He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 175

(175) The Conqueror of Egypt Needs New Weapons

Of course, a grand strategic plan alone cannot guarantee a successful expedition.

“Lafayette [Master] promised to reinstate me, but I didn’t know it would be this kind of war?”

General Kleber grumbled, downing a glass of wine in the salon.

Although they were at war with England again, the soldiers had nothing to do immediately.

In particular, the army had not yet been mobilized.

However, Kleber couldn’t afford to be idling in a salon like this.

Because he had just been approached by Lafayette, the newly re-elected Director from the Council of Five Hundred.

To participate in the Egyptian expedition.

Suddenly, Madame de Staël, the hostess of the salon, chuckled and spoke quietly to Kleber.

“General Kleber, isn’t it truly a battlefield of glory? Egypt, the source of knowledge from which our Freemasons originated!”

“I’ve heard that stonemasons first built the pyramids. Well, I don’t know if it’s true.”

“You will be the first French general to arrive there, General!”

This salon was run by Madame de Staël, the daughter of Necker, the former finance minister of the royal family.

Anne Louise Germaine de Staël-Holstein.

As her title suggests, Madame de Staël is the wife of a nobleman named [Staël].

However, Baron de Staël himself was nowhere to be seen beside Madame de Staël.

Baron de Staël was originally a Swedish nobleman who came as the Swedish ambassador to France, succeeding Fersen.

Necker, a banker who was not originally a nobleman, wanted a marriage with a noble family, and Baron de Staël, who had many debts, needed an heiress.

Thus, the two married in 1786, three years before the revolution.

Afterward, both Madame de Staël and Baron de Staël fell into the chaos of the French Revolution.

Eight years later, in 1797.

The two are currently separated.

And Madame de Staël is happily living in the salon, making numerous lovers.

General Kleber, an old stonemason member of the Freemasons, is also one of Madame de Staël’s lovers.

General Kleber frowned, his plump face contorted, and retorted gruffly.

“Well, it seems to me that I’m cleaning up Bonaparte’s mess.”

This is actually what Kleber says again in Egypt in the original history.

Because Kleber is the one who takes over the Egyptian expeditionary force after Napoleon flees.

However, when he originally set out for the Egyptian expedition, Kleber was full of hope.

Why is he against it now?

Because Napoleon is not going himself.

Although Hoche is going, the practical leader is ultimately Eugene Frei Schutz, who is still a boy.

It was natural for Kleber to be dumbfounded.

Then, a middle-aged man approached from one side of the salon and spoke.

“Don’t worry too much, General Kleber.”

“Minister Carnot? What brings you here? You’re not usually interested in salons.”

“I came out especially because you were coming. I heard you’re going to Egypt?”

Former Minister of War, Carnot.

He had been away from the center of power for a while after the Marais coup, but he was newly emerging in the chaotic period after the Pichegru coup.

Especially because military figures, including Napoleon, highly valued Carnot’s abilities.

It is not surprising that Carnot, a politician trusted by the military, knows about the Egyptian expedition.

Kleber smacked his lips and asked.

“That’s right. But, who is this friend next to you?”

Then, the man in his 40s next to Carnot bowed lightly.

“I apologize for the late introduction. I am Colonel Nicolas-Jacques Conté, commander of the Balloon Corps.”

Then, Madame de Staël recognized Colonel Conté before Kleber did.

“Oh my, I know him. Aren’t you the inventor who made pencils?”

“Hmm, do you know my invention?”

“Of course, I know! It’s an innovation that replaced British graphite leads! Are you going to Egypt too?”

The inventor Conté boasted to Madame de Staël with a conceited air.

“Yes, my Balloon Corps is also going to Egypt. We will assist the general in terms of observation and reconnaissance.”

Conté, the inventor of the modern pencil.

So why did this man participate in the Egyptian expedition?

In this era, most outstanding inventors are obsessed with one innovation.

That is a flying object, a balloon.

Just like Samuel Foley, who develops various new weapons under Eugene, Conté was also a balloon enthusiast.

So he was serving as the commander of a unit that handles cutting-edge technology, balloons.

Taking the developed civilization of Europe to Egypt, where Western civilization began, but which is now backward.

This was one of the French justifications for the Egyptian expedition.

Conté’s participation was also due to such circumstances.

Kleber, a realistic soldier from a stonemason background, listened to Conté’s grand pronouncements with a nonchalant attitude.

“Well, at least we won’t run out of pencils.”

“We won’t run out of balloons either!”

“Okay. I hope this person isn’t all there is? Are there any personnel recommended by General Hoche? Or even Eugene Frei Schutz?”

Kleber, who was convinced that balloons were useless, looked at Carnot, who was famous as a military organizer.

Conversely, Carnot was embarrassed and tilted his head.

Because it was a personnel selection that Kleber would not like very much.

“There are. First of all, General Dumas is going.”

“Are you talking about that mixed-race general? I’ve never heard of his achievements. Oh, was he a bodyguard for the Bonaparte family?”

