He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 441

(441) The Rise of the Anti-Imperial Faction in France

It’s a common sentiment that many dislike those in power, and even more dislike those who have just attained it.

“The same holds true for those who dislike Bonaparte, like us, who come from diverse backgrounds,” François-Noël Babeuf, who styled himself as [Gracchus] Babeuf, began.

In France, it’s practically a tradition for politicians to conduct meetings in restaurants or cafes.

However, the man before me was not someone you could casually encounter in public.

Firstly, his advocacy for radical redistribution theories, enough to earn him recognition as a forefather of communism in later generations, was a secondary issue. The real problem lay elsewhere.

He was, after all, the leader of an anti-government faction.

In fact, according to the original course of history, this man should have already died during the Consulate era.

Sieyès frowned as he looked at Babeuf, the head of the [Equals], a group considered the most dangerous in France.

He knew that if Savary’s secret police discovered Babeuf was at his residence, the consequences would be unpleasant.

“I have no intention of joining forces with you, Babeuf.”

“Oh, come now, Representative Sieyès. Are you content to remain in your current state, slowly fading into obscurity?”

“I’m managing to eat bread just fine. Brioche, too, of course,” Sieyès retorted, attempting a lighthearted tone before turning serious.

“Don’t you think France is too stable right now for your vision of an equal world to take root?”

Babeuf had once been popular among the lower classes.

This was shortly after Hébert’s failed attempt to assassinate Robespierre, which resulted in Hébert’s own demise.

At that time, France was still grappling with economic hardship, soaring prices, and the burdens of war.

Babeuf had then called for the seizure of bankers’ assets, the redistribution of all land, and the imprisonment of the wealthy.

However, with Napoleon’s victories and the stabilization of the economy, Babeuf’s popularity had vanished like a bubble.

But the lingering issue was the [Explosion Conspiracy] incident that occurred just before Napoleon’s rise to emperor.

Rumors of Babeuf’s involvement in the conspiracy still circulated in hushed tones.

As Sieyès pondered whether this man was truly the culprit, a commotion arose from outside the second-floor mansion window.

“Kyahaha! What’s with your outfit today!”

“Hey, what’s wrong with it? Even Princess Hortense wears [Empire Style]!”

“Is that even considered clothing? Pfft!”

Women in revealing attire were seen chattering in the streets.

This was the Empire fashion, a style popularized by Hortense that was all the rage.

In essence, it was a see-through style, and it was quite fashionable among Parisian women to sometimes forgo wearing underwear altogether.

Men watched the women, clicking their tongues.

Among them were faces Sieyès recognized.

“That woman is one to talk about others when she’s practically half-naked herself.”

“We’re simply enjoying the view. Anyway, have you heard? Prince Eugène was crowned king in Spain this time? Since then, the Beauharnais Cartel has been making significant inroads into South America.”

“Is there something to be gained over there? I’ve heard whispers.”

These were Perego and Perier, shareholders of the French Central Bank.

While they couldn’t compare to the Beauharnais Cartel, both were influential figures at the apex of the French financial world.

Just as Sieyès was about to eavesdrop, the two bankers began to whisper, unaware that they were being overheard.

“Well, there’s cotton, renowned silver, and apparently iron ore and coal. You know they’re building a factory in the Vendée that runs on coal, right?”

“I really don’t like that. Instead of people, lumps of metal are doing the work.”

“Of course, that’s not all. There’s also sugar cane and coffee, but those originally came from Martinique or New France [former French colonies in North America].”

Perego suddenly glanced around and lowered his voice.

“This is a secret, but a Prussian scholar named Humboldt is conducting research in the New World. And there’s this stuff called [Guano], which is essentially hardened bird droppings.”

As Perier looked at him questioningly, Perego revealed something surprising.

“It has the same ingredients as [Saltpeter] [Potassium nitrate, a key component of gunpowder].”

“What? Wait, that thing you make gunpowder with?”

“That’s right. The country is either forcibly digging it out of outhouses or importing it from Indian kingdoms that haven’t fallen into British hands yet, right?”

In this era, the Indian subcontinent was the primary exporter of saltpeter.

Of course, since Britain controlled the Indian subcontinent, it could be said that it was a trade item dominated by Britain.

