He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 28

(27) Eugène Charges Amidst Napoleon’s Barrage in Toulon

Originally, Toulon was conquered in December, according to history.

“It’s still April.”

“What is?”

“No, I’m just saying everything is happening faster than I thought. I don’t know about other places, though.”

Eugène replied to Hippolyte, tugging at the collar of his custom-made military uniform.

In fact, it started with King Louis dying earlier than in history.

The Queen’s trial was also expedited.

Napoleon’s departure from Corsica and his return to the French army also happened sooner.

Furthermore, the Toulon rebellion as well.

The wars along the Rhine and the Vendée rebellion either occurred somewhat later or are still just simmering.

Clearly, history is changing dynamically.

How will this change affect things later?

Eugène cannot predict that far yet.

But there is something certain right now.

Napoleon’s genius is definitely confirmed.

Hippolyte, who didn’t fully understand Eugène’s words, tilted his head and asked.

“Isn’t it good to occupy it quickly? The fewer royalist rebellions, the better for the revolutionary government.”

“What’s convenient for the revolutionary government isn’t necessarily convenient for us.”

“Huh? What do you mean? You don’t mean…”

Hippolyte doesn’t know history or strategy, but his intuition is remarkable.

He sensitively picked up on Eugène’s implied words and was startled.

The possibility of opposing the revolutionary government.

Of course, that’s actually different from opposing the revolution.

Eugène chuckled and saluted Napoleon, who was entering the command tent.

“That depends on the National Convention, not ‘our’ Boarneh Bank. Ah, you’re here! Colonel Napoleon!”

Strictly speaking, Napoleon’s official title is Colonel Bonaparte.

Moreover, he hasn’t fully changed his name to the French style yet.

However, Eugène was too accustomed to it from his past life, so he often called him Napoleon.

Napoleon was quite lenient with Eugène, who was still a boy, and greeted him with a smile.

Of course, even if he weren’t a boy, Napoleon is generally lenient with those around him.

Just enough not to incur losses, in a ‘petty bourgeois’ way.

A genius petty man and a man lenient to boys, Napoleon asked.

“So, you want to propose a plan?”

“Yes. It’s called ‘Marie Louise’ Seizure Operation.”

“Hmm? The name is strange. Is it my imagination, or does it sound like the names of the former queen and the dead king?”

Eugène brazenly raised his head and replied.

“It’s your imagination. Because it’s the name of a ship in this port.”

Of course, it’s a lie.

There is no ship named Marie Louise among the Mediterranean fleet in Toulon harbor, not even a ship of the line.

So, where did this name come from?

It came from Marie Louise, the future Empress of the French Empire in history, who was just about 2 years old.

So, this operation name was a joke made by Eugène.

Napoleon nodded, unaware of this.

“If we seize it, we’ll have to change the warship’s name. To Jacobin or Long Live the Republic.”

“Let’s do that. But that’s only after we get our hands on the ships that haven’t even been out to sea yet.”

“Really, can you do it?”

Suddenly, Napoleon’s gaze became serious.

“War is not a game. Bullets don’t avoid children. Not to mention cannonballs.”

Eugène had already experienced it as soon as he came to the battlefield.

The 4th Regiment, which was trying to join the Toulon suppression force as reinforcements, was literally wrecked.

But just like he survived then, Eugène was confident he could survive this time too.

The problem is not surviving.

It’s whether he can make this operation a success.

However, there is one thing only Eugène knows.

Eventually, Napoleon succeeds in breaking through during the final phase of the Toulon operation.

Eugène lightly spread out a map on the table and replied.

“Cairo Heights, which the enemies have seized, is currently codenamed ‘Little Gibraltar’ by our army.”

“And?”

“Today, Colonel, you will launch a general offensive and then charge with the generals. Right?”

Commander Dugommier, support force commander Lapoype, and Napoleon’s general offensive.

Crossfires pour in, and eventually the defense line is breached.

The decisive reason is that O’Hara, who was captured as a prisoner, readily revealed the weaknesses of the stronghold.

In that respect, Eugène has already made a significant contribution.

But it’s incomparable to playing a part in the capture of Toulon.

Above all, isn’t this a battle that is bound to succeed?

Eugène pointed to Petit Gibraltar, that is, the place called Little Gibraltar.

“If that operation succeeds, there will definitely be a gap. So, I’m going to infiltrate, trusting entirely in you, Colonel.”

