He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 68

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 67 (68/547)

(67) Napoleon Counterattacks the Paris Coup

Napoleon knows.

It was a skill honed from when Napoleon entered military school as a child.

The young cadets ignored Napoleon, the Corsican bumpkin.

Then one day, a snowball fight broke out at the military school.

At the time, Napoleon’s side was clearly losing.

But strangely, Napoleon could see a solution.

A way to defeat the enemy.

First, he divided the group into two:

A group for gathering snow and a group for throwing.

Next, he isolated the rushing enemies and drew them into the throwing group’s encirclement.

Finally, he unleashed a barrage of snowballs, like a coordinated strike.

Napoleon’s snowball fight team won, and after that, no one called Napoleon a Corsican bumpkin again.

There’s something he realized then.

Any enemy can be defeated by targeting and exploiting their weaknesses.

It’s the same when fighting any enemy, or facing any challenge.

The issue that Danton brought up now will be no different.

In a secluded room on the third floor of the Beauharnais mansion, Danton presses, his eyes bloodshot.

“Give me an answer, General.”

Standing tall, Napoleon looked down at Danton, who was sitting on the sofa, and replied.

“It’s risky for you to come so openly. I thought Deputy Salicetti said he would bring the answer soon.”

“I know, but there’s no time!”

“What time? You ruined my engagement announcement today, so it’s only a matter of time before the rumors spread in Paris.”

Napoleon sneered and scoffed at Danton.

Three days ago, Salicetti came to the Café Beauharnais where Napoleon was staying late at night.

It was the day that Eugene, the owner, was late due to the gunpowder factory issue.

The contents of the secret letter he received at that time were simple.

Mara and Hébert are starting a revolt.

So please help.

Napoleon has not yet given an answer to the secret letter he received.

In the end, Danton, unable to bear the suspense, stormed into the salon.

It wasn’t a secret place or event, but a salon widely known in Paris.

Eventually, it’s only a matter of time before the information spreads.

But in this case, doesn’t Napoleon have an easier option?

That’s to arrest Danton.

Danton was taken aback by Napoleon’s cold gaze and shouted.

“A revolt will happen soon, or my head will be on the chopping block!”

At those words, Lieutenant Junot, who was standing guard on the opposite side of the room, was surprised and asked.

“A revolt, what does that mean? Deputy Danton? No, Commander. Did you hear anything in advance?”

So far, only four people knew about Danton’s secret letter.

Napoleon, Salicetti, Desglantine, and Danton.

So even his closest aide, Junot, didn’t know.

Napoleon clicked his tongue at the bewildered Junot and urged.

“Junot, calm down. Aren’t you embarrassing yourself in front of Lieutenant Eugene, who is younger than you?”

Then Junot grabbed Eugene and asked.

“Hey, did you hear anything?”

“No. I’ve been busy developing a new detonator.”

“Then what about Lieutenant Colonel Marceau? Did you hear anything?”

Then Marceau shook his head and replied.

“I haven’t heard anything from General Bonaparte. However, there is intelligence that the representatives of each commune [local administrative district] in Paris are frequently meeting Hébert. Is that the problem?”

The citizens’ autonomous group in Paris, the commune.

An autonomous organization where armed citizens, the sans-culottes [common people of the lower classes in 18th century France, often associated with the French Revolution], gather and hold meetings.

Hébert has now taken control of this autonomous organization, and Mara is the one most respected by most of the sans-culottes.

Danton was impressed by Marceau’s words that he had grasped their suspicious movements.

“Huh, the security forces’ information is amazing. To track it down to that extent, without any clues!”

“Can you tell us what’s going on? Deputy Danton.”

“There’s no need to be difficult after coming this far. Commander Bonaparte, are these all your close aides?”

Napoleon stood by the window, only turning his head and confirming.

“That’s right. They are all my closest aides. Monsieur Danton.”

Marceau, Junot, Duroc, Marmont, and Deputy Salicetti.

And even Eugene, who has been biting his lip as if he noticed something since earlier.

It is Napoleon’s inner circle, a group that everyone can share secrets with.

Soon, a team that it is not an exaggeration to call the “Napoleon Club”.

Everyone had a proud look on their faces for a moment at Napoleon’s words, but then became tense again.

Rebellion and security forces, either way, it is a situation with a strong “smell of blood”.

Then Danton opened his mouth.

“Okay. To put it simply, Mara and Hébert are joining hands and planning a revolt in Paris.”

“Wait a minute. A revolt? Hébert is one thing, but why Deputy Mara? Isn’t he one of the three giants of the Public Safety Committee, the highest authority?”

“Oh, Lieutenant Colonel Marceau, was it? You don’t know anything.”

Danton smiled, revealing his teeth as he looked at Senior Lieutenant Marceau.

“Me and Mara, we’ll both have our heads cut off if Robespierre wants. But, both of our military appointees caused accidents. You heard about Rossignol’s head being cut off, right?”

