He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 411

(411) Pitt, Still Alive

The change in history meant that someone who should have died, didn’t.

“Guh-erk! Huff, huff, huff! Ugh-erk!”

This was 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, the heart of British politics.

Strangely, the sounds coming from inside resembled the squeals of a pig being slaughtered.

Naturally, the man screaming would find such an assessment unfair.

Far from resembling a pig, he was growing thinner by the day.

Suddenly, Foreign Secretary Grenville cried out beside the screaming man.

“Prime Minister! Get a grip! When is the doctor coming!”

Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, also the First Lord of the Treasury, gasped for breath as his private secretary, Wyndham, stood close by.

“Just breathe slowly and deeply!”

“Kuh-erk! The fleet… hasn’t even… landed in the Low Countries yet!”

“Forget about those ruined Deutsch [Germans]! Getting your breath back is more important now!”

After a considerable commotion, Pitt collapsed into his seat.

“Phew, fucking Jesus! I feel a bit better now!”

Pitt, usually known for his strict demeanor, was completely disheveled today.

Of course, it might be nothing compared to the original history.

Originally, Pitt died in despair after hearing the news of the defeat at Austerlitz.

It is a famous anecdote that Pitt, the great statesman Britain produced at the time, told them to remove the map of continental Europe, saying it would not change for 10 years.

On the other hand, it is an irony of history that successor politicians, who were less capable than Pitt, were sometimes assassinated and sometimes died unexpectedly, but eventually defeated Napoleon.

But of course, Pitt is in a position where he cannot expect luck.

The enemy is not just Napoleon.

Suddenly, Lord Castlereagh, the very person who brought the devastating news of the defeat, spoke.

“Actually, if Your Excellency the Prime Minister hadn’t collapsed, I probably would have.”

“Castlereagh, it’s a pity your efforts have been ruined. How could we lose so completely?”

“It’s not completely lost yet.”

Unlike Castlereagh, who had not yet given up, Pitt pointed at the map and shouted.

“The Prussian army is completely annihilated except for the capital defense forces, the Austrian army has all surrendered, and Hungary barely managed to escape with the Royal Guard! How is this not a complete defeat! The continent has fallen to France!”

This is the result of the Third Coalition against France.

In the so-called Central Europe, in the area that would be Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia in modern history, battles took place one after another.

Excluding small-scale skirmishes, there were only two major battles.

The Battle of Jena and the subsequent Battle of Austerlitz.

However, the situation was decided with just two battles.

The anti-French alliance, which Pitt had painstakingly built since his return to power, had collapsed in a fortnight.

But Castlereagh shook his head and said.

“Spain and Russia are still left, Your Excellency.”

This time, Grenville retorted in disbelief.

“Russia? What are you talking about all of a sudden? Spain has our troops there. Well, they’ll be knocked out as soon as Napoleon starts attacking in earnest.”

“No, Foreign Secretary. Spain will not fall into French hands so easily either.”

“How? The Holy Roman Empire, which had a much stronger army, collapsed six years ago. Now the remaining remnants have been swept away along with Prussia.”

Unlike the skeptical Grenville, Castlereagh confidently presented another report.

“Look at this report. It was sent by the ambassador to Spain, Richard Wellesley, Earl of Mornington.”

If Castlereagh hadn’t been a talent nurtured by the Foreign Office, Grenville would have thrown the report away.

That’s how great the aftermath of the defeat at Austerlitz was.

Grenville, with little expectation, looked at the report and was surprised, quickly handing the report to Pitt.

Pitt, with a tired face, shuffled through the report and narrowed his brow.

“Holding back Masséna?”

“That’s right. He is considered the most famous general in France after the Emperor and Governor-General of Egypt, Hoche.”

“Well, wasn’t that Moreau? Maybe it’s Viceroy Eugène now. Anyway, they’re quite capable with a small force. But it seems they are taking up too much of the gunpowder budget.”

Castlereagh confidently replied to Pitt, who was briefly worried about finances as the First Lord of the Treasury.

“It is believed that the ambassador’s brother, Brigadier General Arthur Wellesley, is playing a major role.”

