He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 34

In May 1793, the Banque Boerne de Marseille was established in Marseille.

“We offer low-interest loans and high-interest deposits to the entrepreneurs of Marseille! Haha!”

Canebière, a main street in downtown Marseille, basked in the warm sunlight.

The name actually means “cannabis”.

Of course, it wasn’t named after selling cannabis here, but because it was a place where hemp baskets and ropes were produced.

As a main street connecting the port to the city center, commercial activity was vibrant.

Among them, the mansion of the Noailles family, a prestigious old noble family from the south, happened to be vacant.

Of course, the reason for their exile was the revolution.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Eugene acquired the mansion confiscated by the Marseille Command.

– Thud!

The bank vault, with a base capital of 100,000 British pounds, could be seen closing.

The first floor was, of course, a café, just like the Banque Boerne de Paris.

The bank manager was, of course, Pierre Colot.

He was currently away, hiring staff and obtaining permits.

So, who was promoting the opening of the bank on the street?

None other than French Revolutionary Army Lieutenant, Hippolyte.

The clothes he was wearing were actually a military uniform.

Marceau, who was watching the scene from inside the café on the first floor of the bank, licked his lips.

“Is it okay for a soldier to be doing that, Eugene?”

Of course, Eugene, Marceau, and Hippolyte were all still soldiers.

Eugene was Brigadier General Napoleon’s exclusive adjutant.

Marceau was a staff officer at the Marseille Command.

And Hippolyte was a supply sergeant in the unit.

In short, the soldiers were not performing military duties and were instead running a bank.

No matter how much Eugene was behind them, it could be a problem if a military inspection came.

However, Eugene was calm.

“It’s okay. Anyway, General Napoleon won’t care. Rather, he’ll be happy that the household is getting richer from the [boarding fees], right?”

“That boarding fee is 200,000 livres [French currency], it makes me realize how much prices have skyrocketed.”

“Well, if you think of it as a Napoleon [Club] membership fee, it’s not that expensive. It’ll be more popular than the Jacobin Club in the future, right?”

He said it as a joke, but Eugene subtly added the truth.

Currently, Eugene and Hippolyte were staying at the Bonaparte residence.

Despite having acquired the grand mansion, the Noailles mansion.

Instead of using it, Eugene decided to pay a whopping 200,000 livres for ‘boarding fees’ for using a rather old and small room.

Before the revolution, that was equivalent to the salary of the President of the Paris High Court.

Of course, its value has decreased to one-fifth due to the current price surge, but it was still a huge sum.

Usually, a financier would not do this because it would be a waste of money.

However, Eugene did it very easily.

Why?

Because it’s a golden opportunity to properly enter the Bonaparte family, and furthermore, Napoleon’s [inner circle].

The Jacobin Club is the trend now, but the landscape will change in just two years.

Of course, Marceau, who wouldn’t know that fact, licked his lips again.

“Speaking of that, are you going to stay under General Bonaparte all the time? I opposed the republican beliefs, but I don’t think you do.”

The reason Marceau followed him here is twofold.

One is, of course, to protect, assist, and take care of Eugene.

Eugene himself doesn’t think so, but Marceau sees Eugene as a very smart ‘kid’.

He has a very strong sense of responsibility to take care of him as an adult.

The other is because he fell for Napoleon.

Because he is a general with a thorough revolutionary spirit.

Instantly, Eugene, who raised his eyebrows, smiled strangely.

“Marceau, you shouldn’t look at beliefs in this era.”

“Why?”

“Before the revolution, did you have republican beliefs?”

Marceau blinked.

Of course, even before the revolution, Marceau was a young man with many social grievances.

That’s why he ran all the way to the storming of the Bastille.

But did he think about republicanism?

Not really.

Eugene pointed that out.

“The trend of the times is clearly the collapse of absolute monarchy. However, the republic is a premature era. The proof is the executions taking place in Paris right now.”

The guillotine has already been introduced.

It doesn’t kill on a large scale like in the Reign of Terror yet.

Still, those who are branded as traitors are dragged away and executed.

Marceau frowned as he pondered that point.

“Isn’t that a temporary phenomenon?”

“Are you going to say that even if a situation worse than Toulon occurs soon?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Eugene spoke of an inevitable event.

“A civil war will break out soon.”