Rossignol was recommended by Mara, and Dumouriez, who defected, was recommended by Danton.

In Mara’s case, the situation is particularly serious.

Even Carrier, the deputy involved in the Vendée rebellion, was actually part of the Mara faction.

In the end, after the military purge is over, who will Robespierre’s sword be aimed at?

The Paris security forces are already in the hands of Napoleon, who was selected by Robespierre’s younger brother.

Indeed, Mara feels the guillotine tightening around him every moment.

“Mara is thinking of overturning this situation with a civil uprising. By mobilizing force.”

Then Eugene blurted out.

“In short, a coup d’état [a sudden seizure of power from a government]. A plan to seize power by force.”

Coup d’état, a French word for armed rebellion.

Originally, this word actually originated from Napoleon’s actions in history.

However, Eugene is accusing Mara of this, who is mobilizing armed citizens.

A conspiracy to overthrow the government through unjust force.

Mara will put the will of the citizens first, but if the charge of coup d’état is placed on him, this justification will disappear.

Danton, who noticed this, whistled and nodded.

“If you have to put it that way, that’s right. Boy wonder? Colonel Eugene de Beauharnais. The unluckiest man of today, also the son of Alexandre.”

“I don’t know who will be unlucky until today’s meeting is over. Why do you know this, Deputy? Are you perhaps an accomplice?”

“That’s right. To be exact, I was threatened by those guys. They know about my corruption.”

At Eugene’s questioning, Danton replied very lightly and glared at Napoleon again.

“Well, I’ve told you everything. What are you going to do? Are you going to help, or not?”

Whether he sides with Mara or goes to Robespierre, Danton will eventually die.

So he had no choice but to run to Napoleon, taking the risk.

On the other hand, the Security Command has no reason to move according to Danton’s intentions.

Marceau briefly reviewed the situation and approached Napoleon to report.

“If it’s just a coup, we can stop it. Commander.”

“How?”

“Report this fact to the Public Safety Committee, label Mara and Hébert as traitors, and then suppress them. And Deputy Danton here will be safe as an informant.”

Marceau’s measure is literally textbook.

The Security Command is originally a corps to maintain the security and order of Paris.

So, the order is to report to the Public Safety Committee, the highest authority of the government, and then suppress the rebellion.

However, Napoleon was still standing by the window, shaking his head.

Suddenly, instead of Napoleon, Salicetti answered with a sneer.

“That’s the right thing to say, Monsieur Marceau. But you can’t do that. Because our esteemed Monsieur Robespierre is aiming for Deputy Danton.”

Marceau frowned.

“What does that mean, Deputy Salicetti?”

“It’s as it sounds. A purge. Just like in the military, he’s trying to purge the Public Safety Committee. Well, it was a mistake to receive bribes from the East India Company.”

“Yes? No, if it’s the East India Company, it’s a company that’s about to go bankrupt?”

Marceau was once the vice president of Banque Beauharnais.

He knows enough about the fact that the French East India Company is about to go bankrupt just from the information of Banque Beauharnais.

Conversely, Danton, who became a fool for taking money from a dying company, smiled bitterly.

“Well, I was a little short on money. I was starting a new family.”

Then Duroc asked.

“When is the day of the revolt, Monsieur Danton.”

Danton pouted as if asking if he was only asking that now.

“Well, I’m always confused by that damn revolutionary calendar [calendar created and used during the French Revolution]. I think it’s Sans-culottides [the last five or six days of the year in the French Republican Calendar].”

The revolutionary calendar is a calendar unique to the revolutionary period established by Robespierre.

Each year begins on September 22, the day the new constitution was born, and each month is named after a symbolic month.

For example, Grape Month, Snow Month, or Flower Month.

A week is 10 days instead of 7 days, and each month is 30 days.

This leaves the last 5 days.

That is Sans-culottides, a holiday week for the people who are the driving force of the revolution.

Dedication Day, Talent Day, Labor Day, Opinion Day, Reward Day.

And September 22, the day the new year begins, Revolution Day.

Duroc, Junot, and Marmont hurriedly exchanged opinions.

“Then it’s September 17th to 21st in the old calendar.”

“What, today is September 12th, so there’s not much time left? 5 days?”

“No, it could be sooner. Deputy Danton visited us today. Mara, who often stays home due to skin disease, is one thing, but Hébert is actively running around. He’ll hear the rumors.”

Danton shrugged shamelessly, looking at Napoleon’s lieutenants who were looking at him reproachfully.

“Oh, don’t I have to live too? Huh?”

In the end, the most likely thing is that the revolt will happen immediately.

Perhaps messengers are already running to each Paris commune.

To start an armed revolt before the security forces move.

No, it’s almost certain that will happen.

That’s when it happened.

“Boy wonder.”

Napoleon asked Eugene without turning around.

