He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 54

(53) Carriere Retaliates with the Nantes Massacres

Miracles occasionally happen in history.

“Save me! I support the revolution! My family isn’t Royalist!”

East of the Vendée lies the city of Angers [a city in western France].

In the Middle Ages, it was the territory of the famous Count of Anjou and the origin of the Plantagenet dynasty.

However, it is now just a small, declining city with a population of about 30,000.

It was also a place where refugees fled to escape the chaos of the Vendée rebellion.

But in January 1794, when the Vendée civil war ended, it became the target of military operations.

Why?

Because the defeated soldiers who fled the civil war scattered to eastern Vendée.

In the meantime, a young woman was surrounded by soldiers of the suppression army.

The woman, ‘Angelique,’ shielded her mother and younger sibling as if protecting them.

She had survived the civil war, but unfortunately, while living as a refugee in the Angers area, she was caught by soldiers.

The Revolutionary Army soldiers in blue uniforms grinned at Angelique, baring their teeth.

“Hehehe! Okay, I believe you’re not a Royalist. So, take it off!”

“Wh-what are you saying?”

“Did you think we’d just let you live? Or should we just kill your sibling and mother too?”

Just as one of the soldiers was about to poke Angelique with his gun,

-Thud!

Someone kicked the soldier from behind and shouted.

“Why is the military discipline so messed up? If you’re horny, get a girlfriend, or if you can’t, visit a brothel!”

The enraged soldier tried to turn his gun around but was startled and saluted.

It wasn’t just a private, but a non-commissioned officer.

More than that, he wasn’t alone but with at least a squad of soldiers.

Moreover, these soldiers’ uniforms were black, meaning they were from the Marseille Postal Special Regiment.

As the Revolutionary Army soldiers hurriedly left, Angelique bowed her head to the non-commissioned officer.

“Th-thank you, sir.”

“Hey, Mademoiselle. Don’t stay in a place like this, go to Nantes, or leave the Vendée altogether.”

“Na-Nantes?”

The non-commissioned officer, Jacquot Helie, clicked his tongue and said.

“Yeah. They’re currently handling the aftermath of the civil war there. They say they’re giving out jobs too. Tsk, how did the peaceful Vendée become like this!”

Originally from the Vendée, Helie is unfamiliar with this sight.

Before the revolution, it was a rural area with kind-hearted people, so it’s only natural.

But now, perhaps, this kind of looting, rape, and humiliation is commonplace.

At that time, Sergeant Gomis, who was whistling next to Helie, tilted his head.

“Hey, wait a minute. That face looks familiar?”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, there’s that one-page pamphlet, right? There was a portrait of a woman on it?”

Startled, Angelique stepped back and cried out.

“I-I haven’t committed any crime!”

But at the same time, Angelique’s gaze was directed at the pistol Gomis had on his waist.

If she could snatch that pistol, wouldn’t she be able to threaten them?

She had to get out of here somehow and save her family.

The reason Angelique had survived with her family in the chaos of the Vendée until now was that she had never given up on survival.

Then Gomis smirked and said.

“Whoa, whoa, guns are dangerous. Seeing you look at the gun first in this situation, it seems right. As expected of Marceau’s regimental commander’s lover.”

“Excuse me?”

“François Séverin Marceau. Moreaux?”

At that moment, Angelique was surprised and asked back.

“Do you know Séverin?”

She had heard that Séverin Marceau had become a soldier.

Still, she didn’t even expect it because he should be far away in Marseille.

She had only slightly hoped that if she went to Paris, she could rely on Marceau’s family.

She had thought that would be after the civil war ended.

But soldiers who knew Marceau had appeared before her eyes.

Of course, from Gomis and Helie’s perspective, the real target had appeared.

“We know him. We came all the way here from Marseille because of you, miss.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hey, send a messenger, no, a postman to headquarters!”

Sergeant Helie shouted excitedly.

“Operation successful, Angelique is safe!”

Angelique tried to step back in surprise, but Helie and Gomis laughed gleefully.

Three months had passed since Marceau first received the letter in September.

In the meantime, it was good to save people, but Angelique, who was the purpose of the operation, had not been found.

Gomis winked to reassure her.

“Don’t worry, miss. Now, you don’t have to run away anymore. The Knight of the Vendée, Marceau, has come.”

Finally, the ‘operation’ was successful.

Of course, that didn’t guarantee that Angelique was still safe.

***

Massacres are not always carried out by the victors.

Rather, massacres are often committed by the defeated in despair.

Because the victors have a future, but the defeated do not.

Also, there are often losers among the winners.

For example, the National Convention’s representative, Carriere, who had completely lost control.

“We have to move first. That’s the only way!”

Carriere was vehemently arguing to Major General Westermann.

Until now, Carriere and Westermann had both been working to end the Vendée civil war.

