Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

However, all this would come at the cost of dismantling the National Self-Defense Force.

Napoleon's mind churned like a massive wave. Did he really want to do this?

Without the National Self-Defense Force, the Corsican Revival Organization would lose its pillar...

His gaze swept over the headline on the Ajaccio Life Newspaper lying on the table—"Corsican Parliament Passes Bill to Ban National Self-Defense Force with High Majority"—and his brows furrowed.

Yes, it wasn't him who wanted to eliminate the National Self-Defense Force, but rather the fools in Parliament who had passed such a bill, at least half of whom were members of the Restoration organization.

That is to say, it was the Restoration organization itself that had destroyed its own pillar!

Napoleon couldn't help but take a deep breath; Paul had fallen, or perhaps he had never been noble to begin with, and the Restoration organization was thoroughly rotten. They had lost the possibility of achieving Corsican independence.

Even if he joined the Restoration organization, he would never have his day to rise to prominence!

The thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly froze.

Why was he thinking about rising to prominence at this moment?

He clenched the railing on the deck, candidly scrutinizing his own heart for the first time.

Was he truly just simply wanting to see the establishment of the Corsican Republic?

He hesitated for a few seconds, then shook his head slightly. It seemed that all along, he had only wanted to use Corsican independence to secure a prominent position in the Corsican Government.

After all, since childhood, he had lived in Brienne, to the east of Paris, living like a genuine Frenchman, faring better than the vast majority of Corsicans. Now, letting other Corsicans live as he did might indeed be the true way for them to gain freedom and a prosperous life.

Suddenly, Napoleon felt a weight lift from his heart and turned to head back to the cabin.

Starting as the acting commander of the Corsican Legion seemed like a good beginning, he nodded to himself. Later, when he climbed higher, he could better help his homeland develop.

...

In the outskirts of Asco, a northern city in Corsica.

"Lieutenant Colonel, I really can't let you enter the city," a properly dressed middle-aged man, holding a silver cane under his arm, said apologetically to Cesari-Colonna Paoli, "You know, Congress has already banned your army..."

"You are also a member of the Restoration organization!" Cesari grabbed the arm of the Asco Municipal Commissioner, pointing towards the temporary camp, "The soldiers need supplies, and we have less than a week's food left."

"I'm here precisely as a member of the Restoration organization to visit you," said the middle-aged man. "But I, along with the city hall and the chamber of commerce, cannot defy the law, please understand."

Corsican Parliament was chosen by the Corsicans themselves, hence there was absolutely no doubt in their minds regarding the Parliament's decisions—this was also a result of years of Liberal indoctrination that made the public believe "the Parliament represents me." So how could I oppose myself?

Thus, the once highly regarded National Self-Defense Force was now even struggling to enter towns. The Corsican public's warm welcome, once offering food and drink, had completely disappeared.

Indeed, after the Parliament's decree to ban the National Self-Defense Force was enacted, more than a quarter of the soldiers had already fled back home, and the number of deserters was still increasing.

After all, members of the Restoration organization who were also parliamentarians had voted in favor, and with no influential leaders remaining in the Restoration organization, the soldiers were increasingly despondent.

"Then, at least provide us with some wine and bread," Cesari said helplessly, "for God's sake."

"This…"

The municipal commissioner hesitated whether to dig into his own pocket to buy supplies to appease the Self-Defense Force when suddenly a cavalry scout hurriedly approached Cesari and said, "Commander, about 5 miles north, we have spotted the French Army! There are roughly two thousand of them."

Cesari's face turned pale as he quickly asked, "Have you communicated with them?"

It had been a long time since the Corsican garrison and the National Self-Defense Force had clashed, primarily because they couldn't defeat them, so it might just be a normal movement of the French Army.

The cavalry scout replied solemnly, "They refused contact, sir."

The nearby second battalion commander and other officers immediately gathered around, anxiously saying, "Commander, it seems that these fellows are specifically targeting us."

"We currently have only 1,300 soldiers, a direct confrontation will likely put us at a disadvantage…"

"Commander, we should head into Mount Ro."

The terrain of Corsica was essentially a massive mountain range that covered more than eighty percent of the area, with only some plains near the edge of the island by the Mediterranean Sea suitable for living.

Previously, when facing encirclement by the French Army, the National Self-Defense Force would unhesitatingly retreat into the mountains. Leveraging their familiarity with the terrain and the numerous villages in the mountains that could provide supplies, they managed to play a cat and mouse game with the French.

After dragging this out for a while, the French Army, unable to sustain the heavy military expenses, would retreat on their own, and then they would come out.

Currently, they were at the northern entrance of Rao Mountain Pass. Heading south they could enter the mountains in less than a day; however, Cesari hesitated.

They had passed through several villages recently, all of which had resisted them without exception—Count Butafuoco had immediately dispatched people to propagate all over the island after the passage of the congressional decree, ensuring the National Self-Defense Force was treated like street rats.

Cesari looked towards the nearby city of Asco. If the Self-Defense Force went into the mountains and those villages also refused to provide food, his more than a thousand men might starve. Moreover, he had important things to accomplish…

He dismissed the municipal commissioner of Asco City, then convened a strategy meeting, and said to the officers, "We have fought the French Army many times, and they are not so fearsome.

"We must repel them here and then continue south toward Ajaccio to make those foolish congress members revoke the decree. This is the only way for our legion to survive!"

The officers exchanged glances and reluctantly nodded their agreement.

They indeed had more victories than losses against the French forces stationed in Corsica, but they hadn't anticipated that this time their opponent would be the terrifying "Corsican Monster."

To say nothing of their current numbers, even if they doubled their forces, battling head-on would be no different than sheep challenging a lion.

…

Napoleon saw the camp of the National Self-Defense Force through his binoculars, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
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The intelligence was extremely accurate—the Self-Defense Force was indeed near Asco. He had landed at the nearest port, Calvi, after receiving this information, then marched rapidly for two and a half days and caught up with them.

A staff officer came quickly, saluting and saying, "Commander, our cavalry scouts have found that the enemy is setting up defensive positions, seemingly preparing for battle."

Napoleon pondered for a moment, sensing that his task might soon be completed.

He gestured for an attendant to bring the map, pointed to a high ground on the west side, and commanded, "Send the artillery there immediately…"

He paused midway, then suddenly raised his hand to stop himself, "Wait, perhaps this is an opportunity."