He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 72

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 71 (72/547)

(71) Napoleon Appointed Commander of Italy

It is an ancient custom of human society to hold a funeral when someone dies.

-Drizzle.

Autumn in Paris brings frequent rain.

The day of Alexandre de Beauharnais’s funeral was no different.

It was a time just before cemeteries became commonplace.

People were accustomed to being buried in places blessed by the church.

The place where Eugène, Josephine, and Hortense came today was once a Jesuit church.

It is the site where Paris’s most famous cemetery, Père Lachaise, would later be built.

The priest, Fesch, solemnly watched the black coffin being lowered into the ground and declared,

“May the Lord receive Alexandre’s soul.”

The priest officiating the funeral was Joseph Fesch, Napoleon’s uncle.

He is Lætitia’s half-brother, born from Lætitia’s mother’s remarriage.

So, although he is an uncle, he is only 31 years old, just 6 years older than Napoleon.

However, as the only priest in the Napoleon family, he received a special request to conduct the funeral.

Hippolyte, who came wearing a black military uniform as formal attire, slyly asked Eugène,

“It’s the revolutionary period, but how is a priest allowed to conduct a funeral?”

“The Committee of Public Safety has collapsed. It’s the era of ‘reaction’ now.”

“It really changes every day. Huh? Wait, Eugène. Look at the people coming from over there.”

Hippolyte looked at Eugène in surprise and asked,

“Isn’t that your grandfather?”

People who resembled Eugène were approaching.

The existence of a father naturally means that the father’s father also exists in the world.

Moreover, Alexandre’s father, the Marquis de Beauharnais, who was still young, was truly hale and hearty.

They had only been estranged from their son, who had devoted himself to the revolution.

The Marquis de Beauharnais, his heir and Alexandre’s brother François, and François’s wife and children are visible.

Suddenly, the Marquis de Beauharnais stood before Eugène.

“Eugène de Beauharnais,”

Now 80 years old, a man who served as commander of the Atlantic Fleet during the reign of Louis XV.

Once the governor of Martinique and the adventurer who founded the Marquisate [a noble rank, similar to a Marquess].

But he was the one who never acknowledged Josephine as his daughter-in-law.

Even now, he was ignoring Josephine and only looking at Eugène.

“Your father was a lacking fellow. He crossed the sea to make the New World independent and couldn’t adapt to France, so he went to study in the Holy Roman Empire.”

The Marquis de Beauharnais, François’s gaze turned to the coffin being covered with dirt.

“Then, he betrayed the King, jumped into the revolution, and ended up like this.”

At that moment, it was Hippolyte who couldn’t bear it.

“Aren’t you going too far, Marquis? Eugène has lost his father! And so has Hortense!”

“But here, Eugène has protected the honor of our family.”

“Pardon?”

Ignoring Hippolyte, the arrogant old nobleman François Marquis stared at Eugène.

“Didn’t you protect Her Majesty the Queen and Her Highness the Princess? You are qualified to use our family’s coat of arms.”

It seems the nickname [Knight of the Princess] was impressive even to this old nobleman.

However, Eugène felt a sneer rising to the corner of his lips.

He realizes anew.

How open-minded the Alexandre in that black coffin was, in retrospect.

He was not confined to France, went to study in Germany, and was enthusiastic about the American Revolutionary War.

When a new era arrived, he willingly supported the revolution.

He was just incompetent.

Seeing the old nobleman denying Alexandre at Alexandre’s funeral, Eugène replied,

“Thank you, Marquis.”

“Call me grandfather.”

“Thank you, Marquis. But I have no intention of succeeding the Beauharnais family.”

Clearly, the Beauharnais family is still wealthy.

Unlike the second son, Alexandre, who lived in poverty and dissipation, the eldest son, François, is still holding out as a socialite.

In the original history, he took his property and fled into exile, then returned through Josephine’s connections.

But even now, François is looking at Eugène and Josephine with contempt.

