He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 30

(29) Napoleon Saves Toulon for Eugene

The victor is always one, and the losers are everyone else.

-Clack, clack, clack!

April 1793. It’s Easter, but the Revolutionary Army is delivering death.

At this time, the French army was divided into the regular army and the militia, which included the National Guard.

However, it was difficult to deploy the militia to actual battlefields like Toulon.

In the end, soldiers forcibly conscripted from the regular army, which had existed since the monarchy, were funneled in and rebranded as the Revolutionary Army.

But as with most new recruits, this was the first war for many in the Toulon suppression force of the Revolutionary Army.

Having experienced death for the first time, the Revolutionary Army was filled with murderous intent.

Especially towards the [enemy] they had been fighting until just yesterday.

Even though they were clearly the same French people.

“Catch them! Drag out all the counter-revolutionaries!”

“Kill the royalists! There is no one here who deserves to live!”

“Blood for blood! This disgrace of Toulon can only be washed away with blood!”

Citizens were dragged out from all over Toulon.

Former royalists, moderate bourgeois [middle class], pro-British factions.

Sometimes, even supporters of the revolution were arrested for not having a clear stance during the rebellion.

Of course, someone was leading the way and commanding the soldiers.

“This is the order of the National Convention!”

Stanislas Fréron, Antoine Christophe Saliceti, Paul Barras.

They were the National Convention [Representatives on mission] dispatched from Paris to oversee the southern region of France.

Furthermore, they were the ones who had already orchestrated ‘massacres’ in Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille.

Among them, Representative Fréron was running to the scene and roaring.

“Peace is only possible by eliminating the traitors! Catch them all, without leaving a single one!”

Of course, not everyone participated in this frenzy.

Especially the Revolutionary Army; the more fiercely they fought, the more exhausted they became and the more they needed rest.

One of them, Sergeant Hippolyte, grumbled as he watched this scene at the harbor.

“Why are the representatives making such a fuss when the generals aren’t even doing anything?”

“These things are usually led by politicians. But the funny thing is something else.”

“What is it?”

Eugene looked at Fréron passing in the distance and sneered.

“Those guys over there, they’re all the ones who were shouting about freedom, equality, and human dignity. Seriously.”

Fréron, Saliceti, and Barras were all, of course, supporters of the revolution.

In particular, Fréron was a friend of Robespierre and someone who worked in journalism with the lawyer Desmoulins.

As the son of Élie, the best journalist of the time, he was actually from a royalist family.

However, when the king caused the [Flight to Varennes], he was an executioner who took the lead in advocating the king’s execution.

Now, Fréron had become a representative dispatched from the National Convention and was executing counter-revolutionaries.

That is what he was trying to do in Toulon now.

It is quite ironic that Fréron would later advocate for unlimited freedom of the press.

Just as Eugene was thinking about that, Hippolyte, who was more grounded, woke Eugene up.

“Then should we just let them die like that? I feel a little sorry for them.”

“Well, wouldn’t we be in that state if we had lost?”

“Oh, uh, is that so?”

At that moment, a child ran towards a man being dragged away bound by ropes.

“Papa!”

It was still a young girl.

Before the soldiers could stop her, the child clung to the man.

She probably wanted to save her father who was being dragged away.

The child cried and shouted at the soldiers.

“Don’t take Papa away! Bad people!”

“What is this brat? Drag this kid to the square too!”

“Papa! Aah!”

The soldiers snatched the child.

It was a procession being dragged to the city square of Toulon.

It was obvious what would happen in the square.

They would be arrested, summarily tried, and executed.

But what counter-revolutionary crime did that child commit?

Eugene frowned and took a step forward.

“Hey, that’s too rough.”

However, the soldier who saw Eugene pointed a gun at him instead.

“Who are you? A uniform? Did you steal it from somewhere!”

“Hey, that’s too much. This guy is a Lieutenant! I’m Sergeant Hippolyte!”

“What? This kid is a Lieutenant? Oh!”

In an instant, the soldier opened his mouth wide and shouted.

“The Boy Standard-Bearer! The Retaker of Marie Louise, the Flames of Hell!”

It’s a very strange nickname.

Without Eugene knowing, exaggerated rumors seemed to have spread among the Toulon suppression forces.

Besides, wasn’t Marie Louise a non-existent ship?

