He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 459

(459) Napoleon Dreams of Becoming the Sole Emperor

First and foremost, starting a war requires the Emperor’s decision.

“However, that alone isn’t enough to begin. We need the consent of the military, the parliament, and the people. Especially in the citizen-based French Empire.”

Furthermore, the Emperor cannot do all of this alone.

That’s why, whether it’s an absolute monarchy or a citizen-based empire, the Emperor’s representative steps in.

Usually, the Emperor’s confidant, a powerful figure, or a chancellor takes on this role.

However, the French Empire doesn’t have a confidant like Godoy of Spain or a powerful prime minister like Pitt of England.

Strangely enough, Talleyrand, whose actual title is Foreign Minister, is the one taking action.

“It’s fortunate that we don’t need the consent of our allies and the Confederation of the Rhine, which is virtually a vassal state.”

“State Secretary Maret, that’s only nominally true. In reality, there was a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiation to gain their consent.”

“You’ve worked hard, Foreign Minister. So, the next step is persuading the parliament, right? All the marshals in the military have already agreed.”

Hugues-Bernard Maret, in principle, holds the title right below Grand Chancellor Cambacérès, making him the head of the cabinet.

However, in reality, his authority is weaker than that of Finance Minister Mollien, who controls the finances, or Interior Minister Chaptal, who is in charge of national development.

Thus, he is currently listening to Talleyrand’s ‘recommendations’ as if they were ‘instructions,’ while leaning on his cane.

“Well, I’m not sure if the parliament will be persuaded. Especially since Demoulin, a powerful figure in the lower house, is on very bad terms with the Emperor.”

Talleyrand smiled wryly.

In fact, the problem isn’t just Demoulin in the lower house.

Pierre-Simon de Laplace was appointed as the new speaker, replacing Demoulin, who had stepped down from his position as speaker of the lower house.

However, Laplace, as in later historical accounts, is currently only competent as a mathematician, not as a politician.

As a result, other influential figures in the lower house, especially Sieyès and Babeuf, are stirring up trouble.

In this situation, will the expedition really take place?

Talleyrand couldn’t be sure.

Especially since Babeuf is also known as an anti-war advocate.

-Thud!

Fouché entered with an excited expression.

“What is it, Minister Fouché?”

“Urgent news, Monsieur Talleyrand. We’ve received a report that Babeuf has been in contact with the British Alien Office.”

“The Alien Office? You mean the British intelligence department. Hmm.”

Fouché was surprised by Talleyrand’s nonchalant attitude and asked back.

“Isn’t this an emergency? One of the key opposition figures in the lower house is colluding with the enemy!”

“What are you talking about? I see Monsieur Wickham from time to time.”

“Yes? Wait, isn’t that part of diplomacy!”

Maret nodded, looking bewildered.

“That’s right. Shouldn’t we arrest him on charges of treason?”

However, Talleyrand closed his eyes and pondered.

Everyone in Paris knows that Babeuf is an opponent of the regime.

He should have been exiled for that reason alone, but Napoleon has left him alone until now.

If anything, it was an example of showing a kind of tolerance.

However, arresting or imprisoning him just because he contacted the British intelligence agency would not look good.

Besides, Talleyrand had a strange feeling.

The British Prime Minister has changed, but the foreign policy doesn’t seem to have changed.

Suddenly, Talleyrand opened his eyes.

“The British instigated this war.”

“Yes? What do you mean all of a sudden? The British are instigating a war? Are you perhaps talking about the Russian expedition?”

“That’s right, Fouché. Whether the Freemasons moved, or Pitt pulled some strings, the British instigated the war.”

Of course, Fouché and Maret, who are listening, think it’s absurd.

In the first place, the Russian expedition began with Tsar Paul’s insane decision.

The Crown Prince committed treason to stop the mad act of the Indian expedition.

Napoleon declared the expedition to take advantage of this issue for French hegemony.

This much is common sense among the ministers of the Imperial Cabinet.

But suddenly, a British conspiracy theory? Isn’t that going too far?

However, Talleyrand said something even more absurd.

“We should use this to our advantage. Thanks to the British, it might be easier to get approval for the Russian expedition.”

“Yes? No, Foreign Minister. Of course, it’s hard to believe that it’s the British, but if it’s a conspiracy, shouldn’t we first uncover the British intentions?”

“Stop the Russian expedition? After His Majesty declared it in front of the princes, marshals, parliamentarians, and ambassadors?”

Suddenly, Talleyrand stared at Fouché and twisted his lips.

“This expedition cannot be stopped. Then, we must let the Emperor, the British, and even the Russian Tsar have their way and allow the great expedition to happen!”

The war cannot be stopped.

Then, use the British to get parliamentary approval much more easily.

This is how Talleyrand solves problems.

Just as Fouché frowned and nodded, Maret asked with a complicated expression.

“Foreign Minister, but isn’t this war too risky? Especially if the British triggered it.”

“His Majesty has won every war. King Eugene of Spain is also participating, and the Seven Marshals of the Reverse will accompany him. Besides, hasn’t Britain provoked wars until now?”

“Even so, what if we lose?”

At that moment, Talleyrand replied with a nonchalant attitude.

“If we lose in the Great Expedition, why worry about what will happen then? Everything will be over.”

The Napoleonic regime will collapse.

Fouché and Maret both froze.

Of course, both of them have pursued power and changed their political positions to get to where they are now.

Anyway, everyone here was once a revolutionary, whether they were Jacobins [radical revolutionaries during the French Revolution] or Girondins [moderate republicans during the French Revolution].

Nevertheless, they can’t get used to Talleyrand talking about the destruction of the monarch as if it were natural.

