He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 238

(238) The Thousand-Year City, Venice Begins

Here, there is a city where a thousand-year republic once existed.

“The time has come for our great Venice to rise again!”

Venice, a city of canals.

The largest of these canals is the Grand Canal, which is shaped like a Z.

A man was traversing this canal, which runs through the heart of Venice, in a large gondola, shouting.

Francesco Battaglia, a nobleman who was the defense commander of Verona.

-Waaaa!

Cheers erupted from all over Venice.

Citizens roamed with guns.

Nobles roared and smashed the symbols of France.

Above all, French administrators and police officers who had been ruling in Venice were being captured and dragged out.

About three years have passed since Venice fell in 1797.

In the meantime, Venice, which had dominated at least the Adriatic Sea, repeatedly collapsed.

Britain and France fought fiercely in the Eastern Mediterranean, and all the ships in Venice were requisitioned and incorporated into the French Navy, and Venice’s exit disappeared.

Now, the people of Venice, faced with the crisis of becoming a rural city, finally exploded in anger.

Suddenly, Battaglia, who was clenching his fists and roaring, turned his gaze coldly.

“Did you see that, Doge? This is the public sentiment.”

An old man clinging to one side of the gondola raised his head.

The old man’s name was Ludovico Manin, the last head of state of the Republic of Venice, the [Doge: the chief magistrate of Venice].

He was elected Doge in 1789, the year the revolution began.

Therefore, Manin’s reign was entirely a period of suffering from France.

Repeatedly, cities revolted, were taken away by Austria, and finally, the country was destroyed by France.

That’s all Manin had seen.

Therefore, even while seeing the seething anger, Manin could only tremble with fear.

Not of the Venetian citizens, but of the power of the French army.

“Won’t France destroy us again? We don’t even have a navy now.”

“Get a hold of yourself, Doge. It’s been a thousand years, the time our republic existed. But it didn’t even take a month to collapse. Why do you think that is?”

“Well, the enemies are too powerful…”

In an instant, Battaglia shouted passionately.

“No! It’s because everyone who had to protect Venice, including the Doge, didn’t fight at all!”

Those words were also scolding Battaglia himself.

Originally, he was the commander of Verona’s defense, but he surrendered Verona to Eugene without even fighting properly.

Of course, he wouldn’t have been able to win even if he had fought.

But what if he had delayed even a little bit?

It is clear that France would not have been able to defeat Austria so overwhelmingly.

Nevertheless, former Doge Manin tried to persuade Battaglia again.

“Battaglia, this is a dangerous thing. All the Venetian nobles could die!”

“That’s what will happen if you don’t hand over the [Golden Book], Doge Ludovico Manin.”

“Wh, what are you talking about?”

Battaglia pointed a gun at the Doge, who was being held by his men.

“The book in which the lineage and names of all Venetian nobles are recorded. Hand over that book. We will forcibly conscript all the nobles and make them commanders of the army to defend Venice!”

The Golden Book, the list of nobles.

Those who have their names on this list have a duty to fight when Venice is in danger of national survival.

But Manin did not ask the nobles when the French army invaded.

The same was true when Junot suppressed the first Venice riots.

Battaglia is forcing him to hand over this list.

Can the nobles really rise up now and defeat the French army?

Manin laughed helplessly and raised both hands.

“Ha, do as you please. I don’t know anymore. It’s hidden behind my portrait in my mansion.”

Battaglia nodded and gestured.

His men busily moved Manin to another gondola.

He will be moved to St. Mark’s Basilica, the temporary rebel headquarters, and placed under house arrest.

Then, former Governor of Padua, Alvise Contarini, asked Battaglia.

“Battaglia, is this really okay? Can we win?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why did you start a rebellion? No, don’t lie about the civil uprising. I know you incited your old subordinates.”

Battaglia turned to Alvise and said in a low voice.

“Austria and Russia are scheduled to come, Governor Contarini.”

Courage alone cannot make a rebellion successful.

You have to gather internal support, external forces, and former influential figures.

