He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 485

(485) In the System, Eugene Advocates for Emancipation

All this commotion is, in fact, just events in Western Europe.

“Hahaha! My friend, Emperor Napoleon. Do not worry! When winter passes and spring comes, the Rasputitsa [the season of muddy roads due to melting snow] will end. Then you can lead a great army and quell the rebellion. I will help too!”

Today, Tsar Pavel continues to make grand pronouncements.

It’s likely more to hide his own anxiety.

External news is virtually cut off.

The borders are closed due to the rebellious princes of the French Empire, and the seas are blocked by England.

The only news coming in is mostly through the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, and Syria.

Moreover, even the French Empire’s mainland is said to be in rebellion.

But if Napoleon loses power, will Pavel be better off?

Of course not.

Naturally, he is making a fuss to reassure Napoleon.

Of course, Napoleon himself remains utterly calm.

Watching Napoleon casually listening to Pavel’s words in the Winter Palace, Marshal Junot shrugged.

“He looks like an emperor in a time of great peace, Pavel does.”

“He’s a hopeless case.”

“Then, do we have to be stuck here hopelessly? Your Majesty? The situation in Spain doesn’t seem very good either.”

However, Eugene only chuckled and replied.

“Once winter passes, we must return, Junot.”

Junot clicked his tongue, feeling that this boldness was similar to Napoleon, as if he were his ‘son’.

Of course, the French Imperial Army wasn’t just playing around in Russia.

They built temporary encampments to preserve their forces and did their best with sanitation.

They also recruited from allied Russia and Sweden to replenish their lost troops.

However, all of Europe has turned against France.

It’s no wonder that anxious voices are rising among the Grande Armée stationed in Russia.

How will the Emperor and the King solve this problem?

Shaking off his thoughts, Junot stepped into the hallway.

“What have you decided about the Russian partition plan?”

This time it was Marshal Masséna.

Currently, the Winter Palace is like the French Empire’s Tuileries Palace [the former royal residence in Paris], with French figures scattered everywhere.

Especially marshals and senior generals are abundant, and Masséna is coming and going as if it were his own home.

Of course, it’s because he thinks there’s much to gain in Russia.

Eugene shrugged, looking at Masséna.

“I am currently negotiating with Empress Maria Feodorovna. More than anything, she seems interested in the possibility of passing the throne to Alexander’s daughter.”

“So, it’s because she loves her son the most?”

“To be precise, she probably thinks Grand Duke Konstantin is too lacking. And the princes Nikolai and Mikhail are too young.”

The Russian Imperial Court knows best that Tsar Pavel is not in a normal state.

They also know that the power to determine their fate is not in Russia.

The Empress, as the representative of the court, knows this fact and is being led around by Eugene.

Suddenly curious, Junot chimed in.

“What’s the big picture? The Empress will eventually be persuaded by our King.”

“It’s not confirmed yet. However, I plan to divide it based on the old Kievan Rus’ era.”

“Kievan Rus’?”

Junot and Masséna, not very familiar with Russian history, looked at each other, and Eugene chuckled as he explained.

“The Tsar in Saint Petersburg will take the position of Grand Duke of Kyiv, and the remaining territories will be occupied by kings and queens.”

Of course, it’s not about demoting the Tsar to a Grand Duke.

Before the Russian Empire was established, there was an era when dukes stood side by side, centered around the Grand Duke of Kyiv.

At that time, Russia appeared as one to the outside world, but it was also divided internally.

The system that Eugene is trying to introduce to Russia now is the same as then.

Masséna nodded casually and asked again.

“Then, what about the titles, territories, and rewards for our expeditionary generals?”

This seems to be the real reason Masséna rushed over as soon as he found Eugene in the Winter Palace.

“Do you prefer Russia to the New World, Masséna?”

“Come now, Your Majesty, the King of Spain. Didn’t you return because you preferred the Old World to the New World? Besides, the lands of Nueva España [New Spain, a former Spanish colony in North America] already have owners, don’t they?”

“La Plata [a region in South America] in the south is a bit different. There are many unexplored territories.”

In fact, Eugene has been asking Masséna to join his line.

However, as long as Eugene is the King of Spain, the rewards given to Masséna will mainly be Spanish territories.

Furthermore, it is true that New World territories are more likely than mainland Spain, where most owners have already been determined.

But Masséna, being European and older, seems to prefer the Old World.

Besides, Masséna had another reason.

“I like France anyway. Even if I have Russian territory, I will be an absentee landlord. Where is it?”

Gazing at Masséna, who said he preferred France, Eugene replied.

“Kyiv.”

“Huh? Wait, didn’t you say that was just a model?”

“The place also needs a Grand Duke. Masséna, you will have to choose one of your sons-in-law as one of the Russian Grand Dukes.”

Two sons and two daughters, that’s Masséna’s family situation.

The eldest daughter is already married, so it means discussing the marriage of the younger daughter or the eldest son.

If you want to become a Russian aristocrat, you must, of course, have a political marriage with the Russian aristocratic society.

Masséna opened his mouth wide and shook his head.

“It will be difficult to be a comfortable absentee landlord if that happens, damn it!”

When you think about it, Eugene left Masséna, a man with happy worries, behind.

Because there was someone else he had to meet today.

***

The French ambassador to Saint Petersburg, Danton, frowned.

“Bernadotte as Grand Duke of Finland? Is this something His Majesty can approve?”

“It’s not a very good position, Ambassador Danton.”

“Well, it’s a position that stands out to anyone. Marshal Augereau said he would give the Duchy of Livonia, didn’t he?”

Eugene held out the personnel plan and picked up his coffee cup.

