He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 22

(21) In 1793, Revolutionary France Faced War

January 1793, the Corsican wind was still cold.

“Achoo!”

A young man sneezed in the chilly winter island wind.

He was skinny, but his eyes were sharp.

A young man who would be called handsome if he gained some weight sniffled and touched his nose.

It was Napoleon Bonaparte.

Originally a lieutenant in the French army, he was currently on extended leave in Corsica.

Why?

Under the guise of spreading revolution to Corsica, he was actually trying to achieve Corsican independence.

Of course, it didn’t go well.

The reason is simple.

The Corsican independence leader actually disliked Napoleon.

At that moment, someone ran to the island’s coast and shouted.

“Brother! What are you doing here? Brother Joseph is looking for you!”

He wasn’t as handsome as Napoleon, but he was quite good-looking.

However, his frowning face made him look full of dissatisfaction with the world.

A young man of 18, too old to be a boy, but not yet old enough to be an adult.

Later, in the original history, he would be Napoleon’s assistant and strongest opponent.

The third son of the Bonaparte family, Lucien Bonaparte.

Napoleon glanced at Lucien and snorted.

“Me? Why? Anyway, Mr. Pasquale Paoli said he would dismiss me from the Corsican Parliament.”

“That’s not the problem!”

“Then what is?”

Lucien shouted at Napoleon.

“The King committed suicide! The news just arrived from Paris!”

This time, even the cynical Napoleon was surprised.

“What are you talking about? You’re not talking about King Louis, are you?”

“That’s right. He killed himself in October! The parliament hid it, and the news only just reached this island! It seems it was covered up because of the Battle of Valmy and the Belgian campaign.”

“Good heavens! Did Louis have that kind of courage?”

Of course, Louis XVI’s suicide actually happened in September.

However, immediately after his death, the parliament hid the fact.

Why? Because around the time of King Louis’s death, the so-called [Revolutionary War] had begun.

Surrounding revolutionary France, Austria and Prussia went to war.

It was right on France’s northeastern border, the Belgian region.

But they couldn’t hide the king’s death forever, and eventually, the revelation occurred in October.

Paris was in an uproar.

Corsica, a distant island in the Mediterranean Sea, blockaded by the British fleet, was just late to hear the news.

Napoleon stroked his chin, which he had shaved that morning, and chuckled.

“This has become interesting.”

“What? Brother, of course, I’m a republican, but how can you say it’s interesting when the king is dead? What are you talking about?”

“He committed suicide. Not executed. That’s what makes it an interesting situation.”

Still, before coming to Corsica, Napoleon’s eyes flashed as he thought of France.

“The National Assembly, or is it the National Convention now? Anyway, imagine if the National Convention had executed the king as originally planned. What would have happened?”

“Well, that’s true. Since they killed the king, a war would break out, right?”

“War was going to happen anyway! Civil war is already planned! The problem is something else.”

War is inevitable.

The execution of the royal family, the civil war that would arise from the backlash, and the numerous confusions are all planned.

Napoleon, a man born with a different [insight], predicted that.

But he didn’t foresee the king’s suicide.

What kind of situation will occur?

“People will feel pity for the king, not hatred.”

Perhaps the National Convention will now try to kill the queen.

Because the National Convention must establish its authority by killing even the queen.

But it’s obvious that public support won’t be as enthusiastic as they think.

Because the king wasn’t executed, but committed suicide.

Lucien blinked, not understanding.

“What are you talking about? All this mess happened because the king was incompetent, right?”

“Do you really think so? Will everyone think so? In fact, the French, or even we Corsicans, just think the king is a tyrant.”

“It would be a relief if that guy had the ability to be a tyrant!”

Napoleon chuckled at the sneering Lucien and explained.

“Yes. But that tyrant committed suicide. Not executed. If this happens, the French will historically think the opposite.”

“What?”

“Henry IV.”

