He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 132

Napoleon Never Stops (1)

While all of Europe is watching, General Bonaparte’s real interests lie elsewhere.

“Pregnant?”

Napoleon Bonaparte jumped up in Rome, at the Castel Sant’Angelo [Castle of the Holy Angel, a mausoleum converted into a fortress].

This place is a medieval fortress, remodeled from a tomb from the ancient Roman Empire.

It’s far more cramped than the Palazzo Serbelloni [a grand palace] in Milan, but its defenses are superior.

From the conqueror’s perspective, he has chosen the safest residence.

In truth, Napoleon had no choice, even if it was inconvenient for him.

His fiancée Josephine had come to Rome.

And with news he hadn’t expected at all.

Josephine smiled, caressing her slightly swollen belly.

“I’m past the critical period now. I can ride in a carriage.”

“You should have waited for me to come from Milan at the very least!”

“That’s not the problem, Napoleone?” [Using the Italian version of his name, implying intimacy or a playful scolding]

Just then, another uninvited guest entered the commander’s residence in the fortress.

“Yes, Napoleone. You’re not thinking of making your child a fatherless bastard, are you?”

It was Madame Letizia Bonaparte, Napoleon’s mother.

If only Josephine had come, Napoleon would have been embarrassed but would have dealt with it somehow.

But the news that his mother had arrived with her sent him into a panic.

Of course, the final blow was the news that she was pregnant.

Napoleon, a young man about to turn 26, held his dizzy head and asked.

“How did you get here, Mother?”

“The same way your child’s mother came to Rome. Sérurier sent his men. Colonel Dumas here protected us.”

“Dumas, you say?”

Only then did Napoleon see the motionless bodyguard standing behind Letizia.

Curly hair, a large height, and above all, dark skin.

A young man in a uniform that looked like a black man saluted.

“Greetings to the Commander. I am Colonel Thomas-Alexandre Dumas of the Sérurier Division!”

Modern people in later original history would know the name the young man just said differently.

Because it’s the same name as Dumas, the author of the famous .

In fact, it is the father of the famous Dumas.

He was serving in the Italian Legion as an officer under Sérurier when he was urgently dispatched to Rome.

Having received the mission to guard Napoleon’s family.

Lightly stroking his chin, Napoleon’s face became intrigued.

“Indeed, I heard there was a mixed-race officer in our legion.”

“That’s right. My mother was enslaved in the West Indies.”

“Ha! Stop talking nonsense. Robespierre did two good things, at least. You know what they are? Picking me and abolishing slavery!”

In 1794, the French Revolutionary Government officially abolished slavery.

Of course, Dumas’ father was of noble birth and raised Dumas as his own child, regardless of his mother.

But the abolition of slavery must have been a great inspiration to Dumas.

“That’s why I support the revolution, sir!”

When Dumas shouted with shining eyes, Napoleon chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.

“Anyway, thank you for protecting my mother and wife.”

“It’s nothing, Commander. I was just doing my duty as a soldier!”

“Good, good. I look forward to working with you in the future. Brigadier General Dumas.”

Instantly, Dumas, who had been suddenly promoted, widened his eyes.

“I, I, I! I haven’t fought on the battlefield of glory! I’ve only heard about Monte Notte, Castiglione, and Rivoli!”

“No. Protecting the rear is also an important achievement! Besides, you must have played a part in the conquest of the Kingdom of Sardinia, right? Promotions will soon be issued to officers under Sérurier.”

“T, thank you, Commander!”

What Napoleon just said is by no means empty words.

In this Italian campaign, Napoleon repeatedly carried out dangerous mobile warfare.

Literally abandoning the rear, he took almost the entire main force and defeated the Austrian army.

But if Milan, which was the rear, had been overthrown, this operation would have been seriously disrupted.

The Austrian army followed Napoleon, but there were many pro-imperialists in Milan.

Even Duke Serbelloni was straddling both sides.

