He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 290

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 290 (291/547)

(290) Snatching a Legendary Staff Officer at Sanssouci Palace

In the 19th century, it was common practice to celebrate the conclusion of negotiations with a banquet.

“Wahahaha! Thank you all. Me, a Grand Duke! Wuahahaha!”

Berlin, March 1801. A banquet was being held at Sanssouci Palace in Prussia.

The man bustling about the banquet hall most boisterously was none other than Duke Friedrich of Salm-Kyrburg.

The fact that the Prussian royal family was somewhat reluctant to converse with the French also played a part.

Thus, even Eugene stood at a distance, watching Talleyrand converse with the Prussian King.

As Eugene looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous Queen Louise, Ipolite suddenly asked,

“That Duke of Salm-Kyrburg. Wasn’t he supposed to have been killed by Robespierre?”

“It was highly likely. He was a foreign aristocrat who remained with the Revolutionary Army, after all.”

“But he survived and became the Grand Duke of Galicia. Hah, it pays to be born a noble.”

Eugene raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

“Wrong. That position is one where you never know when you’ll be ousted and killed. So, you should see it as a position they’re forced into because they’re nobles.”

The Duchy of Galicia, though it might not be obvious from the name, is ultimately Polish territory.

Thus, it is sandwiched between Prussia, Russia, and the newly formed Kingdom of Hungary.

Naturally, whoever becomes the Grand Duke must be mindful of the three kingdoms, while also maintaining relations with France, which created the duchy.

Even the Duke of Saxony, who held the so-called Grand Duchy of Warsaw in history, ended up as a punching bag and fell from grace.

However, like Eugene’s father Alexandre’s friend, Duke Friedrich is a thoughtless man.

The fact that he readily rushed over when the position was offered shows that.

It was at that moment, as Eugene wore a wry smile while watching him.

“Hey, are you that infamous French Mamluk [a soldier of slave origin]?”

Eugene turned his head and bowed politely.

It was the white-haired old general, Blücher, approaching in his military uniform.

He would have preferred to see the beautiful Queen Louise, but it seemed she hadn’t come today.

“Greetings, General Blücher. I saw you at the negotiation table, but this is the first time we’ve spoken directly.”

“Hmph, soldiers should communicate with guns, not words. Well, you’ve already taken out quite a few with words, including Suvorov, haven’t you?”

“It wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I think General Alvinzi, General Wurmser, and General Beaulieu would all have been good men if I had met them in private.”

Eugene, harboring a slight annoyance at having to talk to an old man instead of a beautiful woman, retorted with a subtle barb.

“Just like you, General.”

At that, Blücher, who was 59 but looked older with his white hair, bared his teeth and growled.

“Sounds like you’re saying you’d shoot me if you saw me on the battlefield.”

“Wouldn’t I have to if the opportunity arose? You are the best soldier in the Prussian army, after all. You are worth more than a hundred thousand troops.”

“Puhahaha! Look at this fellow. His flattery skills are better than his shooting skills!”

Suddenly, Blücher burst into laughter and gestured with his chin.

“I like you. But, you’re wrong. The best soldier in Prussia isn’t me.”

It seemed Blücher liked Eugene’s ability to not be intimidated by his presence.

In fact, Eugene possessed all the qualities that Prussian soldiers admired.

Leading from the front, personal combat achievements, and having been a soldier since childhood.

These were the qualities of the ‘man’ most highly regarded in the military state of Prussia.

Eugene, having unexpectedly scored points as a macho man, scratched his head and asked.

“Then who is it?”

“He’s right here. Hey, Scharnhorst! What are you doing there? You should be talking to people your own age. Why are you hanging out with old men!”

“Oh dear, Commander. I’m not quite Freischütz’s age either.”

Suddenly, the 46-year-old Chief of Staff, Scharnhorst, approached and chuckled.

“Gneisenau or this young man here are closer to his age than I am.”

In that instant, Eugene took a deep breath.

He had no time to be thinking about Queen Louise.

Though she was a beauty whom even Napoleon yearned to meet, Prussia’s true value did not lie in that beauty.

The military, with Blücher at its apex, was Prussia’s true strength.

In particular, the group of officers centered around Scharnhorst and Gneisenau would later become a major cause of Napoleon’s defeat.

Of course, Gneisenau was actually 41 years old, so Scharnhorst’s words were more of a joke.

