He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 231

(232) Time to Head Back to France

Constantinople is now considered European territory.

“Here’s the latest British newspaper. Keep in mind it’s from a British perspective, but it seems things aren’t going well in France.”

The northwest borders Austria, the north borders Russia, and to the west, across the sea, lies the Italian Peninsula.

Therefore, accessing European information directly is quite feasible.

Of course, there are obstacles, and the Ottoman Empire’s internal issues complicate matters.

Because of this, Eugene chose a different approach instead of relying on the Ottoman Empire’s bureaucracy.

He summoned Surte, his private intelligence organization, and the Milan Bank.

Originally, Rochejacquelein, the head of Surte, was in Italy handling his primary responsibilities.

However, Eugene, who should have been receiving the report, was absent.

Marceau, who became the temporary deputy commander of the expeditionary force as the senior division commander, unfolded the newspaper and inquired.

“Is it worse than our situation? The commander is bedridden, isn’t he?”

Rochejacquelein frowned, his face still deeply tanned.

“Has it been reported to the Porte [Ottoman government], Division Commander Marceau?”

“Well, I’ve been saying he’s planning operations. I can manage the daily command and decisions.”

“That’s a significant problem. Who is treating him?”

Marceau’s gaze flicked towards Eugene’s tent in the center of the encampment.

“Larrey and Pauline.”

In March 1799, Eugene’s expeditionary force still hadn’t established quarters inside the Topkapi Palace.

They were still using the hippodrome, intended as a temporary base, as their residence.

There were complaints, but Eugene chose to avoid being entangled in palace intrigues.

However, this led to problems like the commander collapsing from accumulated fatigue.

Of course, if he were in the palace, he might have been poisoned.

Rochejacquelein said with a grave expression.

“Surte’s agents are currently controlling information flow. I checked for any leaks while I was away, but there don’t seem to be any.”

“Good work. Is Venice secure?”

“No, it’s not.”

Rochejacquelein began with the situation in Venice, where he had arrived last month, February 1799.

“There’s talk that Austria will soon declare war.”

Marceau widened his eyes and asked again.

“Why is that? A pro-French regime has been established in the Ottoman Empire. The troops in Naples or Milan could directly strike Austria.”

“No, Naples is also undefended, and Milan is in a precarious state.”

“What exactly are you saying? Until recently, wasn’t the offensive focused on the Holland area?”

That was information from four months ago.

But this era has no railroads.

Also, no army focuses entirely on marching speed like the French army.

It takes at least three months to conscript an army, organize it, send it to a strategic location, and engage in battle.

Would there really be a big difference?

Rochejacquelein quietly reported.

“The war situation has become critical. A large army of the Russian Empire has reached the Bohemia area via Poland. The Austrian Empire seems to be allowing them passage.”

Marceau frowned.

Currently, France has seized control of the Ottoman leadership in the Balkans.

The French army is actually worried about when an internal rebellion will break out.

But isn’t that something they can’t know from the outside?

Nevertheless, Austria is helping the march of the Russian Empire?

Perhaps they know that the Ottoman Empire is unable to attack because they have fought the Turks for quite a long time.

If so, Austria might join the war altogether.

Tapping the table with his hand, Marceau asked again.

“Prussia said they would attack Holland, right?”

“Yes, the problem is the Rhine area. If Austria re-enters the war, the situation will become extremely dangerous.”

“Are our French troops just standing by? If Commander-in-Chief Bonaparte comes out of Paris, we can win. Or, there’s Moreau, isn’t there? Tell him to drop Ireland and focus on defense.”

However, Rochejacquelein replied very calmly and coldly.

“If Austria attacks the Ottoman Empire, the situation is simple. We can lead the Ottoman Empire’s army, take a defensive posture, and tie down the Austrian army. But Austria is aiming for Venice.”

This is why it’s difficult for France to use the Ottoman Empire to its advantage, even though it has virtually seized control.

In this era, soon to enter the 19th century, the number of Ottoman Empire soldiers is not particularly lacking.

Once a war breaks out, they can mobilize a total of 150,000 troops.

However, as seen in the French expedition, there are two problems.

One is the problem of mobilization speed.

Eugene broke through this gap in speed and sequentially defeated the defending forces, seizing the capital.

Another problem is the lack of supply lines.

Even if they mobilize 150,000 troops in a defensive war, it is difficult to mobilize even 50,000 in an offensive war.

In the original history, both of these phenomena occurred in the 1830s when Egypt became independent and fought against the Ottomans.

The Ottomans mobilized 150,000 troops, but only 80,000 actually gathered on the battlefield.

These 80,000 were scattered throughout the supply lines, and the actual troops engaged in battle were less than 10,000.

Egypt was not particularly outstanding, but they easily won in Anatolia [modern-day Turkey].

