He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 289

(289) Conducting a Non-Face-to-Face Battle with Metternich

In the early 19th century, three diplomats dominated Europe:

Metternich of Austria, Castlereagh of England, and Talleyrand of France.

All were key figures in creating the so-called Congress of Vienna [a conference of ambassadors of European states held in Vienna from 1814 to 1815] in the original history.

With the exception of Lord Castlereagh, who is still serving as the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the main rivals are undoubtedly Talleyrand and Metternich.

Eugene narrowed his eyes.

“This isn’t Prussia’s idea.”

Talleyrand smiled languidly.

“Prussian Foreign Minister Baron Stein is a capable man, Chief Secretary Eugene.”

“Well, I’ve heard he’s interested in reform. But he’s not the type to put forward such a troublesome diplomatic proposal, is he?”

“Then whose idea do you think it is?”

Eugene’s gaze snapped to Talleyrand.

“Metternich, isn’t it?”

Unlike Talleyrand, Metternich is still just a promising young diplomat, not yet the head of foreign affairs.

This is understandable, as he is only 28 years old and his family isn’t of particularly high status.

However, the Austrian Empire is being dismantled, and the former imperial territories are being divided into four.

Metternich was the one who negotiated with Joseph already.

Talleyrand shrugged lightly.

“I have not met him. Besides, my negotiation partner is Prussia.”

“That’s right.”

“Austria is also sensitive to this issue. Originally, the Duchy of Galicia was a minor kingdom under Austria.”

In fact, Talleyrand’s negotiation with Prussia isn’t about Galicia.

The armistice and turning a blind eye to the attack on Hanover in return is France’s negotiation matter.

But suddenly, the Galician territory has become a problem in diplomacy?

Of course, the former Polish territory is a very important issue for Prussia.

It concerns at least 8 million people.

Nevertheless, the demand to seat a member of the Hohenzollern family as the Duke of Galicia is peculiar.

It gives the impression of handing Galicia over to Prussia, which worsens public opinion in France.

On the other hand, if Prussia doesn’t concede even this much, there’s no reason for them to comply with France’s demands.

This means that relations between the two countries will fall into a stalemate.

You could say it’s reminiscent of Metternich’s diplomacy of delay [a tactic of prolonging negotiations to gain an advantage] from the original history.

Eugene stared at Talleyrand and asked.

“Can’t the Foreign Minister handle this issue? It’s the Minister’s job.”

“I lack the ability, Chief Secretary.”

“Then why not send a messenger to the home country and await instructions from the Consul [Napoleon Bonaparte]?”

Talleyrand then smiled slyly.

“I didn’t want to risk the Consul distrusting me. Fortunately, you’ve arrived, Chief Secretary.”

What a slippery character.

It’s not that Talleyrand has no means.

For example, France could fully support the capture of Hanover, or condone the occupation of the Duchy of Saxony adjacent to Prussia.

Or, they could simply hand over Galicia to Prussia and secure other diplomatic benefits.

But all these methods would not please Napoleon.

So Talleyrand threw the ball to Eugene.

Hoping that Eugene would defend against Metternich’s trick.

Knowing all this, Eugene had no choice but to come up with a solution.

It would be difficult for France to fight Prussia now.

However, there is a reason why Prussia’s conditions are difficult to accept.

As Eugene was lost in thought, Ippolito suddenly exclaimed.

“Isn’t that practically asking us to hand over the Duchy of Galicia?”

“Monsieur Charles, it’s not that simple. There’s a careful consideration to ensure the duchy’s independence while seating a non-threatening figure.”

“I heard Archduke Karl is being seated in Hungary anyway! No general in the military will accept this!”

Ippolito shouted urgently at Eugene like never before.

“Eugene! No, Commander Freischütz! If another war breaks out and Prussia and Hungary join forces, we’ll essentially have to fight the Austrian Empire again!”

Even though he fools around with women and only does what Eugene tells him to do, Ippolito is still a French general.

He has experienced many battles and seen Eugene devise strategies by his side.

He would fail like Junot if suddenly asked to face the enemy, but he has the capabilities of an average general.

Prussia, Galicia, and Hungary becoming one force?

