I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 90

So, Who is Count Lamarzhe?

The Boston Tea Party.

This incident, which literally translates to the Boston Tea Party, is an expression that contains a uniquely American wit, referring to brewing tea in seawater.

In fact, this incident, which marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, wasn’t simply a branch of the independence movement, nor was it solely a righteous uprising against British oppression.

The background to this seemingly absurd situation was the Tea Act passed by the British Prime Minister, Lord North.

The Tea Act abolished tariffs on tea exported to America at the time, effectively granting the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies.

The British East India Company had suffered a significant drop in revenue due to poor harvests in India, and this act allowed them to recoup a considerable portion of their losses.

Britain could secure tax revenue, and the colonists could drink tea at a lower price thanks to the abolition of tariffs.

At first glance, it seemed like a decree that benefited everyone.

Even Lord North, who passed this law, couldn’t have imagined the events that would unfold in the colonies.

However, there were those who were clearly harmed by the British Tea Act.

These were the smugglers who were illegally importing tea into the colonies.

The colonial independence faction, already dissatisfied with Britain’s continued imposition of direct taxes, contacted them.

Samuel Adams led an organization called the Sons of Liberty and initiated action.

Dressed as Native Americans, they raided the East India Company’s merchant ships.

During this event, more than 300 tea chests were dumped into the sea off Massachusetts, causing enormous losses to the East India Company.

Samuel Adams subtly framed this as a resistance movement against the tyrannical British, and similar incidents sprang up like mushrooms in New England, Philadelphia, and elsewhere.

Naturally, the British mainland was in an uproar.

“These lowly colonial bastards are really taking advantage of our leniency!”

The enraged British Parliament immediately convened a meeting to discuss countermeasures.

“Since when has the prestige of our Great British Empire fallen so low? Colonial vagrants disguised as Indians are stealing tea? And that’s just the reported cases – four or five times?”

The Duke of Grafton, leader of the Whig Party, the current opposition, was the first to speak out.

He subtly shifted the blame for this incident to the ruling party and continued his criticism.

“This is all because Parliament has yielded to the demands of the colonies for too long. This is the result. The Prime Minister must explain this.”

No sooner had the Duke of Grafton finished speaking than Tory MPs echoed their agreement.

“That’s right!”

“Prime Minister! Explain yourself!”

As criticism poured in from all directions, Lord North rose from his seat, looking weary.

“There’s nothing to explain. This is a challenge to the Great British Empire. The criticism that this happened because we’ve been too lenient with the colonies is inappropriate. Rather, the colonies have continued to criticize tax-increasing bills like the Sugar Act. We should view this as those who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the home country overstepping their bounds.”

“So, how does the Prime Minister propose we handle this situation?”

“Of course, there can be no compromise or negotiation whatsoever. I will make the traitors who dared to smear the face of the home country pay the price. Are there any MPs who disagree?”

This time, no one raised any objections.

The Duke of Grafton and the Whigs were equally outraged by the colonists’ actions.

Everyone agreed that it was time to show them who was boss, regardless of party affiliation.

“Before we vote, let’s hear what the colonists have to say.”

At Lord North’s signal, an old man who had been observing the meeting from the corner rose from his seat.

He bowed politely to the MPs.

A deep sorrow settled in the eyes of the old man, who exuded an intellectual aura.

“First of all, I apologize on behalf of the colonies for disturbing the minds of the members of parliament with this unfortunate incident.”

“Franklin, enough with the introduction, get to the point.”

Benjamin Franklin, the old man, sighed heavily at Lord North’s cold reply.

A brilliant scientist, inventor, journalist, and accomplished politician.

There were countless ways to describe him in the colonies.

He was respected as the greatest intellectual of the time, and he had achieved many things for the colonies.

He was the one who successfully lobbied for the repeal of the Stamp Act, a tax law that Britain was trying to implement.

But even Franklin was at a loss in this situation, even if he had ten mouths to speak with.

When he first heard the news, he wondered if he was going senile and imagining things.

“This incident is a conspiracy by someone to drive a wedge between Britain and the colonies. All the colonists were grateful for the home country’s decision to allow them to purchase tea at a reasonable price.”

“And yet they repaid kindness with enmity, a deed that even beasts would not do.”

“So, it’s a conspiracy by extremists to turn Britain’s anger towards the colonies…”

“If you arrest them right now and send them to the home country, I’ll seriously consider your words, but without any evidence, it’s bound to look like a poor excuse.”

The MPs nodded in unison, supporting Lord North’s remarks.

Franklin inwardly cursed Samuel Adams’s rashness in causing this situation.

He wondered what Adams was thinking to do such a crazy thing.

