I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 111

Go to the New World

New nations inevitably have to be mindful of the major powers around them.

In that regard, the United States, being far away from Europe, is blessed by its geographical location alone.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they can ignore them completely.

In any case, unless the United States is completely self-sufficient, it must continue to trade with Europe across the Atlantic.

Moreover, Nueva España [New Spain, a historical Spanish colony] still existed in the New World, and a new major power called Nouvelle France [New France, a historical French colony] had emerged.

Even England, which was defeated in the war but was still plotting a comeback in India, was a target of vigilance.

Because of this situation, the roles of the ministers dispatched to Europe became important.

In particular, the ministers dispatched to England, Spain, and France were receiving special attention from the federal government.

“This is the report to be sent to the home country this week. Tell them not to worry; everything is proceeding smoothly,” Thomas Jefferson said confidently, handing over a letter.

“And this is a private letter to Mr. Franklin. I would appreciate it if you could deliver it personally.”

“Yes, sir.”

Now that they had decided to cooperate with Prince Christian, there was no need to worry about relations with France in the future.

If everything went well and Jefferson rose to the presidency, it would be even more assured.

That meant they could maintain a close relationship for almost 20 years.

“Ah, and when Mr. Franklin sends a reply, you must bring it to me before anything else.”

“Understood, sir.”

After seeing his subordinate, who had gathered the materials, leave, Jefferson leaned back in his seat with a satisfied smile.

“Then, shall I begin writing?”

Today’s meeting with Prince Christian was a great success, no matter how many times he considered it.

He wondered if he was blinded by personal gain and neglecting the national interest, but that wasn’t the case.

The territory of the United States had greatly increased compared to before independence, but the north and west were bordered by Nouvelle France, and the southwest was also bordered by Nueva España.

Even though they were currently focused on internal consolidation, it was inevitable that discontent would arise internally within a decade.

Considering the vast land of North America, an expansion policy had to be pursued in some way.

The completion of a giant nation with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

This was the grand ambition that American politicians secretly harbored.

“If I were to naturally become the next leader after Washington consolidates domestic affairs…”

Christian had said that he would begin negotiations to sell Louisiana when Washington’s regime was in its final stages, not immediately.

This was because such a significant event would have the greatest impact when the election was approaching.

In addition, if Jefferson successfully became president, he had even received a promise to sell Florida.

After all, France could not properly control Florida, which was far from Nouvelle France.

This would allow the United States to aim for dominance in the Caribbean and firmly establish a base to expand to the southwest.

And it was a matter of course that Jefferson’s reputation, who had achieved this great feat, would skyrocket.

However, there was one thing.

“What was Mr. Franklin so worried about…?”

It seemed that he would have to ask him directly about this.

He couldn’t discuss the contract he had with Prince Christian, but he sent a summary of his feelings.

Prince Christian certainly prioritized France, but at the same time, he was definitely considerate of the United States, which was an ally.

Rather, the real opponent to watch out for was Spain, so it was necessary to keep an eye on them.

That was the conclusion Jefferson wrote in the letter.

“Well… it doesn’t matter. There’s no rush.”

Now that he had sent the letter, all he had to do was wait for a reply.

After organizing his thoughts, Jefferson took out a pen and began to write down his reflections on paper.

Christian had also advised him to write a memoir a while ago.

Politicians had to create opportunities to engrave their names in people’s minds through any means possible.

He said that these things could become valuable political assets later and help boost popularity, which was indeed convincing.

[…Paris, the city of art, is full of life. I heard that it wasn’t like this a few years ago, but as someone who didn’t see it back then, I can’t fully grasp that statement. Just because art is flourishing doesn’t mean that other areas are being neglected.

In Paris, people regularly watch a sport called football, and the enthusiasm is truly remarkable. This game is said to be played not only in Paris but throughout France, so you can imagine its popularity.

I’ve watched it a few times, but frankly, I didn’t find it very interesting.

What should I say? I thought a sport like cricket, where you hit a ball with a bat, was more engaging. Europeans are said to be immersed in this sport called football, but I don’t think it will be very popular with Americans.

Still, seeing people get excited about this sport and become one made me think a lot.

In my humble opinion, I thought it would be a good idea if we could create a sport that we could enjoy and cultivate it well.

Today, news came that the health of the Elector of Bavaria is rapidly deteriorating. Austria and Prussia have entered a state of high tension, and European countries are focusing their attention on this situation. Not only that, but Russia is also revealing its desire to move south, and England still has potential.

In this situation, what path should the United States take?

At a time when Europe is engaged in a fierce battle, we must consolidate our internal affairs and strengthen friendship with our allies. That is the future I envision…]

While he was moving his pen,

Knock knock-

A voice calling him was heard along with a knock.

“Sir, another call has come from the Tuileries Palace [the Parisian residence of the French monarch].”

