He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 57

Eugene and Napoleon are Greeted by a Paris Scandal

Even if a rebellion fails, it leaves deep scars on everyone.

“What are you saying? Dumouriez defected?”

The army responsible for the Rhine-Flanders front of the French Revolutionary Army is the [Army of the North].

The headquarters of the Army of the North had been in Brussels until now.

However, most of the actual battles took place along the Rhine River.

Therefore, the division commanders of the Army of the North’s main forces only learned of the situation after urgently returning.

Alexandre de Beauharnais, the commander of the military police who missed Dumouriez, scratched his head and replied.

“General Pichegru, it’s as I said. General Dumouriez has defected, and the Minister of War has been kidnapped. Fortunately, Representatives Saint-Just and Carnot were rescued.”

Stunned, Pichegru burst into anger.

“Is that all you have to say! You should have caught him, Major Beauharnais!”

But Dumouriez had already fled to the Austrian camp.

Of course, the main commanders of the Army of the North are unharmed.

So, the Austrian army is only scouting without daring to advance.

However, there is a high possibility that they will soon see an opening and advance.

Pichegru looked around at the generals of the Army of the North and shouted.

“This is no ordinary matter. Dumouriez was one of the main players in conquering Flanders! He knows all the strengths and weaknesses of our Army of the North!”

“There were many rumors that he would betray us, already.”

“Even so, attempting to kidnap the representatives changes the situation, Jourdan! The Minister of War was kidnapped!”

Jourdan, Kellermann, Pichegru.

The generals who effectively moved the Army of the North were all in a state of panic.

Naturally, Beauharnais, who was incompetent and only commanded the military police, was also in the same state.

The commander tried to kidnap the heads of the government but failed and defected to the enemy.

This is a major act of treason.

What will happen if this situation becomes known in Paris?

The reaction from Paris is more frightening than the enemy army.

At that time, a young general, Hoche, who was sitting in the corner, said with a tired face.

“Before the enemies launch a full-scale offensive, let’s decide on a temporary leader.”

Everyone looked at Hoche.

It is the right thing to say.

But who didn’t know it was the right thing to say, and couldn’t dare to say it?

Who would take responsibility if they arbitrarily appointed a temporary leader and were held accountable in Paris?

Pichegru, who was usually jealous of Hoche, gritted his teeth and said.

“What makes you so great that you’re stepping up, Hoche?”

“I’m just offering my opinion as the division commander of the Moselle Army. General Pichegru.”

“Yes, you’re still a brigadier general. An acting division commander. Don’t forget that you are the most junior person here!”

In the military, rank comes before anything else.

Because they have to be prepared to die on command.

However, in the French military rank, [Brigadier General] strictly means the commander of a brigade, commanding brigade-level forces.

Conversely, the French army is now rapidly expanding, and the number of troops is increasing rapidly.

To control this massive force, Carnot of the Committee of Public Safety created a formation called [Division].

A unit that controls tens of thousands of soldiers.

The one who commands that unit is the division commander, soon to be a major general.

Furthermore, only by becoming a major general can one become the commander of a [Corps] where divisions gather.

Although the concept of a corps is not yet clearly established.

Therefore, Hoche, who is a brigadier general, cannot be said to be a perfect division commander.

He only became the division commander of the [Moselle Division] by using Robespierre’s influence.

But Hoche spoke confidently without yielding at all.

“Even a junior can offer an opinion. I recommend General Jourdan.”

“What? What are you talking about! General Kellermann is the most senior!”

“But he is also the commander who conquered Flanders. Moreover, in rapidly changing situations like now, it is difficult for an elderly person like General Kellermann to cope. General Kellermann, what do you think?”

Horrified, Pichegru shouted at Hoche.

“That’s rude! General Kellermann has been fighting on the battlefield since the Seven Years’ War. And you dare to evaluate the general!”

The words of Pichegru and Hoche reflect the subtle situation of the Army of the North.

Originally, the commander of the Army of the North was naturally Dumouriez, who had fled.

However, after the defeat at Neerwinden, Dumouriez lost the trust of Paris.

Instead, Jourdan and Hoche took the lead.

Jourdan, along with Hoche, completed the conquest of Flanders (Belgium) and is successfully stopping the Austrian army.

But these two have something in common.

Before the revolution, they were just sergeants or junior officers.

On the other hand, Pichegru and Kellermann, who participated in the war since the Seven Years’ War, were senior officers before the revolution.

