He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 325

(325) Establish the New France Governor-General in Miami

After the Seven Years’ War, France virtually relinquished its hold on the New World.

-Thump!

The colonies in the New World were limited to the western territory of Saint-Domingue and the archipelago centered around Martinique.

Even after the War of the First Coalition against France, when Florida was nominally acquired, the situation remained largely unchanged.

In any case, the New World was across the sea, and the sea was under British control, making support difficult.

Therefore, the Governor-General’s building now being constructed in Miami is effectively the first construction project in the New France territory.

“Yo, it feels like we’re building a proper Governor-General’s office for the first time!”

Eugene chuckled as he watched Marquis de Lescure report excitedly in a ‘reggae style’.

“Everything here is a construction issue.”

“But the location is good. It faces the Atlantic directly, and there’s a huge river providing ample drinking water. How did you find this place?”

“I did some research in advance. We’ll name that river Miami, too.”

The name Eugene gave to the river flowing majestically into the sea was derived from the name of a legendary tribe in the area.

Of course, the French had no idea.

Because the Miami tribe was already extinct by 1802.

Who committed such a horrific act?

This land was clearly a Spanish colony, then a British colony, and then a French colony.

But, absurdly, it was the British North American colonists who killed, enslaved, and destroyed the Miami tribe.

It’s no coincidence that the massacre of Native Americans occurred during the westward expansion in original history.

Unlike the Spanish, who had learned to coexist with the natives to some extent, the people of the United States still don’t know how to coexist.

However, from Eugene’s perspective, he was able to build the Governor-General’s office on vacant land thanks to them.

At that moment, Toussaint, the new black Governor from Saint-Domingue, asked.

“Your Royal Highness, is there a reason why you are establishing the Saint-Domingue Governor-General’s office here of all places?”

Eugene replied without taking his eyes off the construction site.

“Shouldn’t you have guessed by now, Louverture? I intend to leave Saint-Domingue as a regional autonomous entity. But if I leave you as Governor, you’ll just declare independence, won’t you?”

“I have no intention of doing so. But if it’s just about the independence issue, killing me would have been the easiest solution.”

“You’re clever as always. Yes, I highly value your indomitable will, your longing for France, and your New World combat experience.”

Of course, Toussaint’s battlefield was the world of tropical rainforests.

There’s no guarantee that he’ll be able to demonstrate his abilities here in the New World as well.

However, Eugene valued Toussaint’s tenacious side.

Furthermore, Miami is originally a close city where so-called ‘Haitians,’ that is, people from Saint-Domingue, frequently come and go, even in original history.

Moreover, among the French New World colonies, Miami has its own unique strengths.

“Why build the Governor-General’s office here? Because this place will become the gateway connecting France, the New World, and New France. This is.”

Eugene solemnly declared.

“The New York of New France.”

Unfortunately, no one properly understood Eugene’s words.

After all, most people have never even heard of the city of New York.

Adjutant Hippolyte, Commander of the Guard Junot, and Commander of the New France Army Desaix looked at each other.

“What is New York, Your Highness?”

“Is it a city in the United States? Then shouldn’t we name it New Paris, New Calais, or New Bordeaux?”

“Your Royal Highness, does that mean the entire New France Governor-General’s office will be established here?”

Desaix suddenly asked, his eyes gleaming.

“Isn’t that right? Listening to what you’re saying now, it seems like you’re thinking of this fortress of Miami as the central city of the New World in the future.”

Only then did Toussaint widen his eyes in surprise.

Certainly, Eugene had only said that he would have Toussaint oversee Saint-Domingue, but he never said he would have him govern Miami.

Furthermore, it seems that he is employing Toussaint as a military commander, not expecting him to be a governor.

So why build the Governor-General’s office here in Miami?

Eugene nodded.

“That’s right, Desaix.”

“But wasn’t Louverture’s Saint-Domingue Governor-General’s office supposed to be established here?”

“The hierarchy would be like this. The entire New France Governor-General’s office, the Florida Governor-General’s office, and the Saint-Domingue Governor-General’s office.”

Turning his gaze back to the construction site, Eugene said.

