I am the Crown Prince of France

Chapter 48: A Good Day

Joseph's eyes lit up immediately, but to be sure, he asked, "Do you know anything else about him?"

Dubois felt a bit downhearted. Wasn't I the one being awarded today? Why does His Highness keep asking about Alexandre... However, he patiently replied, "Your Highness, he comes from a family of soldiers. He's skilled in mapmaking, has a sharp mind, and is very hardworking. He also fought under Count Rochambeau in America, and it was he who made the battle maps for the Siege of Yorktown."

Hearing that he was skilled in mapmaking and had participated in the American Revolutionary War, Joseph was now certain. This was indeed the famous Louis-Alexandre Berthier, Napoleon's "right-hand man," who would go on to become the Chief of Staff of the French Army and follow Napoleon from Italy to Russia, earning countless military honors along the way.

Of course, the future Marshal Berthier was currently just an ordinary major, serving under some middling military noble.

Joseph knew that to reshape France, he needed to have firm control over the military. However, the military power of France was currently in the hands of the great noble class.

France was still transitioning from a feudal military system to a modern military structure. The army was somewhat like the private militias of the late Ming dynasty, with the provincial troops funded and trained by local nobles and the provincial treasury.

The quality of the army's equipment and combat readiness depended entirely on the investment made by the local authorities. Naturally, based on the principle of "he who pays the piper calls the tune," only the local military nobles could effectively command these troops.

This was evident from the names of the French military units of the time—Flanders Brigade, Soissons Infantry Regiment, Bordeaux Brigade—all named after places, which were the former fiefdoms of the great lords.

As a result, when the king wanted to mobilize the army, he had to rely on the goodwill of the military nobles. During peaceful times, the nobles would generally cooperate, but if the situation became turbulent, things could change drastically.

For instance, right now, the relationship between France's great noble class and the king was not particularly amicable.

During the French Revolution, Louis XVI supposedly had 20 regiments ready to defend the throne, but even when he was on the verge of being executed, not a single soldier marched into Paris to save him.

During that period, the only troops completely loyal to the king were the Swiss Guard, funded from his private purse, and a small contingent of personal bodyguards. Even the French Guards stationed right under his nose would not heed his command.

It should be noted that when the Parisian citizens stormed the Bastille, they had guns but could do little against the tall, sturdy fortress. Ultimately, it was the French Guards who brought cannons, forcing the Bastille's governor, Bernard-René de Launay, to surrender.

So, although the monarchy seemed to hold great power and prestige, the reality was that the great noble class had already allied with the emerging capitalist groups, gradually seizing control of the military, judiciary, economy, and public opinion. Among these, the monarchy's power was most severely undermined in the military and economic sectors.

Currently, the great nobles and capitalist groups have not yet fully aligned their interests, and the monarchy still has some residual influence, which maintains the appearance of stability. However, as soon as an opportunity like the Estates-General arises, these forces are likely to stir up trouble.

Therefore, gaining control over the military has always been one of Joseph's top priorities.

However, with his current political foundation still weak, he was not yet in a position to challenge the military nobles for control of the armed forces. Taking control of the military would inevitably be a long and arduous process.

Joseph had a comprehensive plan for this, and the Paris Police Academy was actually the first hidden stake he had planted in his strategy to gain military control.

In the mindset of people of that era, the police were little more than a government-employed gang of ruffians, hardly a significant force. This perception gave Joseph the opportunity to begin encroaching on the domain of the armed forces.

With the police academy as his foothold, he could start building a force that was completely loyal to him.

This plan, although it could be summarized in a single sentence, would involve countless intricate steps to implement.

First, money was needed—armies are notorious for their costs. Fortunately, with the success of the Paris Angel Company, Joseph now had a source of income. Although it was far from sufficient to support a full army, it was enough to get started.

Next, he would need equipment—advanced weapons that could dominate the battlefield. Joseph was confident in this area, knowing that the technological knowledge in his head could outmatch anything from this era; it was just a matter of figuring out how to manufacture it.

Finally, and most critically, he would need personnel—military talent, including both high-quality soldiers and capable officers. The latter was particularly crucial, as a good commander could determine the outcome of an entire battle.

Berthier was precisely the type of outstanding officer he needed. It could be said that without Berthier's assistance, even Napoleon's record might not have been as dazzling.

Seeing the opportunity to connect with Berthier, Joseph was determined not to miss it.

He was about to ask Dubois more about the future Chief of Staff when he noticed Émond discreetly signaling him with his eyes. Joseph remembered that the award ceremony was still ongoing, so he reluctantly moved on to Lieutenant Foucault, offering words of encouragement to the artillery commander before moving to the next recipient.

The young cavalry captain, upon realizing that the Prince was approaching, straightened his back even more. Since learning about some of the hidden aspects of the Dutch campaign, his admiration for the young Prince had only grown.

Joseph smiled at him. From the moment he heard this officer's surname, "Davout," he had been holding onto a sliver of hope.

After praising Davout for his brave leadership of the cavalry, Joseph eagerly asked, "Lieutenant Davout, has anyone in your family served in the Royal Guard?"

Davout, surprised, nodded. "Yes, Your Highness, my father served as a captain in the Royal Cavalry."

Joseph's eyes brightened even more. "Do you have a relative named 'Nicolas'?"

Davout was even more surprised. "Your Highness, do you know my brother?"

"Nicolas is your brother?"

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

Joseph was overjoyed. What kind of lucky day was this? I've struck gold twice in a row!

Louis-Nicolas Davout! The Iron Marshal! One of Napoleon's most formidable marshals and a military genius, known for his ability to win battles against overwhelming odds. Napoleon himself praised him as "the purest glory of France."

Missing the chance to recruit him would be unforgivable!

Joseph stepped closer and asked, "Where is your brother serving now?"

"Your Highness, Nicolas is still at the military academy. He will graduate next year."

Not yet graduated... Joseph felt a bit disappointed but quickly realized that this might actually be better. He could first establish a connection with the older brother, then directly recruit Nicolas after his graduation, making it easier to build trust.

As the award ceremony concluded and the honored officers took their leave from the King and Queen, Joseph suddenly stopped Dubois and André Davout, using the excuse of wanting to hear more about the fierce battles in the Netherlands to take them to the square outside Versailles Palace.

(End of Chapter)

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