He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 335

(335) The Savior of the Natives, the Acadian, Has Arrived

A city with a hint of European architecture is hidden within the primeval forest.

-Thud, thud, thud.

Champot, riding behind him, asked with an uneasy look.

“Where are we going, Native?”

The Native American, Micanopy, glanced at Champot before replying.

“Alachua.”

Of course, neither Champot nor Lasalle knew what Alachua was.

However, one person reacted to the name.

Sebastian Kindelan O’Regan, a former Spanish soldier from Florida who was accompanying them as Lasalle’s expedition guide, spoke up.

“That used to be a Spanish fortress.”

“What do you mean, Colonel O’Regan?”

“It’s simple. When the Spanish ruled East Florida, we used it as a fortress. We abandoned it when the British invaded. Then, we had to reoccupy it, but the French arrived.”

As you can tell from his rank of colonel, O’Regan’s position and status weren’t high.

However, at 47 years old, he had accumulated a lot of experience serving as a soldier in the New World.

For example, he wasn’t surprised even when following the natives.

Listening to O’Regan’s explanation, the former governor, Lasalle, burst into a hearty laugh.

“I feel like I’ve become a villain! Hahaha!”

“From a Spanish point of view, that’s not necessarily wrong.”

“Why is that, Colonel O’Regan?”

O’Regan took a sip of water from his canteen while on horseback and replied.

“I was the Governor of Cuba. From there, both Nueva España [New Spain, i.e., Mexico] and Nueva Granada [New Granada, encompassing modern-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama] are within sight. I also indirectly hear news from Peru and La Plata [Argentina and surrounding regions]. All of them are unstable right now.”

The place names based on original history are as follows:

Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Chile.

All of these were 300-year-old Spanish colonies, but at the same time, they were teetering on the brink of upheaval.

Champot, who knew the general situation because he was from a military academy, tilted his head.

“Are you saying there will be a slave revolt?”

“No, it’s a matter of taxes and status. We Spanish impose a one-fifth tax [Quinto Real] on the colonies.”

“Huh? That doesn’t sound so high. If it were France, there would have been a rebellion already!”

O’Regan, who had been the Governor of Cuba, then the Governor of Florida, and now came to assist the Duchess of Louisiana, smiled bitterly.

“Instead, it’s structured so that all the natives and slaves bear the burden. Still, the Creoles [people of Spanish descent born in the Americas] who occupy the upper echelons of the New World are all dissatisfied.”

The high tax rate is the share that the lower class bears in a hierarchical society.

Still, the upper class is bound to be dissatisfied.

Eventually, in the 1810s, in original history, Napoleon’s invasion of Spain triggered a colonial independence crisis like a tidal wave.

It was still 1803, but the Spaniards in the New World, soon to be Peninsulares [Spaniards born in Spain], were keenly aware of the problem.

Suddenly, O’Regan wore a sneer.

“One consolation is that when I came to East Florida, the United States was no different.”

“What wasn’t different? Taxes?”

“No, the wealth achieved by using slaves, and the territory obtained by massacring Indians.”

O’Regan’s gaze turned to Micanopy, who was walking ahead.

“That friend can speak French, so he probably came from the north, or is the child of someone who was driven out.”

“Where is north?”

“There are five great lakes called the Great Lakes in the north of the continent. Many of the Indians who lived there were driven south during the Seven Years’ War [French and Indian War, 1754-1763].”

Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario.

In fact, it is a lake area that is virtually a single lake because it is connected as one.

Also, considering that the world’s largest lake is actually the inland Caspian Sea, the Great Lakes can be said to be the largest freshwater lake on Earth.

These Great Lakes form the border between British Canada and the United States to the north, but during the Seven Years’ War, they were French territory.

At the time, France had fewer immigrants than England, so they needed the help of the natives.

So, even though the French were not exactly racial equality theorists, they had no choice but to form an alliance with the natives and fight against England.

But France lost, and the natives, including the Shawnee, who had formed an alliance, were largely driven out of the land.

Most of them took refuge in the south-central New World, the land of Louisiana, but some flowed further in.

Colonel O’Regan clicked his tongue as he looked at Micanopy.

“The Seminole tribe was probably formed by those who were driven out at that time. That’s what I learned from the information I obtained in Cuba.”

It was then.

-Doo-doo-doo!

A group of cavalrymen rushed out from inside the village.

“Who are those white men!”

Again, just as the Lasalle cavalry, except for Lasalle, were about to raise their guns, Micanopy stepped forward.

“It’s me, Uncle Bolek.”

“Huh? Micanopy? Don’t tell me you were caught by those guys?”

“No. They say they want to talk. They are…”

Micanopy said calmly with blue eyes.

“Acadians [French settlers from Acadia, modern-day Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island].”

These blue eyes show that white blood is mixed in Micanopy’s lineage.

However, since the Seminoles trace their lineage through the maternal line, Micanopy is accepted as a member of the chief’s family.

Lasalle and Champot, who didn’t know these inside stories, were talking in the back.

“What is that, Acadian?”

“Hey, haven’t you heard it before? The French who lived in Canada, which is now British territory, were called Acadians. People who took refuge in Nouvelle-Orleans [New Orleans] are also called that.”

“Hmm, then does this tribe remember when we French left the New World?”

At that time, Micanopy’s maternal uncle, Bolek, shouted in clumsy English.

