Young Dai's academic performance in military science wasn't outstanding, and he ultimately graduated as an international student specializing in governance.
Therefore, regarding Napoleon's military decisions, Young Dai could only observe and learn obediently, perhaps posing a few questions at most.
For instance, Young Dai's question now was: "Since neither side is fully prepared for a decisive battle, why not wait a little longer? We are on French soil, so our logistics and conscription are more convenient than those of the Rose Beefs across the way, and we can make more preparations."
Napoleon's explanation was: "Although we can make more preparations, we don't have that much time. Since George III has regained his senses, he will definitely find a way to halt this war."
"The current situation is that we, France, are at a disadvantage. Even if George III eventually compensates us for our military expenses, we will still be at a loss, which will affect our image in the world and within the Great Qing."
After answering Young Dai's question, Napoleon convened his subordinate officers to discuss how to conduct the final decisive battle.
Napoleon spoke first as always: "Gentlemen, do you remember how those Rose Beefs mocked us? They said that we, France, are the only country without body odor, because we are always adept at raising our hands so that the sun can shine on our armpits."
The assembled officers were infuriated. Raising hands to expose armpits was a matter of habit and did not represent that the French army only knew how to surrender!
Besides, we have fought many wars against the Habsburg League's army in recent years, and each time we emerged victorious. If we are to talk about raising hands in surrender, it is the Habsburg family's army that is more skilled!
Napoleon continued: "Our French army's equipment is superior to that of those Rose Beefs because we are equipped with firearms from the Great Ming, while a significant portion of the Rose Beefs' equipment is produced by themselves."
"Gentlemen, even if you don't believe in your own combat capabilities, don't you believe in the power of Great Ming firearms?"
"More importantly, the one commanding those Rose Beefs is a short, unsightly fellow from Japan. Although he has studied in the military academies of the Great Ming, just like us, he is not familiar with the warfare patterns of our European armies."
"This unfamiliarity will lead to the Rose Beefs' army being unable to effectively execute the short, unsightly fellow's orders, and will also cause the short, unsightly fellow to misjudge the combat effectiveness of the Rose Beefs' army."
"In a decisive battle, even a minor flaw will be magnified infinitely on the battlefield, let alone the issue of the commander's unfamiliarity with the army!"
"Therefore, God will bless France!"
Napoleon's speech greatly boosted the morale and fighting spirit of the French officers. Even Young Dai, who had been hesitant about whether to engage in a decisive battle immediately, became excited.
However, Young Dai's excitement was like being doused with a bucket of ice water on a sweltering summer day; it quickly turned into a chill. After Napoleon and the French officers had finalized the arrangements for the decisive battle, they shamelessly produced opium pipes!
What was even more critical was that Napoleon not only took the first puff of opium but also looked at Viscount Abel, who was in charge of logistics, and said, "Has the opium been distributed? Before we commence the final decisive battle, we must ensure that the soldiers can obtain opium."
Viscount Abel replied with pride, "Of course, respected Mr. Napoleon. This time I have mobilized more than half of France's opium, and there will absolutely be no situation where soldiers do not have opium to smoke."
As Viscount Abel finished speaking, the other officers began to discuss the improvement in the army's combat effectiveness brought about by opium.
Young Dai was suddenly bewildered. Only after the officers had left did Young Dai, still looking perplexed, ask Napoleon, "Why? Why has it become like this?"
Napoleon, who had just recovered from the effects of the opium, smiled and shook his head, saying, "Why what? What is there to question?"
Young Dai's face darkened, and he said angrily, "You know what I'm asking. When you studied in the Great Ming, you should know that the Great Ming completely prohibits opium. Traffickers are executed along with their families, and smokers are beheaded."
"But now!" Young Dai pointed towards the direction where the officers had left, his gaze fixed on Napoleon. "Look, you are smoking opium, a large number of officers are smoking opium, and even ordinary soldiers are smoking it? Why has it become like this?"
Napoleon let out a cold laugh and retorted, "Is there a problem with this? Not only are we smoking opium, but those Rose Beefs on the other side are also smoking it, and they are smoking even more than we are!"
Young Dai tightly pursed his lips, his gaze still fixed on Napoleon, as if determined not to back down without an answer.
Helpless, Napoleon finally sighed and said, "Because opium is a divine medicine, because it allows people to forget pain, because many people rely on it to make money, and because... because it brings revenue to the French treasury."
Having received this answer, which was both expected and unexpected, Young Dai was somewhat stunned, even feeling as if his worldview had been shattered.
"Why is it like this?" Young Dai muttered foolishly. "Didn't His Majesty Louis say he wanted to fully introduce the Great Ming's systems? Why didn't he completely ban opium? Is it simply because opium can bring revenue to the treasury? But trade with the Great Ming is much more profitable, isn't it?"
Being asked this by Young Dai, Napoleon fell into silence. After a long while, he looked up at Young Dai and said, "Trade with the Great Ming is indeed very profitable, but do you know how difficult it is to earn this money? Do you know the great price we have to pay to purchase a cannon from the Great Ming?"
Seeing Young Dai shake his head foolishly, Napoleon smiled bitterly and said in a low voice, "Hundreds of laborers! Thousands of pieces of porcelain! Tens of thousands of shirts!"
"And this is for just one cannon!"
"If it were a steam locomotive, the price would be even higher!"
"Because our steam engines are not as advanced as those of the Great Ming, and our cannons are not as advanced as those of the Great Ming, we can only buy them. We can choose not to buy, but other countries will buy."
