He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 264

(264) The Birth of the French Consulate

There was a time when overthrowing the king was thought to be the entirety of the revolution.

“However! The true revolution can be completed with the election of a leader. Why?”

Near Paris, in a place formerly known as the County of Champagne, an orator was shouting.

The orator’s name was Pierre Claude François Daunou.

Originally a Girondin and one of the experts on the constitution.

This time, he was also one of the people drafting the new political system centered on the First Consul.

He is now one of the members dispatched throughout the country to ensure Napoleon is elected as Consul.

“The real reason the revolution happened is just one! Because Louis XVI ruined the country!”

“That’s right! And after that, it was full of people who threatened the elections!”

“From Robespierre to Marat to Pichegru! Those who wanted to be leaders tried to engage in bloodshed and rebellion!”

With the Jacobins of the Champagne region joining in, Daunou nodded.

“Here, there is France’s only savior. It is General Napoleon Bonaparte!”

The farmers and bourgeois of the Champagne area shouted.

“Napoleon! Napoleon! Napoleon!”

“Viva Bonaparte! Liberator of Italy, conqueror of Egypt, destroyer of Austria!”

“Uh, I think someone else’s achievements got mixed in there. Anyway, long live Napoleon!”

This area consists of vast plains and shallow hills.

Later, in the original history, the so-called [Champagne region] is where the liquor originated.

Jacob Helie, watching the speech from the hill, nodded.

“Soon, the time for counting the votes will come.”

“Is there anything to see? It’s a referendum anyway, Deputy Director Helie.”

“If there are more than 100,000 negative votes, that in itself becomes a tremendous force. Why? Because it means that 100,000 hostile forces can arise.”

Helie, the de facto commander of the Surêté [French security organization], turned his gaze.

“By the way, did Captain Suukovsky return safely? Monsieur Vidocq?”

Vidocq, who had emerged as an important executive of the Surêté during the Egyptian expedition, twisted his lips.

Suukovsky, originally Napoleon’s adjutant who died in the Egyptian expedition in the original history.

However, as Eugene did not take him to Egypt, Suukovsky’s fate was also twisted.

He was selected as one of the Surêté secret agents and assigned to monitor the movements of the Russian army.

He was caught and tortured in the middle, but after the war, he was found by Surêté agents and saved his life.

That’s just to say he didn’t die.

“If the standard of being intact is having eyes, nose, mouth, arms, and legs attached, then yes. Heh heh!”

“Is it going to take long to recover?”

“If you want him to be put into the field, I’d tell you to drop it. The Russian Ivans [a common nickname for Russians] beat him up like they treat their own soldiers, so he’s a mess.”

Helie clicked his tongue.

“Then, tell him to attend the Consul’s inauguration ceremony. Oh, when did Commander-in-Chief Bonaparte say he would be back?”

Vidocq answered, relying only on his memory without looking at a single document.

“He will depart from Vienna in a week. He will probably arrive around the beginning of December.”

It’s already the end of November.

In an era when communication networks were insufficient, the national vote was taking place over about a month.

With 7 million voters and a long persuasion process, it cannot be said to be slow.

However, it is inevitable that those who monitor the election will become impatient.

Since the revolution began, unexpected variables have often occurred.

“Then we need to keep a close eye on the voting situation until then.”

“Are you going to rig it?”

“No, but isn’t it easy to judge them as invalid votes?”

Vidocq chuckled as he looked at Helie’s back as he turned his horse.

“Heh heh, I understand. Then I’ll see you in Paris.”

Daunou, the guardian of the constitution, was shouting from behind Helie, who was riding away.

“Let’s all support the hope of the new France with affirmative votes!”

It is the moment when those who were once believers in the revolution are passionately campaigning for one-man rule.

***

However, Napoleon has already changed Europe more than the French Revolution.

“Commander Moreau, it’s good to see you. I think it’s been almost three months since we had a private meeting like this.”