Just like his father, François.

Eugène, on the other hand, despises them.

Eugène brushed off the moisture in the drizzle and smiled.

“The old aristocracy has become meaningless in this era. Also, the heir here must adapt to the new era.”

Neither grandfather nor uncle acknowledges him.

Eugène only uses the name Beauharnais and has no intention of succeeding the Marquisate.

In any case, that name has no meaning in this revolutionary era.

Because he is confident in gaining even more amazing glory than that.

At that time, his grandfather, the Marquis de Beauharnais, turned away with a snort.

“Hmph, no matter what, the blood flowing in your body is the blood of our Beauharnais family. You will eventually find out.”

The Beauharnais clan disappeared with umbrellas.

Eugène thought as he watched them.

Originally, during the Reign of Terror, many old nobles died or fled into exile.

However, after Louis XVI’s suicide, history changed, and executions and exiles significantly decreased.

How many old nobles are waiting for the era to change again and biding their time?

It may be a problem to watch out for in the future.

But next to Eugène, Hortense made a fuss and shouted.

“Good job, Brother! How can they say such things at a funeral?”

“It’s not necessarily wrong. Father was incompetent.”

“Huh? W, well, it seems like that’s true.”

Unfortunately, Alexandre, who had an open mind to the era, was incompetent.

If he had been as stubborn as a mule, he might have lived like his older brother François, who was heading far away.

Eugène smiled bitterly as he looked at Alexandre’s coffin, which had already been buried.

“Still, if he had lived, better days would have come.”

However, the Beauharnais clan was not the only uninvited guest to arrive at the funeral.

As if passing by the disappeared Marquis de Beauharnais, two people were approaching.

Eugène was momentarily surprised by the unexpected faces and widened his eyes.

“Lieutenant General Frédéric? Oh, that person is.”

Once upon a time, Eugène used to visit the Salm House like his own home.

French honorary Brigadier General and Lord of Salm-Kyrburg in the Holy Roman Empire.

Frédéric Salm-Kyrburg greeted them with a faint smile on his cloudy face.

“It’s been a while, Eugène. Hello, Rose? Should I call you Madame Pagerie now?”

They know each other.

But they can’t be called close.

Originally, Frédéric was only a friend of Alexandre, not a friend of Josephine.

Moreover, the woman accompanying Frédéric is an even bigger problem.

Josephine, who was wearing black mourning clothes and holding an umbrella, parted her lips.

“Amélie, you came.”

Amélie Zephyrine von Salm-Kyrburg.

The wife of the Duke of Sigmaringen, occupied by the Hohenzollern family.

Also, the woman who was Alexandre’s lover in Paris.

Eugène was filled with new emotions.

In the first place, it was because of Amélie’s introduction that he became involved with the royal family.

But what about his mother?

Amélie trembled her pale lips and shed tears.

“I’m sorry. But I couldn’t help but come. I couldn’t just let that person go.”

“It’s okay. I understand. I was once this person’s wife too.”

“Rose.”

Suddenly, Josephine took Amélie’s hand and smiled brightly.

Amélie was surprised to see Josephine warmly welcoming her ex-husband’s lover.

But Josephine is a woman who doesn’t hold grudges for long.

Besides, Amélie had also virtually separated from her legal husband.

Rather, it would have been difficult for her to live in Paris, where the revolution had broken out, because she was from the aristocracy.

Josephine gently stroked her hand and said.

“Come visit our house now. Instead of Alexandre, who is dead, I will protect your family. While you stay in Paris.”

Amélie, seeing Eugène nodding, burst into tears.

“Thank you, Rose. And, Eugène.”

The strange connections made by Alexandre, a man who lived as a playboy all his life, hung over the funeral.

Along with the still warm autumn drizzle.

***

However, Eugène, the son who is not a playboy, is busy.

The Beauharnais [Family] gathered at Café Beauharnais, Eugène’s base in Paris.

Originally, the members of Banque Beauharnais were Marceau, Tournai, and Damas.