The Contarini family is the most influential family in Venice and has enough influence to sustain the rebellion.

Battaglia calmly explained to Alvise, who was stroking his chin and rolling his eyes.

“Bonaparte is still in Paris. His son, Eugene, is also in Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul]. Our people in Corfu will revolt and block the Venetian Sea.”

“Then Austria is the closest. Is he really coming?”

“Archduke Charles is scheduled to come in person. He has already left Vienna.”

Instantly, Alvise clapped his hands.

“The Archduke is coming? The victor of the Rhine! Then he will defeat all the Frenchmen defending Venice!”

Although he lost to Napoleon, Charles, who defeated Moreau, is famous throughout Europe.

This is because he is almost the only general who has gained the upper hand against the invincible French Revolutionary Army.

He will be able to defeat the Italian garrison without Napoleon.

Battaglia nodded.

“That’s right. Except for one possibility.”

“What is it?”

“Bonaparte crossing the Alps.”

Just as Alvise was startled, Battaglia looked back at the Grand Canal and smiled.

“But with the Rhine River threatened by Prussia and Russia, would he do such a thing?”

Logically, it is an impossible strategy.

Of course, if you know it, even Archduke Charles will think the same.

***

Of course, Napoleon is not the only one in France.

“So, Venice has revolted?”

Genoa, the capital of the Ligurian Republic, a satellite republic of France.

In fact, the French garrison was in charge of national defense, French merchants led maritime trade, and even the Banque d’Italie de Boarnais controlled the banks.

Therefore, along with Milan, it is the most important base for French rule in Italy.

The man who protects this place, Andre Massena, gritted his teeth and asked, and the adjutant tilted his head.

“Unfortunately, that’s not the only place that has revolted.”

“What do you mean, Serboni? Who suddenly revolted?”

“A full-scale rebellion has also broken out in Naples.”

Instantly, Massena slammed the desk.

“No, what is the commander-in-chief doing! If he sent Laharpe to Switzerland, he should have appointed a successor long ago!”

Currently, Naples is vacant.

Laharpe, who was defending this place, was sent to Switzerland by Napoleon.

Dabou, who was scheduled to take office, was stopped on the way, and Napoleon used him to fill Junot’s vacancy.

There are about 70 French major generals, but the former Kingdom of Naples is a large territory covering half of the Italian peninsula.

A rebellion has broken out at a time when a suitable person has not yet been found.

Then, someone spoke from behind Massena.

“That’s an unfair criticism. Strictly speaking, the responsibility for defending the Parthenopean Republic lies with the parliament there and the Paris Directorate.”

“That’s just a formality! Who doesn’t know that the commander-in-chief decides? But who are you?”

“The commander-in-chief you are criticizing.”

Massena blinked his eyes, turned his head, and jumped up.

“Commander-in-chief?”

Napoleon, covered in dust, straightened his commander’s hat and smiled.

“Yes, the man loved by the goddess of fortune. How have you been?”

In short, a man whose nickname is Lucky.

Massena was dumbfounded and opened his mouth wide.

France is surrounded by enemies on all sides.

However, the commander-in-chief left the capital and came to Italy.

“Are you crazy! Commander-in-chief!”

This thought will also be the thought of all of Europe except for two people.

Suvorov and Eugene.

***

There are also Napoleon Club members who cannot understand even after listening to the explanation.

“Really, General Bonaparte is going to Venice himself? Why?”

Junot asked Eugene, who was riding in a carriage instead of on horseback for the first time in a while.

Eugene glanced out the window of the marching carriage and smiled.

If Junot doesn’t understand, it’s obvious that other generals won’t be able to predict it.

In fact, that is probably the biggest reason why Napoleon decided to go to Italy.

“Unless there are other variables in the middle. Suddenly catching a cold, falling off a horse, or wasting time meeting a beautiful woman in the middle.”

“All of them are possible, but I don’t think you’ll be late. Then we don’t need to hurry? You won’t explain the reason?”

