He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 163

(163) 1797: The Revolutionary Government Remains Unstable

January 1797: France greets the new year with victory.

“What is going on? We won the election!”

However, Danton, the former Director of the revolutionary government, is fuming in his home.

As the title ‘former Director’ suggests, Danton failed to be selected as one of the five Directors.

In fact, no one *has* been selected for the five-person Directorate.

This is because the newly formed Republic’s lower house, the Council of Five Hundred, is at a standstill.

Danton’s faction members, Fabre d’Églantine, Hérault de Séchelles, and Pierre Philippeaux, nodded, complaining to each other.

“It’s not just the election we won. We’ve also won in wars, with new ‘Nouvelle Frances’ [New Frances] emerging in Italy, Flanders, and even the New World. Nouvelle France isn’t even a satellite republic; it’s our colony!”

“Didn’t we also discover a new resource called aluminum or something?”

“That’s all owned by ‘young’ Bonaparte’s [Italian Bank]. Don’t you know that the money used to buy Florida was also a loan from the Italian Bank?”

At that moment, Danton slammed his desk and shouted.

“Despite all this, I’m the *only* one who can’t get elected as Director? How can this be! How many royalists are there anyway?”

Danton’s anger is easily explained.

The current French Republic government consists of the Council of Ancients (Senate), the Council of Five Hundred (lower house), and five Directors with their ministers.

The Council of Five Hundred is the core, while the Council of Ancients only has the power to reject what the Council of Five Hundred decides.

The five Directors, who serve as the heads of government, are also elected by the Council of Five Hundred through voting.

The election held at the end of September 1796 was precisely for this Council of Five Hundred.

The election was clearly advantageous for Danton.

Why?

As D’Églantine said, Danton’s government had achieved remarkable external successes.

Nevertheless, three months have passed, and a new Director has yet to be elected.

Séchelles wiped his sweat and explained.

“Currently, the so-called [Royalists] number only about 90.”

“What? Then we *did* win! Indeed, Florida was the answer!”

“However, the old Girondin faction led by Brissot numbers approximately 110.”

Philippeaux chimed in cautiously.

“And the Feuillant faction has about 75 members.”

To be precise, the Royalists, who call themselves [Orthodox], number 87, and the old Girondins, who moved their location to the Clichy Club and are called the [Clichy Club], number 113.

Originally, in the original history, the leaders of the Royalists and the Clichy Club were mostly executed during the Reign of Terror.

However, many survived as Danton, who hated blood, came to power.

Of course, Danton had no intention of giving them power, so they had been marginalized.

But as a result, a whopping 200 anti-Jacobins were elected in this election.

In addition, Lafayette’s Feuillant faction, which was originally a supporter of a constitutional monarchy, still exists.

With over half, 275 members, being anti-Danton, the situation is dire.

Danton frowned and asked D’Églantine, his confidant who manages his faction.

“How many Jacobins are there?”

“They’re the rest, but as you know, Auguste and Saliceti act separately. About 40 people follow them.”

“What about Desmoulins?”

D’Églantine rolled his eyes and reported.

“About 50 people from the old Mountain faction follow Desmoulins.”

That leaves 135 people.

This is the number of Danton’s faction.

In fact, when you think about it, it’s the largest number as a single political force.

However, it falls far short of the majority, which is 250 seats.

Moreover, the existing Directors, whom they want to push out at this opportunity, also have a considerable stake.

Above all, the real problem lies elsewhere.

Danton looked down at the documents on his desk and asked.

“Who is the leader of the Royalists? Barthélemy?”

“He’s just a figurehead. The real one is Vincent de Vaublanc. He opposes the abolition of slavery, has a strong antipathy towards the Jacobins, and advocates for the return of ‘Louis XVII’.”

“Louis XVII? A non-existent king. The Count of Provence, perhaps?”

In fact, in the original history, Louis XVII refers to Louis Charles, Marie Thérèse’s younger brother.

However, the current Louis Charles is not recognized by royalists at home and abroad.

This is because Eugene made Louis Charles an illegitimate child to save Queen Antoinette.