Recently joined Samuel Foley, Elthotir Dupont, and Armand.

Here, Madame Recamier, who is a sponsor, also took a seat.

First, Damas, the nominal representative of the Beauharnais Cartel, cleared his throat.

“Uh, I express my deepest condolences for your deceased father. So, all the more at times like this.”

“Stop the nonsense and prepare to come up to Paris. Leave Marseille to Collot.”

“Yes, leave it to Collot. Huh?”

Damas widened his eyes, stopping his condolences.

Eugène was not at all immersed in sorrow, depressed, or passive.

Somehow, he feels relieved and scared at the same time.

The boy [Patron] in front of him seems to be a truly cold man.

Of course, it’s because he is actually a transmigrator and doesn’t have much affection for his father.

“What, does coming up to Paris mean moving the business headquarters?”

Eugène nodded at Antoine Damas’s question.

“Paris is no longer the Jacobins’ territory. It’s time to start business in earnest. Furthermore, the next Chief of Police will be Marceau, so he will protect you well.”

Marceau, who was leaning against one wall, widened his eyes at the sudden words.

“Me? I couldn’t even protect your father.”

“Then who should I entrust it to? Stop talking about our stupid father, Lieutenant Colonel Marceau! No, now Brigadier General.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?”

Eugène stared at Marceau, who seemed more depressed than Eugène, and said.

“General Napoleon will give you the rank insignia himself soon. There was talk that making you a Major General would be too much of a promotion. Let’s start with acting Chief of Police for now.”

Clearly, Eugène gave Marceau the order to protect Alexandre.

But Marceau failed to protect Alexandre and had to rush to the Public Hall with the bad news.

At the time, Eugène was too busy with the fierce battle to just let it go, but it is true that Marceau made a mistake.

Nevertheless, Eugène gave Marceau the gift of promotion to Brigadier General.

Tournai, Gomi, and Ellie congratulated Marceau, who was standing blankly.

“Congratulations, Brigadier General Marceau. Hehe, it’s a bit late compared to your achievements!”

“Yes, didn’t Lieutenant Colonel Marceau actually command the Vendée?”

“Finally, our Marceau has become a general!”

Marceau looked at Eugène with indescribable eyes and asked.

“Eugène, are you forgiving me?”

At that moment, Eugène slapped Marceau’s cheek.

-Slap!

Everyone was taken aback, and Marceau was the most embarrassed and looked at Eugène.

“E, Eugène.”

“Marceau, I told you to stop talking nonsense! Do you really think of me as a [Patron]?”

“What? Of course, I do.”

In a daze from being slapped out of nowhere, Marceau unknowingly blurted out his true feelings.

“Since this revolution began, you have opened a path for me who couldn’t find any path. Besides, you even saved my Angélique. No, you saved 600,000 residents of Vendée! Now, Paris too!”

Marceau has always longed for salvation.

This France is in despair.

Before the revolution, it was in misery, and after the revolution, it was a bloodbath of bloodshed.

The country is full of chaos, and he wants to change the world, but he doesn’t know how.

But a [Prodigy] full of confidence appeared before his eyes.

If he walks along with that pace, can’t he eliminate this chaos someday?

Even if not, at least he succeeded in saving his wife, Angélique’s life, didn’t he?

Eugène is truly like a master (Patron) to Marceau.

In an instant, Eugène grabbed Marceau’s swollen cheek and shook it.

“Then now, shut up about my stupid dead father! Protect my base and family here. I have to go on an expedition with General Napoleon now. It’s an expedition that our fate and the fate of France depend on.”

If Eugène was really angry about Alexandre, he wouldn’t have even come this far in the first place.

Before that, he would have shot Marceau on the day of Fructidor [September 4, 1797, the date of a coup by Republicans against Royalists in the French Directory].

In fact, even if you bring 100 Alexandres, it is not as good as Marceau, Hoche, or Hippolyte to Eugène.

It’s a sorry story for his father, but that’s what Eugène couldn’t say because he would be called a parricide if he said this, even in the revolutionary period.

Leaving the moved Marceau alone, Eugène turned his gaze back to Damas.

“Monsieur Joseph will come up here.”

“Huh? Ah, you mean Bonaparte’s older brother, the lawyer? He’s our cartel’s advisor.”

“He will probably enter politics, so help him well. If Lucien comes up, help him too.”

After confirming that Damas nodded, Eugène checked Foley.

“Foley, did you see [Fulminated Mercury] well?”

This time, it is a [Primer] that Lavoisier and Dupont succeeded in synthesizing.

If fulminated mercury succeeds, percussion bullets will be possible.

Even if it’s not a breech-loading rifle, it means that the flintlock can be abandoned on the battlefield.

Foley also heard the sound that fulminated mercury, that is, fulminated mercury, was born and rushed to Seoul.

A man who is more interested in weapons than the revolutionary turmoil, Foley nodded.

“I saw it, it’s a great thing.”

“Did you see [Marceau’s Cylinder] too? Can you cover it with fulminated mercury and ammunition together? If possible, I want to put it into practical use right away.”

“That’s impossible. It seems possible if I am given 3 years.”

Foley smiled and held up a gun to Eugène, who was slightly disappointed.

“However, if it’s a Ferguson rifle, I have prepared it in Marseille. About 3,000 pieces.”

Eugène nodded again with satisfaction.

In any case, it is a battlefield with Napoleon.

New weapons are not necessarily needed.

Above all, Eugène himself has the notification of the silver letters if necessary.

Transcendence that judges [Right] and [Wrong] no matter what choice and operation you unfold.

Still, if there are new weapons, it becomes easier to land a finishing blow.

“We’ll need more for reserve, so increase the quantity. And, please do your best to supply gunpowder with Dupont here. No, you two should just come down to the Marseille factory. During the expedition period.”

“Rear supply?”

“Yes. In Marseille, Monsieur Collot will be responsible for the military supply sector of our Beauharnais Cartel. Smuggling will be cut off, so you have to earn money in Paris.”

Dupont also nodded excitedly.

“Military business, it will be fun! I understand!”

In the original history, Dupont monopolized the military business in the United States and grew into a large company.

Perhaps the qualities themselves are still there even now when he is young.

Eugène smiled and said politely to Madame Recamier.

“Please teach Damas well, Monsieur Recamier.”

Even if there is a base, business can fail in an instant.

The financial industry is even more risky.

It is also the sight of the financiers of the East India Company being hit.

Jacques Recamier, a middle-aged man who is already 42 years old but looks much older, smiled.

“I’m happy to work. Anyway, people from General Bonaparte’s side have also seized power, so there are plenty of things to make money. More than that, you will pay off your father’s debt, right?”

“Pardon?”

“Did you forget? Your father owed me 3,000 livres [an old French currency] before the revolution. He still hasn’t paid it back.”

Partnership is partnership, assistance is assistance, and debt is debt.

It is truly a Huguenot financier-like attitude that rivals the Jews.

Eugène, who was looking at him with admiration, smiled.

“Of course. I will pay it all back. With interest.”

At that time, Damas tilted his head and asked.

“Then what about Captain Brueys, Nicolas, and the newly joined Robert Surcouf?”

This time, Eugène also paused.

In fact, Captain Brueys, Nicolas, and Surcouf are useless in this expedition.

This is probably an operation that will be conducted entirely on land.

Then, wouldn’t it be better to move the base to Paris and engage in Atlantic smuggling again?

Italy, the target of smuggling trade, will become a battlefield.

That’s when it happened.

[Zero when moving to Paris. Plus when accompanying Italy.]

Looking at the silver letters that came to mind after a long time, Eugène replied.

“Let’s decide after going to the Italian expeditionary force. The navy may be needed. Ah, and Armand?”