It is the War in the Vendée [a counter-revolutionary rebellion in western France].

A counter-revolutionary rebellion will soon break out in the Vendée region of southwestern France.

In fact, the riots already occurred in March, like in Toulon.

However, full-scale armed conflict will occur after May.

Eugene guessed that royalist nobles and devout peasants would be preparing for an uprising around this time.

Originally, this civil war is where Marceau makes his mark.

Furthermore, he also experiences the tragedy of losing a lover.

Marceau, who was completely unaware of the glory and tragedy that would befall him, exclaimed in surprise.

“Where? How? Who?”

“Well, I don’t know either. But right now, the revolutionaries in Paris are moving too fast. Urban bourgeois and sans-culottes [common people of the lower classes in 18th century France] will follow, but most of the French people are not urban dwellers.”

“What does that, ah.”

Marceau understood as he followed Eugene’s gaze.

“Farmers.”

There were people coming to see the bank, drawn by Hippolyte’s shouts.

They were farmers wearing straw hats and shabby clothes who grew hemp near the city.

In fact, Hippolyte was thinking of Paris and shouting promotions targeting entrepreneurs, but the people in Marseille who have the means to save money are farmers.

Furthermore, 90% of the French population is farmers in the first place.

Of course, this is the case in every country except England in this era.

But farmers have characteristics.

Eugene lightly pointed that out.

“Most farmers are devout in their faith, no matter what happens to the king. But what does the revolution do?”

“They smashed the churches.”

“It’s not just that. They destroyed the church organization that farmers relied on for their lives. Of course, it’s a process of the state governing the provinces, but from the farmers’ point of view, the foundation of their lives has collapsed.”

That’s the real reason for the Vendée rebellion.

A civil war in which more than 300,000 people were massacred.

Suddenly, Eugene, who was speaking casually, felt cold sweat on his hands.

He knows.

An event that will inevitably occur.

There is no way to stop it.

That’s why he went to Toulon first, and then followed Napoleon to Marseille.

But was that all that was solved?

Could he possibly save them?

Just then.

“Major Eugene, then what will you do then?”

Louis Tournet, who had been silent and forgotten, suddenly asked.

In fact, not only Tournet, but also Jacob Elly and Jean Gomis are with him.

They have been following Eugene since the Battle of Toulon, even enlisting in the army.

In Paris, they worked as security, and now they work as adjutant guards.

Counting from when they left for Martinique, it has already been 4 years together.

It’s easy to forget like air, but Eugene might have already died if it weren’t for them.

Eugene looked at Tournet, who is a bodyguard, and asked.

“What do you mean, Lieutenant Tournet?”

“Here, Gomis and Elly are all thinking the same thing. This [revolution] is definitely dangerous. But if we are with Major Eugene, we can overcome it.”

“Thank you.”

However, it wasn’t just empty words, Tournet, who has now been promoted to lieutenant, asked seriously.

“So, I’m asking. A civil war breaks out, citizens are executed, and a war breaks out. What should we do? Even the constitutional monarchy that the major was trying to protect is about to collapse.”

The revolutionary period is an era in which the old society collapses.

That means that the power that was once strong disappears, and everything fluctuates.

Immediately before the revolution, the king, who was like a heavenly power, died.

In this situation, Eugene has been taking very wise steps.

He raised funds through finance, created protectors in the political world, and when it became dangerous, he came to the military and achieved military achievements.

He clearly seems to have a [plan] to overcome this chaotic period.

When the future is not visible, people want a leader with conviction.

Right now, the people around Eugene regard Eugene as a leader.

That belief stirred Eugene’s heart.

Can he really live up to this belief?

At that time, Marceau nodded, shining his eyes.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like you’re just going to end up as a banker.”

Eugene suppressed his agitated heart for a moment and smiled.

“What’s wrong with being a banker? The era of finance will come in the future.”

“What? When?”

“Well. Within a hundred years?”

As if joking, Eugene shrugged, telling the truth again.

“Believe me and stay under General Napoleon. He is a figure who will surely break through the turbulence of the times.”

Join the Napoleon Club.

This is Eugene’s simple solution.

Everyone was looking at Eugene with half-doubt and half-certainty.

“Please, help me. Joseph!”

Everyone turned their attention back to the cry that suddenly erupted from the bank.

There, Joseph, the legal advisor of the Boerne Marseille Bank, was being held and struggling by someone.