However, notoriety is also helpful in times like this.

Eugene, the soldier who was the first to enter Toulon and seized the Union Jack [British flag], jutted out his chin.

“Do you know me?”

“Ah, I know you. Lieutenant. I’m sorry. But there are strict orders from the Representatives on mission.”

“The Representatives on mission. Who is the commander here? I think we should at least let the child go.”

It was then.

“Stop it, Boy Standard-Bearer. This is not something to get involved in.”

Eugene was about to get angry but stopped.

Because Napoleon was standing behind him.

Napoleon, with a tired face, was shaking his head.

Although it was silent, Eugene knew what he meant.

*Don’t interfere.*

Eugene knew it too.

In the fierce era of revolution, you die if you try to save others recklessly.

Still, what crime did this child commit?

In the end, Eugene couldn’t stand it and protested.

“Colonel. But this is a situation where massacres are taking place without trial. Besides, even that child is about to be dragged away? What crime did that child commit?”

“Hey, Boy Standard-Bearer. That’s for the war committee of the Committee of Public Safety, and the Representatives on mission who have been delegated their authority, to decide. It’s not something for soldiers to decide!”

“That’s!”

At that moment, a metallic sound rang out.

-Clang!

Eugene and Napoleon were surprised and turned around.

Guns of this era are difficult to fire unless you prepare quite a bit.

So accidental shootings are rather rare.

Instead, the gun itself is used like a weapon because it is a lump of metal.

The child, who had been trying to save ‘Papa’ until just now, was bleeding and collapsed.

The soldier in front of her, holding a blood-stained gun, fidgeted and made excuses.

“Ah, no. This child suddenly ran at me!”

Hippolyte rushed over and examined the child, then nodded.

It means she was just injured and fainted, not dead.

Eugene sighed in relief, then turned to Napoleon and stared intently.

“I need to meet the person in charge. Colonel.”

This time, Napoleon couldn’t stop Eugene either.

***

Representatives on mission are agents sent by the National Convention to monitor the army and rebel areas.

Even if they were just simple supervisors, they would be scary, but they have real authority.

That is the right to handle personnel matters for the military units in the dispatched area.

First of all, Napoleon was recommended by Saliceti among the Representatives on mission and became the chief of staff after being approved by Auguste.

By the way, these Representatives on mission are generally ultra-hardliners.

Why?

Because Robespierre picked such people and sent them from the National Convention, especially Robespierre.

One of them, Barras, gave a passionate speech at the Toulon City Hall.

“We must kill them all! Only then will this Marseille be suppressed! Also, the royalists will never be able to rise up again! This is the will of the Committee of Public Safety of the National Convention!”

It is ironic to think about what Barras will do in the original history.

Because Barras is the one who destroys the Committee of Public Safety.

However, as of April 1793, Barras is a staunch supporter of the Committee of Public Safety.

He was also a representative who took the lead in purging Toulon, which had been controlled by royalists, counter-revolutionaries, and pro-British merchants until recently.

Of course, he is not a cruel man like Fréron who goes all the way to the massacre site to watch.

Still, it is true that Barras’ hard-line stance has already caused massacres in various parts of southern France.

Auguste, sweating profusely, sat in the main hall of the city hall and asked back.

“Monsieur Barras. Shouldn’t we still proceed with a trial?”

“What trial! Did those guys start a rebellion through legal procedures?”

“No, still, our republic is a country of law.”

Then Fréron, who was listening next to him, shouted.

“If we don’t kill the rebels today, we will die! Monsieur Robespierre!”

Robespierre.

It is also Auguste’s last name, but it is also a name that symbolizes only one person.

Maximilien de Robespierre, Auguste’s older brother.

For Auguste, who worships his brother, it is like an order that he cannot refuse.

Besides, Fréron’s words are not entirely wrong.

Uprisings against the revolution, that is, counter-revolutionary uprisings, are continuing throughout France.

And behind these uprisings, there is always support from Austria or England.

It means that there is a point where the rebellion colludes with foreign powers.

Naturally, if this rebellion is not suppressed, foreign troops can overthrow the revolution.

Besides, Auguste’s brother, Robespierre, is executing traitors right now, isn’t he?

Seeing Auguste, who had a stiff face and became motionless, Barras intervened again.

“Think carefully! Huh?”