So, the one who currently claims to be King Louis XVII is the Count of Provence, Louis XVI’s first younger brother.

He is also the heir to the throne revered by royalist leaders, including Vaublanc.

However, the real dangerous power holder in France is not the Count of Provence.

Danton lowered his voice and asked again.

“What about signs of collusion with the [King of Italy]?”

Danton’s statement was wrong in two ways.

First, Italy is a non-existent country.

Second, of course, there is no king.

However, D’Églantine, Séchelles, and Philippeaux quickly understood who Danton was referring to.

They were just puzzled by Danton’s other remark.

D’Églantine shook his head and replied.

“The Royalists colluding with him? That’s unlikely.”

“Have you forgotten? Lafayette was also a former constitutional monarchist. And who is Bonaparte’s adopted son? Isn’t it Eugene Freischütz? Isn’t he a financier raised by Lafayette?”

“Well, was he? Anyway, they hardly contact each other these days. There doesn’t seem to be any particular connection.”

He’s talking about Napoleon Bonaparte.

Danton and the other council members no longer care about the Royalists.

The real person they need to worry about is Bonaparte, the commander of the Italian army.

Bonaparte brought the revolutionary government’s finances and Florida, which was the winning factor in this election.

Above all, isn’t he the most powerful military commander in the Republic right now?

Danton nodded.

“Hmph, then we should use him in reverse. Anyway, Auguste and Saliceti will follow Bonaparte’s will. Send a letter to Eugene Freischütz, asking him to come to Paris.”

Danton tapped his thick cheeks and nodded.

“For now, the excuse is to discuss the follow-up processing of Florida. In reality, it will be a meeting to discuss the next Director election.”

The Directorate still hasn’t appointed a Director.

Again, Paris’s hand begins to reach out to the Bonaparte family.

***

There is also a leader of the shadows in Paris who values influence behind the scenes more than surface power.

“General Moreau, thank you for your hard work. I *should* hold a triumphal parade in Paris, but I’m sorry I couldn’t.”

Unlike a leader of the shadows, Lafayette greeted Moreau in a bright mansion.

In France, there were so-called three great generals.

Hoche of Flanders, Moreau of the Rhine, and Napoleon of Italy.

Among the three, Moreau had achieved relatively the least distinguished merit.

However, if Moreau had not defended France in the Rhine, Napoleon and Hoche would not have been able to achieve their accomplishments.

In a sense, Moreau was the one who completed the revolutionary army’s highest mission of national defense.

Nevertheless, Moreau simply saluted Lafayette with a stiff face.

“I am grateful that Director Lafayette, the hero of Valmy, welcomes me. I learned a lot under the General.”

“The General is the hero who recaptured Mainz, isn’t he? The General should be active in bigger waters.”

“Bigger waters? What do you mean? Wasn’t the war over?”

Lafayette shook his head and handed him a letter.

“Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Britain has only made a temporary truce with us. And that’s only for about a year. It’s an agreement that can be broken at any time.”

Moreau, who received the letter, tilted his head.

“What is this?”

“It’s a letter from the brothers of [Éire] [Ireland]. They are under British oppression, but the letter itself is also written in English. It’s a sad thing.”

“Éire? Isn’t that an island occupied by Britain? I knew that the British royal family had ruled that island for over 700 years.”

Éire, that is, [Ireland].

Since Henry II first conquered Ireland in the 12th century, it has been under British rule for over 700 years.

However, unlike England, where Anglo-Saxons mainly live, Éire is home to Celts.

Furthermore, after the so-called Reformation, Éire was divided into Catholicism, and England into Anglicanism.

Lafayette pointed this out.

“That’s not true. It was virtually an autonomous territory, and strict rule began less than two centuries ago. Furthermore, the denomination is Catholic like us, so they hate British rule very much.”

Moreau twisted his head.

In fact, he looks like a textbook soldier now, but Moreau was famous as a troublemaker during his school days.

Even during the revolution, he was a passionate young man who led students to revolt.

In short, he didn’t study hard.

He doesn’t know history well, but he knows even less English, so Moreau waited for Lafayette’s words.