Masséna is a general who is considered to be able to replace Napoleon, both in his time and in later generations.

For example, it means that he is a marshal who can command an independent front and win without Napoleon.

In addition, he was not a strong Jacobin [radical revolutionary] like Augereau, so he was often favored by Napoleon in both original history and the present.

But it means that Masséna is being held back by the Spanish army and the British expeditionary force.

However, what caught Pitt’s attention was another part of the report.

“The national character is vengeful, deeply religious, and highly resistant to foreign powers?”

“In the end, it is not a problem that can be solved by winning with an army. That’s why Napoleon couldn’t even occupy the Rhineland as a direct territory even after winning. In Italy alone, the south is still in rebellion.”

“There is plenty of room to harass them. If we support them well.”

It is not yet the era when nationalism has become mainstream, but its prototype exists.

That’s why France hasn’t annexed the Netherlands or Switzerland yet, and it’s also the reason why rebellions are still happening in Italy.

By the way, Spain has often been invaded by France since ancient times, so there is quite a bit of anti-French sentiment.

Pitt glanced at Castlereagh, briefly examining the national issues that caused the failure of the Peninsular War in original history.

“Let’s put Spain aside for now. What about Russia? Weren’t they our enemy fighting against us?”

Castlereagh shook his head with a regained composure.

“Until recently, it was the exact opposite, Your Excellency.”

“Pavel won. Whitworth only managed to save his life and return, and all the confidential documents were taken away! I’ll make sure he never takes on an ambassadorship again!”

Just as Pitt was about to tilt his head, Castlereagh said in a low voice.

“Do you remember who Whitworth was approaching before he failed?”

The moment Pitt tilted his head, Castlereagh said quietly.

“It’s Crown Prince Alexander.”

At that moment, Private Secretary Wyndham, Pitt, and Grenville looked at each other.

“Sons and fathers usually don’t get along. Didn’t Your Excellency the Prime Minister also have such a relationship?”

“Who are you calling a fatherfucker? I respect my father. But our King’s children are not like that.”

“If His Majesty has another bout of madness, um, if there is any trouble, the Crown Prince will definitely become regent. Our government will be blown away.”

Although the cabinet system has begun to be introduced in England, the royal power is still surprisingly strong.

The King is subject to the control of Parliament, but he can dismiss the Prime Minister if he wishes.

Because the Prime Minister is not elected by Parliament, but is a subject appointed by the King.

By the way, Prime Minister Pitt has a close relationship with King George III, but he has a very bad relationship with his successor, Prince George.

This is not Pitt’s fault, but because Prince George is a scoundrel and has fallen out of favor with George III.

So, in order to oppose the King, Prince George became friends with Fox, who was Pitt’s opponent.

Naturally, he is in a state where he has no choice but to be an opponent of Pitt, who has taken power.

England, where Parliament governs the country, is like this, but what about the Russian Empire?

“This problem is much more serious in Russia. Empress Catherine, for example, seized power in a coup, to put it in French terms.”

Pitt had an interesting expression at Castlereagh’s simple explanation.

“Go on. Is there a chance for the Crown Prince to make a comeback?”

Everyone has already forgotten that the Prime Minister was almost killed.

***

Everything in the world is governed by numbers.

“Ahem! As you know, our France has achieved a great victory on the continent. Therefore, we recommend that England stop the war.”

Pitt thought as he watched the French ambassador, Barras, pretending to be refined.

Population: England has to gather up to 16 million including Ireland, and France has 30 million in the mainland alone.

Army: England’s navy is 130,000, but its army can barely operate 40,000 in Europe, while France easily mobilized 300,000 for this expedition alone.

But the most troublesome thing is the budget.

Military budget alone is 10 million pounds for the navy, 40 million pounds for the army, and 10 million pounds for coalition support this year.

The national debt has already exceeded 500 million pounds.

How much can we fill with the new income tax?

Compared to this complex problem, the ambassador in front of him is nothing.

“Ambassador Barras, you are suddenly being high-handed.”

“Your Excellency Prime Minister Pitt, could it be that England’s famous spies are stuck in Dover? A truly great victory took place in the town of Austerlitz. Our Emperor!”

