He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 168

(168) The Pichegru Coup Begins

A coup d’état is essentially the quickest way for the weak to seize power.

“At last, the day of destiny has arrived!”

Amiens, a city located north of Paris.

Here lies the headquarters of the Army of the North.

Once, it defended the northern border along the Rhine, saved the nation with victory at Valmy, and was the army that conquered Flanders.

However, as the revolutionary war became dominated by the so-called three great generals, it became a neglected military unit.

Nevertheless, even with the mobilization order lifted, it still possesses a concentrated elite force of 30,000.

The current commander of this unit is Charles Pichegru.

Pichegru declared with an imposing air from the headquarters barracks.

“Today, we move the entire Army of the North!”

On the other hand, the adjutants did not seem convinced.

Brigadier General Bong-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey.

Brigadier General Jan Willem de Winter.

And the cavalry commander, Michel Ney.

The adjutants, after looking at each other, spoke.

“In the end, Rochejacquelein didn’t come.”

“Could he have betrayed us? What if he sided with Danton or Lafayette?”

“Then, perhaps we should postpone the execution…”

Rochejacquelein is a former commander of the royalist Vendée rebels.

He was branded as a rebel leader and exiled to the New World as penance.

However, he became a hero, promoted for achieving the feat of crossing Martinique Island and acquiring the Florida Peninsula.

And this hero recently returned to France at the end of 1796.

The forces of the Army of the North, filled with dissatisfaction, approached Rochejacquelein through their shared royalist sympathies.

However, Rochejacquelein did not give a definite answer and remained in Bordeaux.

Considering that Bordeaux is the former base of the royalists, it is not surprising.

However, staying far away from Paris means he has refused to participate in the coup.

Could he have leaked information?

Pichegru turned to Moncey.

“What about Marceau?”

Marceau, the commander of the Paris National Guard.

He is known within the military as Napoleon’s closest general.

But Pichegru knows that Marceau is originally Eugene’s man.

Eugene, Rochejacquelein, and Marceau are acquaintances who fought together in the Vendée.

If Rochejacquelein has said anything, Marceau will definitely move.

General Moncey shook his head.

“National Guard Commander Marceau is currently on his way to Marseille. He departed 7 days ago.”

“The reason?”

“It is said that Bonaparte, the commander of the Italian army, summoned him. There are rumors that he intends to bring Brigadier General Marceau into the Italian army.”

Instantly, Pichegru turned to the other side.

“Are you sure, Winter? Marceau is gone? What about the movements of the National Guard officers under Marceau?”

Winter, the adjutant in charge of confirming the movements of key figures, nodded.

“Y-yes, he definitely left. My academy classmate confirmed that General Marceau passed through Lyon.”

In the original history, Moncey rose to become one of the 26 Marshals of France.

Winter is from the Netherlands and participated in the revolution, serving as a French general and fleet commander.

Not to mention Ney, who may participate in Waterloo.

Nevertheless, they are now with Pichegru as generals of the Army of the North.

It’s like seeing history change.

Although there is no certainty, all the generals had a motive to move.

Neglect, disregard, and contempt.

If they had participated in the Italian campaign, the conquest of the Netherlands, or even the Rhine offensive, there would be no such complaints.

However, the Army of the North has received no rewards despite fulfilling its national defense mission since the early days of the revolution.

That is why they followed Pichegru and participated in this coup.

Suddenly, Pichegru clapped his hands.

“Alright! Then, Marceau cannot return. The National Guard cannot move for the time being!”

Lyon is a key point in southeastern France.

In terms of location, it is farther from Paris than Bordeaux.

So it is no exaggeration to say that Marceau will not return immediately.

If the Paris National Guard cannot move, then the closest legion to Paris right now is one.

That is the army that guarded the north, the Army of the North.

“Moncey, as soon as the Army of the North enters Paris, seize the National Guard headquarters. Winter, seize the stock exchange and all media outlets!”

“Yes, General. Then who will go to the Assembly [the legislative body of France]?”

“I will go myself.”

Pichegru exclaimed passionately and stood up from his seat.

“We will get all the members of the Assembly into our hands, and we will virtually hold all the power!”

Outside the headquarters barracks, 3,000 commander’s guards were lined up.

The soldiers were looking at Pichegru with fervent expressions.

The fact that this number of soldiers follows the commander shows Pichegru’s popularity.

Although he is not a famous general, and it is difficult to say that he has achieved brilliant achievements, Pichegru, the conqueror of Flanders, at least controls his direct subordinates.

Pichegru shouted to the soldiers of the Army of the North.

“Remember, soldiers of the Army of the North. Who are we?”

“The victors of the Rhine!”

“That’s right! We are the soldiers who first won on the Rhine. Also, we are the conquerors of Flanders! But what kind of treatment are we receiving now? Even though the war ended in victory!”

The commander’s guards shouted in unison.

“We are being despised!”

When you think about it, they are all conscripts.

However, the Army of the North has been fighting since the early days of the war in 1791.

