He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 320

(320) Clearing the Stepping Stones to the Continent

The early 19th century, an era where the only unexplored territory left on Earth was Antarctica.

“Even so, it’s too much that this West Indies is so unorganized.”

Looking at Port-au-Prince, a city called Port Republic after the revolution, Hippolyte clicked his tongue.

As the name suggests, it was originally called the Prince’s Port.

An endless amount of sugar, the honey pot of the Bourbon royal family, used to head to Paris through this place.

But now, due to a long war, most of the sugar cane is heading to the United States.

Looking at the northwestern tip, essentially the capital of Saint-Domingue, from the Horus, Eugene replied.

“Ten years.”

“What is?”

“The number of years this place has been neglected. It’s also the time when Creoles, Mulattoes, and [Noir – Black people] were fighting each other. Oh, and there are the British and Spanish too.”

As soon as he said that, a disgruntled voice came from behind Eugene.

“When can our Spanish navy leave? It’s unpleasant!”

Cisneros, a 46-year-old admiral from Aragon, Spain, was glaring at Eugene.

He was the man leading 10 of the 20 battleships that Eugene had brought.

In fact, even with the pretext of the Crown Prince’s New World immigrant fleet, it was difficult to spare 20 battleships from France.

Furthermore, in terms of personnel, Armand Chayla, Villeneuve, and most of the Egyptian fleet members were in the Eastern Mediterranean.

But this was a great voyage sending as many as 100,000 immigrants.

Even if it had the nature of exiling the Crown Prince Eugene, conversely, there was also the justification of pioneering the New World.

In addition, Marie’s position as the presumed heir to the Spanish royal family meant that they couldn’t entrust everything to the East India Company.

In the end, the Spanish Atlantic Fleet was escorting them.

That was the identity of the [Allied Fleet] of battleships that appeared off the coast of Saint-Domingue.

However, Commander Cisneros had a very unpleasant expression.

The naval admiral of a historic noble family had to bow down to Eugene, a foreign upstart [royal].

It was natural that he wouldn’t be happy.

Eugene gestured to Captain Nicolas, who was about to get angry next to him, and smiled.

“I don’t like this island very much either. I’m worried about yellow fever, Admiral Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros.”

“It’s fortunate that you know. Yellow fever and syphilis always lurk in the New World, but this island is especially bad. It’s definitely because the blacks don’t wash!”

“That’s not entirely wrong, but it’s a disease that you brought from Africa with the slaves in the first place, Admiral.”

This was, of course, a sarcastic remark.

Because Saint-Domingue was originally a Spanish colony, and it was the Spanish who brought blacks here.

However, Cisneros seriously questioned Eugene, the Crown Prince of the New World of France.

“Your Highness, we are vassals of Marie Therese Charlotte de [Bourbon – a French royal house], the Duchess of Louisiana and the presumed heir to Spain, not your vassals.”

“I know that very well. That’s why I’m not ordering, but just asking, isn’t it?”

“If you know that well, please stop at an appropriate level. Your. High. Ness.”

Eugene quietly looked at Cisneros.

In fact, in the original history, Cisneros left his name not with victory but with defeat.

He participated in the Battle of Trafalgar as a defeated commander of the Allied Fleet, but that was nothing.

The real thing is the Argentine Revolution.

It was in 1810, when most of South America couldn’t even think of independence.

At that time, in the original history, Cisneros was the viceroy of Rio de la Plata, which corresponds to modern Argentina.

Then, Cisneros faced a situation where the Spanish mainland was invaded by France, and the British fleet repeatedly defeated the Spanish fleet, cutting off communication with the mainland.

If he had dealt with it skillfully, the Argentine independence situation might have been prevented.

But Cisneros failed, and Argentina went on the path of independence.

Looking at the very loyal soldier, but not a particularly skilled politician, Eugene smiled.

There is a way to deal with a man who is rigid in himself.

“Admiral Cisneros, if Spain goes to war next time, who do you think the opponent will be?”

“I hope it’s not France, at least.”

“It’s England. Admiral Cisneros. It’s England, not France, that infringes on Spain’s interests.”

Just as Eugene said that, Cisneros was startled, looking at the East India Company’s ship in the distance.

“In the Western Mediterranean, in the Iberian Peninsula, and in the New World, England is infringing on Spain’s interests. I won’t say you don’t know what this means.”

It is an era when the French immigrant fleet can only operate under the security guarantee of England.

In fact, even in the original history, England coveted the South American continent occupied by Spain and repeatedly attacked it.

In fact, Cisneros’s biggest failure, the independence of Argentina, was also caused by the British attack on Buenos Aires, which began in 1806.