At that time, a boy and a young soldier were seen entering.

Eugene and Hippolyte entered the main hall of Toulon City Hall.

Barras’ eyes sparkled.

Seeing that, Auguste clicked his tongue.

It seems that Barras’ bad habit has been activated again.

The boy, Eugene, greeted politely without knowing it.

“Hello, Monsieur Barras, and Monsieur Fréron. Ah, Monsieur Robespierre is here too.”

“Oh, a handsome boy. What’s your name?”

“My name is Eugene de Beauharnais. Monsieur Barras. I am currently serving as a lieutenant in the 4th Regiment of the Toulon Garrison.”

Suddenly, Barras narrowed his eyes and licked his lips.

“Oho! So you’re the Boy Standard-Bearer! I didn’t know you were so pretty, no, handsome! Let’s see each other separately later!”

Barras gently touched Eugene’s shoulder, flashed his eyes, and went outside.

It’s a very unpleasant touch, as if he’s caressing him.

On the other hand, Fréron looked at Eugene with cold eyes and left without a word.

Next to Eugene, who was frowning, Hippolyte whispered with wide eyes.

“What, that guy? Why is he looking at you so unpleasantly?”

“Well, because he’s a homosexual, no, a bisexual. Or is a pedophile more accurate?”

“What? Oh my god. Let’s never get close to him.”

Both spoke in low voices, but Auguste has good ears.

It is naturally a scandal that a revolutionary Representative on mission has such sexual preferences.

Even if he is a [financial prodigy], has the rumor already spread so much that a boy like Eugene knows about it?

Auguste smiled bitterly and spoke to Eugene.

“Next to him is a friend who loves girls. A knight of the princess. Did you come to see me?”

That’s right.

Auguste knows Eugene.

Because he is the child who ruined the execution plan of Queen Robespierre, whom he respects the most.

Also, he is a young soldier that Robespierre is particularly concerned about.

***

Eugene smiled and recalled the two [Representatives on mission] who had just left.

Barras and Fréron.

The executioners of southern France.

And, sexual deviants.

So, the famous reactionary, Barras, is actually bisexual.

There is even a speculation that the reason why Barras later chose Napoleon in the original history was because he was handsome.

He drools over beautiful boys without saying a word.

On the other hand, Fréron loves beautiful girls.

In the original history, the woman Fréron followed the most was Pauline.

She is Napoleon’s younger sister and is currently 13 years old.

‘And, both are the main players in [reaction].’

Perhaps the revolution is destined to be ruined by sexual deviants.

However, Eugene did not come to meet the two perverts, but to meet a normal person.

Eugene looked at Auguste, who is kind but has an ultra-hardline brother, and said.

“Monsieur Robespierre, we met once before. In your brother’s office.”

“Call me Auguste. Haha, when you left Paris, you were just a young boy. Now you’ve become a soldier?”

“Thank you. It’s thanks to your care. Really.”

Auguste, looking pleased with Eugene’s polite expression of gratitude, asked.

“Seeing that you’re safe, my brother will be relieved too. My brother was quite distressed to send a child to the battlefield. But what’s wrong?”

In fact, whether you kill people because you’re a pervert or because you’re too virtuous, killing is the same.

Robespierre is still killing quite a lot in Paris.

Still, at least he was going through a trial.

Even the queen was an unfair trial, but didn’t she go through all the legal procedures in form?

Eugene came to Auguste to rely on that point.

“I would like you to save them, Monsieur Auguste.”

“Who?”

“The citizens who are being forcibly dragged away in Toulon Square right now.”

It is the exact opposite of what Barras and Fréron demanded just now.

Auguste smiled bitterly.

As if looking at Eugene as a naive boy, Auguste told him.

“Those friends are all former royalists. And you’re saying save them?”

“Not all of them will be. Also, it is dangerous to massacre at least 2,000 people at the same time, let alone a few ringleaders. Looking at it earlier, the number of people being dragged away seemed to be about that many.”

“It won’t end with 2,000 people? Fréron is writing the list himself right now. It will probably soar to 6,000.”

When Eugene widened his eyes, Auguste sighed.

“I don’t really like it either. But if we don’t eliminate the royalists, how can we prevent them from starting another rebellion?”

It is what will happen all over France right now.

To suppress the rebellion, they kill the traitors.

