He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 192

(192) Nelson Finally Arrives off the Coast of Egypt

The usually peaceful sea off Alexandria had recently been crowded with ships-of-the-line every day.

-Splash! Splash! Splash!

The sound of waves crashing against the ship’s hull was deafening.

The sun set, painting the distant horizon red.

Before the somewhat run-down port of Alexandria, massive ships-of-the-line and slightly smaller, but still large, frigates circled.

Normally, in peacetime, these ships would be manned by a minimal crew for basic operation.

However, the French Mediterranean Fleet guarding Alexandria was currently operating at full strength.

Just then.

-Thud!

Captain Cantoum, aboard the ship [Conqueror], threw his hat down in frustration and shouted.

“How long do we have to maintain this high alert? Are we just kids taking orders from some upstart?”

Beside him, Captain Villeneuve of the rear ship, [Guillaume Tell] (William Tell in English), retorted.

“Don’t be like that, Captain Cantoum. The British fleet could arrive at any moment, couldn’t they?”

“Look, Villeneuve. Aren’t you upset? He’s just a 16-year-old kid. Yet he’s ordering around distinguished generals and admirals. It doesn’t make sense! Besides, what do you mean they’re coming?”

“Of course, there will be an initial engagement at Gibraltar. But…”

Villeneuve replied, his voice loud but trembling slightly.

“I’ve had plenty of experience in the Atlantic. The British fleet’s operational capabilities are more than twice as high as ours.”

A sailing ship is entirely controlled by humans using wind and waves.

Therefore, the speed, turning, and overall operation of a sailing ship all depend on the skills of the crew.

No matter how skilled a navigator is appointed as an officer, if there are not enough capable crew members, the ship itself slows down.

However, the British Navy of that era had reached the highest level in terms of captains, officers, and sailors.

There’s a very simple reason.

It’s because Britain was fighting in almost every sea on the planet.

They were fighting the Caribbean Sea battle in the Atlantic, battling Spain in the North Pacific, and driving out the remaining French forces in the Indian Ocean.

With the fall of the Netherlands, the British Navy was also taking over Southeast Asia.

In particular, the British offensive was intensifying in the area of modern-day Indonesia, known as Batavia in this era.

The Mediterranean was just a small pond compared to the British Navy’s vast operational area.

Moreover, the revolution had a negative impact on the French Navy.

Even though Eugene had protected the Mediterranean Fleet and its officers, he could not prevent all the naval aristocratic officers from fleeing.

As a result, the current French Mediterranean Fleet had a significant gap in fleet operation capabilities compared to the British Caribbean Fleet.

Cantoum frowned as he stood at the bow, shouting.

“Fine, but people need to rest. Did you know? We crossed the Italian Peninsula in just one month, and then crossed the Mediterranean again!”

“The fleet certainly moved quickly. And we also subdued Venice.”

“We came all the way here after suffering so much, and now we’re back on high alert. For three months!”

Cantoum turned to look at the weary sailors moving behind him and shouted.

“At this rate, the sailors will die from exhaustion! The army grunts wouldn’t understand!”

The fact that a sailing ship is powered by manpower means that its operation depends entirely on people.

Just moving it tires out all the sailors.

The sun, waves, and sea breeze easily damage the skin, food often rots, and sometimes rats run rampant.

Even if the land is close, constantly keeping the ship afloat leaves no time to recover.

So, people die from the strain of high alert alone, without even engaging in war.

“We should let half of our fleet rest and only have half on guard! What is this nonsense!”

“Aren’t all the transport ships gone elsewhere? Half are in Damietta, and the other half… where was it? It was a very far place.”

“Mersa Matruh. That was a real fishing village. No, ships always need maintenance! At this rate, the ships will rot and sink!”

Villeneuve also sighed and turned his gaze to the sea beyond.

“But at least the fishing boats are patrolling for us, aren’t they? Huh?”

In the distance, fishing boats could be seen returning from the sea off Alexandria.

This port was very small, but fishing was still active.

Eugene had the idea of entrusting the patrol mission to the local fishermen.

This reduced the burden on the Alexandria-based fleet to carry out surveillance or searches.

