He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 206

(206) Eugene Dreams of Restoring the Monarchy

It is the age of revolution.

Of course, the era when merely mentioning the monarchy would brand you as a national traitor is long gone.

Indeed, the near-majority support for the royalists was the backdrop of the recent Coup of Clichy.

However, the revolutionary army is still predominantly republican.

At this moment, even the guards standing outside the commander’s office would undoubtedly proclaim themselves Jacobins.

“That’s a very dangerous topic, Hoche.”

Eugene gave a wry smile as he gazed at Hoche.

But Hoche looked at Eugene with an unprecedentedly serious expression.

It seemed this was not a situation to be taken lightly.

Moreover, Eugene had already made a very difficult request of Hoche.

The position of Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Military Administration.

A crucial mission to control the parliament, effectively govern Egypt, and establish France’s trade route to India.

But, in summary, it boils down to this:

Staying in Egypt, extremely far from France.

No, why did Hoche even come to this distant place in the first place?

Because Eugene had requested it.

Therefore, Eugene bears responsibility to Hoche.

Suddenly, Hoche asked again.

“So, you want to restore the monarchy? The princess’s knight?”

What answer does he want?

No, if I say yes, how would Hoche respond?

As a revolutionary soldier, would he execute me on the spot?

That’s unlikely.

Hoche is a fairly loyal revolutionary soldier, but also a flexible person.

He would oppose the restoration of the old regime, but the [Empire] that originated in the original history is different from the old regime’s monarchy.

Furthermore, Eugene believes he can create the [Empire] differently.

Eugene stared intently at Hoche before opening his mouth.

“The current Directory lacks the power to resolve the crisis. It doesn’t receive majority support in the first place.”

“That’s true. They’ve failed too many times, and almost lost the election. If things continue like this, they’ll lose again, right?”

“And a Robespierre-style dictatorship is also dangerous. If left unchecked, he would have killed about 40,000 people by guillotine.”

That’s the number of people Robespierre would have killed in the original history.

Of course, because Robespierre died early, the actual number was much smaller.

However, it is true that at least 400 people had their heads chopped off by the guillotine.

Mostly prominent figures in society, nobles, and royalty.

Hoche would know that fact as well.

As evidence, he wore a bitter smile and did not argue with Eugene.

“Well, yes. That could have happened.”

“So, what’s needed now is a new system.”

“So, a monarchy?”

Eugene nodded and shook his head simultaneously.

“The old royal monarchy won’t work. A monarchy that isn’t bound by term limits, but is simultaneously checked by the citizens. Doesn’t that sound familiar?”

If it were Marceau, who had a university education, he would have shouted this:

The Roman Empire.

However, Hoche had read quite a few books, but did not receive a systematic classical education at university.

So, instead of the Roman Empire, he thought of something else entirely.

Blinking, Hoche opened his mouth wide and asked.

“Now, here in Egypt?”

Eugene raised his eyebrows and whistled.

Certainly, Hoche’s situation is very similar to the Empire.

There is a governor-general who is like a monarch, a parliament established on the basis of limited citizenship, and politics centered around the military.

Except for the fact that it is not hereditary, this is how Napoleon’s regime was in the original history.

Of course, if it ends with this, it will eventually fail like Napoleon.

“It’s similar. Your position is exactly like a new monarchy.”

“Huh, so you’re experimenting with me?”

“But this alone is not enough. One more device is needed. Monarchs have hereditary rights and seek legitimacy from God. The new monarchy shouldn’t do that.”

Eugene’s eyes gleamed.

“A monarchy elected by the citizens. That’s what I’m thinking now. Of course, I have to see if that’s possible when I return to France.”

Just then.

“Then, what position will our Lazare hold? Monsieur Bonaparte?”

Instantly, Eugene and Hoche turned their heads in surprise.

Desiree, who was bringing honey water, was standing there.

Trembling, yet with a determined expression.

***

Hoche had never thought that he would become something in a monarchy.

“Desiree, that’s not a matter for a soldier to think about.”

“No, I have to think about it.”

“Why do you say that? Desiree, your husband is just a general. A general of the republic. In a monarchy, there’s no reason why I should become something special.”

In fact, many questions need to be asked again about the [Citizen Monarchy] that Eugene spoke of.

Who will be the monarch?

Furthermore, if a monarch is born in France, what will happen to Hoche?

What kind of relationship can Eugene establish with that monarch?

However, Hoche did not bother to ask these questions.

He thought the old royal system was wrong, but he never participated in the massacres.

He joined the revolution because his friend was a revolutionary, he went to the battlefield because his country was in crisis, and he even went on this distant expedition because the child of his old lover wanted him to.

But he had never thought about what would happen after the republic collapsed.

In fact, he couldn’t imagine it collapsing.

But his wife, whom he had never thought of as political, asked him out of the blue.

What position can Hoche occupy in the system that Eugene wants to create?

“Lazare, I chose you. But, you remember that you might not have been my husband, right?”

Suddenly, Desiree’s gaze turned to Hoche.

Hoche blinked and wore a bitter smile.

It was something he had forgotten because it was already five years ago.

But had Desiree been thinking about it all along?

Of course, Hoche didn’t realize that it was because of Eugene in front of him.

“I remember, Desiree.”

“But you probably don’t know that my husband could have been General Napoleon Bonaparte.”

“Napoleon? What do you mean?”

