He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 27

(26) Tasting the Legend of Toulon

However, even with the command, what ultimately matters is the result: victory.

“We must win this time! We’ve come this far; failure is not an option! We must take Toulon!”

Now at the battlefront, directly commanding, the artillery commander and chief of staff, Napoleon, exclaimed.

All records, even those who criticize Napoleon, agree on one point.

Napoleon is incredibly diligent.

Furthermore, he doesn’t sit at a desk, idly discussing theories.

He’s always on-site.

He confronts problems head-on, tackling them and finding solutions.

Sometimes he’s wrong, and in the original history, he ultimately failed, but most of the time, his solutions were successful.

Now, at 24, Napoleon’s brilliance is shining brightly.

Of course, there are still problems.

The problem is that this is a ‘battle’ zone filled with artillery fire.

Amidst the shouts and smoke, Napoleon called out to Junot, his adjutant.

“So, you’re Sergeant Junot? Take this down. We need at least two companies of artillery. Make sure they send them!”

“Uh, haven’t you already gathered a lot?”

“Not enough! More cannons! Shells! Gunpowder! And even more artillery officers and gunners to handle them! Write it down!”

Of course, unlike the original history, Junot was appointed as an adjutant because of Eugene’s recommendation.

Originally, Napoleon would meet Junot on the battlefield and appoint him.

But this process takes a long time and is based on chance, so Eugene simply intervened.

However, Eugene’s intervention didn’t change Junot’s personality.

Like a fearless soldier, he calmly took down Napoleon’s words.

He dipped the pen in ink, wrote on the paper, and then used sand to dry the ink.

This was the shorthand method of the late 18th century.

At that moment, Hippolyte, who was closely following Eugene inside the trench, clicked his tongue.

“Wow, he’s really greedy. What about the other battlefields if he gathers that much?”

“Winning here is important. It’s not a wrong decision.”

“Why?”

Eugene looked at the semi-circular coastline visible far inside the bay.

“Toulon isn’t just a port. It’s an exit to the Mediterranean. Besides, the fleet inside that cape is the real problem.”

Southern France is open to the Mediterranean.

In fact, there are more important ports than Toulon.

Like Marseille, which is famous even today.

If it were just about losing and retaking a port, they could have just blockaded this port.

The problem is the means to blockade the port, the [fleet], is in this military port.

As many as 24 battleships, the best ships of this era, the [ships-of-the-line], are trapped in the port.

Furthermore, the naval officers to operate these ships are also there.

Not only Royalist officers but also naval officers who sympathize with the revolution have been captured.

In the original history, more than half of the ships are burned, and most of the officers escape.

This is why Napoleon struggled in naval battles later, not just because of Nelson.

Originally, the British were more dominant in naval warfare, but after the Siege of Toulon, they came to overwhelm the French fleet.

To narrow the gap even a little, that fleet is essential.

If possible, the officers too.

Eugene considered that point and said.

“If that fleet is taken or destroyed, France will lose the sea.”

“Then what happens? No more coffee imports?”

“It would be more accurate to say that food exports will be blocked. In short, trade will be blockaded. Well, that’s not the only problem.”

Losing control of the sea means that.

The passage for a country to advance externally is blocked.

Of course, unlike England, France is connected to the European continent.

However, after the revolution, there is no country in Europe that will ally with France right now.

All European countries are monarchies, and revolutionary France, which killed the king, is the enemy of kings.

So, if they lose the sea as well, there is only one way to advance left.

War.

It’s no wonder Napoleon waged war throughout his reign.

At that moment, Eugene blinked.

Seeing Napoleon and Junot, something seemed familiar.

“By the way, this situation looks familiar.”

“Of course. These days, we always see the enemy attacking, and we’re defending. It’s definitely us who are besieging them.”

“Well, it’s natural since we finally occupied the key point. But more than that.”

At that moment, a silver-lettered notification appeared before his eyes.

[Danger. Shell.]

Eugene hurriedly kicked Hippolyte and shouted.

