He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 460

(460) The French Lower House Declares the Russian War of Liberation

The news threw all of France into an uproar.

“War, you say? A Russian expedition? On what grounds?”

The booming voice echoed from the Palais Royal café, nestled beneath the old Palais d’Orléans.

The man shouting was none other than Pérregaux, a director of the Bank of France.

It was unusual for someone who wasn’t a politician, soldier, or diplomat to be so vocally discussing war.

But it also showed just how close the French Empire was to war.

Another director, Perier, who had been cautiously observing their surroundings, lowered his voice and countered.

“But isn’t Russia the Empire’s only ally? And yet, the new Tsar is said to harbor anti-French sentiments!”

“Who’s the *only* ally? What about Spain? Sweden? Are Batavia [modern-day Netherlands] and Helvetia [modern-day Switzerland] not countries?”

“Well, frankly, they’re satellite states and principalities! Hmm, there aren’t any Spaniards nearby, are there?”

Perier cleared his throat, mindful of the increasing Spanish trade lately.

Although they tried to keep their voices down, secrets whispered in a café are bound to be overheard.

Especially by those watching from the second-floor gallery of the Palais Royal.

Damas, the general manager of the Beauharnais Cartel, frowned as he looked down.

“The atmosphere is quite grim today.”

“Remember that those men are directors of the Bank of France, Monsieur Damas.”

“Aren’t they the ones who need to impress His Majesty the Emperor? Monsieur Recamier?”

Recamier, who had come to discuss business with Damas, scoffed at overhearing the two rivals’ conversation.

“Pérregaux and Perier are loyal to money, unlike you or me. And unlike Monsieur Baring.”

Damas smiled wryly, wondering if Recamier was truly not loyal to money.

However, compared to the Rothschild family, who had hedged their bets during the Third Coalition War, Recamier was indeed a more loyal financier to France.

Besides, Baring’s recent moves were quite unsettling.

Damas recalled a report obtained from the Brussels branch in Flanders some time ago and said,

“Monsieur Baring has been investing in Desmoulins, Babeuf, and Sieyès lately.”

“All anti-Emperor politicians.”

“Why would he do such a thing? The French Imperial system would be more advantageous for Barings Bank, wouldn’t it?”

Recamier chuckled and replied.

“It’s different if you want to survive in England. Gold doesn’t protect lives. You and I saw plenty of that during the revolution, didn’t we? The nobles dying.”

No matter how much wealth a financier possessed, they could not survive if they became a target of politicians.

Recamier and Damas had witnessed this countless times during the French Revolution.

But for Barings Bank, which had grown alongside the Beauharnais Cartel, to effectively become an enemy was indeed disheartening.

Damas clicked his tongue.

“Indeed, even this Palais Royal was once owned by the Duke of Orléans.”

“Speaking of which, where is the Duke of Orléans now? It seems the Count of Provence and the Count of Artois fled to England.”

“He’s said to have gone to the New World. After all, his son, the Duke of Chartres, has become the conqueror of Quebec. According to Albert Fermont, who recently returned, he calls himself the Grand Duke of Alaska and Quebec.”

Damas muttered sarcastically.

“It seems the Tsar, who should be granting the title of Grand Duke, is about to abdicate.”

The news of Tsar Pavel’s imminent downfall had already spread widely in Paris.

Indeed, was it the right choice to start a war for a Tsar who was destined to lose anyway?

Damas didn’t have an answer to Pérregaux’s complaints.

On the other hand, Recamier kept questioning other issues.

“Doesn’t His Majesty King Eugene intend to resolve the New World issue? While Nueva España [New Spain, i.e., Mexico] is one thing, shouldn’t Quebec be integrated into New France?”

“His Majesty is truly a financier. Do you know that he is subordinating Spain to the French Central Bank and the Banque Beauharnais? Similarly, he intends to economically subordinate Quebec.”

“The influence is limited, always. Even the Beauharnais Cartel, which you command, isn’t immune, is it? Dupont is independent, Fermont is showing signs of defection, and what about Collo of the Milan Bank?”

Recamier was right.

It was slightly better when Eugene was the Viceroy of New France.

However, after becoming the King of Spain, members of the Beauharnais Cartel began to show signs of independence.

Yet, Damas, as the head of the Beauharnais Cartel, found it difficult to stop this movement.

When you think about it, Dupont, Fermont, and Collo were all loyal to Eugene.

Moreover, Eugene was no longer just a powerful figure in politics, the military, or finance, but a king.

Therefore, it was difficult to pay attention to every detail of the Beauharnais Cartel, and there was no need to be solely focused on private enterprises.

If Dupont, Fermont, or Collo only engaged in economic cooperation with Spain, it wouldn’t be a problem for Eugene.

Damas, who was faithful to his role as Eugene’s representative, couldn’t overlook this issue.

But instead of explaining this, Damas shook his head.

“You shouldn’t be worrying about others’ affairs. Take care of the Banque Recamier, shouldn’t you?”

“In the end, the Russian expedition is the problem, Damas.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Recamier’s eyes gleamed.

“All the assets, territories, and power in France today were created by the revolution. King Eugene and the Beauharnais Cartel are good examples. All of that can be swept away in this one expedition!”

In the end, Recamier seemed to have come because he was worried about the Russian expedition.

“You oppose the expedition.”

