He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 329

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 329 (330/547)

(329) What Kind of Madman Sells Territory for Money?

It was ten days before the start of the summit.

“What did you say? They’re coming to buy New Orleans? Is that even possible, Rochejacquelein?”

“Ambassador Lafayette sent a message directly.”

“Who on earth is it?”

Just as Chief Aide-de-Camp Hippolyte was about to reprimand him.

“It’s me, Hippolyte.”

Hippolyte is Duke Eugene’s closest aide and chief adjutant.

Therefore, only a limited number of people can speak informally to Hippolyte.

Like the French Emperor’s brother, for example.

Hippolyte’s eyes widened as he recognized the man who appeared from behind Rochejacquelein, Lucien.

“Lucien?”

“How have you been? Still having fun chasing women, I see.”

“Well, this town has a lot of mixed-race beauties. But that’s not the point.”

Hippolyte asked, taking Eugene’s place, who was still in shock.

“What brings you all the way here?”

Lucien replied without even looking at Eugene.

“Well, the United States is putting pressure on French territory, trying to take it. As a former Minister of the Interior, I couldn’t just stand by.”

“Trying to take it? What did you just say?”

“Of course, they say they’re buying it, but what kind of ‘madman’ sells territory for money?”

Only Eugene knew the secret that the ‘madman’ was actually Napoleon.

Eugene smiled wryly and extended his hand to Lucien.

While Eugene had devoted himself to settling in the New World for the past hundred days, Lucien had been interacting with American political figures.

Lucien was sure to have more up-to-date information.

“Welcome, Uncle. Please explain what’s going on.”

Lucien nodded and summarized it very simply.

“So, there’s a treaty that Spain signed, and the American delegation is coming to buy New Orleans while renewing it.”

The officials of the New France Governor-General’s Office didn’t even understand the summary because it was too brief.

However, Eugene already knew the circumstances surrounding the so-called ‘Louisiana Purchase’.

Furthermore, there were not only French officials present at this meeting but also high-ranking New World officials from Spain.

Governor Salcedo, Viceroy Marquina, and Admiral Cisneros.

In particular, Governor Salcedo, who had a special relationship with Louisiana, provided additional explanation.

“It’s the treaty signed in Madrid seven years ago, in 1795. The east bank of the Mississippi goes to the United States, and the west bank goes to Spain.”

Eugene looked at Salcedo with a wry smile.

This matter had to be resolved in the New World, within Eugene’s purview.

If the matter were to be transferred to the home country of France, Napoleon would likely repeat the same actions as in the original history.

Like the Louisiana Purchase.

“Was that negotiation also concluded by Duke Godoy?”

“That’s right.”

“He really makes a lot of concessions.”

Still with a stern attitude, Salcedo retorted to Eugene.

“Indeed, that’s why Her Grace the Duchess became the owner of this land. Your Highness, the French Duke.”

Just as Eugene was about to smile wryly again, Chief Aide-de-Camp Hippolyte clicked his tongue.

“Wow, they’re really underestimating France, aren’t they? Who sells land for money?”

“Well, my father, or rather, His Imperial Majesty, might have.”

“Huh? Emperor Napoleon? Why?”

Just as Hippolyte was about to be surprised, Eugene shrugged.

“Because he’s the kind of person who would boldly give up if he thought governing the New World was difficult. It’s not just Russia that needs to show results by next year.”

In fact, even in the original history, Napoleon’s position was not so bad at the time of the Louisiana Purchase.

Although it was true that he had failed to suppress Saint-Domingue [Haiti].

However, if he had invested only 10% of the resources he put into Spain, he would have been able to suppress Saint-Domingue sufficiently.

But Napoleon was not an ordinary person, and his decision was swift.

Once he judged that it would be difficult to fight and win against the United States in the future, he immediately decided to abandon Louisiana.

The problem was that if he left it as it was, France would only have to watch the United States become a superpower in the future.

Eugene pondered for a moment how to solve this complex problem and then turned to Salcedo.

“But I have no intention of selling, and I don’t particularly like the idea of the United States trading without any restrictions, Governor Salcedo.”

“I suppose so. Of course, this is formally a matter for the Duchess of Louisiana to decide, but the Duchess will follow her fiancé’s words, won’t she?”

“Of course.”

Marie, who had been preparing for the ball until just now, solemnly declared in her dress.

“Duke Eugene’s words are my words. I hope you will keep that in mind, Governor.”

Salcedo, the stubborn Spanish soldier, bowed his head and said.

“I understand. Then, as a subject, I will offer my advice. If you impose trade restrictions, war will break out. You must be prepared for that.”

At that moment, Lasalle, Chamfort, and Joubert, who were standing guard for Eugene, shouted.

“Hehehe! Finally, we have something to do! War preparations are complete!”

“Who said preparations are complete? Our army isn’t even properly organized yet, Lasalle.”

“Ha! These country bumpkin soldiers will never be a match for us, who have fought and won across Europe and Asia!”

Of course, Eugene’s special cavalry commanders were not wrong in their confidence.

The American army, which would be called the strongest in the world in the original history, does not yet exist.

At this point, they are only capable of failing to properly defend even when the British Navy burns down the White House.

However, Eugene shook his head and replied.

“We will win the battles, Lasalle.”