A group of comrades who have been together for 6 years.

However, compared to the Italian Legion, which jumped in at the end of the war, the Army of the North is nothing.

This anger, inferiority, and self-deprecation brought them together.

Pichegru declared confidently.

“We, the Army of the North, must return to the center of the military. Not some ‘Corsican’ hick or a former Royal Guard soldier! We, the soldiers of the revolution!”

With the shouts of the guards, Pichegru mounted his horse.

“Winter, let’s go save the country now.”

“General, is it okay to shoot if they resist?”

“Of course.”

Suddenly, Pichegru’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

“Even if Barras or Boulay block us, remove them by stabbing them with swords and guns! That’s the way to save this country from the hands of politicians!”

Now, the moment has come for the despised army, the Army of the North, to move history.

In every sense.

***

Paris was boiling with completely irrelevant arguments.

“We must immediately detain Count Fersen and deport him! Furthermore, Madame Capet too!”

The assembly hall of the Council of Five Hundred, the Tuileries Palace, was in turmoil.

Among the members, the man who was passionately speaking with a magnificent figure was none other than Danton.

Danton was planning to seize the initiative in the political situation and even dominate the election of the Directory [the French Revolutionary government].

So how can you seize the initiative?

Take a hard-line stance.

The expulsion of Count Fersen and Marie Antoinette.

You can see Lafayette’s face turning red.

It was the moment when Danton was smiling with satisfaction.

“Is it just expulsion? That is an insult to our revolution!”

“That’s right. How dare the person who put the country in turmoil meet her adulterous partner again!”

“This is an act of infringing on national dignity. Let’s prepare the guillotine right now!”

Absurdly, this voice was a cry from the so-called moderates.

Barras, Fréron, and Tallien.

Each was a former Jacobin faction member, but at the same time, one of the current moderates in the Assembly.

Danton was embarrassed.

Of course, it is best to shout hard-line arguments unconditionally in such scandals.

But killing the Queen, isn’t that too much?

“Uh, well, I didn’t say anything like that.”

Then Lafayette, who couldn’t stand listening, jumped up.

“Come to your senses! Regain your reason! Keep order!”

Marie Antoinette is about to be burned to death by the fire that Danton lit.

As a former constitutional monarchist, a guardian of reason, and a Freemason Grand Master, Lafayette cannot condone the situation.

Lafayette calmly rebuked the members who were shouting hard-line arguments.

“The former Queen is just an ordinary woman. A woman who lost her husband has just met another man. That’s a common thing!”

“Look at that guy! He defends the Queen!”

“He’s a counter-revolutionary! He must be a monarchist! A loyalist to King Louis, a traitor to the nation!”

Lafayette was now embarrassed.

This time, it was a cry from the royalist side.

Come to think of it, most of the members of the current Council of Five Hundred are newcomers.

That means there are many people who were not politicians.

Although they are divided into so-called factions, there were many cases where they did not properly follow the will of the political leader.

However, it is too much for those who call themselves royalists to shout.

“Boulay! Do you think the same? That the Queen should die?”

Lafayette shouted at Boulay, the leader of the royalists.

Because he believed that even Boulay, an extreme royalist, would not approve of the Queen’s execution.

However, Boulay just snorted.

“I want a legitimate king, not an unjust queen!”

Barthélemy, Lemerer, Willot.

Representative members of the royalists jumped up.

No, now not only them but most of the members were agreeing.

“Guillotine! Justice through execution! Death to the unjust!”

“Punish them! Only blood can wash away national insults!”

“Oh, great France! Let’s give destruction to the traitors!”

Danton, who first started the fire, Lafayette, who tried to stop it, and the Bonapartist members who were watching, all watched the situation blankly.

When you think about it, Desmoulins, who caused this situation, was rolling his eyes.

If this goes on, Marie Antoinette’s execution will really be resolved.

It was then.

-Bang!

Soldiers burst into the assembly hall of the Tuileries Palace.

“Yeah, this is what our Assembly looks like!”

Brissot, the leader of the former Girondin faction, was surprised and shouted.

“Who is it! How dare you enter the sacred Assembly with bayonets! Guards! Where are they!”

However, what the rushing soldier held out was a pistol.

-Bang!

No one had time to do anything because of the rapid firing.

A man who had participated since the beginning of the revolution and advocated for the abolition of slavery and moderate reforms.

Moderate leader Brissot collapsed helplessly.

While everyone was staring in shock, Pichegru, the one who fired the pistol, entered the center of the assembly hall.

Pichegru smiled as he fiddled with the pistol.

“Heh heh, is this the latest weapon of the Italian army, the percussion mercury gun? The performance is definitely reliable. It fires so quickly.”

“Ch-ch-bullets! D-d-dodge!”

“Where to!”

The soldiers of the Army of the North, who had already poured in, aimed their muskets.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

Of course, it is difficult to shoot immediately after firing a musket.

However, bayonets were attached, making it possible to stab the members with swords at any time.