Solve the problem by killing.

But will it really end with that?

The guillotine’s blade eventually returns to the one who wielded the sword.

Eugene reopened his tightly closed mouth.

“Please think of me, Monsieur Auguste.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“If you think about it, I am a royal servant, and even a royalist among royalists who rushed to save the princess.”

Eugene expressed his extremely unfavorable story.

“But, haven’t I become a standard-bearer of the revolution like this? Today’s royalist becomes tomorrow’s republican. That’s the revolution!”

In fact, even Fréron, who is leading the execution, is like that.

His father was an extreme royalist who tried to bury the famous Enlightenment thinker Voltaire.

Not to mention Barras, who comes from a baronial family.

Those who shouted loyalty to the king now defend the revolution to the death.

That’s life in a time of upheaval.

What about the citizens of Toulon?

Auguste frowned as he listened to Eugene’s passionate speech.

“That’s true. But there’s no excuse. With what justification······.”

Auguste probably doesn’t like this massacre either.

However, Barras and Fréron’s argument is orthodox from the perspective of the revolutionaries.

The revolution can only succeed if the counter-revolutionaries are eliminated.

Where is the guarantee that the royalists will not start another rebellion right away?

If Eugene wants to persuade Auguste, he needs something, a finishing blow.

It was then.

“We can forcibly conscript them.”

A very handsome young officer was entering the main hall.

It was Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon stepped forward to prevent the massacre tragedy in Toulon.

Later, Madame de Staël, who was banished from France for slandering Napoleon, said this.

「He is short, but his face is like a classical sculpture.」

In fact, he is not that short.

The metric system began to be introduced in earnest by the revolutionary government from 1793.

According to this standard, it is about 170 centimeters [5’7″].

It is taller than the French average of 164 centimeters [5’4″] at the end of the 18th century.

It just looks small among the nobles and tall soldiers.

“Violence can only be solved with violence. Monsieur Auguste.”

Napoleon, a young man with a handsome appearance that overwhelms those who see him, flashed his eyes.

He is no longer just a skinny young officer.

The conqueror of Toulon.

A general who has protected the Mediterranean fleet and has achieved achievements that everyone cannot help but recognize.

Even in Paris, rumors are circulating that he is the savior of the sea.

Auguste, in particular, was a reader who had been deeply impressed by [a pro-republican pamphlet written by Napoleon].

Auguste greeted Napoleon with a delighted expression.

“Oh? Colonel Bonaparte, isn’t it? Or was it Buonaparte?”

“Please call me Bonaparte. It’s the French way.”

“Good attitude. But conscription?”

Napoleon was originally a Corsican nobleman who spoke Italian.

Moreover, his father was a Corsican independence activist, and he himself dreamed of Corsican independence.

Because of this, he insisted on the Italian pronunciation of his name and surname.

Of course, this was before he turned 24, closer to the childishness of a teenager.

Now, he is a hero as an officer in the French Revolutionary Army.

In fact, Corsica expelled Napoleon’s family under Paoli’s [Pasquale Paoli, a Corsican patriot and leader] leadership.

So, he has now officially started using the French name, [Napoleon Bonaparte].

Napoleon spoke strongly in French, still with a Corsican accent.

“Conscript all the subversive elements and turn them into standard-bearers of the revolution. Look at that boy.”

At that moment, a spark flashed in Napoleon’s eyes.

“Isn’t he a fine soldier now!”

It’s a simple but clear way of speaking that everyone can understand.

Eugene, as a boy, threw himself into the heart of the enemy camp.

He prevented the Mediterranean fleet from burning and defeated the enemy.

Furthermore, he seized the Union Jack [British flag] of the British Navy and presented it to the French Revolutionary Army.

A royalist, but a boy who became a fine soldier after joining the army.

He is a model for the citizens of Toulon to emulate.

At that moment, Auguste was also moved and shouted back.

“Great! You take charge of this! General Bonaparte!”

“Huh? General?”

“Isn’t it obvious! News will come from Paris soon. They will commend your achievements and promote you to brigadier general!”

Napoleon, a 24-year-old young officer.

Now a general.

A position, honor, and achievements that were impossible to dream of before the revolution.

It is no exaggeration to say that the revolution raised Napoleon.

Napoleon’s eyes widened, and then he smiled.

