He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 322

(322) Eugene Plans a Super Long-Distance Expedition

Even with thorough planning on a map, everything changes when you arrive on-site for a super long-distance expedition.

“Indeed, it’s too far. That’s the problem.”

Eugene frowned on the deck of the Horus.

Actually, this wasn’t Eugene’s first time crossing the Atlantic.

He had rushed to Martinique during the Josephine rescue operation.

However, unlike when he desperately sailed on Nelson’s ship as a child, he now felt the distance was immense, even with thorough preparations.

He felt that dominating this New World was no easy task, judging by the sailing distance.

Even the recent handling of Saint-Domingue [Haiti] couldn’t enforce direct rule due to the power struggles.

But since Napoleon had failed in the original history, Eugene was hesitant to intervene rashly.

Would Florida, and by extension, Louisiana, be any different?

“Oh, look there! Florida is finally visible!”

“This time it’s really the continent, right? Not an island? Ugh, I’m so tired of this!”

“There won’t be diseases like yellow fever, right? Ugh, finally arriving!”

Eugene turned his gaze as he heard the sailors and crew shouting.

“Hmm, so this is the New World. Prince Eugene of France.”

Eugene chuckled as he looked at the stranger who approached him, the admiral of the British East India Company transport fleet.

“That’s a strange title. Don’t you want to acknowledge the title of Viceroy of Florida?”

“Do you know if we’ve met before?”

“What do you mean by that?”

The transport fleet admiral stared intently at Eugene before speaking.

“You don’t know me. But I know you. Freischütz [German term for a marksman, often associated with a legendary bullet]. Off the coast of Alexandria, I lost an admiral to you.”

In fact, Eugene, as viceroy, was the chief of the 100,000 immigrant fleet.

He didn’t even have time to pay much attention to a mere East India Company admiral.

However, the moment he heard what the admiral said, something came to mind.

He remembered seeing the admiral’s surname, [Berry], in the documents.

“Edward Berry, Nelson’s captain.”

“I’m glad you remember. Did you see a list or something?”

“Well, it was the best battlefield for me too, so of course. Why did you apply to be the admiral of this transport fleet? It’s a civilian job, and it involves transporting a marshal?”

Edward Berry, Nelson’s adjutant who participated in the Battle of Alexandria, spoke solemnly.

“This level of transport is unprecedented. There might not even be a second time. Furthermore, there can’t be something like a marshal in a fair naval battle, can there?”

A grand immigration plan scheduled for 10 rounds, transporting 1 million people.

Certainly, that was the plan agreed upon by the East India Company and the French government.

To this end, Eugene had planned to disburse funds in installments, mobilizing the Recamier Bank, the Beauharnais Bank, and even the Central Bank of France.

However, the relationship between Britain and France could change at any time.

So, Berry probably wanted to participate in a historically significant transport.

Of course, he also wanted to see Eugene’s face.

Staring intently at Eugene, Berry gave a salute.

“However, we won’t meet so peacefully next time.”

Eugene returned the salute to Berry with a smile.

“Let’s fight honorably then, Admiral.”

Marie approached Eugene as he watched Berry return to his ship.

“What were you talking about?”

“Well, a duel?”

“What? No way! What duel! That was already forbidden even during the old royal era, and the revolutionary government, no, the Emperor won’t allow it!”

It was unclear when Napoleon became Emperor, and how she called him so familiarly.

But when you think about it, Napoleon was now a benefactor to Marie.

In the first place, the Jacobins [radical revolutionaries], who had overthrown the Bourbon dynasty, had long been out of power.

On the other hand, Napoleon had nothing to do with the abolition of the monarchy and had even secured the title of Duchess of Louisiana for Marie.

Of course, it was a ploy for France to swallow Louisiana.

Nevertheless, it was also true that Marie had gained official status thanks to Napoleon.

Eugene chuckled and looked at Berry’s back.

“I’ll end up fighting that man someday. Like Sidney Smith [British admiral who thwarted Napoleon’s plans in the Middle East].”

Hoping that time would be further in the future.

***

In 1802, the largest city in Florida was not Miami, but Pensacola.