“It means you don’t have to run hastily. But it’s also difficult if it’s too late.”

Still without explaining the reason, Eugene leaned his arm against the carriage window and rested his chin.

“It is unlikely that the Prussian army will encounter us. However, it is highly likely that we will encounter mercenaries from the former Holy Roman Empire’s southern lords or the Russian Imperial Army.”

Outside, you can see 15,000 soldiers marching.

Normally, Eugene would also ride a horse, supervise the infantry’s march, and encourage them to expedite.

But this time, there is no need to show off the marching speed that the French army boasts.

The pro-French regime in the Balkan countries is responsible for supplies, and the same is true for information along the march route.

Rather, it is much better to enter the battle in a situation where combat power is at its peak.

“He’ll be stronger than a human named Kutuzov. The Russian Imperial Marshal.”

Suddenly, Ippolito broke Eugene’s thoughts, who was lost in thought.

“Yes, Ippolito. He’s not an opponent to be taken lightly. But did you solve the Esma Princess problem well?”

“Of course. That princess doesn’t just have me as her lover. Sebastiani is her top priority.”

“We’re in a situation where we have to deal with Constantinople for the time being with a handsome man.”

Then, another carriage came into Eugene’s eyes.

It’s a carriage used by the nursing unit.

Originally, Angelique, the head of the nursing unit, remained in Constantinople with Marceau.

However, the original identity of the nursing unit is strictly the wives or lovers of French soldiers.

There were also lovers of the French returnees, and they joined the return march.

Until now, they have mainly been transported by ship, but now they have to use carriages.

Someone in the carriage running at the very front winked.

Ippolito sneered at Eugene, who quickly took his eyes off the window.

“Oh, Aunt Pauline is sending you a love greeting? Aren’t you going to return it?”

“If you don’t shut up, I’ll break the scandal with Princess Esma in the newspaper as soon as I get back to Paris.”

“Huh, that’ll only increase my popularity! By the way, do you have any sure-win measures? Like dropping balloon bombs.”

Eugene snorted.

“That’s a secret weapon to use in the desert. If I use it in Italy, it’ll fall on our side if the wind changes even a little.”

But it seems that Ippolito was not the only one curious about the operation.

All the commanders of the Eugene Homecoming Corps in the carriage looked at Eugene.

Eugene shrugged his shoulders as he saw Junot and Desaix’s earnest eyes.

“I have a method in mind. However, my father has to win first.”

“What. Are you just going to pick the cherry on top of the cake?”

“Don’t you know that cherry-picking is the hardest thing to do in the first place? Everyone is eager to eat cherries.”

Eugene lightly retorted to Junot with a joke and turned his gaze.

“Then, [Surete: French Secret Service] has to play an active role this time. Rochejacquelin.”

Rochejacquelin, who was sitting in the coachman’s seat, replied to Eugene.

“Of course. Ellie [Deputy Director] is currently working with the Commander-in-Chief.”

“Did you attach a [rat: informant] to the Archduke’s side?”

“Karl Schmeister has infiltrated.”

Karl Schmeister, the spy of Austerlitz in the original history.

He is the perfect choice as an infiltrator into the Austrian army.

But the really important side is different.

“Russia?”

This time too, Rochejacquelin answered clearly.

“Major Suukowski is inside.”

“What? He’s from Poland?”

“There are already many Polish soldiers in the Russian army. He broke through that gap and entered.”

Suukowski is an adjutant from Napoleon’s bodyguard.

Originally, in the original history, he followed the Egyptian expedition and died during the Alexandria rebellion.

But now, he is just one of the adjutants working busily under Napoleon’s headquarters.

But Eugene’s Surete discovered Suukowski and used him as a spy in this operation.

Eugene tilted his head and nodded.

He is an adjutant that Napoleon highly praised in the original history, but his actual achievements are ambiguous.

However, the work that a spy has to do in this operation is not that difficult.

“Okay. Just make sure to spread the word on when Suvorov is coming. That’s the key to this operation.”

That is the time when Eugene must arrive in Italy.