“Damn it, get out of the way! Marceau! Get out of there!”

Instantly, a shell rained down on the spot that Eugene, Hippolyte, and Marceau barely avoided.

-Bang!

The battlefield is truly a place where you can easily die if you let your guard down.

Eugene barely survived, but the nearby innocent infantrymen were torn to pieces.

Eugene frowned at the gruesome sight and tapped his deafened ears.

He was afraid his hearing would get worse.

Marceau spat out sand and approached, asking.

“Hey, Lieutenant Eugene? Are you okay?”

“I’m going to die. Ah, what about Colonel Bonaparte?”

“Huh? Colonel?”

But as the sand cleared, two people appeared, standing there as if nothing had happened.

-Swish.

Napoleon and Junot.

Both of them were calm, even though the shell had fallen right next to them.

Junot shrugged, seeing the sand spilled on the paper.

“I guess there’s no need to sprinkle sand. What were you saying?”

Napoleon raised his eyebrows and smiled contentedly.

“As bold as I am. Good. Here’s the next order.”

Only then did Eugene realize.

Junot’s most famous, and in fact, only famous anecdote.

The future emperor and duke having a military conversation in a battlefield filled with shells, and then calmly speaking after the shells rained down.

Finally, Eugene realized.

Whether he liked it or not, whether it was big or small, whether he succeeded or failed.

Eugene was now in a moment in history.

Suddenly, Hippolyte, who obviously wouldn’t know the original history, whistled.

“Don’t you think we’re involved with some really weird guys?”

Eugene was silent for a moment, then smiled.

“Yeah. They’re the soldiers who best fit this era of revolution.”

Furthermore, they will usher in the era of Napoleon and his generals.

Eugene has now entered that center.

***

So, how is Napoleon’s method different from Carto’s tactics?

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

One month since Napoleon became Chief of Staff.

The sound of artillery fire is still loud today.

However, there is a difference.

Until now, they were being shelled, but now they are firing.

Towards the heart of the enemy lines.

“Prepare! Start a full-scale bombardment from the [Mountain Faction] battery, the [Republican] battery, and the [Great Harbor] battery!”

With Napoleon’s cry, a signal shot was fired.

At the same time, artillery fire began to pour in from three sides.

The target is only one place: the high ground in the middle of the [route] connecting Toulon Harbor and Cairo Hill.

Mount Aren.

-Kukukung!

Amidst the artillery fire, Hippolyte screamed.

“Eugene, what the hell is going on right now? Clearly, all we’ve been doing is building foundations, attacking fortresses, and gathering cannons again. Well, it’s just a repetition of these things?”

In fact, from the perspective of a noncommissioned officer like Hippolyte, nothing had changed.

Building foundations, charging at fortresses, and then gathering and deploying cannons again.

It was a repetition of an extremely tedious process.

But before he knew it, the Toulon suppression army, which had been on the defensive, was now attacking.

And it seemed to be quite dominant.

What had changed?

The difference is in strategic thinking.

Even if you move the army, prepare the cannons, and build the positions in the same way, it’s different.

They examine the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent and deploy troops where they can exploit the gaps.

And also, a way to maximize the strengths of their own forces.

For example, like now, besieging from three sides and firing artillery.

Instead of explaining it in a complicated way, Eugene simply said.

“That’s what preparing for war is, Hippolyte.”

“No, but why is that high ground, which seemed like it would never collapse, collapsing?”

“Don’t just listen to the sound of the shells, look at where the trajectories are heading.”

Watching the shells flying through the sky, Eugene said.

“They’re intersecting. At least in a triangular, and at most in a pentagonal structure.”

To explain it, it’s similar to the [crossfire] of modern warfare.

Of course, the artillery fire of this era is not that precise, powerful, or fast.

However, the effectiveness of a cross-cutting firepower offensive is the same.

Especially if the opponent doesn’t have any cavalry and has to engage in the same infantry trench warfare.

However, it’s not an achievement that was simply made.

“But there were many sacrifices in the process of building this. General Dugommier approved all of them.”