That could be a military threat almost equal to the Austrian Empire.

You could say it’s the logic of the military, which operates separately from the logic of diplomats.

Eugene looked at Ippolito with a slightly surprised expression and chuckled.

“You’ve improved a lot, Ippolito.”

“Even Colonel Tournay here would know that much, not just me!”

“Oh, why are you suddenly dragging me into this? I actually didn’t know.”

As Colonel Tournay, the bodyguard, tried to back away, Eugene shrugged.

“I don’t like it, but it’s true. If Poland becomes independent at this point, Russia will also be uneasy. I feel sorry for the Polish people, though.”

Although he accepted it in the treaty signed with France, Pavel is a moody monarch.

If someone around him incites him by saying that he might lose Polish territory, he could overturn the situation in an instant.

However, it’s also a problem to be manipulated by the Prussian royal family.

Eugene’s gaze turned to Talleyrand.

“We can’t seat a member of the Prussian royal family, Foreign Minister.”

“Do you see another way? Prussia won’t be convinced, will they? If Metternich advised them, we might add another diplomatic strategy.”

“You threw it to me knowing that. Anyway, fine. First, how far has the other party’s representative come?”

Talleyrand smiled with satisfaction.

“Warsaw.”

In any case, it’s all good for Talleyrand if Eugene solves it.

***

However, in Vienna, Metternich was also in a rather difficult situation at the same time.

“Wow, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Metternich. You’ve thrown an interesting ball, haven’t you? Giving Galicia to Prussia. France must be dumbfounded.”

At the words of the noblewoman drinking coffee in front of him, Metternich wore an embarrassed smile.

First of all, it’s surprising that this woman knows that fact, and it’s also dangerous to become close to her.

Also, it’s a problem that Metternich is a married man who married the granddaughter of the former Imperial Chancellor, Kaunitz, a long time ago.

But Metternich couldn’t chase away this uninvited noblewoman guest.

Because she was too beautiful to refuse.

“Well, is it as much as you coming to find me, Madam Bagration?”

“Hehe, forget about the surname of a husband who doesn’t even look for his wife. He’s not even coming to pick me up after the European war, is he?”

“It’s because the Tsar is holding the general back. There’s also the issue of annexing the Kingdom of Georgia.”

The noblewoman’s name is Ekaterina Pavlovna Bagration, soon to be General Bagration’s wife.

They are literally newlyweds who have been married for less than a year.

But currently, the couple is separated.

There is a slightly complicated situation here. Bagration was so anxious about Ekaterina, who was such a beauty, that he called her to Europe during the war against France, which was the problem.

However, Bagration was captured once in Greece, then released again, defeated in Italy, and then went through the chaos of leading the remnants back to Russia.

Because of this, Ekaterina came all the way to Vienna but ended up staying midway.

She spent her boring leisure time going in and out of the Russian embassy, and that’s how she first met Metternich.

But surprisingly, she has excellent diplomatic talent, and that’s how she became close enough to have deep conversations with Metternich.

Of course, this information power is probably because Ekaterina has a high position as the niece of Duke Potemkin.

Also, the deep conversation is not only because she has outstanding talent.

Suddenly, Ekaterina rested her chin on her hand and smiled.

“Well, Pyotr is, when you think about it, a member of the Georgian royal family, isn’t he? Until the conquest is complete, he’ll keep him there for the sake of Georgia’s stability. Will he come to pick me up when the Georgian issue is over?”

“I suppose so?”

“Then I’ll follow the Vice Minister. You’re going to Paris, right? I’ve wanted to see it for a while.”

In later original history, Ekaterina made a name for herself with Décolleté [a low-cut neckline on a garment].

In modern terms, it’s a see-through dress with cleavage.

Trying to resist the urge to keep looking, Metternich swallowed hard.

“Please think carefully about that. General Bagration will hold a key position in the Russian Empire in the future. You must not act carelessly.”

Then Ekaterina leaned her body close to Metternich and whispered.

“You’re talking as if you’ve always behaved with propriety, Vice Minister.”

Just as Metternich was about to become confused, Ekaterina asked again.

“Now, tell me. Vice Minister. Are you really going to give Galicia to Prussia?”

In that moment, Metternich regained his senses.