Above all, Cisneros himself was once the person who was defeated in Gibraltar when Nelson was heading to Egypt.

“Who do you think the admiral will be fighting with in the Atlantic and Mediterranean at that time?”

“…Are you talking about Your Highness?”

“You guessed it right. There is no admiral in France who has a higher win rate than me right now. Because the rest have all lost to England.”

Suddenly, Eugene approached Cisneros and twisted his lips.

“But who will be the superior of the Allied Fleet?”

The fear of the British fleet.

The certainty that the man in front of him will be his superior in the future.

If the Queen does not give birth to an heir in the future, Marie, the presumed heir who may really ascend the throne.

When all these thoughts became one in his head, Cisneros quickly saluted.

“I will serve you with all my heart, Your Highness.”

“That’s a good attitude.”

“But yellow fever is a real problem. I advise you to leave this island as soon as possible.”

Eugene shrugged.

It’s easy to suppress a foreign admiral.

However, even in the original history, the epidemic that made France give up and the distance of the distant Atlantic Ocean are not easily overcome by Eugene.

“I know. Anyway, we won’t be able to completely dominate this troublesome island.”

Nevertheless, there is a reason why Eugene came to this island himself.

“However, there is something that is only possible with the Crown Prince.”

Because the Crown Prince must directly adjust the authority to establish the island’s governance system.

***

The mixed race of black and white is called Mulatto, and only Mulattoes are seen here.

“Welcome to [Jacmel – a port town in Haiti], Your Highness!”

Jacmel, a city located in the southwest of Saint-Domingue.

It is the second largest city on this island, but it is currently virtually outside of French control.

This is because those who oppose Toussaint are gathering soldiers and resisting.

Looking at those who greeted Eugene with joy, but glared at Toussaint and Dessalines who accompanied him, Eugene smiled.

There are soldiers wearing quite familiar uniforms.

It is the uniform of the French Revolutionary Army.

Looking closely at the uniforms that the Boarne Cartel used to supply, Eugene reached out to one of the generals.

“Nice to meet you. General Petion. You were once an officer in the Revolutionary Army, right?”

“That’s right. Your Highness. I attended the military academy. Here, General Jean-Pierre Boyer was also a colonel.”

“I am too, Your Highness!”

At that moment, a mulatto man wearing a blond wig stepped forward and shouted.

“I am Andre Rigaud, the leader of the Southern Saint-Domingue Equality Corps. You came from Bordeaux, right? It’s a good place! I once worked there as a goldsmith.”

Rigaud, Petion, Boyer.

All three are men who once held the hegemony of Saint-Domingue in the original history.

Rigaud is the leader of the South, Petion is the president of the unified [Republic of Haiti], and Boyer is the second president.

However, all of that happened after killing Toussaint and France failed to seize the island.

Eugene had no intention of letting things flow as in the original history.

“Everyone, it’s nice to meet you. My fiancée, Princess Marie Therese, also wanted to come here, but unfortunately, she couldn’t come because she was tired from the journey.”

“Haha! It’s impossible for a precious princess to come to a place where there is a war! You don’t know what those rude black bastards will do!”

“What? How dare you say that in front of His Highness!”

Just as Dessalines, who couldn’t stand it, shouted from behind Eugene, Rigaud pointed his finger and shouted back.

“Shut up, Dessalines! Don’t treat us [Ancien Libre – Free People of Color] like you uncivilized Noir slaves! We all have French fathers! Not like you Africans!”

Ancien Libre, meaning former freed slaves, refers to free people.

Most of them are mulattoes, mixed-race children born from French people having relationships with black slaves.

It’s different from how Americans in later generations treated the children of slaves only as slaves.

However, Mulattoes also despise pure black freed slaves.

Eugene looked back at the scene, or rather, at the mulatto [Free Army] soldiers with fierce expressions, and said.

“There seems to be little room for reconciliation, Rigaud.”

“Isn’t that obvious? Didn’t Your Highness see it too? Those Noir are different from our free people. They are born slaves!”

“The revolution abolished slavery.”

Eugene retorted coldly to Rigaud, who was shouting in anger.

“Our Bonaparte family and [Empire] inherit the revolution. Also, the residents of Saint-Domingue will all be treated as the same French citizens.”

Rigaud stopped trying to shout again.

It’s not because he’s afraid of Eugene.

It was only because he was overwhelmed by the Crown Prince’s Guards standing behind Eugene, especially Colonel Jacques Tournay.

He is a giant holding a new type of percussion musket, and he is about to shoot it right away.

At that moment, Eugene announced without stopping.

“Also, this Crown Prince will appoint Louverture as the governor to rule this island on my behalf.”