Hoche’s eyes widened because it was so out of the blue.

Could it be that Napoleon was her first love?

Suddenly, Desiree glanced at Eugene and sighed.

“Originally, the marriage that our Clary family wanted was not with Joseph Bonaparte.”

Hoche opened his mouth wide and clicked his tongue.

He understands now.

The reason why Desiree shed tears at their first meeting, saying that she was abandoning love and marrying Hoche.

The Clary family seems to have been diligently looking for a political marriage partner in many ways.

Of course, this is actually a lie by Desiree.

But Eugene, who was watching, widened his eyes and was subtly avoiding her gaze.

In fact, a piece of the truth from the original history just flashed by.

However, Desiree has another reason for lying now.

“Now, the person General Eugene Bonaparte is thinking of as the [Monarch] is General Napoleon, right?”

Hoche opened his eyes and mouth wide.

It’s such a shocking story.

But what’s even more surprising is something else.

Because Eugene, who was listening, was a little surprised and chuckled as he replied.

“Really, your intuition is amazing, Desiree.”

“I’ve always been like that, Eugene.”

“Good. That’s right. If there’s anyone who can become a monarch now, it’s only General Napoleon, the war hero of France. Or Hoche. Hoche, do you have any thoughts of becoming a monarch?”

Hoche blurted out without even thinking.

“Crazy talk! I have no intention of becoming a monarch!”

Eugene shrugged.

“But General Napoleon has thoughts of becoming a monarch. You understand why I started thinking about restoring the monarchy, right?”

Hoche narrowed his brows and pondered.

In the first place, Hoche is not stupid, just apolitical.

Napoleon, an excellent tactician and a man who already holds a corner of power to prevent a coup.

He wants to become a monarch?

If you want to stop that, all the others in the French military must unite.

But Eugene, right in front of him, seems to be agreeing, let alone stopping him.

Then can Hoche kill Eugene?

No.

“So I want to ask about our Lazare’s position, Eugene.”

As Hoche watched Desiree ask again, he sighed.

If you can’t stop it, you have to live in the age of monarchy.

At that time, military heroes like Hoche are likely to become obstacles.

Perhaps Eugene put Hoche in Egypt for that reason, he suddenly thought.

Instantly, Eugene’s answer was heard.

“He will be my protector and the best [Sword] of General Napoleon, who will become the monarch.”

It’s a very vague and suggestive answer.

But Hoche somehow felt like he knew.

The glory of successfully conquering Egypt will not go to Eugene, but to Hoche.

The glory that Eugene will gain is separate.

The annihilation of the British fleet and the successful return of the Egyptian expeditionary force.

So Hoche becomes the second military meritorious person in France, following Napoleon, who successfully completed the Italian expedition.

Naturally, if you only agree to the monarchy, you will have no choice but to rise to an honorable position.

Desiree nodded as if satisfied.

“Good. Lazare, you’ll agree, right?”

Hoche stared at Eugene.

Sometimes he feels like a son, often like a younger brother, and always thought of him as a friend, a precocious boy.

Is it time to send him to a dangerous battlefield without the protection of Napoleon or himself?

He can see that he has grown up so much.

For a moment, he raised his head, feeling like he was about to cry, and Hoche asked.

“Okay, then. What about you?”

As expected, Eugene, who couldn’t speak for a while, also took a deep breath and answered.

“First of all, we have to return. As Plan B.”

So, Eugene has decided to return by land.

The very path that Napoleon tried to take in the original history, but failed.

***

So, why is the return a problem?

“Egypt has come under the feet of France. But, our way back is cut off.”

“Well, not necessarily. If we push ourselves, we might be able to return once.”

“Then we have to virtually give up the conquest of Egypt. It’s almost impossible to send such a large army again!”

That’s true.

Currently, the French Mediterranean Fleet stationed in Egypt has 13 ships of the line and 22 frigates.

Even if you combine the Knights of Malta fleet from Malta, the power will not increase significantly.

But the British Mediterranean Fleet has also been badly damaged.

It will take at least a year for the ships of the line scattered around the world to regroup.

So, in the meantime, the Egyptian expeditionary force can return home.

However, it will be difficult to send troops again or leave enough troops to control Egypt.

In this situation, how can the French army go home?

“Let’s build a shipyard! Let’s build the fleet here! A returning fleet!”

Alexandria Port, there was a man shouting passionately.

The man’s name is Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve.

He is a member of the nobility but sympathized with the revolution, and in fact, he is a naval captain with experience participating in the American Revolutionary War.

However, he was recorded as a synonym for a defeated general in the original history, and in fact, he was a soldier who often ran away even if that was not the case.

Now, this man has come up with a clever idea for Eugene.

It is an alternative that does not require him to fight, helps Eugene’s return operation, and is useful for the army remaining in Egypt.

It is the construction of the Alexandria Shipyard.

Eugene sat at the desk in the temporary encampment he had set up during the conquest of Alexandria and asked.

“How are you going to build a shipyard? There are hardly any shipbuilders in our army?”

“No, there are. Laborers can be found among the citizens of Cairo. As for technicians, there are better technicians than us!”

“Who is it?”

Suddenly, Villeneuve’s eyes sparkled.

“British Navy prisoners!”

They are British sailors who failed to retreat with Bowole during the last [Battle of the Nile].

It was the moment when a new path opened for Eugene to use the ships of the line.