This woman is a noblewoman who wears revealing clothes, enjoys Vienna, and flirts with men at parties.

But at the same time, she is from a great aristocratic family of the Russian Empire and the wife of a high-ranking general in the military.

That means she also plays a role as a spy for the Russian embassy.

“Ahem! That’s not the case.”

“So, you’re just trying to mess with France?”

“It’s not just to mess with them.”

Hiding the expression of rising desire, Metternich replied.

“Preventing Prussia and France from joining hands. Furthermore, preventing the Polish people’s will for independence. These two things are also important issues for Russia.”

Of course, that’s not all.

France and Prussia clash and go to war again.

That’s why Metternich deliberately encouraged them to make unreasonable demands in this Galician division.

That way, Austria will have another chance.

That’s when it happened.

“That’s not the answer I like.”

In an instant, Ekaterina’s clothes slipped off.

“M-Madam!”

“What’s wrong? You’ve already dragged me into the bedroom several times.”

“But it’s daytime now. Besides, this is the office.”

At that moment, Ekaterina hugged Metternich’s head to her chest.

“I’ll seduce you until you give me the answer.”

In the end, Metternich had to reveal his true intentions.

“Put your clothes on. So, I mean.”

Until Ekaterina Bagration, the woman who later brought Austria into the anti-Napoleon alliance in the original history, the woman who received the pleas of emperors at the Congress of Vienna, or Balzac’s girlfriend, laughed freely with love.

***

Warsaw, a city that is currently Prussian territory in 1800.

“The Foreign Minister said he couldn’t decide on his own. Chief Secretary Freischütz.”

The man who came out to face Eugene was Karl vom Stein, the current Foreign Minister of Prussia.

In fact, it was the system of the Holy Roman Empire for the Foreign Minister to also serve as Chancellor, so Baron Stein could also be called Chancellor.

So it’s natural that he doesn’t like seeing Eugene, who is only 20 years old.

But Eugene smiled without being flustered and looked behind Stein.

“Minister Stein is one thing, but soldiers have come to the meeting.”

“It’s a military matter, so I think they have the right to listen.”

“Would you introduce them?”

At Eugene’s casual question, Minister Stein introduced them without thinking.

“Our Prussian Marshal, Duke of Brunswick, and Commander of the Western Army, General Blücher.”

“And the people behind them?”

“Colonel Scharnhorst, the staff officer, and Lieutenant Colonel Gneisenau. There’s no need to ask about the staff, is there?”

In that moment, Eugene wore a satisfied smile.

Those two people are the reason why Eugene was going to go to Prussia.

But since he met them in Warsaw, he didn’t think he needed to go to Prussia.

“We can save time. Then, let’s present our proposal.”

Suddenly, Eugene stared at Baron Stein and said.

“We will seat Friedrich, the Duke of Salm-Kyrburg, as the Grand Duke of the new Duchy of Galicia. How about that?”

Baron Stein blinked at the name he had never heard before.

On the other hand, Talleyrand’s eyes widened slightly, and then he smiled strangely.

Because although it was a German name, it was a man better known in France.

Baron Stein asked Talleyrand.

“Who is that?”

“He is the Duke of a small country in the Rhineland. Minister of State Stein. He was also a general in the Revolutionary Army at one time.”

“I think I remember hearing about him. Hmm. A Revolutionary Army?”

Looking at Stein, who had a displeased face again, Ippolito whispered to Eugene.

“Hey, isn’t that guy your ‘father’s’ lover’s brother?”

Amélie Zephyrine Salm-Kyrburg.

In German pronunciation, it becomes Salm-Kyrburg.

She is the lover of Eugene’s biological father, Alexandre de Beauharnais, and the woman who gave birth to his illegitimate child.

That woman’s brother is Friedrich, the owner of the Salm Palace.

But Amélie’s husband is important.

Anton Aloys Franz von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

He is a collateral relative of the Hohenzollern family who resides in Swabia, in the Swiss region.

Eugene smiled.

“So, I came up with it. This proposal.”

Because this proposal is something the Hohenzollern family has no choice but to accept.

It was the moment when Eugene landed a blow in the non-face-to-face battle with Metternich.