Make France Great Again

For a pure scientist like Professor Wu Ci, monetary incentives and fame are in no way capable of tapping into his full potential. Only grand narratives and appeals to national enthusiasm can effectively reach him and others like him.

The reason is that scientists of this era enjoy the benefits befitting the middle class of imperialism. Having dwelled in the middle layers of the ivory tower for a long time, they rarely truly stoop to observe the mundane world. Let alone in this time of extreme information backwardness and isolation between communities, the only area they can see is Paris. They may mourn for the workers upstairs who toil from 7 AM to 9 PM, yet are entirely unwilling to ponder what has led them to such a plight.

In their profoundly empty hearts (referring to the vast majority of the middle class), they can only maintain their loyalty to the nation with grand narratives and fervent nationalism. This sense of national duty is particularly effective for some middle-aged men over thirty.

Under the banner of national duty, Jerome Bonaparte managed to sway Professor Wu Ci just as he had done with Louis Pasteur before.

"Your Majesty, are we truly doing the right thing?" This question was directed by Wu Ci to Jerome Bonaparte, yet it also resonated as an inquiry into his own conscience.

Jerome Bonaparte shrugged, speaking with an air of resignation, "I admit that what we do might indeed be cruel to other nations, but for our country's soldiers, it is nothing but merciful. With your invention, they can reduce unnecessary sacrifices! Professor Wu Ci, you are engaged in a glorious undertaking, a sacred mission to save countless families!"

"But this invention may also harm the people of other nations, inflicting immeasurable damage on their families!" Wu Ci responded with a bitter smile to Jerome Bonaparte, "Yes! I can deceive myself, I can deceive the entire world, but I cannot deceive God, who is ever-watchful of our every move!"

"Indeed! If loving my country is a sin, I am willing to commit this sin for a lifetime!" Jerome Bonaparte, with a solemn expression, gazed at Wu Ci and then exclaimed passionately, "When my soul returns to His embrace, and I face His judgment, I shall lift my head and declare to Him that I love my country more than my life, even more than my soul! Merciful Father, if you judge me guilty, then render your verdict! I am willing to consort with Satan and dwell in Hell, and ultimately, the history of France will recognize my contributions and declare me innocent! My spirit shall soar to the Heroic Spirit Hall, joining Richelieu, Louis XIV, Emperor Napoleon... all the revered sages of France!"

No sooner had these words left Jerome Bonaparte's lips than they were met with a resounding applause from Professor Wu Ci. To Professor Wu Ci, Jerome Bonaparte's stature had soared immeasurably, and he now beheld Jerome Bonaparte as a great man wholly devoted to national affairs, tirelessly toiling for the entire country, serving as yet another gift bestowed upon France by God after Napoleon.

"Your Majesty, I now believe you are indeed the most precious gift He has given to France!" Wu Ci declared with reverent sincerity to Jerome Bonaparte.

In Professor Wu Ci's eyes, Jerome Bonaparte saw fervor.

This was the gaze of a fan towards an idol, and Jerome Bonaparte could not help but feel a twinge of guilt.

Could Professor Wu Ci truly have been brainwashed by his lengthy discourse?

"No! I am but an ordinary patriot. My task is merely to restore this calamity-stricken nation to its deserving heights!" Jerome Bonaparte humbly remarked to Professor Wu Ci.

"Such pure patriotic passion! Compared to you, I truly am..." Professor Wu Ci hesitated for a moment before self-deprecatingly admitting, "I am truly so base!"

"Patriotism knows no baseness or nobility. As long as you are willing to strive for your country, even an ordinary worker is a noble patriot!" Jerome Bonaparte comforted Professor Wu Ci.

The second tool in the box must not lose his zeal; otherwise, Jerome Bonaparte would have to consider having the first tool, Louis Pasteur, take on the task of researching smokeless gunpowder.

"I can assure you with my life that I will exhaust every possible means to stabilize nitrocellulose!" Wu Ci solemnly assured Jerome Bonaparte.

"I believe in you, Professor Wu Ci!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded to Wu Ci and said, "In your eyes, I see the passion of a patriot! You will surely succeed!"

