He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 172

Let’s Persuade the Napoleon Club First

Egypt, known in the local Arabic as [Misr], is a land of deserts and the Nile.

“Strictly speaking, there is no country called Egypt right now.”

“Then what is there?”

“An Egyptian province of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. The territory of the Turkish Sultan, in a word.”

In 1797, the Ottoman Turkish Empire nominally still ruled the Eastern Mediterranean.

However, the Ottoman Empire had weakened rapidly in the 18th century.

Falling behind in modernization was a secondary issue; the biggest factor was Russia.

While Western European countries were vying for hegemony, Russia extended its power where Western Europe was absent.

Poland, Siberia, and the Ottoman front.

Even during the war of 1789, when Austria was making a big blunder by having its own troops shoot at each other, Russia, as an ally, achieved a great victory over the Ottoman Empire.

At that time, the Russian commander Suvorov crushed the Ottoman Empire and even advanced to Constantinople.

This war had an unexpected result: division within the Ottoman Empire.

Egypt, formerly ruled by Mamluk military aristocrats [a class of slave soldiers who rose to prominence], effectively became independent.

The rule of the Sultan in Constantinople became a mere formality.

So, what Eugene explained to Ippolito was only nominal.

Currently, Egypt is under the collective rule of the Mamluk nobles, descendants of former military slaves.

Looking at the Mediterranean map spread out in the Boarneh Bank office, Ippolito clicked his tongue.

“Wow, it’s far. It’s way over there at the end of the sea?”

As expected, Eugene, who had been lost in thought while looking at the map, raised his eyebrows.

“Did you get amnesia or something? We’ve been to the Atlantic too.”

“No, that was when I was young and didn’t know anything. Was I about your age then? Anyway, we didn’t go to conquer it with an army, did we?”

“Well, it’s a different matter from just going on an adventure to the Atlantic.”

In the actual original history, Napoleon, thinking the Mediterranean was close, suffered a great deal.

The heat of the desert was more than the French scholars had expected.

The navy was sunk, and supplies were cut off.

The local residents regarded the French army, which claimed to liberate them from the Mamluks, as invaders.

It was literally the limitation of Napoleon, who had only learned about Egypt from books.

Rather, Ippolito, who had more experience on ships than Napoleon, pointed out sharply.

“Why are you trying to conquer Egypt anyway? It’s a desert, across the sea, and it’s Ottoman territory, right? And weren’t we allies with them, if I remember correctly?”

In fact, France and the Ottoman Empire have been allies for about 300 years.

The alliance was first formed in the 16th century when François I allied with the Ottoman Empire to counter the Holy Roman Empire.

Because France and the Ottoman Empire are very far apart, this alliance has lasted quite a long time.

Even now, the Ottoman Sultan is on friendly terms with France, though nominally.

At that time, the chief of police, Marceau, who had visited Eugene after a long time, chimed in.

“I don’t understand either. Surely, General Bonaparte isn’t the kind of person who would say such unrealistic things.”

“He is that kind of person, Marceau.”

“Ugh, aren’t you being too harsh on your stepfather?”

Just as Marceau was about to look dumbfounded, Eugene pointed to the opposite side of the map.

“Marceau, look at it from a different perspective. Does Ireland seem realistic?”

Ireland is strangely located on the opposite side of Egypt, northwest on the European-centered map.

Originally, in the original history, the revolutionary government recommended an Irish expedition to Napoleon.

However, Napoleon avoided the expedition with various excuses and came up with the Egyptian expedition.

In fact, at this time, Napoleon was in a position where he could not refuse the revolutionary government’s recommendation, so he brought it up.

However, seeing him bring up the Egyptian expedition even now, when he has an overwhelming advantage, it seems that it was originally Napoleon’s dream.

Eugene shrugged, recalling Napoleon’s words that he had devoured Plutarch’s Lives [a series of biographies of famous Greeks and Romans] as a boy.

In any case, the Irish expedition is just as unrealistic.

Marceau, acknowledging that point, smacked his lips and asked again.

“Wasn’t that proposed because the congressmen were uncomfortable with General Bonaparte? He can just refuse.”

“What if he doesn’t refuse? Will the newly formed government just leave the new commander-in-chief alone?”

“Wait a minute, Eugene. What are you saying? Are you saying that the new government is trying to get rid of General Bonaparte?”

When Marceau asked in surprise, Eugene shrugged and replied.

“The royalist congressmen have already tried it once. But uprisings and assassinations are originally the specialty of the Jacobins [a radical political organization during the French Revolution]. The leading forces of the revolutionary government are still former and current Jacobins.”