In other words, it is a conflict between new soldiers who began to rise during the revolutionary period and experienced soldiers from the old royal era.

Then, the old general Kellermann nodded.

“No, that seems right.”

“General!”

“Pichegru, in this turbulent battlefield, we need a young general who can adapt quickly to change.”

Suppressing Pichegru’s opposition, Kellermann asked.

“Major General Jourdan, how about it? Can you do it?”

Just as Jourdan was hesitating and unable to answer.

-Bang!

A young man with bandages burst into the headquarters.

“That’s for the Committee of Public Safety to decide, not the military!”

Saint-Just, called the Angel of Death of the Guillotine.

Even though the Reign of Terror has not yet arrived, it is said that more than a dozen nobles have already died due to Saint-Just’s accusations.

Seeing the ruthless member of the Committee of Public Safety, Hoche frowned and said.

“The front line is in a critical situation, Representative Saint-Just.”

“That’s why the principle of civilian control is even more important! What is the reason why the traitor Dumouriez is running rampant even now! It’s because the military has autonomy!”

“Representative!”

Eventually, Hoche, unable to bear it, shouted.

“Monsieur Robespierre would have respected my judgment!”

At that moment, Saint-Just ordered Pichegru.

“Arrest that bastard, Pichegru.”

“Yes?”

“Arrest him! Daring to stand up to a representative, he is strongly suspected of treason!”

The Committee of Public Safety is the highest decision-making body of the revolutionary government.

Saint-Just is famous as Robespierre’s right-hand man among them.

Moreover, Pichegru was usually jealous of Hoche.

Pichegru’s subordinates quickly grabbed Hoche.

Hoche shouted and protested.

“Representative!”

“Now, let’s go. I’ll send you to prison for now!”

“But I respect the judgment, Hoche.”

Suddenly, Saint-Just smiled coldly and stared at Jourdan.

“Major General Jourdan. I appoint you as the temporary commander of the Army of the North. The final decision will be made in Paris.”

Hoche, who might take the lead in the military, is arrested.

However, his insight is respected, and Jourdan is selected.

This creates a situation where the military is controlled while stopping the Austrian army.

This is the choice of the young representative Saint-Just, who is skilled in power dynamics.

However, there is someone else who will make the final decision.

Representative Saint-Just’s eyes flashed.

“How to deal with the damn Dumouriez treason case!”

It is the Committee of Public Safety, especially the highest authority, Robespierre.

***

This is the real reason why Paris left Vendée alone.

“Have you heard the news, Princess? My goodness, Dumouriez has betrayed us!”

Anyway, Julie Récamier, that is, Madame Récamier, a woman of the boudoir, even knows about it.

This place is called the ‘Café Mansion’.

A former queen, a former princess, and a former prince live here.

Because they are targets of attention, those who enter and exit are either supervisors or very daring people.

Like Madame Récamier, who is daring and whose husband is a prominent banker.

The former princess, Marie Thérèse, who is only one year apart in age and is on familiar terms, smiled while stroking her dog.

“Are you just hearing about it now, Madame Récamier?”

‘Disby’ was once a plump symbol of the royal family.

Julie looked at Disby as if she was tempted by its fluffy fur.

But it has already been almost a year since she started visiting this mansion.

Julie, who knows that Disby hates people other than its owner, slightly withdrew her hand and asked.

“How do you know, Princess?”

“Well, I found out through letters. I’m exchanging letters with General Hoche at the front lines these days.”

“Hoche? The hero of the Revolutionary Army?”

Suddenly, Marie rubbed her face against Disby’s fur and smiled.

“Yes, because he’s friends with ‘my’ Eugene.”

Julie blushed and exclaimed.

“Eugene must be so happy. To have the Princess think of him like this!”

Suddenly, she felt a little sad as she remembered the old days.

Julie had once liked Eugene a little.

Didn’t he save her life during the wolf attack?

But Eugene has become too big for Julie, who has no dowry, to handle.

Moreover, Jacques Récamier, who has some kind of relationship with her, also recommended marriage.

To inherit the fortune through marriage, and to find a good match for her after he dies.

Julie only guesses that there may be a secret to her birth.

She couldn’t covet Eugene in that situation.

Pressing down on her slightly aching heart, Julie asked Marie Thérèse.

“By the way, how is Eugene? Does he send letters often? My father, no, my husband, says he’s doing big business in Marseille again.”

