He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 381

(381) The Night of Daggers Stains the Imperial Palace with Blood

At midnight on August 8, 1806, the bells tolled from the Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.

-Dong! Dong! Dong!

The chimes announced midnight.

Of course, Saint Petersburg had long since erected a clock tower in the heart of the city.

However, most commoners still didn’t have clocks in their homes, a situation common in both France and Russia.

Thus, it was an era when most people learned the time by listening to the bells.

Above all, night traffic was still prohibited in Saint Petersburg.

This contrasted sharply with France and England, where candle-lit streetlights for nighttime passage had been installed since the late 17th century.

It was a stark example of how far Russia lagged behind Western Europe.

However, the fact that civilians could not move at night meant that the movement of soldiers was easier.

“Tonight, [Rossiyskaya Imperiya, the Russian Empire] will change!”

With the low cry of Uvarov, the commander of the Imperial Guard’s cavalry regiment, the cavalrymen galloped.

-Doo-doo-doo!

The Russian Imperial Army’s uniforms were so-called dark green, which the British called [Green Coats].

However, in the case of the Guards cavalry, the elite sometimes wore red uniforms.

It wasn’t very visible at night anyway, but the 100 men running with Uvarov did stand out.

Why was the cavalry, which was supposed to protect the Emperor, running through the night streets?

It was for the change of Emperor of Rossiyskaya Imperiya, that is, the Russian Empire.

“Uvarov’s momentum is good. The capital garrison must all be out on the outskirts?”

Suddenly, Benigsen, dressed in military uniform, asked as he watched the cavalry galloping as if shooting into the city.

The person who was asked the question was Depreradovich, the commander of the 1st Regiment of the Imperial Guard.

He was the one responsible for mobilizing the military in this [coup, a sudden seizure of power] along with Benigsen.

Depreradovich carefully examined the ‘citadel’ and stood at attention.

No matter how much Depreradovich was the actual military commander, the man in front of him was a Field Marshal and the core of the Imperial Army, and he was only a colonel.

“Yes, Field Marshal. We have intelligence that General Kutuzov has gone out on an inspection because the situation in the Polish direction has become uneasy.”

Benigsen snorted as he listened to the report from the commander of the 1st Guards Regiment.

“It’s ridiculous. It’s common sense in the Russian Empire that the capital is always the problem, not the border. How can Kutuzov, who is actually Russian, not know that?”

“Thanks to that, haven’t our Guards taken control of the entire interior of the capital?”

“It’s too early to be relieved yet. Not all of the Guards are on our side. Is the Gatchina Guard well-sealed off?”

Of course, the fact that the Polish side had become uneasy was by no means a trivial matter.

It was an era when Russia had not yet completely conquered Poland for 10 years.

The great nobles of the Sejm [Polish parliament], the voivodes [regional governors] of old Poland, were still alive.

In particular, many nobles had defected to France, which had a large exchange since the time of Louis XIV, when the Queen was a Polish princess.

However, Russian Poland bordered the Duchy of Galicia, which was a vassal state of France.

Naturally, the French garrison and the Russian forces had no choice but to be wary of each other, and it was easy to clash if anything happened.

Therefore, it was a decision that could be sufficiently understood that Kutuzov, who was favored by the Emperor, was urgently dispatched to Poland.

It’s just that there were too many people in the capital who coveted the Tsar.

“Colonel Tuchkov held a banquet, and everyone has been drunk and asleep for a long time. Hehe.”

Depreradovich twisted his lips as he thought of Tuchkov, the commander of the 3rd Imperial Guard Regiment.

The biggest obstacle in this coup was, of course, the Gatchina Guard, the Tsar’s direct escort.

Therefore, before launching the coup, it was necessary to neutralize the Gatchina Regiment.

However, Russians have been heavy drinkers since ancient times.

So, Benigsen came up with a very simple plan.

It was to hold a banquet and make everyone drunk.

Smiling with a very satisfied face, Benigsen turned his body.

“Then, keep a good watch outside. I’ll go into that [Water Castle, Mikhailovsky Castle].”

Looking back at the fortress surrounded by water, Depreradovich asked urgently.

“Shouldn’t I accompany you?”

“Zubov and other great sword nobles are already inside. There’s no need for the Guards to get their hands dirty with the Tsar’s blood.”

“Will you do it, General?”

Glancing at the 1st Regiment Commander who asked very carefully, Benigsen wore a strange smile on his dry face.

“Come on, Colonel Depreradovich. What we’re trying to do today is officially [demand abdication] from the Tsar. Not kill him. Maybe an accident will happen if the nobles rashly run wild.”

Tsar’s abdication and assassination are completely different meanings.

