I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 98

“If you don’t like it… you know?”

“…So, is there anything wrong with the Prime Minister’s health?”

“He just staggered a bit during the meeting. The doctor says there’s nothing wrong with him.”

King George III of Great Britain breathed a sigh of relief.

The current ruling Tory party, calling themselves the ‘King’s friends,’ had grown in power under his direct patronage.

If the ruling party’s position were shaken by this war, the King’s own power would inevitably diminish.

In that respect, he was somewhat grateful that the Duke of Grafton, who led the opposition Whig party, wasn’t consistently launching political attacks.

“But is the war situation in India really that dire?”

“…Yes. I dare say that His Majesty’s decision is needed soon.”

“Hmm…”

Until recently, he would have been furious to hear such a statement, but George III knew that the current situation was exceptional.

No matter how strong England was, they now had three major fronts to manage.

America and the Atlantic were closely linked, which simplified logistics somewhat, but India was on the opposite side of the globe.

Moreover, the countries they were fighting were all formidable. It was remarkable that they had held out for so long.

In fact, maintaining the front lines this far was a testament to England’s immense power.

However, even that solid national power was beginning to show cracks.

The news of Russia and the Holy Roman Empire’s [a multi-ethnic complex of territories in Central Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars] participation nearly caused Lord North to collapse.

These two countries weren’t actively hostile to England like France, Spain, or the Netherlands.

However, their involvement in the already tense situation added significant pressure.

An additional fleet would inevitably have to be sent to the North Sea, creating a vulnerability in the Atlantic.

Above all, the feeling of being isolated, with almost the entire world arrayed against them, was severely impacting morale.

“Grafton, does Parliament believe that if we must choose between America and India, we should prioritize India?”

Finally.

The realization that they couldn’t protect both possessions came from the King himself.

Grafton nodded grimly.

“In fact, there’s no guarantee we can protect India even now. The army led by Lieutenant Colonel Baillie was virtually annihilated at Pollilur some time ago.”

“I’m going crazy. How many troops did the Indian bastards deploy?”

“80,000 from the Kingdom of Mysore alone. The Maratha Confederation is said to have a similar number, and France is supporting both countries from behind.”

“It was an absurd order from the start to expect 5,000 men to hold off that many troops.”

No matter how strong the British army was, they couldn’t win if the odds were 30 to 1 every time.

The Kingdom of Mysore had even ambitiously introduced a new weapon: the rocket.

The Sepoys [Indian soldiers serving under European command], hired by the British, broke their contracts and deserted upon learning that they would be facing a three-nation alliance of France, Maratha, and Mysore.

In the end, England suffered a humiliating defeat, unprecedented since their entry into India.

Almost all of the 3,800 men commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Baillie were killed or captured.

It was upon receiving this shocking news that George III felt a true sense of crisis.

“By the way, how are the prisoner release negotiations progressing?”

“The French have agreed to release all prisoners in exchange for ransom, as is customary. However, the Indian forces have refused all negotiations and imprisoned the captives in underground dungeons.”

“Those damn barbarians! There’s a minimum of law even in war!”

Traditionally, Europe had been at war for so long that unwritten rules had developed and were generally followed.

A prime example was the release of prisoners upon payment of ransom. Commanders, often nobles, were captured if possible and treated with respect.

However, India executed captured commanders as an example, disregarding these conventions.

Frankly, they had no reason to adhere to rules established among Europeans.

“Frankly, I don’t want to admit defeat to these detestable people. Not just in India, but in the colonies as well. I hear they’re using tactics to specifically target and kill commanders?”

“Yes. The losses among the nobility are significant. Consequently, there are growing complaints among the nobles about the duration of this war.”

“It’s clear they’re deliberately provoking this reaction. Are we to play along with their schemes? Against the colonial bastards, not even France or the Holy Roman Empire?”

Grafton somewhat agreed with the King’s assessment.

The American Continental Army, largely composed of militia, was actively sniping officers, disregarding European customs.

While India was a land with a completely different culture, America was a British colony.

The militia might be ignorant of the customs, but surely the commanders knew better.

Yet, they made no effort to control their soldiers, as if feigning ignorance.

“However, Your Majesty, prestige is important, but it must be supported by realistic considerations. If we overextend ourselves and lose both North America and India, the consequences will be irreversible.”

“…There’s no option to give up India, is there?”

“No. If we must choose, India is the priority. If we lose India completely, we’ll be dependent on imports for most of our potash [a type of salt mostly used in fertilizers] supply. And if the French interfere, that supply might be cut off.”

“Well… the French have been preparing this situation for years; they’ve likely laid multiple traps.”

George III muttered with a sigh.

The Duke of Grafton grimaced, remembering his own past misfortunes.