Sérurier’s most outstanding achievement is that he stably suppressed this situation.

Of course, the biggest reason for suddenly appointing Dumas as ‘General’ is that he guarded his family.

At that time, Josephine, who had been left unattended, frowned.

“My story isn’t over yet, Napoleone.”

Josephine deliberately recited her Italian name.

It’s similar to the reason why Napoleon calls Josephine, who is originally ‘Rose’, differently.

Like a nickname.

But it is unknown when this title will be changed to Napoleon, the official French military registration name.

Looking at his older fiancée, Napoleon rolled his eyes, and Josephine stuck out her belly.

“What are you going to do with this child?”

“Huh? No, what do you mean? O, of course it’s my child! I’m not such a bad guy that I would deny that!”

“It’s not that, did you forget what my mother said?”

Josephine said to Napoleon with a very confident attitude.

“If we continue like this, this child will be a bastard. Because we have never been married.”

In fact, in the original history, Josephine committed outrageous acts during this period.

Therefore, even if she was pregnant, it was impossible to know whose child it was.

However, Eugene managed it so thoroughly, Marie was attached, and Josephine had no reason to have an affair, so many things have already changed from the original history.

Conversely, Josephine and Napoleon, who were originally already married, have not yet married.

Of course, Napoleon would have gladly proposed under normal circumstances.

The problem is that this place is Rome, and Napoleon is still at war.

“That’s, I mean. Right now, I’m…”

At that time, Letizia, who had been watching the situation with sharp eyes, suddenly intervened.

“Yes! This is Rome, after all.”

“What do you mean by that, Mother?”

“Marriage is originally the work of the church! Moreover, there are numerous priests here, including His Holiness the Pope. Let’s hold a marriage ceremony right away! The child to be born will also be blessed!”

Letizia still looks at Josephine with a disapproving look.

However, ‘grandchild’ is a completely different matter for Letizia, who values blood ties as a Corsican aristocrat.

Anyway, in a situation where Joseph has not yet had a child, it is the same as the first grandchild.

There is no way she can make such a child illegitimate, right?

Napoleon turned around completely embarrassed.

“Eugene? First of all, say something…”

But Eugene, who should have been there, had disappeared.

The other adjutants were nowhere to be found.

Napoleon screamed.

“Where did that guy go? Leaving me alone! Adjutant!”

But no adjutant could hear Napoleon’s screams anymore.

***

Because they ran away outside the Castel Sant’Angelo.

“Is it okay to run away like this?”

Sitting in the brigade commander’s office at the Horse Grenadier camp, Ipolite asked, taking a breather.

Outside the fortress, the Napoleon Legion cavalry is staying in a tent camp for the first time in a while.

Compared to always camping out in the field, it’s a much better situation.

However, there is a reason why they are camping even though they have already entered Rome as victors.

It’s not because Napoleon’s family came.

It is because they must be ready to march at any time.

Of course, Eugene is right to have run away.

Eugene frowned and replied.

“This is not a problem I should get involved in, and Madame Letizia has arrived.”

“The situation is not so relaxed right now, but the commander’s personal family affairs have overlapped. Ah, isn’t this the same for you, Eugene?”

“So, our adjutants should hold a strategy meeting first, right?”

At that moment, Chief of Staff Berthier said with a blank face.

“We must first decide whether to strike Vienna directly or pacify Italy.”

This is the problem currently facing the Napoleon Legion.

Clearly, with the victory at Rivoli, Napoleon seized a decisive opportunity.

Northern Italy was completely under the hooves of the Napoleon Legion.

The Austrian Southern Army of 150,000 was annihilated, the defenses of Milan, Tuscany, and Venice were breached, and the Napoleon Legion’s path was wide open.

However, rather, because all the routes of advance were opened, there was a reason to make a choice.

That’s why he ran to Rome first.

This is because they have not decided whether to attack Austria as originally requested by Paris or to subdue Northern Italy.

