He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 373

(373) Napoleon and Eugene Reunite in Paris

The plains of France are wide, vast, and serene.

“Victory sings! We break through the gates! Freedom guides our steps!”

Across the plains, farmers sing as they till the land.

Perhaps they are veterans.

With the war’s end, even the once forested Vendée region sees increased land reclamation.

On the road from Bordeaux to Paris, Eugene’s party encounters one such reclaimed clearing.

But the song is somewhat different from what the Revolutionary Army usually sang.

Clearly, judging by the lyrics, it’s a Revolutionary Army song, but it feels different from La Marseillaise.

Hippolyte, riding beside Eugene, tilted his head.

“What’s that song? A replacement for La Marseillaise?”

“It’s the Song of Departure. Robespierre originally intended it as the national anthem. I think it’s the official anthem now?”

“Oh, Auguste pushed it through? It’s not exactly an anthem praising the Emperor.”

Eugene chuckled and then abruptly pulled on the reins.

“It’s a constitutional monarchy, after all. They have to be mindful of public opinion.”

The Song of Departure is one of the many revolutionary hymns created during the French Revolution.

Robespierre didn’t write the song, but he elevated it to the level of a national anthem.

However, it was briefly forgotten after Robespierre’s downfall, only to be revived when Napoleon came to power.

The reason for its revival was that La Marseillaise was considered too radical.

Of course, Eugene had a slightly different opinion.

“It might have been better to use Beethoven’s [Eroica Symphony].”

Come to think of it, Beethoven would probably be filled with rage and engaged in anti-Napoleon activities by now.

But sacrificing the imperial system to appease Beethoven was out of the question.

Furthermore, he couldn’t cater to the beliefs of republicans who idealized the republic.

Was the imperial system an inevitable destination?

Eugene wasn’t so sure.

There are countless dictators in republican systems, and many families in democracies pass down wealth and power through generations.

However, in France’s unstable political situation, facing the formidable power of Britain, the imperial system was indeed a good foundation.

Even now, if Napoleon were to fall, there would be no alternative to stand against Britain.

In fact, in the original history, France ultimately failed to challenge British hegemony afterward.

As Eugene was lost in thought, Hippolyte looked around and spoke to him.

“Well, the Vendée region looks much the same as before. Except there aren’t any corpses, right?”

“Corpses aside, the population has probably halved. Most of them were being relocated to the New World.”

“No, that’s not the problem. It doesn’t seem like the population has decreased at all.”

Hippolyte suddenly pointed to the plains on the opposite side of the road, which Eugene hadn’t noticed.

“Look over there, is that a factory?”

Eugene’s eyes widened.

-Beep!

In fact, Eugene’s group was quite familiar with factories, having built so many in New France.

But a factory spewing smoke in agricultural France was quite unfamiliar.

Moreover, wasn’t this Vendée, a relatively underdeveloped region?

“Amazing. Vendée is a typical agricultural area.”

“It doesn’t look like a textile factory. Is it a steel mill? I can see steel piled up around it.”

“What steel mill? There’s no iron mine around here. No way.”

Eugene denied it, then cocked his head.

“Or is there?”

Because people were coming out of the factory to greet them.

This return home was literally incognito.

The return schedule was only shared within New France and wasn’t even disclosed to the New World Alliance, the United States.

However, it was revealed to mainland Spain because the fleet of Nueva España had to be mobilized.

Therefore, the official announcement of Eugene’s return to France was only three days ago, when he arrived at the port of Bordeaux.

So, who would come out to welcome Eugene?

Surte, the Deputy Director, and those who received letters from Ellie.

Antoine Damas, the general manager of the Boarneh Cartel, rode out in the lead.

“Oh, Your Royal Highness!”

Then, unfamiliar employees behind Damas whispered.

“What, His Royal Highness?”

“Oh, right. I saw him during the Vendée War. So, is that the Princess, or the Grand Duchess?”

“She is a princess, though. A princess of the old royal family.”