Moreau entered the inner room of Schönbrunn Palace, a space once used by the Holy Roman Emperor.

Moreau looked at the general in front of him, who was shorter than himself, and bowed his head.

The name of the man who was using this place like an owner was Napoleon.

“It’s because Commander-in-Chief has been too busy. No, I should call you [Consul].”

“The election results haven’t been announced yet, what are you talking about? Thanks to Commander Moreau’s support, I was able to accomplish this great task.”

“Is the Holy Roman Empire, or rather the Austrian Empire, really being dissolved?”

Napoleon replied, drinking coffee like water.

“That’s right. The diplomats will negotiate the details, but the big picture is simple. All the families that Austria has inherited in the name of the emperor will be made independent. If there is a royal family, it will be a royal family, or it will be a satellite republic.”

It sounds simple, but it is not an easy task.

It is even more difficult than what Eugene did in Constantinople.

The Ottoman Empire was divided in a form where the main body was maintained and the dependent countries had autonomy.

However, what the French Republic forced on the Austrian Empire was literally the dissolution of the state.

Formally, it is a collection of families, but the [Empire] ruled by a single monarch and court is being divided.

The largest, Hungary, is entrusted to Archduke Karl, but the rest has not been decided.

Monitoring that this process is properly implemented will also be a great task.

Moreau, who had a moment of admiration, shook his head.

“It will be a tremendous task. It will be a major project during your tenure as Consul.”

“You will be the supervisor.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Napoleon smiled strangely and said.

“Lieutenant General Jean Victor Marie Moreau, commander of the Austrian Kingdom garrison. That is your new title.”

Lieutenant General, that is, a position called [Field Marshal] in other countries.

There is no such rank in France yet.

However, Napoleon, who will soon become the most powerful person in France, arbitrarily set a rank suitable for the commander.

Moreau, who was standing blankly without realizing it, narrowed his brows.

“Commander-in-Chief, no, Consul. That is too much of a position.”

“No, it can’t be done without you.”

“Why are you entrusting me with such an important task?”

The dissolution of the empire will be a tremendous honor if completed.

Furthermore, commanding at least 50,000 troops stationed for this purpose is also a significant authority.

But isn’t Moreau a competitor in Napoleon’s military?

Why not entrust this task to a close aide?

“It depends on how you think about it. You could say that I’m leaving a rival abroad, right?”

“Are there people who give military power to a rival who might betray them abroad and leave them there? Tell me the real reason.”

“Hahaha! Would you believe me if I said I trust Lieutenant General Moreau’s skills, sense of honor, and patriotism?”

Napoleon laughed and stared at Moreau.

“Okay, I’ll tell you the real reason. Because you are the next best soldier in France after me.”

“There’s also Hoche, and General Eugene, your adopted son. Also Masséna and Augereau.”

“Masséna and Augereau are still just division-level commanders. Hoche is far away in Egypt, and Eugene has to go as my aide. You are the number one among those who remain in the military.”

Napoleon smiled meaningfully and made a very sweet offer.

“Stay here, keep Archduke Karl in check, and monitor the empire’s division. Until the moment of no return.”

There was a name that moved Moreau’s heart more than anything else.

Karl Ludwig von Habsburg.

An adversary he has never properly won against.

He will be stationed to monitor that the adversary does not revive.

It is an irresistible temptation for a man like Moreau.

“I will follow the Consul’s orders.”

Looking at Moreau’s back as he left excitedly, unlike when he came, Joseph, who was standing next to Napoleon, asked.

“Is this going to work, Napoleon?”

“Right? It’s very dangerous if Moreau is in the country. He’s not nearly enough to be my rival, but it’s easy for him to become the central axis of the Jacobins.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to tie him up with a marriage? You have Pauline, and what about your adopted daughter? That girl Hortense is also of marriageable age.”

Originally, in the original history, there is a tactic that Napoleon proposes to Moreau.

It is the marriage of Hortense and Moreau.

However, Napoleon shook his head at Joseph’s words.

