Napoleon immediately caught sight of the topmost document, his breath quickening with excitement.
The format of the document was all too familiar to him—it was an appointment letter!
Clearly, his series of victories in Italy, including the capture of Austria’s main base in Milan, had yielded results.
Last time, following the triumph at Toulon, he had been promoted to Colonel. This time, surely it would be Quasi-General!
Uncontrollable imagery flooded his mind: soldiers saluting him while addressing him as “General,” filling his heart with waves of satisfaction.
To him, power meant more than life itself; becoming a General held unparalleled significance in his world.
Napoleon immediately straightened his stance sharply and looked at Major General Carnot with anticipation.
The latter glanced at him, picked up the top appointment letter, and then slipped it to the bottom of the pile.
Napoleon’s eyes burned green with frustration, his heart screaming: Hey! What are you doing?!
Major General Carnot picked up the second document, unfolded it, and read aloud in a stern tone, “General Staff Order D10227.
“Colonel Napoleon Bonaparte, after capturing Milan, violated Articles 5 and Clause 2 of Article 11 of the Army Regulations of France by unapproved requisitioning of supplies and funds, and unlawfully distributing bonuses to soldiers without the consent of Military Inspector Major Oddric…
“Moreover, during General Demobin’s encirclement in Genoa, you received at least three requests for reinforcements from General Demobin but failed to act. You neither clarified the reasons for withholding reinforcements nor provided a subsequent battle plan, thereby placing the Demobin Army Corps in an extremely precarious position…
“Based on the aforementioned violations, the General Staff has decided to issue you the gravest warning and is rescinding your rank of Colonel. Considering the current urgent state of war, no military tribunal will be convened against you for the time being…”
Napoleon was immediately alarmed.
Not only had he failed to be promoted, he had been demoted instead! How could he accept this?
“General Carnot, you cannot…”
Carnot raised a hand signaling him to be quiet, put away the order from the General Staff, and picked up the next document: “Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte, this is a document issued by the Minister of War.
“A gendarme investigation team will soon arrive in Milan to thoroughly investigate your unauthorized requisitions of supplies. Please cooperate with them.”
Napoleon’s heart sank instantly, his mind buzzing.
The accounts in Milan certainly couldn’t withstand scrutiny!
He had extorted 3 million francs from the Milanese nobility but only reported 2 million. If the gendarmes attributed the remaining 1 million to embezzlement, this would no longer just be about a demotion…
Luckily, the money hadn’t been spent yet.
Carnot handed both documents to him: “Please sign here, Lieutenant Colonel Bonaparte.”
Napoleon took the documents, flipped to the last page, and saw the Crown Prince’s signature, which only heightened his nerves.
More than the demotion or punishment, he was anxious that he might lose the Crown Prince’s trust because of these matters. That would mean retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He trembled as he signed his name on the documents and returned them to Carnot, saying nervously, “General Carnot, please… explain this to His Highness for me…”
Indeed, Joseph wanted to use these two issues to teach Napoleon, this arrogant lion, a harsh lesson—to help him understand his place and recognize that the army was not his personal force.
Napoleon had graduated from the old-style military academy and inevitably carried some bad habits from the old army.
Looting occupied territories and embezzling military funds were common practices in the old army, and the country could hardly interfere. After all, soldiers relied on officers to provide for their livelihoods, their weapons and equipment purchased personally by officers—the army was practically their private property.
But in the new French army, everything was distributed by the General Staff; officers merely commanded battles. This gave the General Staff the confidence to rigorously manage its officers.
Only such an army would be resistant to corruption and less dependent on the individual capabilities of outstanding commanders.
Take the Prussian Army, for instance: Frederick had been dead for only seven or eight years, yet their discipline, morale, and combat effectiveness had all sharply declined.
Joseph had to prevent such a situation from occurring in the French army.
Major General Carnot put away the signed documents, picked up the appointment letter at the bottom of the stack, glanced meaningfully at Napoleon, and announced in a loud voice:
“Lieutenant Colonel Napoleon, due to your excellent performance in the Lombardy region, securing a series of important victories, especially the capture of Milan, the General Staff has decided to promote you to the rank of Colonel…”
Napoleon was momentarily dumbfounded but couldn’t help laughing and crying.
After all the fuss, he was still a Colonel in the end.
Carnot continued, “The Crown Prince has also issued a special decree, awarding 10% of the military funds obtained from Milan, amounting to 200,000 francs, as a reward to Colonel Bonaparte.
“15% will be granted as special bonuses to soldiers who fought in Lombardy.”
He turned toward Major Oddric, the military inspector waiting nearby: “Major Oddric, these funds must be distributed by you personally.”
“Yes, General!”
Joseph’s intentions were clear: officers and soldiers who had achieved merit could receive bonuses, but it must be made explicit who had granted the funds.
It was the General Staff and the Crown Prince—not some officer!
When Napoleon learned that His Highness had given him such a substantial bonus—though it was less than the 1 million he had acquired himself, it was legitimate and a tremendous honor—he instantly felt relieved.
Apparently, he still had a place in His Highness’s heart.
Carnot packed up the entire set of documents, his tone no longer as severe as earlier, and addressed Napoleon: “Colonel Bonaparte, His Highness wished me to convey that he is very pleased with your command performance in Italy.
“His Highness further stated that where there are mistakes, there must be punishment, but accomplishments must also be rewarded. Once you seize Alexandria, he will personally issue the promotion letter for Quasi-General.”
Napoleon’s heart surged with emotion as he stood rigidly to attention, declaring loudly, “Thank you to His Highness the Crown Prince! I will repay him with the most brilliant of victories!”
Carnot continued, “His Highness has also assigned the Royal Third Infantry Division and two companies of the Royal Second Cavalry Artillery Battalion under your command.”
Napoleon’s heart raced violently.
These were France’s elite forces, the Crown Prince’s personal troops.
The fact that His Highness entrusted these units to him was a sign of absolute trust!
He suddenly felt profound remorse for his previous violations of military discipline, realizing that he had committed such foolish and self-serving actions, betraying this trust.
Fortunately, His Highness had still given him a chance.
Napoleon clenched his fists tightly and said earnestly to Carnot, “Please inform His Highness that I will not disappoint him!”
Once Carnot left, Napoleon immediately gathered the officers for a battle conference.
“In two days, we will launch a full assault on Alexandria!” Napoleon’s opening words shocked everyone present.
Indeed, he did not plan to wait for the arrival of the Royal Infantry Division but intended to use the forces at hand to defeat the Meiras Army Corps. As for the elite troops of the Royal Infantry Division, he planned to reserve them for use in Mantua.