“Hehe, you called him father again. Your husband. Eugene is getting a lot of help thanks to Monsieur Récamier. So is our family. I don’t think I’ve received many letters these days.”

“No, why? Don’t tell me, he has another woman!”

This is how Julie and Marie first met.

Marie came to the Récamier mansion, saying that Eugene seemed to have a woman in Marseille.

To find out accurate information through her business partner, Récamier.

Of course, it was a misunderstanding of Désirée, so the incident itself ended as a happening in Paris without Eugene knowing.

After that, Marie and Julie, who were the same age, became friends unexpectedly.

The former princess, Marie, who has a slightly strong obsession, frowned.

“No. He’s in Vendée right now.”

Julie was startled by the word Vendée and asked back.

“My goodness! Isn’t that where the rebels are rampant? To go to such a dangerous place!”

“What can I do? He’s a soldier. Still, he won.”

“He won? That little kid?”

Marie smiled slightly and answered proudly.

“Yes, he’s still a kid. But he’s no ordinary kid.”

Somehow, Julie thought Marie was enviable.

In fact, in terms of social status, there is no comparison.

Marie is just a young lady from a fallen royal family, and Julie is the wife of one of the leading wealthy financiers of the revolutionary era.

But Marie is much closer to Eugene.

Even in that she can claim it as ‘herself’.

Of course, Eugene would hate it if he saw Disby right now.

Shaking off the thoughts that came to her mind, Julie widened her eyes.

“Then, is he going back to Marseille? Or.”

Is he going to another battlefield?

Could he be dragged to the Rhine front, where the commander rebelled and failed?

If so, she feels like she wants to get him out even with the help of her ‘husband’.

But this time, Marie shook her head and smiled brightly.

“I got a letter after a long time. He’s coming to Paris.”

Julie was so happy that she clapped her hands and grabbed Marie’s hand.

Eugene is coming to Paris.

Even if they are nothing to each other, even if she is just the wife of a business partner, she is happy just to be able to see him.

“Princess, that’s great!”

“I don’t know if it’s great. I’m happy, but won’t there be many people attacking Eugene?”

“That’s, that could be. But he has to come to Paris at times like this.”

Julie recited the words she heard from her husband.

“General Dumouriez has betrayed the country. Then, the state affairs will inevitably become chaotic. Everyone will suspect each other and attack each other as traitors! So, you have to defend yourself in Paris!”

This is the analysis of the financier Récamier.

The rebellion of the highest level of the military and the defection to the enemy.

Even if it were France ruled by a lenient monarch, Louis XVI, executions and exiles would be happening every day.

But the current regime is a revolutionary government that extremely hates old aristocratic officers.

The problem is that Eugene is also from an old aristocratic family.

With a slightly clouded face, Marie bit her lip and her eyes flashed.

“Okay. Let’s see how much those self-righteous revolutionaries will fight. If they try to harm Eugene, I won’t stand still.”

A strong determination to stop them even if she throws herself into it flashes in her eyes.

Again, Julie realized.

If she doesn’t have that level of obsession, she can’t even try to get Eugene.

Because he is already a boy who has thrown himself into the storm of the revolution.

***

Then, what is Eugene, who is approaching as a storm, doing?

He’s chatting with Napoleon.

“Is there a way to shoot this paper cartridge, a paper bullet, from a breech-loading rifle?”

A leisurely procession of carriages, horses, and ponies.

It is the march of the Marseille Postal Special Regiment.

In the meantime, 3,000 prisoners are moving in carriages.

Carrier, who is in the lead carriage, is angry every day, but all the march leaders ignored it.

Even now, with Paris in sight, they are more interested in Eugene’s story.

Eugene said to Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of the march.

“Yes. Of course, one more thing is needed, General.”

“What is it?”

“A special gunpowder that explodes upon ignition. For example, like ‘fulminate’ [a highly explosive chemical compound].”

It is [Mercury Fulminate], or a substance called ‘fulminating silver’.

Originally, at the end of the 18th century, bullets were fired by igniting gunpowder with flint, and the explosive power was used to fire them.

However, the situation changed as mercury fulminate was invented in 1799 by Edward Howard, a noble chemist from the Duke of Norfolk family.

There was no need to collide flint, soon a percussion cap, to spark a flame.

An igniter that detonates immediately upon impact to fire a bullet.

This is mercury fulminate, a synthetic substance that made breech-loading rifles possible.

But why is Eugene telling this to Napoleon?

