Flowers, Swords and France

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"Gentlemen, the time has come for a big fight!"

Charles looked at the people opposite him and encouraged them in a low voice.

In the meeting room at the top of the headquarters of the French News Agency, a group of the most senior managers of the news agency were called together.

No one spoke, and everyone kept looking at him with curiosity and expectation, waiting for his next words.

Before speaking again, Charles looked around the meeting room.

The people sitting here are the core members of the news agency. Other guards have been sent away. Only his trusted assistant, Marie-de-Léoran, was taking notes alone.

They are all trustworthy people, so he can speak freely.

"First of all, I want to thank you all for your efforts. It is because of everyone's joint efforts that the news agency has achieved its ideal status today." Charles nodded, signaling everyone to relax, and then he lowered his voice again, "However, starting today, we will change our previous policy. In addition to continuing to supply news to the entire Parisian press, we will also take the initiative to operate news and use our current rare superior position to influence the entire country's public opinion." As Charles expected, his words soon caused a small commotion. However, because of good professional ethics, the commotion soon subsided. "Sir, I wonder what kind of public opinion you are going to create?" After a moment of silence, Mr. Marchianz, the editor-in-chief of "Observer" and one of his right-hand men, asked cautiously. Although the position is not the highest, Marchianz, the editor-in-chief of "Observer", has become the representative of these people because of his seniority. "It is undeniable. Because of the exclusive use of telegraph lines, we do have a certain influence now..." Because of professional relations. His words were always pedantic, "If you want to create some kind of public opinion. We can find a way to do it..."

Due to the long-term lack of funds and the slow action caused by political chaos, the telegraphs affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce in France have not actually been rolled out, while the telegraphs affiliated to the Ministry of Railways have gradually gained initial scale in various places - and because of the deliberate setting of Charles and his former subordinates, at present, there is actually only one private user who can participate in the rental of the telegraph system, and that is naturally the French News Agency.

Although the telegraphs of the Ministry of Railways are still in their infancy, and most of them are concentrated in the north, especially in Paris, this has given the French News Agency an information advantage comparable to other peers.

In addition, because the only international telegraph line between France and foreign countries now-the Paris-Brussels line-is also under the exclusive rental of the French News Agency. So in fact, the French News Agency has become one of the main sources of supply for the French news industry. Every day, there is no idea how much social or economic news is circulated through the telegraph network exclusively operated by this news agency, and finally flows to every city in France.

Under such circumstances, not only did the "Observer" under the news agency quickly become famous in the market for its accurate and rapid news, but even other newspapers also reprinted the first-hand news of the French News Agency when publishing news.

This almost monopolistic supply channel of information sources also gave the French News Agency a great opportunity to secretly manipulate public opinion.

In order to make a name for itself and not offend potential customers of any position, the French News Agency generally did not make many comments and modifications when providing news, trying to be as true and objective as possible so that the market could fully recognize its superior position - but now the situation is different. It can already actively create public opinion, and even should do so in order to achieve the political goals of Charles and his party members.

"I want you to find a way to create panic." In the expectation of everyone, Charles directly stated his idea.

"Create panic?" The others looked at each other. But they did not seem very surprised - to be honest, in this era. It is common for financiers to create financial panic by manipulating public opinion.

"Are you trying to create a trend in the stock exchange for a banker?" Machienz asked.

"No, I'm going to go deeper than that." Charles shook his head and said what he really thought, "I want to create panic in this city and among the people, and do everything I can to make them feel that the situation is precarious."

This time, everyone else was really shocked. They looked at each other, and then looked at Charles again, not understanding what the boss was thinking this time.

"I don't care what you do, anyway, you just want to spread panic among the people, to make them feel that the country is in danger..." Charles continued calmly, as if he didn't think what he said was terrible at all, "Everyone, you are all elites, so you have already occupied such a superior position. Don't you want to scare ordinary people? Can't you find a way?"

At first, everyone was still a little hesitant and hesitant, not knowing what to do.

However, under his gaze, the others slowly understood his will and the threat implied in his words-if this can't be done, then what's the point of keeping you?

The resistance, which was not strong to begin with, quickly disappeared in the face of the threat of losing such a well-paid job.

Under Charles's gaze, his subordinates soon began to discuss in low voices.

"Sir, we have discussed it and have some preliminary reports." After their discussion was over, Marchianz reported to Charles in a low voice, "We can focus on reporting on the southern republicans' conspiracy in a short period of time. activities, rebellions by troops stationed in certain places There were rumors about mutinies, bankrupt peasants in agricultural provinces such as Nievre and Scheer launching uprisings, and exiled political prisoners planning to sneak back into the country... As long as the market is flooded with such news in a short period of time, It must make anyone worried.”

