Make France Great Again

Louis Pasteur's self-reproach made Jerome Bonaparte realize that the renowned scientist valued moral integrity even more than he had imagined. If it weren't for Jerome Bonaparte binding Louis Pasteur with his fervent patriotism, Louis Pasteur would not have been persuaded to conduct human experiments on death row inmates.

Even though Louis Pasteur's achievements in the field of typhoid and cholera far exceeded the acts he committed against those deprived of political rights, he still felt guilty for his actions. He would rather remain unknown than earn accolades with materials tainted by the blood of death row inmates!

"Mr. Pasteur, your respect for life is something everyone should learn!" Jerome Bonaparte said solemnly, "However, in my view, you are too fixated! These death row inmates have already been stripped of political rights... alright! Let's call them people for the sake of argument. Their lives are destined to disappear on the gallows! You have given them a chance to atone, allowing them to contribute a small part to France!"

"Your Majesty, the law can only judge their physical death, only He can decide if they truly deserve to die!" Louis Pasteur earnestly pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte, "Everything I've done is to deprive them of the right to die physically. I am a sinner walking this world burdened with sin.

Your Majesty, please promise me this small request!"

Seeing Louis Pasteur almost about to kneel before him, Jerome Bonaparte sighed heavily and chose to respect Louis Pasteur's request.

"Alright! I agree to your request! The government will not specially commend you, and all your achievements will not be published for the time being; they can only serve as internal reference materials!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Louis Pasteur, "However, you and your team will receive a substantial bonus, which will be issued in two parts—once as a scientific research bonus from the government, and once as a scientific progress bonus from the Northern Industrial Company!"

"No... Your Majesty, you really don't need to give me so much money! Everything I've done is not for myself!" Louis Pasteur instinctively tried to refuse.

"You may not need the bonus, but your team does!" Jerome Bonaparte pointed at the staff in the laboratory and said, "Why did they join you in this experiment if not for honor and bonuses?" (Jerome Bonaparte suddenly realized this sounded a bit vulgar and quickly added) Of course, I do not mean to deny your love for France, but loving France and receiving due honor and bonuses are not mutually exclusive!

Who says a scientific researcher should willingly endure hardship? In my opinion, scientific researchers should be the ones to enjoy happiness the most. If a country does not value its scientific researchers, then its level of technology can never truly progress.

Science and technology are the only production forces! Comrades... ahem! Fellow countrymen, our goal is to let all French people enjoy the conveniences brought by science! Let the light of technology reach every household, and the fruits of science should not become tools monopolized by a few! I hope you remember one thing, the ultimate aim of all our scientific research is to serve the public! The purpose of scientific research is to understand the world and to transform it!"

Jerome Bonaparte's impromptu speech was like a mental baton striking the spiritual world of everyone in the laboratory. Many scientific researchers have not known what they were working for; they only took research as a means of survival, turning papers into capital for promotion. Only a few, like Louis Pasteur, equated scientific work with France, using patriotic passion as the driving force for their research.

And now, under Jerome Bonaparte's impromptu speech, they have found the direction and purpose of their research. They are no longer lost.

Understanding the world and transforming it! What noble words!

As everyone in the laboratory was shocked by Jerome Bonaparte's words, he spoke again: "Mr. Louis Pasteur, will you still refuse now?"

Coming back to his senses, Louis Pasteur glanced at his colleagues around him. This was the first time in his life that he felt his nobility was actually a shallow satisfaction of personal conscience. He smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, on behalf of all the laboratory staff, I thank you for your generosity!"

"This is not charity!" Jerome Bonaparte corrected, "This is the nation's respect for scientific researchers like you!"

Jerome Bonaparte, with slightly dry lips, paused and swallowed a bit of saliva, then continued, "And your laboratory will receive more funding (Louis Pasteur wanted to say something, but Jerome Bonaparte raised his hand to stop him)... I understand your desire to save the country's expenses, but scientific research is such that the more you invest, the more return you get. I look forward to you creating more results in the laboratory that will benefit society!"

"I will not disappoint your expectations, Your Majesty!" Feeling the noble mission on his shoulders, Louis Pasteur said with enthusiasm, "Now, I earnestly request Your Majesty to dispatch a team of professional military doctors. My colleagues and I will teach them specific methods for preventing and treating cholera!"

"I will take immediate action upon returning to the Tuileries Palace!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and replied to Louis Pasteur.

Jerome Bonaparte then asked Louis Pasteur if a batch of female nurses should also participate in this endeavor.

"No... perhaps not necessary!" Louis Pasteur hesitated, "It might be inconvenient for the girls to come over..."

"But girls are more meticulous in caring for others than men!" Jerome Bonaparte responded to Louis Pasteur, "On the battlefield, there is no distinction between male and female!"

"Your Majesty, are you planning to send some female nurses to the battlefield?" Louis Pasteur couldn't help but ask, and from his words, Jerome Bonaparte sensed some resistance.

"Mr. Louis Pasteur, this is a symbol between nations! We must mobilize manpower and resources to complete the expedition against the Russian Empire, to wash away our shame!" Jerome Bonaparte firmly said to Louis Pasteur, "In my eyes, female citizens are the same as male citizens; they all have the obligation to serve their country! Are you saying that, in your view, women can't go to the battlefield and fight for France like men?"

"Alright!" Louis Pasteur responded to Jerome Bonaparte in shame, "I apologize for my narrow-mindedness! Please send a group of military doctors and nurses as soon as possible; it's not easy to fully learn everything!"

"Hmm!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded, and under the guidance of the staff, he left the laboratory.

Upon leaving the laboratory, Jerome Bonaparte gave another order to Bashirio, instructing him to put up slogans at every crossroad in the park saying, "The purpose of scientific research is to understand and transform the world," to remind the researchers within the park.

Bashirio felt a sincere admiration for Jerome Bonaparte's thoughts once again. He then assured Jerome Bonaparte that he would fully post the slogan at every location in the park.

After visiting the Northern Industrial Park, Jerome Bonaparte, accompanied by Bashirio, got on a carriage bound for the Tuileries Palace.

At this time, night had fallen, and everything around was dark and quiet, only the myriad stars in the sky and the clear moonlight guiding the windmill carriage back towards the Tuileries Palace.

...

As soon as Jerome Bonaparte returned to the Tuileries Palace, he immediately prepared to handle the matters entrusted by Louis Pasteur.

Just as Jerome Bonaparte reached the stairway, he heard the rumbling sound of wheels rolling over at the Tuileries Palace, he stopped and turned his head to glance behind him.

After a moment, two graceful figures appeared at the gate of the Tuileries Palace, it was Empress Augusta and her secretary Vilnius (currently most of Vilnius's work involves staying by the Empress's side).

One was wearing a black dress with a velvet headpiece, and the other was wearing a white dress, arm in arm like a pair of delicate and beautiful roses.

Jerome Bonaparte gazed at them absentmindedly.

"Your Majesty!" It wasn't until Augusta's shout brought Jerome Bonaparte back to the material world.

"Where have you returned from?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Augusta and Vilnius with a smile.

"Your Majesty, the Empress and I went to the Welfare Institute! The children there are really well-behaved and very cute! Their situation is so pitiful..." Vilnius, like a carefree little lark, chirped away about their trip to Jerome Bonaparte.

Vilnius and Augusta first went to the Charitable Hospital, then to the Welfare Hospital to visit the children, and finally organized a fundraising event at Mathilde's home.

The most important thing is that reporters were present throughout, and one can imagine that a virtuous Empress and an equally compassionate mistress (the Parisians have already accepted Vilnius as the Emperor's mistress) could significantly bolster the regime of the Second Empire.

After hearing Vilnius's introduction, Jerome Bonaparte nodded, and then instinctively gave Vilnius a glance.

It must be said, Vilnius seemed to exude a nurse-like aura after returning from the Charitable Hospital.

Jerome suddenly realized that he could create a French version of "Nightingale," and he eagerly asked, "Vilnius, what is your view on the position of a nurse?"