He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 159

(159) Spain Sells Florida for Aluminum Coins

In times of upheaval at the end of a century, even in collapsing nations, young people can rise to prominence.

“Why has France sent another envoy? The armistice has already concluded.”

A fresh-faced young man sat arrogantly in the Chief Secretary’s office of the Royal Palace in Madrid.

He was currently 29 years old.

Having risen to power four years ago with the favor of King Carlos IV, he was truly a model of rapid advancement.

However, unlike his dignified and arrogant demeanor, he was quite vulnerable inside.

Especially to the eyes of Talleyrand, the 42-year-old former bishop and revolutionary, it was all too clear.

This was in stark contrast to the prominent young politicians like Pitt and Fox whom he had dealt with in London.

Even as a young man, Pitt had such a brilliant presence, Talleyrand recalled.

Perhaps this was the difference between a nation on the rise and one in decline.

Of course, Talleyrand hadn’t come to assess Godoy’s reputation, so he simply smiled politely and gracefully.

“I am here to bring true peace to the Chancellor of Madrid.”

“Peace? What do you mean? Our King has already ratified the agreement. Isn’t it just waiting for final approval from Paris?”

“Not quite. The war is not yet over.”

Talleyrand gazed at the [globe] in the corner of the Chancellor’s residence.

“Far away, across the Atlantic, in the New World, the war still rages on.”

Once a nation that dominated the Age of Exploration, Spain.

Though the dynasty had changed and its golden age was over, most of the New World was still, in effect, Spanish territory.

From the perspective of modern history, it was as if the entire Central and South American continent, except for Brazil, was Mexican territory.

However, the West Indies were a slightly different story.

Spain in Cuba, Britain in Jamaica, and France in Hispaniola were vying for dominance.

But the relationship between Britain and Spain, once allies, had changed.

This was since Spain withdrew from the anti-French coalition.

“Britain is attacking French colonies, and now even Spanish ones.”

“N-not a full-scale war. Just raids.”

“They are already advancing to seize the entire island of Hispaniola. Not just the western part occupied by France.”

Talleyrand, the envoy sent by the French Directory, smiled subtly.

“If that island falls into British hands, Cuba will soon become British territory as well. Furthermore, the entire [Nueva España, meaning New Spain, the historical name for the Spanish colonial territories in North and Central America] will fall under the dominion of the British Navy.”

Godoy shuddered.

In truth, Talleyrand’s words were exaggerated, but there was a grain of truth in them.

Currently, Britain had dispatched 10 ships of the line and 30 frigates to seize control of the West Indies.

But with the situation in continental Europe reversed, Britain was likely to try to make up for the war situation in the New World.

However, Spain currently had neither the national power, nor the fleet, nor the admirals to fight Britain.

Trembling, Godoy asked back.

“So, what are you suggesting? That we ally with France and wage a full-scale war against Britain? That’s insane!”

Talleyrand exploited this fear.

“Spain does not need to fight directly.”

“What? Then? Is France going to fight on our behalf?”

“Yes. Instead, we need a base to fight Britain in North America.”

Eventually, the flustered young Chancellor Godoy stood up abruptly.

“Where? If we can avoid war, we’ll give you anywhere! The eastern part of Hispaniola? Or part of Cuba?”

At that moment, Talleyrand unfolded a map on the desk.

-Thwack!

Talleyrand’s hand pointed to the southeastern tip of the North American continent on one side of the map.

“Here.”

Godoy frowned as he stared at the map.

“Florida? That’s too big.”

“Chancellor, think again. This place was British territory just over a decade ago. The British Navy can invade again at any time.”

“B-but, the American Federation is to the north, isn’t it? Surely Britain won’t occupy the continent again…”

Just as Godoy was averting his gaze, Talleyrand urged him gracefully.

“Look closely at the map. The northern part of North America is still British territory. Will greedy Britain give up the New World? Moreover, Spain is currently at war with Britain.”

The Canada of modern history was still a British colony.

In the heart of the West Indies, the islands of Jamaica and the Bahamas, southeast of Florida, were also British territories.

If Britain was determined, the possibility of them trying to occupy the Florida coast was high.

In fact, they had occupied it during the Seven Years’ War.

Spain had only regained Florida during the American Revolutionary War.

It was by no means a firm grip.

Talleyrand threw one last bait to Godoy, who was still hesitating.

“We are not asking for it for free.”

“Hmm? Then somewhere land?”

“No. But we will give you something more valuable than land.”

Talleyrand gestured behind him.

Pushing through the servants, Armand Ganet, Eugene’s messenger who had followed Talleyrand, brought a light sack.

Just as Godoy was blinking, Talleyrand announced.

“In Milan, Mombello, France’s top chemist, Lavoisier, announced it. The metal of the gods, aluminum coins.”

The very thing that Danton had admired upon seeing.

The metal of the gods, which had never existed in the world, recognized by the Vatican.

White aluminum coins poured out.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

Godoy was mesmerized by the light of the dazzling aluminum coins.

***

Of course, Godoy was only the Chief Secretary to the King, not the decision-maker.

“To give away our territory, does that make any sense? Duke of Sueca!”

Queen Maria Luisa of Parma exclaimed.

Originally a member of a cadet branch of the Bourbon family, her mother was also a princess of Louis XV.

Also, instead of King Carlos IV, who was uninterested in politics and still yawning, she was the decision-maker who actually ran the state.

Perhaps that was why she looked as old as an old woman, despite being 46 years old.

Of course, Godoy helped her make those decisions, and that was also how Godoy had seized power.

The young Chancellor, Godoy, smiled softly and soothed the Queen.

“It makes sense, Your Majesty.”

