He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 176

(176) Smokeless Powder Ignites Without Smoke

Gunpowder comes with smoke.

It’s basic common sense in this era.

Marie, who doesn’t know much about military affairs, was surprised, her eyes wide.

“But is smokeless gunpowder possible?”

“Yes, *Patrone* [patron or boss]. It’s what our Boarneh-Dupont Societe is developing right now. Eugene Patrong shared the method with us. When we combine nitric acid with sulfuric acid and mix in cotton, a stable ‘explosion’ occurs.”

“Oh, wait. When did the name Dupont get attached? Hehe.”

Dupont slicked back his oiled hair and grinned.

“I received permission from Eugene Patrong. He said this achievement could be a joint patent. Well, it’s still a long way from being practical.”

Nitrocellulose, one of the three major smokeless powders from later in history.

It is an explosive created by stabilizing cotton through mixing it with nitric and sulfuric acids.

Originally discovered in 1832, with cotton found to be a stabilizer in 1846.

Simpler than other smokeless powders, it is relatively easy to produce if you know the principle.

That’s why Eugene entrusted Dupont, who had achieved great success in gunpowder manufacturing in the original timeline, with the task of developing smokeless powder.

To boost his motivation, he even established a joint venture named after Dupont.

Marie stared at Dupont, who had come to report on business affairs, and tilted her head.

“Come to think of it, Monsieur Dupont, you promised Eugene 10 years, right? It’s been 5 years now.”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t you regret it?”

Dupont’s eyes widened for a moment, then he burst out laughing.

“Puhahaha! *Patrone*, no, Princess! What are you talking about? I wouldn’t even be living in this country if it weren’t for Patrong!”

In fact, if he knew the original history, Dupont wouldn’t be able to say that.

However, from Dupont’s perspective, it’s a natural reaction.

Immediately after the revolution, Dupont and his father were branded as counter-revolutionaries.

He almost died defending Lavoisier.

Moreover, the United States in this era is still literally a newborn country.

In modern terms, it’s like a wealthy American moving to a Southeast Asian country without any assets.

Dupont becoming a major tycoon in the United States in the original timeline is truly the result of overlapping luck.

That’s why Dupont was genuinely happy to join the Eugene Cartel.

“At best, I would be in a newborn country in the New World, or at worst, on my way to the guillotine. Besides, I get to spend my days doing all sorts of new chemical experiments, including mercury fulminate! I am very satisfied.”

Marie smiled brightly as she stared at Dupont.

“That’s a relief. But you’re dreaming of independence, right?”

Dupont rolled his eyes and smiled shrewdly.

“You’re sharp.”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have put your name on the company name. Even the cannery is mine, but it’s in Eugene’s name, you know? Nicholas, who is in charge of smuggling, Damas, the general manager, and Collo, the bank manager, don’t put their names forward either.”

“I have to be honest, right? Those friends are underestimating him too much.”

Dupont glanced around.

This is none other than the inner room on the 3rd floor of the Boarneh Bank.

In fact, it’s practically Eugene’s home, but the person who actually uses this room now is Marie.

Because Eugene privately has his father’s mansion, and publicly has the Public Safety Command office.

So, if he has to come to this house, it’s only to see Marie, oddly enough.

Therefore, there was no one around except Marie’s closest maids, that is, Eugene’s cousins, Emilie and Stephanie.

Dupont lowered his voice, as if to reassure Marie, and asked.

“When the 10-year deadline is over, will the Eugene Cartel still be the same as it is now?”

Marie narrowed her eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“Rochejacquelin has returned. No, he has been reinstated. General Lafayette is still going strong. Professor Lavoisier has even regained his seat as a member of parliament.”

“Wait a minute, what are you talking about? Surely, Dupont, you’re not going to say something like Fersen, are you?”

Royal Restoration.

Could it be that Dupont, a former aristocrat, is dreaming of that too?

No.

“No, the old royal family can’t come back, *Patrone*. But what about a new dynasty?”

The moment Marie’s eyes widened, Dupont smiled strangely and said.

“For example, the Bonaparte dynasty.”

Lavoisier would not have come up with this idea.

However, Dupont is a chemist, a businessman, and a politician.

The reason Dupont left his name in history in the first place was because he acquired the gunpowder supply business rights from the US government.

That’s why, even now that he has joined Eugene’s ranks, he is keeping his ears open to news from the political world.

