The Fox of France

Chapter 152: The Old Bull and the Tender Grass

"Baronne de Boisarnaud." Lucien said, "I promised to help her with a favor, and she's very grateful."

"Baronne de Boisarnaud? Wait, Boisarnaud? That name sounds familiar," Joseph pondered.

"Do you forget? In '94, in Belgium, the Baron de Boisarnaud lost his head due to the unsuccessful battles," Lucien explained.

"Oh," Joseph nodded, "What does she want you to help with?"

"She hopes I can find a way to retrieve her husband's sword," Lucien replied.

"Ah, I remember now. After her husband's death, does she have any family left?" Joseph inquired.

"She has a son in his early teens and a daughter," Lucien answered.

"Tell me, Lucien, what do you think of that woman?" Joseph asked again.

Lucien replied, "What do I think? She's a beautiful woman."

Listening to Lucien's casual response, Joseph felt somewhat relieved. In truth, Joseph didn't harbor much ill will toward Josephine Bonaparte from history. After living in France for so many years, he had been influenced by the French perspective. To the French, a little green on top of one's head didn't seem like a big deal. Compared to Napoleon's later wife, Josephine hadn't caused significant trouble. Honestly, Joseph did have some biases against Habsburg women.

But that didn't mean Joseph thought Josephine should become his sister-in-law in this timeline. Leaving aside the fact that she couldn't have children, Joseph believed it would create family problems to choose her as a wife for any of his brothers. In a family with several brothers who started a fortune, having legitimate heirs for each of them ensured the stability of the family's wealth and power structures. If one brother lacked a legitimate heir, he would have to adopt a child from another brother as an heir, effectively strengthening that brother's branch. This would inevitably lead to conflicts and fractures within the family.

"Lucien, do you know how she managed to survive after her husband's death?" Joseph asked.

"Why do I care? Wait... Wait a minute, Joseph, why are you suddenly so interested in her? Could it be... I should talk to Fanny, but..." Lucien began to counterattack.

"Good Lord! I'm worried about you! That woman's intentions are as clear as day. You need to understand that. Why wouldn't she just ask Barras to retrieve her husband's sword? She must know Barras, probably better than you. Are they not close? My naive brother, this is a trap, can't you see?" Joseph explained.

"What's there to be afraid of? If she has tricks, I have tricks. Armand taught me numerous tricks back then. Besides, you once said, 'Since ancient times, true feelings can't be kept, only tricks can win hearts,'" Lucien retorted. "And anyway, what do we have to lose? We're both in your position, and you don't even have a lover. You're being too Corsican!"

In Corsican nobility, having a lover was quite common. So, when Lucien referred to "being too Corsican," he meant "being too old-fashioned."

"Having a little too much to drink and not knowing your own limits!" Joseph exclaimed, feeling irritated. "Look, since you're not drunk, that's good. Come to my study and help me budget these plans!"

So, Lucien spent the entire night working on the budget.

The next morning, Joseph, in his sleepwear, received the budget from Lucien and waved him off, saying, "Well, good job. You can go to sleep now."

Before Lucien created the budget, Joseph had already estimated the approximate costs of the plans. After a quick review, he found that Lucien's figures aligned closely with his own estimates.

"It's just that widening the road costs too much," Joseph muttered to himself. Though, for the sake of safety, he had decided to stay where the Red Army could come to his rescue at any moment.

"But it's not just the research institute; other factories and facilities can also be located here, right? This can be called the North Paris Industrial Park, and it can be considered a government achievement, can't it? If that's the case, shouldn't the government pay for the road expansion?" Joseph realized.

Joseph slapped his thigh and shouted, "Lucien, Lucien!"

Lucien, who had just washed his face, was about to embrace his beloved pillow when he heard Joseph's call. He rushed over, looking nervous. "What's wrong? Did I make a mistake? That's impossible; I double-checked every data..."

"It's not about that," Joseph said. "The data is correct. I just wanted to remind you that the elections are approaching. You should be ready to enter the parliament. Once you're in, you can propose this plan..."

A few more hours passed, and Lucien finally went to bed.

With these arrangements in place, Joseph left Paris once again and returned to Toulon, where there was still much work to be done. He had to entrust the affairs of Paris to Lucien for now. Considering Lucien's good performance during this time and with Fouch by his side, Joseph believed Lucien wouldn't create any major problems.

However, since Lucien was temporarily handling Paris, some tasks that were originally Joseph's responsibility had to be managed by him personally. For example, the special tactical training camp. Joseph couldn't help but sigh, "You don't realize the value of something until you lack it."

Before leaving Paris, Joseph took the opportunity to visit Fanny once more. This time, her warmth and hospitality surprised him. When he was about to leave, Fanny finally expressed her desire for them to set a wedding date.

Upon hearing this request, Joseph's heart skipped a beat.

Fanny could help organize the educational materials for his younger brother, and from their interactions, it was clear that her mathematical skills were more than decent, certainly better than that fellow Armand. If she were to marry into the family, it seemed that many relatively straightforward yet somewhat cumbersome and confidential matters could be entrusted to her. This would essentially add another capable secretary to handle sensitive matters.

Thinking about this, Joseph quickly assured Fanny that he had been considering this matter for a while. He had just been unable to return to Paris due to his other responsibilities. Now that he was planning to settle in Paris soon, they should expedite discussions about their engagement.

"I'll be in Toulon for about two more months. When I return, I will propose to your father and try to bring you over as soon as possible," Joseph said.

Fanny couldn't help but kiss Joseph, not realizing that this man was already considering how to employ her in various roles, much like a man would do.

After Joseph's departure, Lucien was finally able to take a break. He began actively participating in various political activities and preparing for the upcoming elections. He successfully helped Baronne de Boisarnaud retrieve her late husband's sword, and they became quite close during this time.

Joseph was informed that Lucien had already taken on three or four lovers within a week. "Good Lord, no wonder he's spending so much money," Joseph thought.

However, Joseph didn't criticize Lucien for his spending habits. He understood that Lucien's lifestyle was a tradition in French politics. If he appeared too different from others in his position, it could complicate many matters.

"Furthermore, it won't be long before he becomes a member of parliament. He'll receive a government salary, which will help cover these expenses," Joseph thought.

As Lucien prepared for his new role as a member of parliament, he received a message. He had been successfully elected and became a prominent member of the "Committee on Military Production." Though he wasn't yet the President, he was making progress, and Joseph believed it wouldn't take long for Lucien to attain that position.

Around the same time, a group of Polish nationalists arrived in Toulon. These Poles were freedom fighters, and their recent uprising had failed, leading to the division of their homeland. They had come to France seeking technical support.