Chapter 3, Toulon

At this time, the ship had already docked securely at the pier. The passengers began to disembark one after another. Mr. Fuwah had originally not intended to stop in Toulon. According to his plan, he should have immediately taken a carriage to Marseille, which is more than sixty kilometers away. However, on the way to Toulon, he suffered from severe seasickness, so he had to rest for a day in Toulon before proceeding to Marseille when his condition improved

The boatman casually tossed the mackerel into the fish basket, then tidied up the fishing line and rowed towards the Margrave Fortress

The decision to increase taxes has provided many individuals with the opportunity to exploit the situation for personal gain. Similarly, these tax burdens do not fall upon the great nobles and bishops; instead, they weigh heavily on the shoulders of the third estate. This has led to an increasing number of farmers and artisans going bankrupt. Generally speaking, in any society, the greater the number of bankrupt individuals and those without means of livelihood, the more chaotic the social order becomes. Currently, the economic situation in France is not favorable, and thus, the social order is certainly not in a good state either. Generally speaking, in any society, the greater the number of bankrupt individuals and those without means of livelihood, the more chaotic the social order becomes. Currently, the economic situation in France is not favorable, and thus, the social order is certainly not in a good state either.

We want to see the warships Joseph said without hesitation

Where do you plan to go for a look? Swann asked

Then let us go and learn these well Napoleon replied

A few cannons are not enough, because warships are mobile; they will leave their berths and retreat into the sea. Moreover, they will also retaliate. Joseph laughed and said, "Furthermore, to effectively use large cannons requires a great deal of knowledge, such as mathematics and physics. If one cannot properly grasp the principles of Sir Isaac Newton, even having one hundred cannons may not be of any use."

"Religion is indeed the opium of the people," Joseph silently thought to himself, and then said: "My foolish brother, you must remember that the bread of the future cannot replace the bread of the present; the bread of the future cannot fill the stomachs of today. Otherwise, why would we Corsicans have opposed the rule of Genoa in the first place? Moreover, rebellion and ascending to heaven are two different matters, are they not? Although it is said that the power of kings is granted by God, if someone wishes to rebel, is that not also the will of God? Otherwise, why would we Corsicans have opposed the rule of Genoa in the first place? Moreover, rebellion and ascending to heaven are two different matters, are they not? Although it is said that the power of kings is granted by God, if someone wishes to rebel, is that not also the will of God? God is omniscient and omnipotent; if He did not wish for anyone to oppose the king, how could there be rebels? My brother, do you know what I see? I see what appears to be a powerful France, like a storeroom piled high with firewood and sulfur, while its guardians are still lighting fires in this storeroom to roast meat and eat."

"Yes," replied Swan, "for just a few sou, you can rent a small fishing boat and then go fishing near the naval port. There, you can see many warships, but of course, we must not get too close."

Swan is a local, so he quickly managed to contact a small fishing boat. A few people boarded the boat, and the boatman waved the oars, rowing the small boat towards the direction of the military port

Toulon is the largest military port in France, home to the country's most important shipyards, with more than half of its warships stationed at this port. The commercial docks where ships berth are in close proximity to the military port. Standing on the deck of the Fleur de Lune, one can clearly see those towering battleships, resembling castles floating on the sea, lined up one after another in the military port

I know..." Napoleon replied, "the Spartacus rebellion occurred. However... they are not truly without hope; he still has one hope, the only hope, which is heaven. They are different from Spartacus; they are people of faith.

Napoleon said, "Then let's go and take a look"

Even the most humble of slaves need hope. Have you seen hope in the eyes of those poor people on Toulon Street? Have you perceived any beautiful visions of the future in their words? Do you know what happens when those most humble slaves lose all hope?

Joseph and his brother Napoleon sailed together on a two-masted ship named Autumn Water Fairy across the calm Mediterranean Sea for a day. The next morning, they arrived at the southern French port of Toulon.

The small boat took a full hour to reach beneath the Margrave Fortress. However, at that time, the scale of the Margrave Fortress was still quite limited, so there was not much to see. Moreover, as it was already past noon, everyone was hungry. Therefore, the small boat did not stay there for long before returning.

This is the flagship 'Boussole' of the French and Spanish combined fleet in the later Battle of Trafalgar. Listening to the boatman's introduction, Joseph couldn't help but think this.

Mr. Fuwah thought for a moment and recalled that one of his servants was a local from Toulon. He then called for the servant named Swan and instructed him to take the two brothers out for a stroll, ensuring their safety.

