He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 261

(261) Napoleon Ascends to the Consulship

Originally, the Revolutionary Calendar was a calendar only in name, and was actually notorious for numerous coups [a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government].

“Perhaps this month of Brumaire [October 22 to November 20] might also be a time for a coup.”

While riding his horse, Roman Ambassador Joseph Bonaparte licked his lips.

In fact, this was what actually happened in the original history.

However, Joseph was thinking something else.

Could it be that this Revolutionary Calendar is unlucky, causing coups to happen frequently?

He was just thinking that it might be better to switch back to the Gregorian calendar [the most widely used civil calendar today] in the next government.

“That didn’t happen, Joseph.”

“Ah, that’s because Eugene brought up the idea of an election as an alternative. I actually thought that when Napoleon left for war, it would be a coup. Brienne.”

“Surely not. Napoleon is so meticulous about the law. He was like that even in military school,” replied Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, a classmate of Napoleon’s from military school. Joseph chuckled at his response.

“Well, he’s only like that when it benefits him, right? By the way, what’s going to happen to Prussia? Didn’t you hear anything from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”

In the original history, Brienne served as Napoleon’s secretary during this period.

However, because Napoleon remained the commander-in-chief, he was working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, making use of his special skills.

He wasn’t quite an ambassador-level official, equivalent to a minister, but he was quite successful for his age.

After briefly recalling the documents he had seen in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brienne replied,

“I heard they stopped right in front of Amsterdam. The British are still fighting Jourdan, but the Prussian army is no longer mobilizing.”

In October 1799, Prussia finally stopped the war.

Negotiations for an armistice [a formal agreement to stop fighting] have not yet begun.

However, with Napoleon dismantling the Austrian Empire, Prussia cannot fight alone.

Even if there is Britain, the British army will not land on the mainland and invade Paris.

“As expected, Napoleon stationing 120,000 troops in Vienna has a great effect.”

“I forgot about strategy a long time ago, but I guess so? By the way, what about the Vatican?”

“They are cooperative. They have recommended that all Neapolitan rebels surrender. The special envoy from the Knights Hospitaller [a Catholic military order] was effective.”

So, as the Roman ambassador, Joseph’s main task is dealing with the Vatican.

Originally, the Vatican turned against France during this period, causing Napoleon quite a bit of trouble.

However, Napoleon remained in France, and the Egyptian expedition was a great success.

In addition, with the lobbying of the Knights Hospitaller, the Vatican ultimately remained pro-French.

Envious of Joseph, who had become a competent diplomat, Brienne clicked his tongue.

“The Knights Hospitaller, it’s amazing that all of this was orchestrated by Napoleon’s adopted son. Tch.”

Joseph laughed heartily at Brienne’s jealousy of Eugene.

“Didn’t you know Eugene was amazing since we came to Marseille a long time ago? Haha!”

“At that time, I just thought he was a friend who was good at making money. By the way, what is the master I introduced back then doing now?”

“Samuel Pauli? He seems to be focused on making something called a breech-loading rifle [an early type of rifle]. Well, all the weapons used in this war came from Pauli Arsenal [a place where weapons and military equipment are manufactured and stored].”

Arsenal, it sounds like the name of a city famous for its soccer team, but it actually means [armory] in French.

Now, Pauli’s armory has been transformed into an independent armory corporation.

Mechanized production facilities are not yet available, but more than half of the guns and cannons supplied to this war came from Pauli Armory.

Brienne whistled, thinking about the scale of the war.

“He must have made a fortune. Isn’t he going to be the richest man in France soon?”

“Well? I don’t know about anything else, but the Boerne Milan Bank is definitely making a lot of money. It paid me 100,000 francs this month alone.”

“O-One hundred thousand francs? H-How is that possible in this situation?”

Joseph nodded, wearing a satisfied smile.

“It’s the canned food business for military supplies. I had the opportunity to invest right before the war. Hahaha!”

At that time, a cavalry unit came to greet Joseph and Brienne’s party.

“Have you arrived, Roman Ambassador?”

Joseph waved his hand happily at a familiar face and asked,

“It’s been a while, Consul Caulaincourt. How is it to return to the battlefield after a long time?”

“The consul is not a suitable position for me. I felt it deeply while working under Ambassador Dubayet. The field is better for me after all.”

“Oh, then I will definitely tell my brother when I meet him.”

Armand Augustin Louis de Caulaincourt, the man who stayed with Napoleon until the end in the original history, laughed heartily.

Born into the nobility, he joined the Revolutionary Army, worked as Oche’s subordinate, and was once in Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul].

However, he is currently serving in the Rhine Army and has come to Vienna.

“Please do so. By the way, how is the voting situation in the home country?”

Joseph boasted and replied to Caulaincourt’s question,

“It will pass. That’s why I came to Vienna.”

So, this is [Vienna].

***

A competent diplomat protects the interests of his country even in unfavorable situations.

“I am Clemens von Metternich, Deputy Minister of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Unlike Joseph, here is a man who will remain a truly competent diplomat of the era.

Metternich, the man who made an era in his own name in the original history.

The fact that even Wellington, who defeated Napoleon in the original history, could not do that shows how great Metternich was.

Joseph sat down with a feeling of being suppressed and tried to smile.

“Now, you don’t call it the Empire anymore, Deputy Minister Metternich.”

“Well, your brother shattered our empire.”

“Did you accept it without any resistance? That’s a bit surprising.”

