He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 295

(295) Acquiring Jomini, the Artist of War

Here stands the [Artist of War], more famous in his time than Clausewitz, though posterity may not remember him as well.

“Jomini, is it? For sure?”

Simply put, he’s the author of .

While Clausewitz, a contemporary, authored and became known as a philosopher of war, Jomini discussed practical tactics for conducting war.

Of course, because these tactics delve into the methods of the Napoleonic Wars, he isn’t as famous these days.

However, as a tactician, Jomini far surpasses Clausewitz.

In any case, Napoleon himself, after reviewing Jomini’s papers, asserted that he was better than his subordinates.

And now, that very Jomini stood before Eugene.

General Amedee Emmanuel Laharpe chuckled and nodded.

“Indeed. General Jomini. He was a war aide to my cousin, Frederic-Cesar de Laharpe.”

“And why is he here?”

“Well, my cousin got the boot. Haha.”

Frederic-Cesar de Laharpe, a Swiss politician and founder of the Helvetic Republic [a republic established in Switzerland with French support during the French Revolution].

An Enlightenment thinker who sympathized with the French Revolution from an early age, he promoted the establishment of a republic in Switzerland after the revolution broke out.

Naturally, there was strong resistance in Switzerland, which was divided and ruled by noble lords and cities.

To solve this problem, Laharpe relied on French military power.

As a result, the semi-satellite republic of Helvetia, with strong French influence, was born.

The problem was that Cesar Laharpe made too many enemies in the process.

Eventually, after a fierce political struggle, Cesar Laharpe stepped down as the head of the Helvetic Federal Republic.

And Jomini had been working as Cesar’s war aide.

“I’ve heard the stories. I hear you’re taking in forced foreign students these days, General?”

Jomini asked with an intrigued expression, and Eugene glared at him.

“Where did you hear that from?”

“Switzerland is closer to the old Holy Roman Empire than you think. Heh heh.”

“Why, do you want to be forcibly enrolled? The French military academy is scheduled to reopen, though.”

Eugene calmed his briefly excited heart and watched Jomini.

In fact, Jomini has a recorded problem in history.

He’s too full of himself.

He’s the type to show off his talents, which caused friction with Napoleon’s existing generals.

Eventually, he fought with Napoleon’s chief of staff, Berthier, and defected to Russia.

Although he didn’t participate in the Russian campaign out of consideration for France, it was still a betrayal.

That means he’s not a very loyal person.

But Jomini smiled and made an absurd request.

“I’m interested in a different position. Rather than learning at the military academy, I’d like to learn under you, General.”

Instantly, Ipolite appeared next to Eugene and waved his hand.

“Uh, the adjutant position is full. Shoo.”

“The Shadow of Matan, General Charles. Pleased to meet you.”

“Huh? You know me? And what’s with that nickname?”

Jomini winked and smiled at the surprised Ipolite.

“It’s a famous nickname among the soldiers of the old Holy Roman Empire. Of course, that’s mainly because the two of you have been fighting Austria.”

That means his prior information gathering is thorough.

Of course, even Eugene didn’t really know the nickname, so that makes it even more so.

Eugene glanced at Ipolite and chuckled.

“You’ve made a name for yourself, Ipolite?”

“It’s not a very welcome nickname. If you’re going to give me one, how about ‘Right-hand man of the Conqueror of the Orient’ or something?”

“You can have that printed in the newspaper later.”

Eugene stared at Jomini again.

“You’ve done your homework on me, Monsieur Jomini.”

“I want to work under you, General.”

“What position do you want? I can’t return to the military for the time being.”

In a very relaxed and cheerful manner, Jomini’s eyes sparkled.

“Chief of Staff. I want that position.”

Eugene replied with a slightly troubled expression.

“That’s General Berthier’s position.”

“That may be the case in the unit where General Bonaparte is the commander-in-chief. But can you use Berthier, General? I hear he’s very picky.”

“Where did you hear that? It’s too detailed, General Laharpe?”

Laharpe, who had been listening to the story with interest until then, smiled and shook his head.

“I didn’t tell him anything else. I only praised General Jomini’s excellent skills.”

It’s definitely the same as in the original history.

Resourceful, showing off his talents, and thorough investigation.

Moreover, despite being only 22 years old, just two years older than Eugene, he is incredibly bold.

No wonder Napoleon favored him in the original history.

Eugene pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“First, let’s test your skills.”

There’s one thing I want to confirm.

***

In the lounge of Schönbrunn Palace, a map was spread out on one side.

-Rustle!

Jomini tilted his head as he looked at the map.

“What is this?”

“The current power structure of European countries. I didn’t include anything that’s completely top secret, but I did include some confidential information.”

“I saw some of that when I worked as an aide to the Swiss president. Heh heh.”

Jomini boasted, showing off his rapid rise to success at a young age.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Jomini is an arrogant person.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say that he is a flighty type.

Even after falling from grace in the original history, Jomini continued to show off himself by writing numerous articles.

As a result, he became famous as the best war writer of his time.

Perhaps he was completely incompatible with the shy Berthier.

However, Eugene has no intention of testing Jomini’s humility.

“Since General Laharpe recommended you, I think you have basic skills. But to be my chief of staff, you need strategic insight. I have a question.”

Pointing to the map, Eugene asked a simple but difficult question.

“How will the future struggle for hegemony in Europe unfold? Can you predict it?”

Anyone can give a vague answer.

However, the logic of deriving the result is more important than the answer itself.