“Uh, no, what’s wrong? Monsieur Beauharnais.”

“You will join the army. Take charge of delivering postal letters instead of Tournai. The rank starts from sergeant.”

It was Armand Ganet’s dream to serve in the military.

He ended up fulfilling that dream in an absurd way.

Tournai, who is scheduled to be promoted to lieutenant now, chuckled, hitting Armand, who was surprised and opened his mouth wide.

“Oh, I have a subordinate too. Please take good care of me in the future, Sergeant Armand.”

“Yes? Ah, p, please take good care of me. Lieutenant.”

“Good. The role of the postman depends on speed, accuracy, and timeliness! When I was fighting in the Vendée······.”

Just as Tournai was about to tell war stories as if he were a veteran of the war, Eugène hit the table.

“Okay, then.”

Everyone looked back at Eugène.

On the table, Hippolyte was already pouring wine while laying out glasses.

Pouring the wine as if decanting it in a stylish way, Hippolyte smiled.

“Everyone, please raise your glasses. The Paris era of the Beauharnais Cartel begins.”

The Beauharnais Cartel, a word referring to those gathered in this place.

Everyone is aware as they look at the glass.

In the end, those who are here will have to shed blood and fight together, as the blood-colored wine symbolizes.

Those who will overcome the time of the Great Revolution together.

Cleves de Eugène.

Soon, members of the Eugène Club.

Suddenly, Damas raised his glass and shouted excitedly.

“Good, I’ve already bet since Martinique! For the good fortune of our boy Patron!”

The members of the Eugène Club shouted in unison.

“Glory on the battlefield to the Patron!”

It was the moment when the Eugène Club was formed.

***

Napoleon and Eugène stood in the place where the Committee of Public Safety was once held.

Fleur Mansion.

Now, it is the place where the five directors command France.

Of course, the absolute power that the former Committee of Public Safety had is gone.

However, it is clear that the intention here determines the direction of France.

Director Danton solemnly declared.

“Then, I will appoint the commander of Italy, who will take charge of one axis of the Great French Counterattack War to save France!”

There are a total of 5 directors.

Danton, Desmoulins, Saliceti, Auguste Robespierre, and Lafayette.

Among them, Lafayette, who was a military officer, personally gave Napoleon the epaulettes [ornamental shoulder pieces on a uniform] of the commander.

Three stars.

It is not an official rank, but a general who exists above the brigade commander and division commander.

A commander-level general, soon a lieutenant general.

-Click!

Lafayette said to Napoleon.

“Please take good care of me. You don’t have to win. The important thing is to repel the enemy allied forces and defend the border.”

There is no need to overdo it.

This is what the directors, including Danton, are telling Napoleon.

However, the national situation in France is really bad.

Victory is essential.

It’s just that they say this because they don’t expect victory on the Italian battlefield.

Because they know better that no support has gone there properly.

However, Napoleon confidently replied.

“I have no intention of approaching with such a passive attitude.”

“What do you mean, General?”

“I am going to win. If you entrust it to me, I have a plan to change the frustrating Italian front at once. Above all!”

Suddenly, Napoleon grabbed the shoulder of the young officer, Eugène, who was standing next to him, and shouted.

“Here, the [Idol] of victory. Isn’t it the path to accompany the boy standard-bearer!”

The idol of victory, soon [Idol].

He was the first to raise the flag in Toulon, ended the battle in Vendée, and was at the forefront when he launched the rescue operation in Paris.

A symbol that Napoleon had with him every moment he won.

The boy standard-bearer, Eugène.

Lafayette, who once saved people with Eugène’s help in the Mars Square, smiled and asked.

“Good. Then, what is the goal?”

Napoleon gave an answer that Lafayette and all five directors were shocked by.

“It is the conquest of Italy.”

However, there was only one person in this place who believed in this bold statement.

It is Napoleon’s idol, Eugène.

Eugène and Napoleon began to run towards the conquest of Italy, which no one believed in.