Although the means were massacres, their goal was to lead the war to victory.

But suddenly, Napoleon appeared and ruined everything.

So, they should join forces to overcome this crisis.

That was Carriere’s argument.

But Westermann frowned and looked around.

“Don’t treat me the same. I’m not a massacre leader, nor am I the final responsible party, am I?”

“What nonsense! Major General Westermann, you were there when the massacre happened. Besides, who is your backer in Paris? Danton?”

“Wh-who says that? What does Danton have to do with me?”

Just as he was trying to deny it, Carriere gritted his teeth and pressed him.

“This is not the time to deceive! If the rumor that you are Danton’s close aide is true, that’s even more dangerous. Robespierre is perfect to put the responsibility for the massacre on you!”

Only then did Westermann feel a cold sweat running down his spine.

No matter how desperate the person is, Carriere’s words are not wrong.

Someone has to take responsibility for the massacre.

Because the replacement of the commander itself is the result of accepting the argument that the massacre is a problem.

Paris has no intention of just covering it up.

Besides, if the Vendée had not been suppressed, it would have been different.

Kleber, who had been granted limited full power, had somehow ended the Vendée war.

Especially through the help of Napoleon, who was rumored to be connected to Robespierre.

In the end, the initiative to decide the Vendée issue will also pass to Robespierre.

But what is Robespierre’s way of deciding?

The guillotine.

“Damn it. So, what are you going to do?”

Suddenly, Carriere narrowed his brows, looking outside the Nantes City Hall.

“We have to start another rebellion with a massacre.”

“What did you say?”

“These Royalist prisoners in Nantes, they all believe they can live and surrendered. Moreover, they are the leadership. What will happen if we kill them here?”

Carriere’s eyes flashed as he looked at the prison far outside the city hall.

“Of course, the rebels scattered throughout the Vendée will be angry and re-revolt. Then, there will be no responsibility for the massacre or anything!”

At that moment, Westermann was speechless and opened his mouth wide.

But still, Carriere’s idea is desperate, but it’s not wrong.

The Royalists captured in Nantes are all leading forces of the rebels, and they surrendered to Eugene’s persuasion that they could live.

The scattered rebel soldiers have also given up the rebellion, believing in Eugene’s persuasion.

But everyone is massacred here?

Of course, they will rebel again.

Carriere smiled with satisfaction at the dumbfounded Westermann.

“Here, there’s another good ingredient.”

“What is it?”

“Bonaparte and that damn gambling prodigy’s adjutant, Major Marceau. His fiancée is coming to Nantes now.”

Westermann frowned.

“Are you going to threaten him with a hostage?”

But Carriere shook his head vigorously.

“No, that’s not it. Do you know where that fiancée’s hometown is? Cholet. The Royalist stronghold!”

Only then did Westermann understand Carriere’s words.

If she’s from the Royalist’s hometown, she can be framed as a Royalist.

But the officer who has that Royalist fiancée is Napoleon’s subordinate?

Westermann nodded heavily.

“Good ingredient. Certainly.”

In the end, Westermann succumbed to Carriere’s proposal.

To start another massacre in Nantes.

***

At that moment, Eugene was making a strange proposal to Kleber.

“So, you’re saying we should make ‘Cartouche en Papier’ [paper cartridges] ? In this prison?”

Originally, in the original history, Angelique is rescued by Marceau and then dies when the Vendée massacre recurs.

Therefore, one of the tasks of the Angelique rescue operation is to stop the chain of massacres.

It is a plan that must be completed before taking the Royalists to Paris.

Then, how can Eugene prevent the massacre from happening even after he leaves the Vendée?

The answer is in a simple place.

Make the Royalist prisoners useful.

Eugene handed over the plan and explained it to the Vendée commander, Kleber.

“That’s right. We should use the prisoners to produce bullets. It will help manage the prisoners and supply ammunition to the Vendée garrison.”

“Hmm, paper cartridges are easy to carry. They were useful in this war too.”

“This is a way to kill two birds with one stone. We can secure the ammunition we’ve consumed, and we can use the prisoners.”

Cartouche en Papier, paper cartridge in English.

That is, [paper cartridge].

At the end of the 18th century, when bullets were not yet made of integrated metal cartridges, bullets were metal spheres.

Therefore, to fire a gun, gunpowder must be put in with the bullet, and then a flint must be flicked to create a spark.

In this process, if the gunpowder and bullet are separate, the speed is too slow.

So, wrapping the gunpowder and bullet in paper and carrying them together is the paper cartridge.

In actual shooting, this paper is torn off and the gunpowder and bullet are loaded separately in a muzzle-loading manner.

Later, in the original history, the Minié ball, that is, a cone-shaped bullet with integrated gunpowder and bullet, is created and discarded on the battlefield.