“Since when have you been so loyal to Napoleon, Ambassador?”

Pitt sneered at the moment when Barras, who was uncomfortable in the narrow seat of the Prime Minister’s residence, shut his mouth.

“Does Napoleon even know? That the ambassador enjoyed beautiful women and refined hobbies in London.”

In those days, strange hobbies were popular in London.

There was a gathering of gentlemen who gathered lower-class women who were aspiring actresses or artist models, stripped them naked, and admired them.

Nelson’s dead lover, Emma Hamilton, was also a woman who participated in such gatherings.

Pitt already knew that Barras had been participating frequently with other gentlemen recently.

Barras trembled and opened his mouth.

“Are you threatening me? Prime Minister?”

“I’m just asking. After all, it’s what gentlemen do in our England.”

“Ahem! I just, for the purpose of gathering information, uh, that’s right! I just saw what you guys were doing! And I don’t care about grown women, let alone children, ahem!”

When Barras, who almost mentioned his pedophilic hobby in a fit of pique, cleared his throat, Pitt clicked his tongue and said.

“Winning on land does not lift the naval blockade, Ambassador.”

This time, Barras also hardened his face.

Although he is in a fallen state, he is Barras, who once coveted power.

He knows very well how dangerous the naval blockade is.

Because it can cause damage to France comparable to war.

Barras glared at Pitt.

“What are you talking about? Is England going to continue the war alone?”

“Are you surprised? There are many places outside of Europe where England can fight. Egypt, Syria, and Louisiana. Oh, and Quebec, which has recently been seized by Russia. All places that must be crossed by sea.”

“Prime Minister!”

Pitt smiled and said to Barras, who was shouting.

“Ambassador, the victory of war is only a temporary glory. The important thing is always the economy. Didn’t the ambassador see it in London? The countless factories and merchant ships.”

England has already started the Industrial Revolution.

The steam engine spews smoke, the machine tools turn in the factory, and the spinning machines and looms weave thread and cloth.

The ships roam the five oceans as if they were their own seas, and the Atlantic Ocean is virtually England’s front yard, and India is virtually becoming English territory.

The sea that Barras witnessed directly in London.

Pitt shrugged at Barras, who was unable to speak.

“As long as India is in the hands of England, England’s glory will not end. Think carefully. Ambassador.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Persuade your home country.”

Pitt stared at Barras and said as if ordering.

“If you want to end the war, France must make concessions. Otherwise, the French will never be able to come out to the sea.”

Even if they lost on land, the sea still belongs to England.

Also, since the Age of Exploration, maritime trade has long surpassed the volume of land trade.

This structure has not changed.

Nevertheless, it is still strange that the winner asks the loser for peace.

“I might as well apply for asylum. First, I’ll send a quick letter.”

British Ambassador Barras gave up.

***

Of course, Pitt also knows that such peace negotiations are unlikely to happen.

“Prime Minister, you seem very motivated.”

Suddenly, Wyndham, the secretary, spoke to Pitt, who was drinking hot tea.

He has been assisting Pitt for a long time and has handled all kinds of state secrets, but he is the closest aide who does not covet his position.

On the other hand, Wyndham is also a person who can’t do anything without the Prime Minister.

Pitt turned to his faithful aide and smiled.

“No matter how hard I struggle, the fact that I lost to Napoleon doesn’t change.”

“You only lost the battle.”

“Humph, I can’t change the power structure of the continent. However, listening to Castlereagh gave me one possibility.”

Suddenly, Pitt’s gaze turned to the map still hanging on the wall.

“What if we bury Napoleon in the Russian permafrost?”

Originally, Pitt takes the map down from the wall of his office after the defeat at Austerlitz in original history.

Because it was a map he never wanted to see again.

However, at this moment, Pitt’s gaze is fixed on the east.

To that huge Russia, if only we could get France to advance.

Could there be a chance for a reversal?

“Is that possible?”

Pitt, who had returned to reality at Wyndham’s skeptical answer, looked out the window.

“We have to make it possible. That’s the only way our Great Britain can win.”

Staring at London in the fog, the Prime Minister is dreaming of a comeback.

Even though he lost at Austerlitz.