So, this is the fortress on Cairo Heights where Carteaux initially failed.

If this place is occupied, it will be possible to pour fire into the city of Toulon.

Furthermore, the fleet stationed in Toulon comes within range of the shelling.

In short, the British and Spanish allied fleets are caught in a mousetrap.

At that time, the special forces led by Eugène enter the city of Toulon.

This is the essence of Eugène’s operation.

Of course, besides Napoleon’s successful operation, Eugène has another thing he trusts.

Eugène is not going alone.

Marceau is with him.

A man who, in history, would achieve great feats on the Vendée and Rhine battlefields with indomitable spirit.

But Napoleon, who doesn’t know that fact, hardened his face.

Perhaps because it seemed like the still young Eugène was risking his life.

Because of him.

“You trust me?”

“Yes. I believe you will win, Colonel. If there is a reason for this operation to succeed, it is only because of you.”

“Why do you trust me? What have I shown you? This is my first time doing such a large-scale operation.”

Eugène, seeing Napoleon’s hand trembling slightly, shouted resolutely.

“What’s so large-scale about this? You are the one who will hold the Rhine in the north and the Italian front in the south in your hands!”

To someone who knows history, it’s very obvious.

But right now, it’s not obvious at all to Napoleon himself.

Still a 24-year-old young officer, a soldier who wanted to join the cavalry at the military academy but was pushed into the artillery, an ambition that even his hometown of Corsica didn’t accept.

A life that has been repeatedly failing.

Still poor, unknown, and without any real achievements.

But now the boy in front of him says he believes in him.

The son of the woman Napoleon fell in love with.

This knight of the princess who gained fame for saving the queen in Paris.

In an instant, Napoleon raised his head.

“Ha! The world doesn’t recognize me, but this kid alone recognizes me!”

His eyes are red, as if he barely managed to hold back tears.

Eugène blinked in surprise.

Napoleon stared at Eugène.

“Good! Then I must trust you too, Monsieur Boarneh. No, Eugène!”

“Yes, Colonel Napoleon.”

“I authorize the operation. Infiltrate with all your might and protect the great fleet of France!”

Eugène gave a strong salute.

“I will definitely put Marie Louise in your hands, Colonel.”

Of course, this is a joke that only Eugène knows right now.

***

However, all operations are completely different in planning and execution.

-Bang! Bang bang! Bang bang bang!

The sound of cannonballs is deafening.

It’s almost like the shelling Eugène was ambushed by when he first entered Toulon.

The only difference is that he was on the receiving end back then.

Now he’s on the opposite side, shooting.

The only difference is that the shooters are not the French army but the British army.

So, the special forces led by Eugène have now infiltrated the outskirts of Toulon.

To the west, General Dugommier’s main suppression force is charging.

To the east, General Lapoype’s support force is breaking through the eastern defense line.

To the south, Napoleon is attacking with Marmont’s artillery corps towards Little Gibraltar, and advancing directly.

A situation where attacks are continuing from literally three sides.

None of the British, Spanish, or Royalist armies could come to their senses.

Taking advantage of this gap, 100 special forces under Eugène infiltrated.

It’s just a company, but the commanders are quite substantial.

It’s the assault team that captured O’Hara a week ago, centered around Marceau.

Of course, there are bound to be people who grumble no matter what.

Sergeant Hippolyte shouted lowly, but as if screaming.

“May everyone be cursed! Damn cannons! Good heavens, is this what you were talking about, a crossfire?”

“What crossfire? There aren’t even machine guns.”

“What? What are you talking about? Oh, a cannonball is going to hit and burst my thing! Save me!”

Everyone is equally afraid of the British artillery fire.

The 100 infantrymen all clenched their muskets and gritted their teeth.

Right now, it’s a battery firing towards a distant range.

What if that battery recognizes Eugène’s company and turns towards them?

They will literally be torn to pieces.

At that moment, Eugène took the lead and shouted.

“Shut up and follow me! Soldiers! If you follow me, you can all live!”

Of course, the youngest person here is Eugène.

The army moves by looking at the commander.

The soldiers who were frightened by the shelling gritted their teeth.

“That kid is going, let’s go!”

The soldiers shouted in unison and followed Eugène.

Among them, there was also a face that wasn’t at all frightened but full of dissatisfaction.

It was Sergeant Andoche Junot.