In fact, the Russian Empire had suffered countless rebellions since its establishment.

The Tsar had been deposed at least three times.

Nevertheless, most imperial coups have formally deposed the Tsar and taken practical measures to assassinate him later.

So, Benigsen has no intention of getting his hands dirty himself.

Anyway, the one who will eventually ascend to the next Tsar is Alexander.

Only then did the 1st Regiment Commander, who had realized his superior’s true feelings, salute.

“I understand, Field Marshal.”

Benigsen waved his hand and moved towards the fortress where the Emperor resided.

-Step, step, step.

To Mikhailovsky Castle, where Pavel was born and rebuilt as a fortress surrounded by moats, the Emperor’s personal residence.

***

This fortress was built 6 years ago when the Tsar admired the Knights of Malta and modeled it after their fortress.

Originally, in the original history, Tsar Pavel briefly claimed to be the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, who had lost their base and wandered.

But now, thanks to Eugene’s intervention, the Knights of Malta remain intact and have moved their headquarters to Damietta, Egypt.

However, Pavel’s tendency to admire the famous Knights of Malta remained, and this un-Russian fortress was built south of the capital.

Usually, the interior of this castle, where the fickle Tsar takes a break to avoid the hustle and bustle of the Imperial Palace, was filled with shouts.

“After all, the Empress must have betrayed me! Otherwise, there’s no way a plot to kill me would be taking place in Saint Petersburg!”

This is because Tsar Pavel is bursting with paranoid anger.

Of course, this anger has no basis.

However, the Tsar had recently been in conflict with the Crown Prince and was also suspicious of the Empress, the Crown Prince’s mother.

Perhaps he was just getting angry for no reason because of his new lovers.

Just as the attendants and Chancellor Kurakin, who had been urgently summoned, were at a loss, Danton smiled with a grim face and soothed the Tsar.

“Your Majesty, please calm down. First of all, since we have identified it first, we can summon the army and repel it. Also, Her Majesty the Empress knows nothing about this. If she did, the system would already be in chaos.”

“Then, is it Alexander? Or Constantine? Surely not Nikolai?”

“His Highness Prince Nikolai is now 10 years old. Of course not. As for His Highness the Crown Prince and Grand Duke Constantine, well, it’s hard to be sure.”

As Danton subtly planted suspicion about the Crown Prince, the Tsar immediately seized on that suspicion.

-Bang!

In the Emperor’s bedroom, Pavel gritted his teeth as he slammed his desk for work.

“After all, it’s Alexander. I knew it. That guy has always opposed my policies!”

It is always the case in monarchical countries that the Emperor is in conflict with the Crown Prince, regardless of East or West.

However, the relationship between Pavel and Alexander is actually more complicated than this.

In the first place, Empress Catherine II, the previous Tsar, originally wanted to pass on the throne to Alexander.

In addition, as Pavel clashed with England, arbitrarily liberated serfs, and indiscriminately carried out administrative reforms, the nobles’ opposition grew stronger, and Alexander tried to resolve this problem.

Naturally, he had no choice but to incur Pavel’s wrath.

Recently, he threatened to strip him of his title as Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince was confined.

Even if Pavel thought at this moment that Alexander had started a rebellion, it was by no means absurd.

At that time, Chancellor Kurakin said urgently.

“Your Majesty, you must leave the bedroom first.”

“Why? This is my castle. I built it for rest, and it is guarded by loyal guards. But are you telling me to run away for fear of a handful of traitors?”

“Unfortunately, that handful of traitors are the majority in this capital and Imperial Palace. It’s even difficult to know exactly who is loyal and who is a traitor.”

Of course, Kurakin did not come after grasping all the situation.

At least, even if he is the Chancellor of the Empire, he must have the eyes and ears of the secret police to know the information.

Currently, Kurakin had no idea what was going on because Panin was participating in the rebellion.

He was just urgently summoned to the Tsar and explained by Danton.

But one thing is certain.

When a rebellion breaks out, it is important to seize the military, even if you evacuate the palace first.

However, since most of the Imperial Guards had already been handed over to the traitors, he had to evacuate first.

On the other hand, Pavel smiled and shouted.

“One thing is certain, Kurakin. Here, the Frenchman Danton is rather my loyalist!”

At that moment, the door to the Tsar’s bedroom was kicked open violently.

-Bang!

At the same time, a group of Russian nobles with swords jumped in.

“You have to be deposed, Tsar, because you’re talking such nonsense.”

The one at the head was, of course, Platon Zubov.

Behind him, the head of the secret police Panin, the Governor-General of Saint Petersburg Pahlen, and Nikolai, the brother of Count Zubov and a former general, appeared.

