He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 202

(202) The Problem of the Grand Canal is Always Money, Not Technology

Suez, a port city at the northern end of the Red Sea.

“This is the shortest route to Mecca. That’s why the port was built here.”

An Egyptian wearing a Western-style hat pointed to the small, wave-swept harbor.

The man’s name was Gauhari, a scribe from the Coptic Christian community.

He was a pro-French figure who had been actively involved since the arrival of the French.

That’s why he adopted all French-style clothing.

Of course, the ones selling these clothes were French merchants who came with the French army.

Eugene glanced at the ships in the direction Gauhari pointed and nodded.

“There are quite a few ships, Scribe Gauhari.”

“Indeed, General. Mecca is like Jerusalem to them. Once, the ‘Turk’ Empire’s fleet was stationed here as well.”

“Now it will belong to the French [Governor-General].”

At that, Gauhari said with a nonchalant expression.

“Have you decided to completely dominate the land of Misr [Egypt]?”

Eugene glanced at Gauhari and chuckled.

Even the Chasseur à Cheval [light cavalry] brigade officers escorting Eugene were taken aback.

Complete domination of Egypt.

Naturally, it was a sensitive political topic in front of Gauhari, an Egyptian.

Suddenly, Eugene shrugged and replied.

“I don’t have the authority to confirm that. The home government decides.”

“I have ears too. I heard that the most powerful man in France is your stepfather.”

“Maybe he will be in the future. But for now, he’s just one of the leaders in the military.”

At that moment, Gauhari’s eyes sparkled as he asked.

“If a French Governor-General is established, will we Coptic Christians be able to participate in the government?”

This seemed to be Gauhari’s real question.

Eugene quietly looked at Gauhari.

From the French perspective, the Coptic Christians were not only fellow Christians but also very useful collaborators.

However, no power on Earth would give suffrage for free.

Suddenly, Eugene spoke.

“We will create a parliament, Gauhari.”

“A parliament? What is that?”

“It’s similar to a divan [council or court]. But there are more members, and the people who enter are elected by vote. The elected officials with fixed terms make laws and decisions.”

Just as Gauhari was about to be surprised by Eugene’s words, Eugene said as if it were obvious.

“That parliament will be composed of people living in Egypt. Coptic Christians will also be allocated seats.”

Eventually, Gauhari couldn’t help but ask.

“Then how on earth will France govern Egypt?”

Of course, Eugene didn’t mention abolishing the military government.

In fact, in the original history, Britain also created a [National Assembly] in the later part of its rule in India.

Although it was an autonomous assembly without real power, it led the Indians to actively cooperate in the World War.

Eugene was thinking of applying this example in Egypt.

With safeguards in place.

Eugene tilted his head and said.

“It’s a very simple method. Only people with French nationality will have the right to vote.”

“What, what? Nationality? If I understand correctly, are you saying that only French people will have the right to vote?”

“That’s right. Of course, Coptic Christians will be the first to have the right to vote.”

Gauhari, who was quickly rolling his eyes, narrowed his brows.

“You’re planning to send a large number of French people here, General!”

This time, Eugene was a little surprised.

Gauhari seemed to have a faster brain than he thought.

In fact, even in the original history, Gauhari was not just a pro-French figure, but he even learned French law and was appointed as a judge.

However, as France was defeated by Britain, he was branded as a traitor and died.

Now that France’s victory was certain, his position was very strong.

Such an influential figure had even seen through Eugene’s intentions.

He certainly seemed like a great collaborator.

Eugene, who was on horseback, stared at Gauhari and asked.

“Do you know how many people there are in France?”

“How many?”

“Over 30 million. About eight times the population of Egypt.”

Just as Gauhari was about to open his mouth, Eugene said lightly.

“At least one million. Sending that population to Egypt is our plan with Hoche for the future. Together with the Coptic Christians, they will be the foundation supporting this French Egyptian territory.”

He said it casually, but one million was a huge number.

Of course, in France, which was suffering from food shortages due to overpopulation, emigration was not necessarily a bad choice.

But what about Egypt, which would have to accept such a large population of one million?