Napoleon mentioned the ancestor of King Louis, who was famous for being a playboy.

“He was a really unpopular king during his lifetime. But when he was assassinated, public opinion reversed.”

Henry IV, the famous French monarch who ended the War of the Huguenots [a series of religious wars in 16th and 17th century France].

But during his lifetime, he was shunned by most French Catholics because he was a Protestant.

However, when King Henry was killed by a Catholic fanatic, public opinion reversed.

He began to be praised as a great monarch who died unjustly.

It’s strange, but that’s the attitude of the French.

Will King Louis be any different?

It’s the same.

“Whether it’s the king’s will or someone’s plan, it will turn the political situation upside down.”

Surprisingly, Napoleon saw through it.

The fact that someone might have [planned] this incident.

Of course, he couldn’t know who it was on this island.

Napoleon, who had been boasting of his insight, clicked his tongue.

“Well, the important thing for us right now is whether to conquer Sardinia or be kicked out by Mr. Paoli.”

“Yeah, that’s right. We have to liberate Corsica first!”

“Paris must be in turmoil right now. Geez.”

Unfortunately, Napoleon is now at a crossroads.

He is a Corsican independence activist, but he is out of favor with Paoli, who is [pro-British].

In fact, Napoleon was a Paoli follower.

However, Paoli branded Napoleon, who graduated from a French military academy, as pro-French.

It’s like a Korean independence hero accusing a young man who follows him of being pro-Japanese.

Thanks to this, Napoleon is in a situation where he has to choose one of two options.

Conquer the island of Sardinia next to Corsica to prove his merits, or escape from Corsica.

Napoleon, who was frowning, suddenly tilted his head.

“I wonder if that beauty made it to Paris safely?”

“Excuse me?”

“Ah, there’s a married woman with a pretty arrogant little kid as her son.”

Napoleon smiled as he recalled Josephine and Eugene, whom he had seen in Marseille before.

“I wonder if that kid is doing well in Paris too. Ah, I can’t help but think of them because there’s not a single beauty on this island!”

January 1793.

It’s not yet time for Napoleon to soar.

***

Paris is still cold.

“We must kill the Queen.”

Here too, there is a young man with sharp eyes and a gaunt figure.

Robespierre’s mansion is not very large.

Therefore, it is rather a suitable place to have secret talks.

The name of the young man who is making truly terrifying remarks in this place is Saint-Just.

A man who would later be recorded as the [Archangel of the Reign of Terror].

Even in an era when few aristocrats had been sent to the guillotine, the words coming from Saint-Just’s mouth were eerie.

All about death.

“The King committed suicide. Austria, Prussia, and even England have already declared war on our France. We fought at Valmy, and the Belgian border is still at war.”

“Isn’t the last one to help our revolutionary comrades in Belgium?”

“It’s closer to the Girondins’ last struggle, Desmoulins. They made the first move to suppress our Montagnards and seize control of the Assembly.”

Saint-Just retorted coldly to Camille Desmoulins’ question, his eyes flashing.

“If we continue like this, France will be ruined. The revolution will fail, and we will all be beheaded. Like the aristocrats.”

As of January 1793, France was in a state of war crisis.

Originally, in the original history, France entered the war during this period.

The cause was the Belgian campaign.

The reason is simple.

Originally, the Belgian region was Austrian territory in this era.

However, the ‘Independence Revolution’ broke out in the Principality of Liège, which was included in the Belgian region.

Citizens agitated by the French Revolution revolted against Austria.

Naturally, the Austrian suppression forces suppressed them, and the citizens asked France for help.

As a result, France dispatched Lafayette and Dumouriez.

Under the advance of the two generals, the liberation of Belgium succeeded in May 1792.

However, in August 1792, the Prussian and Austrian allied forces advanced again to suppress this Belgium.

In a crisis situation, voices calling for the king to be killed were loud.

But in this situation, the king committed suicide.