Joseph then went to Fuwah to express his hope of taking his younger brother Napoleon out for a walk, so that he could also try using the French he had just begun to learn

What did you see

Napoleon glanced at Joseph but did not speak

"Those with faith?" Napoleon's words completely caught Joseph off guard. Although he is now regarded by Bishop Miniai as a manifestation of divine grace, Joseph himself is well aware that the so-called exorcism ritual is utterly ineffective. The so-called effects are merely a result of Joseph, as a traveler, gradually adapting to his environment. Even now, when Joseph contemplates issues, he habitually tends to overlook the influence of religion. The so-called effects are merely a result of Joseph, as a traveler, gradually adapting to his environment. Even now, when Joseph contemplates issues, he habitually tends to overlook the influence of religion

"What is that over there?" Napoleon asked, pointing to a small hill that jutted into the bay on the right. Joseph looked over in that direction and saw a flag with an iris emblem flying atop the small hill, beneath which he could faintly make out some fortifications.

No," Napoleon replied succinctly

Indeed, compared to France, we are too weak. Napoleon nodded and said, "That is why we need a hero, a hero who can win with fewer forces and overcome the strong with the weak"

Oh, my foolish brother, haha is just haha

I have witnessed poverty and anger. It is the same poverty and anger that we observed in Corsica. Joseph replied, "My foolish brother, have you not noticed those staggering, dust-covered poor souls on the dusty streets of Toulon, who are almost as if they are made of dust themselves?"

After disembarking, they found a place to eat something casually. Joseph took the opportunity to engage in conversation with some passersby using his poor French—discussing trivial matters of daily life, merely lamenting the hardships of life together. Then a few of them returned to the hotel. Throughout the journey, Napoleon remained silent. Once they entered the room, Joseph smiled at Napoleon and said, "So, were you scared by the French warship?"

"What are they doing?" Napoleon asked

Then everything will be troublesome for you. Joseph said this to Swan

"Isn't it magnificent?" Joseph placed his hand on his brother's shoulder and said in the Corsican dialect, "The white sails resemble the clouds in the sky, the towering hulls are like floating castles, and the simultaneous firing of the cannons is akin to Zeus's thunder... Look at these warships, do you feel the pressure, my brother?"

What do you specifically want to see at the Margrave Fortress? There is nothing worth seeing over there, " Joseph asked again.

Fouva is quite satisfied with the requirements he has set for this studious child; however, he is not very reassured about the security situation in the Toulon area. Over the years, France has been at a disadvantage in its competition with Britain for overseas interests. This has also led to a rather poor economic situation. In order to secure more funds to compete with Britain, the King of France has raised taxes more than once. To be honest, the tax increases under Louis XVI are not particularly significant. However, there are several immutable laws in human society: the first is that bureaucrats will always seize every opportunity to benefit themselves; the second is that any burden will never fall on those who truly should bear it, but rather on those who can afford to shoulder these burdens.

Ah, every boy who comes to Toulon for the first time loves to see the warships the most said Swann with a smile

Swan responded with a sound and then led the two brothers out the door

Napoleon stood on the deck, gazing intently at these giant ships

Joseph nodded and then asked, "Napoleon, do you know what I saw in Toulon?"

"Hehe," Joseph chuckled

At this time, it was around 10 o'clock in the morning, and the rare winter sunlight shimmered and danced on the tips of the fragmented waves in the bay. The boatman stopped the boat, cast the bait into the sea, and then pointed to the nearby military port, introducing to the guests the warships docked there, one by one.

"Is there a way for us to properly observe the warships?" Napoleon inquired

"Hehe, what does it mean?" Napoleon said discontentedly

If an army were to occupy that place, it could use several cannons to sink all the warships in the naval port Napoleon stated

Look, that is the battleship 'Bussantor', the largest one inside. It is a three-deck battleship with one hundred cannons. The one a little to the left is the cruiser 'Dreadnought', which is much smaller, with only one deck of guns

The ferryman, having heard this, planned to pack up the bait and head over to the Margrave Fortress. At that moment, a bell tied to the fishing line suddenly rang out loudly. The ferryman quickly reached out to grab the fishing line. The line did not shake much, and a look of disappointment appeared on the ferryman's face. He pulled the line up several times, and there was only a small mackerel hanging from the hook.

That is the Margrave Fortress. There are gun emplacements there guarding the harbor. Do you need to go take a look? In the sea over there, one can sometimes catch some very good cod

After temporarily settling in the hotel, Napoleon encouraged Joseph to go out for a stroll. Joseph knew that Napoleon intended to take this opportunity to closely observe the largest military port in France and to gather information about his future adversaries

For Joseph and Napoleon, this also meant that they had a day to thoroughly explore Toulon