It seems that Joseph met an acquaintance while visiting the bank.

But that acquaintance was unusual in appearance and demeanor.

If he is the first customer, we cannot treat him clumsily.

Eugene tilted his head and approached.

“What’s wrong? Legal Advisor Joseph?”

“No, that’s… It’s someone I know. He’s in a very difficult situation in his business right now. Ah, this is…”

“What’s going on? Monsieur [French term of address, equivalent to ‘Mister’]? What’s wrong?”

The clothes are luxurious.

However, he is not properly dressed and looks shabby, and his complexion is extremely pale.

He is an old man who looks like he will collapse if someone doesn’t catch him right away.

But his eyes were sharp.

The old man, who was certainly unusual, glanced at Eugene, frowned, and asked Joseph.

“Is this, your child? By any chance, are you married?”

“Wh, wh, what are you saying! I’m a bachelor! Besides, this person is the real owner of this bank!”

“What? Such a kid? Well, I’m glad you’re a bachelor.”

The old man laughed helplessly and sat down on a chair in front of the bank.

“I wanted to make him my son-in-law. Haha! It’s a story that won’t work because I look like this.”

At that moment, Eugene’s eyes widened.

If he is the father-in-law of Joseph Bonaparte, there is someone who comes to mind.

To confirm, Eugene politely asked the old man.

“Monsieur, what is your name?”

“Huh? Me? My name is François Clary. I was doing a small coffee trade in this Marseille.”

“No, it’s not small. If you say Clary Trading Company, everyone knows it, right? This Joseph guarantees it.”

Eugene took a deep breath without realizing it at Joseph’s words that slipped in.

The old man is not the problem.

But this old man’s child is the problem.

Eugene smiled as he pulled the old man, Clary, into the bank.

“I want to hear the story, Monsieur Clary. Our bank may be able to help you.”

A person I wanted to avoid if possible.

But if you can’t avoid it, you have no choice but to face it directly.

It is the father of Désirée Clary.

Who is that?

She is Napoleon’s first love.

Every hero has a first love.

Désirée Clary, Napoleon’s first fiancée.

In the original history, Napoleon is said to have remembered and mentioned Désirée in his memoirs.

However, like most first loves, Napoleon wrote about Désirée with more regret than affection.

Why?

Because he abandoned her and went to Paris to marry Josephine.

Afterward, Désirée becomes the Queen of Sweden.

Thus, there is a man who remains in history because of his daughter.

That is François Clary, standing right before Eugene.

Of course, in 1793, François Clary is much more famous in his own right.

“Sigh, our business is really tough. I’m originally a trader. I import and sell goods from the Levant [historical term for the Eastern Mediterranean region] and the New World [the Americas]. That’s what our trading company does.”

He says it casually, but in fact, François Clary’s business scale is enormous.

The Levant refers to the Eastern Mediterranean.

In short, François Clary’s occupation is a French Mediterranean trader.

In Marseille, it is the most successful business field.

François Clary holds the top position in this field.

He is the chairman of the Marseille merchants’ association, the Chamber of Commerce.

In modern Korean terms, he is the best merchant from Busan [a major port city in South Korea, analogous to Marseille].

Beside him, the well-connected lawyer Joseph nodded, sipping his coffee.

“Among them, the biggest is this coffee business. Well, he also deals in soap.”

“You seem to know a lot, Monsieur Joseph.”

“Of course! This man is the wealthiest in Marseille. He’s the number one in the Marseille Chamber of Commerce!”

Clary smiled and waved his hand.

“It’s not that much. At most, a million livres [French currency before the French Revolution]. It can’t even compare to this bank.”

One million livres.

Since Eugene handles 20 million livres, it might seem like nothing, but it’s not.

Even in modern times, banking is a business where money is everything.

However, a trader owns real estate, trade goods, and credit transactions in addition to money.

So, if a personal fortune is one million livres, it means he’s a trader handling more than ten times that amount in transactions.

But a problem has arisen.

Eugene smiled and asked.

“But your trade is blocked, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Because of the British fleet. Thanks to them, the entire business has stopped, and the cash flow is blocked. In the old days, I would have turned the soap factory to raise cash.”

“And the Marseille city authorities are blocking that too, right?”

Eugene stared at François, who was startled, and said.

