He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 101

(101) Napoleon’s Army Fights with Canned Food and New Weapons

“An army marches on its stomach,” as the author of military tactics, Jomini, famously stated.

Of course, Jomini himself is only 16 years old.

A boy in Switzerland, involved in revolutionary movements under César de La Harpe, General Laharpe’s cousin.

Joining the French army is still at least two years away for him.

Nevertheless, the importance of supplies is known to any soldier, even without Jomini’s famous saying.

First of all, soldiers expend far more calories than ordinary people.

Moreover, military rations are highly susceptible to spoilage in the harsh, war-torn battlefield environment.

Therefore, since the time of Louis XIV, France had been supplying [hardtack] along with bread to its army.

Hardtack, a type of biscuit made of wheat, baked to be extremely hard so it wouldn’t spoil.

A staple food for sailors during the Age of Exploration.

The problem is that they are so hard they can break your teeth.

“Yes. Something that doesn’t spoil like hardtack, and also doesn’t break your teeth, is ideal.”

Eugene reported to Napoleon with a smile.

This is Monza, the encampment of the Italian Army.

In Lombardy, 20 kilometers northeast of Milan.

The remaining forces, except for the commander’s guards and the Horse Grenadier Brigade, are mainly stationed here.

A total of 1,000 cans of canned food arrived as prototypes and were piled up in front of the unit.

They were made at the canned food factory owned by Marie Cafe.

By Napoleon’s side, Commissioner Salicetti smiled contentedly.

“Hmm, well made. This should be sufficient.”

“Do you even know what it is, Salicetti?”

“Didn’t I explain everything when I closed down various guilds in Milan and permitted new businesses, Commander Napoleon? That they would make a semi-permanent preserved food that doesn’t spoil for over a year.”

When Napoleon asked with a dumbfounded face, Salicetti laughed heartily and tapped the tin can.

“This is that preserved food. Heh heh!”

Milan was originally a place where medieval [guilds] still flourished.

Production, sales, and distribution were all managed through the [guild] system.

In short, Eugene’s request for [authorization] had a dual meaning.

The complete closure of existing Milanese guilds and the authorization of a special military supply business by the Military Administration Committee.

Since Napoleon had conquered Milan, it wasn’t a difficult task.

However, Napoleon was dumbfounded that the result was these [cans].

“This is preserved food? It doesn’t look like food. What’s inside?”

Napoleon was about to frown and ask.

“Commander, this wasn’t made today.”

Marie, the girl standing next to Eugene in a dress, smiled brightly.

In any case, as the nominal factory owner, Marie had to be present.

This was the first time showing the prototype to the commander for supplying military provisions.

Napoleon, who considered it a mere formality, frowned even more.

Military matters are no joke.

Especially supplies.

And he couldn’t help but feel annoyed that such a doll-like girl was discussing military food.

“Then?”

“It was made and sealed three months ago. At our factory.”

“Is it an engagement gift, haha. Wait, three months ago? Then it must be rotten!”

Instantly, Marie’s smile deepened.

“No, it’s not. It’s perfectly fine.”

That’s the characteristic of canned food.

Sterilization, sealing, preservation.

In later history, canned food that lasted for a hundred years has even been discovered.

But now is still a time when they don’t even know about germs [microbes].

Napoleon was about to stare at the tin can as if he couldn’t believe it.

Eugene clapped his hands.

“That’s right, Commander. I’ll show you the results of the three-month experiment. Hippolyte!”

After scratching his head lightly, Hippolyte stepped forward.

“Ah, they always make me do things like this. Yes, Brigade Commander!”

Hippolyte split the tin can with a dagger, grumbling.

-Shuk!

In an era when ‘can openers’ were not yet commercialized, tin cans are opened with daggers.

Especially for military use.

Of course, whether you open it with a dagger or a can opener, the contents of the canned food are the same.

A piece of simmered meat is visible inside the can.

Marie tasted it lightly and nodded.

“It’s fresh.”

It’s like a scene where a model is filming an advertisement in later years.

Napoleon and the division commanders, high-ranking officers, watched the scene in a daze.

In any case, Marie is already a 17-year-old girl.

She is well-developed enough to easily recognize that she resembles Marie Antoinette’s daughter.

Moreover, the princess of the former royal family says it tastes good, so strangely, trust is added.

Napoleon also tasted it a little and nodded.

“Good. Then, let’s adopt this [canned food] as official rations. It will be easy to transport. Right, Eugene?”

Of course, Eugene ignored just one thing.

Marie was just forced to eat it, and Napoleon is not a gourmet.

This canned food does not guarantee great taste.

Nevertheless, at least one thing is certain.

Eugene smiled and nodded.

“Yes, Commander. I can guarantee twice the marching speed.”

A means to absolutely change portability, storage, and transportation.

Furthermore, the tin of gold that will bring huge profits to patent holder Eugene and factory owner Marie.

Canned food.

Thus, a secret weapon that would dominate 19th-century combat rations was introduced to the Italian Army.

