also be bought with money. And these purchased officers hold the same command authority as officers who graduate through regular military channels!

Such “commissioned officers through financial contributions” account for a full third of the French Army.

This meant that if a full-scale war broke out, at least a third of the French soldiers would be fighting the enemy under the command of complete amateurs. The outcome is not difficult to imagine.

An important aspect of the military reforms proposed by Joseph was the merit-based promotion system, where rank would be determined by ability and military achievements, regardless of background. Additionally, no fees would be required for promotions, and the sale of military positions would be strictly prohibited.

Undoubtedly, this would elevate more talented individuals to the higher echelons of the French Army, but it would also break the military nobility’s monopoly on officer positions, leading them to fiercely resist the reforms.

“Yes, what you say is quite correct,” said Joseph somberly, “Not just the promotion system, but changes to weapon procurement, recruitment, and the system of military honors will all encounter opposition from those people.”

Bertier’s expression became somewhat despondent.

Although he was of minor nobility, he was a victim of the existing military system— he had nearly gone into debt to attain his current rank of Major. And this time, in order to join the French Guards, he had nearly drained his finances and still fell far short. If not for the Crown Prince’s generous assistance, he would have shamefully returned to Soissons by now.

“Yes, Your Highness. Thus, military reform will be an exceedingly long process…” he said in a low voice.

“That may not be the case,” Joseph suddenly smiled, “For instance, right now, there is an opportunity that could allow my reforms to take the first step immediately.”

He looked at Bertier, “Of course, this would also require your assistance.”

The latter immediately stood and bowed, “Your Highness, I am at your command.”

“Thank you, Major Bertier. Oh, first of all, you are to be promoted to the position of infantry regiment commander.”

“Ah?”

…

“Baron Breti says you have a way to calm things down?” the Minister of War, Saint Priest, eyed the middle-aged man before him with skepticism.

If there were any other option, he certainly wouldn’t believe that a mid-ranking officer could solve the current troubles.

What he hadn’t anticipated was that the inspection of the French Guards would evolve into its current state.

People like Theodore, who were responsible for the massacre at the Axel Farmhouse, had already been handed over to the military court, but this did little to diminish the public’s dissatisfaction with the French Guards, especially after the news of the Crown Prince’s attack spread, angering the Paris populace even more.

The Crown Prince, who spearheaded police reform and improved the security in Paris, had a very high reputation among the citizens, which caused more and more people to protest outside the French Guards’ barracks. The residents of the Saint Antoine District in particular continuously threw dirt at the camp and shouted curses, nearly on the verge of storming inside.

Meanwhile, a large number of noblewomen blocked his office, demanding a rigorous investigation into the officers responsible for the attack on the Crown Prince, making it so he hadn’t dared show his face in his office for a long time.

At the same time, the military was constantly pressuring him to protect the officers of the French Guards…

When he was at his wit’s end, the Justice Minister told him that a mid-level officer named Bertier might be able to resolve the predicament. Desperate, he decided to meet with the man.

Bertier, seated opposite, appeared somewhat constrained:

“General, do you know why people have continuously reported the officers of the French Guards, even bringing up the affair at the Axel Farmhouse?”

“Oh? Do you have some inside information?”

Bertier immediately replied according to Joseph’s ‘script’:

“Yes, General. To my knowledge, it’s because Her Majesty the Queen is extremely furious about the Crown Prince’s injury, and wants to vent her anger by punishing the officers of the Guards.”