Chapter 143: Special Tactical Training Camp (1)
Joseph handed Lucien a set of documents outlining weapon development plans. These weapons were not just abstract ideas; they came complete with detailed blueprints. Lucien couldn't believe that Joseph had come up with all of this in just a little over a morning, right after seeing Lucien's plans. He knew that it was impossible for Joseph to create so much in such a short time, even if he were to resurrect da Vinci from the depths of the earth.
So, the appearance of this document folder meant only one thing: his brother had been preparing for this for quite some time.
However, Lucien overestimated Joseph in some ways. These designs were mostly adaptations of future concepts, and the relevant blueprints had already been drawn. They were merely waiting to be put into practical use. Lucien's suggestions prompted Joseph to dig them out to impress Lucien.
Among these designs, the first to align with Lucien's vision was the revolver.
In this era, handguns were flintlock pistols, which shared the same loading difficulties as muskets. Loading a flintlock pistol was a time-consuming process, and after firing a shot, it might take over a minute to reload. Handguns had limited range, and in a real combat situation, there was no time to reload.
Compared to rifles, handguns were less accurate due to their grip style. Since they could only fire one bullet at a time, many people believed that a swift sword was more useful in combat. Even those who intended to use handguns typically carried two of them, just like Carnot's two friends.
Therefore, a firearm capable of firing multiple shots was a game-changer. Imagine holding a revolver and firing a shot at someone, missing the target. The enemy would assume you were out of bullets, exposing themselves with a malicious grin, and that's when you'd fire again. In an urban setting, a few individuals carrying two revolvers each could easily cause mayhem.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
Furthermore, revolvers had a relatively simple design and could be manufactured even with the technology of the time. Unfortunately, metallic cartridges were still under development and couldn't be used yet. Joseph had no intention of immediately introducing them, as he planned to release an older version first, let people buy it, and then unveil a new model for more profit.
So, the first version of Joseph's revolver still required the traditional loading process with priming, pouring gunpowder, and loading the bullets, which was painstakingly slow after firing six rounds.
Joseph, although rather unscrupulous, was highly efficient. He wrote the letter that evening, and the next morning, Lucien took the letter and, accompanied by two assistants, boarded a carriage headed to Paris.
When Lucien arrived in Paris, it was already evening. He didn't go to Joseph's residence in Paris since the original owner of the house had met the guillotine during the Reign of Terror. Joseph had acquired the property at a relatively low price from the government. Instead, Lucien went directly to Carnot's house, a place he knew well.
Upon arriving at Carnot's house, it was nearly dinnertime, which was an opportune moment to enjoy a free meal. Lucien got out of the carriage and knocked on the door.
...
A day later, Carnot handed a list to Lucien, saying, "Lucien, this is a list of police personnel who were expelled from the Paris police force after the events of Thermidor. I suggest you pay particular attention to a few of them. First, there's Javert, the former police chief. He's highly capable and has thwarted numerous royalist conspiracies, earning the enmity of royalists. After the Thermidorian Reaction, some of his colleagues accused him of being a Jacobin, leading to his dismissal. He has a son and a daughter and used to live at 25 Peacock Street.
Next is Maniere, similar to Javert, he's an excellent detective. However, he was wounded in one operation against speculators, leaving him crippled. You know that being injured in an operation against businessmen is no longer an honor. He's in a worse position than Javert, as he's disabled. He's currently living in an unknown place. But the name on the list, Henry Durand, is his friend. You can contact Maniere through him. Henry Durand resides at 45 Bernard Street."
Carnot continued, introducing a few more individuals from the list, and he also expressed his concerns about the current state of Paris. Lucien learned that Paris was teetering on the edge of chaos, with the republicans and royalists constantly butting heads.
After dinner, Lucien left Carnot's house, determined to find Javert and Maniere. They seemed to be suitable candidates for Joseph's plans, but finding Maniere, who was without a fixed residence, might prove challenging.
As Lucien walked through the dimly lit streets of Paris, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. The city was a powder keg, and any spark could set it off. Lucien had a nagging feeling that his visit to Paris was not just for recruiting new talent; it might lead him into a situation much more dangerous than he anticipated.