“Will Robespierre let us live?”

Junot blinked and tilted his head.

“What do you mean, General? No, why Robespierre all of a sudden.”

“Shh, Junot. Be quiet.”

“What, am I the only one who doesn’t know? Marmont, what are you talking about?”

Just as Junot was about to turn his gaze, bewildered, Eugene replied with a stiff face.

“It’s simple, Junot. Now that the information has been obtained, it’s easy to suppress Mara. The problem is after that. Someone has to take responsibility for the civilian massacre.”

“What? No, suppressing the revolt is the security forces’ job!”

“That’s what happened in Vendée. But whose head flew off?”

Only then did Junot open his mouth wide.

Marceau, Duroc, Salicetti, and Marmont all seemed to know and had heavy faces.

They realized the truth from the moment Napoleon spoke.

That if they suppress the rebellion in the textbook way, they will be held responsible for the civilian massacre.

Eugene got up and told Napoleon.

“In the end, Robespierre will hold you accountable, General Napoleon.”

Usually, Eugene made decisions very quickly.

Because he knew history, was good at gambling, and had the Silver Letter [a metaphor for his ability to foresee events] notification.

But now Eugene has not yet made a decision.

It’s not that there is no notification.

But he couldn’t make up his mind to make a decision in this place.

Because it is difficult to avoid blood no matter which side you choose.

At that moment, Napoleon opened his mouth.

“I can see the weak parts of the world.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t know how to express it. But I always just see it. The opponent’s weakness, the weakness of the situation, the weakness of the power. All of that.”

Napoleon’s unexpected words.

Eugene’s eyes widened.

Because he felt like he knew what he was talking about.

So, like Eugene’s Silver Letter, Napoleon just sees other people’s weaknesses.

It doesn’t mean he has supernatural powers.

A genius.

A talent given by heaven.

A person who was born with open eyes.

It is one of the qualities of a hero.

Napoleon shrugged, not noticing Eugene’s shock.

“Usually, it’s easy to think that Mara, who will only mobilize armed citizens, has a weakness, or that Deputy Danton here has a weakness. But strangely, in my eyes, another person seems to be the weakest.”

At that moment, Napoleon turned his body for the first time.

“Robespierre, whose support from the grassroots citizens is wavering.”

Eugene was overwhelmed by Napoleon’s eyes and couldn’t move.

When Napoleon was appointed as the commander of the Paris security forces, he thought that this day might come someday.

Even in history, Napoleon was in charge of the security forces in Paris and suppressed the rebellion.

But Eugene didn’t even know that he would face such a upheaval.

Isn’t this the moment when history will be completely changed?

Suddenly, Danton jumped up and shouted.

“General, then!”

“But it’s a little weak for me to move just trusting you, Monsieur Danton. That’s why I didn’t send a reply.”

“Wait a minute. I’m also one of the three giants of the Public Safety Committee!”

That’s when it happened.

“Then, how about this Lafayette? General?”

The door opened, and a man was standing outside the room.

A young former general and current member of the National Convention in his mid-30s.

A powerful figure who is still the leader of the opposition in the French National Convention.

The hero of Valmy, Lafayette, stared at the hero of Vendée, Napoleon, and said.

“If the General really decides, our Feuillant Club [a political group during the French Revolution that supported a constitutional monarchy] will help the General.”

Suddenly, the door on the opposite side of the room also opened.

That place is a very private place.

A place that only Napoleon could enter when he visited this mansion and spent the night.

It is a place that only two of the people gathered here can visit.

His lover Napoleon and his son Eugene.

A woman entered, looking at the two men.

It’s Josephine.

-Click.

Josephine tilted her head, holding a rapier in both hands.

“Well, I don’t know much about this. But, I was the daughter-in-law of a military aristocratic family, right? My son is also a soldier.”

In an instant, Eugene’s eyes widened.

That sword is the famous sword of the Beauharnais family.

In fact, it was the very sword that Lafayette gave to Alexandre as a gift.

It seems that Josephine brought it as alimony at the time of the divorce.

Just as he was about to look at the sword with complicated feelings, Josephine smiled and handed the rapier to Napoleon.

“It is said that it is customary to bring weapons when sending off the head of the family to the battlefield. Is that right?”

The battlefield, soon Paris, where Security Commander Napoleon must run out.

Napoleon took the sword that Josephine handed him.

At this moment, the fate of the sword changed.

Not as the sword of the Beauharnais family, but as Napoleon’s sword.

Napoleon drew his sword and shouted.

“Good, with this lucky sword. Counterattack the Paris Coup!”

The lieutenants of the Napoleon Club stood up and shouted in unison.

“Yes, Commander!”

September 12, 1794.

The time of Fructidor [the twelfth month in the French Republican Calendar], the month of ripening fruit.

Napoleon raised an army to counterattack Mara’s sans-culottes coup.