Of course, Barras, the man who constantly plots conspiracies, is currently in prison.

He will also soon be exiled to Florida in the New World with Pichegru.

However, Jacobin forces still remain in Paris.

The fact that the ultra-hardline congressman Babeuf’s revolt, which should have happened, did not happen is also a problem.

In any case, Eugene thought that a coup conspiracy could happen again at any time.

But who is the clear supreme power holder right now?

Commander-in-chief designate, Napoleon.

To resolve this political tension, the easiest solution is war.

“So, war is inevitable. It’s just a matter of where to go.”

At Eugene’s words, Ippolito slumped down, and Marceau lamented.

“Is it a choice between going to Ireland and becoming fish food in the English sea, or being eaten by desert eagles?”

“If you don’t like that, there’s also the option of being exiled to the New World. You don’t like that, do you?”

“After hearing Rochejacquelein’s story, it sounds like the worst. I’ll pass.”

Shaking his head, Marceau suddenly widened his eyes.

“Wait. What are you saying right now? Are you saying I have to go with you?”

Eugene nodded as if it were obvious.

“Of course. This Egyptian expedition isn’t going to be the Italian expeditionary force; it’s going to be another army.”

“Huh? Why is that? The Italian corps is the best in France. It’s an army that General Bonaparte himself has fostered through war.”

“That’s why they have to stay in France, Ippolito.”

Ippolito interjected in surprise, but Eugene simply shook his head.

Clearly, as Ippolito said, the best corps in France right now is the Italian expeditionary force.

Also, with the partial lifting of the general mobilization order, it is also the corps that is still maintained as a standing army due to the occupation of Italy.

Originally, Napoleon also went to Egypt with the Italian corps as the main force, forming an expeditionary force in the original history.

As a result, Napoleon ruined his best corps, the Italian corps, in Egypt.

Because he left the main force in Egypt and ran away with his closest aides.

Among them was Eugene in the original history.

Eugene shrugged, recalling a very tragic history.

“If the main force leaves for Egypt, do you think Prussia and Austria will stand still? Besides, Russia is also eyeing us.”

This is an excuse, but it is also true at the same time.

Immediately after Napoleon left for Egypt, England and Austria moved again.

As a result, the Second Coalition War begins in the original history.

Unless it is absolutely necessary, it is better to stop the war.

Then, the Egyptian expedition is necessary after all.

However, the main force must remain in France.

“The war on the European continent is not over yet, Marceau. The Italian expeditionary force will fight then.”

That’s why Eugene chose Marceau, who hadn’t fought in the meantime.

It was also the reason why he wouldn’t choose other generals.

Marceau, who had been looking at Eugene as if he would pierce him, nodded heavily.

“Okay. I’ll go. I’ve made you my [patron] [a powerful person who provides support and protection].”

“Thank you.”

“But, how are you going to persuade the other generals?”

Eugene shrugged.

“I’ll have to put on a bit of a [show].”

Of course, it’s not an easy task.

However, in the original history, didn’t all the generals end up following him anyway?

***

Of course, Marceau is not the only one who thinks Napoleon is delusional.

“Crazy! The general has gone crazy! Egypt, does he want to become a pharaoh or something!”

The man who shouts the most energetically is, of course, Lannes.

But the other generals are no different.

Masséna, Augereau, Murat, Junot, and Berthier.

If Eugene and Marceau, who are considered Napoleon’s closest aides, hadn’t summoned them, they all seemed like they would have gone to Napoleon directly.

Instead, Eugene told Lannes, who was jumping up and down in Marceau’s chief of police’s office.

“Listen to the explanation before you say he’s crazy, Lannes.”

“What explanation! Are you crazy too? Augereau! Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s sane!”

“One thing is certain, I also think Commander Bonaparte is joking, Lannes.”

At Augereau’s cynical words, Masséna nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, this is a complete gamble. What is the commander thinking, making such a gamble?”

Eugene turned his gaze.

Junot, who is relatively low in rank, Murat, who is watching Eugene, and Berthier, who is silent, all have the same thought, with bad expressions.

In times like these, a more objective explainer is needed than someone who is too close to Napoleon like Eugene.

Someone with authority.

-Clap!

When Eugene clapped his hands, two people entered from outside the commander’s office.

“What, Count Fersen? Are you still in France?”

Lannes, who was turning his head, widened his eyes.

He recognized the face of the man who entered as if guiding him.

Fersen, the man of the former queen and a person involved in the Pichegru coup [a failed attempt to restore the monarchy], is a Swedish nobleman.

