The Fox of France

"Could someone rule without anyone even realizing their presence? How's that possible?" Napoleon was taken aback. "In that case, how can they issue commands and govern a country?"

Joseph, with a knowing smile, responded, "Let's make a hypothetical scenario. Imagine if we replaced Lucien with Fouché and you with Barras. Could our family still exert influence over the politics of France?"

"Of course, the army is under my command, and you control the money and factories. Even though we might not be directly in the spotlight, we still have the capability to influence the overall political landscape of France," Napoleon contemplated before answering.

"In this scenario, in the eyes of the common people, we would effectively disappear. Many at the grassroots level might not even be aware of our existence, just like a hidden treasure," Joseph replied with a smile.

"But this approach could weaken our control over the government, making it susceptible to unforeseen circumstances," Napoleon raised an eyebrow.

Joseph smiled knowingly, understanding his younger brother's desire to bask in the adulation of the people and take center stage, which he wouldn't enjoy hidden in the shadows.

"Indeed, there are drawbacks to this method, but there's an advantage as well: public resentment won't be directed solely at us. The people, they're always insatiable. They toil and toil, and even when they finally get a crust of bread, they're content for a while. But it won't be long before they want more, like a full loaf of bread, then white bread, then bread with butter, and soon they'll ask for foie gras. And once we can't satisfy their demands, they'll turn to bitterness.

But this is human nature. In fact, we are just as demanding, even more so. So when they grow dissatisfied, we can simply replace the figurehead at the forefront or the acting leader, and the people will be content again, feeling that their votes have made a difference, even if their desires remain unfulfilled. At that point, the government on the stage serves as a pressure release valve, just like a safety valve on a steam engine.

Of course, our foundation is not yet stable, and we are all still present, especially since the people now admire you, Napoleon. So, for now, there's no need to hide in the background, as it would indeed reduce efficiency. We need efficiency during this rapid expansion phase. We can't afford any disruptions. And such rapid expansion itself will address many problems, making general resentment less likely. So, for now, we don't need to hide in the shadows.

But in anything we do, preparation is key to success. Without proper preparation, responding hastily when the time comes would be a recipe for failure. Even in times of rapid expansion, we must be ready for a strategic withdrawal."

"That's your style, Joseph," Napoleon couldn't resist interjecting.

"It's not about style; it's how things should be done," Joseph replied. "So, where was I?"

"You were talking about preparing in advance," Lucien reminded him.

"Good. I'll continue," Joseph said. "We need to prepare for how to control things from the shadows. For instance, government officials and lawmakers should come from elections. We need to find ways to increase the cost of elections, making it a game for the wealthy, even the super-rich.

We'll establish laws stating that political power cannot be inherited, to protect democracy. Yet, we'll also establish laws protecting private property as sacred, which means wealth can be inherited. Then, we'll find ways to allow wealth to control political power. The key to elections isn't the final vote but the initial rules. For instance, in the election for the First Consul, if the total number of voters falls below seventy percent of the citizen population, it's invalid. The interim government will maintain order until the next election with a sufficient turnout.

This makes the votes of French peasants crucial. Do you know what this implies, Napoleon?"

"It means candidates must appeal to the peasants," Napoleon hesitated before answering.

"You fool!" Lucien couldn't resist bursting out. "Napoleon, you really are a fool! It means the destitute won't even stand a chance to get votes. They can't possibly appeal to the peasants. Think about it – France is vast, and peasants are scattered. To campaign village by village, even just to make their name known, would require a significant effort. How can these paupers manage that?"

Evidently, Lucien relished the opportunity to mock Napoleon openly.

Napoleon glared at Lucien but eventually decided not to engage in an argument with the conniving man. What Lucien had said was, surprisingly, something he hadn't considered before, and it made sense.

"Lucien, you've honed your skills in the parliament and the Ministry of Truth, where top-tier lying is essential. You've made quite the progress!" Napoleon sincerely praised at last.

"Napoleon, the organization you've set up for retired soldiers is a fantastic one. We can use it to extend our reach into the countryside. If we raise the level of elections in rural areas, perhaps even introduce smaller constituencies for the lowest tiers, where each village forms a constituency, it would dilute the impact of political opinions on election results. People who hold influence in the villages will almost certainly secure the entire village's votes. Your veterans' organization could perfectly control the grassroots votes, ensuring they vote for whomever we desire."

"You're right; even if we wanted a donkey to run for First Consul, we could make it a successful candidate," Lucien seized the opportunity to mock Napoleon once more.

"Heh," Napoleon chuckled. At the same time, he was already plotting to find a way to get rid of Joseph and give Lucien a piece of his mind.

"Lucien, be mindful of your words," Joseph finally spoke up.

Lucien fell silent.

"Right now, we may not need such tactics. But, Napoleon, you must pay attention to the development of such an organization," Joseph continued.

"I know," Napoleon responded succinctly.

"Furthermore, are the funds for the veterans' organization currently allocated directly from the national military budget?" Joseph inquired. "It's not ideal, Napoleon. It's best not to have the state provide this money. Instead, let our 'military-industrial complex' handle it. Transform it into a 'civilian organization.' In the long term, whoever controls an organization's finances holds sway over that organization. This way, our descendants won't be commanding the army, and you won't retain that level of influence in the military. The soldiers may not even know your name, but you can still use this system to control rural votes."

"But if we fund it ourselves, it will be a substantial expense," Napoleon remarked, contemplating whether it was time to display his expertise and find a generous benefactor.

"This is a simple matter. You can encourage charitable acts through legislation and offer tax incentives for corporate donations. Isn't that enough?" Joseph replied dismissively.

"Oh, there are such methods too? Shameful, I can't believe I didn't think of that!" Napoleon started to doubt his own mental acuity today.

"Lucien, we've invested so much in propaganda, controlling numerous newspapers," Joseph turned to Lucien. "This is essential to ensure that the next generation can maintain a firm grip on power behind the scenes. You need to figure out how to outcompete other newspapers. Do you know how to do that?"

"I do," Lucien responded. "Just find some excuses to shut them down, right? Simple!"

"Foolish! Why be so crude?" Joseph shook his head. "First of all, our newspapers have an inherent advantage in terms of news reporting. Use your resources to make sure our rivals keep producing real deviations in their news coverage. Instead of shutting them down, don't be so blunt. Lower their credibility. On the other hand, our newspapers can help our businesses advertise and even accept ads from other companies. This is the real source of revenue for newspapers. With this, we can sell our newspapers at a much lower price than the production cost and still make a profit. Our newspapers will have larger layouts, more reliable content, deeper reporting, sharper news, and a lower price. With this in place, why resort to crude and potentially damaging actions? If you do that, you'd be foolish!"

"I understand," Lucien nodded.

"This is indeed a clever scheme. Sigh..." Napoleon sighed. "I have to admit, Joseph, your approach benefits our family more than mine. Unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately what?" Joseph asked. "I never said you couldn't be Emperor."