Chapter 70: Chapter 70: The Current Situation
Facing such a critical situation, Napoleon decided to return to France immediately. He wanted to take control of the situation while it was still manageable and reorganize everything.
Unfortunately, he was no longer the spirited general who had left for Egypt. Despite defeating many Turkish armies in Egypt, his own forces had also suffered heavy losses—a harsh reality.
He remembered the grand departure a year and a half ago, but now the situation was starkly different! With only two small ships left, half of his original soldiers had fallen. Defeating the Ottoman Turks was no longer possible. And the plan to land at Dover? It had become a delusional fantasy. As for conquering India, it was out of the question.
Napoleon had secretly left Egypt. If his soldiers knew he had gone, a mutiny might occur. Therefore, upon boarding the ship, he immediately appointed Kleber as the commander-in-chief, ordering him to pacify the troops. He even had no time to detail his military diary.
"Ah!" Thinking of this, Napoleon couldn't help but sigh.
"Roland, what do you think I should do next?" Unable to think of a solution, Napoleon once again turned to Roland for advice.
Roland was surprised that Napoleon would ask him such a sensitive question, especially since he was only eighteen—a mere adult by modern standards. Was it really appropriate to ask him such a question at this age?
Roland responded with a wry smile, "Uncle Napoleon, are you sure? I'm only eighteen! Isn't that question a bit too profound?"
As he spoke, Roland put on an innocent face.
Hearing this, Napoleon looked at Roland meaningfully and couldn't help but chastise him: "Stop pretending in front of me, young man. Everyone knows you've been exceptionally clever since childhood, always full of tricks. Don't tell me you can solve the crisis in Egypt but have no ideas for our current predicament."
Napoleon didn't believe his nephew's cunning tales! He knew that his nephew should not be viewed simply as a child; beneath his harmless and adorable appearance hid deadly schemes.
"Out with it! Stop beating around the bush. What do you think I should do to quickly turn the situation around?" Napoleon urged.
"Well... how about allying with Sieyès?" Roland tentatively suggested.
"Sieyès?" Napoleon repeated, pondering the name in his mind.
"Roland, why would you choose him?" Napoleon fixed his gaze intently on Roland, eager to understand his rationale.
"You seek power, and Sieyès wants a new constitution. There's no conflict of interests between you two, so you can collaborate. Moreover, in such circumstances, only by joining forces can you succeed," Roland fabricated a reason.
Of course, he couldn't tell Napoleon that historically, it was during your coup that you reached out to Sieyès!
Upon hearing Roland's suggestion, Napoleon was astounded, as if a great enlightenment struck him. He looked at Roland as if seeing a monster, astonished that the dilemma that had troubled him for so long was resolved so effortlessly by Roland. Initially confused, Napoleon felt suddenly enlightened after Roland's explanation; the previously chaotic situation became clear.
"Damn, why didn't I think of Sieyès? Roland is right; there's no conflict of interest between us, and it doesn't hinder my quest for power. Besides, even if he poses a threat later, I can always dispose of him once I'm in control."
Napoleon rubbed his head, mulling over these thoughts.
At the same time, his gaze returned to Roland, filled with both admiration and a hint of concern. He hadn't expected that Roland, not only gifted in military matters, would also have a unique insight into politics. For a moment, Napoleon wondered if Roland was a divine gift, knowing he had no son, perhaps a perfect successor gifted by providence, adept in both the arts of war and governance.
"What do you think of the current situation in France? As you might know, Britain and the Holy Roman Empire have already formed the Second Coalition against France. They have taken Tuscany and Milan. Although we still firmly control Genoa, I see that the situation in France remains very critical. In such circumstances, what do you think we should do?" Napoleon asked Roland, his question laden with the intent to test. He wanted to gauge whether Roland also had an understanding of global affairs.
"The fundamental reason why countries like Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia are constantly at war with us is their hostility towards our revolution. They fear that our revolutionary ideals will destabilize their rule, so they seize every opportunity to crush our revolution. Although they have not yet regained enough strength to wage war against us, a major conflict seems inevitable once they do," Roland explained. He pointed out that the war, on the surface, seemed to be between nations, but at its core, it was a battle of ideologies, much like conflicts in later times.
"What should we do then? Should we strike first and break them one by one?" Napoleon asked, a spark of insight flashing in his eyes. His profound military acumen, rare in the world, was evident as he quickly grasped the key issue from Roland's explanation and thought of dividing and conquering. Clearly, Napoleon also understood that with the current advantage lying with the enemy, it wasn't feasible to confront these powers simultaneously; a strategy of defeating them individually was necessary.
All this Roland observed, and he couldn't help but admire Napoleon internally: Truly, Napoleon was a formidable figure. His military insight was extraordinary. "However, while it sounds simple to divide and conquer, it's actually quite difficult to implement. The nations already bear some hostility towards us, and with the British acting as a provocateur, uniting them together, if we randomly attack one of them, the others won't sit idly by due to the principle of mutual dependence. If that happens, we might find ourselves fighting on two fronts, which would be highly disadvantageous for us."
Napoleon lowered his head once more, pondering solutions to the crisis.
"Napoleon, have you ever heard an ancient saying from the East?" Seeing Napoleon's troubled expression, Roland spoke up.
"An Eastern saying? What is it?" Napoleon asked with curiosity. He had heard tales of the ancient Eastern nations, but most were merely hearsay.
"There's an ancient Eastern saying called '远交近攻' (distant alliances, close assaults). It means to form alliances with distant countries and attack those nearby," Roland explained slowly. This strategy originated during the Warring States period in ancient China, and it was used by Qin Shi Huang to eliminate the other six states in the region. This strategy could be applicable to France today.
"Form alliances with distant countries and attack nearby ones. Who said this? He must have been a military genius. It's a pity he's from the East, otherwise, I would definitely visit him," Napoleon muttered, more and more convinced of the sensibility of Roland's words. He couldn't help but feel admiration for the originator of this saying.
"Uncle Napoleon, I think our main enemies remain Britain and the Holy Roman Empire," Roland continued.
"The essence of the anti-French coalitions is that other European nations don't want to see France become strong. For their own interests, they feel compelled to strike against France. And the chief culprit is Britain, as evidenced by their leading role in both coalitions."
"Britain is a colonial power surrounded by seas, which has historically led them to prioritize naval development. Today, no other nation's navy can contend with theirs, allowing them to meddle in continental Europe without fearing attacks on their homeland. However, the downside is that their army is very weak. Any one of our corps could easily defeat the British army on land."
Roland's insights not only provided a strategic vision but also a practical approach to dealing with the complex geopolitical environment of Napoleon's era. This nuanced understanding of both military and diplomatic strategy could be crucial for navigating the challenges faced by France.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone