He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 326

(326) Louisiana’s Ruler, Marie

Spain first conquered the New World in 1521, beginning with the conquest of the Aztecs.

“For nearly three hundred years, we Spaniards have been the masters of the American continent. That includes the land of Nueva España [New Spain, referring to colonial Mexico].”

“Isn’t that common knowledge, Admiral Cisneros?”

“But that history was possible because it was centered around the royal family, Governor Salcedo.”

Admiral Cisneros of the Spanish West Indies Fleet sat in the cabin, glaring at Salcedo.

“What do you intend to do by rebelling against the heir presumptive recognized by His Majesty?”

Salcedo frowned as he drank the coffee placed on the table.

“Ugh. This New World coffee…”

It was more bitter than the African variety mainly drunk in ‘the homeland,’ Spain.

Originally, Salcedo was a general who mainly led the national defense forces in Ceuta and Santa Cruz.

As a lieutenant general in the royal legion, his assignment to this New World was a position granted out of consideration before his retirement.

However, he had no intention of merely passing the time powerlessly before returning home.

Salcedo suddenly retorted to Cisneros.

“I know more about the royal family than you do, being a naval officer.”

“Governor! Do you not realize who you are provoking? The Duchess, the French Viceroy, and even the Viceroy of Nueva España. You will be forcibly summoned!”

“Do you think the French Viceroy will become the King of Spain, Cisneros?”

At that moment, Cisneros, struck at his weak point, fell silent.

-Swish!

The sound of waves crashed loudly against Cisneros’ flagship, the Bahama, echoing.

The destination of Cisneros’ Spanish West Indies Fleet was Pensacola.

Although Eugene had ordered the construction of the new city of Miami, even the defenses were not yet fully erected.

Also, Nueva España, the capital of modern-day Mexico, is Veracruz, and Pensacola is more convenient for the Viceroy to come from there.

As a result, Eugene and Marie were heading from Miami back to Pensacola.

In effect, Cisneros’ fleet, operating as Marie’s escort fleet, followed as an escort.

In the distance, the flagship of the French Caribbean Fleet, the Horus, could be seen moving.

The rigid soldier, Salcedo, scoffed.

“I admit it. Spanish Louisiana, what the French call Louis’ Land [La Louisiane, in French], is the territory of Duchess Marie. That was decided by the King in Madrid.”

“Y-yes, indeed. We must follow as loyal subjects!”

“But the territory has never been given to the French bastard who is the adopted son of the fake Emperor. Are they even sharing a bed? If that’s the case, it’s a major incident.”

Cisneros hurriedly looked around to see if there were any Frenchmen nearby.

Fortunately, there were none, as they were all on French ships, including the Horus.

Of course, Salcedo’s words were what Cisneros was also thinking.

To Salcedo and Cisneros, who came from long-standing noble families, Napoleon was a nobody.

Furthermore, Eugene was merely the adopted son of the fake Emperor.

Yet, Marie and Eugene had only held an engagement ceremony, not a wedding.

Therefore, legally, Eugene had no rights at all.

But hadn’t they already seen Marie acting for Eugene’s sake?

“Didn’t you see Duchess Marie issuing the Viceroy summons? The Duchess is acting for Viceroy Eugene. Besides, who knows when Viceroy Eugene will be above us?”

“That’s why I didn’t tell him to shut up to his face. But if we hand over the territory willingly, what will the homeland say?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Salcedo scoffed.

“Admiral Cisneros, are you going to stay in the New World your whole life? Eventually, we have to return to Madrid. What do you think the nobles in the homeland will say then? Will they be happy if we just helplessly hand over the territory to France?”

In short, it was a matter of turf.

As Cisneros himself said, Spain was the vested interest holder in the American continent.

On the other hand, after the Seven Years’ War, France had been virtually driven out, except for Saint-Domingue, Martinique, and Guiana.

However, Spain had lost territory in the New World, even though it had not directly lost a war in Europe.

The nobles in the homeland, Spain, were being suppressed by the powerful Godoy.

But how long would this situation last?

If the powerful figure changed, would the nobles in the homeland look kindly on those who had unconditionally cooperated with the French territorial cession without pride?

“Besides, there are practical problems too. When I came to the New World, I found that there are two types of upper class here: the Peninsulares and the Criollos [Creoles].”

“In fact, the Criollos are the ruling class here.”

“If we show those guys a powerless image, will they follow us? There is already plenty of unrest in Nueva España!”

Peninsulares, Criollos, Mestizos, Mulattoes, Indios [Indigenous peoples], and black slaves.

This is the hierarchical order of races and classes existing in Spain’s New World territories.

The highest priority, Peninsulares, refers to mainlanders from the Spanish ‘Peninsula,’ that is, the Iberian Peninsula.

The next in line, Criollos, are the descendants of the first Peninsulares to settle, the white upper class born in the New World.

However, these Criollos had already witnessed the United States, formerly a British colony, gaining independence.

The reason they have not yet become independent, unlike the United States, is because they recognize the authority of the homeland, Spain.

What if the authority of the Spanish royal family collapses?

In the original history, this led to a chain of independence events in South America.

Even without knowing this history, General Salcedo, who had witnessed plenty of unrest, scoffed.