“Of course. The victory is uncertain, and the risk of defeat is high! Even if we win, the Russian market isn’t that attractive anyway, is it?”

“This is a matter of hegemony. Also.”

Damas replied firmly.

“The Beauharnais Cartel belongs to His Majesty King Eugene. We only follow Eugene.”

Even though Damas harbored the same concerns.

However, even as Eugene’s collaborator, Recamier’s position as an independent financier was different.

After staring intently at Damas for a moment, Recamier clicked his tongue and turned away.

“A loyal subject is one who gives wise advice. Remember that.”

But when you think about it, Recamier himself was in a position where he couldn’t give such advice to Eugene or Napoleon.

***

War is ultimately a gamble, and when the game begins, gamblers gather.

“Finally, the opportunity has come! Sieyès!”

Sieyès thought that uninvited guests were visiting his home too often these days.

He was starting to worry if he should assess the situation and withdraw.

However, he agreed with the statement that the opportunity had come.

While quietly drinking coffee, Sieyès replied to the uninvited guest.

“It’s been a while, Monsieur Barras. Was life in London interesting?”

“Heh heh! Don’t joke. It was days of being pushed out of power and wandering in the periphery. But now, it’s different!”

“London isn’t the periphery. Besides, I believe you brought a warning from England?”

Barras, the French ambassador to England, twisted his lips.

“That’s right. The new Prime Minister Pitt has sent a letter urging France not to intervene in Russia. But will the Emperor listen to this?”

Although he spent more time in Paris than staying in London, Barras was still the ambassador representing France.

Yet, he seemed to be speaking on behalf of Pitt.

Of course, Napoleon probably sent Barras to London to use him as a disposable card.

But Barras had gone too far and had become pro-British.

Thinking about what he himself would do, Sieyès raised his coffee cup again.

“He won’t listen to a single word. He’ll probably use it as an excuse. Pitt probably knew this and did it anyway, right?”

“Of course! He thought the Emperor would definitely jump into the war. It’s about building a justification for the declaration of war.”

“How is England prepared? Is it enough to threaten France?”

Barras looked around and spoke softly.

“The British fleet and troops drafted from colonies around the world are heading to London.”

Considering that this was Sieyès’s home, he probably just wanted to look dramatic.

But the information was definitely something Sieyès was interested in.

The outcome could change depending on how prepared England was.

“I heard a lot of supplies have been piled up at the Cape of Good Hope.”

“It’s because of that Suez Canal thing. I heard the stock price is soaring? But I guarantee that once the British fleet is in full swing, there won’t be any French ships that can use that canal. Throughout the Indian Ocean.”

“Well, England’s naval supremacy can never be broken. Not with the French navy.”

After showing a moment of relief, Sieyès threw out a word.

“When you return, send someone who can move troops in France in case of an emergency. Dumouriez would be good.”

Sieyès didn’t know the outcome of the Russian expedition.

He also didn’t know how effective England’s preparations would be.

But when everyone was away, staging a coup in Paris was possible.

To Sieyès, who was mentioning a general who had rebelled and fled in the past, Barras tilted his head and asked.

“Well, I don’t mind. But who will encourage this expedition this time?”

In any case, the immediate match was to encourage the Russian expedition nationwide.

***

Today, the French Five Hundred Council, soon to become the Lower House, is seething.

“Today, I would like to make an important announcement.”

Babeuf, the leader of the Equals and representing the old Jacobin forces, spoke.

In fact, he couldn’t even join the ranks when the Jacobins were at their peak.

But now that all the Jacobins were dead, turned traitor, or became Napoleon’s faction, only Babeuf remained.

So to speak, Babeuf, an old-fashioned activist, gave a loud speech using the techniques of the revolution.

“It has been 10 years since the Great Revolution began. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity! The three great spirits have spread throughout Europe, we have overthrown monarchs, and we have defeated the Habsburgs.”

The Lower House members, the old revolutionaries, looked at each other.

“Why is he suddenly doing this?”

“Aren’t the Equals originally anti-war?”

“That’s strange. Check if he’s being sarcastic.”

Then Babeuf shouted.

“But! The last oppressor in the East, those who oppress the people in the name of serfdom, the Tsar remains!”

The Tsar, that is, the ruler of Russia, soon Pavel.

All the Lower House members were shocked.

Now, the French Empire, especially the Emperor, had declared an expedition to help their ally Pavel.

Yet, in a situation where they were discussing the agreement of the expedition, he was cursing the Tsar as an oppressor?

Even if it was true, it was dangerous.

Someone had to stop him.

Desmoulins, the former Speaker of the Lower House, was about to stand up and shout to shut up.

Again, Babeuf roared.

“I advise the nation. I demand of the Emperor. Overthrow the Tsarist regime and liberate the people of Russia! That is the spirit of the revolution!”

For a moment, silence fell.

The content did not deviate from the claims of the Equals.

Spread the revolutionary spirit throughout Europe, defeat the oppressors, and liberate the people.

But the means were strange.

Instantly, Desmoulins shouted.

“Good heavens, Babeuf just approved of the war!”

Babeuf nodded vigorously and announced to the council.

“Let’s liberate Russia in the name of the Great Revolution!”

At that moment, as if in response, the council members shouted.

-Waaah!

At this moment, the Russian Grand Expedition became a war for the Great Revolution.

Although it was a fake speech, this speech became a historical irony that would remain in history.