He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 333

(333) 1803: Louisiana Secured Without Bloodshed

There are two houses in the United States Congress:

The Senate and the House of Representatives.

Their names are inspired by the Roman Senate and the Plebeian Council, though their functions differ significantly.

The House of Representatives represents the people proportionally to the population, while the Senate represents each state equally.

Notably, foreign treaties require final ratification by the Senate.

“It must be rejected by the Senate! No matter how much the House passes it!” Tennessee Senator Andrew Jackson exclaimed, pacing in the Capitol and raising his voice.

His agitation stemmed from the foreign treaty President Jefferson was presenting to Congress that day.

This treaty, the [Livingston Treaty] signed between Nouvelle France [New France] and the United States, was the source of the contention.

On the surface, securing free passage on the Mississippi River seemed advantageous.

However, the treaty carried significant implications.

It effectively meant the United States recognized France’s claim to Louisiana, as well as Florida.

Therefore, Jackson and other hardliners within the Democratic-Republican Party opposed the treaty.

Suddenly, John Quincy Adams, a senator from Massachusetts and son of former President John Adams, turned his head.

“I see French Ambassador to the United States, Lafayette, over there.”

“How could this happen? We clearly sent a special envoy to purchase New Orleans, but instead, they’ve recognized France’s claim to Louisiana!” Jackson fumed.

“We did obtain passage on the Mississippi River, Mr. Jackson,” Adams pointed out.

Jackson glared at Adams, who, despite being the same age at 35, possessed a vastly different background and personality, and retorted, “That’s nonsense! That was a right we originally obtained from ‘Spain’! We shouldn’t have to reacquire it now!”

The United States had secured passage on the Mississippi River from Spain back in 1795.

Thus, the special envoys’ covert mission, capitalizing on France’s instability, was to seize New Orleans as well.

But instead, they merely acknowledged France’s claim, fueling Jackson’s anger.

Tennessee, representing the southern United States, aimed to expand southward, directly towards Florida.

At that moment, Vice President Aaron Burr entered the chamber.

The Vice President, also serving as the President of the Senate, banged the gavel and called out, “Order, order!”

The noisy senators took their seats, and Aaron Burr announced loudly, “Today, French Ambassador to the United States, Marquis de Lafayette, will address the Senate.”

“Ha! Giving the French side a chance to speak when an explanation is needed! The South wants war!” Jackson protested.

“Silence, Mr. Jackson!” Aaron Burr retorted, glancing nervously at Lafayette, who stood at the back.

“Ambassador Lafayette is a hero of the founding of the United States! Show him respect as one of the Founding Fathers!”

In truth, Aaron Burr didn’t particularly support the treaty either.

Especially since Hamilton, with whom Aaron Burr had a strained relationship, had played a role in the negotiation process.

If the treaty were approved, Hamilton would undoubtedly extol its virtues in his newspaper, the .

Claiming it as Hamilton’s achievement.

Nevertheless, Vice President Aaron Burr had to respect Lafayette.

Lafayette was more than just a French supporting army general.

He was the savior who fought alongside Washington and led the victory when the United States faced a crisis due to the British offensive.

Lafayette stepped forward, bowing politely to express his gratitude.

“Thank you, Vice President Aaron Burr.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to speak before the Congress of the United States.”

In an era without microphones, all speeches had to be delivered from the podium in one’s own voice.

However, Lafayette had experience in the even more raucous French Revolutionary Assembly.

Surveying the seemingly peaceful United States Capitol, Lafayette spoke loudly.

“France has been a friend of the United States since its founding.”

At this, southern senators, including Jackson, shouted.

“Friend, my foot!”

“So, you re-entered the New World? To play the role of a friend from the sidelines?”

“Give us the right to pursue slaves and natives who fled to Florida!”

But Lafayette remained composed, looking around at everyone, and said, “Furthermore, the friendship between France and the United States is based not only on mutual trust but also on a common enemy.”

This time, the senators wore puzzled expressions.

Who was the common enemy France and the United States were fighting now?

It couldn’t be the natives or Spain.

At that moment, Lafayette stated firmly, “It is Great Britain.”

“No, Ambassador, what are you talking about!”

“Why is Britain our enemy! We have established peaceful diplomatic relations with Britain and are living well!”

This time, not only Jackson but even Adams was surprised and shouted, but Lafayette instead dropped a bombshell.

“That is not true. The Governor of Upper Canada [present-day Ontario], John Graves Simcoe, was preparing for war until just five years ago. This!”

Instantly, Lafayette held up a report in his hand.

“The Simcoe Report!”

Simcoe, the Governor of Upper Canada, the southeastern part of Canada.

Upper Canada was formed mainly around the former French colony, and there were many royal loyalists.

It was also the land that faced the United States, surrounding the Great Lakes, the five giant lakes that are like seas.

As the governor of this place, Simcoe dreamed that he might one day reconquer the United States.

Furthermore, he promoted policies to incorporate the Native Americans in the western United States, who still had independent forces, and attempt to attack the United States.

However, the [Western Indian War] waged by the Western Native Americans ended in an American victory, and Simcoe’s dream also ended.

But no one here knew that Simcoe had created a war preparation plan to attack the United States.

-Rustle, rustle, rustle!

All the senators were surprised to see the copies of the documents distributed by the French Embassy staff.

“Good heavens, it’s really a plan to invade New York from Upper Canada.”

“What’s going on? Is this a plan that the Governor of Upper Canada arbitrarily established?”

“Could it be, really from London?”

Lafayette shouted passionately to the astonished senators.

“Still, Great Britain has not given up! The conquest of the New World! Everyone, will you still hesitate to join hands with France!”