“Stanislas Fréron.”

Marceau, who was listening, widened his eyes at the familiar name.

“Isn’t that the butcher of Provence? He tried to do the same in Toulon.”

“That’s right. He did the same thing in Marseille. The problem is, he has been appointed as the city’s inspector and the regional governor.”

“What?”

Eugene glanced at François and explained to the surprised Marceau.

“The bigger problem is that Monsieur Clary here is not a supporter of the Republic.”

François Clary swallowed hard.

In other words, François is a supporter of the royalist faction.

He voiced quite a bit of opposition to the revolution.

So, when the rebellion broke out in southern France, François was labeled as a so-called [subversive].

One of his sons had already committed suicide, tormented by the authorities’ stigma and the chaos of the revolution.

François, who came to the bank simply to borrow money, trembled and said.

“I, I mean, well.”

“It’s alright, Monsieur Clary. I was late in introducing who is in front of you.”

“Wh, what do you mean?”

Eugene smiled and bowed politely.

“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Eugene de Beauharnais, the son of the Viscount of Beauharnais, and a former page [ceremonial attendant] of the old royal family. Also.”

At that moment, Clary had to widen his eyes at Eugene’s words.

“I am a person of interest, branded by the revolutionary government as the one who saved the Queen.”

In short, he is a dangerous figure who cannot be compared to Clary, who is simply a pro-royalist.

So, it’s okay to talk about pro-royalist matters.

On the other hand, Joseph, who had been excitedly chattering until just now, gaped.

“No way, our employer was a person of interest? Suddenly, I want to cancel our partnership?”

“Hey, Monsieur Bonaparte. If he was just a person of interest, would they have killed him, and would this kid have become a major? It’s unusual for a 12-year-old to serve in the military as a child soldier.”

“Oh, that’s right? Ippolito, you have a point?”

Just as the persuaded Joseph nodded, Clary stared at Eugene with expectant eyes.

“Then, will you help me?”

At that moment, Eugene clapped his hands.

-Clap!

Here, the Marseille branch had a café on the first floor, just like the Paris headquarters.

A man in his thirties, who had been quietly sitting and drinking coffee on one side of the empty café, stood up.

He is not wearing a military uniform, but his demeanor clearly reveals his military background.

Former Major of the Mediterranean Fleet, François de Bourrienne.

Eugene asked Bourrienne.

“Monsieur Bourrienne, how is Captain Surcouf? He reported that he arrived a few days ago.”

“I tested his sailing skills. He’s good. If I had such a subordinate when I was in the navy, I might not have been captured in Toulon.”

“Good. Let’s start the first business.”

Eugene turned to Clary and said.

“Clary Trading Company said they need coffee, right? If you tell me the smuggling route, Captain Bourrienne here will bring it.”

“Wh, what? Smuggling?”

“Monsieur Bourrienne is a former elite officer of the Mediterranean Fleet. You know what kind of fleet the Mediterranean Fleet is, right?”

Of course, Clary, who was a major Mediterranean trader, had no choice but to know.

It is the best fleet in France and the place where only the best sailors in the Mediterranean gather.

Even if the British fleet imposes a blockade, they are players who will definitely break through the gap and reach Italy.

Former naval officer, Bourrienne greeted politely.

“Nice to meet you, Monsieur Clary.”

Clary, who had been rolling his eyes, jumped up and shook Bourrienne’s hand.

The calculation is over.

With this level of help, it is possible to resume the trading business.

Although, it is illegal smuggling.

“Th, thank you! I will never forget this favor!”

At that moment, a person ran through the door of the bank on the first floor.

It was the branch manager of the bank, Colot.

Colot, who was already acquainted with Clary, shouted at Clary.

“Monsieur Clary! There’s a big problem!”

“What’s wrong? If it’s urgent funds for business, Monsieur Beauharnais here has agreed to solve it, right?”

“Oh, I haven’t brought that up yet? Of course, it will happen.”

Just as Eugene smiled and replied, Colot cried out like a scream.

“Now is not the time to joke! Your son, Étienne, is about to be arrested! By soldiers!”

In short, the butcher Fréron has moved.

To destroy the wealthiest man in Marseille, who is a former royalist.

***

Even the wealthiest man in the city dies equally during the revolutionary period.

“Save me!”

Étienne Clary, a 36-year-old merchant, was being dragged away by soldiers.