On the other hand, entering Rome is beneficial no matter which option is chosen.

If the strategy is to conquer the entire Italy, Rome must be conquered to attack the south.

If they go to Austria, they deceive the enemy and buy time.

The reason why he only brought the cavalry is also for that reason.

Suddenly, Augereau looked around at the adjutants and division commanders and said.

“I think pacifying the Italian peninsula should come first. Isn’t that the original purpose of our legion’s dispatch?”

“It was different before the commander came, Augereau. Our job was to protect Nice. Hehe!”

“Massena, even so, the entire Italy is now on the verge of being under our feet.”

In fact, Augereau did not necessarily have to come to Rome.

However, entering Rome is a truly historic moment for revolutionaries.

As a Jacobin supporter, Augereau joined this line and ran.

Anyway, for the hard-line revolutionaries, the Roman Church is the first target to conquer.

Furthermore, for the Jacobins, the most dangerous place after Rome in Italy is determined.

“In particular, we must occupy the Kingdom of Naples. Only then can we drive out all the Bourbon family who threaten the revolution! From this peninsula!”

It is the Kingdom of Naples, ruled by relatives of the Bourbon family.

The current King of Naples is Ferdinand, the brother of King Carlos IV of Spain.

Also, if you go back to the previous generation, they are all descendants of Louis XIV.

Pushing out the remnants of the Bourbons from all over Europe.

It is one of the Jacobins’ long-cherished wishes.

However, it is not just an ideological issue.

The Kingdom of Naples is actually a counter-revolutionary force and a member of the Anti-French Alliance.

In particular, it is the Kingdom of Naples that occupies Rome and causes the Second Italian War in the original history.

Therefore, Augereau’s judgment is logically correct.

At that time, Lan, who was lightly scratching his head, turned to Eugene.

“What do you think, Freischütz?” [German term for a marksman or sharpshooter, used as a nickname]

Lan shrugged his shoulders at Massena and Augereau and said.

“He’s still young, but this friend is also a brigade commander. Besides, he reads the commander’s mind the best. What do you think, commander?”

“Does he really read it well? Looking at him earlier, he seemed at a loss between his mother and his ‘prospective stepfather’ and ran away. Kikik!” “Ah, that’s because when parents fight, the child doesn’t know what to do. Hahaha!”

Watching Massena and Lan laugh and tease him, Eugene sighed.

Anyway, it was difficult just because his mother came.

But now that it has become clear that she is pregnant, it is even more troublesome.

Moreover, Napoleon’s future advance route was as unclear to Eugene as it was to him.

“I don’t know.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Didn’t you know and hold a meeting?”

“Lan, I don’t know everything about the commander’s thoughts. Besides, the commander would normally reorganize Northern Italy first, according to his original method. But, he came to Rome?”

Eugene pointed to the map above the barracks and said.

“He’s still hesitating. Remember that the main force is still in Padua, right?”

Here in Rome, Napoleon brought most of the generals, adjutants, and Napoleon Club members.

But the only troops he actually brought were the cavalry.

The remaining line infantry and artillery are all staying in Padua.

He came running with preparations to retreat at any time.

At that moment, Massena, who was quick-witted, and Lan, who had a great sense, met eyes.

“Vienna.”

The two said the words at the same time.

Napoleon is thinking of Vienna now.

It’s just that the risk is too great, so he hasn’t made a decision.

Suddenly, Chief of Staff Berthier nodded.

“Good. Then, let’s prepare in a way that can handle both.”

“What do you mean by that, Chief of Staff Berthier?”

“It’s simple. Division Commander Massena. If we stay in Italy, we must divide this land into French direct control and independent republics. That’s something Paris will decide, but we will decide the route of advance to go through this process.”

The reorganization of Italy is entirely a political issue.

The decision will nominally be made by Paris, and in reality, Napoleon will discuss it with Salicetti or the adjutants, especially Eugene.