Barely closing his mouth, Gauhari asked.

“Alright. Then what will you use to support that many additional people? This place is poor.”

“Why do you think it’s poor? There’s gold right in front of you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Eugene’s gaze turned back to the Suez port.

“Scribe Gauhari. What do you think will happen if this Suez port becomes the gateway to India instead of Mecca?”

“I, India?”

“A road connecting this place and the Mediterranean. Creating that and opening the main road for East India trade is the real goal of our French expeditionary force.”

That was the reason why nearly 50,000 French soldiers and nearly 20,000 sailors had come all the way to Egypt.

To open the East India trade route.

In the original history, when France briefly opened the Egyptian route, British East India trade was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Because the goods of the Atlantic trade were overflowing as inventory.

So Eugene’s plan was not entirely absurd.

Gauhari nodded as if he now understood France’s true intentions.

“I understand! Originally, Eastern trade was the source of Misr’s prosperity. But you Franks developed a route around the Dark Continent [Africa] far away, and it declined!”

“That’s right. It was about 400 years ago.”

“But how will you build roads, build ports, and build ships? I think the treasures the Mamluks had are running out? Are you going to collect taxes?”

All of that costs money.

“We promised tax exemption, so we have to keep our promise. But when we carry out public works, we don’t always work with taxes alone, Gauhari.”

“Then, with what money? Are you thinking of fighting the Turk Empire and receiving it?”

“Puhaha! Surely not. Even if we fight, would the Ottoman Turk Empire have that kind of money?”

Eugene burst into laughter and winked.

“We will create a bank and issue bonds. I heard that the merchants in Egypt have a lot of hidden money. Well, there will be many people who can become laborers.”

This was the way Eugene made money in France and the way he seized financial power in Italy.

Issuing bonds.

Through this, he secures financial liquidity and funds, and then creates profits again with new businesses.

It will be even more useful in places where advanced finance has not developed.

Besides, Egypt is also a monetary economy.

But Gauhari, who was staring at Eugene, tilted his head.

“Wait, that bond you’re talking about. Are you perhaps talking about giving money and receiving ‘interest’?”

“That’s right? You must have it in Egypt too.”

“We don’t.”

Gauhari licked his lips and explained.

“We are forbidden from receiving interest, General.”

Only then did Eugene recall the problem that existed in Islam until modern times in the original history.

***

Islam has many strange cultures in the eyes of Europeans.

But when you know it, most Europeans were like that in the Middle Ages.

In a society dominated by religion, ancient scriptures must be accepted as truth.

It’s a kind of cultural lag phenomenon, and this applies not only to romance.

For example, ‘interest’ is like that.

“What the hell are you talking about? You can’t receive interest here? Do you understand what Gauhari is saying?”

Ippolito pressed Eugene, who had returned to Giza.

Although it was winter, the desert was hot.

Cooling his face, which had been burned by the time he returned to Giza, Eugene replied weakly.

“I forgot. Interest is a sin for Muslims.”

“Why is that a sin?”

“Because it’s forbidden by the scriptures. Is that why they created a joint-stock company?”

In fact, in the original history, France created a joint-stock company when building the Suez Canal.

It was a method used to urgently mobilize capital, but perhaps it was because the Egyptians did not buy bonds.

Anyway, 17% of the Suez Canal Company’s shares had to be taken over by the Egyptian government.

Ippolito blinked and shouted in horror.

“What are we going to do now? Our Italian bank is on the verge of bankruptcy. We don’t have money!”

“How do you know that, Ippolito?”

“Ah, I heard about it before I left. Can we pay all the soldiers’ salaries this year?”

Eugene snorted, fanned himself, and sighed.

“I came here after calculating that much. But of course, I was thinking of building the Suez port with local funds.”

In fact, Eugene didn’t have no faith at all.

Aluminum coins.

The coins, which had been recognized by the Pope as being worth 10 times the value of ordinary silver coins, now had a mass production method monopolized by Eugene.

He had used too much when buying Florida, so he had decided not to use it for the time being.

If it was urgent, he could mass-produce these aluminum coins again.

However, he didn’t want to devalue aluminum as much as possible.

