He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 157

(157) The Situation in the New World is Dominated by England

Here lies a forsaken battlefield.

-Boom!

A coastal gun, a fixed cannon installed on the shoreline, fired into the air.

A blond young man watched the shell soar across the deep blue sea.

His collar was worn, but his hair and chin were meticulously groomed.

Suddenly, someone approached him from a distance behind.

In stark contrast to the blond youth, a middle-aged man in a military uniform with a thick beard.

“Why did you suddenly fire the cannon? What a waste of gunpowder.”

The young man, Rochejacquelein, replied without turning his head.

“We have a little more gunpowder now.”

“Why? We haven’t received any supplies, have we?”

“Except when a liaison ship barely comes and goes. But General Toussaint from [Hispaniola, a Caribbean island now divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic] sent us some spoils. Colonel Thureau.”

Colonel Thureau, a soldier who once roamed the Vendée battlefield, burst into a hollow laugh.

“Ha, how did we end up being helped by a black man? We’re in a sorry state indeed.”

This place is Martinique, an island located at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

It is Josephine’s hometown and a prominent sugarcane cultivation area for France.

A colony that brought enormous profits to France before the revolution.

But now, it was also home to 4,000 soldiers forgotten by the home country, fighting a lonely battle.

3,000 royalists who were former Vendée rebels and 1,000 garrison soldiers originally stationed there.

The commander of the royalist army, Rochejacquelein, received the temporary rank of [Brigadier General, a high-ranking officer] from the revolutionary government.

It was a unit called the Vendée Brigade, which had been defending Martinique for over two years.

Even with naval supremacy virtually handed over to England.

Rochejacquelein comforted his adjutant, Colonel Thureau.

“It’s only been three years, hasn’t it? Don’t complain too much.”

“It’s because it seems like the home country has forgotten us.”

“The Knight of the Princess promised us five years.”

Rochejacquelein, still gazing at the sea, asserted with a confident tone.

“It hasn’t even been three years yet. We can’t complain already, Thureau.”

The Knight of the Princess, that is, Eugene, had made a promise to the Vendée Brigade.

Five years.

If they endured that time, he would allow them to choose one of two options.

Return to France, or go to the wider New World.

Of course, Rochejacquelein did not blindly believe that promise.

But he knew a little about the news from the home country through the occasional liaison ship from mainland France.

Although it was information from half a year ago, he heard that Napoleon was triumphing in Italy.

It was Napoleon and Eugene who suppressed the Vendée rebellion.

If they succeeded in the Italian campaign, it was quite possible to predict that their position in mainland France would be strengthened.

At least there was hope that repatriation would be possible.

Thureau had heard the news as well, so instead of complaining further, he smacked his lips and asked.

“Well, alright. But why did you really fire the cannon? Surely an enemy ship wouldn’t have come already, would it?”

Instantly, Thureau, his eyes wide, ran to the fortress where the coastal gun was located.

“An enemy ship!”

A British ship flying the Union Jack was visible in the distance.

Rochejacquelein had much better eyesight than Thureau, so he must have spotted it first.

In haste, Thureau urged the garrison soldiers inside the fortress.

“Garrison, form ranks! Coastal guns! Prepare the shells! Are the incendiary shells ready!”

“There’s no need to rush so much, Colonel Thureau.”

“How can I not rush, Rochejacquelein! The British fleet, Nelson, is starting to attack us again!”

Still not taking his eyes off the sea, Rochejacquelein shook his head.

“Just watch the situation. Right now, Nelson is more interested in Hispaniola.”

Hispaniola in French, [Hispaniola] in Spanish.

In modern history, it is a large island where the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic coexist.

The east of this island is held by Spain, but the west is a French colony called [Saint-Domingue, the French colony on Hispaniola].

More than 10 times the size of Martinique, the French colony in the west is about the same size as Flanders.