“Instead, both Augereau and Masséna can be absentee landlords. It’s difficult for the Grand Duke of Finland.”

In fact, the problem that Eugene was most concerned about in the Russian Empire was not the preservation of the Grande Armée, the ever-changing European political situation, or even the affairs of France or Spain.

It was the division of the empire and personnel selection.

Of course, it wasn’t just Eugene, but the entire French Empire’s leadership, including Napoleon.

Only by dividing this vast Russian Empire can the French Empire justify its expedition to the far east.

Also, a huge division of interests becomes possible.

This means that generals, soldiers, and even the French people can be convinced.

However, Danton had a reluctant face because the Grand Duchy of Finland, although a corps commander, was going to Bernadotte.

However, Eugene had a valid reason.

During the Battle of Borodino, Bernadotte’s actions gave him the opportunity to kill Alexander.

That achievement is difficult to exchange with any other general.

“If this happens, King Joseph of Sweden will hate it very much.”

“The Grand Duke of Finland can become King Joseph’s son-in-law.”

“What did you say?”

Eugene pointed out the problem of the current King of Sweden, Joseph.

“After all, King Joseph only has daughters, doesn’t he? Bernadotte is unmarried. It’s a perfect match.”

Of course, he also considered appointing other marshals or generals.

However, among the high-ranking generals, only two are unmarried, which is absurd.

That is Bernadotte and the playboy, Hippolyte.

No matter how close he is, Hippolyte doesn’t have enough merit to give him the Grand Duchy, so Bernadotte was eventually selected.

When you think about it, it’s a result similar to the original history.

But Joubert, who was listening, opened his mouth.

“Then, what about Marshal Moreau?”

Eugene sat in a chair at the French Embassy in Russia, turned to Joubert, and smiled.

“Joubert, why are you worried about that? Worry about your own title.”

“The position I want is a soldier in His Majesty’s Imperial Guard.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean. I’ll give you Anchorage in Alaska as a territory. The Duchy there will be yours.”

At Eugene’s words, Joubert didn’t thank him, but had an absurd expression.

“Anchorage? Where is that?”

In fact, Anchorage, the core city of Alaska, is a city that Americans will build in the late 19th century.

At the current point in time, it’s just a small port.

Looking at the map hanging on the wall, Eugene pointed to the location where Anchorage would be.

“It’s a new city that has yet to be built. On the map, it’s the southernmost tip of Alaska.”

“I, I’m grateful, but are you telling me to pioneer the New World again?”

“You know it well. Of course, sufficient financial compensation will be given separately. With Suez Canal shares.”

Of course, Joubert was dumbfounded and froze.

The memory of crossing Alaska before handing over Siberia is fresh.

Does he have to go back to that unexplored territory again?

Then Lasalle, who followed Eugene as an attendant, sneered.

“Stop teasing poor Joubert. You’ve already decided to give him a title in California.”

“Phew, that’s, that’s a relief.”

“You’re not the only one getting it. I’m getting Champeau too. Hehe! Let’s get along well.”

Then Danton, who was upset because he couldn’t get a title, asked.

“More than that, Your Majesty. What are you going to do?”

“What are you talking about? As for your title, His Majesty will probably secure it soon.”

“T, that’s right, really? Haa, but what I’m trying to say is that the Russians won’t give in easily like this. Aristocrats, soldiers, and even peasants are feeling anti-French.”

Danton said with a face that was half satisfied and half worried.

“I heard that there was even an incident where French soldiers who went to procure food were assaulted. Of course, it seems to be an aristocrat who is a large landowner.”

It seems that the evils of long-term foreign residence are slowly appearing.

Although they have done their best to supply, the French Imperial Army is an army accustomed to plunder and requisition.

It may be an inevitable result that conflicts arise with the local Russians.

Eugene put down his coffee cup and asked.

“In times like this, the best thing is internal division. Do you have any good ideas?”

“I do.”

“What is it, Danton?”

Danton grinned.

“We are liberators, so let’s be liberators. Your Majesty.”

He was a standard-bearer of the revolution, but as the Emperor’s son, Eugene began to hear solutions he had not thought of.

***

Of course, liberation is not necessarily a welcome word for Emperor Napoleon.

“What, are we going to liberate them?”

Napoleon asked Eugene with a very reluctant face, and Eugene replied lightly.

“The serfs.”

“Eugene, I also think that serfdom in the 19th century is anachronistic. But I know that it is the foundation of Russia, right?”

“We are trying to divide the unified empire anyway. It’s about breaking the foundation itself.”

Suddenly, Eugene’s eyes lit up.

“We must liberate the serfs and make the nobles, commoners, and serfs all fight. Of course, with the land redistribution decree together.”

In fact, the emancipation of serfs was a plan that the Russian Empire had been considering since Empress Catherine.

However, there were many difficulties, so it was not actually implemented.

But will it proceed if foreigners come in and unilaterally declare it?

Of course not.

But we can make them fight each other under the pretext of serf emancipation.

It is to make the nobles, commoners, and serfs covet each other’s rights.

Just like in France in the early days of the revolution.

Napoleon’s eyes changed.

“There will be no marshals who want to remain as lords in Russia.”

“Well, isn’t it a free choice?”

“This country may continue to be embroiled in civil war.”

Eugene replied nonchalantly.

“Instead, the world of France will be peaceful.”

Eugene knows the original history of Russia.

Anyway, after the contradictions accumulate, many people die.

So even if a slightly smaller civil war breaks out here, it won’t be much different.

Napoleon, who had been lost in thought, twisted his lips and smiled.

“Okay. Well, shall we become liberators of serfs!”

Of course, the results of liberation will have to be borne by the Russians.

But France will be at peace.