With a very satisfied face, Pichegru aimed his gun at the members.

“Now, members of the Council of Five Hundred. From this moment on, all power in France belongs to us, the Army of the North!”

“Pichegru, is this treason!”

“Shut up!”

Lafayette took courage and shouted, but Pichegru rather pointed his pistol at him.

“We have come to reclaim the legitimate rights of our revolutionary army. Anyone who resists will be shot! No, that guy would be good!”

Suddenly, Pichegru’s gun was now aimed at Danton.

Unsuitably for his heavy body, Danton trembled like an aspen tree.

Until just now, the greatest power in France was virtually in Danton’s hands.

But now, just one pistol controls Danton’s life.

“Now, Danton. It was good when you overthrew Robespierre and took his place, right?”

“Wait a minute. L-l-let’s talk. Isn’t there room for negotiation? Maybe, who is behind you? Uh, Boulay? No, Louis XVII?”

“There’s no one behind me! I’ll show you the proof!”

Suddenly, Pichegru loaded the bullet like lightning and fired again.

-Bang!

The bullet from the percussion mercury gun pierced the heart of one person.

The man who had been standing there very leisurely until then.

It was Boulay, the leader of the royalists.

Boulay stared at Pichegru in disbelief and clutched his chest.

“P-P-Pichegru. H-how, such betrayal.”

“Betrayal my ass! I didn’t like you royalists or the British guys from the beginning. From now on, I will determine the fate of France!”

“Th-then the National Guard, do you think they will listen to you?”

Barras, Fréron, and Tallien watched the scene and hurriedly sat down.

The situation is turning strangely.

Clearly, Pichegru was just a [sword] used by Barras or Boulay.

After the coup, they were planning to give up the commander’s position like they did to Napoleon in the old days, and the members of the Assembly would take over the central power.

Then, King Louis XVII is restored to restore the monarchy.

This is the original scenario of the coup.

However, Pichegru, who played the role of the sword, is acting strangely.

Pichegru chuckled and glared at Barras.

“What are you talking about? From now on, we will dismiss all of our members. Isn’t that right?”

It was the moment when Barras was about to nod his head while trembling all over.

-Kirik.

Instantly, a pistol was pressed against Pichegru’s hair.

“Heh heh heh! It’s time for the play to end, General Pichegru!”

One person was standing right next to Pichegru.

Vidocq, an agent of Surété [a French law enforcement agency] who had been disguised as a soldier of the Army of the North, was smiling.

***

As if by a lie, guns were pointed at the back of the soldiers’ heads.

-Chuck, chuck, chuck!

Clearly, the Paris National Guard could not move.

Because Commander Marceau would have left Paris.

In the military, the command system is an important element, and it is difficult for an army without a commander to move.

But a strange man is standing as commander.

It is Jean Lannes.

“Now, move quickly! Ah, thank you for your cooperation. General Moncey, and General Winter.”

Looking at the two adjutants who had turned to the National Guard, Pichegru shouted as if spitting blood.

“Moncey? Winter? Why the hell are you guys?”

“I’m sorry, General.”

“Why did you betray me! Aren’t you also the oppressed Army of the North!”

The two generals, who had been pointing guns at the members until just now, bowed their heads.

Only Pichegru, the clumsy Ney, and the commander’s guards are being disarmed and tied up.

Then, Pichegru heard a familiar voice.

“Those friends are my comrades who fought with me before they were your subordinates.”

Two people were seen entering from the door behind the Tuileries Palace.

Pichegru’s eyes widened.

Because the tall general, Hoche, was smiling brightly.

“Hoche!”

“Oh, it looks like you can’t see. Eugene.”

“Hoche, you’re too tall. I’m not short either.”

Pichegru, who then discovered Eugene next to Hoche, screamed with a bloody face.

“Eugene Freiheits, is this your doing?”

Then, as if telling him to stay still, Vidocq hit Pichegru with the butt of his gun.

Eugene’s feet were seen in front of Pichegru, who had been pushed down.

Eugene looked down at Pichegru and twisted his lips.

“There’s a big misunderstanding. You’re the one who planned it. Pichegru.”

“This wicked bastard! The Queen’s dog! You trapped me!”

“The Queen’s dog is Disby, I’m a spectator watching the play you made.”

In the eyes of the fallen Pichegru, a scene of someone else being dragged in was seen.

-Chuck!

It was the sight of the British banker, Francis Baring, being dragged in tied up.

“It’s all over, Pichegru.”

Baring said in English, bowing his head.

Suddenly, Pichegru raised his head.

Just as Vidocq was about to hit him again, Eugene gestured to stop him.

Pichegru burst into laughter and shouted.

“Hahaha! You’re going to hand over France to a Corsican hick [referring to Napoleon Bonaparte]!”

February 2, 1797.

The month of Pluviôse [the fifth month of the French Republican Calendar], when it rains.

Pichegru’s coup failed, and once again [Bonaparte] saved France.