Indeed, Lafayette, a self-proclaimed American enthusiast, briefly explained the contents of the letter.

“A place called the [Irish] United Association in this Éire has sent me a letter asking for help.”

“To Director General? Why did they send it to you, not the government?”

“Because the leadership of the Irish United Association are Freemasons.”

At that moment, Moreau, who didn’t study well but was bright about the current situation, frowned.

“Are you still leading the Freemasons? Your Excellency, now you should leave such shady organizations and work as a politician.”

In 1789, about eight years before the revolution, Freemasonry was a kind of fad.

Anyway, the Duke of Orléans, one of the royal family, was the representative of the Freemasons.

But Moreau did not get caught up in such a fad and devoted himself to the military and steadily followed his path.

Besides, an organization that secretly gathers and plots to overthrow the government seems too much like a conspiracy group, doesn’t it?

It would be understandable if the royal family was suppressing the republicans in the past.

Now the revolution has already won, and Lafayette is a former Director.

The fact that he is still a high-ranking Freemason could potentially become a scandal.

Then Lafayette smiled slightly as he looked at Moreau, who was worried about him.

“At Valmy, the General was very brave. He made amazing achievements.”

“It’s thanks to Your Excellency’s excellent leadership. I was able to become a commander with my achievements at that time.”

“But, do you know this? The reason I was able to win at Valmy was because I was able to obtain information about the enemy’s positions and strategies in advance.”

Just as Moreau narrowed his eyes with a strange feeling, Lafayette delivered an amazing story.

“It was thanks to the help of Austrian Freemason underground members.”

Valmy, originally a battle in which the traitor Dumouriez wins in the original history.

However, after Eugene intervened in the Massacre of the Champ de Mars, history changed.

Lafayette, who should have been dismissed, commanded the Valmy battlefield and won the battle magnificently.

But the winning factor in that battle was also different from the original history.

It was thanks to the intelligence of the Austrian Freemason members.

Just as the French Bourbon family did, the Austrian Habsburg family also suppressed the Freemasons.

As an organization that started in England, it spread the Enlightenment and advocated for the abolition or reform of the monarchy.

Those suppressed Freemason members helped Lafayette.

However, conversely, it means that Freemason members value the organization more than national interests.

Moreau frowned.

Right now, the Freemason members in Ireland are reaching out to members in France rather than Britain, aren’t they?

Lafayette, unaware of Moreau’s thoughts, calmly said.

“I believe that the pan-European organization of Freemasons will help complete the revolution. Furthermore, it will also benefit France.”

“Director General. This is dangerous.”

“Look at the reality rather than the danger! The revolutionary comrades of Éire are being trampled under the feet of Britain. I want to help this. To do that, I have to win this Director election.”

At that moment, Lafayette grabbed Moreau’s hand.

“Won’t you help me, since you have a strong influence on the Rhine Army?”

This was the real reason why Moreau was called to Paris.

Even if his achievements are the weakest, he is Moreau, who served as the commander of the Rhine Army.

Among the revolutionary soldiers, the largest number fought in the Rhine.

Even with a simple calculation, at least 300,000 voters were under Moreau’s command.

Also, when problems arise in the military, Moreau’s influence will be a strong force.

But Moreau shook his head.

“I’m sorry, [General]. I have no intention of getting involved in politics as a soldier. However, I will cheer you on from afar.”

In the end, Lafayette had to let Moreau go without holding his hand.

It was when Lafayette was sipping coffee alone.

The door opened, and another person entered the reception room.

It was Brissot, the leader of the moderate republican faction in the parliament, the old Girondins or the current Clichy faction.

Brissot, a member who is also a supporter of Toussaint as an abolitionist, clicked his tongue.

“It’s a pity, Director. If we had brought Moreau into our faction, things would have been easier.”

In short, the Feuillant faction and the old Girondin faction have decided to unite.

However, they alone do not have a majority in parliament or the support of the military.

That’s why they tried to bring in Moreau, but it ended in failure like this.

Lafayette quietly rolled his coffee cup and asked.

