The Crown Prince of France - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Today Is a Good Day

Joseph’s eyes lit up instantly, but to be safe, he continued to ask, “Do you know anything else about him?”

Dubois felt slightly vexed. It seemed that the one being commended today was supposed to be him, yet His Highness kept asking about Alexander...

Still, he patiently replied, “Your Highness, he comes from a family of soldiers, is skilled at cartography, has a sharp mind, and can endure great hardship. He also fought under the Count of Rochambeau in America—the battle plans for the Siege of Yorktown were drafted by him.”

Hearing that he was adept at cartography and had participated in the American War of Independence, Joseph was entirely certain that this individual was none other than the renowned Marshal Berthier, Chief of the General Staff of the French Army. Berthier followed Napoleon from Italy to Russia, earning countless accolades.

Of course, this future marshal was currently just a humble major serving under a mediocre noble in the military.

Joseph understood that to restore France, it was imperative to firmly grasp control of the military! However, the military was currently dominated by the aristocracy.

France was still transitioning from a feudal military system to a modern one. The army at this time resembled the private militias of late Ming dynasty vassals—each province’s garrison was funded and trained by local nobles and the provincial treasury.

The quality of the army's equipment and combat effectiveness depended entirely on the level of investment from these regions. Naturally, adhering to the principle of “he who pays commands,” only the local military aristocracy could effectively command these forces.

This situation was reflected even in the naming conventions of the French military units at the time—units like the Flanders Brigade, Soissons Infantry Regiment, and Bordeaux Brigade were named after geographical locations, which were essentially the former fiefdoms of major lords.

As such, the king’s ability to mobilize troops depended heavily on the goodwill of the military aristocracy. In times of peace, these nobles were more cooperative, but during periods of turmoil, things were quite different.

For instance, during the French Revolution, King Louis XVI claimed to have mobilized 20 regiments to protect the monarchy. Yet, until his demise, not a single soldier entered Paris.

During that time, only the Swiss Guards, personally funded by Louis XVI, and a small number of loyal personal guards remained completely loyal to the king. Even the French Guards stationed in Paris were beyond his control.

It is worth noting that when the citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille, they were armed but could only look on in frustration at the fortress’s towering, impenetrable walls. It was the French Guards who brought up cannons to assist, forcing the warden, Bernard-René de Launay, to surrender.

Thus, while the royal family appeared to wield great power, in reality, the aristocracy, in alliance with emerging capitalists, had already seized control of military, judicial, economic, and media powers.

Among these, the monarchy’s authority over the military and economy had been most severely undermined.

At present, the nobles and capitalists were still working out their differences, and the residual prestige of the monarchy maintained a superficial peace. However, as soon as a trigger event like the Estates-General arose, these factions would stir up trouble immediately.

Therefore, controlling military power had always been Joseph’s top priority.

However, his political foundation was currently too weak to interfere directly with the military aristocracy. Seizing military power was destined to be a long and arduous process.

Of course, Joseph already had a comprehensive plan in mind. The establishment of the Paris Police Academy was, in fact, his first covert step toward gaining military control.

In this era, police officers were generally viewed as little more than hired thugs for the government and were not taken seriously, which gave Joseph room to infiltrate this violent institution.

With the police academy as a foothold, he could use it as a foundation to build a loyal and fully obedient military force of his own.

This sounded simple in theory but was exceedingly complex in practice.

First, it required funding—militaries were insatiable gold-devourers. Fortunately, he now had the Paris Angel Company. Although it wasn’t enough to sustain a full army, it could cover the initial costs.

Second, he needed advanced equipment capable of overwhelming opponents. On this point, Joseph had complete confidence. The technological knowledge in his mind far surpassed this era; all he needed was a way to realize it.

Finally, and most importantly, he needed people—military talent. This included both highly skilled soldiers and exceptional commanders. The latter, in particular, could determine the outcome of entire battles.

Berthier was precisely such a capable officer. Without his assistance, even Napoleon’s accomplishments might have dimmed significantly.

Now presented with an opportunity to connect with Berthier, Joseph would not let it slip by!

He was about to press Dubois further about the future Chief of Staff when someone nearby cleared their throat. Turning, he saw Eymond signaling him with his eyes, reminding him of the ongoing commendation ceremony.

Reluctantly, Joseph turned back toward Lieutenant Foucault, the artillery commander, and offered words of encouragement before moving on to the next officer.

The young cavalry captain straightened his back even more resolutely. Having learned some of the secrets behind the Dutch crisis, his admiration for the young Crown Prince had grown exponentially.

Joseph gave him a warm smile and asked, “Lieutenant Davout, does anyone in your family have experience serving in the royal guard?”

Surprised, Davout nodded. “Yes, Your Highness. My father once served as a captain in the Royal Cavalry.”

Joseph’s eyes brightened. “Do you have a relative named ‘Nicolas’?”

Davout was even more astonished. “Your Highness, do you know my younger brother?”

“Nicolas is your brother?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Louis-Nicolas Davout is my younger brother.”

Joseph’s heart swelled with joy. What a day! Two jackpot encounters in a row! Louis-Nicolas Davout— the Iron Marshal!

One of Napoleon’s three greatest generals and a military genius. Routinely defeating superior forces was a common occurrence for him. On multiple occasions, he single-handedly turned the tide of battles.

He was the man Napoleon hailed as “France’s purest glory.”

Missing this chance would be unforgivable!

Taking a step forward, Joseph asked, “Where is your brother currently serving?”

“Your Highness, Nicolas is still in military school. He will graduate next year.”

Still in school? Joseph felt a slight pang of regret but quickly saw the bright side. Securing his brother’s loyalty now would make it easier to bring Nicolas into his fold upon graduation.

After the commendation ceremony ended, the officers paid their respects to the king and queen. When they reached Joseph, he stopped Dubois and André Davout, using the excuse of wanting to hear more about the fierce battles in the Netherlands. He led them to the square outside the Palace of Versailles...

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