Chapter 5, The Issue of Money

On the very day that Joseph received this letter, his younger brother Napoleon also received the admission notice from the Brienne Military School. The ten-year-old Napoleon happily bid farewell to his brother, preparing to head to the school he had longed for.

Louis XIV School not only offers high scholarships, but its teaching quality has also been widely recognized as excellent. Its predecessor was a church school established in 1563, known as the "Clermont School," which was affiliated with the Jesuits. From its inception, this school attracted the dissatisfaction of the University of Paris due to its policy of providing completely free education for day students.

Alfonso originally intended to say something more, but after hearing Joseph's words, he fell silent.

Joseph laughed heartily without a care in the world

"Father, are you also going to Paris?" asked a thin merchant.

Joseph wrote a letter to Bishop Miniai, requesting his assistance. He was aware that Bishop Miniai belonged to the sympathizers of the Jesuits (at this time, the Jesuits had already been suppressed by Pope Clement XIV. However, their influence still persisted, and many of Bishop Miniai's practices were clearly influenced by the Jesuits). Therefore, in the letter, he specifically referred to the Louis the Great School as the "Clermont School." He also subtly expressed an interest in theology.

It was already May, the most beautiful season of the year. The carriage sped out of Marseille along the main road to Paris, with the warm spring breeze blowing in through the window, bringing with it the chaotic fragrance of various wildflowers blooming by the roadside. Looking out from the carriage, one could see a profusion of flowers on both sides of the road and in the gaps of the dark green wheat fields. The deep pink ones were the distance herbs, the light purple ones were the cornflowers, and there were also red and yellow wild roses. Occasionally, a few short lilacs could be seen by the roadside, swaying their deep purple flower clusters in the spring breeze. Looking out from the carriage, one could see a profusion of flowers on both sides of the road and in the gaps of the dark green wheat fields. The deep pink ones were the distance herbs, the light purple ones were the cornflowers, and there were also red and yellow wild roses. Occasionally, a few short lilacs could be seen by the roadside, swaying their deep purple flower clusters in the spring breeze.

There are a total of six people in the carriage, including Joseph. They consist of a clergyman, a child, two middle-aged men dressed as businessmen in their thirties, and a young couple. Except for the lady, all are wearing long trousers. (In France, nobles always wear tight-fitting short breeches, with long stockings below the knee; commoners wear long trousers)

Sancho, what do you know? I am going to the Military Academy of Brierna to acquire knowledge; what does it matter whether there are fools there? Is it because there are fools that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is not one hundred eighty degrees in their books? As long as I can learn useful knowledge, what do these matters have to do with it?

Moreover, I fully support your desire to attend a better school for your education, my child. You know that in my heart, you are my son. What father would not feel a sense of pride upon seeing his son so ambitious? At this moment, when he reaches out to you for help, which father would be unwilling to extend a hand to assist him? However, you also know that I am not a very wealthy person, so for now, I can only manage to gather one hundred and fifty francs, hoping it will be of some assistance to you.

For more than two hundred years thereafter, the Louis the Great School was in constant struggle with the University of Paris. In 1762, the University of Paris emerged victorious when the Paris Parliament passed a resolution to expel the Jesuit administrators and placed the school under the management of the University of Paris. To flatter the reigning King Louis XV, the school was also renamed the Louis the Great School. It seemed that the University of Paris had triumphed in this two-century-long marathon. However, unbeknownst to the University of Paris, it was under its own control that a true rival to the University of Paris emerged from this secondary school.

At this point, he turned to Joseph and said, "Child, which subjects are you good at?"

The Church and the Bible are undoubtedly the only paths to God. The young man quickly retracted his previous statement, but somewhat reluctantly added, However, isn't this world a creation of God? Ultimately, admiration for the world is admiration for God.

"I like this way of saying it," Joseph interjected

In 1766, the Louis the Great School established a teacher qualification examination. Subsequently, to assist the candidates, the school opened a corresponding normal college. This normal college later became the predecessor of one of France's most prestigious universities, the École Normale Supérieure in Paris

"Of course it matters," Joseph said, "My foolish brother, even a Damascus blade requires a hammer and anvil to be shaped. When you are surrounded by a pool of mud, where can you forge your knife? Therefore, once you arrive there, remember to write to me often, so that I can properly guide you. Otherwise, you might rust and decay in that muddy pit"

Joseph now hopes to apply to such a secondary school

There is only one way to approach the Lord, and that is through the Church, sir!" Alfonso said solemnly

After obtaining leave from school, Joseph boarded the coach to Avignon with Father Alfonso.

