He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 313

(313) The Bourbon Bombing

Originally, a betrothal ceremony is an event held in a palace hall, or at most, in a garden.

-Jing, jijing, jijing!

However, the betrothal ceremony between the Crown Prince of Spain and the princess of the former French royal family is now taking place in the square.

A string quartet was hastily called in to play background music.

Godoy, the special envoy from Spain, standing on the platform at the betrothal ceremony venue, laughed heartily and spoke to Napoleon.

“To hold the marriage of the two countries in a place where the people can see, how novel. Hahaha!”

Napoleon replied with a solemn face.

“The master of our republic is not the king, but the citizens. So, we have no choice but to be mindful of the citizens.”

“That’s really amazing. Then, do we have to get permission from the people in that square too?”

“Of course, theory and practice are different. Still, there must be a procedure for the citizens to agree.”

They are polite to each other, but their attitude shows a war of nerves.

In fact, Napoleon didn’t like Godoy very much.

Originally, even in the original history, he didn’t help Godoy when he was in crisis, but rather used it as an opportunity to usurp the Spanish throne.

However, Godoy, whose foundation was weak, had no choice but to smile at Napoleon, even knowing his attitude.

Behind the platform, Yzquierdo and Foreign Minister Talleyrand were quickly having a practical conversation.

“The official ceremony will be held inside the Tuileries Palace. Think of this place as a kind of pre-ceremony commemoration.”

“I understand. Please finish it as soon as possible. The Duke of Alcadia is patient, but the Crown Prince is not.”

“Of course. We will proceed with the event quickly.”

When Talleyrand gestured lightly, Brienne, the Deputy Secretary of the Consulate, who was in charge of the event, shouted.

“Then, I will introduce the betrothed to the citizens!”

Place Vendôme is smaller than the Champ de Mars, but it is still a space where thousands of people can gather.

Thousands of Parisians looked up at the platform.

Of course, their interest is not in the prince.

However, Brienne began to introduce the prince in detail, according to the established order.

“The betrothed is the heir to the Spanish throne, Duke of Asturias, Fernando Francisco de Paula Domingo Vicente, Fer Antonio Jose Joaquin Pascal Diego Juan······.”

Ippolito yawned as he listened to the truly long titles and names.

“Why is his name so long?”

“I guess it’s because they add the names of their ancestors while inheriting the territories.”

“Brienne should cut it short, why is he showing off his heraldry like that?”

However, Brienne, who had been memorizing the event progress diligently, succeeded in reciting more than 30 names.

“······de Bourbon.”

In an instant, the faces of the citizens turned cold.

Of course, it is true that the royalist supporters account for a considerable portion of the French electorate.

But this is Paris, the home of the revolution.

The former royal family name ‘Bourbon’ is not very friendly in French.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Brienne quickly moved on to the next order.

“The betrothed is Marie Therese Charlotte Capet. She was the daughter of the former royal family, but she sympathized with the revolution and abandoned her royal title, and has been working hard for national diplomacy to this day.”

Changing the family name to Capet instead of Bourbon is the price the former royal family paid to survive.

However, the Parisians’ expressions softened a little at the word Capet.

Anyway, Marie Therese’s existence is, when you think about it, proof that the revolution has triumphed.

Brienne added the ‘highlight’ of this pre-wedding civic festival here.

“In addition, when this marriage is concluded, [New France, referring to France’s colonial territories in North America] will return to France!”

At that moment, the citizens were enthusiastic.

“New France!”

“Oh, Louisiana is back in our territory!”

“Let’s go to the New World! Give them the princess!”

New France, the vast territory in the New World that France had lost forever after the Seven Years’ War.

Of course, after the First War of the Anti-French Coalition, Eugene acquired Florida through [aluminum diplomacy, a reference to leveraging a resource for political gain].

However, the land being returned to France this time is the very territory that Louis XV had lost in the past, [Louisiana, a large territory in North America].

Except for the Quebec Canada region, most of it is returning, so they have no choice but to be enthusiastic.

Of course, it’s not free.

“Now everyone’s fired up.”

“Does everyone know that they’re giving up Tuscany?”

“Strictly speaking, Tuscany is an independent republic. Diplomatically, it’s up to the government to decide, and it’s not something to report to the French people.”

While Talleyrand and Napoleon were whispering to each other, Brienne shouted loudly.

“Then, the betrothed will announce the union of the two countries with a kiss of oath!”

At that moment, even Eugene was shocked and looked at Talleyrand.

Brienne is the one shouting now, but everyone knows that Talleyrand prepared the event.

But he deliberately puts a kissing ceremony in, even though it’s not a formal betrothal ceremony?

This is a ceremony that only takes place at a civil wedding.

Looking at Talleyrand, who was smiling slyly, Ippolito, Tournay, and Damas sneered.

“What is that cripple doing?”

“Wow, does he want to be shot to death?”

“Should we just overturn it now?”

However, Eugene stared intently at Talleyrand and then turned his gaze away.

The important thing now is not to be angry with Talleyrand.

More than anything, the notification of the White Silver Letters was getting more and more serious.

“More than that, the atmosphere over there is strange? Send a signal to Junot.”

At Eugene’s instruction, Rochejacquelin, who had been silent, gestured.

-Tatatak!

The Surété [French security force] agents all started moving busily.

***

Cadoudal has lived only for today.

“Comrades, it’s time to move.”

There are dozens of Chouannerie [Royalist rebels in Brittany and Normandy] followers gathered here in Place Vendôme.

But there are 6 key figures.

Pierre de Lescure, Charles d’Autichamp, Bouvet de Lozier, François Carbon, Joseph Picot de Limoëlan.

And, Cadoudal.

“There, there is the ringleader of the great rebellion.”

“Finally, revenge for the comrades who died in the Vendée and Brittany!”

“That bastard, and that brat, killed countless people!”

Lescure, d’Autichamp, and Carbon whispered as they pulled the cart.

From the beginning, it was Godoy’s suggestion to hold the pre-wedding ceremony in the square.

But it was Cadoudal who encouraged it.

To create an opportunity like today.

Bombing.

If he had set up gunpowder on the way to the opera to watch the opera, as in the original history, it would have been difficult to succeed.

But if it is a fixed location like now, it is possible enough.

“Let’s go!”

There are a total of 3 carts.

The carts purchased from the grain merchant look like they are loaded with wheat.

But the truth is that they are wine barrels full of gunpowder and flammable materials, and scrap iron that will become a weapon the moment the bomb explodes.

It was the moment when the carts of the Chouannerie royalist party were about to rush in from all directions of the square.

-Woof!

Suddenly, a dog barked loudly.

D’Autichamp, surprised, stopped the carriage.

A dog was blocking the carriage.

“What is this?”

Then, soldiers who appeared to be gendarmes [French military police] blocked the carriage.

“Hey, let’s see what you have.”

“Wait, who’s rummaging through my luggage?”

“Just, let’s take a look.”

In an instant, Cadoudal stabbed a dagger into the soldier.

-Thud!

The Chouannerie party widened their eyes in surprise and took out their daggers all at once.

Before they could even aim their guns, soldiers were stabbed by daggers everywhere.

The royalist terrorists are all veterans who have gained combat experience on the Vendée and Brittany battlefields.

The gendarmes who only guarded Paris were not enemies they could deal with.

“Run! To the center of the square!”

With Cadoudal’s command, the carts rushed across the square as if pouring down.

“Stop them! They must not interfere with the event!”

“You can beat them! They are rioters!”

“Release the dogs! Now!”

The gendarmes hurriedly stepped forward to block the carriage.

-Woof woof!

The fastest of them were the hunting dogs.

When the military hunting dogs threatened the horses of the carriage, the horses were frightened and stopped.

Even though the Chouannerie were brave, the horses they bought from the grain merchant were not brave.

Carbon shouted urgently.

“These guys, it’s clear that they were prepared in advance!”

Cadoudal gritted his teeth.