Metternich replied with a flexible attitude.

“The Kingdom of Austria is accepting defeat. However, this division will be a fatal mistake for France.”

Brienne, who was listening from the side, frowned at the words that were too arrogant for a loser.

“Isn’t that too presumptuous? Austria is the loser.”

“Consul Brienne, we know best that Austria has lost. But at the same time, you must not forget that Austria is a barrier against Russia.”

“Blocking Russia? What does that mean? Isn’t Russia an ally of Austria?”

However, Metternich shook his head.

“That’s not true. Russia is an empire with an ambition to constantly move westward. Think of Poland. Who strongly insisted on the partition of Poland? It’s Russia.”

“Isn’t that the same for Prussia and Austria?”

“No. We and Prussia both divided Poland to prevent Russia from entering. Sweden and Turkey are already suffering from Russia’s ambition.”

It’s amazing that all of this is true.

One of the reasons why Napoleon couldn’t completely divide Austria in the original history.

If Austria weakens, Russia or the Ottomans will become stronger.

However, if you asked Eugene, he would have preached the truth of diplomacy called [distant relations and close offense] [a strategy of allying with distant powers to counter nearby threats].

Mixing all the truths, Metternich threw a lie.

“But since we have divided Austria like this, France will be in trouble in the future. Because of the Russian Empire.”

Joseph, who was quietly watching Metternich, smiled.

“That’s an interesting theory. But I came to notify you of the decision of the home government.”

“What is it?”

“The French government demands 150 million francs in war reparations from Austria. This is a notice.”

Then Metternich snorted.

“There’s no need to receive it. It’s impossible.”

“Surely, you don’t want to continue the war?”

“You might as well make Austria a French territory.”

Just as Joseph was about to take a breath at the very bold response, Metternich twisted his lips.

“That’s much easier to accept, Ambassador.”

Joseph realized at that moment.

Joseph himself is not the one who belongs in this place.

Either Napoleon, who yells outright, or French Foreign Minister Talleyrand, or even Eugene should have come.

Nevertheless, one of Joseph’s strengths is to faithfully carry out the tasks he is assigned.

Just as Joseph was choosing his words while licking his lips.

“You’re a really bold diplomat.”

“Instead, this is possible.”

“What, this?”

Suddenly, Metternich handed over a document in an envelope.

“It’s a gift. A token of sincerity from the Habsburg royal family to the Ambassador and the Consul.”

Brienne, who was slightly tearing the envelope, was surprised.

It’s thin, so I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, but it’s a huge thing.

Because it was British government bonds.

“No, to give something like this openly!”

“It’s a grateful thing.”

“Ahem, Ambassador Bonaparte?”

Joseph laughed and divided the government bonds in half and handed them to Brienne, saying.

“It’s difficult to refuse a token of sincerity. Well, then. Let’s have a real negotiation. What is the limit that Austria can do?”

In a very softened negotiation atmosphere, Metternich once again showed his courage.

“Then, shall we start with 30 million francs, Ambassador?”

It seems that this has become quite a difficult negotiation for Joseph.

***

Once again, Vienna’s summer palace, Schönbrunn [a former imperial summer residence], is occupied by Napoleon.

“How much did you get, brother?”

Joseph hesitated and replied to Napoleon, who asked openly in Schönbrunn’s inner room.

“Huh? Nothing has been decided yet. That friend named Metternich is really great. Well, he offered me 30 million francs, what do you know?”

“A bribe.”

“W-W-What are you talking about?”

Napoleon stood by the window and replied without looking back.

“Accept it appropriately. That’s all the blood money of the soldiers. The compensation cannot be reduced to less than 80 million francs, so keep that in mind.”

Originally, there are three men among Napoleon’s closest aides who are famous for bribery.

Joseph, Brienne, and Soult.

The only person Napoleon did not forgive among them is Brienne.

In other words, Napoleon is not actually that sensitive to bribery.

He only mentions bribery as a reason when looking for an excuse to kick someone out.

Moreover, it was not a situation where he would send his brother back to Paris for accepting a bribe.

Joseph scratched his head awkwardly and asked.

“Isn’t the difference too big? If you give me about 60 million francs.”

“Didn’t I tell you it was blood money? Besides, at least 30 million francs is Eugene’s share.”

“Why is that? Ah, weapon payment? Oh my, hasn’t it come out of the national treasury yet?”

Napoleon still said without taking his eyes off the window.

“If we receive less compensation this time, the assets of our [Bonaparte] family will decrease. All the dividends that my brother receives will be blown away.”

Originally, the so-called Boerne family should have an extremely bad relationship with the Bonaparte family.

However, thanks to Eugene’s ‘bribe’ from the first meeting, the atmosphere between the two families is quite good.

In particular, Joseph is completely involved as a legal advisor to Boerne Bank.

Joseph was startled when he recalled the bonds of the Milan Boerne Bank that he had invested in a while ago.

“I’ll do my best to rip it off. Huh?”

At that time, a young man resembling Napoleon and Joseph burst into the inner room.

“Brother, urgent news has arrived!”

“Louis, call me Commander-in-Chief in the military camp.”

“Yes, now I will have to call you First Consul soon!”

Louis Bonaparte, a 21-year-old young soldier, shouted excitedly, shaking the letter.

“The new constitution has been passed!”

Only then did Napoleon finally turn his body from the window and smile with his lips twisted.