Fox of France

Chapter 73, Promotion

General Lafayette was indeed a man with a big heart. In the following months, Joseph's work was not greatly affected. Even when the salary was paid at the end of the month, Joseph and Napoleon received a reward for their outstanding work performance.

A few days later, Kano found Joseph and asked him such a question: "Joseph, if we transfer Napoleon away and transfer him to a combat force as the chief officer, do you have any opinions?"

When Joseph heard this, his heart tightened, and he quickly asked, "Lazar, didn't Napoleon do a good job in the Red Army? Where do you plan to transfer him?"

Kano looked at Joseph and knew that he was still worried about what happened that day, so he smiled and said, "It's not yet decided. That's what happened. You know, just yesterday, Emperor Leopold and King William II of Prussia A joint manifesto was issued in Pillnitz in which they threatened to use force to 'help restore order in France'."

Speaking of this, Kano curled his lips and said: "The Habsburg guys really think that their empire was brought down with swords and guns? And William II, who does he think he is? He thinks he is his father? If so His father, that threat is worthy of attention, but William II? Hehe...Who were we French afraid of on land? It was his father. If the Russians hadn't betrayed their trust, even his father would have been beaten to the ground by us. !"

After expressing his contempt for Austria and Prussia, Kano sighed and said: "But Joseph, you also know that our army is in a terrible state. There are great conflicts between the bottom and the top, and it happened in several places not long ago. In the mutiny, the general had to deal with certain people in accordance with military discipline, but although this deal suppressed the contradiction, it did not really solve it. Joseph, you also know that an army goes to the battlefield with such a contradiction, What will happen."

What will be the consequences of an army going to the battlefield with mutual distrust and even mutual hatred? Needless to say? Back in the day, a certain coachman in Dongda Chiguo directly sent the coach to the opponent's army because he didn't have a mouthful of mutton soup, and let him be captured. As far as the situation of the French army is concerned, it is not impossible for them to mutiny and rebel when they really go to the battlefield.

"Therefore, the general feels that, in terms of fighting attitude, the National Guard may be more trustworthy than the regular army. But you also know that the training level of the soldiers of the National Guard is very average, and what is more deadly than this is that the National Guard is more reliable than the regular army. The Army is desperately short of qualified officers."

"Then why not transfer some reliable officers from the army into the National Guard?" Joseph asked. However, as soon as he said this, he knew that he was talking stupidly.

"In that case, the general is worried that there will be troubles in the army." Kano replied.

The so-called "chaos will happen" in the army is actually quite understandable. Nowadays, most of the top ranks in the army lean towards the king, while the junior officers at the bottom tend to lean towards the revolution. A natural balance has been formed between them. The reason why the army has remained neutral until today and has not directly intervened in politics is largely due to this balance. If a large number of these revolutionary small officers are transferred to the National Guard, it will destroy the balance in the army. Then, at any time, the army will jump out under the control of the gang of noble officers to "eliminate the rebellious party". "Are. Therefore, this approach is definitely not advisable.

In addition, if the officers in the National Guard are all low-level officers who come from the army and tend to be revolutionary, it may not be beneficial to Lafayette's control of the National Guard. These people are easily poisoned by Jacobin's people, and then maybe one day, they will rebel with Jacobin.

Therefore, it is definitely not feasible to transfer a large number of low-level officers from the army to serve as officers of the National Guard.

"Nowadays, war may be imminent." Carnot said, "Therefore, the general has an idea and wants to transfer Napoleon to be the commander of the National Guard. Based on his performance during this period, the general feels that he should be able to serve as a regiment-level commander." The chief of staff, and the regimental commander of the National Guard has relatively lower rank requirements. So he has such an idea. However, when he asked me for advice, I objected. I think that he is now It is more beneficial for France to allow more officers to be promoted. However, I also made a new suggestion to the general. This suggestion came to my mind temporarily, so I didn't have time to discuss it with you, but here it is It's going to involve an adjustment to your job."

"What's your suggestion?" Joseph asked.

