He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 337

(337) Seizing the Great Plains as a Feudal Lord

So, why would we need an [Indian] lord?

-Tss, Bang!

Mikanopi, the Seminole heir forcibly brought to Miami, asked blankly.

“What is that, exactly?”

Toussaint Louverture, the black governor of Saint-Domingue and commander of the Miami garrison, glanced over.

It was a DuPont [factory] being set up with equipment recently imported from England.

However, Toussaint didn’t really know exactly what kind of machine tools or steam engines were inside.

So, Toussaint summarized it simply like this.

“Simply put, it’s a gift of civilization, Monsieur Mikanopi.”

“I’m not French, so don’t call me that, Governor Toussaint.”

“Also, call me Monsieur Louverture. Anyway, whether you like it or not, you are now French, just like me.”

Toussaint suddenly said with a slightly envious face, sarcastically.

“Because your uncle became the Duke of Alachua.”

In fact, Toussaint couldn’t help but feel jealous.

He prided himself on contributing to defending against England and Spain as the governor of Saint-Domingue.

But the position given was only a governor who could not inherit it, not a noble title.

From Eugene’s point of view, nobility simply followed the simple formula of the number of people governed.

Of course, from Mikanopi’s point of view, it was an absurd statement, and he frowned and retorted to Toussaint.

“I know you guys are stronger than the Acadians [French colonists in North America] I saw when I was young.”

“It’s not just that, Monsieur Mikanopi. The France you saw was a country that was defeated by England and repeatedly lost in Europe. But now France is the darling of civilization, a victorious country that repeatedly wins in Europe.”

“Even so, we have our own ways here! Don’t ignore us!”

Toussaint stared at Mikanopi and shook his head.

“My father, who was dragged from Africa, probably said the same thing. But look at me now.”

The moment Mikanopi was startled, Toussaint tapped his uniform and said.

“I am the son of a slave, but I am the governor of Saint-Domingue and the commander of the Miami headquarters. Also, as a large plantation owner, I have received vast lands as assets.”

“That means nothing to us!”

“I heard your uncle is different? He has many herds of cattle and horses, and he uses slaves. Oh, now that we are French, all slaves must be freed.”

Instantly, Mikanopi frowned.

“That’s originally adopting the ways of the white people as they are, but you’re telling me to release them?”

Toussaint smiled subtly.

Originally, the Native Americans in North America lived in a so-called equal society, so there were no slaves.

However, they learned about the slavery system while clashing with England, the United States, and Spain.

However, France has now abolished slavery, and Toussaint is the beneficiary.

Instead of explaining these complicated circumstances, Toussaint simply told the young Mikanopi.

“Pay money and use them. If you don’t want to accept it, you’ll have to fight. But I would recommend accepting it. Then, that great power will be yours.”

As if in response, smoke billowed fiercely from the factory’s chimney.

-Tss, tss, tss, bang!

Mikanopi swallowed hard.

Mikanopi was probably thinking of the large steam car that had appeared right in front of Alachua.

Of course, that level of technology is not easy even in mainland France.

But Toussaint doesn’t really know about such problems either.

Besides, it’s better for the Seminole to surrender now.

“All of this will benefit you and your bloodline. The sooner you surrender, the higher your status will be. Also, you seem to be of mixed blood?”

“Wh, what are you talking about?”

“I can tell by looking at your eyes. You have European ancestors.”

Toussaint, who was well-versed in mixed-race people from seeing many mulattoes [people of mixed white and black ancestry], looked at Mikanopi’s blue eyes.

“So, this is also fulfilling what your ancestors wanted, Monsieur Mikanopi.”

Just as Mikanopi was heading to his quarters deep in thought, another black general approached Toussaint from behind.

“How is it? Does it seem like he’ll be persuaded?”

“General Dumas, do you like your father or your mother?”

“What kind of question is that? I like both of them. If you want to mock that my mother was a slave, say it. I’ll kill you in a duel.”

Toussaint looked back at Dumas, a general of mixed black and white heritage, and smiled slyly.

“That’s the situation Mikanopi is facing now: whether to follow his maternal Indian side or his paternal European lineage.”

This is also a problem that many Native Americans will face in the future.

Because, just like Spain, France has traditionally pursued a policy of encouraging intermarriage with Native Americans.

Conversely, how to treat people of mixed blood was also a problem for France.

Dumas, a mixed-race man who received higher education because his father was a nobleman, wrinkled his nose.

“I don’t like it, but that guy is, so to speak, a Seminole prince? A key figure that His Royal Highness values.”