“If Lafayette hadn’t won at Valmy back then, we would all be dead. It’s a problem that Lafayette won.”

Saint-Just spat out as if grinding his teeth.

Battle of Valmy.

Originally, it was a battle that Dumouriez won in the original history.

However, thanks to Eugene’s intervention, Lafayette was revived, so Lafayette commanded this battle.

A battle fought by 36,000 French Northern Border Army and 34,000 Prussian troops.

Tactically, it was nothing special, but it was the first victory for the revolutionary government.

The revolution was revived.

But thanks to this, the hard-line Montagnards were in trouble.

Why?

Because the war continues even though they won once, the victory was won by Lafayette, a constitutional monarchist, and the economy is still difficult.

Furthermore, England is also showing hostility towards revolutionary France.

Anyway, if you know it, England is also a monarchy.

But since they made the king die, the French National Convention government can’t look good.

That’s why the Montagnards, who took the lead in abolishing the monarchy and establishing a republic after King Louis’ escape, were in a difficult situation.

As a way to overcome this situation, Saint-Just argued.

The death of the Queen.

However, Camille Desmoulins, Auguste Robespierre, and Danton frowned.

“So, let’s kill her?”

“Unlike the King, there is controversy over whether to kill the Queen. It’s not easy.”

“That’s right. If the King had been executed as planned, I don’t know, but the situation has become complicated because he committed suicide.”

This is also a situation that has changed due to Eugene’s intervention.

Originally, Louis XVI was executed in January 1793, right now.

The escape was a problem, but the real problem was the advance of Austria and Prussia.

Before winning the Battle of Valmy, the French Northern Army suffered several small defeats.

As a result, when the Prussian army advanced to the vicinity of Paris, the citizens of Paris were terrified.

So, public opinion calling for the king to be killed rose, and eventually the king died.

This is what happened in the original history.

But King Louis died first.

In the form of suicide.

In addition, they won at Valmy, so the citizens had a little room to spare.

As Napoleon had discerned on the southern island, sympathy was boiling in Paris.

However, it is not to the extent of re-establishing the king, but it has become difficult to punish the remaining royal family.

Of course, public opinion is still high to kill them.

Even the Montagnards, who have been leading the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic, have no choice but to hesitate.

But Saint-Just shouted strongly.

“So, we have to kill even the Queen!”

In particular, Saint-Just roared at Danton, who had suddenly turned into a moderate.

“Everyone, if we continue like this, the monarchy will be restored!”

“Saint-Just, that’s too much. The revolution is already irreversible. The King is dead anyway.”

“Monsieur Danton, the Prince is still alive!”

However, Danton shook his head, unlike a former leader of revolutionary demonstrations.

“The King declared in his will that the Prince was not his child. That was a legally valid will.”

King Louis XVI’s will.

A document with a signature left at the last moment.

This document was found at the scene where Louis XVI committed suicide, so it was clear that it was a will.

But in this document, Louis XVI declared that Louis Charles was not his biological son.

Even if the monarchy continues, Louis Charles has a fatal flaw.

Because his biological father claimed that he was not his biological son.

However, the royal family is not just one prince.

“No, even if it’s not the Prince, the King’s brothers are overseas! They can demand the throne at any time!”

“Then we have to kill them, why kill the Austrian woman?”

“That’s funny. Are you defending the Queen now?”

Eventually, Danton became angry at Saint-Just, a 26-year-old young man who did not hesitate to make personal attacks.

“No, that’s not it. Public opinion is bad! Public opinion! Right now, the constitutional monarchists are getting sympathy votes. Lafayette may return at any time!”

Immediately after the Battle of Valmy, the National Convention urgently dismissed Lafayette.

It’s a natural thing.

He became a hero of the American Revolutionary War, a protector of the people who stopped the Massacre of the Champ de Mars [a violent clash between protesters and soldiers in 1791], and now a hero of the Battle of Valmy.

They had no choice but to deprive him of his command.