“Yes. Underestimating the enemy leads to defeat. It’s frustrating, but we should consider Prince Louis-Christian, the current power in France, as a strategist a level above myself or Lord North.”

“Is that the man who developed the vaccine? I didn’t expect him to become such a formidable enemy.”

“I felt the same when I first met him. He seems to have a remarkable talent for concealing his intentions. Considering how he ousted the Duke of Orléans and took his place, his political acumen must be extraordinary.”

“…Can’t we assassinate him?”

“I don’t think so.”

Grafton shook his head.

He had already considered that option.

In fact, as soon as the war began, the Duke of Grafton had secretly discussed a plan with Lord North to eliminate Prince Christian.

“According to my information, the former Duke of Orléans had already attempted to assassinate Prince Christian when he went to Vienna. However, Prince Christian used this to reorganize the court and consolidate his power. I don’t know how he knew.”

“Is that why the Duke of Orléans was executed and Prince Christian took his place…? He’s even more formidable than I imagined.”

“Yes. Since there’s already been an assassination attempt, he’ll be fully prepared. If we try and fail, the repercussions could be severe. We must be cautious.”

George III nodded silently.

After further consideration, assassination was too risky.

“…Hoo, yes. Then put the matter to a vote in Parliament. If we must concede something, we should minimize the damage. However, I won’t tolerate retreating without a fight.”

“I understand.”

While India was crucial, the North American colonies had also brought significant benefits.

They couldn’t simply abandon them without a struggle.

Grafton sighed softly and replied.

“I understand. I’ll convey His Majesty’s will to Major General William Howe.”

“Yes. We must demonstrate our anger to those colonial bastards.”

Grafton nodded and left the audience chamber.

※※※

Versailles Palace.

The atmosphere here, the center of France, was quite different from that of Paris.

This was because they were receiving immediate updates on the war’s progress.

Furthermore, King Louis XV’s great enthusiasm for the war contributed to the atmosphere.

Scribble-scribble-

The graceful sound of a pen moving across paper.

Louis XV sipped coffee, his face flushed with excitement.

He was more than satisfied with the current situation, and his expectations were growing.

“…By the way, how is our daughter-in-law doing?”

“She’s doing very well. She wanted to come with me, but I advised her against overexerting herself.”

“Yes, well done. Even during a stable period, carriage rides can be risky. I’ve heard of miscarriages caused by bumps against the carriage door.”

“Yes. I’m prioritizing Marie’s safety above all else. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m neglecting my duties.”

I presented the King with the draft I had been working on.

It outlined a plan for concluding the war.

“Hmm… you don’t believe we can inflict as much damage on England as we initially thought?”

“No. To be precise, the British will withdraw before suffering such a devastating defeat. They aren’t fools.”

“Well, now that the power imbalance is so significant, they won’t be foolish enough to persist.”

Louis XV seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Even so, England has already suffered enormous losses. Many nobles have died, and merchant ships have been seized. Most importantly, their unchecked expansion, which had never known defeat, has been halted.”

“I appreciate that aspect greatly. I’ve been losing sleep, contemplating how to write a letter to George III.”

The King stroked his chin and smiled contentedly.

“You can’t imagine how humiliated I felt at the end of the Seven Years’ War [a global conflict fought between 1756 and 1763]. George III is likely experiencing the same feelings I had then. Just imagining it brings me immense joy.”

“According to Franklin, who has contacts in England, Prime Minister North grabbed his neck and collapsed during a meeting.”

“That’s enough. I only regret not witnessing it in person.”

Louis XV’s lips curled upward in a constant smile.

His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he looked at me.

“This war will be over in a year or two at the latest. I initially wanted to seize all of India, but I’ve decided against being greedy.”

“That’s a wise decision. If we attempt to take all of India, England will try to destroy us, even if it means sacrificing everything else. And our allies won’t allow us to monopolize India.”

“Yes. We’re allies now, but if they perceive us as being much stronger than England, they’ll side with England as if nothing happened. I understand that clearly now.”

“Yes. Furthermore, the Indian front can be a valuable bargaining chip. We need to provide them with a way to end the war while saving face.”

Louis XV was very pleased with the current outcome.

National interests aside, he couldn’t stop smiling at the prospect of humiliating England.

“Then we should begin assembling a negotiating team… Do you have any suggestions?”

“Of course.”

A smile spread across my face as I pointed to the very bottom of the plan I had given Louis XV.

Louis XV, seeing where I was pointing, finally burst out laughing.

After enjoying his reaction for a moment, I read the passage I had written in a satisfied tone.

“I propose inviting Prime Minister North to Paris himself. If he doesn’t like that… then invest more. If you want to lose all of India.”