He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 149

(149) The Eugene Cartel Advances Throughout Italy

In truth, there is another power broker behind the scenes, at least in Italy.

“Good heavens, is there a Beauharnais sign here too?” Ippolito asked Eugene, shaking his head, as he looked at the sign that read:

-〈Beauharnais Bank of Italy〉

April 1796, a new sign was erected in Genoa, the capital of the former Republic of Genoa.

Originally, the sign should have read ‘Beauharnais Bank of Genoa’. However, Eugene deliberately chose the name [Italy]. Although Italy did not yet exist as a unified nation, it was a display of ambition, a statement of intent to encompass the entire peninsula.

Furthermore, the location of the bank was also strategically chosen. Suddenly, a man bowed deeply before Eugene.

“I am grateful that you have acquired this bankrupt bank.”

Eugene smiled, bowing politely to the man. “You’re welcome. Rather, I am fortunate to be associated with such a historic bank. Isn’t the Bank of Saint George the very history of Genoa?”

“Alas, it was a bank that virtually collapsed 50 years ago when the Holy Roman Empire’s army stole all its gold. If General Eugene hadn’t acquired it this time, the citizens of Genoa would have suffered greatly.”

“I am grateful for your deep understanding, Messer [Mister] Corvetto.”

The man, Luigi Corvetto, smiled and replied, “We have retained all the necessary personnel, so please utilize them fully. I look forward to working with you.”

So, this place was the [Palazzo San Giorgio], the Palace of Saint George, where Genoa’s largest bank, the Bank of Saint George, had originally been located.

It is a Renaissance-era relic built in 1407, which shared in both the glory and the failures of Genoa. In particular, it is also famous as a financial institution that supported the Black Sea trade and Spain’s exploration of the New World.

However, with the decline of Genoa, the fate of this bank was also sealed: bankruptcy.

Fifty years prior, when Austria roamed Italy during the War of the Spanish Succession, this bank was robbed of its gold and faced ruin. Even though the nobles of Genoa had previously supported it, that support was now gone.

Why? Because Napoleon had virtually taken over Northern Italy.

In short, the republicans, not the nobles, had seized control of Genoa’s political situation. Corvetto, who had just spoken with Eugene, was a member of the pro-Jacobin faction within Genoa.

Watching Corvetto descend the hill from the Palazzo, Eugene shrugged.

“I can’t change my name to Bonaparte now, can I, Ippolito?”

“No, I’m not talking about the name. I’m talking about advancing into Genoa. How much did it cost to acquire this place, anyway?”

“About 10 million francs? Only about 3 million livres [an old unit of French currency]. Most of that was actually mobilized from the deposits of the Milan bank.”

As Eugene flicked the sign, Ippolito gaped.

“10 million francs! How many bushels of wheat is that? No, was it really necessary to waste so much money?”

“Genoa will be the new base for our business in the future. A good deal came up, so it’s only natural to acquire it.”

“Why? There’s Milan too. It doesn’t cost any money there!”

Suddenly, Eugene’s gaze turned to the city of Genoa below the hill.

“This place is a bit different. This will be the outer harbor of France.”

A major bank that had dominated Genoa and the western Mediterranean economy for nearly 400 years now belonged to Eugene, who was gazing at Genoa and the sea, at the sight of the busiest port city in the western Mediterranean, where countless ships flocked.

***

The port of Genoa is deep, making it easy for large ships to enter and exit.

-Thump! Thump! Thump!

Numerous goods were being unloaded and piled up in the port. In particular, the item to pay attention to was none other than Marseille [a city in France] soap.

Recently, these were the products made in the factory operated by the Clary family. Damas, who was opening a box of soap, nodded.

“Indeed, top quality! At this rate, we can sell it in Milan too, Monsieur [Mister] Clary. Starting with this, let’s trade soap, silk, wool, and wine!”

Then, Étienne Clary, a middle-aged merchant who had shipped the goods, laughed heartily.

“Now, instead of gunpowder, I’m bringing soap. Is this proof that peace is coming? Haha!”

He is Étienne, the brother of Désirée Clary, or rather, Madame Désirée Ochs. He was once almost killed by the guillotine of Fréron, the representative of Marseille, but he barely survived due to the Bonaparte family and the Clary family forming a marriage alliance. His father, François, who had promoted the marriage at the time, had died of old age a few years ago. So, it is Étienne who currently runs the Clary family.

Furthermore, he was the richest man in Marseille, expanding his business by trading with the [Beauharnais Cartel]. It was Étienne’s trading company that brought the first shipment to Genoa this time. However, the ship that shipped these goods did not belong to Étienne.

“I see you here, Monsieur [Mister] Damas.”

Nicolas Surcouf, a young captain with a stern face, approached. He was the captain who operated the ship when Damas first came to Marseille from Martinique. He also made a significant contribution to generating cash by handling smuggling trade in the Beauharnais Cartel. But now, smuggling was no longer necessary.

It had been a year since Napoleon started the Italian campaign. Only a year had passed, but the southern coast of France, which had been virtually blockaded, was now wide open, not only to Italy, but also towards Spain. The same went for Genoa, which had been an enemy of France as recently as early 1795.

“Oh, yes. Monsieur [Mister] Surcouf. Is this the first time since the Republic of Genoa collapsed? Haha!”

“Collapsed? When I entered the port, the documents still said it was a republic.”

“You didn’t look closely. The name has been changed to the Ligurian Republic. Well, it’s only a republic in name, but the French army is virtually under military rule.”