“That’s right, Duke Preyschütz!”

“But it will be difficult to win the war. The enemy has a population of 5 million, and we have only about 300,000 combined.”

That’s only when including the black slave population of Saint-Domingue.

The populations of Florida and Louisiana are not large at all.

As long as the Great Immigration Plan is not completed, a direct confrontation with the United States is impossible.

Of course, the situation is not entirely unfavorable for France.

“One good thing is that our negotiating partner is a pro-French president. At least there won’t be a war.”

Jefferson is a very famous admirer of French culture.

***

However, even a pro-French president will not compromise on territorial issues.

“First of all, there are four special envoys from the other side entering the conference hall.”

“Livingston, Pinckney, Monroe, and Hamilton?”

“They are all top-notch figures in Washington’s political circles. In French terms, they are like Desmoulins, Talleyrand, and Auguste Robespierre.”

Lucien, who had been in Washington, explained.

Of course, Eugene wondered if Lucien wanted to compare himself to them.

Then, Louis-Philippe chimed in.

“Monroe is most likely to be the main negotiator.”

“Why do you think so?”

“He is the youngest and President Jefferson’s favorite disciple. I believe he personally taught him law.”

Of course, that’s not the only reason.

Monroe is a capable diplomat, as can be seen from the Monroe Doctrine he left behind in later generations.

Furthermore, he is also the person who led the Louisiana Purchase in the original history.

But Eugene was somehow concerned about someone else.

Alexander Hamilton, under the first president, Washington, was the man who virtually designed the United States.

He would die in a pistol duel with Aaron Burr just two years later in the original history.

But there is no doubt about his ability.

Jefferson would not have sent Hamilton, who was close to his opposition party, for no reason.

“Let’s break their spirit first.”

As Eugene opened his mouth, pondering countermeasures, Desaix tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“The opponents are all experienced diplomats. They will try to solve the problem with words. On the other hand, we have few people with experience in diplomatic negotiations.”

“That’s true. If we had to choose a civil official, Marquis de Lescure would be the only one.”

Of course, if we were only talking about politicians, there were also Louis-Philippe and Lucien.

But Philippe is the son-in-law of the Russian Empire, and Lucien is virtually an exile who came to the United States on his own.

Therefore, in the end, the officials of the New France Duke Governor-General’s Office had no choice but to enter the negotiating table.

If we were to add anyone, it would be Salcedo, the Spanish Governor of Louisiana, but he is not a man who is good at negotiating.

Therefore, Eugene first devised a plan to strike a preemptive blow to the other party in a different way.

“Then, we must use our strengths. That is, naval power.”

Suddenly, Eugene’s gaze turned to the Spanish admiral standing across from the Pensacola Governor’s Office.

“Can you help us, Admiral Cisneros?”

Cisneros jumped up.

Even the Duke and the Governor of Louisiana had already surrendered.

Moreover, Cisneros’s pockets were full of alumina silver coins.

So, he couldn’t miss the opportunity to show his loyalty.

“Of course, Your Highness.”

This is the whole story of how the American envoys were greeted by a combined French-Spanish fleet of 20 ships of the line [a type of warship].

***

However, Eugene’s choice seemed to have hurt the pride of the American envoys.

“We want to purchase the territory of New Orleans. Otherwise, a military clash may inevitably occur.”

Monroe opened his mouth with a very stern attitude.

Eugene smiled wryly again at the words that came out as soon as he arrived at the conference hall.

Of course, Monroe is the person who remained in history as the one who established the Monroe Doctrine, which defines the non-interference of Europe in the New World.

However, wasn’t the reason he came to this place because he was a pro-French politician?

“Mr. Monroe, I haven’t met you in person, but I know you were the French ambassador.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, you must also know that I am originally a soldier. A soldier who has fought and won against armies of at least 100,000 men.”

Seeing Eugene subtly threatening him, Monroe still retorted sternly.

“I know. But this is a matter in which our United States has justification.”

It was as if they had deliberately sent an uncompromising person.

However, there was a reason here that Eugene had not anticipated.

Monroe is not simply a pro-French faction but a sympathizer with the revolution [referring to the French Revolution].

Therefore, he had a strong antipathy towards the Bonapartist faction [supporters of Napoleon], which had suppressed the revolutionary spirit and revived the monarchy.

Moreover, Monroe is also one of the founders of the so-called Democratic-Republican Party.

That is why Monroe, a sympathizer with the revolution and a republican, is being uncompromising.

Eugene was a little embarrassed by the unexpected situation and asked again.

“Why are you so confident? Strictly speaking, Louisiana is still Spanish territory legally, isn’t it? You Americans and Spaniards have also signed a treaty.”

“It was not signed with France.”

“Are you going to turn hostile to France, your long-time ally?”

At that moment, Hamilton interjected.

“France was the first to turn hostile. Young Duke. Your minister forcibly demanded bribes and loans!”

The conference hall froze for a moment.

Bribes and loan demands.

This is a statement that could become a national scandal.

The Marquis de Lescure, who was sitting with Eugene with a dumbfounded expression, opened his mouth.

“What are you talking about?”

In an instant, Pinckney quickly waved his hand and said.

“Please forget what Hamilton said. Of course, X, Y, and Z have recently become a problem in our Congress.”

However, Eugene was already hardening his expression.