"Elba Island?" Joseph looked at the girl before him, frowning slightly. "So your fiancé is..."
"Mr. Bonaparte," Miss Clary said. "I have always loved him deeply, but now that love may have to face its end." She gestured toward the school buildings beside her. "I donated all my dowry to build these schools just for the chance to beg you. Please show mercy and let me see him one last time. Just one hour—no! Half an hour will do. Please!"
Joseph finally recalled where he had heard the surname Clary—Napoleon's first love had been named Desiree Clary. The Queen of Sweden in history.
Watching Desiree begin to sob, he could not help sighing inwardly. She really was a devoted girl. But after Napoleon met Josephine, he kicked you aside without a moment's hesitation...
Come to think of it, sending him to that little island was helping you too—he would never have the chance to meet Josephine, or any other noblewoman. Naturally, Joseph had no intention of letting Napoleon, that "ultimate weapon," rot away forever on Elba Island.
By now, Napoleon had been growing grapes on the island for nearly three years. Joseph wondered whether this proud falcon's edge had been worn away. In truth, Napoleon was the most suitable commander for the Egyptian campaign—historically, with an absolutely inferior force, he had beaten the Mamluks until they had no power to strike back, then led his army all the way into Syria.
Had the British Navy not cut off his retreat, perhaps more than half of the Middle East would have fallen into his hands.
But Joseph did not intend to let Napoleon return to Europe now.
The French Army's command system had already become extremely well developed.
After the Second Military Reform, Massena and Moreau could perfectly replace Napoleon's role.