Nelson is more concerned with Hispaniola, which has strong resistance and is larger than small Martinique.

Then why did France send the Vendée Brigade to Martinique instead of Hispaniola?

Thureau clicked his tongue.

“No wonder Toussaint is reaching out to us.”

“The home country has eventually given up on Saint-Domingue.”

“Wasn’t it harsher but more successful than Martinique? Good heavens, I think I only drank Saint-Domingue coffee.”

Toussaint Louverture, born as a black slave, is currently the rebel leader who effectively controls the French colony of Saint-Domingue.

But although he is called a rebel, he is in fact no different from the French army defending Saint-Domingue.

France lost control of the West Indies after the Revolutionary War began.

Slave revolts broke out in various colonies, and soon after, the British Navy was dispatched to the West Indies.

Above all, the French Atlantic Fleet was repeatedly defeated by the British Navy.

It was possible for the Vendée Brigade to cross over to Martinique, but that was all.

Of course, if France had a choice, it would have sent the Vendée Brigade to Saint-Domingue instead of Martinique.

Even before the great revolt of black slaves, Saint-Domingue was the largest producer of sugar and coffee in Europe, not just France.

In the 1780s, 40 percent of the sugar and 60 percent of the coffee consumed in Europe came from Saint-Domingue.

At that time, 10 percent of the French royal finances were covered by taxes on this sugar and coffee.

However, Toussaint revolted in 1791, immediately after the French Revolution.

Therefore, by 1794, when the Vendée rebellion was suppressed, Saint-Domingue was already beyond the control of the home country.

However, the characteristic of the West Indies is that there are not only France and black slaves, but also other forces such as England and Spain.

The enemies that Toussaint, who had newly seized western Hispaniola, faced were these two forces.

Eventually, Toussaint compromised with mainland France.

He decided to unite with the French New World forces centered on Martinique to fight against England and Spain.

In his own way, Toussaint considered himself French.

The fact that Robespierre, who was in power at the time, was negative about the slave system also played a key role.

As a result, as of September 1796, the French garrison in Martinique and Saint-Domingue are allied with each other.

Rochejacquelein sighed in relief, thinking about the problems he had experienced over the past two and a half years.

“They’re leaving. Let’s not neglect our vigilance.”

After giving simple orders to the fortress garrison, Rochejacquelein came down from the fortress.

Thureau followed behind, clicking his tongue.

“Hmph, that was really nerve-wracking. If the British Navy were to attack us head-on, we wouldn’t be able to handle it at all.”

“We’ve won several times in landing engagements. Unless Nelson launches a full-scale siege, he won’t be able to occupy Martinique in its current state.”

“That is, if we don’t run out of gunpowder and ammunition.”

At the end of the 18th century, war is ultimately determined by gunpowder weapons.

If gunpowder runs out, it is difficult to fight any longer.

This is a chronic problem for the Martinique garrison on the isolated island.

Rochejacquelein smiled bitterly and replied.

“When the next liaison ship comes, let’s ask the home government for help.”

At that moment, a young man riding a horse from the inside of the island, waving his hand, was seen running towards them.

“Hey, Rochejacquelein! Governor Charles Damas wants you to come! He says let’s have a consolation banquet for the first time in a while!”

A man who once fought with Rochejacquelein in the Vendée, the Marquis de Lescure.

Next to him, his wife, Marie de Lescure, is seen running along with a bright smile.

A close couple, the Lescure family, came all the way to Martinique together.

Rochejacquelein was about to chuckle at the seemingly carefree appearance when Thureau clicked his tongue.

“The Marquis de Lescure and Governor Damas must be very carefree.”

“Isn’t it time to console the soldiers?”

“Rochejacquelein, aren’t you worried? At this rate, we could all die on this island.”

Then Rochejacquelein solemnly shook his head and said.

“Anyway, I, the Colonel, and all the other soldiers were all destined to die in the Vendée. Our lives now belong to Eugene and General Bonaparte.”