The Ligurian Republic: a French-style democratic republic that newly governed the area formerly ruled by Genoa. Of course, that was just the form of the political system. There were others who actually controlled it.

Nicolas glanced around the port and nodded. “My Mediterranean Fleet friends are already here.”

“Ah, navy friends? They are soldiers from the Toulon headquarters. The main fleet, which is still in Corsica, has not yet arrived.”

“Is Admiral Brueys coming to Genoa too?”

Damas lowered his voice as he looked at the French soldiers who were controlling merchant ships all over the port. “That’s a military secret. But that’s what will happen.”

It was the French Mediterranean Fleet based in Toulon. In name, it listened to the orders of the War Department in Paris, but in reality, it was the same as being under the command of Napoleon, the commander of Italy, because the admiral of the Mediterranean Fleet, Brueys, was Eugene’s man. In fact, even if that were not the case, Genoa and the entire Italy were virtually in the hands of Napoleon.

Étienne, the brother-in-law of Napoleon’s brother Joseph, whistled. “Amazing. General Bonaparte’s power must be soaring. So will Patron Eugene, right?”

“Will you see it?” Damas smiled and tapped the soap box. “Make sure to put all the soap in the warehouse. Today is the day when Genoa’s influential figures pledge their allegiance.”

The one who would receive that pledge was, of course, Napoleon’s adopted son, Eugene.

***

The Palazzo San Giorgio, soon to be the Palace of Saint George, was brightly lit with candles for the first time in a while.

“Let’s celebrate the birth of Banco di Italia [Bank of Italy]!” Filippo Buonarroti, the current Prime Minister of the Ligurian Republic, shouted. He was a man appointed by Napoleon a month prior, and originally a pro-Jacobin faction member, he had been a fugitive, chased by the Genoese nobles in the past. However, immediately after Napoleon dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, the former Genoese aristocratic rulers were all expelled, and the pro-Jacobin faction, including Buonarroti, rose up. In fact, they were called Jacobins, but they were actually a pro-French faction.

Even before, Genoa was a republic in name, but it was a system ruled by great aristocratic families without a king. The pro-Jacobin faction in Italy opposed this so-called oligarchy and wanted to establish friendly relations with France instead of Austria. Napoleon chose the pro-Jacobin faction as a partner for governance. It was these people, the influential figures of the new Ligurian Republic, who had gathered today to celebrate the birth of the [Bank of Italy].

Although it was a fairly large palace, it was so crowded that there was no room to set foot. Eugene smiled and greeted the influential figures.

“Nice to meet you, Prime Minister Buonarroti.”

“Hahaha! Prime Minister? That’s absurd. I am only acting as a proxy for the rule of France, or rather, Commander Napoleon.”

“You are too modest. I know very well what you have done for the revolution in Genoa.”

However, Buonarroti shook his head vigorously and shouted, “No, that’s not true. We Genoese people know the situation in Genoa very well. Therefore, we want to be protected by General Napoleon and his son, General Eugene!”

It was an extremely blatant statement. For a moment, even Eugene, who had invited the influential figures of Genoa, was embarrassed, and just as Eugene was about to turn around, wondering if other Genoese politicians, bankers, and merchants would be angry, other influential figures stepped forward and shouted.

“We have been threatened by Austria until now. The bank in this Giorgio Palace also went bankrupt because of Austria!”

“That’s right. Moreover, until recently, the British fleet was stationed in Corsica and tried to dominate Genoa!”

“Is that all? The traditional ruler of Genoa, the Kingdom of Spain, is also eyeing Genoa!”

Michele Cambiaso, Girolamo Serra, and Luigi Corvetto, whom Eugene had met in the morning, all high-ranking officials and members of the newly formed Ligurian Republic, knew that it was difficult for Genoa to survive as an independent country. Then, to whom should the safety, peace, and property of the citizens of Genoa be entrusted?

“The only person who can protect Genoa in all these situations is General Napoleon,” Buonarroti, the Prime Minister of the Ligurian Republic, said emphatically.

Napoleon was also governing the direct territories of France, centered on the former Kingdom of Sardinia. Furthermore, Napoleon was also the mastermind behind the newly created republics of Lombardy, Veneto, and Tuscany. Furthermore, Napoleon was controlling the top Catholic leader, the Pope of Rome, and was attacking the Kingdom of Naples, the legacy of the counter-revolution. In short, the entire Italy had virtually fallen into the hands of Napoleon alone.

Then, it was beneficial to take advantage of this situation first. The citizens of the merchant city-state, Genoa, calculated this way. Eugene looked at them and smiled strangely.

“Is that because you trust the 10 million francs I invested?”

At that moment, the influential figures, including Buonarroti, were embarrassed, but then smiled brightly and raised their glasses high.

“That’s right too! Because the best bank in the Italian peninsula will be established in our Genoa!”

“Wahahaha! That’s definitely the answer, ‘Piccolo’ [Little] Bonaparte!”

“Please tell my father well! Hehehe!”

Nicolas, who was watching the scene from a distance, turned to Damas.

“Piccolo means small in Italian, right?”

“Yes. In fact, Eugene is taller than General Napoleon.”

“Little Bonaparte.”

Nicolas, who was usually taciturn, suddenly smiled as he stared at Eugene. “Our [Cartel] has begun to take over Italy, for sure.”

Genoa, which once ruled Corsica, now had its leaders all pledging allegiance to Napoleon’s son, a fugitive from Corsica. It was truly a revolutionary moment in which the world was turned upside down. It was also the moment when the Eugene Cartel began to advance throughout Italy with Napoleon’s conquest.