Chapter 350 Leaving Japan
July 12th, 1821.
Aboard the French Pacific Fleet's flagship, the IFNS Napoleon, stood Francis, his eyes scanning the expansive horizon. The shores of Edo were bustling with activity, crowded with thousands of its citizens who had gathered to witness the fleet's departure.
There was a palpable mix of emotions in the air—apprehension intertwined with a sigh of relief. The French Pacific Fleet had, after all, played a pivotal role in altering the course of their nation's history, having once wreaked havoc upon their capital for refusing to yield to the French demands. The scars of the past were still fresh in the minds of many.
Yet, amid the remnants of bygone chaos, there was an emerging sense of optimism. A portion of the populace was ready to turn the page, eager to embrace the potential of a new era and leave behind the shadows of the conflict.
"In ten minutes, there will be cannonades to salute our departure," announced Captain Waldeck, approaching Francis with measured steps.
Francis nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes never leaving the horizon as he contemplated Captain Waldeck's words. "Make sure everything is in order. We leave no room for error today. Let's show to these uncivilized nations the iota of civilization and order we represent," Francis stated, his tone firm yet composed.
Captain Waldeck straightened up, his posture exuding confidence. "Understood, sir. The crew is well-prepared, and we have gone through the procedures multiple times. Everything will proceed as planned," he assured Francis, demonstrating his commitment to the task at hand.
As the minutes ticked away, the atmosphere on the deck grew more intense. The crew moved, ensuring that every detail was attended to. The cannons were loaded, and the sailors took their positions, ready for the command to fire.
"Your Imperial Highness, we shall return to the bridge deck. It'll be dangerous to stay on the deck once the cannons start firing," Captain Waldeck advised, gesturing toward the safer area of the ship.
Francis gave a curt nod, understanding the necessity of the situation. He turned to leave the deck, his steps steady as he made his way to the bridge. The sailors continued their preparations, moving with a sense of urgency as the time for the cannonade drew near.
Once safely on the bridge, Francis resumed his position, looking out over the ship and the distant shores of Edo. Captain Waldeck joined him, standing at attention as he awaited Francis's command. "All is ready, Your Imperial Highness. We await your order," he reported, his voice steady.
Francis took a deep breath, his gaze lingering on the shores of Edo one last time before turning to Captain Waldeck.
"Proceed," he ordered.
At his command, the cannons roared to life, sending a powerful salute across the waters. The sound was deafening, and the ship vibrated with the force of the cannonade. On the shores of Edo, the crowd reacted, some in awe and others in fear, as they witnessed the might of the French Pacific Fleet.
Some even panicked, running amok as the memories of the conflict haunted them. The French cannons are ten or twenty times stronger than their strongest, so it's an obvious natural reaction. But, as seconds flew by, they got confused.
There were no explosions erupting on the shores even the French Pacific Fleet continued to fire their batteries.
Little did they know, the French used a blank cartridge for the salute, creating a loud and impressive display without causing any physical damage. Of course, the high-ranking officials of the Japanese government were informed that they were going to conduct a cannonade that would signal the leave of their sovereign waters. But it seemed that news didn't spread as quickly as he had expected.
Possibly Francis was accustomed to the quick dissemination of information due to the advent of newspapers, radios, and televisions.
The cannonades lasted for over ten minutes. Once it's finished, the fleet begins its departure, leaving the Edo Bay.
The Japanese heaved a sigh of relief. At last, the foreigners are gone and things will return back to normal.
The locals began sharing their opinions about the French.
"They looked completely different from us," one of the locals commented.
"Yeah, they are tall, have blue eyes, broad body…," another chimed in, expressing their fascination and curiosity about the physical characteristics of the French.
"And their ships, they were massive! I've never seen anything like it," a third person added, reflecting on the grandeur of the French fleet. As the crowd continued to discuss and share their impressions, it was clear that the French presence had left a lasting impact on the people of Edo. They had witnessed a display of power and technological advancement that was foreign to them, and it had sparked a mixture of awe, fear, and curiosity.
"But aren't Westerners called barbarians by the Shogunate?"
"Do you honestly still believe in that?" one of the locals retorted. "More like we are barbarians or worse, insects to them.
"Indeed," a fourth person chimed in, "It's hard to believe that those 'barbarians' could be so advanced. Maybe we've been wrong about them all along."
Meanwhile, back on the IFNS Napoleon, the crew was busy securing the ship and preparing for the long journey back to France. The successful execution of the cannonade and the smooth departure from Edo Bay had boosted morale, and there was a sense of satisfaction and pride in the air.
"The journey back to Paris should be a smooth one. Since we are using the Suez Canal, from Edo to Toulon, with a speed of fifteen knots, we can reach France within twenty-six days," Francis mused.
"Well, Your Imperial Highness, there'll be a slight delay on that," Captain Waldeck said, rubbing the back of his neck slightly. We have received a letter from Paris, Hexagon. It's for your eyes only, Your Imperial Highness."
"Really?" Francis raised a brow, wondering what that was. "Give me the letter," he instructed, extending his hand to receive the correspondence.
Captain Waldeck promptly handed over a sealed envelope bearing the official insignia of the French Empire. Francis carefully broke the seal and unfolded the letter, his eyes scanning the contents quickly.
After a few moments, he looked up from the letter, his gaze meeting Captain Waldeck's. "It seems there's one person who wouldn't be pleased to hear this news."
***
While Francis was walking down the corridor, he ran into Daphne, her maids, Elise and Maria trailing behind her.
They stopped and the two maids promptly performed a curtsy.
"Brother, I was looking for you," Daphne said. "It's good that we are returning to France. I can't wait to go home. The battleship may be all-powerful but the comfort is just…ugh…"
"Unfortunately, there's a place we have to stop before returning to France," Francis revealed.
"Ehh? Where is it?"
"India," Francis answered.