Just as Eugene was about to turn to look at Gneisenau.

A young man of Eugene’s age, an officer whom Scharnhorst had just introduced as being of similar age, opened his mouth.

“I, I, I’m honored to meet you. Commander Freischütz.”

“You seem to know me? Officer?”

“O, of course. I have studied all battles without exception. Especially the Battle of Adrianople!”

The young officer stammered and then shouted excitedly.

“That battle wasn’t just a battle, it was a battle that created a political turning point. It’s ideal. It’s the best!”

Eugene’s eyes widened.

In fact, the battle that people highly praised among the wars Eugene had waged was different.

The Battle of Cairo.

It was a battle that heralded the beginning of the conquest of Egypt, and it was so completely victorious that it couldn’t help but become famous.

However, the Battle of Adrianople was indeed the most significant battle in terms of political meaning.

It literally reshaped the Eastern Mediterranean region and Southern Europe, which had been under Ottoman rule.

But who was this young officer who knew this significance?

Suddenly, Lieutenant Colonel August Neidhardt von Gneisenau hurriedly approached and smiled.

“Haha, this friend is a fan of General Freischütz. Of course, I am a fan of the General’s father, but I am also impressed by General Freischütz.”

“Thank you. General Neidhardt von Gneisenau.”

“Oh? Haha! How did you know that my family name is Neidhardt? You really have excellent information gathering skills.”

Gneisenau, originally the heir to the Count Neidhardt family, chuckled.

He would be famous as Gneisenau later, but this family name was actually a famous Austrian noble family.

You could say it was a name added when his father inherited the estate after the lineage was cut off.

However, it was definitely difficult information for a foreigner to know.

Just as Gneisenau was looking at Eugene with suspicious eyes.

“But! The, the Commander has a weakness!”

Scharnhorst cautioned the young officer, who was suddenly shouting again.

“Hey, Karl. Watch your words. This is an official banquet hall.”

“Staff Headquarters!”

“Karl!”

Scharnhorst was surprised and tried to stop him, but the young officer shouted excitedly at Eugene.

“The General doesn’t have a Staff Headquarters. If the General falls, the army is annihilated! That’s the weakness!”

Scharnhorst hurriedly dragged the young officer away.

“Hahaha! I’m sorry, General. Karl, stop it and let’s go!”

“Ah, that’s, there’s still something I haven’t said!”

“Shut up, Karl!”

Eugene stared intently at the officer’s back and then turned his gaze to Gneisenau.

“What’s that friend’s name?”

He knew what state he was in.

This young officer was, in other words, Eugene’s [ardent fan].

He had probably meticulously analyzed all the battles Eugene had fought.

Furthermore, he had even grasped Eugene’s original intentions, and was now shouting as a fan.

However, Eugene also had something in mind at the word Staff Headquarters.

Also a name that must be confirmed.

Gneisenau smiled awkwardly and explained.

“Haha, he’s a young officer who will be entering the newly reorganized Prussian Military Academy. His name is Karl von Clausewitz. Please understand. He’s just too enthusiastic.”

That’s right, the author of *On War*.

***

Later, the core element of the German Imperial Army was called the [Staff Headquarters].

“If it’s a Chief of Staff, don’t we have one too? What’s different? What did that friend Clausewitz mean?”

Ipolite asked Eugene, who had been lost in thought for a while on the balcony of Sanssouci Palace.

Eugene looked at Ipolite and nodded.

It was the early 19th century.

Most of the things that were taken for granted in later generations were being attempted for the first time in this era.

So, a modern Staff Headquarters was not yet common sense.

“The Staff Headquarters was originally created in Austria.”

“Huh? Austria? Then isn’t it a useless system?”

“It only seems useless because Austria itself is such a disunified country. The system itself is pioneering. Especially in that it can unite divided armies.”

Of course, there were things that could become buds.

Surprisingly, the Staff Headquarters was first attempted in the Austrian Empire, first created in 1769.

At the time, Austria appointed 30 staff officers and assigned them to manage operations, prisoners, and barracks.

However, it did not achieve clear results due to the fundamental weaknesses of the Austrian Imperial Army.

The weakness was that the army itself was composed of multiple ethnicities.

Of course, the fact that integrated operations were carried out despite that weakness showed the advantages of the Staff Headquarters.

However, as Prussia created this Staff Headquarters in a more developed form, the Prussian army that dominated the 19th century was born.

