He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 173

(173) Eugene Goes to Egypt

Surprisingly, the Egyptian expedition actually faced opposition from the Directors in the original timeline.

At first glance, it’s easy to assume the Directors encouraged Napoleon to go to Egypt.

Napoleon had defeated Austria, gained control of Italy, and become a national hero.

To the republican politicians who had overthrown the king and seized power, he was a very dangerous figure.

However, at the same time, Napoleon was also the one defending the nation from external enemies.

Was the French army truly invincible on the European continent?

The reality is that before the Italian expeditionary force’s success, they had repeatedly fought to a standstill.

Of course, Carnot’s [Lazare Carnot, a French mathematician, physicist and politician] national mobilization order significantly changed France’s military capabilities.

It’s also clear that there was a group of excellent generals such as Hoche, Moreau, Jourdan, and even Pichegru, not just Napoleon.

In fact, the Directors didn’t yet know it, but there were also great commanders like Massena, Lannes, and Davout, who would later become Napoleon’s 26 Marshals.

However, no one in French history before or since has ever completely overwhelmed the enemy like Napoleon.

In short, Danton had reason to consider Napoleon a special being.

To the point of calling him the “Guardian” of the revolutionary government.

While Eugene was lost in thought, Danton pointed at him and shouted.

“You were extreme even before, weren’t you! You brought Florida as a campaign promise! I sent you to protect Italy, but you conquered it! You even overturned a trial to save the Queen in the old days!”

Thinking about it, Danton had reason to think that way.

But in fact, the conquest of Egypt itself wasn’t entirely Napoleon’s new idea.

Since 1777, during the old regime, plans to colonize Egypt had been discussed in France.

It’s just that the monarchy was overthrown, the revolution occurred, and in the situation of fighting against the whole of Europe, the Egyptian expedition sounded extraordinary.

Moreover, what Danton said wasn’t just about what Eugene had done.

“It seems like things my ‘father’ did are mixed in there.”

“It’s obvious! Everyone in Paris knows that General Bonaparte’s strategist is the gambling prodigy. As proof, everything he does is gambling! Egypt is the ultimate gamble!”

“It would be better than Ireland, Director.”

Just as Danton was about to retort, stung by the remark, Auguste, who was watching from the side, asked.

“Why Egypt, General Eugene? I understand that the military is feeling uneasy about the Irish expedition. But isn’t Egypt more dangerous?”

Auguste, Desmoulins, and even Salicetti had dumbfounded faces.

Furthermore, Lafayette couldn’t even speak, as if he was completely stunned.

Of course, they all knew that the Irish expedition had a high possibility of failure.

However, the political strategy was to throw out an extreme proposal first, then present a compromise and negotiate.

From the perspective of the politicians in the Council of Five Hundred [the lower house of the French legislature under the Directory (1795–1799)], it was a political means of restricting Napoleon, who had become too powerful.

But since they brought up the Egyptian expedition, which had a high possibility of annihilation, they had nothing to say.

On the other hand, Eugene very leisurely looked back at another [new influential figure] in the Assembly.

“Ask Monsieur Talleyrand.”

Talleyrand, who was leisurely smoking, turned to look at Eugene.

Just last year, in 1796, Talleyrand was an exile staying in London.

However, after returning home under the guise of a special envoy, he succeeded in the Florida purchase and quickly rose to become an influential figure in the Assembly.

Now, he was a more trusted member than the other Directors who had lost credibility due to the chaos of the Pichegru coup [a royalist plot to overthrow the Directory in 1797].

Above all, Talleyrand, the one who first brought up the Irish expedition, asked shamelessly.

“Why are you suddenly mentioning me?”

“Because you’re the one who brought up the ridiculous Irish expedition.”

“Hmm, it’s not that ridiculous. First of all, thanks to the efforts of General Bonaparte and General Eugene Freiheitschutz, the Mediterranean Fleet has safely remained. Also, Ireland is currently on the verge of rebellion.”

Talleyrand smiled, praising Napoleon and Eugene’s capture of Toulon.

“Here, our army has proven to be the strongest in Europe. If these three things are combined, the Irish expedition is not necessarily reckless. Furthermore, the best satellite state to blockade England will be born.”

This is why France carried out the Irish expedition in the original history.

However, the person who actually went to Ireland in the end was not Napoleon.

It was Hoche who became the victim.

Of course, Napoleon himself went to Egypt instead.

Eugene stared at Talleyrand and twisted his lips.

“Egypt is the same reason, members of the Assembly.”

The French army, under Napoleon’s command, has proven to be the strongest in Europe.

Since the Mediterranean Fleet is alive, crossing the Mediterranean is easier and more possible than crossing the Atlantic.

Furthermore, Egypt is, strictly speaking, in a state of rebellion against the Ottoman Sultan.

Leaving Talleyrand, who had nothing to say, Eugene turned his gaze to Danton.

“What is England’s top priority foreign trade destination? The New World? The European continent? Or Ireland?”

“Why are you suddenly saying that? England is a maritime trading nation, so if you have to pick one, India would be the key.”

“That’s right. India!”

Eugene’s eyes lit up as he unfolded the map.

“Egypt is the land route to India. Also, there is an [isthmus] connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea here. The so-called Isthmus of Suez!”

The Mediterranean map that Eugene had carefully examined was unfolded in front of the members.

In fact, Eugene knew the future of the original history.

So, he predicted that a canal would be built in the Isthmus of Suez in the late 19th century.