“Goodness. The general is crazy too. If he had failed, he would have lost the cannons too, right?”

“But because he took the risk, we can see that sight now, right?”

At that time, the voice of the infantry commander, Hugues Charlot, was heard giving orders.

“Let’s go! Charge!”

Instead of Delard, a former Carto’s aide, a new commander, Dugommier, appointed an infantry officer.

He was quite brave and perfect for charging.

Later, in the original history, he became famous in the military as a synonym for infantry charges and was granted the title of Baron.

However, that also means that he didn’t achieve any other feats besides infantry charges.

Anyway, Charlot, an officer who is a specialist in infantry charges, started the charge.

Hippolyte hurriedly asked.

“Major Charlot has started advancing. What should we do?”

“We have to follow. But don’t take the lead. Tournai, you too!”

“I know, Lieutenant Eugene!”

Eugene, Hippolyte, and Sergeant Louis Tournai, who followed to protect them, ran.

The French soldiers charged towards the high ground with bayonets.

Skirmishes and bayonet fights broke out everywhere.

“Defend! We must protect the Aren high ground fortress!”

In the midst of the blood-splattering battle, Marceau, who was commanding the skirmish, discovered Eugene and shouted in surprise.

“Eugene! It’s dangerous, retreat to the rear!”

“I know. But there’s an opportunity.”

“What opportunity?”

Eugene pointed to the commander on the high ground, beyond the silver letters visible only to him.

“There, a chance to capture the enemy commander.”

Charles O’Hara.

A man famous in later history as an icon of [surrender].

This is not a joke.

Because O’Hara is the commander who surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown, a famous battle in the early American Revolutionary War.

Furthermore, he will surrender today and remain in history.

Eugene is stepping up because he knows that fact.

At that moment, a bullet passed right next to Eugene.

-Pheeing!

At that moment, Eugene bravely rushed out instead.

“Now is the time, let’s go! Hippolyte!”

“Damn it, can’t we just not go if possible?”

“Shut up and just follow me! Then you won’t die!”

Because Eugene is constantly receiving notifications from the silver letters.

[Danger, Safe. Danger, Safe. Danger, Safe.]

Truly a battlefield where death and life pass by with a paper-thin difference.

Eugene navigated through it and reached the place where the British commander was.

Right up to the point where General Charles O’Hara was waving his baton.

O’Hara was surprised and turned to look at Eugene.

“What?”

Instantly, Eugene fired his pistol.

-Bang!

O’Hara’s knees buckled.

The bullet had pierced his leg.

Amidst the screams, Eugene gestured.

At the same time, Tournai and Hippolyte aimed their muskets at O’Hara’s head.

The soldiers around him panicked and awkwardly raised their guns, but Eugene shouted.

In very fluent English.

“Surrender! General Charles O’Hara. I am Eugene, the son of Alexandre de Beauharnais, who fought in the American Revolutionary War! If you don’t surrender, you and your soldiers will all die!”

There is a reason why O’Hara remains an icon of [surrender] in later generations.

When faced with defeat, he doesn’t risk his life to fight.

Rather, he adapts and accepts his defeat in an elegant form.

It may seem humiliating in the moment, but it’s a way to survive for a long time.

Anyway, O’Hara later took office as the Governor of Gibraltar in the original history and died peacefully.

Indeed, the 53-year-old British General O’Hara looked at the 12-year-old boy officer and laughed in vain.

“Kuek, to surrender to a Frenchman again. Is this my destiny!”

At this moment, the person who captured General O’Hara was changed to Eugene.

***

So, why was O’Hara needed?

“Amazing! To capture the man who surrendered to George Washington!”

It’s because of Napoleon’s jumping up and down in admiration right now.

The era is before Napoleon, Hoche, or even Russian generals like Kutuzov gained fame.

What that means is that the most famous general in this era is none other than George Washington.

A mere colonial farmer led the army of the British Empire and defeated them.

Even if he wasn’t particularly tactically outstanding, George Washington’s reputation was overwhelming.