However, the European powers intervened, and Egypt was forced to withdraw.

Even if they don’t know this history, Marceau and Rochejacquelein have seen what’s happening.

The Ottoman Empire in 1799 is in a much more miserable state than in the original history 30 years later.

Marceau sighed deeply.

“Mobilization power is the problem again.”

“That’s right.”

“But we can only pull out 10,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry from the Ottoman garrison, right? The Bedouins and Kurds will have to go home.”

Rochejacquelein added one unit.

“It’s also virtually impossible to send the navy. In fact, even if we send them, I don’t think they can attack Russia, Prussia, or Austria.”

Even if they were to use the fleet, Austria is a landlocked country.

Prussia and Russia are connected to the North Sea or the Baltic Sea, but to get here, they would have to break through the British fleet first.

The navy, which was very useful when defeating the Ottoman Empire, is no longer useful.

Marceau clicked his tongue and looked at the map.

“We have to hope the commander-in-chief does well. Or hope our Freischütz [German volunteer soldiers] rise up first.”

It’s virtually the same situation as when the First Coalition War began.

Even Russia, a great power, has joined in.

The one responsible for defending France is virtually Napoleon.

However, Marceau, who has seen Napoleon since he was just a general, has some concerns.

So far, all of Napoleon’s victories have been won on the offensive.

Defensive and offensive battles are completely different.

Marceau himself has experienced it countless times, going through Egypt, Syria, and the Ottoman Empire.

Will Napoleon be outstanding in defensive battles as well?

Before that, will he be immersed in frustrating defense?

At that moment, someone urgently rushed into the deputy commander’s tent.

“Deputy Commander, something terrible has happened.”

“What is it, Division Commander Desaix? I heard rumors you’re building a harem again. Were you caught?”

“This is no time for jokes. And my harem hasn’t been discovered.”

Desaix, who seemed to have built a harem, said with an anxious face.

“An important figure from the real [Harem] has visited Commander Eugene’s tent. It’s a former concubine of the Sultan.”

Marceau was startled and jumped up.

The top secret of the French army, there is a concern that the commander’s condition will be revealed.

***

The first to respond in the tent was the nurse.

“It’s difficult for outsiders to enter, Madame.”

It is against Islamic etiquette to touch a woman’s body.

The French expeditionary force, especially the commander’s guard, was thoroughly educated on this issue by Eugene.

Unless they are assassins or a rebellious group, this group is clearly noble.

They are an opponent that can never be stopped.

So, while the guards, including Ippolito and Tournay, were flustered, the noblewoman came to the front of the tent.

In that situation, Pauline stepped forward.

Then, the noblewoman sparkled her blue eyes and smiled under her veil.

“I may not be an outsider, Mademoiselle.”

Pauline was startled.

Unlike Eugene or Marceau, Pauline is not particularly diligent in studying, nor does she learn Arabic.

She knows even less Turkish.

However, the woman, who is clearly a Turkish noblewoman, spoke in French.

“Do you know French?”

“Turkish is more familiar now. I think it’s been about 20 years. Since I came here.”

“Were you kidnapped? Uh.”

After blurting it out, Pauline covered her mouth.

She had heard such stories.

There are still Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean who kidnap Europeans.

Could she have been kidnapped by them and brought to the harem?

And it seems she was right.

“The one who offered me to the Sultan is still living as a grand admiral in the Barbary port.”

Pauline took a step back and apologized at the very calm answer.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s okay. Now I have a precious son thanks to it.”

“The Sultan’s child? Then you are…”

Naksidil, a 31-year-old noblewoman from France who was a victim of abduction, smiled brightly and said.

“Here, they call me Naksidil. The former Sultan, Abdul Hamid, is my husband. Didn’t Ambassador Dubayet tell you?”

Pauline had never heard of it, of course.

In any case, Ambassador Dubayet is officially higher than the commander in the French garrison.

In fact, Eugene’s position is only the chief of staff of the Egyptian expeditionary force.

Nevertheless, the quick-witted Pauline quickly paid her respects.

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen.”

“I’m not the queen. I’m just a concubine of the Sultan.”

“But this is a secret place for the French army. You have to leave.”

Looking at Pauline, who was very firmly issuing an eviction order, Naksidil wore a strange smile.

“I heard Eugene Bonaparte is sick?”

Pauline’s eyes widened.

Before Josephine married Napoleon, she mentioned Eugene’s family name.

Even if the other person was originally French, it is not easy to know.

Even if they collected information in the Ottoman Empire, it is not an era where they can know the inside story of the French upper class.

However, Pauline quickly regained her composure and replied as if nothing had happened.

“It probably isn’t a serious illness. It’s probably the early spring cold that’s going around this time of year.”

