Young bloods - Scarrow Simon. Страница 92

Chapter 66

'Sir,' Napoleon spoke patiently, 'we have to prepare the island's defences. France is already at war with most of Europe. If Britain should join our enemies then we will be facing the most powerful navy in the world.'

'The defence of Corsica is a French concern,' General Paoli said. 'Why should the people of this island be burdened with the task of turning their home into a fortress? Particularly against a nation such as Britain, which has been our ally in the struggles for liberation.' He smiled. 'Do not forget, my dear Napoleon, that it was Britain who offered me shelter when your father and I were defeated at Ponte Nuovo.'

'I know that, sir. But times change. If France and Britain go to war then Corsica will become a vital strategic asset for whichever side holds the island.'

Paoli stared hard at him. 'Not so long ago, you were set on freeing Corsica from the French.'

Napoleon shrugged.'At present it is in our best interest to side with France.'

'But only for the present?'

'As I said, the situation has changed. It is more than likely it will change again.'

'So I see,' Paoli smiled. 'It's only been a few months since you left Corisca in disgrace. Now you are a regular army captain and, since Ajaccio's volunteers have been reinstated, a colonel of volunteers once again.You're quite an opportunist, my boy.'

Napoleon stared back at him. 'If you say so, sir. Do you wish to discuss my report on the island's defences?'

Napoleon did not wait for a response but spread the map out across the table in Paoli's ostentatious office in the Palais National. Whilst Napoleon pulled out his notes from his saddlebag, Paoli wandered over to the doorway that led on to the balcony. Despite it being early in January, the doors were open and the room was cool. The general professed to like the clean, fresh mountain air. Below the balcony the hill town of Corte spread out in a labyrinth of streets. To one side loomed the ancient fortress that had protected the town for centuries, perched atop a rocky crag. Barren mountains surrounded Corte and the peaks were shrouded in dazzling white snow. General Paoli took a deep breath and turned back to Napoleon with another smile.

'Much as I appreciated the hospitality of my British hosts, there was not a day that passed when I did not dream of being back here in the mountains of Corte.'

'I understand, sir. I felt the same when I was being educated in France. It's in our blood. Wherever you transplant a Corsican, and however long you keep him there, at the end of the day he's still a Corsican.'

Paoli looked at him. 'Well said, young man. There are times when you remind me of your father.'

Napoleon was touched. 'Thank you, sir. I hope I do some honour to his memory.'

'You do. I'm sure Carlos would be proud of how you've turned out. And now you have been entrusted with surveying the island's defences for the French Government. The War Office must have a great deal of faith in you.'

Napoleon stirred uncomfortably. The survey was a cover concocted by Saliceti for the real purpose behind Napoleon's return to Corsica. The War Office, fearing that Britain would inevitably be drawn into a war against revolutionary France, had long been concerned about the fate of Corsica. If the island was seized from France it could be used as a base from which to attack the southern coast, or to intervene in Italy. So orders for a thorough survey of the defences had been given, and Saliceti had intervened and placed the survey in the hands of Captain Buona Parte.

Napoleon had been diligent enough in carrying out the task. After arriving in Ajaccio, and presenting Saliceti's confirmation of his position in the Ajaccio volunteer battalion, he spent until Christmas travelling round the island, taking soundings in the main harbours, carefully marking potential positions for coastal batteries and talking guardedly with people wherever he went. Even though Paoli was behaving like a dictator, the majority of Corsicans were loyal to him. However, this loyalty was tempered by sympathy for the revolution and all the main towns on the island maintained political clubs that were dominated by the Jacobins.There was no certainty over what might happen if Paoli tried to sever Corsica's links with France.

Napoleon cleared his mind and turned his attention back to the report.There was a detailed map of Corsica, heavily annotated in Napoleon's scruffy hand.

'I hope you don't expect me to try and read any of that,' Paoli said.

Napoleon shook his head. 'It won't be necessary, sir. I assume you have read the copy of the report I sent to you.'

'Ah, yes. I had one of my officers look over it and present me with a summary. A thorough piece of work, and I agree with your conclusions. The defence of the main ports must be the priority. I will put your report in front of the next meeting of the governing council. That will be in March.'

'March?' Napoleon looked at the general sharply.'We could be at war with Britain by then.'

Paoli shrugged.'It's the best I can do.The council will consider your report, and if they decide to proceed with your recommendations we'll need to work out the costings and then submit those to the treasury committee for approval. Then the work can begin.'

'I see,' Napoleon said quietly. 'And when, precisely, might that be, sir? I need to know so that I can inform the War Office.'

Paoli pursed his lips and looked up at the ceiling for a moment before replying.'Realistically… the end of the year.At the earliest.'

'I don't think Paris will be very happy with that, sir.'

'That's as maybe. But there's nothing I can do about it.'

'Very well, sir.' Napoleon bowed his head. 'I'll put your estimate of the time needed to the War Office at once.'

'You do that,' Paoli replied tonelessly. 'Now, if you put your reports away we can proceed to other business.'

'Yes, sir.' Napoleon wondered what the other business might be. When he had been summoned from Ajaccio three days ago, General Paoli had merely asked to discuss the results of the survey of Corsica's defences.

'You might as well leave the map out. We'll need it.' Paoli crossed to the door, opened it and said to one of his clerks, 'Tell Colonel Colonna we're ready for him now.'

As Paoli returned to the table Napoleon looked at him enquiringly. He had met Colonna recently. Colonna was the commander of the garrison at Bastia and Napoleon had approached him to ask for some engineers to be seconded to his small survey team, but Colonna had refused the request. Paoli noticed the expression on Napoleon's face.'All will be made clear to you in a moment. While we're waiting for my nephew I want to ask you something, Colonel.'

This was the first time that Paoli had condescended to call him by this rank, and not his regular army rank of captain and Napoleon was immediately back on his guard. 'What is it, sir?'

'This war that the Convention is waging against Austria and now Prussia – what are France's chances of winning?'

Napoleon's mind raced to organise his thoughts. 'It depends. So far the National Guard units have made a poor showing, but there are plans to merge them with the regulars in coming months. Once that happens our armies will fight far more effectively. At the moment we're also short of good officers. Many of the aristocrats have resigned their commissions and emigrated. But there are good men emerging from the ranks, and many others in training. It's all a question of time. If we can hold the enemy back for five, maybe six months, then we have every chance of winning.'

'Against Austria and Prussia, yes. But what if Britain and other nations enter the war against France? As they surely will if any harm comes to King Louis.'

Napoleon nodded. There was no point in avoiding the issue. The latest news from Paris was that the Convention, the revolutionary executive, had decided to charge the King with treason. The best Louis could hope for was exile, but imprisonment was the most likely outcome, although a number of leading Jacobins were calling for his head. But if Louis was disposed of, then France's enemies would multiply overnight, and how could one nation hope to prevail against so many? Napoleon decided to answer General Paoli's question honestly. 'In that case, we cannot win. Not unless the whole nation is put at the service of the army. Even then our armies would need to be led by the most outstanding generals of our time.'