“Do you understand, Admiral Cisneros? This is not just a matter of saving face for the French Viceroy.”

“But we can’t completely exclude the French either, can we?”

“That’s why we have to do it well, with appearances, to protect honor.”

Suddenly, Salcedo’s eyes turned to the Horus.

“Even if that guy really comes above us.”

Even if Eugene becomes the King of Spain, honor is even more important to the nobles.

***

On the deck of the Horus, Junot, the most senior officer of the New French Army and commander of the Viceroy’s Guard, tilted his head.

“So, that Salcedo guy is denying French ownership of Louisiana?”

“It’s a little different, Commander Junot. In effect, Viceroy Eugene will be the ruler. It’s already been decided in the homeland. But nominally, it’s just Princess Marie’s personal territory.”

“Then why is he acting like that? I don’t understand at all.”

Toussaint remained in Miami.

All the officials of the New French Governor-General’s Office, centered around Eugene, were returning.

In any case, this situation was sure to determine the future of New France.

But it was an era when decisions made in the homeland of Europe determined the fate of the New World colonies.

Eventually, they would have to accept it, so why was Salcedo resisting?

Then Jomini, looking at the Florida coast with a telescope, chuckled.

“It’s an excuse.”

“What do you mean?”

“Louisiana’s population is pro-French from the start. I’ve investigated it all.”

As everyone looked at him, Jomini shrugged and began to speak passionately.

“From what I’ve investigated, Louisiana doesn’t have many Spaniards or natives.”

“Then who lives there, Chief of Staff Jomini?”

“They are called Acadians. General Dumas.”

Jomini poured out the information he had learned while talking with Spanish naval officers.

“They are former French colonists who were expelled from Quebec and flowed into this place!”

Acadia was the French name for the northeastern part of the New World.

When France was defeated in the Seven Years’ War, many of the French settlers there fled south.

The place they eventually reached was the southern tip of North America, present-day New Orleans.

In those days, it was called Nouvelle-Orléans or Nueva Orleans.

Later, in the original history of the United States, they are commonly called Cajuns [a term derived from “Acadians”], French-American people.

Most of the white people living in the so-called Louisiana land were these Cajuns.

As of 1802, there were approximately 50,000 white residents in New Orleans.

About 15 percent of them were of Spanish descent.

The rest were all of French descent, meaning that even the residents were friendly to France.

Junot nodded as he listened to Jomini’s story.

“If the Spaniards are talking about nominal rule and practical difficulties, it’s all excuses.”

“If we had really asked for the so-called southern Nueva España land, it would be a different story. But Louisiana is a land where the north is undeveloped and the southern coast is dominated by the French.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Then Desaix answered.

“The army that controls that land is the Nueva España army. If it’s not resolved politically, a military clash will be inevitable.”

Then Jomini smiled with shining eyes.

“That’s right. This is when I come into play!”

“Chief of Staff Jomini, shut up. Isn’t that why Marie is calling the other party’s Viceroy?”

“Hmm, that’s a shame. But there’s still ‘hope’ for war left, isn’t there? Commander Junot?”

Junot frowned at Jomini’s words for a moment.

Of course, it would be a battle that is nothing compared to Europe.

The main force currently arriving in New France is from the Egyptian expeditionary force.

Even the former Ottoman Turkish army would probably be stronger than the soldiers of the New World.

If a battle were to occur, a one-sided victory could be guaranteed.

However, if it becomes a war, not just a small-scale skirmish, a different dimension of problems arises.

In the first place, France had never obtained Florida or Louisiana through war.

They had won a battle against Austria, not Spain, and Spain, overwhelmed by that victory, had shown a diplomatic low posture.

But if a war really breaks out, even Godoy or Carlos IV will fight back.

This means that the diplomatic advantage that France and Spain have subtly built up over the years could be shattered.

Nevertheless, Junot also shrugged and smiled strangely.

“Well, if the Viceroy is someone like Governor Salcedo or Cisneros, a battle may be inevitable.”

If the situation is unavoidable, they will strike boldly.

That is the way of the French generals who experienced the revolution.

***

Of course, Eugene has no intention of waging war if possible.

“You did well to call the Viceroy, Marie.”

Marie, who was drinking coffee inside the cabin, looked at Eugene in surprise.

“Huh? I thought you would scold me?”

“No, rather, this needs to be resolved through dialogue. But to have a dialogue, we need to see each other’s faces first.”

“We could go, actually.”

It seemed she was bothered by the fact that she had issued a summons in an overbearing manner.

However, Eugene thought that Marie had made an accurate judgment intuitively.

Because Salcedo’s resistance was most likely due to the pride unique to the Spanish military aristocracy.

This can only be suppressed with authority.

“No. We need to confirm it once. Marie, that you are the ruler of Louisiana.”

Then Marie asked Eugene.

“Then how are you going to solve it?”

“It depends on the Viceroy’s attitude, but the basics are simple.”

“What is it?”

Eugene turned to the map hanging on the cabin wall and smiled.

“A shared interest. Of course, it’s war if the other party doesn’t accept it.”

Indeed, if it is unavoidable, Eugene does not avoid it.

War.

Just like the current Emperor of France, Napoleon.

November 1802.

Eugene and Marie entered Pensacola, where a decisive negotiation to determine the fate of Louisiana awaited.