In Dupont’s view, Napoleon and Eugene are now on the same path.

At least to the highest power in France, maybe even the founding of a dynasty.

Marie shuddered for a moment at the words she hadn’t even thought of, then shook her head.

“That’s too dangerous to say, Dupont.”

“I know. But who do you think is the most powerful person in France right now? Danton? Lafayette? No, it’s General Bonaparte. Eugene Patrong’s father.”

“He’s an adoptive father. They’re not related by blood, are they?”

Even if a dynasty is founded, wouldn’t blood ties come first?

“That’s right. But he has no sons. Also, General Bonaparte won’t stop here. Maybe he’ll go all the way. When that happens, the only son is the adopted son.”

Dupont didn’t think so.

Marie didn’t know what to say and remained silent.

If a dynasty is really founded, what will be the position of Marie, the princess of the old royal family?

At that time, Dupont smacked his lips and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, that’s only if this Egyptian expedition is successful. If it fails, everything could be blown away.”

“What are you talking about? Egypt? General Bonaparte is going to Egypt?”

“Huh? Didn’t you know?”

Dupont tilted his head and replied.

“Eugene Patrong is going to Egypt, isn’t he? Instead of General Bonaparte. That’s why there’s a commotion to increase gunpowder production right now.”

At that moment, Marie jumped up and ran out.

***

However, it is now 1797, the end of the 18th century.

In the modern era of the original timeline, she would have asked where he was on her cell phone, but she can’t do that in this era.

Besides, Eugene was really busy moving around today.

So, it was after Marie circled around Paris that she caught up with Eugene.

It was right in the drawing room of the old Pajeri mansion.

“Eugene Bonaparte! Are you out of your mind!”

Marie, who was about to enter the drawing room, panting, stopped.

No one dares to enter the drawing room.

For example, even Lores Permon, one of the maids of Madame Bonaparte of the Pajeri mansion.

Then Eugene’s voice was heard.

“Mother, Florence is crying.”

“Florence was taken away by the nanny! I’m the one who wants to cry now!”

“Then please think about Hortense. No matter how angry you get, the situation is already set. The Egyptian expedition.”

Marie felt like her breath was stopping.

Really, Eugene is going to Egypt.

He even decided it secretly without telling her.

Marie knows that there are many secrets in military matters.

Besides, Eugene is still in love with Marie, but they are not married.

So, they are not in a relationship where they share a bed.

But still, couldn’t he have given her a word?

At that moment, Josephine seemed to be thinking the same thing and shot out an angry cry.

“Then go with Napoleon! How can you go alone? Across the sea, to a dark continent where you don’t know what will happen!”

In fact, if Napoleon had said he was going on the Egyptian expedition, Josephine wouldn’t have been so angry.

Even if she didn’t have an affair like in the original timeline, she could have fun partying alone.

But Josephine was furious that her son was going alone.

Napoleon seems to win and return without worry no matter what battlefield he goes to.

But Eugene is not like that.

Josephine, and Marie, who is listening from outside, feel the same.

But Eugene answered with a very calm laugh.

“First of all, I’m not going alone, I’m going with Hoche.”

“What? Wait, why?”

“Why? Hoche is no longer just a bodyguard who was your lover, Mother. He’s the second-in-command of the French military.”

Hoche, the conqueror of Flanders and the Netherlands.

Then Marie could rest assured a little.

But Eugene added something strange.

“So, he’s an essential general when attacking the huge colony of Egypt.”

Marie didn’t understand what this meant right away.

She only understood it as meaning that Egypt would be made a permanent overseas territory of France in the future.

But Josephine was different.

“You’re planning to leave Hoche there.”

“How did you know?”

“I’m your mother! I don’t know about politics or military affairs, but I know what you’re thinking!”

The moment Marie was surprised and widened her eyes, Josephine asked even more surprising things.

“You’re not thinking of killing Hoche, are you?”

Now, it’s not a story that Josephine’s maids can hear.

Marie sent a signal and hurriedly sent Josephine’s maids, including Lores, out.

But just when only Marie was left, Eugene’s voice was heard answering simply.

“Of course not? But basically, it’s good for Hoche to be away from ‘Father’.”

“Why? Doesn’t Napoleone have a past? And do you think my only ex-lover is Hoche?”

“Father probably doesn’t have any ex-lovers? And among your ex-lovers, Mother, Hoche is the only military powerhouse.”