But it’s something that comes out in the 1830s, and the basic technology is still lacking.

Therefore, Eugene is thinking of a way to build a factory in the prison that makes paper cartridges.

It is a long tradition to make prisoners do labor.

But what if that labor is useful to the Revolutionary Army?

It will be impossible to kill them easily.

Realizing Eugene’s intention and nodding, Kleber licked his lips.

“Isn’t there a risk of smuggling bullets?”

It is a concern that the rebels naturally have.

But the Royalist rebels have already lost their will to revolt.

Eugene shook his head and pointed that out.

“Commander, do you think they can revolt again? Besides, the prison guards must monitor the amount of gunpowder and bullets.”

“Well, bullets are useless without a gun. Still, Carriere seems like he’s going to make a fuss.”

“He won’t have time for that.”

Suddenly, Eugene’s eyes flashed coldly.

“Because we have to go to Paris now.”

The people Eugene is trying to take to Paris are not just Royalists.

Rather, he intends to take the people responsible for the massacre in the Vendée with him.

Councilor Carriere must be at the forefront.

On the contrary, Kleber tilted his head, not knowing what he was talking about.

“Go to Paris? Carriere? Why?”

At that time, Napoleon entered the headquarters.

“The boy genius is right. Commander Kleber. We are going to Paris. With Carriere.”

“What do you mean, General Bonaparte? Of course, your post is not here, so you have to go to Paris to receive your next orders.”

“I sent a request to the Committee of Public Safety to hold a trial in Paris for 10 key rebel leaders.”

Napoleon smiled as he looked at Kleber, who had his mouth open.

“Carriere must take them as the person in charge. We will be the unit escorting them.”

It’s truly lightning speed.

In fact, Napoleon always emphasizes speed even in the original history.

He has never missed the maxim that haste is better than caution.

It is a decision that Kleber, a general who is extremely cautious, cannot imagine.

Kleber staggered as if he was dizzy and asked.

“What about the rest of the prisoners? What are you going to do?”

“Once the leaders are punished, then a decision on their disposal will be made.”

“It’s a dangerous thing. Why are you trying to handle this? General Bonaparte?”

He passes all responsibility to Paris.

Kleber hadn’t thought about it either.

But saving the people responsible for this Vendée civil war is too dangerous.

There is no guarantee that they will be saved by being tried in Paris, but there is something more dangerous.

Intervening in the Royalist issue itself is a concern that it will be disliked by the powerful people in Paris.

But Napoleon twisted his lips and replied.

“Danger, danger! Of course, I have no intention of risking my life for those rebels. But, if 3,000 lives are at stake? Can’t we take the risk?”

“General, that’s!”

“Commander, we are soldiers anyway. The most dangerous thing for a soldier is when fighting on the battlefield. Haven’t we all experienced it already?”

Kleber, who was standing blankly at Napoleon’s decisive appearance, sighed.

“You are different from a mere self-preservationist like me. The hero of Toulon.”

Napoleon smirked and replied.

“The victor of the Vendée is saying strange things. Self-preservationists cannot win in this quagmire.”

“No, I just received help from the general’s adjutant here. If I can, I want to fight side by side with the general on the battlefield someday.”

“That’s an honor. Okay, if I am given command, I will serve the general whenever it is.”

Suddenly, Kleber grabbed Napoleon’s hand and nodded.

“You promised, General Bonaparte.”

Eugene felt a slight ‘irony’ looking at the scene.

In fact, in the original history, Napoleon really calls Kleber under his command.

It is the time of the Egyptian expedition.

At that time, Napoleon won the land battle in Egypt, but lost the naval battle and became trapped in Egypt.

What did Napoleon do then?

He left the aftermath to Kleber and fled to France.

Kleber, who was left alone, cursed Napoleon with all sorts of swear words and somehow endured it, but was assassinated.

Now they shook hands because they won.

Can it be like that in the future?

Eugene reaffirmed his determination to avoid at least the situation in the original history.

-Thud!

Suddenly opening the door, the deputy commander, Division Commander Lequille, rushed in.

“It’s a disaster, Commander! Carriere is forcibly dragging out the prisoners now!”

“What? Who ordered it? I, the commander, have never allowed it!”

“It’s General Westermann! He mobilized the army, saying he was carrying out Carriere’s orders!”

Lequille shouted with a horrified face.

“They are trying to throw everyone into the Loire River now!”

In the end, Carriere moved first.

“We have to stop them!”

At the moment Eugene was about to run out, Napoleon grabbed him.

Is he trying to stop him?

This time, no matter how much Napoleon stopped him, Eugene had no intention of stopping.

But Napoleon stared at Eugene and his eyes flashed.

“This is ignoring me. Let’s go.”

Napoleon decided to stop the Vendée massacre.