Until just now, he had been busy dealing with the remaining stock in Clary Trading Company.

But suddenly, soldiers broke in and were forcibly trying to drag him to prison.

In normal times, he might be released due to a misunderstanding, or he might be rescued through legal procedures.

But now is the revolutionary era, and it is a time when the National Convention’s envoy dominates the city.

Even at the beginning of the year, an incident occurred in which ‘subversives’ were dragged into prison and died under Fréron’s orders.

Therefore, the Clary family desperately clung to the soldiers.

“No! Don’t take my brother!”

“What did our Étienne do wrong! Please!”

“I’m begging you like this! Not prison!”

Étienne’s mother, Françoise Rose Somis.

Younger sister Julie Clary.

And, Désirée burst into tears.

However, the person in charge, Philippe, a former National Guardsman and current sergeant, glared and shouted.

“This man is suspected of contacting counter-revolutionaries! It’s Governor Fréron’s order! If you don’t step back, I’ll shoot!”

The women froze in front of the soldiers pointing their guns.

“St, st, stop!”

Suddenly, a kind-looking young man jumped in and stood between the women and the soldiers.

Even though he was trembling with fear of the guns, the young man, Joseph, found the person he was looking for.

Joseph’s eyes lit up when he found Julie, the daughter of the Clary family.

“Ju, Julie. Are you okay?”

“Jo, Joseph! Soldiers are taking Étienne!”

“Do, don’t worry!”

Joseph strained his voice and raised his voice.

“I’m Na, Napoleon, no, General Bonaparte’s brother! Step back immediately!”

However, the stubborn soldier, Philippe, scoffed and shouted back.

“No, Bonaparte or whatever. It’s Governor Fréron’s order right now!”

The soldiers did not back down at all, even at the name of Napoleon.

That’s how much they trust in Fréron’s power.

It was that moment.

-Bang!

Everyone turned their attention to the sudden gunshot.

A boy was approaching from the other side of the road with soldiers.

It was Eugene, holding a pistol.

Eugene took out another pistol and said coldly.

“General Bonaparte’s adjutant, Major Eugene de Beauharnais.”

“Gu, gun! Th, this is!”

“The next one is your head.”

A flintlock pistol with only one bullet loaded.

However, it can instantly kill a person within range.

The muzzle was aimed at Philippe.

“Disobeying orders is immediate execution under military law. Don’t you know?”

A face that somehow looked familiar.

In fact, Philippe had really seen him before.

Because when Eugene came to Marseille in the past, he was the very soldier who was showing off his power for the first time and was chased away by Napoleon.

However, Eugene had grown a lot in the meantime, and Philippe’s memory was not very good.

In the end, Philippe, seeing the muzzle and the ranks of the other officers behind Eugene, turned around, grinding his teeth.

“I, I’ll step back for now, but General Bonaparte will have to take responsibility for this!”

The soldiers glared and left the scene.

Eugene only glared at the soldiers with cold eyes.

Suddenly, Major Marceau scratched his head and asked Eugene.

“Are you going to be okay, Eugene?”

“It doesn’t matter. Fréron can’t dare to touch General Bonaparte. Rather, he’ll try to get close to him, right?”

“Why is that again?”

Eugene frowned and scoffed.

“That greedy man has something he wants.”

That is Pauline Bonaparte, who is still a young child of 13 years old.

Fréron, who is a child and girl enthusiast, covets Pauline.

Of course, there is absolutely no intention of giving her away.

In fact, Napoleon probably doesn’t have much intention of giving her away either.

At that time, Étienne, Julie, and Désirée, who had just been released, approached Eugene.

“Th, thank you. For helping us.”

“That kid is the general’s adjutant? Oh my goodness.”

“Oh my, I’ve seen him! In the newspaper on my dad’s desk!”

Suddenly, Désirée shouted at Eugene.

“Knight of the Princess, right!”

Apparently, an illustration of Eugene was published in the most popular newspaper in Marseille.

Eugene smiled bitterly and looked at the girl Désirée.

Her kind eyes are sparkling, making it difficult to harbor malice.

Nevertheless, this girl is a troublesome problem for Eugene just by her existence.

“That’s right. Mademoiselle Désirée.”

That is, Napoleon’s first love met the adopted son.

Still, at a moment when neither has been achieved.