French Empire: But Napoleon IV

Chapter 19: Dremar, a fictional character based on Pierre, a commander in name only?

The French Gendarmerie in 1870, although part of the armed police force, also undertook some military defense responsibilities.

To a certain extent, the military police are just more fragmented in organization compared to the regular army, but they still possess certain capabilities.

However, most of the military police officers present were infantry, without the support of cavalry or artillery. This configuration meant that the military police could only focus on patrolling, security, and suppressing riots on a daily basis.

If they were to encounter the Prussian regular army, this gendarmerie would likely find it difficult to mount an effective resistance like the French army.

During this period, the Prussian army was superior not only in the use of artillery, but French soldiers were also better than Prussian soldiers in individual combat.

Because the French army currently operates under a standing army system, its troops are battle-hardened, and its commanders at all levels are highly experienced, having fought across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

France lost more due to command issues. Because France did not have regular army and division-level combat units, the large, hastily assembled troops were disorganized.

France had not formulated a thorough war plan beforehand, and the hastily drawn-up plan contained many errors. Not to mention, Prussia had advantages in numbers and artillery.

Pulling his jumbled thoughts back, Eugène recalled noticing the dagger at the gendarme's waist and the rifle on his shoulder when he looked around.

In terms of rifles, the military police, like the army, were equipped with the French army's most advanced Chassepot single-shot rifle, which had good performance and was even better than the Prussian Dreyse rifle in some aspects.

The waist-mounted sword is an improved version of the standard cavalry sword, which is probably more suitable for close-range parrying. Apart from that, only a few military police officers carry short-barreled pistols on their waists. Overall, the equipment is not particularly sophisticated, but it is not bad either.

At this point, Drema had also finished introducing the remaining two military police departments: the Logistics and Supply Department and the Interrogation Department.

Due to the serious corruption, when Euron visited the logistics department, he peered through the half-open door and observed the ammunition boxes and uniforms piled up inside.

Overall, the supplies for the Paris garrison gendarmes are not currently plentiful. The ammunition boxes piled up inside look half full, and the uniforms are mostly worn out, which clearly indicates that their daily logistical support is insufficient.

This is understandable, since the Empire's military budget is currently mostly allocated to the regular army on the front lines, leaving only a limited share for the military police.

From this perspective, Drema's ability to maintain order in Paris with limited resources is indeed quite remarkable.

In Eugène's view, the lack of supplies was actually beneficial to him, as it meant that the military police were not well-fed, and being underfed would make them more focused on tangible benefits.

The gendarmerie that Drema had built up with limited resources was destined to fail under his promise of pay raises. Although it was highly unethical, Drema had chosen the wrong side in his thinking, and Eugène would not allow such a disloyal armed force to remain in Paris.

After visiting the department, as they were walking back, the military police on duty along the way saw them approaching and stood up straight, shouting loudly to greet Eugène.

"Your Highness Napoleon!"

Eugene nodded first, then waited for a moment but received no further response. Surprisingly, no one greeted their soon-to-be-appointed boss.

Pierre was completely ignored by all the gendarmes who greeted him. Seeing this, Eugène glanced thoughtfully at Drema, who had a gentle smile on his face. Noticing the prince's gaze, Drema pretended to be angry and said a few words to the gendarmes.

"Your Highness, look at these military police. They're all very straightforward, only recognizing the royal family. They're somewhat unfamiliar with their new commander. I'll talk to them properly later. Hmm, what's wrong with you all? Don't you know this is Lieutenant Colonel Pierre?"

The feigned anger barely concealed his genuine smile. Eugène, who had given Drema's acting a poor review, looked away.

This Drema was simply trying to use the attitude of the military police to put pressure on him, to make him understand that he was the one in control of the military police.

Reaching out a hand to restrain Pierre, who was about to erupt, Eugène Napoleon nodded to Dreima and the gendarmes.

"It's nothing serious; it's good that the soldiers are loyal to France."

Drema was taken aback. Eugène's reaction was not what he expected. In Drema's mind, Eugène would at least say something sarcastic to him. What was going on?

Ignoring Drema and the others, Eugène glanced at a guardsman following nearby, gesturing for him to come closer. The soldier, receiving the prince's signal, quickly stepped forward.

"Your Highness."

After making the soldier bend down, Eugène turned to the side, made a circle with both hands, and covered his mouth and the other person's ears.

Eugene whispered a few instructions in a voice only the two of them could hear. Seeing the soldier's expression of sudden understanding, Eugene confirmed that he understood before letting him stand up.

The soldier, after rising, didn't linger. He bowed again and quickly left the headquarters. Drema, who witnessed this, maintained his smile, but he was clearly on guard, wanting to find out what the soldier was up to.

"Your Highness, what is this?"

"It's nothing, just instructing the soldiers to do a few minor tasks. It won't delay our tour. Colonel Dreima, please continue your explanation."

Somewhat uneasy, Drema saw that Eugène was unwilling to talk, so he could not ask any more questions. He could only suppress his anxiety and continue to lead the two forward.

As he strolled around, seeing that the soldier hadn't returned, Drema, having gradually calmed down, resumed his usual eloquent explanations of the details of each department.

Moreover, in his remarks, Drema deliberately emphasized his control over the military police.

Even Dremar, who was well-versed in the principles of Yin and Yang, would occasionally turn to Pierre and say something like, "I'll have to learn more from my brothers in the future," a kind of tactful remark that made the superior bow to the subordinate.

Reassured by Eugène, Pierre managed to suppress his anger. Throughout the vast headquarters, the gendarmes, with perfect unspoken agreement, saluted and called out to Eugène, completely ignoring Pierre.

Seeing that the soldiers carried out his orders so well, Drema's smile became even more "kind".

Perhaps seeing that Eugène hadn't responded, he even went so far as to deliberately have a gendarme report on his work. This gendarme looked only at himself the entire time, as if Pierre, the commander, didn't exist at all.

However, just as Drema was getting carried away and wanted the military police to tell His Highness what they had been doing all this time...

At the entrance to the command post at the end of the corridor, a series of light footsteps could be heard. Unlike the uniform marching of the military police, the sound was more chaotic.

Looking in the direction of the sound, Drema saw the guards who had been ordered to leave by Eugène earlier, now entering with four men in smart suits carrying heavy leather suitcases.