He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 188

(188) Now Cairo Belongs to France

When most of humanity was in the Stone Age, a civilization was already building pyramids on the Nile.

-Swish, swish, swish!

The fierce waves of the Nile River crashed.

This river has been famous for its regular flooding since ancient times.

Flooding starts in the Ethiopian highlands in May and reaches Cairo around October.

In the original timeline, this flooding disappeared with the construction of the Aswan Dam, but that’s no longer the case.

Of course, it’s only July now, so the water level has just begun to rise.

Nevertheless, the Nile’s [characteristic wildlife] were floating and surging on the waves.

Ippolito whistled as he watched the scene.

“Wow, is that the famous Nile crocodile?”

Thousands of crocodiles roamed the Nile, their mouths wide open.

Even the Egyptians who lived there didn’t dare to approach.

Eugene shrugged and said.

“They’re opening their mouths just wide enough to eat people.”

“What should we do? Leave them alone for nature conservation? Come to think of it, I think they used to ban indiscriminate killing of animals during the old royal family’s hunting ground creation.”

“We are revolutionaries, Ippolito. We eliminate everything from the old era.”

Eugene gestured lightly.

“Shoot them all. Brigadier General Domartin.”

Soon after, artillery commander General Domartin raised a signal flag.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Indeed, cannons were fired at the Nile all at once.

The crocodiles were startled and rampaged from the impact of the shells alone.

Then, the fired shells began to explode.

[Explosive shells] made for the fleet were unveiled on the Nile.

However, the impact is too great, and the cannon caliber must be large, so they are still too difficult to use in land battles.

But it was enough to show off their power.

The Cairo citizens who were watching trembled and shouted.

Of course, they were all talking in Arabic, so the French army could only guess.

“Ugh, the shells, the shells are exploding!”

“Oh my god, Allah will be angry.”

“All the crocodiles are dying and turning over!”

Ippolito, who was looking around with a telescope to see if there were any beautiful women, turned to Eugene.

“But do we have to use those precious shells like this?”

“It’s good for showing off power, right? Besides, considering what we’re going to do from now on, we need to demonstrate considerable strength.”

“What are you going to do?”

Eugene called the scribe Gauhari.

“Now, take the megaphone and translate the following words to proclaim!”

Gauhari and the Coptic Christians all held megaphones in their hands.

The method used to persuade the rebels in the Vendée before.

Dozens of people shout the same words with handmade megaphones.

Eugene shouted loudly.

“Listen, people of Misr [Egypt]!”

Soon after, Gauhari and the Coptic Christians shouted loudly, repeating Eugene’s words.

“We respect the words of Allah and are the people of those who believe in the Bible! We are also the [wrath of God] who punished the rebel Mamluks!”

Then, François Chasseboeuf Volney, a French advisor who was watching the situation next to Eugene, was surprised and asked.

“Is it really okay to translate it like that?”

“You’re not the one translating, Professor Volney.”

“No, but I’m worried that the Muslims might be upset.”

Volney traveled to Egypt in 1786.

So, by this era’s standards, he is recognized as France’s top Egypt expert.

Anyway, this is not an era where something suddenly changes in 10 years.

But there is something only Eugene, a reincarnator, can know.

Eugene smiled and pointed to where the residents of Cairo and Giza were standing.

“Can’t you see that?”

The residents who came out to watch from all over the city were nodding.

Whether they are Christian or Muslim is actually a secondary issue for them.

The first is whether they are atheists or not.

In fact, from a Muslim’s point of view, Christians are those who believe in the faith before the ‘true’ prophet Muhammad.

So, Muslims think that [God] itself is the same being.

Eugene raised his voice again.

“From now on, as believers in faith! We will build a new Misr!”

Up to this point, it’s just a pointless statement.

But Eugene had something prepared for the Egyptians.

The next moment, even Gauhari, who was translating and shouting, was surprised by the declaration.

“Furthermore! We will exempt taxes for three years starting this year!”

Tax exemption.

There is no more popular issue for the ruled than this.

The residents of Cairo looked at each other and burst into cheers.

“Wow!”

“Tax exemption! Oh my god, we don’t have to pay taxes for three years?”

“This, it’s really worth changing rulers!”

Eugene added what he really wanted to convey here.

“We will bring you new things. We also promise to increase food production! Above all, the newly established Misr government will be a government that includes your wise men!”

A new Misr, soon the Egyptian government.

A rule where the Mamluks are excluded, the Ottomans cannot intervene, and France controls.

This rule promises tax exemption and a good harvest for at least three years.

Here, he affirmed that new [goods and technologies] would also arrive.

The exploding shells he just showed prove it.

“Oooooh!”

Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of tens of thousands of citizens, Ippolito asked with an absurd expression.

“Eugene, then why did we conquer this place?”