A knight keeps his oath.

In an era when the revolution ended knights and nobles, there are still those who uphold the pride of the nobility.

The old aristocrat Rochejacquelein was running vigorously through Martinique.

***

All of these situations were now placed as reports on Eugene’s desk in the Mombello Palace.

“This, isn’t this British intelligence?”

Ippolito, who was looking through the detailed report right next to him, widened his eyes.

In fact, it would be strange if he didn’t know since it was written in English.

As the son of a merchant, Ippolito knew English quite well, even though he had not received higher education.

Eugene sat down and nodded.

“That’s right. It shows how much the British Navy has control over the West Indies waters.”

“I thought only Jamaica was owned by the British, but now, except for Martinique, haven’t we lost everything?”

“Saint-Domingue hasn’t been taken either. It’s just that it’s virtually independent.”

These are place names that you might only hear when the World Cup is held in modern history.

However, for the French people of this era, they were quite familiar due to colonial issues.

Cuba, Jamaica, Saint-Domingue (Hispaniola Island).

Cuba in the west is a Spanish colony, Jamaica in the middle is a British colony, and Hispaniola in the east is a French and Spanish colony.

Further east is Martinique.

Eugene and Ippolito had been to Martinique because of Josephine.

Therefore, Ippolito could guess the contents not written in the report.

Smacking his lips, Ippolito said to Eugene.

“Wow, Eugene, you really sent the Vendée rebels to a difficult place, didn’t you?”

Eugene shook his head, pretending to be dignified.

“I didn’t send them to Haiti, or Saint-Domingue, did I?”

“Isn’t that better? There are more people, it’s self-sufficient, and it’s wider.”

“Instead, it’s controlled by black slave rebels. It’s a difficult place for new soldiers like Rochejacquelein to handle. Yellow fever is also more prevalent.”

In actual history, after Napoleon ascended to the French throne, he sent a rebellion suppression army to Saint-Domingue.

After seizing Hispaniola Island, he tried to advance from there to the American continent.

Should I say he prayed for the revival of New France?

However, suddenly, a virus disease unique to the tropics, yellow fever, broke out and the army was annihilated.

There is no specific cure for this, so Eugene has no other alternative.

He only knows that the mortality rate is low at 5 percent, and once you get it, you are immune for life, so local black slaves are resistant to yellow fever.

Anyway, considering this yellow fever, the Vendée rebels have not gone to a very difficult place.

Ippolito pouted and tilted his head.

“But why did Baring notify us of that difficult situation? Is it to give up?”

“No, to eat Florida and end the war.”

“Why did he make such a proposal? Florida is not a British colony now, but giving it to us doesn’t give them any advantage. Rather, the problem arises that the waters near Florida become French?”

Eugene stared intently at the New World map next to the report and replied.

“It’s disadvantageous to England, clearly. But it’s not disadvantageous to the East India Company. That’s the reason.”

Looking at the map, you can see why Ippolito had doubts.

Martinique is owned by France.

However, the numerous islands scattered above and below Martinique are all controlled by the British Navy.

Going back west, the French rebel slaves and the Spanish colonial governor divide and rule Hispaniola Island.

If you go past this island, the British Navy operates around Jamaica.

Further west is the traditional Spanish colony, Cuba.

Just north of that, across a huge [bay, a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward], is the North American continent, especially the Florida peninsula.

This place is currently Spanish territory.

But if France occupies this place, the strategic structure of the sea will be reversed.

A [bay] controlled by France is created in the waters unilaterally dominated by England.

So it’s true that it’s disadvantageous to England.

But the East India Company, which has real influence in [India, a large country in South Asia], is different.

“England also has interests in this area centered on Jamaica. They also have colonies. They have controlled the islands near Martinique since the Seven Years’ War, and they also have some colonies in South America.”

“Oh, that’s right. But why did Baring, a British financier, make this proposal?”

