Chapter 26: A Hero of the Bonaparte Family

"How could it possibly be Duke Charles? He's a high-ranking enemy general; how could he appear in the tiny village of Macken?" Upon hearing that his own cannon fire had killed Duke Charles, Roland's face was a mix of disbelief, or perhaps, more accurately, he found it hard to believe.

He had merely executed a decapitation strike, a common military tactic, but inexplicably ended up killing the enemy's highest commander. This gave Roland a surreal feeling, and he even started to doubt whether he was dreaming at that moment.

"Jobs, pinch me. I'm starting to think I might be dreaming."

"Sure! Roland, I didn't know you had such a fetish, but I'll indulge you." After hearing Roland's request, Jobs was initially stunned, then he burst into laughter and reached out to pinch Roland.

"Ow!" Jobs pinched Roland so hard that he cried out.

"Jobs, you scoundrel, why did you have to pinch so hard? It hurts like hell." Roland, holding the pinched area, was in tears from the pain, not expecting Jobs to have such a strong grip, turning his skin blue.

"Hahaha! I was worried if I pinched too lightly, you wouldn't wake up. So, do you now realize that you aren't dreaming?" In response to Roland's "accusations," Jobs still wore a big smile on his face.

"But seriously, after this battle, you'll be famous, Roland. Just don't forget about us brothers when you make it big!"

Then Jobs resumed his mischievous demeanor, wrapping an arm around Roland and speaking jestingly.

"Why would I go there to succeed? We four fired the cannon together; if there's any credit, it belongs to all four of us," Roland replied calmly. Although it was a great honor, he had no intention of taking all the credit for himself.

"However, Roland, you really are a dark horse! Who would have thought you are General Napoleon's nephew?" Jobs continued.

"Napoleon? How did you know I was Napoleon's nephew?" Roland was startled upon hearing Jobs mention the name, unaware of how Jobs had come to know about his connection to Napoleon.

"Of course, it was General Napoleon who told me. Did you know that during the time you were unconscious, General Napoleon was extremely worried? He went directly to the dean of the field hospital and ordered him to ensure you were treated properly. He stayed by your side day and night until just a moment ago, when urgent military matters at the front required his attention." Jobs spoke to Roland in detail, his words laced with envy, reflecting how well Roland's influential uncle had treated him.

"Really? My uncle came to see me, and I didn't even know." Only now did Roland fully understand what had happened, and he couldn't help but feel a bit resigned. After these events, his fame would likely spread throughout the army, making his plan to keep a low profile impossible.

But perhaps this was for the best. After this battle, he had gained some notoriety and could use this opportunity to fully integrate into the army, especially with Napoleon as his support. Life should not be too difficult for him from now on.

...

Since the battle at Macken Village, Roland had been unconscious, waking only two days later. During these two days of his coma, the situation at the front had drastically changed.

The most significant impact was on the anti-French coalition, which had disintegrated rapidly due to the death of their commander, Charles. Seeing the unfavorable situation, the British were the first to leave the coalition. Their departure was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Since the Turin battlefield had entered a stalemate phase, each day demanded a massive investment of resources from all nations involved, becoming a severe burden. The British exit provided a perfect excuse for other nations to leave the coalition, leading to the disintegration of the First Coalition against France.

The war ultimately ended with a French victory.

The victory in the Battle of Turin greatly boosted the morale of the French people and solidified the position of the French ruling authorities. The Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, seeing the adverse conditions and the impossibility of military progress, knew it was time to humble himself and sign a peace treaty with the French authorities.

Meanwhile, due to the prolonged wars, France's finances had already reached the brink of collapse. At this point, the country was too weakened to continue fighting and desperately needed peace to lick its wounds. Thus, when the Holy Roman Empire sought to sign a peace treaty, France readily agreed. Once again, Europe found itself in a brief period of peace.

However, war also has its merits, as it often brings forth heroes who become the pillars of their nations. The most celebrated hero of the Battle of Turin was undoubtedly General Napoleon. The situation on the Turin battlefield was precarious, almost on the verge of collapse, but Napoleon's arrival swiftly turned the tide. Under his command, the French forces not only held their ground but even managed to overpower the enemy.

Additionally, during the Battle of Marseille, Napoleon successfully defeated the British and protected Marseille. His accomplishments were starting to position him as the foremost leader within the French military.

Yet, opportunity often comes with risks. Unbeknownst to Napoleon, there were already some within the French leadership who were concerned about his rising influence and were plotting against him.

While Napoleon was the undeniable hero of the Turin battlefield, another name also entered the public eye. This individual was Roland Bonaparte, a 16-year-old student from the Brienne Military Academy. In the battle at Macken Village, Roland displayed remarkable composure, taking out the enemy's highest commander with a single cannon shot—a tremendous feat, especially given his young age of sixteen.

Simultaneously, Roland's identity was uncovered. He was the nephew of the increasingly famous General Napoleon, both members of the Bonaparte family, and both had made significant military contributions to France.

This revelation provided the ordinary citizens of France with a new topic of conversation. Everyone was curious about the Bonaparte family, from which two military geniuses had emerged. However, this also sparked envy among many. With such prominent figures in the Bonaparte family, their rise to power seemed inevitable. Many believed that the Bonapartes would undoubtedly become one of France's top noble families in the future.