It was also a system that Napoleon failed to introduce into the French army.

Berthier was a capable Chief of Staff, but he did not create a staff system that gathered collective intelligence.

Recalling that point, Eugene muttered.

“It seems Prussia is already focusing on military system reform.”

“What do you mean?”

“Prussia is known as a military powerhouse in Europe. That’s not entirely wrong. But, in fact, the system that was reorganized in the mid-18th century has remained the same until now.”

In simple terms, it was the same system that the famous Frederick the Great created.

A mercenary-centered military system, a military dominated by Junker [Prussian noble landowners], and military discipline centered on beatings.

In the 18th century, it was possible to win with such an army.

However, now that it was the 19th century, the system had to be changed to stand against France, which was mobilizing the entire nation.

The one who was leading this military system reform was Scharnhorst.

“So, if a full-scale war breaks out properly, they can’t beat France. It seems there are soldiers preparing for that.”

As if he had seen through it after meeting them today, Eugene shrugged and explained.

Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Clausewitz.

All of them would leave their names as key figures in the Prussian army.

Scharnhorst died early, but the other two enjoyed the victory at Waterloo with Blücher.

All of that was a barrier that Eugene had to face.

“Then should we interfere with that?”

Eugene, who had been deep in thought again until Ipolite asked, shook his head sharply.

“We can’t interfere with everything. But I think we can cause some setbacks.”

“How?”

“In the end, the problem is people. Always.”

Eugene turned his head and turned his gaze to the banquet hall.

To see the Prussian staff officers chatting there.

***

At Sanssouci Palace, where the banquet was being held, two people met in a secluded room in the corner for final negotiations.

“What, what did you just say?”

Just as Baron Stein, the Prussian Minister of State, was about to glare, Talleyrand replied elegantly.

“To commemorate the conclusion of the peace negotiations between France and Prussia, we would like to conduct a military exchange. So, please send the designated officers to France.”

“What are you suddenly talking about? Why are you making such a request!”

“Isn’t there nothing bad for Prussia either? The current French army is the strongest in Europe. It’s good to learn the system of the leading army.”

In theory, it wasn’t wrong.

As of 1801, the French army was by far the strongest in Europe.

It had proven it with results, its mobilization power was visible, and there was a group of famous generals with Napoleon and Eugene at the apex.

However, sending capable officers would not mean learning that system.

A ploy to interfere with the future of the Prussian army.

It was so blatant that even Baron Stein could notice it.

Baron Stein, grinding his teeth, asked.

“Who exactly do you want?”

Talleyrand smiled and replied.

“Colonel Gneisenau and Lieutenant Clausewitz.”

There were only two of them, they couldn’t be called high-ranking officers, and they weren’t particularly great nobles.

Of course, Baron Stein had heard of Gneisenau, so he must be a talented person.

But would the Prussian army collapse just by sending two people?

These two had not yet achieved any noticeable results.

Baron Stein, racking his complicated brain, threw out a probe.

“You’ve picked out the next generation of elites in our Prussia.”

“Then wouldn’t that be even better? Students should be outstanding talents.”

“What’s the deadline? Minister Talleyrand?”

Talleyrand narrowed his eyes.

“Indefinitely. Until our France wants it.”

No matter how much he thought about it, Baron Stein couldn’t understand.

But conversely, he couldn’t break the agreement because of just two officers.

Unable to know the reason, Baron Stein, who had been rolling his eyes, raised both hands.

“It’s a strange form of hostage. Fine. Instead, you won’t receive any compensation when you occupy Hanover.”

The signatures came and went alternately, and the two diplomats shook hands.

On the way out, Talleyrand encountered the person who had placed the strange order.

It was Eugene, smiling in the corner of the banquet hall.

“Was it done, Chief Aide Eugene?”

“Excellent, Minister.”

“What do we gain by doing this?”

Instead of looking at Talleyrand, Eugene looked at Gneisenau, 41, and Clausewitz, 21, who were unaware of their fate, and smiled.

It would be nice to take Scharnhorst as well, but that would be too noticeable.

Anyway, Scharnhorst was already Blücher’s Chief of Staff and the principal of the new military academy.

However, just by taking those two, Prussia’s military system reform would be greatly shaken.

“In the future, we can preemptively take possession of those who will threaten France.”

Of course, also the existence that would threaten Eugene himself at Waterloo.