However, Lafayette’s influence still exists.

If he returns to politics, he will become the center of the constitutional monarchists.

In addition, if sympathy votes are poured in due to the Queen’s death, he may become a powerful force.

That was what Danton was worried about.

It was then.

Maximilien Robespierre, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth.

“If we kill the Queen, what are the benefits? Saint-Just?”

Saint-Just replied with a bright expression.

“We don’t do revolution for profit, Monsieur Robespierre.”

“Still, we need a reason to persuade people. As you said, it’s going to be war soon. It’s also a war that our France has launched a preemptive attack on. The enemies are strong and the economy is getting worse. Is there anything to turn this situation around?”

“Yes. Victory. And the victory of the revolutionary generals!”

Saint-Just passionately shouted what he had always been thinking.

“We must promote officers who follow the cause of our Jacobins [a radical political organization during the French Revolution], not the Girondin faction officers. And we must make that victory ours!”

In short, they need officers who follow the ‘revolutionary spirit’ rather than military talent, skill, or experience.

For example, a republican officer, not a constitutional monarchist like Lafayette.

It’s an absurd story, but surprisingly, Saint-Just’s idea succeeds in the original history.

Because war heroes were born among commoner officers, including Napoleon.

However, that success will only become clear after Saint-Just’s downfall.

Anyway, Saint-Just’s words sounded plausible to the Montagnard members.

The problem now is that the hero of the Battle of Valmy is Lafayette.

But Robespierre still asked coldly.

“Then, what does the Queen’s death have to do with it?”

Saint-Just still replied passionately.

“It will be a signal to drive out the old royalists and constitutional monarchists from the military!”

The Queen is a symbol.

A symbol representing the old regime monarchy.

By killing the symbol, everyone realizes that a new era has come.

That’s Saint-Just’s idea.

Robespierre finally nodded.

“Okay, do it. But let Hébert handle the trial.”

“Monsieur Robespierre! Give me this glorious task!”

“No. I don’t know what variables there might be yet.”

Biting his lip, the young Saint-Just became furious and ran out.

-Bang!

Looking at that figure, Danton left his seat with a bitter smile.

“Then, I’ll be on my way. I believe you will handle the aftermath well.”

It is a strong expression of his intention not to participate in the Queen’s execution.

Robespierre glared at his back with cold eyes.

Someday that cowardice will pay the price.

Suddenly, his faithful working-level brother, Auguste Robespierre, sighed and asked.

“Danton also seems to want to back out, brother. But, isn’t Saint-Just too hasty?”

“It’s not wrong. Auguste, find friends in the military who can become revolutionary comrades. I think we should recommend them for promotion.”

“I understand. Ah, how about Hoche? He has a relationship with you, brother, and he’s a National Guard officer.”

Robespierre narrowed his brows and nodded.

“Call him once. As soon as the Queen’s trial is over.”

If it’s Hoche, I can trust his courage, whatever his military talent may be.

Isn’t he the man who went all the way to the New World to save a woman?

Moreover, his sympathy for the revolution is very great.

Suddenly, Robespierre’s gaze turned to the window.

“It’s going to snow.”

Before he knew it, snowflakes were falling on winter Paris.

***

The streets are muddy, but the sky in Paris is pure white.

“We have to kill the Queen!”

“What are you talking about? She’s a poor woman. Do we really have to?”

“What’s so pitiful about an Austrian woman! Haven’t you heard that a war is breaking out now? It’s all because of that woman!”

In the midst of the falling snow, people argued instead of enjoying or clearing the snow.

If they were in a state of starvation, they wouldn’t even have the [leeway] to do this.

On the other hand, if it is a prosperous time, there is no reason to get heated up about ominous stories.

Poor, but not poor enough to die.

That’s why the citizens of Paris are stressed and furious.

About the symbol of the old regime, the royal family.

Of course, sympathy also floated around occasionally.

“No, but isn’t that because the King committed suicide?”