However, there is a point that is possible even with the technology of the late 18th century.

This is why the Directory [the French Revolutionary government from 1795 to 1799] eventually approved the Egyptian expedition in the original history.

Furthermore, it is why Napoleon embarked on the conquest of Egypt with great ambition.

But at the same time, this is also why the Egyptian expedition ultimately failed.

Suddenly, Talleyrand, who had been staring intently at the map, opened his mouth.

“This cannot be뚫 [drilled/pierced, implying ‘cannot be done’].”

“Of course, it’s difficult. But what if we build ports at both ends, Monsieur Talleyrand?”

“Build ports on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, respectively, and뚫 [drill/pierce] the land route?”

Talleyrand’s eyes widened.

In fact, Talleyrand is also the person who most supports the Egyptian expedition in the original history.

Talleyrand made the theory of advancing into Africa instead of the hopeless New World his main political argument.

The Egyptian expedition is where Talleyrand would be most interested.

That is, if it seems like there is a realistic possibility.

And now Eugene has presented Talleyrand with a realistic possibility.

Certainly, Talleyrand’s eyes have changed.

But Eugene smiled bitterly.

In fact, this solution is also what Talleyrand comes up with.

The Directory even allows for an alternative of뚫ing [drilling/piercing] the Suez Canal one step further.

As a result, Napoleon and the Egyptian expeditionary force give up on the canal.

Because after going there, it is technically difficult, but they concluded that there is a large difference in maritime transport between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

It was a simple observation error, but it will be revealed after the mid-19th century.

In that situation, when the Mediterranean Fleet is defeated and the Egyptian expedition faces difficulties, Napoleon eventually abandons the Egyptian expedition.

However, Eugene hid his bitter smile and nodded.

Now is the time to deceive and persuade the Directors.

“If we conquer Egypt, the shortest sea route to India will be뚫ed [drilled/pierced]. Here, what if we win over the Indian princes who were originally our French allies?”

“Mysore!”

“That’s right. There’s also Mysore. Wouldn’t we be able to shake England’s Indian hegemony enough?”

The country Wellington is currently fighting is Mysore.

When a possible ‘scenario’ came out, the members also got excited.

Of course, this scenario requires winning in Egypt.

But Napoleon succeeded in the Italian expedition, which seemed impossible, didn’t he?

“So, General Bonaparte is going on a great expedition himself to achieve this feat!”

Napoleon’s enthusiastic fan, Auguste, shouted excitedly.

But Eugene shook his head.

If that were the case, Eugene wouldn’t have bothered to come to explain it.

“Who said Commander-in-Chief Napoleon is going himself?”

This is why Eugene came to explain the Egyptian expedition directly to the members.

***

In Paris, Napoleon greeted Eugene in the drawing room of the former Madame Fajet’s mansion.

“Did you explain it, Eugene?”

The Fajet mansion was originally the mansion of the Count of Artois, but it is not very large.

It wasn’t bad for holding salons in the past, but it’s not a suitable place for a powerful figure in France.

As Eugene thought about finding a new residence suitable for the Commander-in-Chief, he asked.

“Were you looking at the map?”

“Yes. The cradle of Western civilization, Egypt! A place to revive France’s East India trade and destroy England’s East India trade! A place where we can communicate directly with Tipu Sultan!”

“Yes, if he’s still alive when we communicate.”

Napoleon, who was excited and shouting while looking at the map spread out on one side of the drawing room, raised his head.

Because Eugene’s answer was strange.

Of course, Eugene was just saying that because he knew that Tipu, the ruler of Mysore, would die in 1799.

Napoleon approached Eugene and grabbed his shoulder.

“Why are you so lukewarm? Now, your father is going to become Alexander? No, maybe I’ll be Philip and you’ll be Alexander!”

Eugene almost blurted out that Alexander died at the age of 33.

Why is Napoleon so obsessed with a hopeless expedition?

In fact, that’s what gamblers always do.

However, this time, Eugene had no intention of recommending a hopeless gamble to Napoleon.

“I think that’s really what we should do, Father.”

Just as Napoleon was blinking, Eugene handed over the document he had prepared.

“What is this?”

“It’s a confession that Bering confessed to. It says that after the British overthrew the French government, they plan to attack France.”

“What?”

Napoleon, who was hurriedly looking at the confession, asked in surprise.

“Russia is colluding with Austria to attack? Is this real?”

Of course, the confession is fake that Eugene forced Francis Bering to obtain.

But this fake contains the truth at the same time.

Because it is what actually happens in the original history.

Eugene very simply covered the lie with a lie.

“It’s true. I confirmed it again through Schürte. It seems that the Austrian imperial family is exchanging secret letters with the Russian imperial family.”

“These ungrateful bastards! I saved them, and they’re playing with France like this?”

“It’s just England’s plan, it hasn’t become a reality yet. But Father must stay in France. The moment you leave for Egypt, this conspiracy will become true.”

Napoleon gritted his teeth, then lamented and shouted.

“But Egypt! This is a truly amazing conquest plan! It can change history!”

History does change.

It fails.

Rather, thanks to that, Napoleon stages a coup and becomes the Consul.

But was there a need to go that way?

Even if he just stayed in France, the throne would eventually fall into Napoleon’s hands.

Instead of explaining the complex structure, Eugene replied simply.

“You can go.”

“You’re saying I can’t go now?”

“If Bonaparte can’t go, shouldn’t ‘Petit’ [Little] Bonaparte go?”

Taking a deep breath, Eugene threw his card.