Occasionally, there were locals who had experienced the Vendée War.

But basically, they were so-called [outsiders, meaning people not originally from the area].

The effect of factory construction, namely population influx, had clearly occurred.

Originally, in the original history, factory construction, machine production, and the increase in workers often led to population explosions.

However, Eugene had a feeling that the environment in the Vendée region would worsen.

Considering the scenes once stained with blood, smog might be better.

Just as Eugene was about to smile wryly, Pauline, who was much more confident than when she boarded the ship, shouted from behind.

“Hmph, Her Imperial Highness, the Emperor’s sister, is also here!”

“Aren’t you ashamed to say that yourself, Pauline?”

“Why would I be? It’s not like I’m pretending to be a fake princess. Hehe. Besides, isn’t this a so-called [pro-Emperor] area?”

Eugene raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

“You seem thoughtless, but you’re sharp.”

“What? Your Royal Highness, I escaped Corsica full of my brother’s rivals when I was young, you know? I’m sensitive to these issues.”

“Indeed, there’s a world of difference between regions where the people are friendly and those where they aren’t.”

Vendée was originally a gathering place for anti-revolutionary factions.

However, after Eugene and Napoleon led the suppression of the rebellion, it transformed into a gathering place for pro-Bonaparte factions.

Many of Eugene’s close aides, including Rochejaquelein, were from Vendée.

Damas also laughed heartily and said.

“That’s also why we built the new factory complex of the Boarneh Cartel here. Paris was much more convenient, but this place is safer.”

In the early days of the Industrial Revolution, the capital, Paris, was the center of factories.

The same was true in England, where London became the starting point of smog.

However, as land prices rose, labor costs increased, and space became scarce in the capital, factories gradually moved to the suburbs.

Now, because Vendée was a pro-Emperor region, the Boarneh Cartel built its factory complex there.

But Eugene still had an unresolved question.

“Then, where do the iron ore and coal come from?”

“Imports.”

“It’s too far to bring them from the German region. Are you importing them from England?”

The foundation of the Industrial Revolution is not technology.

It’s resources.

Coal, iron ore, and wood for building, since wood is still the basic material.

There’s plenty of wood in Vendée, which is full of forests, but where did the coal and iron ore come from?

France basically lacks these two resources, which is one of the reasons why it lagged behind England in the Industrial Revolution.

Of course, the port cities of Bordeaux and Nantes are nearby, so it’s possible to import them by sea.

But isn’t England the enemy they will soon be at war with?

Damas shook his head.

“No. It’s from northern Spain, Asturias and Bilbao.”

The northern Spanish region, bordering France and on the Atlantic coast.

***

So, the Boarneh Cartel, France’s leading conglomerate, is conducting business connecting France and Spain.

“In short, you import minerals from Spain and resell steel through Bordeaux.”

The Boarneh Cartel’s business structure, which Eugene created while he was in Europe, is as follows.

It dominates the smuggling trade in the southern Mediterranean and the North Sea of France.

It seizes the rights and finances of the peninsula, taking advantage of the conquest of Italy.

It connects the two regions to create aluminum silver coin, gunpowder factory, armory, and canned food factory, making huge profits.

It expands this cycle again.

“Damas is doing that in Vendée.”

While listening to Eugene speak on the way back to Paris, Hippolyte exclaimed.

“Wow, it feels like I’ve seen this in the New World? It’s the trade structure created between Nueva España and Nouvelle France?”

“It’s an interdependent trade relationship. It’s actually an impossible structure.”

“What do you mean? Even during the Old Royal era, France exported crops and earned money. Thanks to that, when there was a famine, the people starved to death and a revolution broke out.”

However, Eugene shook his head.

“We’re in an era where nation-states are being created. Resources are basically prioritized for domestic supply. Of course, Spain hasn’t yet undergone [industrialization].”

This era is not like the European Union of later years, where countries cooperate with each other.

Important resources are naturally prioritized for their own country.

