As the struggle in Paris was reaching its boiling point, Joseph decided to take a day off in Toulon. He brought his mother and all his siblings to Fort Malgrève for a day of fishing to celebrate the family reunion. A few days earlier, Napoleon had arranged for Louis to be brought to Paris from Toulon.
Since the last punishment meted out to Lucien, Joseph's standing among his brothers and sisters had considerably improved. However, he could sense a slight distance growing between them.
This was a common occurrence as the saying goes, "Those who are amiable need not be revered, and those to be feared cannot be made dear. To not inspire aversion is difficult, but to inspire affection is even more challenging." Being the eldest, Joseph understood that if he remained an object of fear in the eyes of his siblings, it could lead to resentment. To rebuild an image of himself as amiable and dear, Joseph decided to arrange this family gathering.
Of course, following Joseph's habit, this family gathering had its private motives. Therefore, though it was portrayed as a family get-together, it was documented in many places as a "technical experiment" to claim reimbursable expenses.
Naturally, the experiment's description couldn't be about fishing and grilling fish but had to be about "high-speed navigation of a high-speed communication ship at low speed, and related experiments to enhance maritime self-sufficiency."
By looking at the experiment's name, one could tell it would be conducted on this newly built, compact ship. Although it appeared rather short from a distance, it had two hulls, and a deck extended between them, making the deck quite spacious. From a bird's eye view, the ship's square deck even resembled a raft.
However, this ship was far from the cost of a raft. It was more expensive than even the larger "Black Pearl."
For instance, the connecting structures supporting the two large pontoons beneath the water's surface, all had to be cast in bronze to ensure durability and resistance to seawater corrosion. The cost of casting molds and creating these structures was significant. Additionally, the pontoons were constructed using lightweight wood, known as "lightwood," which had half the density of ordinary timber and excellent corrosion resistance. This wood provided substantial buoyancy.
Lightwood wasn't particularly rare, but it originated from South America, and the French didn't have significant stockpiles of it. Smugglers were involved in bringing it in from the Spanish. Even among the Spanish, it was uncommon to find unprocessed, well-dried lightwood. The unscrupulous smugglers sold it at prices even higher than Brazilian mahogany. Each pontoon was then coated with a layer of copper to reduce resistance, which added to the overall cost.
The ship's planks and materials were of the highest quality, regardless of the slight performance improvements they offered. Joseph didn't mind the cost; it wasn't his money, after all.
The entire family boarded the ship, unfurled the sails, and sped off like an arrow.
Napoleon asked, "How fast can this ship go?"
"Over fifteen knots," Joseph replied. "Faster than any other ship out there. No ship can catch us at sea. And this ship is relatively easy to handle. It only needs two people to control, or even just one. Besides, have you noticed? This ship may be small, but it's more stable than many larger ones."
As they talked, the ship sailed into the bay beneath Fort Malgrève. Lucien volunteered to help furl the sails and watched as the sailors dropped the anchor. Then, everyone took out their fishing rods and began fishing. It was, in essence, an "experiment to enhance maritime self-sufficiency."
Napoleon's thoughts weren't focused on fishing. He absentmindedly threaded a small herring on a hook and cast it into the sea. Then he turned to Joseph and said, "Joseph, something doesn't seem right in Paris lately."
Indeed, the situation in Paris was alarming. As per the information they had received, Robespierre had initially joined forces with Danton to eliminate the radical Jacobins like Hebert. Later, he turned against Danton, instituting a series of extreme economic policies that even surpassed the Hebertists' extremism.
"Something is amiss," Joseph agreed. "In theory, our 'Incorruptible' is close to his downfall. Napoleon, have you heard the saying, 'Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad'? Do you know why he's going mad?"
"Why?" Napoleon asked.
"Because he's run out of options," Joseph explained with a smile. "He eliminated Hebert, losing the support of the Enragés. Then he got rid of Danton, losing the backing of the merchants and industrialists. Now, he can only rely on terror to maintain his rule. So, he's gone mad out of necessity. He's surrounded by enemies everywhere, and if he shows the slightest sign of weakness, they'll pounce and tear him to pieces. With his current madness, he won't last long. But if he doesn't go mad now, he might not even survive today."
"Then why don't you go back to Paris?" Napoleon inquired.
Before Joseph could respond, Napoleon chuckled. "Ah, Joseph, I forgot, you're not me. If I were in your place, I'd go back at a time like this. You, on the other hand, avoid risks at all costs."
"It's not the right time to return yet," Joseph replied. "It's not about taking risks or not; it's about risks outweighing the rewards. Napoleon, first, we must admit that Robespierre is indeed a formidable character. I assume you wouldn't disagree with that?"
Napoleon stayed silent.
"Formidable characters are formidable because they excel at utilizing their limited resources to achieve extraordinary results," Joseph continued. "Robespierre's current madness is fueled by his lack of economic resources to support his policies. His actions are driven by a desperate attempt to appease the lower classes, but his policies are unsustainable, meaning he'll soon face economic resource depletion. Without funds, it's like not being able to solve a math problem; it's impossible. He'll inevitably take massive risks before his financial support collapses and attempt another round of purges. If he succeeds, the resources gained will sustain him for a while longer. So, going back to Paris at this moment carries significant risks."
"What about the rewards?" Napoleon asked.
"Don't you see?" Joseph raised an eyebrow. "If you return to Paris now, could you become the most prominent figure in overturning him? Do you have enough resources to control the government in turmoil? You don't. So, why rush back? Napoleon, do you remember what I told you? We don't need to take sides. True powerful people never need to take sides because wherever they stand, that's where the party is. The 'Incorruptible' has reached a dead end. But is there anyone remarkable who can replace him?"
"Ha," Napoleon laughed, revealing his clear stance.
"In that case, don't hurry," Joseph said. "Even if Robespierre wins, he won't be able to manage the current situation. We just need to wait until France needs a real hero."
"Alright," Napoleon said. "But what if Robespierre is defeated?"
"Then we should join the victors," Joseph replied with a smile. "In that case, you'll be able to gain wealth and influence. The key is to be opportunistic without taking unnecessary risks. For now, let's catch some fish. We might need them for our 'maritime self-sufficiency' experiment. I heard that food prices in Paris are on the rise. It's wise to be prepared."
While Joseph and Napoleon discussed the situation in Paris, they continued to fish with their family in the tranquil waters of Fort Malgrève. With every catch they made, they celebrated, laughed, and enjoyed their time together, seemingly unaffected by the political turmoil brewing in the capital.