***

Of course, military rations are not the only problem for Napoleon’s army.

“Then, we will first transport 300,000 cans by supply wagon. Next report.”

Now Napoleon is checking the state of the armaments with his adjutants.

Chief of Staff Berthier, always a calm man, began to report.

On the other hand, Napoleon distorted his face again, which had been wide open.

Of course, it’s not because he dislikes Berthier.

There was a task that Napoleon had separately instructed Chief of Staff Berthier to do.

“Is that about the army’s readiness, or my family matters?”

It was to monitor Napoleon’s family, especially his mother.

After the last meeting between Josephine and Letizia, Letizia didn’t even think about seeing Napoleon.

It’s not that the other family members welcomed him either, so the Palazzo Serbelloni is truly in a state of cold war.

Rather, Napoleon is being mindful and wandering around the military camp.

For example, he is still at the Monza military camp right now.

But why did he entrust this task to Chief of Staff Berthier, not Eugene, Junot, or Marmont?

It’s a very simple reason.

Chief of Staff Berthier’s [mistress], Madame Giuseppina Visconti, became a kind of [lady-in-waiting].

As a role to take care of both Commander’s lover Josephine and mother Letizia.

Still expressionless and calm, Berthier replied.

“Both reports are possible. Which would you like to hear first, Commander?”

Napoleon, who had been frowning, rubbed his head and replied.

“Hear both. Damn it.”

“I’ll start with the good news. The army is progressing smoothly. Reinforcements have arrived from the Alpine Army. Even if one division is left in the Milan garrison, it is possible to form 40,000 infantry and artillery brigades.”

“Good, what about the cavalry? Eugene?”

Chief Adjutant Eugene also stood next to Napoleon and reported on the state of the cavalry.

“A total of 5,000 horses. 1,000 Horse Grenadier Brigade, 3,000 Pyrenees Cavalry Brigade, and 1,000 Commander Dalmagne’s Guards have been formed.”

Finally, the Horse Grenadier Brigade also has at least regimental-level strength.

Of course, it is still at the level of putting mounted infantry on horses.

However, the brave Junot and the peerless Murat assist in the command.

Sufficiently excellent combat will be possible.

In addition, Eugene has been training them especially for 3 months.

At least they won’t fall off their horses on the battlefield.

Eugene and his subordinates.

Napoleon nodded and asked again.

“What about the artillery and gunpowder, and that [percussion cap] gun that is being newly deployed?”

This is not a problem that Berthier or Eugene can solve alone.

Berthier looked at Eugene, and Eugene glanced at him.

The quick-witted artillery adjutant Marmont looked at them both and smiled awkwardly.

“Oh dear. Was the supply not good, by any chance?”

Berthier cocked his head.

“The gunpowder is going smoothly. Enough for at least three battles. The horse artillery also has 4 horses each, and the battery is fully equipped with 60 guns. Including the foot artillery, it reaches 100 guns.”

“Oh, then isn’t there no problem?”

“The engineer corps, which is an artillery branch, will be independently organized under the command of Colonel Chasseloup this time. Mobile prefabricated pontoon bridges have also been prepared. The problem is.”

Berthier’s gaze turned to Eugene again.

“It’s the Marceau cap gun. Mass production is difficult.”

Eugene smacked his lips and finally confessed.

“As a result of Polie making prototypes in Paris, the loading speed is definitely faster.”

“But?”

“The yield that Commander wants is not coming out. In the meantime, we gathered the best artisans in Paris and devoted ourselves to mass production for 3 months, but only 300 guns were made.”

Eugene pointed to the rather small-scale wagon train next to the canned food.

“That’s all.”

Guns modified with percussion caps, or Marceau caps.

The pistol that Eugene owns is also a modified one.

This Marceau cap contains fulminate of mercury in a metal cap, and when the fulminate of mercury is detonated instead of flint, a flame is generated to explode the gunpowder and fire the bullet.

This method allows gunpowder to be pre-charged, allows guns to be fired even in the rain, and speeds up firing.

The muzzle-loading guns that could only fire 2 to 3 shots per minute can now fire up to 5 shots.

The Ferguson breech-loading rifle can fire from 6 to a maximum of 8 rounds per minute, so it is the maximum development for a muzzle-loading musket.

However, mass production was inevitably delayed because the fulminate of mercury had to be stabilized as much as possible.

But Napoleon nodded with a rather satisfied face.

“It’s not something to use on a large scale anyway. Rather, the [Ferguson Rifle] has been tested in actual combat and is needed more. Is that ready?”

“Yes? Ah, 3,000 new ones have been reordered and arrived.”

“Yes. It breaks down easily, so new products are needed every time. The Horse Grenadier Brigade will use that.”

Napoleon said that he would only use it as a [test product].

Still, it is surprising that he decided to use the [Marceau cap] modified gun, which is literally a new weapon.

Because Napoleon didn’t even use weapons like rifled guns in history because they weren’t verified.