“Did you think we could get something huge out of here? India is the real prize, not Egypt.”

“No, but still.”

Eugene twisted his lips as he looked at the enthusiastic citizens.

“In the first place, we came here to defeat England. Don’t forget that.”

The moment you forget that truth, the French expeditionary force loses.

To England.

***

To dominate a civilization that has prospered since ancient times, you need overwhelming, state-of-the-art civilization.

-Kiiing!

Giza, originally the city that Murad Bey used as his base.

The French Egyptian expeditionary force made its base right here in Giza.

Cairo is across the river, and it is easy to reach Alexandria.

As Murad used it as his base, the infrastructure was sufficient.

Above all, it was easy to use the old facilities of the Mamluk army, which had no owner.

However, a strange iron lump making a strange noise entered this French army base.

The Grand Imam, Sharkawi, who was entering with guidance, was startled.

“It seems like they are making something amazing.”

Denon, the representative of the French scholars who was guiding Sharkawi, glanced at the iron lump and smirked.

“It’s nothing much. It’s a printing press.”

“A printing press? Heh, the Franks make documents with machines, it’s true.”

“Hahaha! That’s not even a machine. Real machines are made in a form that doesn’t require human hands at all.”

Denon said, looking at the [newspapers] coming out of the printing press.

“I heard that one of our goals is to test that machine here.”

Of course, Denon doesn’t know everything accurately.

However, as the representative of the scholar delegation, he only heard what Eugene taught him.

Also, he had to know to some extent to persuade the Egyptians.

For now, the manpower who can speak Arabic is mostly Egypt experts, including Denon.

At that time, a group of generals in black uniforms entered the conference room of the base building.

The general at the head is Expeditionary Commander Hoche.

Hoche looked at Denon and waved his hand happily.

“Oh, you’re here now. Ambassador Denon? Sorry for gathering you in a noisy place. There’s no suitable place to put the printing press.”

“Haha! The distinguished guests who came today are rather amazed. Commander Hoche. All nine sheikhs have come here, including Sheikh Sharkawi.”

“Hmm, that’s a relief. Would you translate for me? Nice to meet you, Sheikh Sharkawi. I am Hoche, commander of the French Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Allahu Akbar [God is the greatest]!”

Sharkawi asked, looking at Hoche, who was shouting [God is great] without any hesitation.

“Do you believe in God?”

Hoche is a revolutionary general.

But he was also a person who received basic education from a priest in his childhood.

He doesn’t have any special faith, but he is not a person who has any aversion to religion.

Smiling very kindly, Hoche nodded.

“Of course, Sheikh Sharkawi. Our army is not a group of unbelievers. It’s just that we believe in different scriptures than you.”

“I see. It is a pity that you do not follow the true prophet, but Jesus can also be called an excellent prophet. The attitude of believing in God is important.”

“Of course! We came to Egypt here according to God’s will. Hahaha!”

Sharkawi asked, looking at Hoche, who was lying without batting an eye.

“Then, what should our [Diwan (council)] do for France?”

Divan, soon the Arabic word for [council or cabinet].

The Arabian Muslim Empire is ruled by the Sultan, the monarch, and the Divan, which assists him.

After entering Cairo, the French expeditionary force gathered influential figures among the local collaborators.

Zahari, the representative of the Coptic Christians, and Sharkawi, a Muslim scholar.

Of course, although the name is Divan, France has no intention of giving it decision-making power here.

But you have to save face.

Eugene was next to Hoche and stepped forward.

“We have given you tax exemption and the destruction of oppressors as a gift. In the future, Egypt will be ruled by the French military government for the time being. However, the Divan in which you participate will be the top advisor to our military government headquarters.”

Sharkawi, who heard Denon’s translation, stared at Eugene.

“What is different from the Mamluks?”

The Mamluks also did not ignore and rule the local Muslims of Egypt.

Although it was a military rule, they also appointed local collaborators as officials.

Does the military government headquarters carry out practical rule?

Then what is different from the Mamluks?

Just as Hoche was about to explain, Eugene blocked him and looked back at Denon.

“It was God’s will. Ambassador Denon, is everything prepared by Colonel Conte and President Polley?”

Then Denon looked back at a technician who was sweating behind him.

“Monsieur Polley will know exactly?”

“It’s, it’s ready.”

“Okay. Now, let’s go. Sheikhs. And generals.”

Jean Samuel Polley, soon Eugene’s top technician, trembled and went outside.

Eugene patted Polley on the shoulder.

When Polley turned around, Eugene winked.

“It doesn’t matter if you fail. Just look cool.”

Only then did Polley regain his composure and pout.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m going to succeed, Patron.”

The next moment, all the sheikhs who stepped outside the base building stopped in surprise.

“What is that!”

A huge fish was floating in the air and flying.