Of course, Villeneuve, Cantoum, and the other captains didn’t have high expectations for the fishermen, who were not professional soldiers.

But one of the fishing boats was raising a flag high.

-Flutter, flutter, flutter!

Cantoum muttered indifferently as he looked at the flag.

“Another flag signal today? Those fishermen are really diligent.”

“Wait, something’s not right.”

“What is it?”

Suddenly, Villeneuve, a man with a keen sense of alertness, widened his eyes.

“Red flag, British?”

At the same time, Villeneuve ran faster than anyone else and began ringing the [alarm bell] like crazy.

-Ding! Ding! Ding!

Cantoum, who also realized the situation, shouted to the crew of the Conqueror.

“Emergency! Signal all ships to be on alert! The British fleet is coming!”

Finally, the British Mediterranean Fleet revealed itself in Abu Qir Bay.

***

In fact, Abu Qir Bay is not located on a normal sea route.

“Hoh, about 30 ships-of-the-line, is it?”

Nelson grinned as he looked through his telescope with one eye from the lookout.

In an era without radar or satellites.

The appearance of the enemy must be confirmed with human eyes.

The same is true for the open sea, so the crew’s patrol duty is carried out from the highest point of the ship, the [crow’s nest or lookout point].

Of course, the captain or [admiral] does not usually climb up there himself.

Below, Vice-Admiral Ball was jumping up and down, clearly agitated.

“Please, come down! Admiral! What are you doing in such a dangerous place!”

“Why? I need to see the enemy directly from the lookout to properly plan the operation.”

“Stop talking nonsense and come down to command! We’re about to encounter the enemy fleet!”

Nelson chuckled, climbed down the rope from the lookout, and landed nimbly.

Of course, the captains and officers watching from below had to hold their breath.

Maritime safety accidents can happen at any time.

It was a moment when the fleet commander could fall and die before the battle even began.

Nelson, who landed gracefully on the ground despite being one-eyed, looked around and said.

“Just about to? Can’t you see the sun? It’s almost night, Ball.”

The sun was setting over the western part of Abu Qir Bay.

There were no particular ports visible in that bay.

Originally, at the end of the 18th century, there were two major ports in Egypt.

One was Damietta, located on the eastern side of the Nile Delta, and the other was a port called [Rashid].

Westerners had given this port of Rashid a nickname.

Rosetta.

It is also famous as the place where the Rosetta Stone was discovered in history.

On the other hand, Alexandria, west of Rashid, was a neglected port in this era.

Although it was close to Europe, it was far from the Nile, the heart of Egypt.

It would only become active after a [canal] connecting it to the Nile was dug later.

On the other hand, Abu Qir Bay was perfect because there were no large cities.

It was a good place for the fleet to stay in a patrol state.

This is why the French fleet chose this place, and conversely, why the British came looking for it.

Vice-Admiral Ball stood next to Nelson and looked east.

“They did come to Alexandria.”

“Yes. I guess they were constantly preparing, wary of us?”

“It would have been better to let the navy rest. It seems someone who knows nothing about the fleet is in command.”

Suddenly, Nelson stroked his prickly chin and smiled.

“Hmm, you never know. There might be a brave boy in the French army that I met a long time ago.”

Ball tilted his head and asked.

“A brave boy?”

“Yes. When I was outside the navy, I commanded a frigate. At that time, a young, rich friend crossed the Atlantic to save his mother.”

“Hoh, that was an amazing boy!”

Nelson recalled his adventures from his youth and wore a strange smile.

“Yes. He even swept away the Islamic pirates by firing grapeshot [small caliber rounds]. Huhu, it would be a bit difficult if such a friend became a navy officer.”

That is, he was talking about when Eugene went to save Josephine.

At the time, Hodam and Nelson, who were escorting civilian ships, met an unexpected client.

It was a boy introduced by the financial giant, Francis Baring.

A boy who was going to save his mother on an island across the sea, at the end of the Atlantic, Martinique.

If he were just a child, Nelson would have had no reason to accept the request.

However, the child was rich enough to offer a huge sum as a fee, and Nelson eventually embarked on an adventure across the Atlantic.

I still remember it sometimes.

