He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 281

(281) Eugene Meets the Tsar

Saint Petersburg, a place known as the city of future waters.

“Wow, it’s beautiful!”

It has been about two months since the Horus sailed from Calais, traversing the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Finally, their destination is in sight.

Marie, seeing the city with its countless canals that were unique at a glance, exclaimed from the bow.

The Neva River meets the Baltic Sea, and the shimmering sunlight is dazzling.

“That’s Saint Petersburg.”

“Hmm, Peter, or rather, Peter the Great, created the city, right? I heard it was all swamp originally.”

“They built the foundation entirely with stone, and then built streets and houses on top of it. It’s a completely artificial city.”

Eugene smiled and said to Danton.

“It’s no exaggeration to call it the Venice of the North, Ambassador Danton.”

In front of the city made of canals, there is an island floating like a guardian deity.

Its name is Kronstadt, the fortress where the so-called Russian Revolution first began in later history.

However, now it thoroughly monitors all passing ships and is merely a vanguard guarding the Tsar.

While waiting for permission to pass after mooring in front of the fortress, Danton anxiously looked back at Eugene.

It seems he is uneasy because France and Russia have not yet established official diplomatic relations.

“General Caulaincourt went in first, right?”

“Yes, paradoxically, there are friends who know us really well in Saint Petersburg. Exiled nobles.”

“The exiled nobles and General Caulaincourt are very close? Huh, it’s amazing he didn’t get his head chopped off during Robespierre’s time.”

Before the Horus entered the Gulf of Neva, Caulaincourt first entered Saint Petersburg on a small boat.

There are three reasons why Caulaincourt was able to enter Saint Petersburg, where there is currently no embassy.

First, bribery works well in Russia.

Next, Caulaincourt is proficient in foreign languages, especially Russian.

But the most important reason is that Russia is familiar with French nobles.

Originally, French culture had spread in aristocratic society, and it became even more severe after the revolution.

Because the nobles who left Paris ran to London, Vienna, or Saint Petersburg.

Now that the Holy Roman Empire has been defeated, Saint Petersburg has the largest number of exiled royalty and nobles gathered.

At that time, Eugene’s adjutant, Ippolit, was heard speaking to the guard Tournai.

“Colonel Tournai, is everything ready?”

Tournai smirked at Ippolit, who now looked quite like a general, and replied.

“Of course, we are fully armed. But does this have any meaning?”

“Ah, well, it might be useless if you get caught by the Tsar’s famous hunting dogs. Was it the Oprichniki [Ivan the Terrible’s personal guard]?”

“That’s from the time of the mad emperor Ivan, right? Now it’s probably called the Leib Guard [Life Guard].”

The Oprichniki, the famous guards of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century.

However, after Ivan disbanded them, there were no guards for a long time until Peter the Great created them again.

Translated into English, it’s the Life Guard, that is, the guards who protect life.

In particular, Paul I was famous for using guards he had raised himself since he was the crown prince.

If the Tsar, who is famous for being eccentric, orders it, it will be difficult to stop even with the guards Eugene brought.

But Ippolit wasn’t worried about that.

Danton also noticed and chuckled.

“Well, anyway, if you get bitten by Russian hunting dogs, there’s nothing we can do, but our French poodles will be able to stop them if they rush in. Isn’t that right?”

The famous Russian hunting dog, Laika, is said to catch even bears.

Eugene swallowed the words that he would probably be bitten to death and wore a bitter smile.

It seems that one’s own political enemies are more dangerous than foreign enemies everywhere.

“Indeed, in foreign countries, one’s own people are always the most dangerous.”

“Well, I think you, a knight of the current princess, will be safer than me, a former Jacobin [radical revolutionary]?”

“I don’t know? They might try to kill me for depriving the royal family of the opportunity to return.”

Then, Nicholas, who was silently steering the ship from the bow, spoke again.

“I would be more worried about the gazes of the Russian generals, Patron [Eugene],”

Eugene’s eyes lit up at Nicholas’s words, which he hadn’t heard in a long time.

“What do you mean, Nicholas?”

“Have you forgotten already? Patron killed Suvorov.”

“What? No, that was only on the battlefield.”

Nicholas said firmly.

“So, they can’t kill you for that reason, but a duel is possible, isn’t it? This is still an aristocratic society where the duel culture is alive.”

Nicholas used to run smuggling ships, frequenting the North Sea like his own home.

He has seen countless Northern European countries where duels are still alive while traveling abroad.

The Russian Empire is very rough among them.

Even Pushkin, a descendant of a count family in later history, died in a duel.

Then Ippolit chuckled and interjected.

“Oh, I can’t protect you from that, General Eugene?”

“Shut up.”

“Hehe, if that happens, let’s launch the ship right away. Huh?”

Suddenly, Ippolit, who was looking back at the harbor, widened his eyes.

“There, a really familiar face came out?”

Eugene also lightly raised his binoculars and narrowed his brows.

“Caulaincourt, and the Duke of Orléans?”

The exiled Louis de Orléans came out to greet Eugene.

***

Once, the Duke of Orléans was Eugene’s biggest customer.

“Wahahaha! It’s been a long time, financial prodigy. I never thought I’d meet you here like this!”

The Duke of Orléans greeted Eugene with a cheerful laugh.

However, just as the Duke of Orléans is no longer the richest man in France, Eugene is no longer the gambling prodigy of the past.

When he quietly turned his head, Caulaincourt, the Russian consul and major general, bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Chief of Staff.”

“What happened?”

“Well, since there is no embassy yet, I had no choice but to contact the Russian imperial family through an acquaintance. But…”

Caulaincourt licked his lips and explained.

