He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 198

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 198

(198) Time to Use Desaix

Victory can sometimes be like a drug.

“Oh, General! You have mustard on your mustache!”

This is Faiyum, a city in the middle of the Nile River that has flourished since ancient Egyptian times.

A fertile place located 100 kilometers south of Cairo, where grains, vegetables, and olives are grown.

Because of this, it was once the site of the fortress of the Mamluk nobleman, Ayyub.

But now, both Faiyum and Ayyub’s fortress have changed hands.

Inside a tent, a handsome man was lying in the center of a place filled with beautiful women.

It was the French general who came to suppress the remaining Mamluks.

Commander of the expeditionary force, Division General Desaix.

Desaix, who was hugging a half-naked Caucasian beauty, opened his eyes groggily.

“I see. Is this the juice that our Yena was buried in?”

“No, Necros was buried in it.”

“Oh, then I have to punish them both!”

Desaix, quickly embracing the Ethiopian beauty, Necros, with his other arm, headed for the bed.

“Come on, let’s go to bed together!”

“Kyaa! General, you’re too much!”

“I’m going to do it with Necros! Oh, you’re so naughty!”

Desaix replied in fluent Arabic.

“I just said I’d punish you, didn’t I? Hehe. Huh?”

Suddenly, Desaix’s face hardened.

“Oh, uh, when did you come in?”

The beauties in the tent were startled and covered their bodies.

A room full of beauties of all races, including Eastern European Caucasian white beauties, Ethiopian brown beauties, and African black beauties.

It was similar to the so-called [Harem, the private living quarters of Islamic rulers, often including wives, concubines, and female servants], the hall of Islamic rulers in the West.

General Marceau, another black-haired general standing in front of the tent door, licked his lips.

It was a sight that he didn’t know whether to envy, scold for violating military discipline, or get angry.

“Were you so engrossed that you didn’t even notice the mustard on your mustache?”

“Ahem. Why didn’t you say so? I would have come out to greet you formally a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry, but I brought my wife with me. I don’t have time to play with your beauties.”

Then Desaix took off his turban and laughed.

“Don’t tease me too much. I’m working hard too.”

Marceau’s mouth dropped open at the brazen answer.

“Work? How does building a harem become the general’s job?”

“These beauties are all former mistresses of Mamluk nobles. They tell me a lot about the local situation in Egypt. Thanks to the information I got recently, I was able to defeat the remaining Mamluk forces.”

“Oh, I see. The way they give information is, of course, with their bodies?”

When Marceau asked sarcastically, Desaix shrugged.

“I guess so. By the way, are you here to dismantle my harem?”

Of course, Marceau didn’t come to Faiyum without knowing anything.

October 1797.

It has been almost half a year since the French expeditionary force arrived in Egypt.

Also, most of the expeditionary forces came single without lovers.

Desaix was still unmarried, so he thought he would find a lover here first.

However, he didn’t know that he would build such a full-fledged harem.

Marceau, who had a bitter smile, shook his head.

“Of course not. I came to deliver the order.”

“Order?”

“Our superior, the Sharpshooter of Magic, has called for you.”

Marceau handed over the letter and spoke heavily in a light tone.

“An expeditionary force is coming from the mainland of the Turkish Empire. It’s to stop them.”

At that moment, Desaix jumped up like lightning.

It has been almost half a year since the so-called ‘Battle of the Pyramids’ ended.

Since then, Desaix has mainly been dealing with the remaining Mamluk forces scattered throughout Egypt.

He heard about the rebellion in Cairo and the defeat of the British fleet in Abu Qir, but it was a distant story for Desaix.

Because he had to carry out tiring but necessary mop-up operations.

The reason why he spent his remaining time enjoying himself with the beauties in the harem was to endure this boredom.

But now, a proper battle was finally approaching again.

The hero of the Bavarian escape, Desaix, flashed his eyes.

“Of course, I have to go. Then, is it a full mobilization this time too?”

“No. Only you and your division will go.”

“Yes?”

Desaix was so dumbfounded that he opened his mouth wide this time.

“Are you saying that I alone should stop the Turkish Empire’s corps? Is that what you’re saying now?”

However, Marceau just smiled and nodded as if it were natural.

“Yes. That’s why our [Freischütz, literally ‘free shooter,’ a term often associated with sharpshooters or elite marksmen] Chief of Staff called for you.”

It was the day when a bolt from the blue struck Desaix, who was enjoying his days in the harem.

***

Of course, this is by no means a plan that Eugene is carrying out to kill Desaix.

“Chief of Staff, this is absurd! No matter how weak the enemy is, how can you make me stop the enemy with my division alone!”

As expected, Eugene smiled at Desaix, who had rushed to Cairo like lightning.

He must have abandoned the harem.

In fact, even in the original history, Desaix gathers beauties in Egypt and spends his time indulging in carnal desires.

However, Napoleon did not reprimand Desaix much.

Because Desaix is the one who pursues Murad Bey, whom he originally missed, and advances to the upper reaches of the Nile River.

In other words, Desaix is a master of mobile rapid attacks, although he is not well known.

He is also active throughout Egypt, which is full of deserts.

This is why Eugene picked Desaix out of the five division-level generals.

“Have you heard about the enemy’s situation?”

“I heard. 3,000 French-style infantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 5,000 of those terrifying Janissaries! And originally 3,000 infantry plus 20,000 infantry newly conscripted from Syria! A total of 35,000 troops!”

“Your number calculation is accurate? That’s right.”

