In terms of latitude alone, Paris was actually a bit further north than Harbin. But thanks to the influence of the North Atlantic Current, the winter here was quite mild. Even at the end of November, the sunlight in Paris still felt warm and inviting.
Joseph walked along the leaf-strewn streets, with a small figure trailing behind him.
"Napoleon, your idea is intriguing. However, I don't think your actions will have much effect, and in fact, they might lead to resentment from others," Joseph said as he shook his head gently. "Napoleon, do you know what I admire most about you? I admire your courage. You see something, and you boldly act on it. You believe you can overcome any challenge, and nothing can stand in your way. You never let 'I can't' follow 'I want.' This is a fantastic quality, and many heroes throughout history possessed it, enabling them to conquer obstacles and achieve great deeds, becoming immortal legends."
"But you must remember, confidence and arrogance are just a thin line apart. Often, when you're doing something, you should think more. First, understand where your goals lie and what's genuinely in your best interest. Then, consider where your limits are, what you cannot achieve with your current abilities, and avoid pushing yourself too hard."
"I'm not worried that you'll lose your courage by overthinking, but I'm concerned that you might suffer due to overestimating yourself and underestimating others, like in this case. Tell me, what's the purpose of your actions?" Joseph asked.
Napoleon listened and gave a proud smile, "My dear brother, do you really think I'm worried that the French military academy will turn those French nobles into lazy swine? No, no, no. It would be a disaster if these French noble officers were as smart and courageous as I am. Our cause would have no future."
"Then why are you doing this?" Joseph asked, and he even forgot to reproach Napoleon for daring to encroach on his patent rights.
"My foolish brother, is your intellect truly so lacking that you cannot fathom such a simple matter?" Napoleon quickly seized this rare opportunity to return the favor of all the things he had received from Joseph before.
Joseph stopped and turned to stare at Napoleon. Napoleon proudly met his gaze.
"Hahaha..." Joseph suddenly burst into laughter, "My foolish brother, do you really want to graduate early using this method?"
"What?" Napoleon's proud smile suddenly froze, "How could you think that?"
In his previous life, Joseph had watched a film about Napoleon, which briefly mentioned that the independent-minded Napoleon had only studied at the Paris Military Academy for a year due to outstanding performance. At the time, Joseph didn't think much about it. But now, thinking about it in detail, given Napoleon's current temperament and his obvious hostility towards French nobility, early graduation might not be a reward, but rather...
"Your accusations, as harsh as they sound, are logically sound. It's like telling a Catholic priest to remain chaste. So, while your accusations may offend them, they cannot use them as a reason to punish you."
"Then, your academic performance shouldn't give them any reason to criticize you. Well, from what I know, most of the students at the Paris Military Academy are noble-born..."
"Not most, but nearly all," Napoleon corrected.
"Many of them indeed lead lavish lives, indulging in pleasures, spending their precious time on drinking, bragging, gourmet food, showing off their carriages, servants, and mistresses. Although your intelligence isn't exceptional, it should be a piece of cake to outperform them academically."
"Because alcohol and pleasure have already damaged their already limited intelligence. Their intelligence might not even surpass that of a red-haired orangutan now. Defeating these red-haired orangutans is a given. But nobles aren't all red-haired orangutans. The Paris Military Academy is quite large, and there might be one or two outstanding individuals. So, don't be too complacent."
"I'm well aware of that. My studies are to improve myself as much as possible, not to crush others. So, I won't let my guard down wherever I go," Napoleon replied.
On this point, Joseph had complete faith in Napoleon. In terms of "loving learning," Napoleon was indeed a role model. Throughout his life, whether leading armies across the snow-capped Alps or being imprisoned on Saint Helena, he never stopped learning whenever he had the chance.
"So, I believe you have a good chance of early graduation. But your prospects after graduation might not be too bright," Joseph said.
"Someone like us from Corsica, even if I were to serve them every day as a lackey, what good prospects could we have? Besides, our future is in Corsica, not in France," Napoleon replied nonchalantly.
Upon hearing this response, Joseph nearly burst into laughter. He knew that in his later life, during the French Revolution, Napoleon would turn against Corsican independence, leading to a falling out with his current idol, Paoli, which would even escalate into armed conflict.
"However, Corsica is just too small," Joseph sighed.
"You're right," Napoleon said, "That is indeed a serious issue. Even if we could win one against ten, it would be hard to defeat France with our own strength. But now, France is grappling with serious internal problems, and perhaps we can gain support from other nations in the future."
"Like Mr. Paoli in England?" Joseph asked.
"Yes. But I don't entirely trust the English," Napoleon said. "The English have betrayed others more than once. Helping them trouble the French is possible, but making Corsica bleed for them? They'd probably prefer to see Corsica bleed for their sake. They might provide some money, at most. In the Seven Years' War, the English helped Prussia in the same way. But Corsica is so small, how much blood does it have to shed? Nevertheless, it's precisely because of these difficulties that I'm filled with determination."
"My brother, when you say such things, you sound like a character out of Virgil or Homer," Joseph remarked.
"Ah, my dear brother, this is the most pleasing thing I've ever heard from you," Napoleon exclaimed. "You're right; I'm not one of those weak and mediocre men of this era. I'm a hero from the time of Virgil."
"My foolish brother, remember that a person's abilities are like the numerator of a fraction, while their self-esteem is the denominator. The larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction's value," Joseph couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hmph!" Napoleon didn't mind Joseph's habitual sarcasm; he had long grown accustomed to it.
"Well, Joseph, you'll be graduating soon. What are your plans for the future?" Napoleon inquired.
"Me? I might return to Corsica and become a priest," Joseph replied.
"You're lying," Napoleon retorted. "Your eyes tell me that your thoughts have already strayed, that Corsica has become too small for you. Besides, I don't think you have much faith in the church's future."
"Alright," Joseph sighed. "I plan to leave Paris for a while and go to Corsica to bide my time while keeping a close watch on Paris, waiting for changes to happen."
"Changes?" Napoleon asked. "What do you mean?"
"Of course, a replay of England's story in France," Joseph said.
"England's story?" Napoleon questioned. "What story are you talking about?"
"Of course, it's the story of Lord Protector Cromwell," Joseph replied. "Have you seen the recent disclosures about the royal finances?"
"No," Napoleon said. "I don't socialize much with my classmates, and I don't go out much."
"If the information is accurate, the royal finances are in shambles, and they are on the brink of bankruptcy," Joseph explained. "The royal family is drowning in debt, and even the nobles and wealthy individuals are reluctant to lend more money to the royals. I believe the royals will have to increase taxation, and with the current sentiment throughout France, a revolution is imminent."
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