He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 343

(343) Encountering the Beginning of Great America

Firstly, no one in France knows who Andrew Jackson is.

“What on earth is a militia?”

In fact, as Hippolyte just mentioned, very few people even know what a militia is.

That’s how little the officials of the New France Viceroyalty, who have just arrived from mainland France, know about the New World.

So, naturally, there’s no one who knows about Jackson.

Strangely enough, Louis-Philippe, the son-in-law of the Russian Imperial Family, provided an answer.

“The militia is a unique American institution. In English, it’s called ‘Militia.’ Since the federal army is still insufficient, a formal state guard doesn’t exist, and they don’t have a tradition of noble knights like ours, the citizens themselves take up arms.”

“Sounds familiar. Like the National Guard?”

“Gasp, does that mean they go around executing people like the Jacobins [members of a radical political organization during the French Revolution]?”

As Hippolyte and Junot were taken aback, Philippe, who had seen the National Guard, shook his head.

“They are not that mad, or rather, not that radical. It’s been almost 20 years since America became independent, and the memory of the war is distant.”

“But why are they confronting so fiercely?”

“Well, um.”

Looking at the militia raising their momentum on the outskirts of Pensacola, Philippe smiled bitterly.

“Southerners are a bit rougher than the Northerners I’ve mostly met.”

The number is roughly 6,000, which is a brigade-level force by French standards.

But their momentum is so fierce that it feels stronger than a gathering of three divisions.

Then, one of the militiamen who was confronting them suddenly fired a gun.

-Bang!

Fortunately, it was an old-fashioned musket with a short range, so the bullet didn’t reach.

However, the tension increases even more.

The Pensacola defense division soldiers, who had been confronting them, also seem tense, hurriedly grabbing their guns or loading them.

Then, the American militiamen began to shout.

“Get out of here, Indians!”

“Good heavens, blacks are holding guns!”

“Look at that, there are noble ladies in the town! They must be getting defiled by black slaves! We must rescue them immediately!”

It seems the reason they were excited wasn’t just because they were rough.

That’s because of the Miami Division that is currently deployed in Pensacola.

The Miami Division has a large number of black soldiers, and some Native American soldiers are also included.

But from the perspective of the American Southerners, blacks are slaves, and Native Americans are enemies who kill each other.

Of course, from the French perspective, these are internal affairs that are none of their business, so Junot asked Philippe with a sullen face.

“I don’t understand English very well, but are those guys here to liberate Pensacola?”

“It sounds like they’re saying something like that.”

“Well, of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel uncomfortable working with other races.”

Junot stared at the front with binoculars, then tilted his head.

“Is it that bad?”

But the American Tennessee State Militia had already turned into an excited state just before the charge.

“We must seize those guys’ guns! Charge!”

“Ooh! Let’s protect the civilization of the white man!”

“Rescue the ladies!”

In fact, if you think about it, at least 7 days have passed since the confrontation began.

Because there was time for Eugene to receive the report, depart from Miami again, and arrive in Pensacola by boat.

But until now, they had been quite patient and confronting each other, but when the Miami Division arrived with Eugene, all hell broke loose.

Eugene looked at the scene and turned to the artillery commander, Dumat.

“Dumat.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Prepare to fire the Unicorn [a type of artillery gun].”

Dumat was startled and hurriedly said.

“If we do that, we might start a war.”

“Just don’t hit them. Fire a warning shot.”

“Ah, I understand. Your Highness.”

Dumat quickly ordered the artillery to prepare.

Until the ignition was completed, Eugene’s Royal Guard and the Miami Division, and the Pensacola Division waited nervously.

Just as the militiamen were about to charge, shouting, the ignition finally began.

-Chee, boom!

It was a kind of dud that exploded in the air.

But the roar was enormous, and the militiamen who were rushing in were terrified.

The soldiers, who had been full of determination to kill all the black soldiers until just now, screamed and shouted.

“It’s artillery! It’s war! Charge!”

“What the heck? Do the black guys even have cannons?”

“Ah, no. It’s the French army!”

