BSI Chapter 2 Napoleon III's Departure, His Resentful Mother
Chapter 2 Napoleon III's Departure, His Resentful Mother
woohoo~
On the morning of the 20th, Eugène Napoleon and his mother, Eugène de Montijo, who was then the regent during the war, came to see Napoleon III off.
My mother is a strong woman with a strong career drive, but her abilities are somewhat questionable.
Beside the two was François Certain-Comrobet, who had been transferred to command the 13th Army and stationed in Paris. Commander Comrobet was originally supposed to be the commander of the 6th Army, the emperor's direct force.
However, due to Eugène's request to Napoleon yesterday, Napoleon replaced Joseph Vinoya, the original commander of the Thirteenth Army, with the Sixth Army.
Cornelius's loyalty to the Bonaparte royal family is beyond question. Although his personal abilities are highly questionable, his loyalty is not a major concern.
In these turbulent times, loyalty takes far greater priority than so-called military talent. Even Vinoya, the former commander of the Thirteenth Army, could not be fully trusted by Eugène Napoleon.
This general was also a monarchist, but he was not from the Bonaparte faction. France had three major monarchist parties, and this Vinoya was a Bourbonist.
After Napoleon III transferred the army, the only regular forces remaining in Paris were the 13th Army and the Special Assault Brigade, which belonged to the French Marine Corps.
The Thirteenth Army had a strength of nearly 6 men, a force that Eugène Napoleon relied on as Governor of Paris.
French military units are formed in response to wartime needs. In peacetime, the French army mainly fights against African natives and conducts expeditions to the Far East. In these types of wars, the French use divisions or even regiments as combat units.
This time, the term "army" was used in the war against Prussia. At the very moment the war was declared, the newly appointed army commanders were temporarily reassigned, but this had little impact on the army.
"Then Paris is in your hands."
Napoleon III has been in good spirits these past two days, perhaps because he feels that everything is going according to his wishes, and it is evident that the mental illness that has been plaguing him has lessened considerably.
"You must show the French army's spirit on the front lines, Louis, you know that..."
Before her mother, Eugénie, could finish speaking, her supposedly clever rhetoric was, in front of the high-ranking government and military officials, as utterly exposed as a stripped-down dancer.
No one spoke; no one stood up to expose Eugénie, to tell her that they knew she was trying to express the turmoil in Paris and the instability of the monarchy.
With one foot already on the train, Napoleon III turned around. Louis Napoleon, who was usually quite energetic despite the daily pressure from his wife, was unusually in a good mood today. He patted his wife's arm to reassure her.
"Eugène, Olivier, Trochet, Paris, you better watch out."
Olivier is the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. He was an active supporter of the Republican Party in his early years, but now, perhaps because he is middle-aged, he has learned to compromise.
They turned into supporters of the imperial party, and were more willing to adopt a moderate approach to gradually weaken the excessive power of the feudal emperor and transition to a constitutional monarchy.
After the Bonaparte dynasty was overthrown, he also published books to exonerate Napoleon III.
Although there is suspicion that he was trying to reduce his own charges by exonerating Napoleon III, it does not prevent us from judging that this prime minister truly had no interest in overthrowing the monarchy.
Looking at the prime minister, who had a full beard on both sides but no beard on his chin, Eugène Napoleon knew that he could not take action without the support of this prime minister, who was highly regarded by the liberal capitalist class.
The other one, one of the military leaders in Paris, General Trochet, was not viewed with the same friendly gaze by Eugène Napoleon.
This army commander who overthrew the monarchy also adopted a completely negative attitude in the subsequent war against Prussia, where he had already established a military government.
In his book, *The French Army in 1867*, he advocated reorganizing the outdated French army in the Prussian style.
Eugène Napoleon agreed with this point, as France did indeed have a problem with its outdated army at the time. However, combined with its passive resistance against Prussia, it did not demonstrate the strategic vision and tactical prowess it should have.
In response, Eugène Napoleon immediately labeled him as either unreliable or close to or fearful of Prussia.
Trochet's success was also due to the transfer of high-ranking generals to the front lines. If Marshal Edmond Leboeuf, the French general, had not relinquished his position as Minister of War and gone to the front as Chief of the General Staff of the Corps, he would have been in trouble.
With a marshal in charge, the Bonaparte dynasty's rule might not have ended so quickly.
woohoo~
The train whistle sounded again, and black smoke billowed from the locomotive's chimney. The farewell party, led by Eugénie, watched as the train carrying Napoleon III, his generals, and soldiers headed to the front lines.
"Alright, everyone, His Majesty the Emperor has departed. Until His Majesty returns in triumph, let us all be more diligent."
When Eugénie turned around, as the queen who was serving as regent for the third time, everyone present took it quite for granted.
At the time, the French viewed the war as easy and enjoyable, as stated by French Prime Minister Olivier.
"Our French army is the best in Europe, highly trained and extremely capable in combat. To be honest, I am announcing the war against Germany with a relaxed attitude."
Eugène Napoleon, who was observing closely nearby, shook his head, erasing the conspiracy theories from his mind.
Because in his previous life, there was a saying that the domestic capitalist class urged Napoleon III to go to the front lines to die, knowing that France could not defeat Prussia.
Looking at Olivier's expression now, Eugène Napoleon realized he had been overthinking things; the leader of the liberal bourgeoisie looked perfectly natural.
Considering that Olivier never returned to politics after Bonaparte's downfall, Eugène Napoleon's assertion that the war would be easy was probably a fairly common consensus among all levels of French society at the time.
"Eugène, you're coming back to the Tuileries Palace with me."
After telling everyone to go their separate ways and settle their affairs, so as not to cause any chaos among the people of Paris at this time, Eugénie came before Eugène.
When his mother wanted to take him back to her residence, Eugène Napoleon naturally did not refuse. The two boarded the same carriage and, surrounded by a large number of guards, headed towards the Tuileries Palace.
While in the carriage, Eugène Napoleon was observing the lives of the French people through the side window and contemplating his next move when he suddenly heard his mother speaking.
"Eugene, I want you to hand over military command to me."
"???"