Spain is still in an era where there is not even a single steam engine, let alone the early Industrial Revolution, so selling iron ore and coal may be more important.

Nevertheless, it’s strange to hand over resources to a foreign country.

“Well, isn’t it simple? Spain and France are very close.”

“Giving important resources to a foreign country is not that simple, Pauline.”

“What if you don’t think of them as a foreign country?”

Hippolyte turned to look at the procession following behind, the carriages, and smiled slyly.

“Isn’t it because they think the Grand Duke will become king anyway, so they trade easily?”

Indeed, as Hippolyte pointed out.

In fact, Spain had been a nation similar to a blood alliance with France throughout the 18th century.

Because the Bourbon dynasty took the throne at the end of the 17th century.

This relationship was severed after the Great Revolution and turned into hostility.

But the situation changed as Marie-Thérèse became the presumptive heir.

It may be the reason why Spain began to interact with France again.

Damas, the general manager who was following Eugene on horseback to assist him, nodded.

“That’s right. It’s not just our Boarneh Cartel. France and Spain are currently engaged in economic exchanges in many fields.”

“Not economic absorption?”

“Well, the Spanish might see it that way? Anyway, thanks to that, the Boarneh Cartel and other [sociétés, meaning companies or societies] are all making huge profits. It’s more profitable than Italy. Haha!”

At that time, Chief of Staff Jomini, who was listening to the story, grinned.

“In short, it’s not just to send His Royal Highness to Spain to drive him out, is it? Hehe!”

France wants to swallow Spain.

Not only economically but also politically.

This is the inner thought of the core elites in Paris who want to send Eugene to Spain with Marie.

But when he thought this far, Eugene had something bothering him.

Eugene leaned back on his horse and narrowed his eyes.

“Yes, economic subordination by taking advantage of resource imports, political domination through the change of the monarchy, and further, hegemonic subordination centered on France.”

Suddenly, Eugene frowned.

“They want to make Spain a territory of France, Father.”

Because the Peninsular War of the original history came to mind.

***

Finally, the party of the Viceroy of New France stopped.

“Paris!”

The city with the Seine River visible in the distance.

A metropolis boasting a population of 600,000, the center of European culture.

To the group who had spent four years in the undeveloped lands of the New World, it seemed like a product of cutting-edge civilization.

Junot, Lasalle, and Hippolyte shouted excitedly.

“Viva France! Finally, Paris, we’re back!”

“Wahahaha! The beauties of Paris are waiting for me!”

“Who’s waiting for you? Maybe Lord Hippolyte here.”

Pauline, Emilie, and Laure, who were tired from the journey, also seemed to have shining eyes.

Anyway, Paris in the early 19th century was at the forefront of civilization along with London, and it was a more sophisticated city.

Just then.

-Clack!

An old man with a cane was waiting in the suburbs of Paris.

“You’ve returned more quietly than I expected, Freischütz [a marksman or sharpshooter, a nickname for Eugene].”

Eugene turned his gaze and smiled.

“It’s been a while, Monsieur Recamier.”

“I could have been notified in advance, but you said not to hold any welcoming ceremonies at all?”

“Because I didn’t return in victory.”

Jacques Recamier, the president of Recamier Bank and a director of the Central Bank of France, came out to greet him.

They had a long relationship, and Recamier also provided financial support to the Boarneh Cartel when Eugene moved to the New World.

But behind Recamier, a familiar shadow was visible.

“Then, you can just win from now on!”

Eugene’s eyes widened.

He didn’t recognize him at first.

Because his physique had changed quite a bit.

However, the appearance he had seen four years ago still remained.

The problem was that the other party was not the kind of person who would come out to the outskirts of Paris without any guards.

“Father?”

The Emperor of the French Empire, Napoleon, approached with a hearty laugh.

“Call me Your Imperial Majesty, son. How have my ugly sister and ‘daughter-in-law’ been? Hahaha!”

July 7, 1806.

Eugene and Napoleon finally reunited in Paris.