I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 139

< Where the Blade Points >

I sent the letter and returned to my seat to find the atmosphere nicely heated up.

“So! Why should we white people take losses for the sake of slaves? Even though the slave trade has shrunk, there are still many people involved.”

“So you admit it’s all about money. That can be taken care of by giving a grace period and helping them switch to other businesses.”

“It’s not just that! Black people not only capture and enslave each other, but they also worship idols and do all sorts of evil deeds!”

“That’s a theory that was refuted a long time ago in Valladolid [referring to the Valladolid Debate, a historical event concerning the rights of colonized indigenous peoples]. The theory of slavery as punishment for sin loses its validity when we consider that ancient Greece and Rome did similar things. Rather, just as we have progressed, we should enlighten black people and lead them to the right path.”

Judging from the atmosphere, the arguments of those who advocated for slavery weren’t very smooth.

In fact, I probably wouldn’t have made a very plausible argument if I were in their place.

Originally, in formal debates like this, you can’t just act like in a keyboard battle, saying, ‘I can’t hear you~ I can’t see you, ebebebe.’

You have to present clear evidence and develop a plausible theory, but the reality is that there isn’t much to go on.

“The conclusion is already visible.”

Jefferson, sitting next to me, murmured quietly.

He was about to return to America to run for president, and the Paris Debate was the last official event he attended.

Although he had always been against slavery, he now wore a complicated expression.

“Many intellectuals in America are also critical of slavery, aren’t they? The historical moment is now approaching, but you don’t seem happy.”

“Yes… to be honest, it’s a bit of a headache. As an intellectual, Thomas Jefferson, I would like to applaud, but as a politician, I don’t know how to respond to this.”

In fact, many of the intellectuals in America who opposed slavery were often slave plantation owners themselves.

Jefferson and Washington were no different.

Jefferson’s enemy is not Jefferson or anything like that.

Those intellectuals didn’t think they could abolish slavery right away, and they didn’t want to.

In fact, Jefferson wanted to gradually abolish the slave trade and prohibit the creation of new slaves.

That way, he tried to minimize the shock by naturally eliminating slavery.

“Well, it will be quite a sensitive topic ahead of the election. Questions will surely be asked to both Adams and you, so you should prepare your answers in advance, right?”

“Yes. Ideally, I would like to abolish slavery, but if I did, more than one or two people would rise up, and the election would be a certain defeat.”

Originally, politicians facing an election inevitably have to spout platitudes.

You can’t absorb moderate votes with extreme arguments.

If one side says they will abolish slavery, the other side can naturally absorb all the opposition.

But if you don’t say anything, you’ll be attacked for having low awareness of human rights.

In short, you have to walk a tightrope while playing an extreme game of reading the room, which is not easy.

“Still, you are a former French ambassador with many connections to me, so you can create a much more favorable situation than Adams.”

“Yes. I think I’ll have to borrow His Highness’s power this time as well. I look forward to your help.”

“Leave it to me. After all, this is entirely a European problem. From the beginning, I had no intention of putting any pressure on the United States with this decision.”

“Thank you. But please don’t officially announce this until I ask you to.”

I guessed what Jefferson was planning and chuckled, nodding my head.

As we talked, the meeting was gradually coming to a conclusion.

The faces of the abolitionists were bright, and the eyes of the pro-slavery advocates were filled with resentment.

And the politicians from each country watching all of this from behind would be drawing up their own plans.

Unlike Wilberforce, who was simply overjoyed, Pitt had a face that looked like a copy-paste of Jefferson’s.

Intellectuals may be vomiting ten times on stage, but in the end, it’s the big shots hiding behind the scenes who are shaping the landscape.

Thinking that way, the fierce debate taking place in front of me feels somewhat futile.

But what can I do?

The world has been turning this way for hundreds of years, and it will continue to do so for hundreds of years to come.

I gestured, and a reporter waiting behind me scurried over and bowed.

“Should we proceed as planned?”

“Yes. The information about this debate is declassified from this moment on, so report as you please.”

“Thank you!”

The excited reporters rushed out.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes leisurely.

I have no intention of directly interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.

I’m just guiding it to happen as a result.

The public opinion from now on, the uprising of black people, and the movements of white people and New World politicians trying to suppress it.

Even without trying hard, the future unfolds like a clear picture.

The scenario was already complete.

※※※

As soon as Christian, who had a firm grip on the press, gave his permission, reporters rushed to pour out articles about the Paris Debate.

[A great step forward that will go down in history, do black people finally have human rights too?]

[What is Prince Christian’s decision that intellectuals and clergy knelt down and praised?]

[Insight ahead of its time! France already knew the answer.]

[The beginning of the abolition of slavery is England? Actually, France is first!]

All sorts of sensational articles and propaganda phrases.

News openly inducing national pride poured out everywhere.

In fact, French citizens didn’t care much about what happened to the black people on the other side of the world.

They were just pleased to hear that the world was paying attention to and admiring their decision once again.

And these articles naturally crossed the Atlantic to New France.

“Lieutenant Colonel Napoleon! Have you seen this article?”

“Not yet a lieutenant colonel. Captain Michel.”

“Ah, that’s right. Still, if this battle achievement is reflected, your promotion is as good as guaranteed, isn’t it?”

Napoleon neither affirmed nor denied, and lay down in the barracks, taking the newspaper Michel had brought.

“This is amazing. It’s forbidden to enslave even black people after the Indians?”

“Since New France doesn’t use slaves anyway, this has nothing to do with us, right?”

“Tsk, don’t talk nonsense. How can it not have an impact when the two forces right next to our border are gleefully exploiting slaves?”

“Still, if there’s a fuss, it’ll be on their side, and there won’t be much on this side, right?”

Napoleon sighed in response to Michel’s simple prediction.

If it had been the old Napoleon, he would have immediately criticized him for being lacking, but he decided to endure it because he was in the process of cultivating patience.

Thinking calmly, Michel Ney, like himself, was still a young man approaching twenty.

He had just graduated from the military academy and was experiencing real combat in New France, so it was natural that he didn’t have political insight.

And Michel Ney was also one of the children of Orléans chosen by Christian.

There would be no need to give him too much of a hard time.

“The United States is exploiting an enormous number of black people right now. But what if the country right next to it treats black people as human beings, and even has a phrase in its laws that prohibits slavery? What would you do if you were a slave?”

“Ah… I see. Those who live close to the border will desperately try to cross over here.”

“That’s right. His Highness foresaw this and told us to stabilize the border with the United States before things got out of hand.”

“The Major has carried out that order perfectly and beyond.”

Michel smiled as he looked beyond the plains where the battle had taken place not long ago.

Napoleon didn’t deny it this time either, and smiled contentedly.

He was not even twenty years old, but he had been promoted to major in an unconventional manner, but no one complained.

Even Berthier and Massena, whom Christian had plugged in, were already posting legendary feats.

They were about 10 years older than Napoleon and had already received the position of regimental commander.

When Napoleon, Davout, and Jean Lannes, who came in after them, also achieved clear results, the military no longer doubted Christian’s insight.

That’s why Michel Ney, who joined the latest, was able to smoothly promote to captain.

“The subversive elements in the Oklahoma area were all cleared out last time… so the next target for reclamation will be the west.”

“I’ll suggest that to headquarters for now.”

“Yes. And make sure to send the achievements I’ve made this time to Prince Christian as soon as possible.”

If it were someone else, they might have said, ‘How can you be talking about promoting to lieutenant colonel when you’ve only been a major for a few weeks?’

No, it would definitely have been said.

However, the achievements Napoleon had made this time were worth it.

He had achieved the feat of completely clearing out the rebellious forces of the Apache tribe, a large indigenous tribe that had established itself in the Great Plains of North America.

In fact, the Apache tribe was just a convenient term used by Europeans, and in reality, they were divided into several large tribes.

Europeans lacked understanding of the natives and planned operations by recognizing them as one tribe, but New France was different.

Based on the information he had heard from Christian, Napoleon proposed a plan to alienate the seven largest tribes and defeat them individually.

What made it possible to carry out this operation was that there were quite a few indigenous forces in New France.

Napoleon used units made up of indigenous soldiers to win over several tribes and isolate hostile ones.

Then, with amazing skill, he uprooted the hostile tribes that had to be destroyed in just a few battles.

And that too, with only a few battalions.

“His Highness will also be amazed when he sees the achievements you’ve made this time, Major.”

“Well? Maybe this is the kind of thing I have to do to not fall short of expectations. He has an uncanny sense of things.”

Napoleon remembered the one-line evaluation that Christian had written when he was introduced to Michel Ney.

-A talented person who is fully capable of commanding and leading ten thousand soldiers.

In a way, it seemed like high praise, but in other words, it also meant that that was the limit.

In fact, Christian had said that Napoleon himself, Davout, and Jean Lannes were capable of commanding tens of thousands of troops.

And he had a feeling that he understood what that meant recently.

But how could the prince have seen through so quickly what even he could only vaguely feel after experiencing it for a long time?

He had pondered it several times, but still hadn’t found the answer.

And in proportion to that, his respect for the prince deepened.

“Michel, the central government will be issuing instructions in a few days, so prepare your battalion in advance. I’ll talk to Davout and Lannes separately.”

“Are you going west?”

“No. If I were to guess, an order will be issued to temporarily stop the reclamation and strengthen border control.”

“I understand. Then I’ll prepare the soldiers with that in mind.”

“Being able to move after waiting for instructions like this… in just about five years, I’ll be able to command the soldiers entirely at my discretion.”

New France is so vast and lonely that it seems to have no end, but I don’t hate it.

How can I hate it?

Opportunities to make achievements are rolling around everywhere.

5 years from now.

I will put not only Oklahoma but also the west in my hands and make achievements that no one in the home country can deny.

If that happens, it’s not unreasonable to take the position of commander of the southwestern region of New France.

Prince Christian would surely entrust me with that important task.

At that time, Napoleon planned to completely reorganize the current inefficient division structure.

He had already perfectly mastered the theories of people like Duteil, Gribeauval, and Guibert, and had come up with a more improved organization.

When he tentatively asked Prince Christian about it in a letter, he was surprised to hear back that that was why he had been sent here from the beginning.

‘Then I’ll have to respond with everything I have.’

However, there was one thing that even Napoleon still didn’t understand.

You don’t use a knife for slaughtering cattle to catch chickens or rabbits.

This was such obvious common sense.

But the organization that Napoleon was planning was too big and heavy a knife to use to catch Indians.

So where does Christian intend to wield that knife?

The young Napoleon could not yet foresee the future beyond this.

< Where the Blade Points > End