Chapter 71 (1/2)

One would not be able to find La Mure on the map. Even if one asked the people of Gren.o.ble, few would know of this small village. However, if one mentioned the name ”Napoleon”, everybody's expression would surely be one of a rude awakening.

On 1st of March 1815, at 3 am, Napoleon Bonaparte once again stepped onto the soils of France. Standing on a beach in Golfe-Juan, he addressed a soldier who had taken off his hat in respect, announcing his famous line, ”Soldiers! I heard your cry while I was in exile. Now, I am finally back in France.

”Your commander, who was made a king by the people's cheers, and who was set on the throne by your support, has now returned. Come and join him, abandon the flag of the Bourbon king.

”Soldiers, gather together around the flag of your commander. His interest and his honor are aligned with yours, completely aligned. Victory is approaching. The Eagle emblem which dons the colors of our people will fly from minaret to minaret, all the way to Notre Dame's Tower in Paris. In just a while, you will be able to display your battle scars with pride and honor; you will be able to boast of your achievements. You will become the country's saviors. You will soon be able to heroically announce, 'I have purged Paris of all the rebels and enemies, and have thus cleansed the land.'

”All honor and glory to the soldiers! All honor and glory to France, our motherland!”

Three days ago, this sonorous voice sounded. When Huang Xuan discovered that the target Rolin was searching for was Napoleon, he was extremely astonished. There was an inexplicable feeling in his heart.

There were few military talents that the world acknowledged. Napoleon was definitely one of them. The world was interested in everything about him, from his hideous handwriting to his leaders.h.i.+p of others into victory. To Huang Xuan, Napoleon was one of the few men in history that he knew about.

His voice was hoa.r.s.e when he asked, ”What do you want to do?”

”It's not me, but you,” Rolin corrected, ”You should thank the Heavens that we didn't wind up in a primeval time period when money is scarce. Otherwise, the only thing we would have been able to do was to gather explosives and see if we could sell them for some money for us to return home.”

”You believe in G.o.d too?” Huang Xuan was just looking for a change in topic. He was already in La Mure and was seated about 1 km away from the main road, atop a small hill. He was already becoming light-headed from being under direct sunlight for so long.

”That's fabricated,” Rolin concluded. He returned to the earlier topic and asked, ”What are you planning to do?”

”I thought you brought me here because you had already decided.”

”I will not decide for you,” Rolin stated plainly. ”However, Napoleon is indeed a cla.s.sic character in the history textbooks. In a standard plane, everybody would pay close attention to him.”

”Why?”

”Because his existence very clearly explains the temporal and spatial theories,” Rolin systematically explained. ”Look, Napoleon is a genius. In this time period, and even in the entire history of mankind, he is known as an elite commander. From the beginning, Napoleon's existence was used to refute the temporal and spatial theories. Scholars thought that not just any average man could replace such a skilled commander like Napoleon. Not even someone who has gone through the same education and same experiences could necessarily be like him. Having the exact same brain as him wouldn't guarantee it either. Thus, Napoleon is an obvious target to the entire plane. If he dies, or if his parents die, the buffer zone will surely lose large amounts of energy.”

Huang Xuan was listening closely to every word. It made logical sense to him, so he questioned, ”Isn't that so?”

”No,” Rolin replied. ”In fact, Napoleon could only become a commander and display his talents because the situation in the 19th-century continent allowed for it. France needed a talented commander, and they chose the most suitable candidate. If Napoleon died, the plane might lose a significant amount of energy, but it will definitely not be enough to destroy the entire plane. In time, the plane would search for a commander with comparable skills. Although he might not be able to perform as well as Napoleon, compared to a chap from Corsica, this person would still easily be promoted and easily achieve the same level of honor as Napoleon.”

”But the effect would still be significant.”

”You're right,” Rolin admitted. He continued, ”In the study of the plane system, Napoleon still serves as proof.”

”Oh?”

”Napoleon is a capable commander. He defeated the coalition forces 5 times, and each time was a decisive battle. Yet, in the end, he was still defeated and sent into exile. Even though he later found his way back to France, which is what is happening now, he will still be defeated by the Seventh Coalition. This is inertia. It is also one of the workings of the buffer zone. If this entire event were reversed, it would be very difficult for a primitive plane to survive for so long.”

Huang Xuan was quite familiar with Napoleon. This was compulsory homework for every boy. He thought for a moment, and retorted, ”But if Napoleon did not attack Russia, there wouldn't be much loss…”