The new constitution of the eighth year of the French Republic did not grant the First Consul the authority to command the army. Yet it did not state that the First Consul could not "accompany the army." Thus, after reviewing the troops in Dijon, Napoleon Bonaparte traveled with Louis Alexandre Berthier under the pretext of "accompanying the army."
Berthier was also one of Napoleon's trusted men. Although he bore the title of commander, he had always regarded himself as Napoleon's chief of staff. In other words, Napoleon was still the true commander of the army on its second expedition to Italy.
This time, Napoleon had also gone to "inspect" the Western Army. If Bernadotte had been as "obedient" as Berthier, perhaps he would not have been removed from his position as commander of the Western Army.
"History" said that Bernadotte had always opposed Napoleon. "History" also said that Napoleon had been devoted to Josephine.
Georgiana set down the constitution of the French Republic and sighed as she looked at the full moon outside the window.
Napoleon needed victory to consolidate his rule, and it had to be the kind that "astonished Europe," a victory beyond anything people could imagine.
Compared to making ice with saltpeter, a method that was practically magic, Georgiana felt that setting warships ablaze with Greek Fire was perhaps more achievable.
It was a substance made primarily from petroleum. The emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire had once used it to defend against the Arabs. This liquid incendiary floated on water and burned the Arab warships to ashes. With the currents used at just the right moment, Greek Fire could be allowed to drift toward British warships.
If the British warships at Malta refused to leave, Georgiana could certainly deal with them this way. But she did