Under Jerome Bonaparte's patriotic exhortation, Professor Wu Ci no longer hesitated and dedicated himself unreservedly to the cause of the French Empire, unwavering in his journey to research smokeless gunpowder for France. With firm conviction, Professor Wu Ci engaged in a detailed discussion with Jerome Bonaparte about the instability of nitrocellulose, potential stabilizers for nitrocellulose. From Professor Wu Ci's words, Jerome Bonaparte heard about ether, used for anesthesia, and ethanol. As if triggered by certain keywords, distant memories from a past life unfolded like a sequence of brief video clips in his mind.

An indescribable sense of swelling filled Jerome Bonaparte's mind. Struggling against the sensation, Jerome Bonaparte furrowed his brow and asked Professor Wu Ci, "Professor, have you ever tried using a mixture of ether and ethanol as a stabilizer?"

His memories told him that the first formula for smokeless gunpowder indeed used a mixture of ether and ethanol as the stabilizer for gelling. (The memory lacks paraffin for passivation)

"A mixture of ether and ethanol?" Professor Wu Ci froze momentarily, softly repeating the phrase.

"Right!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded in response to Professor Wu Ci.

"It can be tried!" Professor Wu Ci nodded to himself, then picked up the pen and paper that had fallen to the ground and recorded it.

Subsequently, when Jerome Bonaparte asked Professor Wu Ci if he needed an assistant, Professor Wu Ci shook his head and refused his suggestion.

Professor Wu Ci, with his simple moral principles, believed that the nitrated cotton experiment was too dangerous, and having one more person would mean adding one more person's risk.

Therefore, not too many people should be involved in this work.

Professor Wu Ci's refusal exactly matched Jerome Bonaparte's intentions. After all, the more people involved, the bigger the risk of leaks, and he intended to keep the smokeless gunpowder as a trump card to teach the Kingdom of Prussia a lesson.

The two chatted for a while until Bashirio arrived with a team of professionals responsible for cleaning up chemical accidents, at which point Jerome Bonaparte bid farewell to Wu Ci.

Leaving Professor Wu Ci's villa, Jerome Bonaparte once again made a surprise visit to Louis Pasteur's laboratory.

Wearing a simple mask, Jerome Bonaparte was led by the staff to Louis Pasteur's laboratory.

At this moment, Louis Pasteur was sitting in a circle chair with his back to the laboratory door, recording and organizing the final experiment report.

Because Louis Pasteur was so focused, he did not notice Jerome Bonaparte's arrival.

The laboratory member standing beside Jerome Bonaparte wanted to alert Louis Pasteur, but Jerome Bonaparte raised his hand to stop him.

Jerome Bonaparte quietly walked behind Louis Pasteur with almost soundless steps and watched him silently until Louis Pasteur finished organizing all the records and reports. Only then did Jerome Bonaparte speak, "Mr. Pasteur, how is the progress of the experiment?"

Jerome Bonaparte's sudden exclamation gave Louis Pasteur quite a fright. He immediately turned his head in the direction of the voice.

Seeing Jerome Bonaparte's figure in front of him, Louis Pasteur quickly knelt and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty!"

"How is the situation? Is it going smoothly?" Jerome Bonaparte asked eagerly.

Now, the French Army had gradually arrived at Rhodes Island, just waiting for Jerome Bonaparte to give the order, and most of the troops would land at Varna.

The wilderness of the Balkans and Crimea had always been a hotbed for viruses, especially when the weather warmed up, as diseases would revive with the coming of spring. Jerome Bonaparte did not want the first wave of attacks his army faced in the spring to be from the forces of the Russian Empire, but rather from nature itself.

As it turned out, Louis Pasteur was undeniably a genius. With just a few words of guidance from Jerome Bonaparte, Louis Pasteur achieved impressive progress that amazed even Jerome Bonaparte.

"Your Majesty, although the cholera inactivated vaccine has been successfully developed, there are still many shortcomings in the clinical trials! Moreover, each inactivated vaccine requires a lot of money..." Louis Pasteur first pointed out his shortcomings, then added, "However, I can confidently assure you that we have made significant progress in interrupting and preventing typhoid and cholera. With targeted prevention and treatment, the terror of typhoid and cholera can be greatly reduced..."

"That's truly wonderful!" Jerome Bonaparte smiled, shaking Louis Pasteur's hand and said, "Mr. Pasteur, you have made an indelible contribution to France! I shall award you the Knight's Medal as a commendation for your efforts during this period."

"Your Majesty, there's no need for that..." Louis Pasteur said apologetically, lowering his head, "I am a sinner stained with blood; the medal should not belong to a sinner like me..."