He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 75

(75) The Cavalry Arrives at the Napoleon Club

The year is 1795, and the 19th century is fast approaching. Yet, the swiftest mode of transport remains the [horse].

“Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up!”

This was an era devoid of railroads, automobiles, or steamboats.

A troop of cavalrymen galloped across the plains of southern France.

Leading the charge was a black-haired man with curly locks.

His speed was reminiscent of the knights of the Middle Ages.

However, the horse he rode was already foaming at the mouth from the exertion.

A young man with gray hair, riding close behind, called out.

“Don’t push so hard, Joachim! You’ll kill the horse!”

Joachim, the curly-haired man, roared with laughter and retorted.

“Ha! Any horse that can’t handle this deserves to be put down! Besides, aren’t horses just brought in from the ranch?”

“Warhorses are expensive! And have you forgotten Commander Dugommier’s orders?”

“Ah, right! That old man, always nagging!”

Joachim, without slowing his pace, repeated the order he’d received five days prior.

“There’s a shortage of warhorses, so we’re delivering horses along with the cavalry! Furthermore, upon arrival, we’ll be attached to the Italian army!”
Dugommier commanded the forces in the Pyrenees Mountains, near the border between France and Spain.

The cavalrymen currently racing across the plains were the unit dispatched by Dugommier to reinforce the Italian army.

Their total strength numbered 3,000.

While cavalry wasn’t particularly suited for mountain warfare, Dugommier considered it a significant contribution.

Of course, Joachim, leading the charge, believed Dugommier’s sacrifice was motivated by other reasons.

“Hmph, he’s lucky to have the best [Hussar] like me. Bonaparte!”

Suddenly, [Lannes], the actual cavalry commander, overheard and clicked his tongue.

“Hey, you’re not a Hussar, you’re a [Chasseur] [light cavalry]. Not a lancer, but a light cavalryman. Are you planning to charge with a bayonet or something?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Like the wind, I’ll wield my sword and ride down the enemy! That’s the tradition of the Hussar regiment created by Frederick the Great!”

“I can’t stop you, really.”

The distinction Joachim and Lannes were debating was simple.

In an era where cavalry still dominated the battlefield, units were typically divided into Cuirassiers, Dragoons, and Chasseurs.

However, the line between Cuirassiers and Dragoons was often blurred, with Cuirassiers and Chasseurs generally considered the primary forces.

But one type of cavalry was conspicuously absent.

Hussars.

A unit famed as lancers in Eastern European countries, particularly Poland.

Even as firearms became standard equipment for cavalry, Hussars wore light armor and fearlessly charged into the fray.

They gained popularity in Western Europe after being adopted by Frederick the Great of Prussia.

However, lacking spears, they primarily wielded cavalry swords called sabers.

Of course, the newly formed revolutionary army didn’t yet have such a unit.

Nevertheless, Joachim, riding his horse with reckless abandon, dreamed of becoming a Hussar.

As Lannes followed, shaking his head, an adjutant, checking the unit’s roster as they rode, inquired.

“Colonel Lannes, do you think the Italian corps will be alright? They lack support, the commander has no foreign experience, and it’s still being reorganized.”

Lannes smiled at the adjutant, who had served with him in the Pyrenees.

“Captain Bessières, don’t worry. My friend Augereau is there.”

“General Augereau, I remember him as the chief of staff in the Pyrenees. A strict and earnest man.”

“Yes, at least he won’t lead the army into an ambush. That’s a rare virtue in the Revolutionary Army, wouldn’t you say? Haha!”

Lannes, smiling at the thought of his old comrade, then frowned.

“Of course, seeing that guy makes me worry a lot.”

In the distance, Joachim was berating his subordinates.

“Hey, you slugs! Can’t you go faster? This is a golden opportunity for Captain Joachim to get ahead! We mustn’t be late!”

He was truly a commander who only knew so-called [Kamikaze] [suicidal attacks].

*If* the commander-in-chief entrusts him with command because of his courage, I would never want to go to that unit.

As Lannes shook his head, feeling a chill, Bessières sighed, thinking the same thing.

“I’m really worried about who will rein in that wild horse. Will the new commander be able to? What kind of person is he?”

“I haven’t met him myself. But Commander Dugommier always praised him. He said he’s a soldier with insight, decisiveness, and speed.”

“He seems strict, but he praises a lot. I’ve never heard him say bad things.”

Bessières retorted cynically, and Lannes shook his head emphatically.

“No, that wasn’t just praise. If he could, he looked like he wanted to serve under Napoleon himself.”

Of course, General Dugommier was a taciturn soldier.

He would never have given a detailed explanation.

Lannes just grasped it [intuitively].

Bessières, who had been riding with Lannes for two years, asked with an embarrassed smile.

“Intuition?”

“Well, it’s intuition. But what I feel is never wrong.”

“I hope that intuition serves us well in front of General Bonaparte.”

Bessières wore a skeptical expression, not believing in intuition at all.

Lannes thought the opposite.

Rather, in the revolutionary era, when the whole world is caught up in gambling-like matches, intuition is the only way to survive.

Besides, Lannes’ intuition had never failed him.

Lightly spurring his horse, Lannes surged forward.

“Yeah, we’re going from the Pyrenees to the Alps. It would be a problem if it were a waste of time. Giddy up!”

The number of cavalrymen was 3,000.

Including reserve horses, there were 6,000 horses.

The mountains and fields of southern France echoed with the thunder of hooves.

-Doo-doo-doo!

The light cavalry, inheritors of France’s knightly tradition, raced onward.

***

However, this was the end of the 18th century, not the age of knights.

“Kyaaa! Dragoons! I wanted to be a cavalryman, too. It’s so cool, isn’t it?”

Inspecting military units was the duty of adjutants.

Eugène was touring the Italian corps’ garrison, comparing the documents prepared by the [Quartermaster General] [officer responsible for supplying the army] with the actual situation.

The rough soldiers, usually boisterous, fell silent upon seeing Eugène behind them.

This was because the large-bodied Tournay and Junot, with his lion’s mane-like hair, accompanied him.

Of course, Hippolyte was also present, but he was of no use for intimidation.

Instead, Eugène had to endure Junot’s constant chatter.

Eugène, checking the amount of gunpowder bags stacked on one side of the unit, glanced over and replied.

“Well, everyone romanticizes the glory of the old [knights]. If you’re a soldier. Junot.”

“Right? The main players on the battlefield are still the cavalry. Even if the artillery fires cannons and the infantry fires guns, the final charge is always done by the cavalry!”

“Didn’t you see it in Toulon? Fortress battles are the trend of this era.”

Junot smacked his lips and asked.

“Oh, that’s right, wasn’t it? But when I saw it in the Vendée, Marceau was leading a cavalry charge, wasn’t he?”

In fact, Junot was correct.

Until the French Revolution, 18th-century European wars were primarily focused on sieges and fortress warfare.

This changed somewhat during the Seven Years’ War due to Frederick the Great, but it largely reverted to fortress-centered battles in this era.

However, after the revolution, as France and the anti-French alliance engaged in total war, the nature of warfare began to evolve.

For example, annihilation warfare reappeared.

The cavalry charge was being highlighted again because of that.

That’s why Napoleon requested cavalry from the Pyrenees.

However, Eugène looked at Junot and shook his head.

“In my opinion, there’s a unit that suits Colonel Junot even better.”

“What is it? Is it a bayonet unit that just charges? Well, I’m good at bayonet fighting!”

“No. It’s that.”

Eugène’s gaze shifted to a neglected area of the unit, next to the gunpowder bags.

“Grenadiers.”

Grenadiers, or grenade units.

Referring to soldiers specializing in the use of [grenades].

At the end of the 18th century, grenades were still heavy and specialized weapons.

The unit that specialized in throwing grenades was the grenadier unit.

Junot’s face contorted in disbelief.

“Hey, grenadiers! Why don’t you just tell me to go and die?”

“You said you wanted to charge at the risk of death, didn’t you?”

“Ah, but still! Grenadiers are dangerous!”

Even in modern times, grenades are prone to accidents.

Not to mention at the end of the 18th century.

Besides, there was no throwing machine, so you had to approach the enemy’s front line and throw grenades by hand, like a slingshot.

It was truly a mission that required courage, guts, and speed.

However, in Eugène’s opinion, Junot excelled when it came to guts within the Napoleon Club.

He simply lacked the tactical finesse to complement that courage.

What if he became a grenadier specialist?

Eugène had been contemplating this for a while.

However, it seemed difficult due to the likely backlash.

Suddenly, Eugène’s gaze shifted.

“There, is that a grenadier officer?”

An officer inspecting the grenadier unit stood at attention.

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“I’m Colonel Eugène de Beauharnais, the commander’s adjutant. What’s your name?”

“Colonel Eugène? Aren’t you the terminator of the Vendée?”

Eugène tilted his head, observing the officer’s welcoming expression.

“Do you know me?”

“Yes! My name is Louis Lepic. I served under General Kléber.”

“You served under General Kléber? Wait, Lepic?”

Eugène’s eyes widened.

Louis Lepic.

A man who made a name for himself as Napoleon’s cavalry commander in the original history.

In particular, his clash with the famous Cossacks during the Russian campaign was well-documented.

But there was one peculiar aspect of the corps this man commanded.

Eugène smiled strangely, looking at Lepic, who was currently commanding a grenadier unit, not a cavalry unit.

“I’ve heard of you. Anyway, can you explain about grenadiers?”

Lepic blinked and answered in a daze.

“Yes? Ah, yes. Grenadiers carry grenades and launch a preemptive strike on the enemy.”

“What’s the mortality rate?”

“Surprisingly low. Because they often retreat immediately without engaging in combat.”

Eugène turned to Junot, who had been listening intently.

“Did you hear that?”

Junot smacked his lips again and shrugged.

“Oh, I see. But it’s not very cool.”

“What if you ride a horse?”

“Huh? Ride a horse?”

Eugène turned back to Lepic, his eyes gleaming.

“Here, Lieutenant Colonel Lepic was originally a dragoon. But he volunteered for the grenadiers and is working like this. But, you know.”

Lepic originally began his military career as a dragoon.

Furthermore, in the original history, he even commanded cavalry at Waterloo until the end of his career.

However, during the Russian campaign, Lepic came to command a peculiar unit.

The Imperial Horse Grenadier Regiment.

In fact, the name was grenadier, but their actual combat role was closer to that of heavy cavalry, the name derived from the grenadiers who originally threw bombs.

What if this unit acted according to its name?

A unit is born that rides a horse, runs to the enemy, throws grenades, and then charges.

Eugène said to Junot, who had his mouth agape.

“What if we create a horse grenadier unit?”

Junot shouted with an excited face, then tilted his head again.

“That’s kind of cool, isn’t it? Manly. Oh, but we don’t have enough horses, do we?”

Eugène replied calmly.

“They’ll be here soon.”

“From where?”

“From the Pyrenees. Commander Dugommier said he would send them.”

The 3,000 cavalrymen who were currently racing towards them.

Of course, Eugène didn’t yet know their commander.

But he was certain that the troops Dugommier sent would be elite.

Junot also nodded.

“Okay, then the horse grenadier regiment is mine!”

Neither Eugène nor Junot knew.

That the man who would later become Junot’s greatest enemy in the original history was riding towards them.

***

Of course, the most pressing matter was the Italian expedition status report.

“There is no [corps] [a military formation] organization yet, but in effect, the Italian army can be considered a corps, a collection of divisions. The total personnel count is 45,000. The number of cannons is 60. Food and weapons are all in short supply. If we engage in sustained combat, we can last about two months.”

Nice was originally part of the Duchy of Savoy.

It was currently part of a small kingdom that had been elevated to the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont.

However, after the revolution began, France conquered Nice, which had long been claimed along with Flanders.

That’s why the Italian corps headquarters was now in Nice.

The reason why the temporary headquarters building had an Italian feel was probably due to that.

The former Italian commander in the former Italian territory listens to the Italian conquest plan.

Eugène had a strange thought while briefing on the headquarters situation.

Napoleon, sitting on an Italian-style wooden chair and listening to the report, suddenly asked.

“Did you figure that out already?”

“No. It’s a summary by Colonel Berthier, the chief of staff who was newly appointed like us. He has also created a preliminary supply plan based on the timing of the advance. And the invasion route.”

“Where is it.”

Napoleon’s eyes widened as he received the report.

“Excellent. This is better than you, Marmont? Not as good as me, though.”

Until now, drafting operational plans in the Napoleon Club was the responsibility of Marmont, who was from the artillery.

Of course, Eugène contributed brilliant ideas, and Napoleon himself made the final decisions and revisions.

Marmont, glancing at the plan, smiled smoothly and replied.

“Ah, I’m too busy assisting the general, so that’s why! But it’s great.”

“Wow, this is better than our boy trumpeter. How about it? Can you make it, boy trumpeter?”

“Why would I make this, Junot? Of course, the commander is the one who watches the staff make it, and I’m the commander’s aide.”

Napoleon shook his head, watching Eugène and Junot bickering lightly.

“That’s difficult, Colonel Eugène.”

“Yes? What do you mean, Commander?”

“Colonel Eugène has already demonstrated his leadership, hasn’t he? Besides, he’s quite grown up now, isn’t he? If it were the old days, he would be of marriageable age.”

Then Junot nodded with a lewd face.

“Hehe, he seems to have grown quite a bit. I saw it when I was washing in the stream the other day.”

“Hey, Junot. Stop it?”

“Haha! Why? It’s fun. Let’s hear about it.”

Marmont was about to smile lewdly, looking at the lower body of Eugène, who was 14 years old and in puberty.

“Stop.”

Eugène, Marmont, and Junot all tensed.

Hippolyte and Tournay, who were smiling, and Duroc, who was listening silently, also hardened their faces.

You can talk freely, but when the commander gets serious, everyone becomes solemn.

This was Napoleon’s tacit rule that had been established in the Security Command.

In fact, even without rules, you couldn’t help but shut your mouth when you saw Napoleon’s eyes.

Because it was like a shooting gaze that pierced people’s hearts with bullets.

Napoleon looked at his closest group, his adjutants, and said.

“I will give Colonel Eugène the authority to establish the Italian Postal Special Regiment. It’s okay to bring conscripted troops from the royalists in Toulon. The important thing is that it shouldn’t just be a postal unit, of course.”

Eugène’s eyes widened.

That meant he was giving him command of an independent unit.

Of course, he was a colonel, but Eugène was only 14 years old and had quite a while before he became an adult.

Even if he was an old-fashioned aristocratic officer, he had to be at least 16 years old to receive command.

When he was dispatched to the Vendée in the past, he was strictly speaking on a special mission.

So this was the first time he was receiving command of a unit that was formally organized into the corps.

Napoleon stared at Eugène and said.

“It must be a reserve force. A special reserve force that can launch a surprise attack if necessary.”

This was clearly Napoleon’s consideration.

He was still a boy, and he was also a cherished subordinate, and above all, he was Josephine’s son.

He didn’t want him to be at the forefront of the battlefield and get hit by a stray bullet.

But soldiers have to fight, and Eugène has achieved outstanding military achievements.

So he placed Eugène in a relatively safe place, but where he could demonstrate his abilities in times of crisis.

Junot, who quickly realized that fact, laughed and complained.

“Wow, aren’t you being too biased? The rear! We have to go to the front!”

“What are you talking about, Junot? We have to serve the commander, why are we going to the front?”

“Ah, Marmont. Our commander often goes to the front. We have to go with him?”

As Eugène watched Junot and Marmont laughing playfully, he nodded.

He realized it again.

That this was an expeditionary force leaving for the battlefield.

Furthermore, Eugène had become a key member of Napoleon’s closest group, the [Napoleon Club].

There were comrades here who were worth protecting, no matter what fate they may face in the future.

Even Marmont, who abandoned Napoleon in the vortex of fate in the original history.

“I understand, Commander. I’ll send a letter to Pierre Colo to have him make military uniforms first.”

Colo, that is, the banker in charge of Banque Marseille.

Eugène placed the core of the Beauharnais cartel’s military supply sector in Marseille, and Colo was currently in charge of this.

This was because Damas, the [president] [CEO] of the cartel, was called to Paris.

Besides, even in the original history, Colo jumps into the supply business of the Italian expeditionary force.

He is the right person in many ways.

The supplies piled up in front of the soldiers on the day they arrived at the Italian headquarters were also Colo’s work.

But then Napoleon’s face, which had been serious until then, suddenly relaxed.

“Ah, now that we’re talking about Colo. Can’t you get a diamond ring or something from Banque Marseille? It’s still before the war, so it’ll be smuggling, right?”

“Yes? It’s more of a business for trading companies than banks, but it will be possible. What’s going on?”

“Well, well, it’s because it’s the 1st anniversary of my meeting Josephine soon.”

At that moment, Junot sparkled his eyes and didn’t miss it.

“Oh, come to think of it, didn’t you send a letter yesterday? These days, Lieutenant Tournay and the newly arrived Sergeant Armand are really busy. Come to think of it, Sergeant Armand is not here? Did he go to Paris?”

“What are you talking about, Junot! I’m sending letters to Paris for official business. Well, I sometimes send additional ones!”

“Yes, I see, General.”

While no one believed Napoleon’s excuses, Napoleon blushed.

“If you keep doing that, I might send you as a mailman! Junot!”

In fact, in the original history, Junot really acts as a mailman.

As a result, he witnesses Josephine cheating.

It was just when Eugène was chuckling.

“Ah, are you busy?”

This time, everyone in the Napoleon Club was embarrassed.

It was Commander Masséna of the Italian Corps knocking on the door.

In an instant, Napoleon changed his complexion to a serious face and asked back.

“Hmm, what’s going on? Commander Masséna? I was just grasping the commander’s duties with the adjutants.”

“Yes, I heard you were sending love letters to Paris. Hahaha!”

“Huh! There’s a misunderstanding. I’m just taking care of the families of the officers I’m interested in!”

Suddenly, with a shameless look worthy of a hero of the century, Napoleon jumped up and grabbed Eugène’s shoulder.

“Here, I’m conveying my regards to Colonel Eugène’s mother instead. How worried would she be to send a boy who is only an adult by old standards to the military? Isn’t that right?”

Of course, it’s nonsense, but it’s also a way of life to pretend to believe when a superior is being unreasonable.

Masséna, who was once a smuggler and a merchant, knew that much about the world.

Besides, Eugène doesn’t know it, but Masséna knows Eugène.

Masséna chuckled and nodded.

“Yes, I also saw the sight of the boy trumpeter presenting the flag. Well, here’s the news from your comrade in Toulon. Commander.”

“A comrade in Toulon? Who is it?”

“It’s Major General Dugommier, the commander of the Pyrenees.”

Masséna, who once participated in the recapture of Toulon, shone his eyes.

“Commander Dugommier has sent light cavalry. As many as 3,000!”

Eugène and Napoleon also jumped up.

The gift sent by Dugommier, a comrade who fought together in Toulon, had finally arrived.

It was the best card to use on the Italian battlefield, the cavalry.