He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 389

(389) The Grande Armée Marches into Europe

The Grande Armée, the Great Army, was originally formed in 1805 in the original history.

“It’s a year late.”

“Pardon? What do you mean, Your Royal Highness?”

“No, I mean the war started a year late. Rochejacquelein. My Imperial Father endured longer than I expected.”

Three days after the Spanish affair broke out, the French Empire’s bicameral legislature gathered at the Luxembourg Palace.

The Council of Five Hundred, which had existed since the Directory, and the Senate, created during the Consulate, were present.

These are the legislative bodies commonly referred to as the Lower and Upper Houses.

In particular, the Council of Five Hundred still had members elected through elections, symbolizing that the Empire was not a mere monarchy but a ‘citizen empire’.

It was when Eugene, wearing his stepfather’s uniform, entered the palace with Rochejacquelein.

“Oh, who is this? Isn’t it His Royal Highness, who doesn’t even say hello after visiting the New World!”

At the familiar voice, Eugene turned and smiled, shaking hands warmly.

“It’s been a while, Senator Auguste. Or should I say, Duke now?”

“Haha! I’m ashamed in front of my brother, who was a leader of the Great Revolution. But I didn’t receive any land. His Imperial Majesty only bestowed the title upon me. Rejecting even that seemed disloyal.”

“Is that to the nation, or to His Imperial Majesty?”

The Duke of Arras, Auguste Robespierre, smiled awkwardly and patted Eugene’s shoulder.

“You’re mischievous. We live in many contradictions, but I don’t think the Empire and the Revolution are mutually exclusive. Don’t you think so?”

Of course, days like today, when both houses gather to decide on important state affairs, also showcase the image of a citizen empire.

However, the fact that the Emperor has already made the final decision means that this system is ultimately a monarchy.

However, as the architect of the Empire, Eugene had no intention of delving into such truths, and he nodded.

“You are right. We have seen enough of the chaos that a complete republic can bring. Conversely, we also know the dangers of a complete absolute monarchy.”

“Ultimately, tyranny, oppression, and war.”

“Oh dear, this is awkward. We’re here to discuss war today.”

Then, a gaunt man standing behind Auguste asked.

“Your Royal Highness Eugene, about that matter. Is war really going to happen? It hasn’t even been 5 years since the Great War ended, has it?”

It was Camille Desmoulins, a former member of the Bonaparte faction who once served as a Director [one of the heads of the French Directory, the government that preceded Napoleon’s Consulate].

However, he was also a prominent politician known to distance himself from the Emperor after the introduction of the Empire.

Of course, from Eugene’s perspective, he was still a welcome face.

“It’s been a while, Representative Desmoulins. I heard you refused a title.”

“I’m not as loyal to the Emperor as Auguste is. I haven’t become a radical like Babeuf, but there’s a line I have to maintain as a journalist.”

“The columns you occasionally write are talked about even in the New World. How is Babeuf doing?”

Desmoulins frowned at Eugene’s question.

“The same as ever. He’s shouting against the Emperor, and it’s a wonder he hasn’t been killed or exiled yet. In that respect, His Imperial Majesty is certainly a tolerant man.”

Babeuf was still alive and well, roaming Paris.

In fact, Eugene, Fouché, and Napoleon himself couldn’t find concrete evidence that Babeuf had participated in the previous assassination attempt on Napoleon.

There was only evidence that Babeuf frequently met with British intelligence agents.

However, Eugene had to leave for the New World at the time, and Fouché had to focus on dealing with the initial chaos of the Empire.

Of course, Napoleon was busy with governing the Empire and dallying with his mistress.

Perhaps that’s why Babeuf was still alive.

Eugene subtly signaled Rochejacquelein and asked Desmoulins about the state of affairs.

“Are Chateaubriand or Madame de Staël still in the country?”

Asking about the two anti-Napoleon thinkers from the original history, Desmoulins asked back, puzzled.

“Huh? How does Your Royal Highness know Chateaubriand? He’s a promising new writer these days, with a tendency to support the royalists. Come to think of it, wasn’t your wife a princess of the former royal family?”

“Unfortunately, not yet. I haven’t received permission for the marriage from His Majesty.”

“Speaking of which, there’s the Spanish issue. What are you going to do? In the end, the woman who will become your wife has been deprived of her rightful inheritance.”

Chateaubriand, like Madame de Staël, was a writer who made a name for himself by supporting the royalists.

Writers themselves have no power, but in the 21st century, they would be equivalent to influencers.

Therefore, they were figures who could stir up anti-Emperor sentiment in an emergency.

Eugene again signaled Rochejacquelein to monitor them as well and replied to Desmoulins.

“Spain is a dependent variable. Marshal Masséna from the military will be going. However, conquest will be impossible, and they will mainly focus on defense.”

“If Spain is a dependent variable, what is the main independent variable?”

“England, doesn’t everyone know? I don’t know what the British ambassador is doing right now, but…”

Then Auguste clicked his tongue.

“If it’s Barras, he’s probably attending a social party in London today. London is a corrupt land, and parties where actresses are stripped naked and watched are commonplace. Tsk!”

In the original history, Barras would have been Josephine’s lover.

Also, he would have undoubtedly slandered Josephine, who married Napoleon, as a ‘whore’.

However, because Eugene thoroughly supervised Josephine, Barras couldn’t even get close to her.

But thanks to that, Barras had no reason to incur Napoleon’s wrath and was appointed as the British ambassador despite his involvement in the Pichegru coup [a royalist conspiracy to overthrow the Directory].