-Flutter, flutter, flutter!

It is a fish-shaped airship.

In the original history, Polley made a test version in London in 1805.

Unlike ordinary balloons, it is lifted by people’s muscle power, flies for a short time, and then lands again.

Of course, Polley’s airship will not be put into practical use [in a practical sense].

This is because the era has not yet discovered hydrogen or helium to float the airship.

What moves the fish airship now is only the hot air from the oil stove.

Nevertheless, it was enough to surprise the sheikhs, and in fact, the generals, including Hoche.

Eugene smiled, looking at the shocked Sheikh, Grand Imam Sharkawi.

“We control the sky. According to God’s will. Now, great teacher. Are you ready to cooperate with us?”

At this moment, the Sheikh 9-man Divan succumbed to France.

***

In the evening as the sun sets, there is a girl resting her chin and staring at Eugene’s desk.

“It’s all a bluff, isn’t it? Eugene?”

Eugene glanced up and was startled.

Maybe it’s because of the sunset.

A beautiful girl, dyed red with light, is smiling seductively in front of her eyes.

Egyptian summer must be very hot and difficult, but the vitality that seems rather fresh is dazzling.

Swallowing dry saliva, Eugene hurriedly avoided his gaze.

“Pauline, aren’t you going to work? You’re the deputy commander of the nursing unit?”

“Not many people were injured in the battle. Besides, I just unpacked my luggage. I wanted to see our cute nephew too.”

“Oh my. Is that so, aunt? Then take a look around and go. I’m a little busy today too.”

Pauline giggled and circled Eugene’s office once, then tilted her head.

“What is this?”

Suddenly, Pauline picked up a strangely shaped drawing and manual from the end of Eugene’s desk.

Eugene was surprised again when he saw the drawing, then smirked.

It’s confidential, but it didn’t seem like it would be a problem for Pauline to know.

“It’s one of the secret plans that Samuel Polley proposed for this war. It’s called a [steam car].”

Pauline blinked and was surprised as she read the manual for the drawing.

“There was something like this? Um, something like a carriage just goes forward?”

“It was made 30 years ago.”

“No, but why don’t I know? I’ve never seen anything like this in Paris?”

Eugene scratched his head and shrugged.

“As soon as Cugnot made it, a person was hit and killed by this [iron carriage]. So, it has been regarded as a forbidden technology for 30 years.”

Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, the inventor who developed the first three-wheeled steam car in 1769.

It is an invention far ahead of Stephenson’s steam locomotive or Fulton’s steamboat.

8 kilometers per hour, weight 2.5 tons, transportable weight 4 tons.

However, in the first test run, he ended up hitting and killing a soldier.

In the end, the steam car experiment in France was completely stopped.

Still, King Louis XV, who liked new things, gave Cugnot a pension, but even that was stopped after the revolution.

As of 1797, he is suffering from poverty in Brussels.

Eugene didn’t know this fact well, but Polley proposed it around the time the expedition began.

He proposed that if Cugnot’s three-wheeled car was reproduced and used for military purposes in the Egyptian expedition.

Pauline tilted her head.

“Heh, you’re going to make something that wasn’t even made in Paris here?”

“There’s nothing in Egypt. There are no machines, no vested interests, and no infrastructure. In other words, it is possible to start all of this from scratch. For example, there will be no traffic accidents.”

“You’re trying to [permanently control] this place?”

Just as Eugene was about to be surprised again, Pauline giggled and leaned closer.

“I’m not interested in this, but I’m used to reading men’s minds.”

Looking at her red-shining cheeks, Eugene said without realizing it.

“You look like my mother.”

“What? That’s offensive. I hate mama’s boys.”

“I didn’t say that to make you feel good. It’s not a good thing that you look like my mother.”

For a moment, Eugene smiled bitterly.

“You can play with men, but it’s easy to fall into your own tricks.”

It is the life that Josephine will live in the original history.

She rose to the position of Empress by manipulating men, but in the end, she fell in love with Napoleon and was kicked out.

A life that can never be called happy.

Pauline’s life in the original history is not much different.

But Pauline leaned closer to Eugene and whispered.

“Then, what about you? Do you hate women like me?”

Again, I want to kiss her.

I want to hug her right now.

I want to throw her to the makeshift bed in the far side of the office right now.

A momentary surge of desire.

Eugene suppressed it with truly superhuman patience and kissed Pauline on the cheek.

Eugene said to Pauline, who was panting, in a burning voice.

“Later.”

“Why? Can’t you do it now?”

“I have something I swore to now, but an important battle is waiting.”

A vow to Marie.

But what is more important to Eugene now is something else.

The enemy that cannot be avoided is coming soon.

“It’s a battlefield where an old [rival] I’ve wanted to avoid for a long time is coming.”

It is Nelson, the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet.