He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 96

(96) The Josephine Family Rushes to Milan

A carriage speeds across the Lombardy plains, once filled with the smoke of battle.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

A luxurious six-horse carriage, pulled by six horses.

Moreover, there are men in black uniforms, seemingly guards, running alongside the carriage.

It’s clear at a glance that they are no ordinary group.

Although the security in Lombardy has not yet been fully restored, it would be difficult for mere bandits to dare to attack them.

However, there are those who would dare to stop such a luxurious carriage.

“Halt! You cannot pass beyond this point without authorization!”

A cavalry unit in blue uniforms blocked their path.

The guards stopped hastily, and the coachmen pulling the six-horse carriage also reined in their horses.

It was the uniform of the French Italian Army Corps, the force that completely controlled this area.

The cavalry commander, brushing back his prominent curly hair, laughed heartily.

“Heh heh, are you from a noble family? As long as our ‘Lombardy’ 7th Cavalry Military Police are guarding this land, no noble can pass without permission!”

“Lieutenant Colonel Murat, let’s keep the inspection brief. This isn’t our only task.”

“Come on, Major Murong. Why are you so clueless? Inspection is the highlight of the military police’s duties. Why?”

Murat, formerly a captain in the Pyrenees Cavalry, had participated in the recapture of Corsica and was a hero who succeeded in the breakthrough at Lodi.

Now, he was leading the military police cavalry.

Murat scolded his adjutant, Murong, and laughed.

“Because there’s a little something extra in it. Besides, this carriage has a certain scent, you know?”

“What scent?”

“Perfume.”

Murat flared his nostrils and approached the carriage.

“It seems like noble ladies are riding inside. Isn’t that right?”

Instantly, the man leading the guards hastily stepped in front of Murat.

“Do you know who is in this carriage to be so rude? It would be better for both of us if you stepped aside.”

“Oh, do *you* know who *I* am to say such a thing? Don’t you know Murat, the hero of Lodi?”

“Murat? I think I saw him in the newspaper.”

The carriage guard captain pretended to recognize him, and Murat asked, his eyes gleaming.

“The newspaper? What did it say? Is my name known even in Paris? Is that so!”

“Don’t get excited. Well, your name was on the front page. What was it, something like, ‘The brave soldier who charged ahead as the vanguard of Eugene Beauharnais, the Sharpshooter’?”

“Gah! A *soldier*! Besides, I’m not Eugene’s vanguard! Rather—”

Suddenly, Murat scoffed and boasted.

“I’m closer to being Eugene’s protector. Did you know that? If it weren’t for me, that young general would have been gone already! Hahaha!”

It was an extremely exaggerated story.

Even without Murat’s help, Eugene would have avoided it after receiving the [Silver Letter]’s warning. (A premonition of danger)

However, it was also true that Murat helped Eugene overcome a crisis during the final breakthrough phase at Lodi.

It was then.

-Clunk.

The window of the large six-horse carriage was slightly lowered.

“You protected Eugene? *You*?”

Murat, seeing a beautiful woman who was obviously ‘seductive,’ grinned and shouted.

“Wow, there really *was* a beauty! See, Murong. I told you my hunch was right!”

“Please, do not be disrespectful.”

“Who would be disrespectful to a beauty? Anyway, you’ll all end up with me. Hehe!”

Quickly pushing past the guard captain and approaching on horseback, Murat flirted.

“Mademoiselle [Miss, a term of respect for an unmarried woman], won’t you give me the opportunity to escort you today? Of course, please tell me who you are, where you came from, and what your purpose is in coming to Milan.”

Mademoiselle, an honorific used for noble young ladies.

After the revolution, anyone could use it, but there were still restrictions.

Namely, age restrictions.

Murong, the guard captain ‘Damas,’ and the other ‘women’ in the carriage couldn’t close their mouths.

No matter how young she looked, the woman in the carriage was clearly in her early 30s.

To call her Mademoiselle was truly the height of flattery, wasn’t it?

Suddenly, the ‘noble lady’ burst into laughter.

“Puhuhut! Mademoiselle, it feels like the first time I’ve heard that in 15 years.”

“You are young enough. Of course, I wouldn’t mind even if you were a Madame [Madam, a term of respect for a married woman].”

“It’s nice to hear, but what should I do? It seems there’s someone who would really hate it if I shared a bed with you.”

Instantly, Murat’s face turned pale upon hearing the ‘noble lady’s’ words.

“Go and tell him—tell Commander Bonaparte that his fiancée Josephine has arrived. If he’s really sick, I’ll have to rush there right away. Oh, Fortuné. Behave.”

At the same time, the dog [Fortuné], held in the arms of the noble lady ‘Josephine,’ bared its teeth.

-Grrr!

Originally, in the original history, they were truly in a relationship where they shared the [bed] together.

It was the day the noble lady Josephine and the lecherous Murat met unexpectedly.

***

Then where is Napoleon?

-Oh! Oh oh! Oh oh oh!

There is a theater in Milan that has left its name across the centuries.

The La Scala Opera House.

A place where only the best composers, the best performers, and the best singers could stand, even in Italy, the home of opera.

This place was also built with the permission of Empress Maria Theresa.

A performance welcoming the [revolution] was held in a place that was once the pride of the Habsburg Imperial Family.

Those watching the stage where the soprano raised her voice were soldiers.

Among them, the highest-ranking one, Napoleon, was watching the performance with his chin propped up.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man sitting next to him smiled and spoke.

“Isn’t it wonderful? It’s an opera performance that’s hard to find in Paris these days. Originally, opera originated in Milan. Hahaha.”

Duke Serbelloni, Count Berry, Councilor Parini.

These are the Milanese upper-class figures that Napoleon has been meeting most frequently lately.

However, the person sitting next to him today was different.

Napoleon glanced at the man and smiled.

“I am being welcomed by Duke Serbelloni. It’s nice to be welcomed like this. Signor Derryl. Or should I call you Melzi-Derryl?”

Francesco Melzi-Derryl.

Born from a prestigious Milanese family, he is one of the Italian [Jacobin] supporters. (A revolutionary political movement)

In other words, he is a prominent pro-French figure in Italy.

He was also a figure that the old Milanese nobles were deliberately putting forward.

Derryl knew this fact, but he had no intention of missing the opportunity to become close to Napoleon.

The ‘prodigy’ before his eyes was clearly changing the times.

Furthermore, Derryl was still flattering him, hoping to achieve his desired dream by using this general.

“Call me whatever you like. The important thing is that the commander experiences the culture of Milan. Furthermore—”

Derryl pointed to the stage that was just ending.

“That you feel the value of Italy.”

Below the semi-circular seating area, the stage shone brilliantly with the candlelight of the chandelier.

Hundreds of lamps illuminated the surroundings, and the costumes and instruments sparkled.

A dazzling art that would have been hard to see even in the French Old Regime.

Derryl said emphatically.

“Making Italy one, that is art. Similarly, revolution also makes it one.”

Napoleon, who had been quietly watching Derryl, twisted his lips.

A non-existent country, Italy.

However, if you go back to the Roman Empire, a unified Italy did exist.

He had heard that among the supporters of the revolution in Italy, there were those who were running for [unification], not class revolution.

It seemed that Derryl was the same.

“You are discussing Italy.”

“Isn’t that right, General? I saw the first proclamation you announced in Milan. Also, your statement that you came to liberate Italy.”

“Hehe, I was just conveying the will of the revolutionary government.”

Derryl shook his head and said passionately.

“That’s not true. Revolutionaries know Paris is interested in spreading the revolution, but not in the unification of Italy.”

Paris is not really interested in Italy.

Only when Napoleon suddenly succeeded and sent a huge amount of money did they become interested to that extent.

Furthermore, if you were to discuss it from a strategic point of view, it would be about subjugating the Pope, as befits an anti-clerical revolution.

They would never even think of the idea of integrating the Italian peninsula into one.

Nevertheless, Derryl began to dream of [unification] as he watched Napoleon’s rapid advance.

In any case, it is true that two countries that had not been unified for hundreds of years, Sardinia and Milan, were merged.

“Italy needs a general. If you wish, I can help.”

It was just as Napoleon was trying to grasp the true meaning of this proposal.

“Ah, it’s hard. It’s even harder today because it’s a special performance!”

Suddenly, a beautiful woman in a fancy dress appeared before him.

Napoleon blinked.

A charming appearance, a glamorous figure, and even a little sweat.

Desire surged up.

Unknowingly swallowing his saliva, Napoleon asked.

“Who are you?”

“Oh my, don’t you know me? I was singing on stage just a moment ago!”

“Ah, that actress! You really look different like this!”

Giuseppina, the soprano who had been singing on stage just a moment ago, laughed brightly.

“I’m ‘Giuseppina Grassini.’ Commander Bonaparte, right? Wow, you’re really handsome! I’ve only seen you in the newspaper.”

There is no man who does not feel proud when a beautiful woman praises him.

Besides, Napoleon has been living without charm until now, but he is a very healthy man.

Feeling good, Napoleon slyly boasted and asked his chief of staff, Berthier, next to him.

“The newspaper? Has my article already come out in Italy?”

“Ah, Commander. Actually, Eugene is publishing a newspaper under the expeditionary force.”

“Is that so? What’s the title? Berthier.”

Chief of Staff Berthier hesitated, then blushed and replied.

“‘Bonaparte and Noble Friends,’ I believe.”

Napoleon couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Pfft. Eugene, really. What’s with his naming skills? I would have named it better.”

“Oh my, what would you have named it? I’m looking forward to it!”

“Uh, well, that is. Signorina Giuseppina [Miss Giuseppina]. I, if it were me, um… ‘Bonaparte, Friend of Milan.’ Well, I would have named it like that. Hahaha!”

Napoleon, in a very good mood, was even flattering the people of Milan.

Giuseppina sat next to Napoleon and laughed, making a fuss.

You could see the heat rising from the side as they quickly explored each other.

Suddenly, Duke Serbelloni, watching the 20-something young men and women ‘flirting,’ asked Berry.

“Well done. Can you put Giuseppina in the general’s bedroom tonight? Count Berry?”

“Of course. The other generals have already fallen for it recently. Ah, except for that kid.”

“We can’t help it with General Eugene.”

In other words, they used a honey trap. (Using a person to gain information or influence)

Massena, Sérurier, Augereau, Lannes, and even Laharpe had already fallen.

They share a bed with passionate Milanese beauties.

Day and night.

Almost everyone except Eugene, who is still a minor, has fallen.

Now it’s Napoleon’s turn.

Suddenly, Count Berry smiled strangely.

“Chief of Staff Berthier is also deeply in love with the Marchioness Visconti. Come to think of it, that woman is also Giuseppina.”

Because of this, Berthier could clearly see that Napoleon was falling for it, but he didn’t say anything.

It was just as Napoleon was subtly trying to hold Giuseppina’s hand.

Suddenly, a young man with a lion’s mane burst into the opera house.

A man who is not yet a general, so he has to find beauties himself, not through honey traps.

Napoleon’s aide and deputy commander of the Horse Grenadier Brigade, Colonel Junot.

“General! Something terrible has happened! This is no time to be doing this!”

Napoleon, angry at the sudden interruption, jumped up.

“Junot, what is the meaning of this! In front of a beautiful woman, no, in front of the precious people of Milan! Be polite.”

“A beautiful woman? Get rid of her right away. Or just hand her over to me.”

“This guy! What nonsense are you talking about again?”

He was determined not to let Giuseppina be taken away.

However, this is not the time for Napoleon to do this.

Junot shouted as if he was pathetic.

“Madame Fazio is here! In Milan!”

Only then did Napoleon come to his senses and opened his mouth wide.

“Now, where, where is she?”

It was clear that he had sent 100 letters to Josephine, missing her, two months ago in Turin.

He even sent letters to Eugene half a month ago, urging Josephine to come.

He remembered the contents saying that he was sick and dying.

However, he never expected her to come suddenly today without any news.

Even right behind Junot, at this moment.

“Oh my, ‘Napoleon’ seems to be really healthy?”

Josephine, a beautiful woman with brown hair, smiled, revealing her teeth.

“You sent letters saying you were dying.”

Instantly, Napoleon demonstrated agility worthy of being recorded in history at this spot.

In other words, he shook off Giuseppina and ran out quickly.

Napoleon, with a smile on his face, hugged Josephine and shouted.

“Seeing you, my illness has completely disappeared! Josephine!”

It seems that Napoleon will have to have a defensive battle tonight rather than passion.

Of course, he had the passion to not let go of Josephine, even for two days and nights, like in the original history.

***

Eugene, the very person who wrote the long letters, is in the midst of very cold business discussions.

“No, is that possible? Food that is sealed and still good after more than a year?”

Saliceti, soon to be one of the five directors of the French Republic. (The executive branch of the French Directory)

A man who is nominally at the heart of power in revolutionary France at the time.

Since his youth, he had participated in the independence of Corsica and the French Revolution, and had experienced the hardship of being expelled from Corsica with Napoleon.

So, it is not easy to surprise Saliceti.

But now, the boy general with the nicknames Knight of the Princess, Young Rider, and Sharpshooter has shocked Saliceti.

Eugene smiled.

“Yes, it’s called [canning]. We preserve food by sealing it in tinplate.”

“Is that really possible?”

“Look here.”

Suddenly, Eugene took out a silver tin object in front of Saliceti.

-Click!

The moment the lid was opened, you could see that it contained dried meat that was still edible.

“It’s a prototype made in Marseille five months ago, at the beginning of the expedition.”

Still 5 years before the 19th century.

A simple but amazing invention that will revolutionize war, navigation, and transportation.

It was the moment when the ancestor of [preserved food], canned food, was born.