“All three will be built here. Under the name of the Miami Royal Governor-General’s office.”

Currently, the center of Florida is Pensacola.

However, Pensacola is a city built by the Spanish, and the residents are all of Spanish origin.

Generals Lescure and Thourot also experienced many difficulties when fighting here, and a rebellion even occurred.

It had been suppressed by the time Eugene arrived, but it is an unstable element from the perspective of the French ruling system.

Moreover, it is too far away when the second wave of immigrants from France comes on East India Company ships in the future.

On the other hand, Miami can be reached by a direct route from Bordeaux.

Toussaint pondered for a moment and then said.

“Your Highness, you’re not planning to leave me as just the nominal Governor of Saint-Domingue, are you?”

Eugene turned to look at Toussaint.

“Didn’t I say? I value your combat experience. You have no time to rest now. You’ll have to fight very diligently. Whether it’s against natives, rebels, or United States soldiers.”

Eugene doesn’t even know who Toussaint will have to fight against right away.

It could be the Seminole tribe currently being pushed down into Florida, Spanish rebels, or the US military.

Nevertheless, Eugene expects the potential of Toussaint, who defeated the Spanish and British forces as a former slave.

In an instant, Toussaint saluted.

“Just give me the order.”

The moment Toussaint, Commander of the Miami Royal Governor-General’s office, was born.

***

Of course, new cities are not built by soldiers alone.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Cannon fire rang out towards the empty forest.

A ritual to drive away wild beasts and natives in advance, perhaps.

Eugene was thinking that the Eastern custom of driving away monsters and spirits with artillery might have originated from something like this.

Suddenly, Philippe, who was watching from the side, asked.

“Is it okay to waste precious gunpowder like that?”

“Well, Spain is our ally right now, so it’s not that precious.”

“I guess you’ll import it from Cuba or New Spain if you run short.”

Eugene glanced at Philippe, who was pretending to know, and chuckled.

“That’s right. Besides, there are places in the Spanish colonies where a lot of saltpeter comes out. In the end, saltpeter is more of a problem than sulfur or charcoal in black powder.”

On the west coast of South America, in so-called Chile, there are stones where bird droppings called guano have accumulated.

These stones are rich in nitrogen and phosphoric acid, which makes it possible to produce saltpeter.

However, Chile is not French territory, and guano is discovered in 1802.

Because the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt discovers this fact while exploring South America with the support of the Spanish royal family.

It’s perhaps the only thing Charles IV contributes to the world.

It is one of the concessions that the Beauharnais Cartel [a powerful economic group] must secure when it advances into the New World in the future.

At that time, an official dispatched from the Beauharnais Cartel to the New World yawned and asked.

“Ahem, Your Royal Highness, when do I get to work?”

Eugene turned to look at DuPont and shrugged.

“Why, are you getting restless because you can’t experiment, President DuPont?”

“I gave up my business in France and came all the way here. Of course, I can’t help but be impatient, right? Of course, I believe that Your Royal Highness will compensate me many times over.”

“You wouldn’t have abandoned your shares in the Beauharnais et DuPont, Société [Beauharnais and DuPont Company] in the home country, would you, DuPont?”

He’s talking about the Beauharnais Cartel member and DuPont’s private company, a chemical company.

Currently, it produces and sells gunpowder and fertilizers based in Paris, Marseille, and Turin.

Thanks to Eugene acknowledging his stake after the 10-year contract period, DuPont is also a joint major shareholder.

However, the era is the early 19th century.

“No matter how many shares I have, it’s different from me directly managing and supervising it, Your Royal Highness.”

Eugene smiled as he looked at the impatience DuPont was showing.

“Wait until Brunel installs the equipment. They’re all expensive British products, so use them carefully.”

“Seeing that you can’t even make a proper machine tool, it’s true that France is behind Britain. But what kind of equipment is it?”

“Steam cars, new rifles, and nitrocellulose manufacturing equipment.”

Eugene pointed to Brunel, who was also following him to the New World to supervise the construction of the factory.