“Damn it, why am I here? I have to protect the Colonel! Why am I babysitting a kid!”

“Don’t be like that. If you’re with Eugène, you’re sure to achieve something. Sergeant Junot.”

“Hey, Captain Marceau. What are you trusting in that kid for?”

At that moment, Marceau said with an unusually solemn face.

“War is a kind of gambling, Sergeant Junot.”

“What, is that so? Because you can’t know the results?”

“You have to bet your life as a stake, throw everything into an unknown game. But, that kid Eugène has never lost in gambling.”

Marceau’s gaze turned to Eugène.

That gaze is full of trust.

Even in this smoky battlefield.

“This gamble will also win. Besides, if we don’t win, we’ll just die anyway, right?”

Originally, François Marceau is as brave as Junot.

In history, he fights at the forefront in the Rhine campaign and dies from his injuries.

Now, he has seen Eugène repeatedly win in gambling-like choices.

There’s no reason to be afraid.

Either way, if you lose, you die, and if you win, you become a hero.

That’s war.

Of course, from Junot’s point of view, it was an absurd sound.

“Damn it, I have to entrust my life to gambling-crazed people! Well, let’s see if you fail!”

Marceau chuckled and closely followed Eugène.

Toulon is just around the corner.

***

This is the star-shaped fortress, inside Toulon.

“Huff, huff, huff. Fortunately, it’s okay up to here.”

Hippolyte sighed.

Eugène’s company infiltrated inside the star-shaped fortress, Toulon.

Right now, this place is not under thorough blockade.

Because it is in the middle of an offensive and defensive battle, the British army, the Royalist army, and even the Spanish army that came as reinforcements must constantly enter and exit.

A place where the pier is visible, the inside of Toulon harbor is visible on the other side.

In an instant, Eugène raised his fist.

“Wait!”

At the sudden stop command, Hippolyte, Junot, and Tournet cried out in amazement.

“What, why here of all places!”

“Good heavens. Aren’t we all going to die like this?”

“The enemies are right in front of us?”

However, Eugène calmly looked around.

Only huge ships are moored in the harbor, and no one is visible.

It seems like a trap, but it’s actually different.

There are two harbors where ships can enter Toulon.

East and West.

The British fleet is stationed in the eastern harbor for easy exit.

And, soon, when Cairo Heights is occupied, the final phase of the Toulon siege will begin.

Eugène said to Marceau.

“Sidney Smith will move.”

“What? Who is that? Is he a British commander?”

“He’s a promising British naval officer who received the Swedish knighthood. I got the information through Mr. Baring. The important thing is not that.”

Eugène pointed forward with his pistol.

“That guy will mobilize the garrison and Royalist residents to burn down the armory and that fleet soon. This is certain.”

The problem is that there is gunpowder in that armory.

Here, the British fleet uses a unique 18th-century tactic.

Hulk ships, that is, a battle method that can be translated as fire ships [ships loaded with explosives and set ablaze].

A tactic of loading old, unusable warships with gunpowder, setting them on fire, and sending them into enemy lines.

It’s a tactic that seems to have been used in the Battle of Red Cliffs in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but it was a method often used by the British Navy in the late 18th century.

That fire attack tactic is being unfolded here, on the French Mediterranean fleet.

Marceau’s eyes widened.

“Then, the reason we’re here is…”

At that moment, the noise of marching troops was heard from the east.

-Thud! Thud!

British troops, Royalists, and even Spanish soldiers have joined forces.

But they are not elite soldiers.

Of course, the main force is now fighting other French troops that have invaded from three sides.

Nevertheless, they will destroy the fleet that will become the future French Navy.

Eugène cocked his pistol.

“Everyone, load your weapons!”

Musket guns are muzzle-loading.

The speed is not that fast.

While the soldiers were hurriedly loading their weapons, Eugène quickly gave instructions.

“The formation is in three rows! Shoot alternately! Charge when you run out of bullets!”

The reason why the instructions are being executed at this moment is one.

Because Eugène brought capable officers and non-commissioned officers, that is, Marceau, Tournet, and Junot.

As they showed the way first, the soldiers also loaded their muskets.

-Clank!

Suddenly, British troops began to appear.

“Commence firing!”

Simultaneous fire was unleashed.

-Tatatang!

Toulon city, in the middle of the harbor.

The moment the shooting battle of Eugène’s company against the British fleet destruction unit began.