On June 15th, 1800, Napoleon and his army marched wearily back to Milan. As they approached the city gate, the scene was all too familiar. The locals lined up the streets, their faces filled with hope and excitement, waving their hands and cheering for the French troops.
The weariness on the soldiers' faces began to fade as they soaked in the warmth of the reception. For many of them, it was a reminder of why they fought so fiercely – not just for their country but also for the people they liberated from foreign rule.
As Napoleon rode through the streets on his horse, he waved his hand back to the people. Some people tried to reach him but his elite guards quickly formed a protective barrier, ensuring that the enthusiastic crowd didn't get too close to their First Consul.
Amidst the cheering crowd, Napoleon noticed a little girl, no older than seven, with wide, hopeful eyes and a beaming smile. She held a bouquet of wildflowers in her tiny hands, trying desperately to catch a glimpse of the man she had only heard about in stories. Her determination to get closer to Napoleon was evident as she pushed through the crowd, but the stern guards stood firm, blocking her path.
Napoleon's gaze locked onto the girl, and a tender smile graced his lips. He raised his hand, signaling his elite guards to stand down and let her through. As the guards hesitated, unsure of what to do, Napoleon spoke firmly, "Let her come."
With a nod from their leader, the guards parted, allowing the little girl to approach Napoleon's horse. Her eyes widened even more as she stood just a few steps away from the man who had become a legend in her young mind.
"What is your name, little one?" Napoleon asked kindly, his voice carrying a sense of warmth that contrasted with his usual commanding tone.
"Teresa," she replied with a mix of excitement and shyness.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Teresa," Napoleon said as he dismounted his horse, leaning down to be at eye level with her. "Are these flowers for me?"
Teresa nodded enthusiastically and held out the bouquet. "Yes, First Consul! They are for you! Thank you for saving our city again!"
A tender expression crossed Napoleon's face as he accepted the flowers.
"Thank you, Teresa. Your gift means a great deal to me."
He then returned to his horse, mounting it, and continued the procession towards the Palazzo Marino.
As Napoleon entered the Palazzo Marino, the meeting with his General Staff began. They discussed at length the re-establishment of the Cisalpine Republic, the governance of the territories they had reclaimed, and plans for the future.
In order to not let his conquered states be retaken by the enemy, Napoleon would deploy a strategic plan to consolidate his gains and strengthen the newly reestablished Cisalpine Republic. He knew that a well-organized governance system was essential to maintain stability and win the trust of the people.
During the meeting with his General Staff, they discussed the appointment of capable administrators, which would be the Extraordinary Commission of Government composed of nine members and a legislative Consulta. What is a legislative Consulta? Well, it's a representative body comprising elected representatives from various regions of the Cisalpine Republic. The Consulta would be responsible for deliberating and proposing laws
"These are the list for the nine members, Your Excellency," Berthier said, handing him the paper containing the list of names.
"And they are pro-French and Republican, am I right?" Napoleon asked, glancing over the list.
Berthier nodded. "Yes, Your Excellency. Their records are clean, they are anti-royalists, harbor strong sentiments against the Austrians, and are intellectuals who sought radical reforms."
"Good," Napoleon mused. "Okay, the next order of business would be the repealing of all the acts issued during the Austrian occupation."
Napoleon grabbed a stack of documents where he had read one of the acts that the Austrians issued. One of which is heavy taxation on the populace, which had burdened the people of the Cisalpine Republic for almost three years. Not only that, there is also an act that the Austrians banned revolutionary literature and newspapers.
"Looks like when the Austrians had retaken Milan, they had enacted their revenge on them," Napoleon commented. "To make sure that this won't happen again, I will put up a force of fifteen thousand, made of local conscripts and our French troops, to act as a security force for the Cisalpine Republic."
His General Staff nodded at his decision. Napoleon walked over to the window and peered down below it. The streets were lively, as the people walking by were smiling and engaging in animated conversations. It must have been a stark contrast during the Austrian occupation when fear and oppression filled these very streets.
As he observed the Italian citizen, an idea popped up in his mind. He envisioned a united Italy, from Northern Italy to Naples and Sicily. It would be under French control, yes, but a united Italy nonetheless. But he knew it was not going to be a walk in the park. As the Kingdom of Naples was hostile towards the French Republic.
"Once we are finished organizing the Cisalpine Republic, we will then focus on re-establishing the Piedmontese Republic into the Subalpine Republic, employing the same measures that we did here in Cisalpine," Napoleon said, his eyes still gazing out of the window.
As his eyes wandered around, he noticed that something was missing, one that would signal the French return to Northern Italy.
"When we were heading back here, I noticed that our flag was not hoisted," Napoleon realized that the French tricolor flag was not flying above the Palazzo Marino, the seat of the Cisalpine Republic. It was a symbolic representation of French authority and the reestablishment of the republic.
He turned to his General Staff and issued an immediate order, "Raise the French tricolor flag over the Palazzo Marino. And have all our forces to be present for a flag-raising ceremony."
The General staff quickly carried out his command, and soon later, the French forces began to form an orderly line in front of the Palazzo Marino, capturing the attention of the locals nearby.
Trumpets sounded, announcing the beginning of the flag-raising ceremony. The national anthem of France, La Marseillaise, swelled through the air, and every soldier stood tall and proud as they saluted the tricolor flag that slowly ascended the flagpole.
Napoleon watched from a distance, satisfied at the sight. For the next five days, he would busy himself reestablishing republics such as the Subalpine Republic, essentially encompassing Piedmont, and transforming the Roman Republic into the Papal States, effectively consolidating his power in Northern Italy.
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