“Then, as a general, my first operation will be to save the citizens of Toulon.”

Eugene’s eyes widened, and he clenched his fist.

Originally, a whopping 6,000 people would be massacred in Toulon.

But instead of a massacre, the citizens of Toulon were saved.

On the condition that they were forcibly drafted into the army.

History has changed again, slightly.

***

Of course, Auguste is not the only decision-maker in Toulon.

“Who authorized the saving of people?”

The mansion that once housed the mayor has now been transformed into the residence of the deputies on mission [representatives of the National Convention sent to enforce laws and maintain order].

Barras [Paul Barras, a French politician of the French Revolution, and later in the Directory], sitting in the most ornate chair, glared.

On the other hand, Napoleon, wearing a shabby military uniform, retorted with his chin raised.

“Monsieur Auguste Robespierre’s order.”

“I saw that! But this can be overturned if a new order comes from Paris!”

“Are you really going to do that, Monsieur Barras?”

Eugene, watching this scene from behind Napoleon, thought it was quite a strange confrontation.

In the original history, Napoleon rose to prominence under Barras’s protection.

It seems difficult to see that happening now.

However, the way Barras looked at Napoleon’s face with greed made it seem not so impossible.

At that time, a man with a cold face standing next to Barras, Fréron [Louis-Marie Stanislas Fréron, a French politician, representative to the National Convention during the French Revolution], opened his mouth.

“Colonel Bonaparte, I hope you will reconsider. I know your family, and I don’t want to fight if I can help it.”

Fréron was a deputy on mission for all of southern France and was more diligent than Barras.

In short, he had already swept through southern France and reached Toulon.

Among them was Marseille, where the Bonaparte family had settled.

He had already met the Bonaparte family in Marseille and built a relationship with them.

What could be the reason?

Fréron is putting a lot of effort into building connections with soldiers.

In particular, General François de Lapoype, who supported the Toulon suppression army, is Fréron’s brother-in-law.

So, the cruel Fréron is more conciliatory than the arrogant Barras.

Of course, that’s just towards the general, not the citizens.

Fréron added fiercely.

“But! The revolution cannot be completed unless the counter-revolutionaries are killed! This is the truth!”

“Monsieur Fréron, it’s not that we’re just letting them live.”

“Then?”

Napoleon still shouted stubbornly, in a strong tone.

“Blood for blood! They made the Revolutionary Army shed blood. So, let them pay the price with blood. By becoming soldiers and killing counter-revolutionaries!”

Once Napoleon makes a decision, he doesn’t change it easily.

It’s a characteristic of the stubborn Corsican.

Of course, that’s not the same as saying he takes responsibility well.

In any case, Barras and Fréron were surprised by Napoleon’s words.

Soldiers, you say.

It sounds like a good solution at first glance, but isn’t it giving guns to untrustworthy people?

Barras frowned and tried to retort.

“That’s dangerous, if they revolt…”

At that moment, the door of the mansion burst open.

-Thump!

A group of soldiers entered.

“That’s enough, deputies.”

Marceau [François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers, a French general of the Revolutionary Wars], Lapoype, and, more than anyone, Dugommier [Jacques François Dugommier, a French general] entered with the soldiers.

They weren’t particularly pointing guns, but the mere presence of the soldiers was intimidating.

It was a kind of show of force.

Barras gritted his teeth, glaring at the commander-in-chief of the Toulon suppression army, Jacques Dugommier.

“General Dugommier. What is the meaning of this?”

“I know very well that the deputies are leading the National Guard and committing massacres. But Toulon has not yet been completely suppressed, and I am still the military commander here.”

“Who the hell told General Dugommier about this? Wait, you?”

At that moment, the quick-witted Barras glared at Eugene.

Because Eugene’s friend, Marceau, was among Dugommier’s soldiers.

Captain Marceau is under Napoleon’s command when it comes to organization, not Dugommier’s direct line.

Eugene is a kind of ‘soldier of interest’ to Barras, so he is always concerned about him.

Eugene smiled and tilted his head.

“He happens to be someone who worked with my father in the American Revolutionary War.”

General Dugommier is a veteran who fought in the Seven Years’ War, Martinique, and the American Revolutionary War.

He is a supporter of the revolution and is being heavily used in the Revolutionary Army, but he also had friendships with old-fashioned soldiers.