3,000 Nizam-ı Cedid [Ottoman army infantry trained in the European style], 5,000 Janissaries [elite Ottoman infantry], 4,000 Anatolian Sipahi (cavalry) [Ottoman feudal cavalry], and 5,000 regular infantry.

In addition, 20,000 infantry were newly conscripted while passing through Syria and Anatolia.

So, a large army of 35,000 men is coming by ship.

But Eugene had one more piece of information that the Grand Imam al-Sharqawi had given him.

Eugene, who was writing the operation plan, said.

“But something important is missing. The enemy’s cannons are estimated to be less than 30.”

At that moment, Desaix’s expression perked up.

“There are fewer cannons than the Mamluk army?”

“That’s right. Are you interested?”

“But I know that our French officers taught them how to use those cannons.”

Then, Sebastiani, who was watching Eugene’s mood from the side, quickly added.

“Well, we introduced the Gribeauval system cannon [a French artillery system]. But only 5 or less were actually manufactured. I guess there wasn’t enough time.”

Then most of the cannons owned by the Turkish Empire army are old.

The most important thing in modern infantry warfare is the projection of firepower.

If the number of cannons is small, it will be a worthwhile game.

The French army already has more than 100 army cannons.

As Desaix stroked his chin and pondered, Eugene smiled and asked.

“Did you hear that?”

“It’s very tempting information. But there are still some parts that I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

Desaix stared at Eugene.

“The Chief of Staff achieved an amazing success in Abu Qir a month ago.”

“It was a defeat, though?”

“He killed the enemy commander and crippled the British fleet. No naval admiral has ever achieved such a feat, not only after the revolution but also before the revolution. Not even the Chief of Staff’s great-uncle.”

Desaix is also a member of the old nobility.

So he knew about the Beauharnais family, who had made a name for themselves in the navy.

However, the fact that Desaix mentioned Eugene’s great-uncle, Admiral François de Beauharnais, was not a compliment.

Rather, it was to scold him.

“Why don’t you use the navy that you left behind while achieving such a feat? 12 ships of the line are enough to stop the enemy fleet.”

Eugene quietly looked at Desaix and said.

“The Turks and Egyptians don’t know that yet, General Desaix.”

Desaix just blinked, not understanding right away.

In fact, Ochs didn’t understand when Eugene first said that [landing] was necessary.

This is because only those who can see war as an extension of politics can come up with such an idea.

It is rather difficult for pure soldiers to think of it.

Eugene spread out the operation map and asked.

“If we assume that they know that we still have a fleet of ships of the line, will they come here?”

“They won’t come. I would run away if I were them.”

“That’s a wise decision. It may ruin your style a bit, but the army’s strength will remain intact.”

At that moment, Eugene’s baton pointed to the Egyptian Delta on the map.

“Then, Egypt will still have unstable elements. So, the enemy must land on Egyptian soil. Absolutely.”

So, this is what he’s saying.

Suppose Eugene blocks the enemy fleet at sea.

The battle itself may be easy.

However, as a result, even if some of the Ottoman navy is sunk, most of the army is likely to escape.

A dangerous military force that still aims at Egypt will remain.

Furthermore, the people of this land, Egypt, may start to read the room.

It is necessary to show them which is stronger, the Turkish Empire or the French Republic.

Desaix, who understood this far, nodded and frowned.

“Then, would you please answer the last question I don’t understand?”

“As much as you want. I guess what you’re asking. Why are you sending me out alone?”

“You know. War is not a joke. Defeating a majority with a minority is just a rookie’s delusion. If you can, you have to crush the enemy with all your strength.”

Eugene shook his head.

“The premise is wrong.”

“Yes?”

“We will not fight with a minority. It’s just General Desaix’s division, one unit, that appears in front of the enemy. Also, this is a test.”

Eugene, who had just finished writing the operation plan, handed the document to Desaix and shone his eyes.

“It’s a test to choose the unit that will participate in our [Homecoming, likely referring to a planned return to France].”

The moment he saw the plan, Desaix stood blankly and shouted.

“I will do it. I will definitely defeat them alone!”

At this moment, the division that will participate in Eugene’s [Homecoming] was decided.

***

On a dark Nile night, Ochs greeted Eugene’s visit.

“This is plagiarism of the [Battle of the Nile].”

Ochs commented succinctly after seeing Eugene’s plan.

But from Eugene’s point of view, it’s a bit unfair.

Anyway, it was the dead Nelson who led the Battle of the Nile, and this operation is a land battle.

“It’s an army battle.”

“No, you’re trying to handle it in exactly the same way. Inducement, feint, and raid.”

“That’s how you win overwhelmingly.”

Eugene pointed to the plan and said clearly.

“The important thing is the result. The result that the French army defeated the Turkish army. And that result will shake the entire Ottoman Empire.”

Ochs tapped the plan and pondered.

There is nothing to criticize in this plan.

But there is a part that bothers him.

Eugene didn’t say the real reason why a land battle was needed, not a naval battle.

Ochs lifted the last page of the plan and stared at Eugene.

“Eugene. Are you planning to return home by land?”

“That depends on how well Desaix does.”

“What do you mean?”

Eugene stared at Ochs and shrugged.

“Complete annihilation. Otherwise, we have to devote ourselves to the complete conquest of Egypt, not homecoming or anything else. So, it depends on Desaix.”

October 1797.

A crossroads came to the French Egyptian expeditionary force that had destroyed the Mamluks and killed Nelson.

Along with the battle with the Turkish Empire army that is running across the Mediterranean Sea.