“There is a strong sentiment in the colonies that this has caused irreparable harm to Britain. Therefore, we are collecting donations as a sign of apology. We will deliver it directly to the home country to show our sincerity…”

“It’s gone too far to smooth things over with just that. I gave you a chance to say that you would arrest and deport all those who committed this act, but I guess this is all you’ve got.”

Lord North silenced Franklin, who was desperately trying to say something more, and formally put the motion on the table.

“What happened in the colonies this time is not just a simple protest. It is a strong challenge and provocation to the home country that governs the colonies. If we don’t punish this and move on, the same thing will happen in other colonies in the future.”

“…”

“Therefore, I would like to declare in the name of His Majesty and Parliament that we will formally dispatch the Navy to the colonies and abolish the Massachusetts Autonomous Region, where Boston, where this tragedy occurred, is located.”

Franklin’s mouth dropped open at the unexpected hard-line stance.

In fact, this was an opportunity given by heaven to Lord North, who was already fed up with the Whig Party’s political attacks.

There is no better way to stabilize the political situation than to unite against an external enemy when domestic conflicts intensify.

Moreover, the current King George III was not a monarch known for being lenient with the colonies.

He would never oppose Parliament if it wanted to punish the colonies.

Lord North’s aim was to demonstrate the ruling party’s strength by taking the most uncompromising stance possible.

And the motion he proposed was, of course, passed on the spot with an overwhelming vote of approval.

Franklin staggered out of Parliament with a pale complexion.

‘Adams… you’ve ruined the colonies. Why did you do such a foolish thing…’

Britain doesn’t truly understand the current power of the colonies.

It is certainly true that the colonies are weaker than Britain, but they are not so weak that they would readily accept the abolition of one autonomous region.

What would happen if this was known in the colonies?

‘Is that what Adams is aiming for? To wage war with Britain for independence?’

If that’s really the case, it’s a foolish thing to do.

They may be able to put up a fight, but the colonies cannot defeat Britain.

Unable to hide his anxiety, he arrived at his home, clutching his head as if it would explode with confusion.

But, as if on cue, a letter arrived, as if someone had anticipated his return.

The sender was Samuel Adams, whom Franklin had been cursing so much.

Franklin roughly tore open the envelope and immediately unfolded the contents.

He was not in the mood to read the greetings at the beginning, so he skipped them.

He wanted to see what kind of excuses he had made.

Franklin’s eyes widened with doubt as he read down from the middle of the main text, where the core message began.

[…Britain will never forgive us, no matter how much we apologize. By now, I think the decision has been made to abolish not only Boston but also the Massachusetts Autonomous Region. But don’t worry too much. This incident will give the colonies an opportunity to unite. The time has come to finally gain independence from Britain and secure the sovereignty of the colonies.]

It was surprising that he accurately predicted Britain’s actions, but he was still laying out unrealistic plans.

He wanted to tear the letter to shreds, but there was still more content to read.

[Since it’s impossible to persuade Britain anyway, there’s no reason for you to stay there. It would be better to return home and join us, but please stop by France first. In fact, we’ve already had some discussions with a high-ranking French aristocrat. Count Lamarzhe, a powerful figure who maintains a close relationship with the French royal family, will take our side.]

“Count Lamarzhe?”

It was a name he had never heard of.

It was even more questionable because Adams was not the type to fabricate information.

“Was there another powerful figure in France that I didn’t know about? Well… the power structure in France has recently undergone a major change… but even so, his name should have reached my ears at least once.”

[Count Lamarzhe is said to be so close to Prince Christian that he has been entrusted with the sales negotiation rights for the vaccine. The French royal family will be willing to provide support if we have the power to stand up to Britain. We can’t sign a formal agreement right now, but please meet Count Lamarzhe to discuss future plans and return home.]

If France really takes our side, then advocating for independence may not be just a pipe dream.

“Indeed… Adams wouldn’t have done this without any countermeasures. I should assume he had something to rely on.”

However, a single letter did not calm his troubled mind.

It would be fortunate if Adams’s letter was true, but there were too many incomprehensible points.

First of all, he, who had been staying in England, was independently gathering information through various channels.

France was focusing on several projects recently, so they were trying to avoid confrontation with Britain as much as possible.

But Adams wrote a completely opposite story.

Moreover, he had never heard of the man Adams was trusting, Count Lamarzhe, no matter how hard he tried to recall.

In fact, this was not Franklin’s fault.

The time that Christian was formally called Count Lamarzhe was not long ago.

He became the Duke of Orléans before he could make a name for himself as Count Lamarzhe, so how would he know?

“Okay… let’s go to France first. Then I’ll know whether Adams was deceived by a con artist or whether he’s telling the truth.”

As the letter said, there was nothing Franklin could do in England anymore.