In fact, strictly speaking, he is closer to Lafayette [Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War] than Alexandre [Alexandre de Beauharnais, Eugene’s father].

However, Dugommier glared at Barras and Fréron instead of correcting him.

Suddenly, Fréron stepped forward instead of Barras and shouted.

“Are you moving based solely on the words of that royalist traitor boy, Dugommier?”

“Don’t speak carelessly! Lieutenant Eugene is a fine soldier. Which of you can infiltrate the heart of the enemy camp and capture the enemy’s flag?”

“No, that’s!”

Suddenly, Lapoype grabbed Fréron’s hand.

“That’s enough, brother-in-law.”

Lapoype said in a low voice, strongly suppressing Fréron, who was trying to shake him off.

“That friend has not only General Beauharnais behind him.”

“Then?”

“Lafayette. Still, that man is a hero of Valmy [Battle of Valmy, a decisive victory for the French during the Revolutionary Wars]. Have you forgotten?”

Fréron shut his mouth at those words.

Of course, power lies with Robespierre [Maximilien Robespierre, one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution].

But what if Lafayette takes issue with this massacre?

It may not be a big problem in Paris, which is currently led by the Mountain faction [radical faction during the French Revolution].

But when peace returns, someone will have to take responsibility.

In the end, Barras and Fréron gave up.

Signing the order that Napoleon handed over, Barras shouted as if in a frenzy.

“Fine, do as you please! But if the counter-revolutionaries cause problems, then you will all be responsible!”

At that moment, Napoleon, who had been watching the situation, smiled coldly.

“You don’t know the military, Barras. There won’t be any room for that.”

Furthermore, the military will deal with any internal disturbances immediately.

***

So, which is better for the citizens of Toulon, death or the military?

“Listen, citizens! You have two choices! One is to die!”

In fact, if you present two choices at the same time, the answer won’t come out quickly.

Especially at the end of the 18th century, the military was truly miserable.

It was common for people to become disabled due to illness or frostbite in the military.

But what if they are tied up in the square, waiting for death?

There is no choice.

“Oh my god, are we going to die now?”

“Oh, Holy Mary. Curses on the Republicans! Loyalty to the King!”

“Elisabeth! Oh, I wanted to marry you!”

Among the screaming citizens, a girl with a head injury turned her head.

“Papa.”

The father next to her wrapped his arms around her as if to reassure her.

But the father, Nicolas, was not sure if he could save even his daughter, Tuilerie.

The revolutionaries are said to be cruel.

At that time, the young general Napoleon, who was standing in front of the prisoners in the square, declared.

“The other is to join the army!”

Nicolas blinked.

“The army? The Revolutionary Army?”

“No, but how can we join the Revolutionary Army? Weren’t we treated as traitors?”

“Uh, we were fighting each other until recently?”

In the midst of the hesitation of the counter-revolutionary prisoners, Napoleon put Eugene forward.

“Look at this boy!”

The moment Eugene stood in front of the platform, Napoleon shouted.

“Do you remember Marie Antoinette, the former queen!”

Not only the royalists, but also the counter-revolutionaries, no, even the revolutionaries remember.

Marie Antoinette, a foreign queen from the Austrian imperial family.

Originally, there was a high opinion for her execution, but the queen survived.

The newspaper article that a boy helped was famous even in this southern Toulon.

Suddenly someone shouted.

“Oh, I saw it in the newspaper! A boy saved the queen!”

“What, what was it? The princess was so moved that she appointed him as her knight?”

“They say he’s the princess’s fiancé!”

Napoleon nodded and shouted.

“Also! This boy is also the young standard-bearer who occupied Fort Mulgrave!”

Mulgrave, that is, Fort Malgrave.

Napoleon occupied that place himself, Eugene never occupied it.

Eugene only penetrated into the center of Toulon, he never went to the Cairo Heights.

But Napoleon deliberately mentioned a fortress that the people of Toulon could easily recognize.

Indeed, the murmuring voices of the citizens grew louder.

Napoleon’s magnificent cry poured out into it.

“Whether you were royalists, counter-revolutionaries, or traitors! If you come to the army, it’s all the same! Everyone is the same soldier!”

Later, in the original history, Napoleon controls hundreds of thousands of troops with his command.