There were many former confidants of the late Emperor who had been pushed out by Tsar Pavel, and current high-ranking officials who were dissatisfied.

Pavel trembled and asked.

“What is this, Platon?”

“Tsar, you are plunging the country into a quagmire. The Great British Trade Blockade, reckless pro-French policies, and even the war in the New World for your son-in-law!”

“What nonsense! The trade blockade is because England imposed double tariffs first! France is no longer a republic, so what’s the problem with forming a friendship? Besides, the war in the New World is not what I wanted!”

Pavel did not lie.

Of course, it is true that Pavel agreed to attack British Canada when Eugene visited the system.

But that was already 4 years ago.

In addition, the Anglo-American War, in which Russian forces participated in the New World, was solely at the discretion of his son-in-law Philip.

Nevertheless, of course, England and the pro-British great nobles do not believe it.

“Then, take responsibility and abdicate to prove your sincerity. Otherwise, England and our Empire will have to fight a desperate war with no hope of victory!”

As Panin shouted coldly, Pavel trembled and shouted back.

“I am a monarch chosen by God! Absolutely, I will not succumb to traitors!”

The nobles looked at each other.

Originally, this was the plan set by Zubov, Panin, and Pahlen.

Surprise and subdue Tsar Pavel.

Next, force him to sign the abdication statement.

After that, after successfully carrying out the coup peacefully, the nobles become meritorious subjects and powerful figures in the new Alexander regime.

However, it seemed that it would be impossible to force him to sign because Danton had come first.

Suddenly, Nikolai Zubov, known as a man who gets excited easily, stepped forward with a clenched fist.

“Then, we have no choice but to kill him!”

At that moment, a gunshot rang out in the hallway outside the bedroom.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Guards soldiers guarding the hallway fell, spraying blood.

The great nobles were surprised by the sudden event and turned around in confusion.

There, the Tsar’s Guard Commander, Arakcheev, stood with his men, holding guns.

Immediately, the Gatchina Regiment appeared.

“Everyone, stop! As long as I, Alexei Arakcheev, am here, no one can touch His Majesty!”

The architect of the conspiracy, Count Pahlen, the Governor-General of Saint Petersburg, screamed in embarrassment.

“Gatchina Leib Guard! What happened, Benigsen! You clearly said that you had sealed them all off?”

Benigsen, who was standing at the back of the great nobles’ ranks, quickly rolled his eyes.

It seemed that it was a mistake not to use his hands directly and only give instructions to Depreradovich.

Or perhaps the information was leaked first.

But one thing was clear: the coup had failed.

In an instant, Benigsen, a fox who was extremely agile on the battlefield, drew his saber.

“Long live the Tsar! Catch all these rebels!”

“Benigsen, what nonsense is that!”

“Huh, did you think I would join the traitors? I was just pretending to move in order to catch you!”

With a very imposing gesture, Benigsen shouted as he struck Pahlen’s neck.

“Your Majesty, kill these traitors immediately!”

At this moment, the Imperial Palace began to bleed in the exact opposite way that the rebels had intended.

***

The shooting is also loud outside the Emperor’s fortress.

-Bang!

Depreradovich shouted, gasping for breath after being hit by a musket bullet.

“Field Marshal Kutuzov, how are you here!”

Depreradovich also confirmed that he was leaving the city.

But Kutuzov had returned with the entire capital garrison.

Suddenly, Kutuzov winked his one eye and pointed to a young officer running next to him.

“Well, I had help from a foreign friend.”

It was Barthelemy Joubert.

So, Kutuzov really ran out of the capital.

However, the actual capital garrison was lying in ambush near the capital under the command of a foreign general, Joubert.

As soon as Kutuzov confirmed that the tail had disappeared, he urgently returned, received command from Joubert, and returned to the capital.

Even if he didn’t know that far, the 1st Regiment Commander, who realized part of the truth in the word foreigner, shouted.

“Surely, the French guys? How can you join hands with those guys!”

“Hey, Colonel Depreradovich. I heard that you guys joined hands with the British?”

“Th, that’s!”

At that moment, a portable pistol was pointed at the head of the 1st Regiment Commander Depreradovich.

“A traitor is guillotined in our country. Wouldn’t it be better to be shot?”

Joubert pulled the trigger.

-Bang!

A man who had originally participated in Austerlitz, Jena, and the Russian Grand Expedition.

A brave general who was the rival of France and was appointed commander-in-chief of the cavalry by Emperor Alexander.

Depreradovich died to Joubert, who should have died to Suvorov.

It was the day the plot to assassinate Tsar Pavel failed.