Ippolito, who knew the situation to some extent, licked his lips and quickly asked.

“How much do you need?”

“I’ll know when I try. But, according to the current calculation, it will cost at least 400 million francs.”

“What, what, what? 400 million francs? That’s more than 10 times the 40 million francs spent on this expedition! No, that’s eight years of Egypt’s annual tax revenue!”

Ippolito, who was jumping up and down, tilted his head.

“Wait, but why is interest forbidden for Coptic Christians?”

“Didn’t you know? Originally, all Christians forbid interest. I thought the Coptic Christians would be different, but they were the same.”

“What is this, the Middle Ages? Oh my god!”

Of course, Egypt is in a situation similar to the Middle Ages.

That’s why France conquered it easily.

But there is always a price to pay for what you get easily.

“So, what are you going to do?”

In response to Ippolito’s question, Eugene thought hard and sighed.

“It will take some time, but I think I’ll have to create [Sukuk – Islamic bonds]. Me.”

There are no bonds?

Then, just make them.

It’s just annoying.

***

A new office was created in the Cairo Citadel.

-Chuck!

Ambassador Denon laughed as he unfolded the latest production map.

“Finally, it seems like it’s time for our scholars to work. Chief of Staff.”

Commonly known as the French Egyptian Institute.

It is a research group established in Cairo by a group of scholars who followed the French Egyptian expeditionary force.

It is a team that conducts various studies, from ancient Egyptian archaeological research to the current Egyptian topography, culture, and group distribution.

On the surface, it looks like just a group of pure scholars or artists, but the reality is different.

The expeditionary force’s main goal, the construction of the Suez port, depends on their research.

Eugene looked back at Volney, the head of the research, and asked.

“How is it? The construction of the land route connecting the Suez port and the Mediterranean?”

“It’s difficult.”

“Yes? Why?”

Volney licked his lips and explained the results of his visit to Suez.

“There is a desert in the middle, and the Bedouins often block the road. When we explored, General Kleber’s soldiers blocked it, but there are limitations.”

“No, but can’t we use steam cars?”

“They say it’s still impossible to travel long distances, Monsieur Polydo [Eugene].”

Eugene narrowed his brows.

However, the scholars of the French Egyptian Institute did not just bring negative aspects.

Volney subtly suggested a solution he had prepared.

“So, how about digging the ancient canal again?”

Eugene stared blankly and asked.

“Did you just say canal, Professor Volney?”

“That’s right. According to Aristotle, the legendary Egyptian pharaoh, Sesostris, dug a waterway from the Nile to the Red Sea. The famous Darius the Great and Ptolemy the Great also used this road.”

“It will be difficult because the road is blocked. No, wait.”

Just as his gaze reached the map, Eugene hurriedly asked.

“How about building a road next to the canal while digging it?”

The scholars looked at each other.

At that time, a scholar who was writing something as if calculating on paper raised his head.

Gaspard Monge, a man famous as the best mathematician among scholars.

“Hmm, it might be easier. After all, the problem is the Bedouins and the desert. But digging a canal requires more manpower than building a land route anyway, right? So it’s easier.”

For example, this is the paradox of scale.

In fact, before the canal was opened in the original history, the British opened a land route.

However, this route was abandoned due to the desert road, the obstruction of the local natives, the Bedouins, and the lack of road maintenance.

After the Suez Canal was opened, only this canal was used.

The canal was much more expensive than the land route, but rather, a large-scale security force and maintenance costs were invested.

Because of this, the Bedouins could not easily attack, and as the amount of transportation increased, the profits were much higher than the costs.

So, the paradox is that it is much easier to invest a large amount of money than to invest a small amount.

At that time, a young architect who was drawing a blueprint on one side raised his head.

“Oh, there’s a problem. According to our investigation, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea have different sea levels. It’s about 9 meters.”

Jacques-Marie Le Père, a top-notch construction engineer who is in charge of construction work in the Egyptian expeditionary force.

However, this person makes one mistake even in the original history.

Because the period was so short, he mistakenly measured that the sea level of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea differed by 9 meters.