“Your Highness! Are you telling us to submit to Louverture now!”

“My words are not over yet, Rigaud.”

Eugene coldly notified Rigaud and Louverture, who was behind him, at the same time.

“Instead, Louverture’s workplace will be [Biscayne – Biscayne Bay, Florida].”

Then Rigaud, Petion, and Boyer looked at each other.

“Biscayne? Where is that?”

“It’s definitely not a place name in Saint-Domingue.”

“Oh, wait. Isn’t that a place in Florida?”

Suddenly, a young officer, Boyer, who had served as a colonel in France, was surprised and said to Eugene.

“But that place is just a barren coastline, Your Highness.”

Eugene quietly looked at Boyer and nodded.

It seems that Boyer has the most interest in the outside world among these three.

As in the history of Haiti in the original history.

“That’s right. General Boyer. We will build a new city there, and Louverture will rule this island as an absentee governor.”

“Then, who will stay here?”

“Dessalines will rule the north of the island, Rigaud will rule the south, and Petion will rule the east. The deadline is until you are loyal to His Majesty Emperor Napoleon and this Crown Prince.”

The five people in this place.

The faces of Governor Toussaint and Vice Governor Dessalines, Southern Leader Rigaud, French-educated General Petion, and Boyer changed rapidly.

Until now, they were united by the abolition of slavery on the island, fought against Spain again, and then divided due to racial conflicts.

They were also the ones who would fight for the top spot on the island in the future.

However, Crown Prince Eugene, the number one in the New World from France, divided them.

Divide the power and territory, and live respecting each other.

Rigaud hurriedly stepped forward.

“Are we becoming governors?”

“I would have told you. The governor is Louverture. You must ultimately have all your work approved by Louverture, pay taxes to Louverture, and receive Louverture’s supervisors.”

“But the governor is absent?”

Just as Rigaud was rolling his eyes, Eugene smiled and asked.

“Just like the Crown Prince. Will you accept it? Of course, refusal is refused.”

At that moment, the three people who remained on the island, Dessalines, Rigaud, and Petion, shouted in unison.

“We pledge allegiance. Viva Bonaparte!”

At the same time, Toussaint and Boyer, who had been comrades until just now, were abandoned by them.

***

Divide and rule, one of the truths of governance that has been passed down since the Roman era.

“I’m curious why you chose me, Your Highness.”

Suddenly, Boyer asked Eugene, who was going up on the ship.

“Because you are the most capable.”

“How do you know that?”

“You are the only one who has the experience of actually fighting and surviving when the Great Revolution took place here. I also experienced the revolution, General Boyer.”

Of course, there is another real reason.

Rigaud is 41 years old, Petion is 32 years old, and Boyer is 26 years old.

Boyer is the easiest for Eugene, who is still 21 years old, to control directly.

Above all, in order to control the black soldiers or mixed-race soldiers that Eugene will acquire in the New World in the future, he needed someone like Boyer.

He knows the power of France as a student who studied in the home country, is familiar with the local situation in the New World, and can handle mixed-race people.

Also, unlike Rigaud, Boyer was recorded in the original history as a person with less prejudice against blacks.

At that time, instead of Boyer, who was still not convinced, Toussaint, who also boarded the Horus, approached.

“May I ask a question, Your Highness?”

“I allow it, Louverture.”

“What am I supposed to do on the coast?”

Looking at Toussaint, a 59-year-old middle-aged man, Eugene softly [ordered].

“Build a city with your direct troops, especially Henri Christophe. I plan to name the city after the tribe in the area.”

Suddenly, Eugene lowered his voice as if telling a very important secret.

“Miami.”

Toussaint, who does not know the original history, was not surprised even after hearing the name.

But Eugene gave Toussaint a great opportunity.

Anyway, in modern times, the center of Florida is not Pensacola or St. Louis, but Miami.

Becoming the first pioneer of Miami is the same as becoming the largest landowner there.

At that time, Hippolyte wiped his sweat and asked with a disgusted face.

“Ugh, it’s hot! Then are we finally going to Florida? Your Highness?”

Eugene glanced at Hippolyte and shook his head.

“No, we’re going to [New France – the historical French colony in North America].”

Today, Eugene organized three things in one meeting.

The governance structure of Saint-Domingue.

The division of the black and mulatto revolutionary armies.

Even the decision to build Miami, which will shift the center axis of Florida from the so-called [Gulf of Mexico] to the Atlantic Ocean in the future.

But all of this is just a stepping stone for one thing.

– Swear!

The battle fleet began to head north, cutting through the waves.

To the place where the transport fleet that had already departed from Dominica Island was heading.

Louisiana.

Or where [New France] is located.