He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 214

(214) Eugene Declares the Liberation of Syria

At long last, Syria was pacified.

“Greetings to the great ‘Sultan’ of [Frankish] youth!”

Acre, a city that until recently was the stronghold of Jezzar, the governor of Sidon.

In Acre Palace, located in the heart of this city, Eugene was receiving guests.

In the past, this very place was the base of the [Knights Hospitaller] [a medieval Catholic military order].

One might say it was a fitting base for Eugene, who was a member of the Knights Hospitaller’s council.

Three days after conquering Acre, an unexpected guest arrived with a grand procession.

Eugene greeted the lord, whose bushy beard made him look like a dwarf, with utmost courtesy.

“Welcome, Emir Bashir Shihab.”

Those arrayed around him were all French generals in black uniforms.

This Acre Palace was not merely Eugene’s residence, but also the headquarters of the [Syrian Expeditionary Force].

Of course, Acre was originally the city that Jezzar had used as his base.

However, the biggest reason Eugene chose this fortress was different.

Acre, frequented by Europeans, was more sensitive to hygiene than other cities in the Near East.

Thanks to this, it had the advantage of being relatively free from the plague.

Although, according to Hippolyte, there was still the occasional rat problem.

Suddenly, Aide-de-camp Hippolyte, glancing at Pauline’s dog catching a rat behind Eugene, asked,

“Eugene, since when did our commander become a Sultan?”

“Sultan originally means military commander, Hippolyte.”

“I don’t think they’re using it in that sense, though?”

Eugene chuckled and then politely asked Bashir again.

“Emir Bashir, ruler of Beirut, will you also surrender to France?”

Emir Bashir, soon to be the ruler of the Lebanon area.

Without Bashir’s cooperation in the Battle of Acre, it would have been difficult for Caffarelli’s small fleet to arrive in time.

Therefore, Bashir also deserved some credit for this victory.

That’s why Eugene was willing to embrace Bashir with generous conditions.

Bashir nodded respectfully towards Eugene.

“Of course. If we were going to be hostile to France from the start, we wouldn’t have lent you the port of Beirut. Oh, I see a familiar face.”

“Come to think of it, you are acquainted, aren’t you? With General Caffarelli.”

“That’s right. He was a brave soldier who came to negotiate with me alone. I was so impressed by his courage that I gave him the port.”

Then Caffarelli, with his prosthetic leg, who was standing with his weight on one leg to the left, laughed heartily.

“You flatter me, Emir. You simply made a wise decision. Heh heh!”

In fact, Bashir could have been stubborn one more time.

In any case, the number of French expeditionary forces was only about 30,000.

Without local cooperation, they would face various problems, from food to inland control.

However, Bashir changed his mind after confirming Eugene’s victory.

If he borrowed the power of France, he could achieve practical independence from the Ottomans.

Also, it was clear that Bashir could hinder France, but he could not defeat them.

So, rather than being greedy, he decided to be obedient to the strongman in front of him.

With this, the coast of the Eastern Mediterranean would be almost pacified.

All that remained were areas including Aleppo in the north.

However, Jezzar was already dead, and the Acre forces had collapsed.

Naturally, northern Syria, including Damascus, Aleppo, and Hama, would also surrender to France.

Eugene glanced at the map on the wall, calculated, and smiled.

“Now, then, Emir Bashir. There is someone I want you to meet with me.”

“Who is it? I heard you are the commander, General [Bonaparte].”

“Shouldn’t we meet the person who knows this Acre best?”

Eugene replied, getting up lightly.

“Haim Farhi, Jezzar’s confidant.”

At that moment, only Bashir exclaimed in surprise in the hall of Acre Palace.

“How do you know that man?”

“We have obtained a lot of information, Emir Bashir.”

“Huh, but Farhi is Jewish. Besides, as you said, he is Jezzar’s confidant! Shouldn’t he be the first one to be killed?”

Eugene stared at Bashir and tilted his head.

“You don’t think Jews are trustworthy, Emir?”

“Isn’t that obvious? They only chase money!”

“However, Muslims will say the same thing to the Maronite Christians.”

Maronite Christians, Bashir, a minority in the land of Muslims, fell silent.

However, the Maronites and Jews who formed forces centered on Bashir were worlds apart.

In any case, Jews are just a stateless minority.

Nevertheless, Eugene needs to join hands with the Jews.

Especially to put the Syrian region under the practical control of France.

Then Hippolyte tilted his head.

“Wait, a Jew?”

“Why, were you an anti-Semite?”

“No, it’s not that. I just thought of one of our business partners. Was it Rothschild?”