But Eugene captured the British general who surrendered to Washington.

There was a risk, but it was a good feat to impress Napoleon.

Eugene saluted Napoleon with a seemingly humble face.

“It’s all thanks to Colonel Bonaparte’s genius strategy.”

“Hmph, too much humility. My strategy and capturing the commander are separate issues. Anyway, good. I’ll talk to General Dugommier to promote our boy soldier!”

“Thank you!”

Of course, in fact, Eugene is already a lieutenant, so he’s not a boy soldier.

Still, if Commander Dugommier finds out about this, he will promote him.

To a higher position that doesn’t suit a 12-year-old.

That was the moment.

-Clank, clank, clank.

Wagons pulling cannons and military units appeared from the rear.

It was the elite artillery unit that Napoleon had been waiting for.

At that moment, Napoleon happily called out to the commander at the head of the artillery unit.

“The artillery unit I’ve been waiting for has arrived. Oh, isn’t that Marmont?”

Marmont.

One of Napoleon’s 26 marshals.

However, when he was appointed as a marshal, the soldiers sneered like this.

「Oh, Macdonald was the choice of France, Oudinot was the choice of the army, and Marmont was chosen by the emperor’s friendship.」

In short, it was a mockery that he was promoted because of his friendship with Napoleon rather than his ability.

Marmont was very close to Napoleon.

Junot was only seen for the first time in Toulon, but Marmont had been assigned as a subordinate officer since Napoleon was first assigned to the army.

Above all, he was a rare artillery expert among Napoleon’s 26 marshals.

Even now, he has rushed to respond to Napoleon’s call as an artillery officer.

Marmont, still just a promising officer, got off his horse and saluted vigorously.

“Lieutenant Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, I have come to Toulon under the command of General Kellermann!”

“Good to see you! With you here, the cannon fire will be perfect!”

“Duroc also came with me. Major, no, now Colonel, right?”

Without a word, a young officer saluted from behind the lively Marmont.

Eugene paid more attention to that young officer than Marmont.

Marmont is not a soldier worth paying attention to unless he is really favored by the emperor, and he even betrays him at the end.

But Duroc is different.

In later generations, if Berthier, famous as Napoleon’s chief of staff, was in charge of operational staff, it could be said that Duroc was in charge of everything else.

Napoleon’s real aide.

If Junot or Marmont did errands, Duroc moved as Napoleon’s [shadow].

From Eugene’s point of view, he is the person he needs to befriend the most.

At that moment, Napoleon nodded and said.

“Good. Now I have to report to Major General Dugommier and Brigadier General Lapoype.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The final recapture of Toulon.”

Dugommier, the commander of the Toulon suppression army, and Lapoype, the commander of the support army in the Italian front.

Napoleon can only move with the permission of these two.

It is the final recapture of Toulon.

Napoleon stared at Toulon from Aren Hill, inside the crescent-shaped bay visible in the distance, and shouted.

“Before spring is over, we will spend the [Easter] of 1793 in Toulon!”

The situation is at least half a year faster than in the original history.

The attack is really smooth.

But Eugene felt a slightly uneasy feeling.

Hippolyte, who was excited, said next to Eugene.

“Finally, the conquest of Toulon?”

“It’s a recapture. But there’s something bothering me.”

“What is it? You’re making me anxious, Eugene.”

Eugene looked at the harbor visible from the high ground, at the many ships-of-the-line, and said.

“Ships.”

Originally, when the recapture of Toulon unfolds, the British destroy the fleet first.

Surprisingly, the French army managed to save quite a few fleets, but they still suffered significant damage.

What if we could save those ships?

The French fleet would not have been so easily ridiculed by Nelson and annihilated at Trafalgar.

Remembering Nelson, whom he had met before, Eugene made a decision.

“Somehow, we have to leave that fleet in France.”

To do that, Eugene has to take a little risk again.

Of course, it’s a battle where victory is guaranteed.

It was the moment when Eugene decided to fully participate in the Toulon recapture operation.