“Okay, tell them I’ll be right there.”

He got up from his seat without panicking because he had been forewarned.

“Now that I think about it, I need to prepare a congratulatory gift… I need to consider it carefully.”

※※※

The next day, noon at the Palace of Versailles.

Inside the Hall of Mirrors, countless nobles were already lined up.

I walked forward slowly, receiving their attention.

At the end of my gaze, Louis XV, sitting on the throne, looked at me with a solemn gaze.

Everyone held their breath and waited for him to speak.

“Duke Louis Christian of Orléans.”

A serious voice echoed in the room.

“In recognition of the great achievements you have made in this war, I appoint you as the supreme commander of the New World.”

Originally, the inauguration ceremony wasn’t this grand, but Louis XV strongly pushed for it, saying that it was necessary to maintain his authority.

In fact, from my point of view, there was no reason to refuse, so I gratefully accepted.

“I grant you all personnel, diplomatic, and even military operation rights in Nouvelle France. I hope you will show the same results in the New World as you did in the home country.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will repay His Majesty’s grace with unchanging loyalty.”

Until now, it had been rumored, but now that it had been officially announced, the die was cast.

Combining the powers granted by Louis XV, my position was, in fact, closer to that of a king of a new country than a governor.

It was no different from the emergence of a new type of power holder that had never existed before.

The nobles who were applauding and congratulating were whispering.

“Are there any mines in the New World? If so, how can we get even a small share of the mining rights…?”

“There’s a rumor that there’s a gold mine, so if that’s true, how can we secure investment opportunities…?”

“What about the Indians? Of course, the demand for weapons will increase sharply, right? Investment in this area…”

They were discussing how to deal with this unusual situation and how to align themselves for potential benefits.

As the inauguration ceremony ended and the congratulatory banquet began, countless people lined up to approach me.

Among them, the faces of people like Lavoisier and Deon, who had become my confidants, were filled with genuine happiness.

In particular, Lavoisier was now in a position where he could attend even such events where the king was present without being self-conscious.

I once heard that even prestigious nobles would back down simply because of the title of Prince Christian’s confidant.

It wasn’t a bad feeling since it meant that my reputation was working to that extent.

I stared intently at Lavoisier, who was smiling brightly.

“You’ve worked hard so far, Lavoisier. And I look forward to your continued support.”

“Yes! I will do my best, with all my might, to assist Your Highness diligently.”

“I hope that’s not just empty words. I’ll be leaving for Nouvelle France in a few days, so you should prepare in advance.”

“Understood, Your Highness. As always, I would appreciate it if you could cover the expenses with research funds to be used for experiments.”

Lavoisier seemed very happy at the thought of being able to conduct new experiments in a new area.

He could use the research funds as much as he wanted without worrying about the cost, and he had also shed the limitations of his status that had been holding him back, so how could he not be unhappy?

I wonder if he will continue to show the same enthusiasm over there.

“Lavoisier, you can spend more money, so hire more people to help you with administrative work. Things will be very different there than here.”

“It will be difficult, but I think it will be rewarding. If we create a new system, it will be a headache, but we can create a much more efficient system than the epitome of inefficiency that is the administration here.”

“That’s true, but you may experience hell in the beginning.”

“Of course, I have to be prepared for that.”

Creating something new from scratch seemed interesting only to him, who was a born scientist.

I just hoped that this feeling would not change when he went there.

As I was just staring at him silently, he asked again.

“But of course, the Princess and Young Master will be going with you, right?”

“Of course. I’ll be there for at least a year, so I can’t leave my wife behind. One worry is that the child is still young, but it’s okay because Dr. Guillotin has decided to remain by his side.”

“That’s a relief. Whenever Your Highness was away, the Princess clearly showed signs of melancholy. I was so aware of it every time…”

“Did she?”

Lavoisier nodded immediately.

“Indeed, Your Highness. Of course, she didn’t vent her anger or get annoyed at her subordinates, but that’s why I felt even more sympathy for her. But this time, she will be with Your Highness all the time, so I don’t have to worry.”

“Is that so?”

I coughed awkwardly and turned my head slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Still, I couldn’t hide the creeping smile at the corners of my mouth.

“Anyway, Lavoisier, I’m telling you again, but I’m saying this for your sake. You don’t have to consider the cost, so hire as many people as possible. Nouvelle France will be operated under a completely different system from France, as the name suggests. Everything from taxes to administration to management appointments will be overhauled, so you better be prepared.”

“I’ll say it again, but that’s what I want because it will be that much more rewarding.”

Lavoisier’s face, who was not aware that he was setting himself up for potential hardship, was just bright.

Well… I’d like to offer my condolences in advance to not only Lavoisier but also the many working-level staff who will be going with him.

But what can I do?

You guys chose to go to the New World.

Hang in there with grit and determination.