“As it happens, the Duke of Orléans, whom I once served, is here.”

In the end, diplomacy is a negotiation conducted through connections.

Even modern diplomacy is like that, let alone 1800, which is not even the 19th century.

So, Eugene expected that an exiled noble would be the negotiating channel.

He just didn’t know it would be the Duke of Orléans.

The Duke of Orléans still stroked his 멋들어진 [stylish] mustache and made a fuss.

“I’ve heard a lot about your achievements. Amazing. You killed three Austrian commanders, conquered Egypt, and even defeated the invincible General Suvorov!”

“You left out the liberation of Constantinople.”

“Huh? Puhahat! You’re still the same as when you were young. You don’t know how to be humble! That’s your charm!”

At that time, Marie, who was staring at the Duke of Orléans from behind Eugene, parted her lips.

“It’s been a while, Duke of Orléans.”

The Duke of Orléans paused for a moment and then smiled.

If you think about it, they are close relatives.

However, the Duke of Orléans has a bad relationship with the Bourbon legitimate family, whether in the original history or now.

Because he was once a sympathizer of the revolution.

Nevertheless, the smooth Duke of Orléans politely paid his respects to Marie.

“Oh, Princess Marie Therese Charlotte. Our Madame ‘Royale’ [Royal Lady], I see you here.”

“I am no longer royalty. I am just a Mademoiselle [Miss].”

“Not to us. Also…”

The Duke of Orléans added meaningful words.

“To those who want to continue the name of the next Louis XVII.”

Louis XVII, those who continue the next name of the deceased king.

At first glance, it seems to refer to Louis Charles, the son of Louis XVI, but it is not.

The rightful king that the royalists are currently promoting is the Count of Provence, the brother of Louis XVI.

Of course, the Duke of Orléans is saying it in a different sense.

Anyway, the Duke of Orléans’s name is also Louis.

“······The king is dead. Duke.”

“Madame Royale, you still call me Duke. No, even Caulaincourt, who was appointed consul, did. Here, the financial prodigy called Freischütz [Sharpshooter].”

“That’s just out of courtesy!”

The Duke of Orléans raised his finger and shook it from side to side.

“Not at all. That’s human prejudice and perception. The aristocracy will not disappear. Neither will the monarch. It’s just that a legitimate monarch has disappeared now.”

People’s perception system does not change easily.

The world has been ruled by monarchs for thousands of years, and the revolution has only been 10 years.

In the original history, it would take another hundred years for the monarch to actually disappear in the future.

Eugene looked at the insightful Duke of Orléans with interest and was surprised.

Because the Duke of Orléans’s gaze suddenly turned to Eugene.

“You know that well, don’t you? Financial prodigy. So, you came all the way here to carry out a political marriage.”

Eugene smiled subtly and shrugged.

“Indeed, His Excellency the Duke’s insight is amazing.”

“You flatter me.”

“Then I’ll give you a warning. His Excellency the Duke, who has deep insight, will understand.”

In an instant, Eugene approached the Duke of Orléans and whispered.

“Do not approach the princess recklessly. In this Saint Petersburg.”

Far away, the Russian Imperial Guard is approaching.

The Duke of Orléans is an exile recognized by the Tsar, so Eugene cannot dare to inflict physical harm.

However, the Duke of Orléans had a startled expression at Eugene’s words.

After briefly changing his bewildered face back to a nonchalant one, the Duke of Orléans chuckled.

“Indeed, among the royals here, that’s a threat that only works on me. Because only I know you.”

It means that if he breaks the warning, he knows that he can really retaliate.

***

Saint Petersburg, the main palace here is the Peterhof Palace built by Peter the Great.

“The sharpshooter who killed Suvorov is coming!”

Countless fountains gushed out in the Grand Garden.

This palace is a place created by Peter the Great to challenge the famous Palace of Versailles.

Of course, it is far from being compared to Versailles, but the Grand Cascade certainly has the appearance of the Palace of Versailles.

Anyway, the golden statue shoots water as if it were urinating, blocking the front of the palace.

At the Grand Cascade Palace of enormous scale, the Russian generals looked back at their emperor, who had rushed out to the main gate.

“His Majesty the Tsar seems to be most excited?”

“Why, do you want to avenge His Excellency the Grand Marshal? Bagration?”

“Don’t joke. Major General Barclay. His Excellency the Grand Marshal died honorably on the battlefield. There’s nothing to avenge.”

Bagration scratched his curly hair and replied to Barclay.

“I just want to see what kind of young man the enemy I will face on the battlefield is.”

Among the Russian generals of this era, if you were to pick the best tactician, it would be Bagration.

While Kutuzov excelled in grand strategy and Bennigsen excelled in comprehensive battle operations, Bagration demonstrated his skills in short-term battles.

In some ways, he is similar to Eugene, who made a name for himself as a commander killer.

Of course, to the German aristocrat Barclay, it’s just useless courage.

“Georgians, tsk. Oh, here he comes.”

Bagration turned his excited gaze at Barclay’s words.

In front of the palace, the nobles and ladies lined up along with the Tsar also watched the main gate.

The French delegation was approaching under the guidance of the Duke of Orléans.

-Step, step, step.

The herald shouted loudly.

“Eugene Bonaparte, the son of the French Consul, Georges Danton, the prospective French ambassador, and the former French Director have arrived!”

At that moment, the first person to run towards Eugene, who was paying his respects, was one person.

“Greetings to His Great Majesty the Tsar of Russia······.”

“You’re the sharpshooter!”