He prayed more earnestly than ever in his life and left his home in England, where he had stayed for a long time.

※※※

About a week later.

Franklin, who had entered Paris, was not relieved, but rather plunged into even greater confusion.

“I’ve been waiting for you. I’ll take you right away.”

The first emotion he felt upon arriving in France was despair.

That’s because even ordinary bourgeois [middle class] people showed a lukewarm reaction to the name Count Lamarzhe.

“I’ve never heard of him… is he a famous person?”

“I’ve definitely heard the name somewhere… when was it? I can’t remember. But I haven’t heard of him recently.”

If he was a high-ranking aristocrat who was really connected to the royal family, this kind of reaction shouldn’t be happening.

In the end, Adams was deceived by an unidentified con artist and ruined the future of the colonies.

Franklin had no choice but to reach that conclusion.

But then, as a last resort, when he revealed the name Count Lamarzhe and his own name, Benjamin Franklin, to the Director-General of Publications in Paris, as written in the letter, there was an immediate reaction.

Moreover, a carriage came directly from the Tuileries Palace [the official residence of the French monarch in Paris].

“Excuse me… did Count Lamarzhe send you?”

“Yes. There was a message that I should take you right away when Mr. Franklin arrives.”

“Ah… then is it true that Count Lamarzhe is close to His Highness Prince Christian?”

Franklin knew very well what kind of place the Tuileries Palace was.

It is where Louis Christian of Orléans, the most powerful figure in France and a person of interest in England, resides.

It felt like a ray of light was shining on his mind, which had been consumed by despair.

The Director-General of Publications, who was guiding Franklin, did not answer immediately and wore a strange expression.

It shouldn’t be a difficult question, but it was a reaction that he didn’t quite understand.

Perhaps he was asking about a slightly sensitive secret.

“…If it’s difficult to answer…”

“No, that’s not it. I just don’t quite know what to say. Well, I guess you could say they’re close. Wouldn’t it be right to say they’re the closest in the world?”

Franklin breathed a sigh of relief at the unexpected answer.

Once he met Count Lamarzhe, he had to ask him to say something positive about the colonies to Prince Christian or Louis XV [the King of France at the time].

Then, after returning to the colonies and formally receiving the position of diplomatic representative, he would return to Paris and request an alliance.

“Well, we’ve arrived. Shall we go?”

As the carriage that had arrived in front of the palace stopped, Franklin calmly got out, contrary to his anxious heart.

Revealing one’s true feelings before negotiations is a disqualification for a diplomat.

Franklin, who was about to face an important game, maintained his composure as much as possible and followed the Director-General of Publications into the palace.

But something was strange.

Of course, he thought he would meet Count Lamarzhe first, but they were now heading towards the center of the palace.

Perhaps Count Lamarzhe is talking to Prince Christian right now.

If so, that’s even better.

He will be able to naturally get acquainted with the prince through Count Lamarzhe.

“Let’s go in. He’s waiting for you.”

“…Yes.”

Franklin took a deep breath, and the servants opened the door for him.

He carefully moved his feet inside and quickly scanned his surroundings.

Contrary to his expectations, there was one person sitting in a chair inside the luxurious reception room, not two.

A tall, handsome young man greeted Franklin with a smile.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Benjamin Franklin.”

“…Yes. Are you… Count Lamarzhe?”

“Yes. I’m also using that name. I’m Count Lamarzhe, who you’re looking for.”

“Ah, I see. I was surprised to be guided to the Tuileries Palace because I thought I would be guided to a mansion. This is where His Highness the Prince resides…”

“Well, when a guest comes, I naturally guide them to where I live. There’s no reason to tell them to go to another mansion in the city.”

Franklin’s voice trembled slightly as he did not understand the meaning of the Count’s words.

“You… you were residing in the palace. Well, you said you were close to His Highness the Prince…”

“Did you have business with the prince, not the count?”

“Ah, no. Still, since we have to discuss important matters of state in the future, it was true that I was hoping to see His Highness the Prince if possible.”

“That’s fortunate. Your wish has come true.”

“Yes?”

“Because the person you’re facing right now is the Prince of France.”

The Count said it casually and comfortably, as if he were going for a walk in the village, without being very serious.

But Franklin, the person involved, was greatly shocked and froze on the spot as if he had been struck by lightning.

His eyes shook wildly like a piece of driftwood caught in a storm at sea.

He finally opened his mouth, having finally figured out how things were going.

“So… you mean…”

“Yes. I am Louis Christian de France, Count Lamarzhe and Duke of Orléans, who you are looking for.”

Franklin’s mouth dropped open.

The iron rule of diplomats, which said that you should not reveal your true feelings, had long since disappeared from his mind.