As of the early 19th century, Britain imported approximately 7,500 tons from India, nearly three times the 2,500 tons of artificial saltpeter, or niter, that France produced and used annually during wartime.

Moreover, Indian saltpeter was of superior quality compared to French-produced niter.

It’s no wonder the British army outperformed the French army in the original timeline.

However, from the mid-19th century onward, Chilean saltpeter began to eclipse Indian saltpeter in the original history.

During this period, Chilean guano was not a major focus in the original history, but this changed when Eugène seized Spain.

French capital began to be invested in guano development in earnest.

“I heard the Beauharnais Cartel is trying to commercialize it and is investing heavily.”

“No, then there’s no room for us to get involved.”

“It’s not like that. The place where guano is found is on the opposite side of the South American continent. It’s hard to reach by ship. So, you have to뚫고 [Korean word for ‘penetrate’ or ‘break through’] open up transportation routes to get there, transport it, and finally go through the gunpowder manufacturing process.”

Perier nodded at Perego’s explanation.

“That would be an investment.”

“Right? So, you’re friends with Monsieur Colot, right?”

“Well, yes. But it’s better to meet Damas for this kind of thing. Let’s see, I knew someone among Antoine Damas’ relatives.”

The two bankers engaged in a lively discussion and then disappeared into the distance.

Babeuf twisted his lips.

“Jean-Frédéric Perego and Claude Perier have also sided with the Beauharnais Cartel, or rather, Bonaparte.”

“As you can see, Princess Hortense is in charge of French fashion, King Eugène is in charge of the business world, and Napoleon is at the top. The world you dream of will never come, Babeuf.”

“Haven’t you ever considered that to be Bonaparte’s weakness?”

Babeuf suddenly turned to Sieyès and asked.

“Do you think Napoleon will choose Eugène, who is not his own child, when he chooses an heir?”

Sieyès narrowed his eyes.

Napoleon was still only 39 years old, too young to be preoccupied with succession.

However, determining an heir was also a matter of solidifying the throne.

Once the succession structure was clear, its permanence would be recognized both domestically and abroad.

However, Charles Napoleon, born in 1802 and 6 years old this year, was too young.

On the other hand, Eugène, born in 1781 and 27 years old this year, was of an appropriate age to succeed Napoleon, but the age difference with the emperor was only 12 years.

In short, the emperor’s succession structure was clearly a vulnerability of the Bonaparte regime.

Sieyès, who had been scrutinizing Babeuf, spoke.

“You’re not acting alone, are you, Babeuf?”

“It’s no secret that there are Republican British exiles backing me.”

“Not the British government?”

Sieyès was also aware of the rumor that British spymaster Aubergne was supporting Babeuf.

So far, Surte and the secret police must have remained passive because it didn’t pose a threat to the system.

But would that still be the case when they initiated an anti-imperial movement?

However, one particular word resonated with Sieyès.

Babeuf calmly responded even to the pointed question.

“So, are you going to remain on the political fringes and die of old age? Napoleon will inevitably falter someday. If you want to capitalize on that moment, you must prepare now.”

Sieyès gritted his teeth.

Sieyès had once spearheaded the French Revolution and authored the Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution.

It was also Sieyès who developed the Third Estate theory.

However, since Robespierre had taken the helm, Sieyès had never been the central figure.

In the original history, he had attempted to regain prominence by orchestrating Napoleon’s coup behind the scenes, but was instead outmaneuvered by Napoleon.

But now, Napoleon had not even staged a coup, so Sieyès had not led anything.

This situation ignited a fire in Sieyès’s heart.

Sieyès suddenly glared at Babeuf.

“Babeuf, there are three prerequisites to overthrowing Napoleon. It’s not something that can be achieved by recklessly resorting to terrorism like you or by simply voicing opposition.”

“For the record, I have never condoned terrorism. Anyway, tell me. Conspirator who overthrew the king.”

“The conspirator is Mirabeau, not me. If that man hadn’t died, a young boy like Napoleon would never have dominated the era. Tsk.”

Sieyès clicked his tongue and continued.

“First, we need an opposition party within the ruling party.”

Babeuf tilted his head.

“What is that?”