“Well, Pauline has a use elsewhere. Eugene will oppose Hortense. First, let’s go back home and decide.”

There is something completely different from the original history.

Eugene’s presence has become extremely large.

To France, or to Napoleon.

So Napoleon cannot completely ignore Eugene’s wishes.

Furthermore, Hortense’s value has also increased significantly with Eugene.

Too much to pass her on as Moreau’s wife.

-Tatadak!

At that time, Napoleon’s adjutant rushed in, as if Moreau had just left.

“Is there good news, Marmont?”

Napoleon asked leisurely, and Brigadier General Marmont saluted and shouted.

“Congratulations, Your Excellency. You are now the Consul of France!”

At that moment, other generals rushed in.

Lannes and Murat, Augereau and Masséna, and even division commanders such as Sérurier entered.

Moreau, who was hurrying out, also stopped and stood in front of the door.

In front of all the French generals, Napoleon smiled and looked at the ceiling.

In the midst of the huge hall of Schönbrunn Palace, Napoleon’s declaration echoed.

“All troops, begin preparations to return home.”

Finally, the time has come for Napoleon to return to Paris.

***

The road from Vienna to Paris is 1,200 kilometers [approximately 745 miles].

-Ppam! Ppamppam! Ppamppamppam!

There are 70,000 troops who traveled that distance and returned.

The Greek Kingdom army retreated from Vienna in the direction of the Ottoman Empire, but the Mamluk cavalrymen [slave soldiers] whom Eugene did not bring with him came together.

So, it is a unit with exotic troops wearing turbans.

Soon, it is the joint return of the Italian Legion and the Orient Legion.

“It was really hard when we left, but we’re coming back as winners!”

“Hey, Lannes. You’ve only been gone for about half a year, but I’ve been gone for almost three years! Hehehe, Parisian beauties. Have you been well!”

“You’re talking like Murat. Hmm, my wife is living virtuously, right? Huh?”

Lannes stroked his chin and talked to Junot, then widened his eyes.

“Isn’t that Eugene over there?”

Eugene was seen waiting for the cavalry in front of the old gate located in the suburbs of Paris.

Dezé, who was leading the vanguard, approached on a white horse.

If young women saw him, he would stand out as a graceful figure that they would probably regard as a prince on a white horse.

“Commander, are you already out here? I know the official ceremony is at the Champ de Mars [a large public greenspace in Paris].”

“It’s been a while, Desaix. By the way, what happened to the harem? It would be difficult to bring them all the way here.”

“I gave them all money and sent them back, of course. Dreamlike times should be left in dreams.”

Eugene chuckled at the cultured reply, befitting a nobleman from the military academy, and asked back.

“Good words. What about Father, no, Consul?”

At that time, Commander-in-Chief Napoleon’s Guards approached.

-Cheok, cheok, cheok!

The soldiers who would later become the Imperial Guard in the original history.

Everyone is tall and has a dignified appearance.

Thinking that it would be perfect if only the cuirassier cavalry [heavy cavalry equipped with armor] were deployed here, Eugene shouted.

“Salute to Napoleon Bonaparte, the Consul, the great protector of France!”

In an instant, the horse-drawn rifle brigade that Eugene had brought out raised their rifles.

“Present arms!”

As the cavalrymen lined up on both sides, Napoleon, wearing a general’s hat, approached.

“You’ve worked hard, son.”

“Greetings to the Consul.”

“Good, Chief Aide.”

Napoleon grabbed Eugene’s hand, who was widening his eyes while riding his horse.

“Now, let’s create a new France.”

Suddenly, the shouts of Parisian citizens can be heard in the distance.

-Waaaa!

December 1799.

The absentee consul election was held.

The person elected as Consul was Napoleon, the sole candidate, who received 5.2 million votes in favor, 8,000 votes against, and 790,000 invalid votes.

It was the day when the one-man Consulate was finally born in revolutionary France, which had been suffering from chaos.