Young Dai asked foolishly, "Then why don't we develop it ourselves? Just like the Great Ming, invest heavily in research and development?"
Napoleon let out a cold laugh and retorted, "How do you know we haven't tried to develop it ourselves? But tell me, how can we bypass those damn patent restrictions?"
Before Young Dai could answer, Napoleon continued, "We have tried, but every time we attempt to catch up through research, the Great Ming always introduces more advanced steam engines and cannons. What we have painstakingly researched is already outdated before it is even produced."
"More importantly, other European countries will not give us the opportunity to catch up through research."
"The Habsburg family will not give us this opportunity, nor will those Rose Beefs in England, nor will the silly Eagle and the goose."
"If we develop it ourselves, these bastards will buy the most advanced firearms and cannons from the Great Ming, and we will not be able to maintain our current advantageous position. Just like now, the equipment of our French army is slightly more advanced than that of the English army, and vice versa."
Young Dai keenly grasped a loophole in Napoleon's words: "Are you saying that the English Rose Beefs are also developing their own weapons and firearms?"
Napoleon snorted coldly and said, "They're not developing anything! In fact, England is the one that consumes the most opium in Europe. Their opium problem is far more serious than that of France."
"It is precisely because of this that England imports far fewer firearms from the Great Ming than France. A large portion of the firearms in their army are flintlock guns produced in the past."
"If it weren't for the fact that England is still one of the five great powers in the world, not only would France have the strength to destroy it, but the Habsburg family could also completely eliminate those Rose Beefs."
Young Dai was somewhat bewildered, thinking that this didn't make sense either. If the Rose Beefs were so rotten, why would they dare to attack France? Was it truly because George III had gone mad?
Napoleon said, "The more important reason is actually not this. If it were simply because our research and development is inferior to the Great Ming, it wouldn't be a big deal, as French labor costs are cheap, and Kunlun slaves are even cheaper."
Young Dai suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
French labor costs are cheap?
Kunlun slaves are even cheaper?
If these are not valuable, what is?
While Young Dai was lost in thought, Napoleon continued, "The real reason for the rampant spread of opium in Europe is actually due to those noble lords and the Yi Ci Le Ye merchants."
"You know that opium can be grown and produced in many places on Earth, but do you know that the biggest sellers of opium are those Yi Ci Le Ye merchants?"
"And behind every Yi Ci Le Ye merchant are all sorts of disreputable noble lords."
"They support the Yi Ci Le Ye merchants in selling opium to reap huge profits. They use this money to build castles, buy maids, and keep mistresses and illegitimate children."
"Although His Majesty Louis has introduced the Great Ming's systems, the Great Ming's systems cannot solve all problems. At the very least, His Majesty Louis cannot kill all the French nobles and Yi Ci Le Ye merchants."
Young Dai remained silent, while also recalling the theory of free competition he had learned in the Great Ming and the art student from Austria.
After carefully considering, Young Dai tentatively asked, "Then, has His Majesty Louis considered other ways to eradicate opium?"
Napoleon sighed and shook his head, "How to eradicate it? Once one encounters this thing, it's hard to quit. I started using it because I wanted to prove that it could be overcome, and as you can see, this is my current state."
Speaking of this, Napoleon suddenly laughed at himself and looked at Young Dai, saying, "France is like a weak old tree right now. Those nobles and Yi Ci Le Ye lords are like woodworms on this tree. If we get rid of those nobles and Yi Ci Le Ye lords, France will perish. If we don't get rid of them, France will still perish, the only difference being sooner or later."
"His Majesty Louis once said that what he can do now is to try his best to support this old tree so that it doesn't collapse from the worms, but he cannot completely get rid of these worms."
"And this is precisely why His Majesty Louis sent you to the front line. Because you haven't been tainted by this substance yet, His Majesty Louis has high hopes for you, hoping that you can gradually find a solution to this problem by using the knowledge you learned in the Great Ming."
Young Dai was taken aback, then asked, still confused, "But didn't the Great Ming have this problem before? The Ming Emperor seemed to have solved this problem very easily?"
Napoleon smiled and shook his head again, retorting, "How did the Ming Emperor become emperor? How did His Majesty Louis become king? Do any of the Great Ming noble lords dare to defy the Ming Emperor's will? And do any of the French noble lords dare not to defy His Majesty Louis's orders?"
Young Dai was immediately silenced.
He had studied in the Great Ming for several years, especially majoring in governance, so Young Dai was not surprised by this situation.
Because the Ming Emperor's reign was earned through conquest, he held absolute power and did not rely on any nobles or officials. However, Louis XVI inherited the throne, and he had to rely on the support of French nobles and officials. And behind those Yi Ci Le Ye merchants selling opium were precisely these French nobles and officials.
Or, to put it more simply and directly: the Ming Emperor could represent the entire Great Ming, but Louis XVI could not represent the entire France. Louis XVI at most represented a part of the Bourbon family, and the only entity that could fully represent France was the nobles and officials led by the Bourbon family.
Coincidentally, Louis XVI was a member of the Bourbon family, but the Bourbon family was more than just Louis XVI.
Thinking of this, Young Dai became even more silent.
On the contrary, Napoleon's spirits seemed to lift, and he smiled as he comforted Young Dai, "Don't be discouraged. Problems can always be solved. Look, doesn't His Majesty Louis already control part of the army? If we can properly discipline those Rose Beefs this time, His Majesty Louis's authority will increase, and he will be able to solve more problems."