This time, it’s a story that Marie will blush at.

There is no one in Parisian society who doesn’t know that Josephine lived a flamboyant life before marriage.

But Hoche is someone she dated before Josephine became famous.

So, it wasn’t a well-known relationship.

The moment Marie blushed at the story of Josephine and Hoche’s love affair, someone asked Eugene.

“Brother, are you really going to Egypt?”

“Yes.”

“Then, you’ll win and come back, right? This time too?”

Marie felt like her heart was sinking.

That’s right.

The scandals of Hoche and Josephine are not important at all.

Will Eugene be able to come back alive?

Even going to the distant desert of Egypt.

“Yes, are you confident you can win? Without Napoleone?”

When Josephine asked, wondering, Eugene burst out laughing.

“Puhahaha! All wars are gambling, Mother.”

“So?”

“I never lose in gambling.”

Marie leaned against the wall and stayed still, then left Josephine’s house.

It was because she didn’t have the confidence to say it was okay to go when she saw Eugene.

She felt like she would grab him or shout to go with him.

Armand Ganet, the aide and bodyguard, drove the carriage for a long time.

How long has it been?

In Marie’s view of the complex city of Paris, a palace came into view.

The Tuileries Palace.

It is now the center of French power where the Council of Five Hundred meets.

But in the past, it was a symbol of the fallen royal family.

The palace where the royal family, dragged from Versailles, was forcibly confined.

At that time, Eugene promised to protect Marie there, and he did.

Marie looked at the palace with tearful eyes and smiled.

“Yes, Eugene will win. And he will definitely come back.”

That’s how Marie loves Eugene.

***

However, people are different, and the way they love is also different.

“Is that so, Pauline?”

Napoleon, who has become the most powerful person in France, has many siblings.

His mother was busy securing property in Corsica, but the family had already followed Napoleon to Paris.

Pauline, one of them, was forced to enter a boarding school and was receiving boring education.

Occasionally, gossip that her friend Lores Permon runs to her and tells her is her only pleasure.

Today’s gossip was very interesting.

Pauline pursed her lips as she straightened her boarding school uniform.

“Eugene is really out of his mind.”

“Why? Eugene has always won so far. He won even against really difficult enemies in Italy. He even overthrew the Imperial Emperor?”

“That’s when he went with our ‘Brother’. Besides, Italy is close to France, right? I heard that if the distance gets farther, it’s difficult to send troops, supplies, or weapons right away.”

At that moment, Lores’ eyes lit up.

“Who did you hear that from? Another new lover?”

Of course, Pauline and Lores have no interest in politics or military affairs.

In fact, Pauline is 17 years old and Lores is 13 years old, so they are not old enough to be interested in that.

So, the fact that Pauline knows about these issues means that she heard it from her lover, whose main job is military affairs.

Instead of blushing, Pauline scoffed and confidently glared at Lores.

“Huh, why is our Lores so interested in other people’s love affairs?”

“Well, there are no people who have gone all the way, yet?” [referring to a deeper level of intimacy]

“I’m not the only one like that? I heard that Madame Recamier also has a lot of love affairs, but she rarely sleeps with them.”

Pauline, a precocious girl who shamelessly discussed love affairs even though she was still unmarried, smiled strangely.

“Rather, our brother often goes all the way once he’s in love.”

Gossip girl Lores’ eyes flashed.

“What, what. General Napoleon, are you having an affair?”

“Shh.”

“Why? Don’t you know I’m tight-lipped? Tell me only!”

Pauline stared at Lores, who was saying words that no one would believe, and picked up a pen and paper.

“That’s okay, just deliver this letter to Hippolyte.”

“What is it?”

“Hippolyte is Eugene’s close aide, right? He’s going on this expedition, right?”

Quickly scribbling a letter, Pauline’s eyes sparkled.

“This is a great opportunity for me. An opportunity to overtake Marie. Well, Egyptian fashion is quite interesting too.”

The origin of civilization, the land of the desert, and the kingdom of ambition.

Egypt.

The desire surrounding it is not only for men.

Signing the letter, Pauline laughed.

“Pfft! Good. Eugene is going to conquer Egypt, right? Where, shall I try to become the Queen of Egypt?”

May 1797, the eve of the Egyptian expedition.

It was the day when Napoleon’s sister, Pauline, was burning with the passion unique to the Bonaparte family.