Regarding Napoleon’s voice, even critics in the original history evaluate it as handsome, dignified, and attractive.

Of course, they added that his singing skills were like a pig squealing.

Napoleon’s voice, which would impress even his political enemies, echoed through the square.

“If you make achievements in war and fight! Everyone can become like this boy. You can become the standard-bearer of the revolution!”

Even the deputies on mission and the Toulon suppression army recruits, who had been in a state of anxiety, were mesmerized.

Napoleon’s magic.

It’s a speech.

“Choose. Will you choose death, or will you choose to enlist!”

This speech is not as lengthy as Robespierre’s.

But there is a power that only those who have experienced the battlefield between life and death can have.

It means that there is substance in the words.

At that moment, Nicolas stood up first.

The royalists, counter-revolutionaries, and pro-British factions rushed to go.

-Rumble!

Everyone was untied and lined up in the ranks to choose to enlist.

Watching the scene of people writing down their names on the military enlistment list, Napoleon smiled contentedly.

Of course, there are also those who are not happy.

Paul Barras approached Napoleon.

“I don’t like it. All the counter-revolutionaries should be killed!”

“Kill the ringleaders, Deputy Barras.”

“I’ve already picked them out and put them in prison! But we have to set an example. Besides, how are you going to control those guys?”

Suddenly, Napoleon retorted coldly.

“Most of them will be separated and mixed into the Republicans. If they resist, they will be lynched to death.”

Barras was startled by the cold calmness and stepped back.

But Napoleon didn’t care and turned to look at the soldiers.

War is a process of making these soldiers die and killing more enemies.

The general must order all soldiers to be prepared to die and rush forward.

Napoleon, who had fought his first battle, was already prepared.

To order them to kill.

It was then.

“Papa! I’m alive!”

A man approached with his delighted child, Tuilerie.

“Thank you, General. Thank you for saving us.”

“Just hope you survive on the battlefield, soldier.”

“I will definitely survive!”

This man, Nicolas, or rather, Nicolas’s daughter, moved Eugene.

And Napoleon too.

Napoleon stared at Nicolas and asked.

“Remember, soldier. What is your name?”

The young father, Nicolas, took a salute and shouted.

“Nicolas Chauvin! I will definitely repay the General!”

Later, there is a story that remains like an urban legend in the original history.

A soldier who participates in all of Napoleon’s battles.

Even until the Hundred Days Reign [brief period of renewed glory for Napoleon after his initial defeat].

A soldier who left the word [Chauvinism] in modern times.

Napoleon and Nicolas, who would not know that legend, parted ways.

Eugene, who had been watching all of this, approached Napoleon.

Suddenly, Eugene smiled and asked.

“Are you proud?”

Napoleon glanced at Eugene and snorted.

“Hmph, I’m not very interested in those people.”

“Yes? Then why did you help?”

“But you know. I’m very interested in talented boys.”

In fact, that’s not necessarily the case.

Napoleon is a petty person, but a generous petty person.

He doesn’t want to save people at a loss, but he doesn’t like massacres.

Nevertheless, a petty person is also someone who is not honest.

Instead, Napoleon made an excuse while looking at Eugene.

“Incoming Lieutenant Colonel, Eugene de Beauharnais. Like you.”

Now Eugene has heard three things at the same time.

Eugene will soon be promoted to lieutenant colonel on the recommendation of General Napoleon.

Napoleon recognized Eugene’s talent.

Furthermore, for Eugene’s sake, he stopped the Toulon massacre.

This is not a lie.

Napoleon is very interested in talented people.

Knowing that fact, Eugene stared at Napoleon and chuckled.

“I’m not interested in homosexuality.”

“Ugh! Don’t insult me! I’m only interested in beautiful women! Oh, come to think of it, I was too busy and forgot.”

“What?”

In an era when homosexuality is still an insult, the thorough heterosexual, potential womanizer Napoleon cleared his throat.

“Ahem! Is your mother still doing well?”

Eugene’s eyes widened for a moment, and then he smiled wryly.

It seems that the memory Napoleon had when they met in Marseille was really impressive.

Or maybe Josephine looked so pretty back then.

Smiling lightly, Eugene nodded.

“Even if she’s a former divorcee, if you’re okay with that.”

The day he stopped the Toulon massacre.

Eugene made a firm decision.

To connect Napoleon and Josephine.