Of course, it is ironic that the breech-loading experimental gun was used before the muzzle-loading modified gun thanks to that.

At that time, Napoleon’s gaze went beyond the 300 Marceau cap muzzle-loading muskets.

There was something strangely shaped.

“What is that? It looks like it has wings.”

Eugene looked at it and smiled.

“Ah, that’s our brigade’s new weapon. You’ll be able to see it on the battlefield.”

“Don’t be ridiculous and explain what it is. Unverified weapons are likely to misfire on the battlefield.”

“So, it’s a grenade.”

At Eugene’s signal, Junot smiled and picked up a grenade with tail wings.

“Where, that vacant lot would be good. Heave-ho!”

Junot’s arm muscles contracted and then were released in an instant.

-Shuuk!

The winged grenade flew through the air and exploded 50 meters in front.

-Kwang!

Flight, landing, explosion.

Napoleon’s eyes widened as he watched the series of processes.

As far as Napoleon knows, grenades are not like that.

“What is that! The fuse doesn’t burn, and it explodes at the moment of impact! The throwing distance is much longer!”

Of course, it is only possible because Junot is a master of stone throwing.

If it were modern times, wouldn’t Junot have been a successful pitcher [baseball player]?

Eugene smiled, thinking nonsense.

“Please call it the Ketchum grenade, or the [Eugene] grenade. It is the world’s first impact-detonating grenade.”

Originally, such a thing becomes possible when fulminate of mercury and gunpowder are combined.

This is because a [detonation] phenomenon occurs in which an explosion occurs only with the impact force of the collision without a fuse.

At a time when bursting shells have not yet appeared even in artillery shells.

The moment the [Ketchum grenade], which was developed during the American Civil War in history, was first introduced.

The new weapon of the Horse Grenadier Brigade has appeared.

**

Now the inevitable time has come.

“Good, all combat preparations are going smoothly. Is Augereau out on pacification?”

“Yes. Soon, all the cities in Lombardy that have not surrendered will be suppressed.”

“We don’t know when Austria will rush in, so it’s good to do it in advance. As soon as they return, give them 1,000 Ferguson rifles each. Ah, and to Massena too.”

Napoleon, who was giving instructions lightly, sat down in the headquarters barracks.

Berthier has been staring at Napoleon since earlier.

Eventually, Napoleon frowned and asked again.

“Now, shall we hear it? What happened to my family?”

Instantly, all the adjutants held their breath.

Eugene, of course, and Junot, Marmont, Duroc, and even Hippolyte.

Because they all know the current situation.

However, there is only one thing they don’t know.

How Napoleon will react.

On the other hand, Berthier, still with a calm face, gave a mechanical report.

“Your mother is currently on a hunger strike.”

“She’ll eat, if you leave her alone.”

“Your fiancée, Madame Pagerie [Josephine], is holding parties every day. Apparently, there are many men trying to seduce her.”

At that moment, Napoleon, who had ignored his mother’s hunger strike, shouted in anger.

“I can’t leave that alone! I’ll have to get her pregnant tonight. Or, should I take her to the battlefield? What do you think, Eugene!”

It is truly the epitome of an unfilial son.

Marie’s face turned bright red, and Eugene was speechless in amazement.

In any case, it is definitely not something to say to a subordinate, and of course, it is not something to say to a stepson.

However, Berthier, Marmont or Junot, who were listening from behind, and of course Hippolyte, did not save Eugene.

In the end, Eugene sighed and gave an unwilling answer.

“I don’t know if that’s possible. The battlefield is dangerous, Your Excellency.”

“Call me father, Eugene!”

“This is an official adjutant operation meeting. Besides, if the enemy comes from Tyrol, all the forward fortresses should be considered dangerous.”

That’s when it happened.

“Your Excellency! There’s a problem at the Brescia Fortress!”

Division Commander Augereau rushed in.

Currently, Massena, Augereau, Laharpe, and Sérurier are each assigned tasks.

Massena is stationed inside Milan, Sérurier is in charge of outer defense, and Laharpe is in charge of rear control and checking the Mantua area.

However, Augereau’s mission was a bit special.

He was assigned the task of pacifying northeastern Lombardy.

In particular, Brescia is on the border between Venice and Lombardy, so it is virtually considered Venetian territory.

Augereau had marched to make this place French territory.

However, Napoleon, who had already been enraged, snorted and retorted bluntly.

“What’s wrong, Augereau? Don’t tell me you were defeated by the Venetian Republic’s army? They have almost no army over there?”

“That’s not it! When I approached, it was already occupied!”

“What?”

Augereau told Napoleon and Eugene, who were surprised, the news that he had just rushed from the forward dispatch unit.

“The Imperial Army has finally arrived from Tyrol, Your Excellency!”

The Holy Roman Empire’s Tyrol Army.

Their advance party has crossed the Alps and arrived in Lombardy.

Along with a performance of occupying the city of the allied Venetian Republic.

Early August 1795.

Again, the Lombardy campaign began.