“Why have the escaped traitors returned!”

Apparently, Acadians are not necessarily welcome.

***

The Seminole tribe is a coalition of exiles.

“Again, the French have returned?”

Paine, the son of Ahiya, the leader of the Seminole Confederation at the time, frowned.

The place where Paine was sitting was the center of the Seminole tribal confederation, the Alachua wooden building.

As O’Regan explained, this place was full of facilities left by the Spaniards, so it looked quite convenient.

In addition, it can be seen that the tribal warriors are all carrying guns.

Perhaps this is the result of accepting European technology.

It was first built in 1757, so it was the result of immigration in the early Seven Years’ War.

Also, Paine did not speak French well, but strangely, he spoke English well.

The man who founded the previous Seminole Confederation, the chief who was commonly called Cow Keeper because the British had a lot of cattle.

This is the result of Chief Ahiya becoming close to the British and settling in Florida.

Lasalle, who was European, nodded in clumsy English.

“That’s right. Our Acadians have returned. The people of this land call us Acadians, right?”

“All white people are the same anyway.”

“Come on, we are different from the British and Americans. The point is that we recognize your land!”

As Lasalle excitedly talked, Paine coldly replied.

“We do not own land, Frenchman.”

However, Lasalle smirked.

It is well known in France that these people, who were called Indians, are actually natives who have no blood ties with the Indo-Aryans.

However, when I came here, I saw many herds of cattle and horses, and buildings.

Above all, from the person supporting the chief, there are slaves chained.

“Come on, looking here, there are many workers, farmland, and tools, right?”

At that moment, Chief Paine flinched and replied.

“That’s just working together in an equal relationship.”

“Considering that, the chief looks rich at first glance! Haha!”

“Are you insulting our tribal confederation now!”

In an instant, Chief Paine was furious, and his nephew Micanopy was trembling.

-Chuck!

Lasalle placed a gun in front of Paine.

“What is it?”

“Hey, Lasalle. What are you doing now?”

“Wait, Champot. So, this tribe, whether Seminole or Shawnee, was driven south because of us French? Then, we have to take responsibility!”

Lasalle smiled and said.

“This new-style gun is our token. Let’s form an alliance with France again and drive out the invaders who invade your territory!”

Champot was speechless and opened his mouth wide.

The Seminole tribe is not originally the name of a single race.

It is a tribal alliance formed mainly by the Shawnee tribe who lived in northern New World, along with fugitives and exiles from each tribe, and even black slave escapees.

Furthermore, when they entered Florida, which was virtually empty land, they fought and defeated other tribes and even enslaved them.

Is it okay to give these people, who look more like Europeans than natives, such a gun?

“Lasalle, you can’t just talk about an alliance with these ‘redskins’.”

At that moment, Paine struck the ground right next to the gun.

-Thump!

The buwang Royal Guard cavalry, including Champot, were all nervous.

I heard that Indians like to scalp white people.

I’m armed, but this is enemy territory.

Can I get out alive?

However, with Lasalle in front of him, who was very calm, Paine spat out in English with a blunt face.

“Our Seminole tribal confederation likes honest people. We also remember the friendship with the Acadians. If you protect our traditions, we are willing to join hands!”

Lasalle smiled and winked at Champot.

“How is it? It works, right? Guns are a good gift anywhere.”

Of course, this was the first time Champot had heard of it.

***

Eugene felt the same.

“So you gave them a new-style gun?”

New city fortress, Miami Governor’s Office.

Eugene asked Lasalle with a dumbfounded face.

Then Lasalle replied very casually.

“Isn’t it good? Anyway, the Indians don’t seem to have the technology to make guns. I don’t think they will ever realize the importance of technology.”

“So, you made an alliance without permission?”

“No, I heard that they were on our side during the old Seven Years’ War? What’s so strange about forming an alliance again?”

Eugene clicked his tongue and asked again.

“As a result, you may have to fight against the United States?”

In addition, the Seminole tribe has never been an ally of France, strictly speaking.

To be precise, the Shawnee tribe, a part of the Seminole tribe, briefly formed an alliance with France during the Seven Years’ War.

The mainstream Creek tribe was actually closer to England.

It is not for nothing that Seminole Chief Paine speaks English.

At that time, Chief of Staff Jomini’s eyes sparkled.

“Your Majesty, then will you fight the natives? War preparations are complete!”

“Don’t make rash assertions, Jomini. Our army is not actually ready.”

“Yes? Barracks, weapons, gunpowder, ammunition, and cannons are all prepared.”

Eugene shook his head.

“There is no supply line at all. This is true for Florida, and even more so for Louisiana.”

The news spreads quickly in this New World.

In particular, the natives distinguish between England, France, Spain, and the United States.

If we fight the Seminoles here, all the nomadic natives wandering around Louisiana will become enemies of France.

Eugene, who had been lost in thought for a moment, turned to Dese.

“First, let’s examine the native situation. What is the power ratio?”

“Are you really going to form an alliance?”

“We cannot unilaterally recognize the native territory. But, we cannot unconditionally drive them out like the United States. We don’t have that many numbers. However, originally, we formed an alliance with the royal family, right?”

Eugene stroked his unshaven chin for a moment and smiled brightly.

“Perhaps, the Ancien Régime [the old order; the political and social system of France before the Revolution] may be the solution to this problem.”

For example, the feudal aristocracy.