"Napoleon will take over all your work in the Red Army now." Kano said, "Now the structure of the Red Army is basically completed, and the construction of the entire team is on the right track. In terms of tactics, I think Napoleon is better than Napoleon. You are stronger, and he can take over all your current work in the Red Army. Of course, I also have selfish intentions. You know, since you put all your energy on the Red Army, my workload has increased A lot. If your brother can take care of those things, I can relax a lot."

"What does Lafayette want to do?" Joseph thought, and asked, "What does the general mean?"

"The general feels that Napoleon is still too young, and it is not good to be the supreme commander of the Red Army, because the Red Army is an army after all, not the National Guard. Therefore, the general thinks that it is enough to promote him to one level. In addition, since most of the Red Army Things are already on the right track, and it would be a waste to continue to spend your energy on such things. So he plans to raise Napoleon's rank to lieutenant and serve as the Red Army's combat staff officer, and then find another senior officer for the Red Army Commander. Of course, Joseph, you have organized the Red Army and performed outstandingly during this period of time, so the general also plans to raise your rank by one rank, so that your salary will be much higher."

Joseph probably understood Lafayette's thoughts at this time. Lafayette promoted all his brothers, but they all left the position of military chief.

"It seems that Lafayette no longer trusts me. But in order to appear magnanimous, he still wants to promote me and Napoleon. But isn't this state just a good thing?" Joseph thought.

Joseph's so-called "not exactly a good thing" is not self-consolation like a lost horse, but he knows that the Jacobin sent to power is a historical inevitability. Now it seems that he has no actual military power, but once the Jacobins come to power, these things will come back. Moreover, after Jacobin came to power, the war between France and the intervention army of the Anti-French Alliance almost never stopped. God's Twilight". As for being in the position of a purely technical official now, he can avoid a lot of trouble. Moreover, being promoted and raising wages is also a good thing. Joseph decided that tonight, he must have something good to celebrate.

"This consideration is very safe and correct. Moreover, I can earn a lot more, which is really a good thing!" Joseph smiled, and he said to Kano sincerely, "Thank you, Lazar. If you are free , Come to my house for a meal?"

"Haha, there's no reason for a bachelor to invite someone with a family to dinner. You don't even have a hostess, how can you entertain me?" Kano felt relieved when he saw that Joseph had no grudges, and smiled, "Besides, I In the near future, the military rank and salary will also be raised. No matter how you say it, my income is still higher than yours. If I have not been too busy these days, I should have invited you to my house to have fun."

...

"General, are you planning to promote Joseph and his brother?" Fouche asked in Lafayette's drawing room.

"Their brothers are very capable. It's a pity not to use them. It should be promoted." Lafayette said indifferently, as if he had no other thoughts at all.

"But Joseph's speech at the Jacobin Club had a very bad influence on us." Fouche said.

This is not a lie. Originally, Lafayette successfully brought out most of the members of the Jacobin Club, which would be a very big blow to the Jacobin Club. Because it is easy to see the remaining ones as the "dead offspring" that have been discarded. But because of Joseph's words, these people have become gentlemen who stick to their moral positions. On the contrary, those who follow Lafayette are all suspected of traitors. And Lafayette's subordinates are all suspected of villains and traitors, so Lafayette himself will naturally become a "chicken and dog thief". This is naturally a big blow to Lafayette, who has always valued his reputation. But precisely because he has always valued his reputation, he was unable to take obvious revenge.

"Joseph is just too upright. He doesn't have much interest in politics, so he doesn't understand what's in it." Lafayette smiled, as if he really didn't blame Joseph.

Fouche sighed in his heart, he knew that Lafayette didn't trust him very much. Although he knew that before the club voted, Robespierre had visited the Bonaparte brothers. But he feels that now is not the time to tell the story. This news may be able to sell for a good price at some point.

"You are really magnanimous." Fouche complimented. "In addition, I have found out that M. Barnave has been very close to the court recently. I also heard that the king intends to let M. Pétienne replace M. Bailly as the Parisian." mayor."

"What? This is really... what the king thinks!" Lafayette was both surprised and a little angry. Because Pettiang clearly leans towards the republic.

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