Brave, but soldiers who have never experienced actual combat.

That’s the reality of the militia.

Eugene looked at the chaotic scene and told Junot.

“Megaphone.”

“Yes? I understand. Your Highness.”

“Prepare 50 men.”

The next moment, 50 soldiers of Eugene’s Royal Guard shouted with megaphones.

“Everyone, line up! Let’s talk!”

When the sound of the megaphone reached them, the militiamen who had been making a commotion on the northern border of Pensacola stood still.

At the same time, someone began to walk on horseback from the center of the militia.

A man with impressive disheveled hair as if he had been hit by a bomb.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter.

The man on horseback, Andrew Jackson, shouted cheerfully.

“Wow, Fucking Jesus! Firing cannons, that’s manly! Hey, boy. Are you the French Viceroy!”

Of course, Eugene is now 23 years old, no longer an age to be called a boy.

However, he looked young because he had a clean shave.

Eugene, who had been glaring at Jackson for a moment, rode forward and replied.

“Yes. I am Viceroy Eugene Bonaparte, Mr. Jackson.”

It was the moment when Eugene first met Jackson, the man who opened the era of American mass politics, the beginning of populists.

***

Jackson is by no means a warmonger.

“Sorry to meet like this. I don’t want to fight a war either. But what can I do when the border is chaotic and my property is being violated?”

Jackson said as if declaring as soon as he sat down, in rough American Southern English.

It’s not the attitude of someone who came to negotiate.

Of course, it’s hard to say he came to negotiate since he brought the militia, but if he had intended to fight, he would have used his gun long ago.

Rather, the fact that he waited until Eugene brought black soldiers shows Jackson’s true intentions.

A show of force.

Soon, if a conflict occurs, he uses it as an excuse to extract concessions, and if the opponent is strong, he uses it as an excuse to negotiate.

However, from Eugene’s point of view, it was clear that he was a difficult person to deal with, even though he knew it.

Sitting in the Pensacola Viceroyalty Palace Hall, Eugene looked at Jackson and said.

“Property? Tennessee doesn’t even border us.”

“The Mississippi Territory is practically a lawless zone. Do you know that? Samuel Mason, a thief, is causing a ruckus, and William Claiborne, the governor of the territory, can’t even focus on slave control.”

“What are you trying to say? Slaves? France does not recognize slavery.”

Then Jackson slammed the table and shouted.

“We are different! Slavery is legal. But slaves are escaping into your territory, violating our property!”

Calhoun, Harrison, and militia adjutant Daniel Patterson, who were behind Jackson, nodded.

Most of them are not important figures right now.

However, in just 10 years, most of them will become key figures in the United States.

How?

Because they become heroes through the Anglo-American War [War of 1812] and the so-called [Indian Massacre] [various conflicts between American settlers and Native American tribes].

As Eugene witnessed directly, the so-called [racial discrimination] of the American Southerners is already serious.

Of course, if you think about it, it may be because the Southerners interact more with blacks and Native Americans.

Eugene frowned and replied.

“We will crack down on the border.”

“I’ll take that as a promise to return the slaves.”

“Those who have already crossed our border are undergoing the process of being granted French citizenship. That’s difficult.”

Then Jackson growled and shouted.

“Then you have to compensate. Furthermore, what about the Native Americans? They cross the border and do not abide by the laws and order of civilized society!”

It seems strange to distinguish between blacks and Native Americans at first glance.

However, not enslaving Native Americans is a rule that was established when Spain first created colonies.

It seems strange to modern people in the original history, but Europeans before the modern era had strange principles.

Native Americans in the New World are, in any case, [human], and blacks are not.

Therefore, Native Americans were recognized for their humanity and were only treated as servants, but blacks were used as slaves.

Jackson also treats Native Americans as not slaves, but [barbarians] under this tradition.

On the other hand, Eugene is a person who grew up during the French Revolution, not to mention being a reincarnator.

Viceroy Eugene, who had already bestowed the title of [Grand Lord] on a Native American, frowned and retorted.

“Mr. Jackson, have you received legal authority from the federal government?”

“What?”

“If you want to fight here, do so. We French are not a people who back down in the face of battle. However, if you want to negotiate.”

At that moment, Eugene twisted his lips.

“At least get the authority from the [Governor] of Tennessee State. Is the current governor John Sevier?”

The Governor of Tennessee, John Sevier, has the supreme command of the militia.

But Jackson is, in fact, Sevier’s political rival.

He even supported Archibald Roane, Sevier’s opponent, in the gubernatorial election, but failed.

What would happen if Sevier found out about the militia that Jackson brought?

Of course, he would issue an emergency retreat order.

In any case, the clash between the French regular army and the American militia is not a simple dispute, but a major international disaster.

Jackson glared at Eugene and jumped up.

“You know the United States system well. But this won’t be the end of it!”

With truly unstoppable steps, Jackson and his gang left the Viceroyalty Palace.

It was as if threatening Pensacola was a lie.

Eugene spat out as he looked at their backs.

“You talk too much, considering you weren’t even elected by the people.”

“Yes? Isn’t that person a senator? According to the report.”

“Like France, the United States does not have direct elections for the Senate, Lescure. The state legislature elects them. Besides, that guy is said to have even fought a duel with the governor.”

Eugene smiled bitterly as he explained to Lescure, who didn’t know much about French or American affairs.

Because all the officials of the New France Viceroyalty Palace had blank faces.

It was a situation where a battle seemed to break out at any moment.

But it was noisy, but they only threatened and then retreated.

Why did they come in the first place if they were going to do this?

“It seems we were used for the [election], don’t you think?”

Only Eugene was seeing through the truth.

Because it is a method that modern American politicians in the original history use very often.

***

In the end, a democratic country is a system in which elections determine the final decision-maker.

“That’s why our home country eventually went through many incidents and ended up with a constitutional monarchy. To think that fickle voters decide everything!”

In fact, Jomini, who is from Switzerland, was briefing as if he were French.

However, there is some truth in Jomini’s words.

The so-called direct democracy system is surprisingly vulnerable to [propaganda].

If the people want it, they have to fight a war even if the politicians don’t want it.

Conversely, there are cases where politicians deliberately incite war in order to gain the support of the people.

That’s exactly the method Jackson is using now.

Philippe, an expert on America, nodded.

“The American Federation is not a system where the president decides everything. However, things change if the voters in each state move.”

“I know that the current ruling party is the pro-French Democratic-Republican Party. Isn’t Jackson also a Democratic-Republican?”

“It varies from state to state. Monsieur Lescure, besides, Jackson is only a Democratic-Republican in name, and he’s a Southern politician who plays separately. His interests are different from those of the Washington politicians, who are mostly from Virginia.”

In short, Jackson needs a turning point to move up.

But a good opportunity arose in the South.

Black slaves were escaping to the French colony of Florida.

Jackson was trying to explode this situation with [anti-French] sentiment.

Jomini rummaged through the data and explained.

“The problem is that this Jackson represents the interests of the residents of Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and the Mississippi Territory.”

“He wouldn’t be that big of a politician, yet.”

“He’s more likely to become one now.”

Suddenly, Jomini smiled strangely and stared at Eugene.

“This [performance] is likely to increase support for Jackson nationwide.”

Of course, the reason Jomini is smiling is probably because the possibility of [war] has increased.

The Mississippi River campaign is currently underway, but there is little room for Jomini to play an active role with that alone.

On the other hand, what if a conflict occurs with the United States?

Somehow, the other generals are also nodding, and French soldiers may be more warlike warmongers than Jackson.

Eugene smiled bitterly and turned to Hippolyte.

“After all, we need to raise Hamilton quickly. Hippolyte, prepare a ship.”

“Where are you going, Your Highness?”

“Washington.”

Eugene, who had been staring intently at the map of the United States, jumped up from his seat.

“If they launch an offensive with public opinion, we have to counter it with public opinion.”

It seems that the time to change Great America to [Small] has come a little sooner.

January 1804.

Eugene departed for Washington, the capital of the United States.