“Why? Explain. Even for you, this matter needs to be reconsidered! None of the ministers or dukes will be convinced!”

“Because Britain is after that place.”

Godoy, standing in the King’s audience chamber, pointed behind him.

“Here, the French envoy Talleyrand has conveyed. Britain is currently aiming for the entire West Indies and is also trying to gain an advantage in negotiations with France through this.”

In an extremely elegant manner, Talleyrand stepped forward.

“That is the truth, Your Majesty.”

Maria Luisa glared at Talleyrand.

As a granddaughter of Louis XV, Queen Luisa was also negative about the revolution.

Above all, Talleyrand was one of the leaders of the early revolutionaries who had ousted the King.

Even if she was not particularly knowledgeable about the political situation, the Spanish Queen clearly knew that.

“Aren’t you a man sent by the French rebels? How can we trust you?”

“You can trust me, Your Majesty. Because originally, I am an envoy sent by British Prime Minister Pitt.”

“What?”

Talleyrand smiled and explained.

“Pitt originally tried to conclude a peace agreement with Paris through me. In return, he tried to hand over the entire Hispaniola, including Saint-Domingue, to France.”

This was not a lie.

Pitt was thinking of exchanging the Netherlands for the island of Hispaniola.

The problem was that the island of Hispaniola was not British territory.

The west was the French colony of Saint-Domingue, and the east was the Spanish colony.

Of course, those who dominated the sea area, the so-called [Caribbean] Sea, were the British fleet.

Nevertheless, the fact that there was a risk of losing Hispaniola surprised the King and Queen.

Godoy, who read the King’s mind, did not miss this opportunity.

“Remember, Your Majesty. The Nootka Crisis! The British will attack us at any time and aim for hegemony in the New World. Even now, the British Navy is indiscriminately ambushing our navy in the West Indies! Perhaps, even Cuba is in danger!”

Nootka, a place in the northern part of the west coast of North America.

In modern history, it is an island right in front of Vancouver.

In 1789, the year the French Revolution broke out, Spain and Britain clashed here.

It was an incident in which Spanish ships moving north from present-day California and British ships advancing west from eastern Canada fought.

This incident ended with Spain withdrawing entirely.

It was truly an incident that took place on the opposite side of the world, but the shock to the Spanish royal family was enormous.

And that incident might happen again on the island of Cuba, which Spain had historically occupied?

In fact, Cuba had once been taken by Britain during the Seven Years’ War.

At that time, Spain regained Cuba after giving [Florida] to Britain.

In short, Cuba was more important to Spain than Florida.

Britain virtually regarded Hispaniola, right in front of Cuba, as their own?

If France gave up the West Indies, Britain would advance even more aggressively.

Cuba could be in danger again.

The Queen, gritting her teeth, asked.

“Then, what is the price? Perhaps Tuscany?”

Just as the Queen was thinking that she should receive at least Tuscany, Talleyrand brought the sack of silver coins.

“This is it, Your Majesty. A new silver blessed by His Holiness the Pope, called [Aluminum].”

The Queen, who was about to become furious, stopped.

The King, who had been yawning, also opened his eyes wide.

A white metal that resembled silver but emitted a completely different luster.

The King jumped up and shouted.

“Five million! With that, I will give Florida!”

With this, the negotiation was concluded.

***

In total, 5 million aluminum coins, roughly 50 million francs in silver coins, were paid as compensation.

-〈Agreement concluded successfully.〉

In late September 1796, a very concise letter arrived at Eugene’s residence in Mombello.

“Wow, you really bought something amazing with aluminum, Eugene!”

Ippolito exclaimed excitedly.

Eugene also smiled as he looked at the letter he had received.

In fact, he did not expect the deal to be concluded in less than a month.

However, the French Directory would have had no choice.

The Florida acquisition agreement had to be announced before the election.

At that time, Lan, who had come to play in Eugene’s room, tilted his head and asked.

“It doesn’t feel real since it’s not land right in front of us. But, I have a question, Freischütz [a reference to a German opera about a marksman who makes a deal with the devil]?”

“What is it, Lan?”

“How are you going to protect this land? Both the United States and Britain will be aiming for it, and our navy can’t cross the Atlantic properly. Is there a way?”

Among Napoleon’s generals, three are considered to have strategic insight.

Massena, Davout, and Lan.

Excluding Davout, whom Eugene had never met as he was still in the Flanders Army, Massena and Lan were by far the leaders.

Lan, who strategically viewed the battlefield, immediately grasped that Florida was difficult to defend.

Eugene nodded, then shook his head again.

“This is essential for France to re-enter the New World.”

“I know that, okay?”

“Furthermore, there are few natives. Most of them live inland, and it is easy to settle on the coast. If it is people living in the West Indies.”

Eugene looked at the map on the desk.

He had something in mind.

Eugene’s hand pointed to Hispaniola, the western colony of Saint-Domingue.

“However, we have two groups of potential immigrants. One is the blacks in Saint-Domingue.”

“Hmm? Ah. Were there about 400,000 there?”

“The other is the royalist farmers, including those in the Vendée.”

Just as Lan and Ippolito were startled, Eugene twisted his lips.

“Yes. We are relocating the royalists who are destabilizing the country to the New World en masse. Of course, there is a prerequisite.”

Lan, a soldier who was strategic but not political, blinked and nodded.

“We need to establish diplomatic relations with Britain.”

Of course, it was not as easy as it sounded.

Rather, it might be more difficult than negotiating with Spain to buy Florida.

However, Eugene had something to rely on.

“Yes. It’s the point where Baring’s Bank becomes necessary.”

In September 1796, nominal ownership of Florida passed to France.

Now is the time to turn the nominal into reality.