“I’m going to make new weapons in this New World. I’ll let you do all the experiments you couldn’t do in France. The results will be exported back to Europe.”

Currently, two of Eugene’s engineers have come to Miami.

Originally, Brunel, who has experience in New York, and DuPont, who immigrates to the United States in original history.

Only Poligny remained in France, commanding and supervising the Poligny Arsenal [a French armory].

This shows how much effort Eugene is putting into establishing control over New France.

In particular, DuPont’s eyes lit up at the mention of new weapon experiments.

“I’m going to be very busy. I’ll have fun until then.”

Suddenly, Philippe, who didn’t understand everything but understood the new weapons, asked.

“Why are you preparing here instead of in France?”

“Because there is less fear of being caught by European enemy countries, especially Britain, here.”

“What about the United States and the Spanish colonial authorities? Aren’t you considering that?”

Then Eugene smiled mockingly.

“Send spies all the way here to steal technology? Do they have the resources for that in the New World?”

In fact, the United States is famous for having the best spies in modern original history.

But now it was just a fledgling nation that had just passed its 10th anniversary of its founding.

Also, Spain is not a country famous for information warfare.

Just as Philippe was about to nod in agreement.

“Y-Your Royal Highness!”

Eugene tilted his head as he turned to look at the officer running busily.

“What’s wrong, Lieutenant Charles?”

“M-My, my sister is calling for you.”

“Marie? Why?”

Louis Charles Caffet, the new adjutant to the Commander of the Royal Guard, hurriedly reported to his superior.

“They say people have come from the Spanish Viceroyalty!”

Eugene and Philippe turned to look at each other.

No sooner had they talked about espionage than someone from Spain had come.

And not to Pensacola, but to the newly built fortress of Miami.

***

In this era, New World fortresses refer to groups of makeshift buildings surrounded by palisades.

“I would like to report that we have driven out the American invaders in the name of the Duke of Louisiana.”

Inside the shabby log fortress, Eugene and Marie sat on a carpet brought from France.

The person reporting is a middle-aged general wearing a handsome Spanish uniform.

Marie smiled brightly, trying not to disturb her dignity.

“That’s a good thing, what’s your name?”

“Juan Manuel de Salcedo, at your service. ‘Louisiana’ Your Grace.”

“So, you are the Spanish person in charge of Louisiana?”

The middle-aged general, Salcedo, replied with a solemn face.

“I am the Governor of Spanish Louisiana. I control it according to Your Grace’s name and the will of the Viceroy of New Spain.”

In fact, Eugene was more curious about the report he had just mentioned than Salcedo.

Because around this time, the United States sends explorers to Louisiana.

They go up the Mississippi River, which was still undeveloped, and issue exploration reports.

This is when the American Midwest first comes into the view of Americans in original history.

However, there was something in Salcedo’s words that bothered him, so Eugene tilted his head and said.

“That’s a bit of a strange expression, Governor. As a result of the Treaty of Fontainebleau [a secret agreement], Louisiana has already been decided to be returned to France. A notice should have been sent to the Viceroy of New Spain as well.”

“That’s wrong. Your Royal Highness, Viceroy of New France.”

“What’s wrong?”

Salcedo stared at Eugene with a still solemn face.

“The territory ceded to France is limited to Florida. Spanish ‘Louisiana’ is still under the jurisdiction of New Spain [Spanish territory in North America], and is only the territory of Her Grace Marie Therese de Louisiana.”

Just as Eugene and the members of the New France Viceroyalty were about to change their expressions, Salcedo asserted.

“You have no official authority. Your Royal Highness, Viceroy of New France.”

Eugene’s eyes widened at the unexpected obstacle.

Junot and Desaix took a step forward, ready to press Salcedo immediately.

But there was someone who stepped forward before anyone else.

“That’s theoretically true, Governor. Then I’ll speak in my capacity as the Duchess of Louisiana and the presumed heir to the Spanish kingdom.”

“Yes?”

“Tell the Viceroy of New Spain to come to Pensacola.”

Marie Therese stood up and glared at Governor Salcedo.

“This is an order.”

This time, a request that Salcedo could not refuse was made.