The United States officially ended the war with Great Britain at the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

It was now 1802, 20 years since the end of the war.

But conversely, it meant that all those who directly fought in the old war with Great Britain were still alive and active.

The senators, recalling the time of the old war with Great Britain, trembled.

In particular, war veteran Aaron Burr was the same.

Vice President Aaron Burr hurriedly stood up and shouted to the senators.

“France and the United States are eternal friends! Let’s respond with applause!”

The United States Senators all stood up and began to applaud Lafayette.

-Clap, clap! Clap, clap! Clap, clap, clap!

Even the ultra-hardliner Jackson, inevitably.

***

News arrived in Pensacola, where they were waiting.

“Approval has been granted in Washington for the Louisiana Purchase, Your Royal Highness,” Rochejaquelein announced calmly, returning with Emilie and delivering the urgent news.

On the other hand, the Nouvelle France Viceroyalty officials in Pensacola sighed in relief.

Although the treaty was signed in Pensacola, there was a high possibility that the US Congress would overturn it.

In particular, Philippe, the son-in-law of the Russian Imperial Family, Marquis de Lescure, and Jomini had been quite anxious.

“Now the diplomatic matter is completely over.”

“Phew, that’s a relief, Your Royal Highness.”

“Hey, it’s a shame. I feel like I’m just playing around since I came all the way to the New World,” Lasalle remarked, then whistled and said to Jomini, “Oh, I think the same way. Chief of Staff! Shall we lead the army and attack the ‘Indians’?”

“That’s not a bad idea. Most of Louisiana is Indian land, right?”

“Now that I think about it, how do we handle the reclamation?” Eugene asked.

Then, Eugene, who was staring intently at the map, raised his head.

“We need to bring in the second immigrant fleet. Who will go back to the home country?”

Then all the officials averted their eyes from Eugene and turned away.

Coming to the New World itself required a lot of determination, but going back and forth requires even greater determination.

It’s easier to endure hardships or fight a war than to make a super-long-distance round trip.

When no one answered, Eugene shrugged.

“I can’t help it. Do I have to go myself?”

“That won’t do, Your Royal Highness!” someone protested.

“Then will you go, Junot?” Eugene asked.

Junot waved his hand and turned his head slightly.

“No, isn’t there someone more suitable than me? Here, there is the Emperor’s brother.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Lucien, who was sitting in the corner of the Governor-General’s office.

Lucien looked at Eugene as if he was dumbfounded.

But Eugene was also smiling, as if he had discussed it with Junot in advance.

With an incredulous expression, Lucien asked, “Are you telling me to go back to France again now?”

“I’ll give you an official title: Special Envoy for Immigration to the Royal Viceroyalty.”

“I came to America because I hate France!”

At that moment, Eugene smiled and said, “Then, wouldn’t it be rewarding to bring those who think the same way as your uncle to this place?”

There are many people who hate Revolutionary France.

Supporters of the old royal family, those who hate the imperial system, and those who just want to find opportunities in the New World.

Lucien Bonaparte is the same.

But couldn’t they bring those French people to this New World and revive the unfinished dream of the revolution?

Junot, Philippe, and Hippolyte, watching Lucien’s expression change, whispered to each other.

“That, that makes sense?”

“As expected, he drove the United States and Great Britain into a hostile relationship with fake news.”

“It seems that he is really excellent at weaving with sweet words, Your Royal Highness.”

Then Eugene glanced at Hippolyte and shook his head.

“That’s real.”

“What?”

“Great Britain really has a plan to attack the United States. It’s just that they don’t have the resources to carry it out yet.”

Of course, it is the result of the activities of the Surêté [French Intelligence Agency], centered on Rochejaquelein.

Simcoe’s plan was never carried out, and naturally, it was a document neglected by the British Colonial Office.

So it wasn’t that difficult for French intelligence agents to extract it.

Governor Simcoe, who is now scheduled to be appointed to the Governor-General of India, would never have known that his old report would be used like this.

Eugene is the only one who knows that this plan will later develop into the basic strategic plan for the War of 1812 in the original history.

“If France wants to take root in the New World, it must have a larger population. Otherwise, Great Britain or the United States will invade and make all the results of this negotiation futile.”

At Eugene’s persuasion, Lucien finally nodded.

“Okay. I’ll take responsibility for the second fleet.”

“This time it’s 200,000.”

“What?”

Eugene lightly nodded and passed on a grand plan to Lucien.

“The home country won’t have the resources to send the next fleet for the time being. Oh, and bring one more person when you come back.”

“Who?”

“Robert Fulton, the man who will supply submarines to the Imperial Armory around this time.”

He also entrusted him with the task of recruiting talent.

***

Finally, Eugene arrived in Nouvelle France.

“This is Nouvelle-Orléans [New Orleans]!”

A port city that would become New Orleans in later original history.

But now it is a city where former French colonists live.

When Eugene and Marie appeared in the city square, the citizens gathered and cheered.

“A princess from France has come!”

“Oh, the bloodline of the Bourbon royal family is in our land!”

“God bless France!”

Marie looked around at the citizens with a dazed feeling and opened her mouth.

“My name is Marie-Thérèse, and I have been entrusted with the territory of Louisiana, everyone.”

The citizens held their breath and looked at Marie.

Marie felt strange for some reason.

The bloodline of the royal family, who was expelled from France, is welcomed here instead.

But what if I don’t live up to expectations?

With a face filled with both burden and pride, Marie declared.

“My fiancé, Viceroy Eugene, and I will help you take root peacefully in this land. Together, together.”

The sound of blessing church bells rang throughout Nouvelle-Orléans.

-Ding, ding, ding!

January 1803.

With this, the official rule of Eugene and Marie’s Nouvelle France began.