“Congressman Brissot, the Royalists have been contacting you, haven’t they?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Well, I’m refusing. Those friends are not constitutional monarchists, but want to bring back the old monarchy.”

“Try to find out if they are contacting the military. Since they have become a minority, they may use emergency measures.”

The Royalists, the opponents of all revolutionary supporters.

Originally, a dangerous force that was almost certain to have a majority in the last election.

But as Florida was embraced by France, the Royalists’ dreams collapsed.

Hardliners who have become a minority are always dangerous.

Above all, Lafayette knows dangerous information that he only told Eugene.

It’s a sign of a coup.

Suddenly, Lafayette sighed.

“Since Moreau refused like this, do I have to rely on Bonaparte after all? That’s even more dangerous.”

Nevertheless, Lafayette could no longer see any other way.

***

All of this is the work of the [High-ranking people].

“Well, General Moreau rejected our Lafayette master and went out into the world, didn’t he?”

But if high-ranking people want to do elegant, grand, and great things, there is a prerequisite.

Someone has to support their lives.

For example, everything from the dinner Danton ate, the coffee Lafayette drank, to the carriage Moreau rode in was made by someone’s labor.

The manpower that supports that labor is usually called servants.

A young man who was flirting with Melia, a maid of the Lafayette family, smiled brightly.

“Hmm, I see. Melia, by the way, can we be together today?”

“Okay. Oh, I have to go in. There’s something the head maid told me to do today.”

“That’s a pity. Hehe, let’s meet here tomorrow night!”

The young man, Vidocq, saw off Melia, who disappeared with regret.

This place is a famous cafe in Paris, Boarneh.

It is a cafe located on the first floor of Boarneh Bank de Paris, which Eugene created for meetings.

However, after Eugene left for the Italian expedition, the cafe was also open to the public.

It has become a famous place where Parisians often gather.

Suddenly, a young man wearing a hat sat in front of Vidocq.

It is Rochejacquelein, the nominal head of Surété [security force].

“That’s amazing. I’ve already seen you come to Paris for the fifth time.”

“What’s so amazing about this? When I was in my hometown, I brought all the village women to bed once.”

“T, that’s not a, amazing, but, isn’t it adultery? Maybe?”

Rochejacquelein and Vidocq were dispatched to Paris by Eugene’s order.

When he first came, Rochejacquelein was very confused.

Although he can receive help from the Boarneh Cartel created by Eugene, he didn’t know where to start.

But Vidocq, an ordinary criminal, took the lead in digging up information.

Even through the servants of the highest-ranking people in Paris.

Today, he heard very important information.

It is a method that a virgin man, Rochejacquelein, who has not yet married, cannot imagine.

Vidocq, the man who spent the night with Danton’s aide, D’Églantine’s maid, chuckled.

“How can a nobleman be such a sissy? So how did you become the leader of the rebels?”

Just as Rochejacquelein was blushing, Vidocq drank a cup of coffee.

“Anyway, this is not enough. I think we need more accurate information.”

“What information are you talking about? I found out that Director Danton is meeting with congressmen, and Director Lafayette is contacting Freemasons, Brissot, and General Moreau. Isn’t that enough?”

“You’re making a fuss because you want to return to Bordeaux. No, do you want to go to that [Lord]’s side? Keukeu.”

There is no loyalty to Eugene to be found as much as a cup of coffee.

Rochejacquelein frowned.

Then Vidocq said casually.

“Before that, we have to bring the information that the Lord wanted, right? Pichegru’s suspicious movements.”

It’s been about a month since I came to Paris.

Still, it is a problem that has not been identified.

Rochejacquelein licked his lips and asked.

“Are you going to find that out by seducing a maid too?”

“No? How can you find out such an important matter through maids? Right now, I’ve only found out that the higher-ups are meeting people, right? Eugene General can easily find out who Pichegru is meeting, right?”

“Then?”

The moment Rochejacquelein asked, expecting Vidocq again, Vidocq’s eyes flashed.

“We have to move ourselves. No, the returning hero of the New World.”

January 1797.

The people of Paris, ahead of the launch of the new government, were running under the surface.

Along with Eugene’s intelligence agents, who were spying on government officials.