Furthermore, there is one problem with Jomini’s reputation in the original history.

The art of war.

That is, it is limited to the war situation.

Can he see the war from a broader perspective?

That’s what Eugene wants to confirm now.

Instantly, Jomini stared intently at the map and suddenly drew his hand across it.

-Scribble!

Just as Eugene was about to be startled, Jomini smiled.

“General Freischütz. You’ve set a trap.”

“What do you mean?”

“Prussia, the four-divided old Austria, Hungary with Archduke Karl, the Ottoman Turks, and Russia. These five countries are the most important. That’s right. But.”

Gesturing over the military deployment map, Jomini pointed to one place.

“In the end, the current structure of Europe boils down to one thing: England on the sea and France on the land.”

Eugene tilted his head.

Even politicians who engage in armchair discussions can say this much.

However, soldiers do not talk about this issue.

Because the opponents they fought in the army were mainly Austria and Prussia, and the future hypothetical enemy is Russia.

Furthermore, Jomini didn’t just guess.

“War is summarized by two things: setting goals and concentrating core forces. But France has potential enemies on all sides, so this is difficult.”

“That’s a very harsh statement.”

“Nevertheless, there is a goal that must be concentrated on, setting aside other places. That is England.”

Jomini’s eyes shone, and he confidently asserted.

“No matter how much France divides Austria, defeats Prussia, or even defeats Russia, if it cannot defeat England, the enemy countries will rise again at any time. That’s the structure that has been repeated since the Seven Years’ War.”

Jomini’s art of war, or [Art of War], is full of numerous diagrams and war aphorisms.

It’s a feast of tactics that are useless in the 21st century.

However, within it lies a more modern perspective than Clausewitz’s theory of war.

Choice and concentration.

Clausewitz constantly preaches.

The annihilation of the main force is the ultimate goal of military operations, and this is an extension of politics.

But Jomini says differently.

Warfare should be about clearly defining the goal first and finding the most efficient means to achieve that goal.

It seems similar at first glance, but it is completely different.

Only those who know that goals and means are always variable can say that.

From France’s point of view, the goal is to establish hegemony, and the means is to defeat England.

Eugene stroked his chin and smiled.

“That sounds more like a naval admiral than an army general.”

“Is that so? Just because England controls the sea, does that mean it only has a navy?”

“What are you talking about?”

Instantly, Jomini pointed outside the map, to the east.

“People are mistaken. They think England has no army. That’s not true, General Freischütz. Don’t you really know, or are you turning a blind eye? Think of India!”

Just as Eugene was about to widen his eyes, Jomini burst into a passionate speech.

“England is waging wars in India where 100,000 troops clash. It’s far away in Asia now, but what if that army returns to Europe?”

After staring intently at Jomini for a moment, Eugene twisted his lips.

“This is a bit too much.”

“Yes?”

“The army that England operates in India is mainly composed of local troops called Sepoys [Indian soldiers serving under British command]. Of course, there are trained elites, but.”

Jomini was also embarrassed this time.

He is still young and has little practical experience.

He is full of talent, but he does not have all the information.

Nevertheless, it is an excellent strategic point of view to think of India when all the soldiers and politicians of Europe only look at the European continent.

Eugene nodded greatly.

“Nevertheless, you pass. You have a broad perspective. Let’s work hard together. Staff Officer Jomini.”

Jomini, who had been very nervous, cheered and saluted.

“Thank you! I will do my best!”

With this, Jomini joined the Eugene Club.

***

Of course, the established members didn’t like the new addition.

“Hey, do you need another adjutant besides me? Huh?”

“What are you talking about? Of course, when I’m commanding a company-level unit, you alone are enough. But I’m already a division commander. Besides, do you think I’m going to stop here?”

“Then what are you going to use that… *Swiss* friend for?”

Eugene chuckled at the sneering Ipolite.

“I’m going to create a general staff, Ipolite.”

Ipolite blinked, not knowing what he was talking about.

He had heard a little about the general staff.

Because Eugene talked about it when he sent Prussian soldiers to France for forced study.

But what does that have to do with Jomini?

“In the future, the French army will become larger and fight more. On more extensive battlefields.”

“Oh, really? Wasn’t the war supposed to be over?”

“England and Russia are still there. King Franz is not a man to give up. Above all, there is another opponent.”

Eugene stared at the opposite direction from where Jomini had looked earlier, the west.

“The New World.”

Ipolite tilted his head with an even more bewildered expression.

“America?”

“It’s not just there. We also have to deal with the colonies of Spain and the colonies of Portugal. Independence movements can happen at any time.”

“Why should we care about that?”

Eugene rolled his eyes with a troubled expression, wondering how to explain it, and then smiled.

“That’s what a hegemon is, Ipolite.”

It is difficult to explain that the ultimate hegemon in the original history is the United States.

Because in this era, the United States only controls the east coast, and the population is only about 5.3 million.

On the other hand, France boasts a population of 31 million as of 1801.

Instead of explaining all this, Eugene told only the conclusion.

“To win all these wars in battle, or to win without fighting, we need an excellent general staff. Berthier’s personality makes it impossible.”

Although he didn’t understand everything, Ipolite also understood in his own way.

“You’re going to have a lot of work to do. Well, just as it’s good to have a lot of manpower, it’s good to have a lot of brains!”

In the summer of 1801, Eugene’s staff, which would become the core of the French army, was born.

It was just before Eugene returned to France.