“He has conquered the eastern part of the empire, so it’s understandable. He must be exhausted. He will be a hero when he returns to France.”

“Who knows? I heard that our ‘brother’ still has three enemies to face.”

Naksidil reached out to Pauline, who emphasized her ‘brother’ for a moment.

“Give him this medicine, Mademoiselle Bonaparte.”

Pauline accepted the vial, but she couldn’t help but hesitate.

I think Dubayet would have heard about Pauline’s identity, of course.

Still, it bothers me that she knows Eugene’s family name.

Naksidil added, as if she knew what else she was worried about.

“It’s not poison.”

“How can I be sure?”

“Well, if Rose were here, she would have confirmed it.”

Naksidil looked around for a moment and whispered.

“I’m Rose Tascher de La Pagerie’s [Josephine Bonaparte’s maiden name] cousin. Originally from Martinique, I came to Paris to study and ended up like this.”

She mentioned even the most private inside story to just make it up.

Pauline was so surprised that she couldn’t close her mouth, Naksidil smiled and turned around.

A woman who would have experienced the turbulent times in France with [Josephine] if times were good.

Naksidil, who now lives as a concubine of the dead Sultan, moved her feet towards the Topkapi Palace.

“He’ll get better soon. Don’t worry too much.”

This was the first and last meeting between Josephine’s cousin, Aimée Dubuc de Rivéry, and Eugene.

However, Pauline somehow felt that she would see Naksidil again.

***

Of course, it’s a big problem to take any medicine recklessly.

“How can you believe that?”

Pauline replied as if making excuses to Larrey’s question.

“She didn’t seem to be lying?”

“No, you’re not a basic nurse. Colonel Bonaparte! Get a grip, the doctor prescribes the medicine and the pharmacist makes it. Don’t you know this basic?”

“Yes? I know, but still.”

So, Brigadier General Larrey said he couldn’t believe anything else.

Naksidil may really be Josephine’s cousin.

Also, there is a high possibility that this medicine is not poison.

But the doctor can’t believe and prescribe it because he doesn’t know what’s in the medicine.

Nevertheless, Pauline had something to say to Larrey.

“Brigadier General, you’re a surgeon, so you can’t treat him!”

Larrey became speechless.

In fact, Larrey’s specialty is amputation.

If Eugene had a festering wound, he was confident that he could cut it off in 3 minutes.

Disinfection has become his second specialty these days, so there will be no surgical aftereffects.

But he can’t treat a cold.

Of course, there is no specific cold medicine even in modern times.

Larrey looked at the medicine that was probably made with folk remedies or traditional medicine and raised both hands.

“Okay, he’s still young, so he won’t die if he takes this once. Just once!”

Pauline quickly poured the medicine into a glass.

-Drip!

It was very clear yellow, so it didn’t seem like poison.

Thinking that it was like honey, Pauline hurriedly ran to Eugene.

Deep in the headquarters tent, Eugene was lying down, sweating.

Quickly changing the wet cloth on his forehead, Pauline raised Eugene.

“Come on, drink it all. Open your mouth.”

However, it is difficult for an unconscious person to open his mouth, and it is even more difficult to drink medicine.

“Really, come on! I can’t do it.”

Pauline, who was annoyed, put the medicine in her mouth for a moment and kissed Eugene.

Larrey didn’t have time to stop her from putting her mouth on the patient recklessly.

Pauline, who pushed Eugene’s tongue with very skilled tongue movements, passed the medicine over.

-Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Looking at the medicine passing over, Larrey hurriedly ran out.

“Hmm! I’m going out.”

“Call me when you’re done with the medicine. Tsk! The revolution has ruined all the women!”

Looking at Larrey, who was busy leaving with an expression that he had seen something he shouldn’t have, Pauline sneered.

“Does he think his daughter won’t be like that? Pfft.”

At that time, Eugene groaned.

“Ugh.”

“Oh my, Eugene? Are you awake?”

“Marie.”

Instantly, Pauline’s face hardened.

Of course, she didn’t think her name would come out.

But she never thought Marie’s name would come out.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault. I never forgot. The promise of that day.”

However, the story that flowed out of Eugene’s mouth was even more unexpected.

“The death of that day too.”

Pauline, who had hardened, turned red with anger, and turned pale white, let go of Eugene.

Pauline, who ran out in a daze, gasped for breath.

It seems like she heard a scary story.

What on earth happened between Eugene and Marie?

When the sunlight touched her skin and conveyed a warm warmth, Pauline finally came to her senses.

“There must be something between them.”

Pauline, who was looking around the place where Eugene would be in the tent, took a deep breath and grumbled as if making a promise.

“Tsk, you’re really making me worry until the end. Get up quickly, you sleepy nephew.”

The next day, Eugene got up from his seat.

On the contrary, Pauline was bedridden.