It’s a very simple reason.

Originally, Napoleon was not very interested in new weapons in the original history.

Napoleon’s main tactic is to use proven traditional weapons to carry out operations rather than unverified new weapons.

But in the last Vendée civil war, Napoleon used an unverified Patrick rifle.

Why?

Because Eugene smuggled a lot of gunpowder and showed it to him.

That it is a weapon that can be used in actual combat.

After that, Napoleon’s aversion to new weapons has decreased considerably.

Eugene’s intention is to use this opportunity to instill the concept of breech-loading rifles in Napoleon.

At that time, Ippolito, who was riding a horse next to him and fiddling with a paper cartridge, asked.

“Is that possible? Wasn’t gunpowder all about igniting [flint] [a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of quartz]?”

“Well, there’s a story that the gunpowder makers of the East made it. If it’s possible in the East [referring to Qing Dynasty China], wouldn’t our chemists be able to do it too?”

“Heh, but are there any friends among the chemists who have escaped execution? Most of them must be nobles.”

Napoleon also watched Eugene as if he was interested.

In fact, mercury fulminate itself is not very difficult to make.

However, it is at least at the level that a chemist should study.

So, Eugene was thinking of finding a chemist to study this mercury fulminate when he went to Paris.

Eugene thought for a moment and smiled.

“Lavoisier should still be alive.”

At that moment, Napoleon was horrified.

“Are you talking about that councilor from the King’s tax office? Why are all the friends our young standard-bearer is trying to recruit dangerous people?”

Lavoisier, the person who created the law of conservation of mass.

He is also the gunpowder supervisor who improved the synthesis method of black gunpowder.

But now he is also a person of interest from the revolutionary government.

This is because he was in charge of tax management during the old royal era and is one of the targets of public anger.

Eugene raised his eyebrows and chuckled.

“If you know, I might be the most dangerous, General.”

“Funny! More than that, when you go to Paris, will your mother be doing well?”

“Yes, ah. Of course.”

Only then did the ‘unfilial son’ Eugene think of his mother.

In fact, there is someone else Eugene wanted to see first when he returned to Paris.

Marie Thérèse, Eugene’s princess.

But Napoleon will be different.

Eugene smiled and replied.

“You must see her.”

Josephine, Eugene’s mother.

She is also a divorcee who Napoleon fell in love with at first sight.

That meeting was a meeting of the century even in the original history.

What about now?

Napoleon rubbed his hands and shouted excitedly.

“Good! First of all, let’s go to your house as soon as we arrive in Paris!”

“Yes? Our house?”

“Yes! Your wife must still be a beauty, right? I’m really looking forward to it!”

There was no time to tell him to get dressed up first, or that Eugene’s original residence was different from Josephine’s house, or that she might still be a beauty.

Eugene could only smile bitterly at Napoleon, who was too excited.

It was then.

Junot, who was scouting ahead, shouted and tilted his head.

“There, I can see Paris! Huh?”

A group of soldiers was approaching the Marseille regiment.

The soldiers of the Marseille regiment hurriedly took a defensive posture at Eugene’s gesture.

Junot, Marmont, and Marceau blocked Napoleon as if protecting him.

But the officer at the head of the troops saluted and asked.

“Are you General Bonaparte?”

Napoleon replied with a solemn attitude, as if the fuss he had been making just before was a lie.

“What’s going on?”

“Representative Robespierre is looking for you. You must come to the Tuileries [a royal and imperial palace in Paris] first. It is a summons from the Committee of Public Safety.”

“The Committee of Public Safety? Me?”

Eugene frowned.

Why would the Committee of Public Safety summon Napoleon?

Could it be that they are already questioning the Vendée issue?

Rather, isn’t the Vendée issue a weakness of the Committee of Public Safety?

Pressing down on his uneasy mind, Eugene asked as if urging him.

“What the hell happened?”

Then the officer rather hesitated and told Eugene, looking at him.

“Commander Dumouriez defected to Austria from the Northern Army.”

Napoleon, Marceau, Junot, and Marmont were all shocked.

Only Eugene widened his eyes and smiled.

Okay.

Rather, this situation will shake the political situation and make Vendée safe.

Eugene said to Napoleon and everyone.

“Now, Paris will be turbulent. Like fulminate exploding.”

February 1, 1794.

Paris, where the Dumouriez rebellion scandal would explode like lightning.

It was the day Eugene arrived in that storm.