“But all these interests are owned by the country of England. Baring, Baring’s Bank, and even the East India Company, where Baring is a director, do not have a single interest in the West Indies.”

When Columbus discovered the New World, he mistook it for ‘India’.

So the name attached to this area is [West Indies, the islands between North and South America].

However, the East India Company has no interests in this West Indies and only has interests in real India.

Therefore, whether Florida is handed over to France or not, the East India Company does not care.

Here is the grudge that the capitalists of the East India Company have.

“But, the East India Company can’t get the profits it originally wanted to get in the New World.”

“What is it?”

“Former North American colonies.”

The former North American colonies where the East India Company once tried to sell black tea are now gone.

“There, they’re independent. Because of us, France.”

At Ippolito’s point, Eugene mentioned the land from which his name originated.

“Yes. American independence is because of France. Also, the revolution is because of American independence. And, the country that the East India Company wants to give [a hard time] to is also America. Even my name is American pronunciation because of America.”

“Yeot? What is that?”

“There is. Something like that. Anyway, that’s probably why Baring proposed this deal. Or, the East India Company.”

Eugene explained lightly jokingly, and Ippolito nodded and tilted his head again.

“Okay, I understand roughly. But, isn’t this Spanish land?”

How on earth can a British banker hand over Florida, which is Spanish territory, to France?

***

In the end, the person who will decide this issue is not Eugene but Napoleon.

“To trade Spanish land and end the state of war with England?”

In Mombello, at the Italian garrison camp, Napoleon met with Eugene.

Napoleon is also a man who has no less greed for land than others.

But suddenly, he can acquire a huge territory in the New World, so he can’t help but be tempted.

Also, what if the state of war with England is ended superiorly in this process?

Napoleon, who has acquired territory almost equal to Italy, will truly become a great French national hero.

Eugene shrugged his shoulders.

“I didn’t say that far. I just said that I would give you Florida, which is Spanish land, so please select Baring Bank as the intermediary.”

“Weren’t England and we in a state of war? How can a transaction be made?”

“Spain is not in a state of war with England.”

So, Spain and France can trade.

Again, Spanish and English bankers can also trade.

Therefore, if the Florida sale ‘deal’ is promoted, Baring’s Bank can act as an intermediary.

Napoleon nodded and summarized.

“France buys the peninsula called Florida from Spain, Spain receives money or other territory, and Baring’s Bank takes the brokerage fee? The words are reasonable, but.”

Suddenly, Napoleon frowned.

“To sell territory for money? Unless the King of Spain is crazy, would that be possible? Besides, a ceasefire treaty has already been concluded, hasn’t it?”

In fact, it was a common practice in Europe to pay war reparations after losing a war.

Napoleon extorting money from various Italian countries is a real example.

However, buying and selling territory for money is unprecedented.

In fact, what Napoleon did in the original history is almost the first time.

Nevertheless, Eugene smiled and nodded.

“It’s possible for three reasons, Father.”

“What is it?”

“First, the ceasefire treaty has not yet been finally approved. The French parliament is in the middle of an election. Second, Danton, the real power of the Directory, needs achievements. Florida is really big.”

Strictly speaking, France and Italy are not officially in a state of ceasefire.

Also, Danton, the nominal highest authority in France, absolutely needs achievements for re-election.

After thinking for a while, Napoleon stared at Eugene and asked.

“What’s the third reason?”

Napoleon’s heart moved.

Literally gambling.

But like Eugene, Napoleon is also a gambler.

But professional gamblers tend to create conditions to win before starting.

Eugene presented a sure-win condition card.

“The real power in Spain is not the king but the king’s chief secretary. But, the current chief secretary of Spain, Godoy, is very afraid.”

Godoy, the young statesman who dragged Spain down the road to ruin.

The top real power who has been manipulating state affairs with the queen instead of the incompetent king of Spain since 1792.