“Roughly, right?”

“Good. Make sure to persuade him properly within three months, Governor.”

Dumas suddenly looked west and said.

“That way, we can organize these friends and advance to the upper reaches of the Mississippi River.”

Originally, in the original history, the United States did not put the military first when pioneering the so-called [West].

The first to go were explorers, and the next to leave were farmers.

However, in the process of pioneering, the so-called famous [cavalry] swept through the West while clashing with Native Americans.

But Eugene plans to put the military first from the beginning.

It’s the difference between the United States, where the central government is weak, and France, which is centralism itself.

However, there are still few French people living in New France, and the number of conscripts is also weak.

Therefore, he intends to form a Native American unit.

Toussaint retorted with a slightly dissatisfied face.

“I think it would be faster to just bring the friends I used to command in Saint-Domingue.”

“Do you want them all to be killed by the Indians?”

“Do you think friends who don’t even know gunpowder weapons properly are in danger?”

At that moment, Dumas shook his head firmly.

“I’ve never moved an army in a place without a supply line. But here, every battlefield is like that.”

Of course, it’s also a place without a road network.

***

Eugene is actually in Pensacola right now.

“Florida is not the problem. The land that occupies most of Louisiana, the [Great Plains], is the problem.”

Eugene said, sitting on one side of the Pensacola Governor’s Office building.

Currently, most of the key figures in the New France Governor’s Office are in Pensacola.

This is because the material base itself is concentrated in Pensacola.

It is also a convenient place for women, including Duchess Marie and Pauline, the commander of the nursing corps, to stay.

Furthermore, Pensacola, which is right next to it, is better than Miami for attacking Louisiana.

Of course, even if it’s next door, it’s still over 300 kilometers to New Orleans.

Eugene feels how big the land of the New World is every time he moves.

However, the land west of the Mississippi River, commonly referred to as [Louisiana], is six times the size of mainland France.

It wouldn’t matter if it were empty land, but there are quite a few tribes scattered there as well.

They are the tribes that fought with the US cavalry during the Western expansion in the original history.

At that time, an unexpected person among the Governor’s Office officials opened his mouth.

“Strictly speaking, it’s not like we don’t have any bases in Louisiana.”

“Is there something?”

“Do you know the city of Saint Louis?”

It was Salcedo, the man who was still serving as the Governor of Louisiana.

“Everything starts with fur. Originally, the largest city in Louisiana, New Orleans, had a wealthy man named Gilbert Antoine de Saint Maxent.”

Salcedo explained with a briefing from the background, like a textbook general.

New Orleans, as the name suggests, is a city that was originally French territory.

So, there were many immigrants from France there, and French immigrants mainly traded fur.

However, fur cannot be obtained at coastal ports, but by hunting animals inland.

So, Maxent decided to send explorers to the upper reaches of the Mississippi River.

“Maxent entrusted full authority to the adventurer Pierre Laclède, and later, the base that Laclède created while going up the upper reaches of the Mississippi River became a city. That’s Saint Louis.”

“Saint Louis? So, is Laclède still alive?”

“Yes? Ah, that’s what you would say in English. He’s dead now. His son, Auguste Chouteau, is virtually the mayor.”

The modern original history name is Saint Louis, as Eugene said, soon Saint Louis.

This is Louis IX, the old king of France.

However, Eugene did not study medieval France in his previous life, so he did not know that far.

This city is called the starting point of the so-called Western development.

But now it was just a place like the last frontier of the civilized world.

However, Eugene felt something strange while listening and asked Salcedo.

“Why is the last name like that?”

“That’s because Laclède had a son out of wedlock. The legal father was a man named René Chouteau, who died of illness.”

“It’s really strange to hear this from you, a Spaniard, not a Frenchman, Governor Salcedo.”

Salcedo replied with a stiff face.

“I am only following the orders already given by the Duchess. Also, [Saint Louis] is a city that faithfully obeys the Governor of New Orleans. Chouteau often visits New Orleans.”

In a word, it means that Salcedo was managing influential figures in the colony.

Again, Eugene didn’t know, but in the original history, Chouteau is called the pioneer of [Saint Louis].

However, as Louisiana becomes Louisiana and becomes American territory, the French are excluded.

So, he is the best fur merchant of the time who disappeared into the backwaters of history.

However, Eugene had his own way of using this man.

“Call him to Pensacola.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to go to New Orleans? Even in terms of strengthening dominance.”

“Salcedo, don’t make me say it twice.”

Eugene smiled and said.

“There is someone Chouteau needs to meet.”