He was unable to achieve everything he had originally intended.

He was going to blow away the cursed revolutionary leaders on the platform with the carriage.

But if things continue like this, they will all be blown up in the square.

In Cadoudal’s gaze, Napoleon and Eugene behind him were visible.

“Indeed, Freischütz [a marksman, alluding to Eugene’s skill]. He’s no ordinary guy. But.”

Suddenly, Cadoudal grabbed something from inside the carriage.

“You underestimated our Chouannerie’s faith too much. Everyone, Plan B!”

The next moment, Cadoudal and the Chouannerie party jumped out of the carriage all at once.

***

Still, the protagonist of today’s event on the platform did not realize the seriousness.

“What’s going on? It’s really uncomfortable to have a royal event with lowly commoners.”

The next Spanish king, Duke of Asturias, Fernando, muttered with an arrogant attitude.

I know something is going on in the square.

But that’s not a reason for Fernando to take refuge.

It’s up to the underlings to take care of it.

Fernando licked his lips as he looked at Marie in her dress approaching him.

“Princess Marie Therese, you are beautiful.”

“Wait a minute. I think something’s going on right now.”

“Let’s get the ceremony over with quickly before the event is interrupted.”

Fernando’s eyes flashed as he grabbed Marie’s white shoulders.

“Come on, the kiss of oath!”

Before Marie could even resist, she was caught by Fernando.

“What are you doing! Kyaa?”

She struggled, but she couldn’t escape because Fernando’s strength was so strong.

In an instant, Fernando’s hand went to Marie’s waist, and then up.

Fernando’s lips approached Marie’s face.

A feeling of goosebumps all over her body covered Marie.

It was the moment when Marie was about to slap Fernando’s cheek to escape the ‘crisis’.

-Kwaaang!

Fernando also stopped at the loud noise.

“What is that!”

This time, even Eugene was surprised and shouted.

“Could it be, a suicide bomb?”

But it was too late when he realized it.

The gendarmes were about to block him, but Lescure exploded.

After that, people screamed and scattered, and when the road opened, d’Autichamp ran and was blocked in front of the police.

This time, an explosion occurred around d’Autichamp.

Again, the road was opened, and then Carbon ran.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

So, lighting the gunpowder and detonating it is the same as a normal gunpowder terror.

But the method was a pattern that could not be imagined.

He sets himself on fire, lights the gunpowder he is holding, and causes an explosion.

A means not even used by Muslims in the 19th century.

Suicide bombing was being carried out by Chouannerie radical royalists.

“Death if not success! We will punish the traitors and restore the king!”

Following the four who had already died, Limoëlan shouted and ran forward.

-Thud, thud, thud!

He unties the horse tied to the baggage cart, gets on it, and runs.

Cadoudal is far away, being held by the gendarmes.

But the last bomber, Limoëlan, who has not yet been caught, is running towards the center of the platform.

At that moment, Eugene ran.

“Marie!”

Fernando was surprised and shouted as he looked at Eugene.

“No, who are you again!”

But Eugene had no time to deal with Fernando.

Eugene grabbed Marie and threw his body back as much as possible.

Immediately after that, Limoëlan rushed behind Eugene.

The guards rushed in urgently, and Limoëlan was pushed back by the force.

-Tss!

The Bourbon royal family was there, watching the betrothal ceremony right in front of them.

-Kwarreung!

The explosion shook the platform violently.

French government officials screamed as they were hit by shrapnel flying from all directions.

Eugene was also stained with blood on his back after being hit by shrapnel.

Marie, who was hugged in his arms, blankly looked at Eugene and asked.

“Eugene, I, well, what’s going on now.”

“Don’t look.”

“Did, everything, explode?”

At that moment, Eugene hugged Marie as if pushing her into his arms.

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of it somehow. Again.”

March 3, 1802.

A Chouannerie bombing occurred in Revolution Square.

The casualties are less than in the original history’s Rue Saint-Nicaise attack, but the explosion is more serious.

The ‘Bourbon’ royal family bombing incident occurred.