I have some matters to attend to at Notre-Dame," Brother Alfonso replied, "This is the bishop's protégé, and he is going to Paris to take the entrance examination for the school of Louis the Great. I am accompanying him and will take him there.

Joseph knew that his father had little money in hand. Carlo had once served as an aide to Paul, fighting for the independence of Corsica against the French. Although he later submitted to the French, in order to preserve his noble status, he had to curry favor with the Governor of Corsica, which depleted much of his savings. Now, he also had to support six other children, so he likely could not spare much money.

Child, there are many paths that God has arranged for people, and becoming a clergyman is not the only path that aligns with God's will. I believe you are still too young, and making such a decision too early may not be correct. Perhaps you should experience some things first, such as love, wealth, and power. After that, you may truly understand what kind of path God has prepared for you

Studying in Paris can be quite expensive

"Oh, my foolish brother." Seeing Napoleon's beaming face, Joseph could not help but strike at him again, "Do you really think that the crows at the Brienne military school are white? I am certain that in that so-called Brienne military school, it is just the same as here, filled with self-important fools. You have merely jumped from one pit of fire into another."

Generally speaking, for students from other provinces, it is quite difficult to pass the qualification examination of Louis the Great School. First, the student must obtain a recommendation from the bishop of a certain diocese, and then they must pass the school's selection process. However, these are not particularly significant issues for Joseph. As a protégé of the Bishop of Miny, obtaining a recommendation is not difficult, and passing the selection is also not a challenge for a time traveler who has studied for a master's degree in later years. The only obstacle in front of Joseph is the cost of attending this school.

Ah, leaving one's hometown to study in Paris at such a young age is no easy feat, the thin merchant remarked

Joseph replied, "I can read and write Latin, and I also have a great fondness for mathematics and natural philosophy"

You are right, the thin merchant quickly agreed while drawing a cross on his chest

Considering that you are just an eleven-year-old child, (sometimes I tend to overlook this), and that Paris is such a distant place. It truly makes me uneasy for you to go so far alone. Father Alfonso happens to have business in Paris, and I calculated the days; it is not much different from when you plan to set off for Paris. Therefore, I entrusted him to bring that one hundred and fifty francs to you and to accompany you to Paris

"Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe. Natural philosophy is another path that leads us closer to God." The young man said, "It is truly wonderful that you can appreciate these things"

A few people were sitting in the carriage, and since there was nothing much to do, they casually started chatting.

Half a month after Napoleon was sent away, it was almost time for the examination at the Louis the Great School. At this time, the priest Alfonso, mentioned by Bishop Minier in his letter, also arrived at the Oton School

In Paris, the cost of living is extremely high. Under normal circumstances, one hundred and fifty francs cannot support you for long. Unless you reside in neighborhoods filled with the lower class. In fact, living there is not so bad; when I was young, I also lived in such places. There, you can see darkness darker than darkness, and in that darkness, you can find purity whiter than white. Such places can greatly broaden your horizons and even temper your soul. If you were a bit older, say sixteen, I would think you could live in such a place for a while. However, right now... the security there is very chaotic, and leaving you there now would be like throwing a lamb into a den of wolves. Therefore, I have found you a place.

"Attending Louis the Great School does not require spending much money." The husband of the young couple spoke up, "Louis the Great School offers substantial scholarships, but it has high requirements for students. First, a recommendation from the church is necessary, and second, one must pass the entrance selection."

Between the Latin Quarter and the Saint-Maur City Gate, there is a small Franciscan chapel, where the parish priest, Jacques, is my friend. I believe he can provide you with a modest yet relatively safe little room

Soon, Bishop Miniai replied to Joseph. The bishop greatly praised Joseph's piety, but he also informed Joseph that he did not advocate for him to embrace the church at this time

After the University of Paris took control of Louis the Great School, the policy of free tuition for day students came to an end. However, to be honest, the current fees are not high, almost merely symbolic. The problem is that living in Paris is expensive, and it is not easy to find accommodation. To be a day student in Paris, one must spend a considerable amount on housing and meals. Although the scholarships at Louis the Great School are substantial, not everyone can immediately receive a scholarship upon entering the school. Therefore, Joseph is in urgent need of some initial funding.

You are the biggest mud pit in the world. Napoleon's words remain quite defiant