Hearing that, a boy turned around, spitting out curses.

“Damn it.”

The boy’s name is Armand Ganet.

Once, the Palace of Versailles was his home.

But now, this shabby suburb of Paris was Armand’s home.

It was then.

“Why? Didn’t you want the Queen to die, Armand?”

“Who does! Don’t say such nonsense, huh?”

“Long time no see.”

Armand was startled by the voice behind him, about to burst out in anger.

An unexpected face was standing there.

Eugene de Beauharnais, the boy who was the page of the princess.

I haven’t seen him since the revolution broke out, but he has grown quite a bit.

Well, it’s been four years, so it might be natural.

The 12-year-old boy, Eugene, approached Armand on horseback with Hippolyte.

“So, do you want to save the Queen, Armand?”

Armand blinked.

From the beginning, this name Armand was given by Queen Marie Antoinette.

Originally, Armand was almost killed by the royal carriage.

After the Queen saved him, she arbitrarily designated him as her adopted son and raised him in the royal family.

Armand has always thought that his life has been twisted since then.

He hated the splendid Palace of Versailles, which could never be his.

He couldn’t stand the Queen, who forcibly imposed this hateful situation on his life.

Armand spat out, biting his lip.

“The Queen is arbitrary.”

That’s why he left the palace as soon as the revolution broke out.

Everyone was running away, so there was no such thing as a pang of conscience.

Rather, every time he saw the royal family collapse, he felt pleasure.

Armand gritted his teeth, recalling those times.

“She just treated people like pet dogs and raised me as if she was feeding them.”

“The way the royals look at commoners has some of that.”

“But! Still, if the Queen hadn’t taken me in that day!”

Nevertheless, he can’t forget the Queen’s face, who always smiled whenever she saw him.

“I was already dead on that street. I want to take revenge, but I don’t want to see her miserably flying on the guillotine!”

I don’t want to see her die.

She is a ‘mother’ who was even more resentful because she was not real.

I want to save her if I can.

But how can I do that?

Armand is truly nothing.

Then Eugene smiled brightly and said.

“Yes. The real revenge is not the Queen dying, but watching her become miserable.”

“What?”

“If you want to save her, there’s something you need to help with.”

Eugene lightly drove his horse closer to Armand and said in a low voice.

“Right now, do you know where former Crown Prince Louis is isolated?”

“Ah, I know. Ah, Antoine Simon, he’s a shoemaker who lives next door to us.”

“Yes. It’s a perfect condition.”

Antoine Simon, a common drunk shoemaker in Paris.

The only reason this name is left in history is one.

That is because he was taking care of Louis Charles, the Crown Prince, under the pretext of protecting him.

Immediately after the King’s death, the National Convention imprisoned the Queen.

Also, the Prince and Princess were each placed under house arrest.

The one who took charge of the Prince was Antoine Simon.

It happened to be right next door to Armand’s old house.

Armand blinked.

“Why is that a good condition?”

“Escape.”

“What?”

Eugene pointed to Hippolyte next to him as if to reassure Armand, who had his mouth wide open.

“Don’t worry. I’m not telling you to escape with the Crown Prince. Just take him out for one day. I’m not telling you to do it alone. Hippolyte here will help you.”

“Yeah, our Beauharnais security team will help you well?”

“No, wait! Why are you telling me to do such a dangerous thing? And when?”

Even with Hippolyte’s banter, Armand shouted in amazement.

It is dangerous to take the Crown Prince out arbitrarily, even for one day.

Why on earth should I commit such an act?

Eugene answered very simply.

“On the day of the Queen’s trial, bring the Crown Prince to the courtroom.”

Soon, a trial will be held to determine Marie Antoinette’s execution.

Originally, Marie Antoinette maintains a noble posture at this trial and is executed.

But Eugene had no intention of leaving it like that.

Rather, he makes her more miserable and saves her.

Eugene’s eyes shone.