That person will certainly not be someone Salcedo will welcome.

***

From Saint Louis to Pensacola, you have to run a whopping 1100 kilometers.

“Hoo, His new Royal Highness is calling me like this, I wonder if it’s okay.”

Of course, Chouteau came by boat.

He came down the Mississippi River, sailed along the coast, and arrived in Pensacola.

It’s a difficult journey, but Chouteau had a reason to come.

The ruler has been changed from France to Spain since 1763, when the Seven Years’ War ended.

For 40 years since then, the French have suffered greatly in Louisiana.

Every time the governor changed, he tried to push through projects led by the Spanish colonial government, and the French, including Chouteau, actively resisted.

But finally, mainland France occupied Louisiana, and even the [Emperor]’s Royal Highness came.

In this situation, the Royal Highness called him directly, so he had no choice but to come.

But there was a strange face next to Chouteau.

It’s his son named Pierre, and his face is strangely red.

The red-faced man, Pierre Chouteau, entered the Governor’s Office and looked back at Auguste Chouteau in surprise.

“Father, look at that.”

“Huh? No, isn’t that an Indian, Pierre? I’m sure it’s not the Osage tribe.”

“It’s not a tribe from the Great Plains. They are short and have redder faces.”

The Osage tribe just mentioned is the tribe that Pierre Chouteau trades fur with.

It is a tribe located in the upper reaches of the Mississippi River and has had a trading relationship for over 20 years.

In addition, his son Pierre’s mother is also from the Osage tribe.

Of course, he did not formally marry a Native American, but Auguste was a son who was [recognized] in his own way.

But what surprised Auguste and Pierre was not only that.

Clearly, [Indians], beings that Europeans called contemptuously, were entering the Governor’s Office wearing European clothes.

Tensioned, the Chouteau family entered the Governor’s Office, and the guards guided them to the deepest place.

To the place where the Royal Highness, Eugene Freischütz Bonaparte, was waiting.

“Are you Auguste Chouteau?”

When Eugene asked, sitting in a chair, Auguste quickly raised both arms and shouted.

“Greetings to the Royal Highness of mainland France. Also, long live the new Emperor Napoleon!”

“I see you’ve heard the news from the mainland?”

“Of course I hear it. It’s been 10 years since the revolution, and even in the remote countryside of the New World, I can’t help but be interested in the rapidly changing situation in the mainland. Especially since you have regained this Louisiana from the mainland!”

Eugene smiled and said again.

“I heard that you are well versed in Louisiana.”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

“I will give you the title of Margrave [a noble rank]. The territory name should be [Missouri].”

Originally, it is the name of the [State] that is born around Saint Louis in the original history.

But now it’s just a tributary of the Mississippi River.

So, what surprised Auguste was the title of [Margrave].

“Th, thank you. Then.”

“Here, you will have to go on a campaign to conquer the Great Plains with Mikanopi, the successor of Duke Payne of Alachua.”

“Yes? Wait, did I hear you wrong?”

It is clear that he pointed to the Native American standing next to Auguste.

First of all, it is surprising that he gave the title, but he also gives the title to the Native American.

But that title is higher than Auguste Chouteau’s?

Although Chouteau took a Native American as a concubine and even had a child, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

Besides, isn’t the young man in front of him someone who just came from the mainland?

From what I’ve experienced so far, the more people who have just arrived from Europe, the more they look down on Native Americans.

But Eugene shook his head and replied.

“You heard correctly. Here, Mikanopi has tens of thousands of people, and your village has only about 1,000 people. Therefore, Mikanopi’s tribe must have a higher title.”

Auguste, who was surprised that Eugene knew even the inside story of Saint Louis, blinked.

“Instead, your monopoly on the fur trade will be given back. Of course, other businesses that will take place in the New World, such as mining, will not be given exclusively.”

Of course, Auguste doesn’t know that Eugene is actually taking away the real goodies.

Because even in the 19th century, mines had never been discovered in the West.

Besides, just receiving the monopoly on the fur trade was a huge deal for Auguste Chouteau.

Chouteau knelt down hastily.

“I will keep that in mind, Your Highness!”

Eugene turned his gaze to Mikanopi.

“Mikanopi, what’s your answer?”

Mikanopi, who had seen the situation in Miami and the steam car, and Pensacola, closed his eyes.

It doesn’t seem like he’s deceiving.

Furthermore, it seems much stronger than the old France I knew as [Acadian].

But Mikanopi is said to be given a noble and high position.

It’s too attractive an offer to refuse.