“We need individuals within Napoleon’s party who oppose his policies. In the old Great Revolution, the reformists who challenged the king eventually became our allies during the revolution.”

“Hmm, that sounds plausible. Do you have anyone in mind?”

At that moment, Sieyès’s eyes gleamed.

“Camille Desmoulins.”

Desmoulins was the chairman of the Council of Five Hundred and the owner of Paris’s leading media company, Le Vieux Cordelier.

***

Of course, in reality, Desmoulins was a politician who had attained that position because he was a pro-Napoleon supporter.

“W-Why did you, B-Babeuf, c-come to m-me, I w-wondered, but you w-want me to o-oppose the E-Emperor?”

Originally, he delivered speeches that incited the public during the Great Revolution, but fundamentally, Desmoulins was a moderate.

In the original history, he was even executed for opposing the Reign of Terror.

Even now, he didn’t particularly favor the Emperor’s dictatorship, so he hadn’t received a title, but he wasn’t actively opposed to it either.

Sieyès smiled.

“That’s right, Monsieur Desmoulins.”

“I, I, I d-don’t o-oppose His M-Majesty the Emperor.”

“The habit of stuttering when you’re flustered is still there. Who said we should commit treason? We’re simply creating an opposition party.”

As Desmoulins’ eyes widened, Sieyès explained in a gentle tone.

“Just as it did after the revolution, when the Jacobins and Girondins vied for power, we need a healthy critical force.”

Of course, it sounded plausible.

In fact, although it was a monarchy ruled by the emperor, the French Empire still had a parliament.

Even if you didn’t contemplate treason, the freedom to form a party nominally remained.

Even in the neighboring country of England, hadn’t the Whigs, who opposed the Tories, once controlled the government?

Desmoulins also blinked as if he was tempted.

“A c-critical f-force?”

“That’s right. You, Desmoulins, must not like the Emperor’s dictatorship. Besides, aren’t you aiming for hereditary succession?”

“A-According to the C-Constitution, the E-Empire is a c-citizen E-Empire, d-determined by v-voting. E-Even the E-Emperor’s p-position.”

However, Sieyès shook his head dismissively.

“Is that really the case? The Emperor already has two sons. King Eugène of Spain and his own son, Charles Napoleon. In particular, he even named his own son after himself.”

Desmoulins held his breath at Sieyès’s words.

“Indeed, if this isn’t a sign of hereditary succession, what is it?”

Clearly, Napoleon desired hereditary succession.

Currently, it had the appearance of a citizen empire and politics according to the constitution.

But when hereditary succession was explicitly promoted, would the facade of constitutional government still be maintained?

Desmoulins, who had been contemplating for a long time, asked.

“What should I do?”

Still, Desmoulins had not abandoned the ideals of the revolution.

***

In the Council of Five Hundred, Desmoulins’s roar, which was free of stuttering on the podium, reverberated.

“His Majesty the Emperor is clearly implementing excellent policies! However, hereditary succession must not be allowed! I, Camille Desmoulins, demand that a voting system in which everyone has the right to be elected be incorporated into the Constitution!”

The sudden outburst from the Speaker of the House startled everyone.

Of course, there were those who were trembling not with surprise because they knew in advance, but with the thrill of success.

Babeuf said to Sieyès.

“The second is to undermine Napoleon’s successor.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, what is the third? A large-scale trade blockade from England?”

This was what had transpired in the original history.

However, Sieyès believed that France could not be pressured in that manner.

Firstly, a naval blockade was extremely challenging in the Mediterranean.

In particular, even France’s Atlantic trade, which should have been completely blockaded in the original history, was being sustained through Spanish ships.

Sieyès proposed an alternative approach.

“No, Napoleon must destroy himself. Even in his area of greatest strength: war.”

“What are you talking about? How can Napoleon lose in war?”

“Look. Aren’t you reacting like this too?”

Sieyès chuckled softly and replied.

“But no conqueror in history has ever remained undefeated until the end. Eventually, they will suffer a defeat. Tell Pitt, who is backing you. You can’t win unless you lure him into war.”

As Babeuf was taken aback, Sieyès’s eyes gleamed.

“Send Napoleon to India, Russia, or even London.”

In the end, only Napoleon himself can bring about Napoleon’s downfall.