Just like he did in Milan.

But what supports that reorganization is entirely the military power of the French Italian Legion.

Supply and marching plans are essential to preserve and move military power.

It’s also Berthier’s job.

“We must re-establish the marching preparations and supply system accordingly. This applies equally when it is the opposite.”

Berthier’s gaze turned north on the map, towards the Alps.

“When attacking Vienna directly.”

Eugene nodded and raised his eyebrows.

Everyone was looking at Eugene before he knew it.

Embarrassed, Eugene looked around and asked.

“Why are you all looking at me?”

Massena winked and pushed Eugene’s back.

“Go find out. We’ll decide the rest.”

It seemed that Eugene would have to forcibly return to the Castel Sant’Angelo.

***

When a marital fight breaks out, children prefer to return home after the fight has cooled down as much as possible.

“You ran away well. My son?”

Napoleon, who was alone in the commander’s residence, asked without turning his head.

Eugene smiled bitterly and handed Napoleon a glass of wine.

Napoleon did not particularly enjoy high-end wines, but he always drank wine mixed with water during meals.

The reason why he developed this habit is because the French army always kept wine as a supply.

Eugene spoke to Napoleon, who was taking the wine.

“This place is Rome, marriage is the work of the church, and it is true that the head of the church is here. Commander.”

“Call me father.”

“Not yet. I don’t know about my ‘brother’.”

Slightly looking at Napoleon’s face, Eugene added.

“I don’t want to see that brother become illegitimate either.”

Now it is unavoidable.

Napoleon must marry Josephine.

In the original history, Napoleon marries Josephine even if they have no children.

Furthermore, Napoleon is 25 years old, which is young, but Josephine is 31 years old.

Based on the end of the 18th century, it is marriage itself.

So Eugene decided to petition for marriage.

Napoleon glanced at Eugene and chuckled.

“Cunning guy! Good, good. Anyway, I proposed, and I wanted it too. Besides, it’s my child. I’m going to be a father!”

“It hasn’t been born yet.”

“It’ll be born soon! Also under the Pope’s blessing!”

Eugene asked Napoleon, who seemed to have an excited face.

“Then, as evidence of victory, will you hold a wedding consecrated by the Pope?”

“No.”

“Yes? But the Pope will gladly accept it?”

Napoleon drank the wine again and replied.

“I’m going to have a wedding. However, in the French revolutionary style, I’m just going to register the marriage and make the marriage happen. Unfortunately, our son is not an adult, so he can’t be a witness.”

It seems that he decided after being harassed by Josephine and Letizia all day today.

He will get married, but he will minimize the time spent.

So why should Napoleon get married in such a simplified way?

Because he needs time to use elsewhere.

“It’s a direct hit to Vienna.”

Just as Eugene was about to speak with wide eyes, Napoleon replied in a heated tone.

“Yes. It’s a direct hit to Vienna. Stopping in Italy will only prolong the war. Then, we have to fight a war of attrition.”

“But isn’t it too late? By now, they will already be sending defensive forces from the Rhine front towards the Brenner Pass. Besides, winter is coming soon? The Alps road is blocked in winter.”

“Who said they were going to the Brenner Pass?”

Napoleon shook his head violently.

“That’s the road that Alvinci has already seen through. Besides, it’s the road to Munich, not Vienna, right?”

Originally, the Battle of Rivoli occurred because Alvinci was trying to defend the Brenner Pass.

But if you cross this pass, Munich, soon the Duchy of Bavaria, appears.

Vienna has to run east again from there.

There is a direct route from Northern Italy to Vienna.

Instantly, Eugene exclaimed in shock.

“Tyrol! Goodness, Commander. That’s!”

Tyrol, the core of the Austrian Emperor’s territory.

It was also the road that Würmser and Alvinci came down from the eastern Alps.

Naturally, it is originally an area that the Austrian military defends as the most important core area.