This time, Eugene widened his eyes and praised Hippolyte.

“That’s a very good idea, Hippolyte. You’ve done something worthy of an aide-de-camp for once.”

Of course, Hippolyte did not know why Eugene praised him.

Looking at Eugene’s back as he smiled and moved, Hippolyte turned his head.

Everyone had clueless faces, but there was one person who was relatively easy to talk to.

“What did I do? Did you understand, General Junot?”

“No, I don’t understand. Is that partner’s daughter pretty?”

“Well, I’ve never seen her, but she’s probably a wealthy bride. Hahaha!”

Hippolyte, who didn’t know what he was talking about, laughed heartily.

It was natural because he didn’t know what would happen here.

That the Rothschild, or Rothschild family, is the one who created [Israel] in the original history.

***

However, unlike the prosperous 19th century of the Rothschild family, the Jews at the end of the 18th century are still shabby.

“Save me, Sultan of the Franks.”

A one-eyed man imprisoned in the basement of Acre Palace sat on the floor and begged.

The clumsy French sounded pathetic.

The man’s name was Haim Farhi.

Originally, he was one of the main figures who stood in the way of Napoleon in the Battle of Acre.

In fact, Jezzar only brutally encouraged him.

Farhi, Jezzar’s top aide, was the one who prepared all of Acre’s defenses.

In the original history, Napoleon crossed the Acre walls once but retreated after seeing the double walls and interception cannons.

The Jew Farhi was the one who built that defensive wall.

Eugene, borrowing Napoleon’s expression, looked at the man who had changed [fate] and reached out his hand.

-Clang!

As the chain was released and Farhi was about to blink in bewilderment, Eugene said.

“You don’t have to beg for your life, Monsieur Farhi.”

“You, are you letting me go?”

“That’s right. Aren’t you rather a victim of having your eyes and ears harmed by Jezzar? Now that Jezzar is dead, it is natural for you to be released.”

Only then did the French generals standing around Eugene widen their eyes.

One eye was missing, and the end of his nose was cut off.

They thought he had just lost it in an accident or war, but that wasn’t the case.

His lord, Jezzar, had cut it off.

It is said that he brutally cut it off himself for the reason of questioning his guilt.

With an absurd face, Hippolyte asked.

“Wow, Jezzar is cruel, isn’t he? Isn’t this person originally like the chancellor of Acre?”

“That’s right.”

“But he cut off his nose and stabbed his eyes? Goodness.”

Then the one-eyed Jew smiled bitterly and replied.

“It is common for us Jews, Frankish Bey [a Turkish title denoting rank, often used for tribal chiefs].”

Surprisingly, in the original history, Farhi remained loyal to Jezzar even after suffering such a fate.

Perhaps it was because there were limitations as a Jew with a weak position.

Eugene looked at Farhi, took his hand, and said softly.

“We are French and revolutionaries. It is not natural for us, Monsieur Farhi.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“In France, Jews also have the same rights. As French citizens.”

Revolutionary army, this is the biggest justification that France currently has.

To break down the old customs of the old system.

It’s not just about overthrowing the monarchy.

It breaks down discrimination based on religion, blood, and race, and declares that citizens have equal rights.

Of course, there are also discriminatory attitudes such as not giving women the right to vote, turning a blind eye to blacks, and ignoring Muslims as barbarians.

Nevertheless, at the end of the 18th century, in an era where the world was not yet enlightened.

The French Revolution certainly has the power to make the oppressed people’s hearts beat.

Farhi opened his mouth in surprise.

Then Deje, who was watching the scene from behind Eugene, suddenly asked the senior division commander.

“Division Commander Marceau, I don’t know because I’ve only stayed in the Rhine. When did the Jews get citizenship?”

“There have been many discussions, but citizenship is still far away. The Directory couldn’t pass it.”

“Right? There aren’t even any Jews in our army.”

Marceau added with a bitter smile.

“That kind of scam is Eugene’s specialty.”

But Eugene, already immersed in his play, is shouting passionately.

“To emphasize once again! Our France has declared the Jewish Liberation Decree. Jews can also rise to high office and become generals!”

“Is, is that really true?”

“Of course! As proof, the banker who does the most business with me is a Jewish banker. Hippolyte!”

Hippolyte took something out of his pocket and held it out.

-Swish.

Farhi, who could speak French but couldn’t read it, blinked and asked.

“What is this?”

“Although it may be different from the Sephardim [Jews of Spanish or Portuguese origin], it is a partnership contract between me and the Ashkenazi Jewish [Jews of Central and Eastern European origin] ‘Rothschild’ family. You see, I run a fairly large bank, an [Exchange], in France.”