“If, just if, such a thing happens, what should we do?”

Maret asked without realizing it, and Talleyrand left the room, leaning on his cane.

“Well, we just have to welcome the new power. For France.”

After all, what Talleyrand is loyal to is France, not the Emperor.

***

Even to those who don’t know war, this expedition seems too reckless.

“Marie, does Napoleon really have to leave for the front? Then, is Eugene going too?”

Empress Josephine ran to Marie as soon as she saw her and grabbed her.

Marie was slightly embarrassed and took Josephine’s hand in return.

Perhaps because her daughter left for the New World recently, Josephine also seems to be deeply worried.

“Your Majesty, it seems the declaration has already been made. Don’t worry too much. The Emperor and Eugene have always been safe on the battlefield, haven’t they?”

“Just because they’ve been safe until now doesn’t mean they’ll be safe in the future! Goodness, Russia. Isn’t that the land of ice? What is there to gain there that he’s taking hundreds of thousands of people?”

“His Majesty’s logic is that if he doesn’t take hundreds of thousands of people this time, millions of French people will die.”

Marie spoke of a logic that she herself didn’t seem convinced of.

“If we don’t subdue Russia this time, the ‘Ivans’ [a common, somewhat derogatory term for Russians] of Russia will invade France and kill us in the future.”

In fact, Eugene might have been a little surprised if he had been there.

Of course, this is not what actually happened in the original history.

However, Russia will eventually become a force threatening Western Europe, centered on Britain and France.

The world war was actually started by a unified Germany.

However, Napoleon has completely divided Germany.

In other words, there are only two forces that threaten France’s hegemony.

Britain and Russia, the great powers of the sea and land.

But Britain cannot be conquered right now.

Because the French navy is weaker than the British, even if you combine New France in the New World and the Spanish fleet.

If Napoleon attempts a landing operation in Britain, he will eventually be defeated, as he did at Trafalgar in the original history.

So, Napoleon’s grand strategy is to subdue Russia first.

“That makes no sense. When have the Russians ever invaded us? Nonsense!”

Of course, Empress Josephine, or any sensible French person, would think it’s nonsense.

Maybe if they were fighting Britain.

Also, if that were the case, wouldn’t Napoleon not need to go to the battlefield, or even be able to go?

Marie sighed.

“It can’t be helped. His Majesty has already decided, hasn’t he?”

“Can’t Eugene persuade him? He doesn’t listen to me, Napoleone.”

“I also told him not to go. But.”

Suddenly, Marie looked resentfully towards the office in the center of the Palace of Fontainebleau and whispered.

“This is a matter of whether he can protect His Majesty’s throne. He can’t give in.”

That’s why the Emperor cannot give up the war.

Unless he intends to give up the throne.

Or, his life.

***

The Emperor smiled with satisfaction and asked.

“Eugene, how is it? Do you think it will pass?”

Eugene blinked.

Right now, there are more than one or two items that need to be passed.

But if it’s the passage of the war resolution, Talleyrand will be preparing it.

Could Demoulin have caused a problem?

After choosing his words for a moment, Eugene decided to answer simply.

“If it’s the lower house, it will definitely pass.”

“No, what I’m asking is the road to Russia.”

“If it’s that issue, isn’t Berthier preparing thoroughly?”

The route to Russia is the responsibility of the General Staff.

Besides, isn’t Eugene strictly speaking a foreign king?

But Napoleon seems to have decided to rely on Eugene’s ‘brain’ in this great expedition.

Napoleon chuckled and asked Eugene back.

“Don’t joke. Lucien says they’re making something called [railroad] in New France. Is that it?”

Eugene’s eyes widened.

It is true that Eugene carried out experimental plans in New France that are difficult to carry out in the Old World.

One of them is the full-scale introduction of steam engines.

In fact, there is not much empty land in Europe, so it was often difficult to conduct large-scale experiments.

However, it is still a technology far from being practical, but Lucien seems to have been impressed and told him about it on his way home.

“Uncle Lucien said unnecessary things.”

“Why? It seems very useful. It just moves by putting in coal! Doesn’t that mean people and supplies can be moved by machine!”

“That’s something that can only be used when Your Majesty rules Europe over the next 10 years. It’s impossible now.”

Eugene shook his head and said.

“I’m planning to mobilize steam cars on a large scale, but I’ll use them for combat. They’re not efficient enough to use for supply.”

He had already used the steam car tactics once during the Egyptian expedition.

Of course, Eugene doesn’t know if it will work properly in cold Russia.

Napoleon shrugged, staring at Eugene, who didn’t give a clear answer.

If Eugene can’t give an answer, then he can just implement the General Staff’s existing advance plan.

“Okay. Then, report as soon as you have a plan.”

“I have one question I want to ask. Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

Eugene paused for a moment and said to Napoleon.

“If it’s just an expedition, you don’t necessarily have to go yourself. Do you really have to go in person?”

The Russian Great Expedition is risky even without mentioning the original history.

However, if Napoleon does not go to the front himself, the risk he has to bear after defeat is reduced by half.

Anyway, even in the original history, it is true that it was more difficult to deal with the tragedy that occurred during the expedition because Napoleon was not in the country.

Napoleon replied firmly.

“No, I have to go myself.”

“What’s the reason?”

“You can guess, Eugene.”

Suddenly, Napoleon looked back at the globe and pointed to Russia with his marshal’s staff.

“When I personally command and win this great war, I will finally become the sole Emperor.”

There, another Emperor, the Tsar, rules Russia.

When this war is over, only one Emperor will remain.

Whoever wins.