Of course, it was also because Napoleon didn’t value the position of British ambassador very much.

If it were Eugene, he would have sent a more loyal person.

Eugene shrugged with a slight bitter smile.

“I’ll answer your question from earlier. While the British ambassador is playing, England has finished preparing to land in the Low Countries [modern-day Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg]. The Earl of Chatham, the brother of British Prime Minister William Pitt, will lead the landing operation.”

“W-wait, what did you say?”

“The war has already effectively begun, Representative Desmoulins. To be precise, it started when we and England indirectly clashed in the New World.”

What Eugene was saying now was a war that England actually attempted in the original history.

However, it was a landing operation that ended in complete failure, and the problem was that William Pitt had died by then.

On the other hand, Pitt is alive now, so the landing operation is likely to be carried out more systematically.

And the Low Countries are extremely close to Paris.

If England lands properly, the entire city of Paris will be in danger.

Watching the two high-ranking politicians freeze in shock, Eugene nodded.

“So, please don’t misunderstand. The war was started by England and its allies, not us.”

At that moment, Danton’s former aide, Representative Déglandine, who was watching outside, shouted.

“His Imperial Majesty!”

Then the Speaker of the Senate, Auguste, and the prominent member of the Lower House, Desmoulins, also stood up.

The members of the Council of Five Hundred and the three hundred senators all stood at attention.

The trumpet blared loudly.

-Bbaam! Bbaam-bbaam! Bbaam-bbaam-bbaam!

The adjutant and chief secretary, Brien, shouted.

“The protector of the French Empire and its citizens, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, enters!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Emperor entered with heavy steps.

Led by the commander of the Imperial Guard, Lannes, twelve guards led the Emperor to the platform.

As everyone watched the Emperor, he stood on the platform.

Originally, in the original history, the Emperor would not directly attend the parliament but would only issue a decree.

However, in the French Empire, which is a citizen empire, the Emperor needs to directly persuade the parliament.

“Members of the Council of Five Hundred, representatives of the people. National veterans of the Senate. I have come to deliver tragic news.”

Napoleon began with a rough but powerful tone.

“Three days ago, in Madrid, the rightful King Carlos IV was surprisingly deposed. This was done by the army dispatched by England and the ruthless rebels.”

Then the members began to stir.

The coup to usurp the Spanish throne.

The former king, Carlos IV, was forcibly deposed and confined, and his youngest brother, Fernando, ascended to the throne.

Above all, the British ambassador and the mercenary unit under the command of the military attaché entered Madrid.

The information that had only been rumored had now been revealed as an official truth.

“The Spanish coup was real.”

“Then, are the only French allies left satellite states?”

“No, why are you ignoring Turkey and Russia? They’re a bit far, though.”

Just as the members were whispering, the Emperor struck the platform.

“It is also a robbery of the rightful inheritance of my son, His Royal Highness Eugene, and his betrothed, Marie Capet!”

The moment everyone’s gaze turned to Eugene, the Emperor once again mentioned the alliance.

“Furthermore, there was an assassination attempt on the Emperor of Russia, a loyal ally of me and the French citizens. It has also been revealed that England was behind this!”

In both Spain and Russia, coups had taken place.

There was a difference between failure and success, but the mastermind was the same.

England.

England, which France had left alone for the sake of peaceful trade, had begun to overturn France’s alliances.

In this situation, should the French Empire remain still?

“Therefore, I ask the Council of Five Hundred and the Senate. A war is needed to crush the ruthless England and its allies! I want a resolution!”

At the Emperor’s declaration, Desmoulins suddenly stood up.

“War is an evil to be avoided! However, if we must stand against an invader, the French citizens will never back down. For the Revolution, for His Imperial Majesty, and for France!”

Auguste also shouted from the speaker’s seat below the platform where the Emperor was standing.

“Let’s pass a resolution! Unanimously, everyone!”

The members stirred and then stood up again.

The Emperor had already made the decision.

Above all, England was isolating France in Europe.

If France hesitated here, it would have to face all of Europe alone, just like in the early days of the Revolution.

-Clap! Clap! Clap!

Looking back at the members who were expressing their unanimous approval with applause, the Emperor gestured.

-Step, step, step!

Then Eugene, who had been standing on the platform on the members’ side, stepped forward.

At the same time, the guards who had been protecting Napoleon with Lannes lined up.

However, the ranks of these men who looked like guards were strange.

It was the rank insignia of marshals.

“Here are the five marshals who will command our French Grande Armée, and my son, His Royal Highness Eugene!”

Masséna, Augereau, Lannes, Berthier, and Junot.

Eugene stood at the forefront.

These were the highest-ranking officers of the French Imperial Army, who had created the legend of invincibility with Napoleon.

Napoleon pointed to the marshals and shouted.

“They will stand against the invaders, protect the citizens, and fight for France. I, too, as a soldier, will fight alongside them!”

At that moment, Sieyès, another high-ranking politician who had been watching with a strange expression, widened his eyes.

“Personal command?”

The Emperor had declared that he would personally go to the battlefield.

Even though Napoleon had risen to prominence through war, it was by no means an easy decision.

All the members were surprised, agitated, or quickly grasped the situation and shouted.

“The Grande Armée will protect His Majesty, France, and its citizens!”

“Viva la Grande Armée! Viva Napoleon!”

“Only for victory!”

Napoleon smiled contentedly and declared to both houses, and to all of France.

“The Grande Armée now goes to Europe!”

With this, the dispatch of the French Empire’s elite, the Grande Armée, was finally decided.

To fight against all of Europe except Russia.