“Rothschild? There is such a family in Europe. Even so high a position as to trade with the Frankish [Sultan]!”

Farhi exclaimed in even greater surprise.

This is exactly what Eugene thought of when he heard the story of [Rothschild].

In fact, the Jews of the Eastern Mediterranean are called Sephardim, and their lineage is very different from the Ashkenazim living in Eastern Europe.

Even in modern genetics, there is an analysis that the genes are different.

However, Jews generally have a sense of homogeneity in that they have the same ancestors and the same religion.

But doesn’t that mean that the same Jews can trade equally with the powerful in Europe?

Of course, Europe is not yet like that, but you cannot know the details from Acre.

Eugene nodded and shouted.

“Here too, our French army will, of course, declare the Jewish Liberation Decree. You will cooperate, won’t you, Emir Bashir?”

Only then did Bashir, who realized why he had been brought, smacked his lips and replied.

“Yes? Ah, that’s, that’s right. Ahem.”

“Good. Now that Jezzar is dead, the most prestigious clan in this area is by far the Shihab family. I hope you will give us a lot of help in the future.”

“Ahem! Isn’t that, of course, a natural thing to do?”

The local authority guaranteed it.

In a situation where Jezzar is dead, Bashir is the most powerful person with the largest integrated force.

So even if the French army leaves, Bashir’s guarantee will be valid.

Acre’s chancellor, the Jew Farhi, stared at Eugene and asked.

“What do you want from me, Sultan?”

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

If France liberated the Jews, it was probably because of [money].

So does the young commander in front of him want money from Farhi and the Jews?

Suddenly, Eugene tilted his head and smiled.

“I want the full cooperation of the Jewish forces.”

“What form of domination do you want?”

“Our France has no intention of ruling this place, Syria. Egypt is our concern. But to do that, we must defeat Constantinople.”

Farhi rolled his eyes and nodded.

“You are thinking of fighting the Ottoman Empire head-on.”

“That’s right.”

“Indeed, although our Jews are treated lowly, they are infiltrating every corner of the empire.”

For example, it becomes possible to obtain information through the Jewish network.

This is a very important factor for the French expeditionary force in a long-distance war.

It will also be of great help in stabilizing this Syrian area.

In the original history, Napoleon is said to have declared it in order to win Farhi’s heart.

None other than the [Jewish Liberation Decree].

However, Farhi, who did not believe in France’s victory, did not come over in the end.

On the other hand, Eugene won.

In the end, Farhi stared at Eugene and said.

“Then, I will give you one plan. It is a way to practically get this old [Syria] land into your hands.”

It was the moment when Farhi’s plan, a strategist who would have stopped Napoleon if it had been the original, was presented to Eugene.

***

Eugene in black uniform stood on the high spire of Acre Palace.

“Today, our French revolutionaries proclaim to the people of Acre and Jaffa, Damascus, and Aleppo!”

Damascus and Aleppo have not yet been conquered by the French army.

However, all of them are cities under the influence of Jezzar.

Now that the victory or defeat is clear, they will surrender one by one unless the Ottoman Empire army comes.

Eugene proclaimed to the land of Syria, where French rule had become clear.

“This place was originally not Ottoman territory, but an independent land. Soon to be a land called [Kabir Suriya] [Greater Syria]!”

Below Acre Castle, the listeners are the French army and the people of Acre.

However, people’s rumors spread quickly.

The people of Acre who heard the contents of the proclamation will probably spread the declaration to all of Syria.

Eugene shouted clearly in still clumsy Arabic.

“Our France declares: to bring freedom, peace, and independence to this place!”

The French army is also watching Eugene issuing the proclamation.

The French army all knows that the Syrian expedition is, for example, to secure the retreat route for the Egyptian expeditionary force.

But wouldn’t it be nice to get spoils of war in the conquered land?

What kind of declaration will their young commander, who has achieved amazing success, make?

“Muslims, Jews, and Christians will all be free from discrimination!”

But the decisive declaration has not yet been made.

What has been said so far is just a good-sounding phrase.

Eugene proclaimed a declaration that surprised everyone.

“Therefore, we declare that Syria has been liberated from the Ottomans! Our France will guarantee the independence of the Syrian region!”

This is the plan that Farhi presented, the Syrian Liberation Decree.

The French Syrian Expeditionary Force has become an army to liberate the [Greater Syria] region from the Ottomans.

Cheers erupted from among the Acreans who were hesitant at the surprising story.

-Waaaa!

June 1798, summer.

With this, Eugene became the liberator of Syria.