That boy who fought off the Barbary pirates and parted ways in Marseille.

What kind of life is he living in the midst of the revolution?

Captain Edward Berry, the flagship captain, approached Nelson, who was lost in thought.

“Admiral, enemy situation assessment complete.”

“How is it?”

“32 ships-of-the-line, 10 frigates, and dozens of small ships are moving for reconnaissance.”

However, Ball, who was listening next to him, snorted.

“Small ships, my foot. Can’t you tell, Berry? They’re just fishermen, fishermen!”

Small boats, seemingly at the level of rowboats, could be seen drifting in the distance.

It was clear at a glance that the people on board were not Europeans.

In the end, they were local residents.

Nelson nodded leisurely as he looked at them.

“He must have given a lot of money to the locals.”

“What should we do? Should we wipe them all out?”

“No. Anyway, we already know each other’s appearance.”

Suddenly, Nelson twisted his lips as he looked at the fleet lined up on the other side of the sea.

“Besides, they will be ambushed even though they know it.”

Ship-of-the-line, the best weapon to dominate the sea at the end of the 18th century.

As many as 32 of these ships formed a line as if blocking the front of the port.

Frigates, which were smaller in size but still had considerable power, operated like wings around them.

On the other hand, Nelson’s fleet was mainly based on the Caribbean Fleet.

17 ships-of-the-line, 20 frigates, and 20 transport ships.

In addition, 5 Spanish ships-of-the-line, which were acquired as spoils of war after winning the last Battle of Gibraltar, were added.

A total of 22 ships-of-the-line must face 32 ships-of-the-line.

In terms of firepower, there was a gap of about 740 cannons.

Nevertheless, Nelson was very relaxed.

The same went for Vice-Admiral Ball and the other captains.

Ball ordered a signal to be sent.

“Understood. All fleets, stop!”

The signalman shook the flag to send a signal.

At the same time, the former Caribbean Fleet, the current British Mediterranean Fleet, began to stop in front of the sea.

The waves crashed violently against the ship’s side, soon against the Victory.

-Splash, splash, splash!

Suddenly, Nelson took out his pipe and began to fill it with tobacco.

“Well, then. Shall we take a leisurely rest until the sun rises?”

Now, night had come as the sun passed the sunset and disappeared beyond the horizon.

***

Throughout the night, neither fleet moved at all.

“They are really bold, the enemies.”

Suddenly, Admiral Brueys of the French fleet sighed as he looked at the dark sea beyond.

The port had already been occupied by the French, and the enemy fleet had come from the distant sea.

Nevertheless, they were calmly stopped in front of the French fleet without wavering.

Next to him, Lieutenant Pierre Martin held a lantern and shone a light, saying.

“The fact that they came this far means that Gibraltar and Malta have both been defeated.”

“It is safe to assume that there will be no reinforcements.”

“Perhaps there will be no fleet coming from France.”

This meant that Eugene’s plan, the diversionary tactic, had been thwarted.

Perhaps Rochejaquelein or Robert Surcouf may not even be alive.

Naturally, Brueys wanted to avoid this engagement.

But the enemy had come, and the French fleet had no choice but to fight.

With a somber face, Brueys ordered.

“First, prepare the cannons sent by the Boarneh Company on the front of the Orient.”

“Isn’t that exploding cannon dangerous?”

“So handle it carefully. Anyway, we only have exactly 100 to put on our ship. It’s more like a show of force.”

There were 200 of these new weapons with so-called exploding shells in total.

It was certainly surprising, but when you think about it, it was only enough to equip about two ships.

Above all, the question was whether the shells would arrive in the first place.

In naval warfare, the accuracy of gunnery is proportional to the skill of ship operation.

Brueys gritted his teeth as he looked at the British fleet floating quietly.

The very fact that they showed such composure on the constantly fluctuating sea was a testament to their amazing operational ability.

Perhaps not even one shell would hit the enemy ship.

However, Brueys shook his head and issued the order again.

“Soon, the battle will begin when the sun rises. Let each ship be on alert. When the enemy approaches, meet them all in a line!”

It was then.

-Thud!

Brueys turned his head at the loud noise.