-Wow!

The shouts of the French echoed in the port of Pensacola, on the northwest coast of Florida.

“Goodness, Lescure! You’ve become completely black! Hahaha!”

Rochejacquelein, a man who usually didn’t show his emotions, shouted excitedly.

It had been eight years since he had shared life and death with Marquis de Lescure, the person in charge of defending this place.

After returning to his home country and serving as the chief of intelligence, he hadn’t even been able to send news.

Fortunately, Marquis de Lescure greeted Rochejacquelein with a very healthy face.

With a deeply tanned face, Lescure, the former Vendée royalist general, laughed heartily.

“Come now, refrain from making racist remarks. Our black revolutionary comrades don’t like it. Ah, is the revolution over now?”

“It’s a bit complicated, but the new monarchy inherits the revolutionary spirit. More than that, please greet him.”

“Oh, you’re our princess’s knight! No, now you’re the First Consul’s chief aide?”

Marquis de Lescure was about to speak to Eugene in French mixed with a black accent when.

“He’s the Viceroy of Florida. It’s been a while, Marquis de Lescure?”

Marquis de Lescure turned his head and widened his eyes.

“Princess?”

“You recognize me. Louis! Say hello, he used to adore you when you were little.”

“Good heavens, even the Prince! What is going on!”

Lescure jumped up and down as he saw the former Prince and Princess he hadn’t seen in 13 years.

In fact, the Vendée rebels [Royalist rebels in Western France] didn’t become royalists for no reason.

Lescure and Rochejacquelein were from royal military backgrounds and were loyal nobles who remained to protect the palace during the revolution.

They even guarded Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette when the Royal Guard was disbanded.

Then, they went to Vendée and started a rebellion.

Therefore, Lescure had met Marie Therese and Louis Charles when they were very young.

Then, a middle-aged man watching the scene gave a salute and said.

“As you can see, news travels very slowly here in Pensacola. Governor-General, no, Your Highness the Viceroy.”

Eugene looked at the man and his eyes sparkled.

“Colonel Louis Marie Turreau, it’s been a while. No, now you’re a Brigadier General.”

“Excuse me? What are you talking about? I’ve never been promoted.”

“Here, this is the Brigadier General’s insignia. Originally, we should have a solemn conferment ceremony, but.”

Eugene looked around the Pensacola headquarters and smiled bitterly.

“It would be impossible in this situation.”

It was nominally the Governor-General’s office, but it was practically a fortress.

You could see the headquarters surrounded by a wooden fence, soldiers wearing tattered clothes, and Europeans who appeared to be Spaniards.

As it was originally a Spanish colony, most of the residents were still Spaniards.

With an embarrassed face, Lescure scratched his head.

“I’m sorry for the mess, Governor-General. No, Your Highness the Viceroy.”

“You’ll get used to the titles eventually. Marquis de Lescure, your title will be revived as well.”

“Are we returning to an aristocracy?”

Eugene nodded lightly and then shook his head.

“We do not recognize the old bloodline aristocracy. All nobles are nobles of their time and will receive titles based on merit. Marquis de Lescure, you have earned your title for the successful defense of Florida.”

This was the grand principle that Napoleon established when he revived the aristocracy.

However, Napoleon himself tried to make it hereditary in the original history, and the principle was not properly applied because the empire ended so quickly.

Eugene intended to make sure this grand principle was properly followed.

Lescure nodded with a face that showed both regret and joy.

“I feel strangely proud. By the way, I have prepared temporary accommodations for the immigrants. But, uh, there are a lot of them?”

“100,000.”

“Yes? No, how can so many people come all at once?”

Eugene tilted his head as he looked back at the transport fleet approaching from the distant horizon.

“We brought enough food and weapons. What’s lacking will come from Cuba. For the time being, the Spanish West Indies Fleet has agreed to be with us.”

“Huh, I was worried because the Saint-Domingue supply route was cut off. You communicate well with Spain?”

“That’s why Princess Marie Therese came here as the Duchess of Louisiana.”

Summarizing the situation very simply, Eugene ordered Lescure.

“Please expedite the construction of the residential area. The immigrants will need time to rest. Also, organize guides and exploration teams to enter Louisiana.”

The first problem that immigrants face when they come to the New World is securing a place to live.

Unlike Europe, most of the New World is undeveloped.

The same was true for the Florida area. Although there was an old Spanish settlement in Pensacola, it was not in a situation to accommodate large-scale immigration.

However, Eugene had no choice but to push ahead, knowing it was unreasonable.

It had to be now, before the war with England.

After this period, it would be very difficult for French people to immigrate to the New World.

But this time, Lescure nodded and twisted his words ambiguously.

“Building a residential area is easy. We can forcibly confiscate the residences of the residents of Pensacola. But there are difficulties with the exploration team. It’s the problem of the Americans.”

“Which side? The natives, or the United States of America?”

“Both.”

Lescure smacked his lips and told Eugene about the problem he had recently faced.

“The Seminole tribe’s chief is constantly demanding that we guarantee their living rights. Also, the United States of America is claiming ownership of [Louisiana]. They even sent an explorer recently.”

Seminole, a group of Native Americans in the southern United States that survived until modern history in the original history.

In the original history, they were so belligerent that they started fighting the American army from 1817.

But that would be easily handled by the Orient Legion, Eugene’s viceroy army, which conquered Egypt.

The problem was Louisiana, which the United States of America was interested in.

Just as Eugene was frowning, a young man next to him sparkled his eyes.

“Your Highness the Viceroy, I smell war.”

“Not yet, Jomini.”

“If you allow me, I will begin gathering information. Hehe!”

Eugene glanced at Jomini and shrugged.

“Go ahead, let’s see how much you can do in a place where there are no Europeans. First of all, I need to bring our Mademoiselles [young, unmarried women] inside?”

Marie and other upper-class women who came directly from Dominica Island seemed to be tired.

The Atlantic voyage was difficult, but it seemed even more difficult to come slowly through the West Indies.

But among them, a woman wearing a military uniform stepped forward and scoffed.

“Hmph, don’t underestimate the nursing unit. Where should I start building the barracks? I’m good at handling soldiers too!”

Recamier whistled, finding it unusual for a woman to be wearing a military uniform, and asked.

“Yo, you’re very motivated? But who are you?”

“I am the Emperor Napoleon’s sister. Take special care of my safety.”

“Yes? No, how did Napoleon, ah, no, the Emperor’s sister, come all the way here?”

Eugene smiled bitterly again.

“It’s a story.”

It was a day that seemed like it would take all night to explain everything.

***

However, the viceroy’s job was to listen to reports rather than explanations.

“The United States is now aiming to advance into Louisiana. They seem ready to take military action. Currently, hardliners are causing a stir.”

“You investigated quite quickly. Who is the representative of the hardliners?”

“It’s a politician named Andrew Jackson. He’s currently the commander of a state called Tennessee?”

Pensacola Temporary Headquarters, Jomini quickly began reporting.

It had only been a week since they arrived.

Even Eugene was still spending time in bed, not fully recovered from his fatigue.

But Jomini had already obtained information and was reporting.

With a slightly surprised face, Eugene turned to Rochejacquelein.

“That’s quite detailed information. Rochejacquelein, did you help?”

“No, Patron [Boss]. No, Your Highness the Viceroy.”

“Then how did you get such detailed local information?”

Then Jomini mentioned another high-ranking group that had split off midway and headed to ‘New York’.

“Ambassador Lafayette helped. Also, Ambassador Lafayette has a strange collaborator.”

“Who is it?”

“Louis-Philippe de Bourbon.”

Jomini smiled strangely.

“The Duke of Chartres has requested an interview with Your Highness the Viceroy through the U.S. Embassy.”

Jomini had only recently joined Eugene.

He had a light personality that seemed unable to bear that this situation was interesting.

But even knowing that, Eugene had no choice but to be surprised and get up.

In fact, things like Andrew Jackson and the Seminole tribe were within Eugene’s expectations.

But Louis-Philippe was completely unexpected.

“Louis-Philippe came to America?”

An event that had never happened in history had occurred.