“General Dommartin and Jean Reynier will also go. Dommartin was active as an artilleryman in Italy, and Reynier was active as an infantryman in Flanders.”

It is difficult to say that they are all incompetent, but they are certainly not top-notch.

Dumas, his son is famous, but his father is only remembered in history as a brave mixed-race general.

Dommartin, he broke his leg and made Napoleon successful in Toulon, but in fact, he is just an ordinary B-class artillery general.

Who is Reynier?

One of the commanders of the Flanders Corps, a man who was active under Hoche.

Later, in the original history, he is a brave general who mainly fights under Massena, but he has never shown outstanding capabilities.

Kleber, who roughly knew their capabilities, sighed in dismay.

“It’s not enough. I’ll have to take care of my direct subordinates. Please include General Caffarelli as well.”

Then Carnot clapped his hands.

“Ah, one more person is going. Desaix.”

Instantly, Kleber’s eyes lit up.

“General Desaix is going? What about Ireland, which General Moreau is supposed to command? Wasn’t General Desaix practically the deputy commander in the Rhine Army!”

“Oh, you know that much? Yes, Eugene Frei Schutz specifically requested it.”

“As expected, the gambling prodigy is different! If Hoche, Desaix, and Marceau join, we can defeat even formidable enemies!”

In fact, in the original history, Lannes and Murat are added here.

However, if it is Hoche and Marceau, they have skills that surpass Murat, even if not Lannes.

In particular, Kleber knew Marceau very well.

Because he fought with Eugene in the Vendée.

Kleber jumped up and down, grabbed Madame de Staël’s hand, and shouted.

“Madame de Staël, I will clean up all of Bonaparte’s mess!”

Madame de Staël laughed and showered Kleber’s lips with kisses.

“I’m delighted. Then, please give me the first stone from the pyramids as a gift!”

Kleber, who is actually a married man, kissing Madame de Staël, who is a married woman, at a party.

This is the scene in a French salon on the eve of the Egyptian expedition.

***

Of course, gathering excellent generals does not guarantee the success of the Egyptian expedition.

“Even if we gather a more splendid team, it’s still woefully inadequate.”

Eugene stood in the temporary operations office for the Egyptian expedition and smiled bitterly as he looked at the list.

No matter who is sent, people alone are not enough.

Why?

Because it is a war that Napoleon failed by going himself.

In fact, if Eugene had only been assured that Napoleon would not go on the Egyptian expedition, he would not have started the expedition in the first place.

However, now that he has started, it is naturally good to succeed.

No, he must succeed.

Otherwise, he might end up trapped and dying in Egypt.

Therefore, something special is needed to make this expedition a success.

Just then.

Denon jumped up from behind Eugene and shouted excitedly.

“Egypt! Oh, the cradle of civilization! Are we really going!”

“Ambassador Denon. Please be careful not to disclose it to the outside. Of course, it seems like everyone who should know, knows.”

“Of course! It won’t come out of my mouth. But, is the list of scholars going to Egypt all set?”

Originally, one of the justifications for the Egyptian expedition was the propagation of civilization.

Here, Napoleon did not forget that Alexander had set out on conquest with philosophers.

Therefore, he takes with him a variety of people ranging from mathematics, science, and art.

At this time, France really [plunders] a large number of archaeological artifacts and returns.

Thanks to that, Egyptology is greatly developed in France even in modern history.

Of course, Eugene was not very interested in such things, but he had to cater to Napoleon’s tastes.

Besides, there was someone he had to take with him.

Eugene nodded lightly and replied.

“Gaspard Monge, Joseph Fourier, and Lavoisier are going.”

“Good heavens. What an honor. The best geometers and scientists in France are going!”

“But the head of the scholars is by far Ambassador Denon. Please be careful not to let him act arbitrarily.”

Denon nodded and clenched his fist.

“Of course! I will also prepare information on local conditions in Egypt. First of all, we need a secret plan to fight in the heat and arid land, right? I will thoroughly investigate!”

As Denon hurried away to investigate the information, a young man opened his mouth from behind him.

“It’s terribly unsettling, Patron.”

Nicolas Surcouf, the captain of the Eugene cartel.

He was also a shipping businessman with experience navigating the Mediterranean and Atlantic as a former smuggler captain.

Eugene smiled and asked Nicolas.

“Did you receive a letter from Admiral Brueys, Nicolas?”

“Yes, Patron. For now, we plan to send Captain Georges-René Le Preville Najas and Captain Gaspard Vence from the Toulon garrison fleet. My younger brother, Robert, is also coming with him.”

“Are they skilled captains?”

Nicolas replied with a heavy, expressionless face.

“Of course. In particular, Captain Vence has been crossing the Atlantic since before the revolution and has been active in various privateer fleets. He is capable enough to use [lure tactics].”

In fact, Najas and Vence are naval captains who go on the Egyptian expedition together in the original history.

In particular, Vence is also involved in preparing for the so-called invasion of England by the Grand Army.

However, Eugene had no intention of taking them to Egypt.

He just needed capable captains for the ‘lure’.

Eugene smiled brightly.