Fersen, who is now being held by Eugene, smiled bitterly and replied.

“That’s how it happened. Of course, the reason I came is to introduce another person.”

“Is it the person behind you? Wait, why are you entering and exiting the chief of police’s office anyway?”

“Because General Eugene called me. The reason General Eugene called me is because of this person.”

The middle-aged gentleman standing behind Fersen wiped his sweat and greeted.

“Whew, it’s been a while since I’ve been to Paris. Nice to meet you. My name is Denon.”

Eugene pointed to the middle-aged gentleman, Denon, and said.

“Let me introduce you. Dominique Vivant Denon, former Swedish ambassador. Ah, of course, his position has been stripped, and he has now changed his surname to [Denon], but.”

“Vivant Denon? Wait, I’ve heard of him. Isn’t he the author of [Bon Fer] [a popular comedy play]?”

“Oh, that comedy? Wow, to meet such an aristocratic playwright in a place like this!”

When Marceau and Masséna acted like they knew him, Denon smiled with a much more comfortable expression.

“Hahaha! You’ve heard of my play. But in fact, I’m closer to being a painter and classicist. Of course, the reason I’m here today is as an Egyptologist.”

Denon, the man who would become the first director of the Louvre Museum in the original history.

He remained in history as the man who brought Egyptian art to France.

Moreover, he also had a talent for painting, and he left a portrait of Lady Hamilton, Nelson’s lover, whom he met while working as a diplomat.

The reason Eugene knows this multi-talented man is very simple.

Whether in the original history or now, he was none other than a guest of Josephine’s salon [a gathering of intellectuals and artists].

Denon, an expert on Egypt who instilled the Egyptian craze in Napoleon, began his explanation with the smooth attitude unique to diplomats.

“Well, I don’t know why you are interested in Egypt, but this is a land that France can fully aim for.”

“What’s the reason, Ambassador Denon?”

“Hehe, it’s simple, General Masséna. Our classicists value it as a place of ancient civilization and near the holy land. But, this is a place connected to India.”

Masséna, who once worked as a smuggler and knows a little about trade, widened his eyes.

“India?”

Denon nodded with a satisfied face.

“That’s right. Egypt is one of the intermediate stops that England uses to communicate with India. Of course, the main route is the Cape of Good Hope route, which goes around the Dark Continent, but Egypt is also used by merchants for land access.”

In some ways, Europeans of this era surpass the imagination of later generations.

What I mean is that even though there are no airplanes, merchants travel all the way to distant Egypt to do business.

It’s not just England, but also French merchants.

The Ethiopian coffee imported by the Boarneh Cartel Trading Company is also imported through French trading companies in Egypt.

In addition, the Egyptian fashion brought in by merchants is sweeping the Paris fashion scene.

In short, Napoleon didn’t just blindly sing about Egypt.

It is the result of the combination of scholars interested in Egyptian civilization, noble ladies interested in fashion, and merchants interested in interests.

The only problem is that the Egyptian expedition itself is a very difficult war.

Still, the generals, who were a little interested in the words India and England, were about to turn to each other.

Fersen opened his mouth.

“For reference, England is still aiming for France.”

“Ha! How like a pro-British aristocrat to say that. No, are you even a foreigner in the first place?”

“I can’t help it if you have antipathy. General Lannes, and generals of the Bonaparte Corps.”

Fersen calmly looked around the generals and said simply.

“But I will definitely testify to one thing. Even for the sake of the lives of the person I love and her daughter.”

This is exactly why Eugene called Denon through Fersen.

If it was just for an explanation about Egypt, he could call Denon or Jacques Champollion, the brother of the famous Rosetta Stone interpreter Champollion.

However, only Fersen, a pro-British foreign high-ranking aristocrat, has the authority to testify to England’s military ambitions.

Fersen said seriously.

“England will not give up until the moment it defeats France and overthrows the revolutionary government. You only have one of two choices. Lose, or win.”

That is also a historical truth.

In the end, the generals of the Napoleon Club were convinced.

***

Nevertheless, the Egyptian expedition is outside the common sense of French intellectuals.

The same goes for influential politicians.

“Egypt? Am I having hearing problems right now? Come to think of it, deafness is one of the symptoms of syphilis! Could it be me?”

Parliament office in the Tuileries Palace.

Danton jumped up and asked Eugene.

Eugene smiled and asked back.

“Did you get syphilis? Oh dear, mercury is only a temporary solution, so find another solution.”

“I was just saying! No, how can you, as a friend, only bring extreme alternatives!”

“When did I ever do that?”