"Very good, anything is fine, as long as the goal can be achieved." Ciel was very satisfied with the efficiency of his subordinates. So he nodded, "This kind of panic report. Don't care about any factual basis, just a little shadow. Don't be afraid of accusations of false reports or false reports. Anyway, no one can criticize us afterwards. If there is zero, we will say it is ten, and if there is one, it will be ten." Let’s just say it’s a hundred, do you understand?”

"I understand." Although there were only a few words, everyone still responded.

Seeing that everyone was still hesitant, Charles shook his head gently and said, "Don't be afraid of any consequences. This is the president's will."

"What does the president mean?" Others exclaimed.

"Yes, the president wants us to scare people." Charles replied calmly. "The more scared people are, the more they call for the strong. Those who have a little wealth are timid and only want to protect their families' lives. The more unstable the situation is, the more they crave stability. As long as we can scare them into thinking that The world will be in chaos in the next two days, so we have succeeded more than half of the time. When the situation is stable, they want this or that. When the situation is chaotic, they only want to call strong men to come to power, stabilize the situation, and suppress any possible rebellion. There will be no more mumblings about civil rights.”

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"In other words, is Mr. President planning to weaken the influence of the Parliament? To scare people with the risk of a round of revolution?" A smart person soon understood, "As long as everyone is afraid, they will be afraid of the Parliament." Tired of being slow..."

"Yes. The more these people are afraid of unrest, the more they will resent the Parliament. Isn't it because of the inefficient and insane Parliament that they face the risk of a revolution? Isn't it the Parliament full of mediocrities? , which made the strong and iron-fisted leader restrained. To save the country?" Charles shrugged, "My friend, as long as you can save your family in a critical moment, people don't mind shouting "Long Live the Republic" or "Long Live the Emperor" - and we must make everyone believe that the critical moment is coming. , has even come. This is also the will of Mr. President.”

"But if the Parliament instead calls on citizens to defend the country, what will it do then?" Marchianz suddenly raised his objection, "At that time, its prestige will increase unprecedentedly, just like the National Assembly back then. ”

"The parliament created by the revolution is proud of depriving it of the fruits of the revolution, and then it pretends to claim that it represents the revolution?" Charles smiled and shook his head, "No, no one believes it. At least those three million were canceled from politics. The right people won’t believe it.”

In 1850, in order to completely destroy the legacy of the February Revolution and restore the old national order, the Party of Order, which had a dominant position in the French National Assembly, determined to abolish the universal suffrage granted to French men after the revolution.

Once the Party of Order's draft plan to abolish universal suffrage was proposed in the parliament, it immediately aroused strong dissatisfaction among the republican parties. As a result, they launched a fierce propaganda campaign and insisted on continuing to implement universal suffrage in the country. The Republicans also launched a petition campaign in newspapers and magazines. Within a few days, hundreds of thousands of people participated in the petition campaign. However, despite this, on May 31, 1850, the Parliament finally passed a decree abolishing universal suffrage and exchanging the right to vote with a certain amount of tax by a vote of 433 to 241. As a result, a large number of workers, urban civilians and other lower classes lost their qualifications to vote, and the total number of voters was reduced from 9.6 million to 6.8 million, which deprived about 3 million people of their right to vote.

"Others may be qualified to accuse the Parliament, but how can the president be qualified? Didn't Mr. Bonaparte accept the three million ransom with peace of mind?" Marchianz looked at Charles in confusion, "What if? If we attack the prestige of the parliament because of this, won’t the president himself be affected by this attack?”

"No, sir. First of all... the money is not that much, 2.16 million to be precise." Charles still maintained that pleasant smile and shook his head slightly, "Secondly, the president receives Money is collected, doesn’t this stop him from continuing to speak out for the people?”

"Oh... I understand." Marchianz nodded, finally understanding the president's intentions.

Then, his face turned slightly pale, as if he finally realized something.

"You must be curious why I have to tell you so much, right?" Charles looked at everyone with a smile, "Gentlemen, let me tell you clearly. This matter is too important. The president has entrusted it with this responsibility. It's given to us, and the country won't allow us to give up, or even allow us to retreat. Yes, you know too much now, and I won't allow you to refuse this task, otherwise...you don't need to say anything, right?"

"Understood." Everyone replied at the same time. To be continued...) r1292

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