“Good. It would be best if no one knew we were going to Egypt. But, it’s too well known to be a secret operation. Then, we have to deceive the starting position.”

“You’re not planning to go to Toulon.”

“Because there is a high possibility that the British fleet will make a surprise attack. And there is a high possibility that the Gibraltar conquest will not go as planned.”

Originally, in the original history, Napoleon secretly launched the Egyptian expedition from Toulon.

However, now Eugene is promoting a truly large-scale expedition.

Therefore, high-ranking officials have heard about the [Egyptian expedition] to some extent.

In the end, the British will surely find out through some spy network.

If it is known anyway, he will deceive the departure route and cross the Mediterranean at once.

This is Eugene’s idea.

Suddenly, Eugene’s gaze turned to Nicolas.

“But for that to happen, Admiral Brueys has to do well, really.”

Nicolas replied forcefully.

“Don’t worry. I am confident that we can win even if we fight the British Navy!”

Of course, Eugene doesn’t believe it.

Because Admiral Brueys ends up dying because of the Egyptian expedition in the original history.

However, Eugene also needs to prepare a secret plan to prevent Brueys from dying at least.

Eugene muttered as he watched Nicolas leave to return to Admiral Brueys.

“Good, but the really important thing is after we cross over. We’ll have to fight in a completely blank state.”

Then, Ippolito, the adjutant who had been organizing documents next to Eugene until then, asked.

“Huh? Didn’t you just meet an Egypt expert?”

“Those are people who learned from books. The information from merchants who have actually been to Egypt is different.”

“Oh, then should we collect new information?”

Eugene shook his head.

“That’s already being done by Rochejacquelin and Helie. The problem is after we arrive on site. We have to overwhelmingly defeat the enemy. And reduce the damage to our troops.”

“How? Even with Ambassador Denon’s words, the heat and lack of water are a big problem. Isn’t damage inevitable?”

“Yes. There are also epidemics. The plague is severe.”

First of all, the organization of the medical unit is inevitable.

Lareille’s sanitation regiment will also have to join the expedition.

However, in the end, the best way is to end the war quickly before the epidemic breaks out.

“So we need a new weapon to overwhelmingly destroy the enemy. Because we have to break through before the epidemic breaks out.”

In short, [new weapons] are the real secret to victory that Eugene thought of.

***

In the Eugene Cartel, Dupont and Foley are in charge of new weapons.

“S, so, is that, is that why you called me now?”

Among them, firearms and ammunition are mainly the responsibility of Foley, a Swiss gun maker.

Foley faced Eugene at a firearms factory set up in the suburbs of Paris.

Eugene shrugged and asked Foley.

“Yes, Foley. The development has been steadily progressing, right?”

“I have succeeded in mass-producing things like percussion muskets and percussion grenades.”

“Not that.”

Suddenly, Eugene’s eyes flashed.

“[Foley-style] breech-loading weapons. Did you succeed?”

Foley led Eugene without a word.

Firearms factories are usually set up in suburbs where ordinary people are rare.

In particular, Foley’s factory had many secret experiments, so it was located in an even more deserted place.

Among them, there was a test site that required quite a vast space.

It is a firearms test site.

When Foley came, those who were testing the firearms stopped.

The moment Foley gestured to them, they started moving again.

Eugene heard the sound of metal clashing.

A large cannon barrel, a large iron ball, and a breech-loading bullet.

The quickly obtained bullet faces forward.

Loading, preheating, firing.

After going through the three-step process, the cannonball flew far into the air and hit the ground.

In an instant, the cannonball exploded.

– Kwang!

Ippolito, who was staring blankly at the scene, shouted.

“Wait, what is it? It explodes at the point of impact? This is!”

Eugene twisted his lips and smiled.

“You succeeded. Exploding shell cannon.”

Originally, it was shooting bullets that exploded at the moment of explosion, which could only be used as grenades, with a cannon.

It is a cannon that is made long after fulminating mercury is invented.

However, Eugene combined fulminating mercury and gunpowder to create a breech-loading cannon.

Why is this cannon important?

Because wooden ships are extremely vulnerable to exploding shells.

Foley stuttered but said with an excited face.

“W, what about this?”

“How many units did you mass-produce?”

“Two hundred. But maybe only one fleet or one division can install it?”

Eugene nodded and replied in a confident tone.

“That’s enough. Then, the problem is gunpowder.”

Then Foley looked at Eugene and asked.

“Dupont will take care of that. By the way, can I participate too?”

“Why?”

“I heard that the Balloon Corps is participating? I want to see the Balloon Corps too!”

Only then did Eugene recall Foley’s anecdote.

After Napoleon’s downfall, Foley went to London and became obsessed with a single invention.

Airship.

Of course, airships, not airplanes, are doomed to failure.

However, Foley is also a mania who is enthusiastic about balloons, the latest technology as a scientist of this era.

Eugene smiled and grabbed Foley’s hand.

“Okay. Let’s go and see how well the new weapons work.”

March 1797.

It was the day that Eugene got the exploding shell.