He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 349

(349) Incite Great Britain to War

There’s a European proverb that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

“In this case, the [ostensible benefit] of banning the slave trade will bring about hell.”

In January 1805, key figures from the Nouvelle France Viceroyalty gathered at the French Embassy in the United States.

The Nouvelle France Viceroyalty is currently undertaking a wide array of projects.

Construction of Miami, development of Pensacola, and even the conquest of the Mississippi River basin.

But setting aside all these projects and coming to Washington shows how seriously they take diplomacy with the United States.

As Eugene was about to speak, Chief of Staff Jomini brought in a briefing map.

“I will begin the briefing, Your Highness.”

“Keep it brief. I have to leave soon for a meeting with the President.”

“Yes, currently, British America, the New World colonies of Great Britain, is largely composed of two parts: Canada in the north and the Caribbean islands in the south.”

Jomini explained, pointing to the map.

“The problem is this Canadian territory. It was originally called Nouvelle France [New France], and descendants of the French still live there.”

“Numbers?”

“Approximately 200,000. Lower Canada has 250,000, and Upper Canada has 70,000, so nearly 70 percent are of French descent.”

Lower Canada is to the north, contrary to its name, and Upper Canada is to the south, also contrary to its name.

The area known as Quebec is Lower Canada, where many French Canadians reside.

In the original timeline, France was driven out of the New World, leading to several failed independence movements.

But now, France is regaining its power in the New World.

Viceroy’s Chief Adjutant, Hippolyte, whistled as he listened to the report.

“Then they must be quite stirred up right now?”

Commander-in-Chief Desaix nodded.

“A prominent figure in Quebec, Joseph Papineau, is attempting to contact the Mississippi Expeditionary Force.”

“Who is that?”

“A lord from Lower Canada, the northern part of Canada. He has virtually lost his title now, but he is still very wealthy.”

Joseph Papineau himself did not leave a significant mark on history.

However, his son, Louis-Joseph Papineau, became a symbol of the Quebec independence movement.

Of course, it failed in the original timeline, but the Papineau family is undoubtedly the most influential in Quebec.

If Nouvelle France were to leverage Quebec, the Papineau family would be the best ally.

Viceroy’s Head of the Guard Junot, Commander-in-Chief Desaix, and Chief Adjutant Hippolyte exchanged glances.

“So, should we instigate a rebellion in Quebec?”

“That could be a way. What if the United States invades under the pretext of supporting the rebellion in Quebec?”

“The commander of the U.S. Federal Army is scheduled to be replaced by Jackson soon, right?”

However, Eugene shook his head.

“Hamilton was originally pro-British. He wouldn’t intervene just because a rebellion breaks out in Quebec. We need to make England move.”

They ultimately made Hamilton the President of the United States.

Hamilton knows that Eugene played a significant role in this process.

If I had to put it simply, it’s a political debt.

Nevertheless, the possibility of a country’s president being manipulated like a puppet is low.

Moreover, the Federalist Party and Hamilton are inherently pro-British.

They are not very sensitive to the issue of slavery.

Therefore, it is necessary not just for a rebellion to occur in the Canada region, but to provoke England into invading.

The French Ambassador to the United States, Lafayette, who had been listening quietly, asked.

“What are you going to do, Your Highness?”

“The English are all arrogant. They believe the world revolves around them. Furthermore, they think that this territory of the United States originally belonged to them.”

“That’s true. I fought here too.”

Eugene smiled and continued.

“The problem is that it was only 20 years ago. The British soldiers stationed in the New World all remember. If they had fought a little better, they could have prevented American independence.”

This idea is also the basic premise of the Simcoe Report [a British government assessment of the American situation].

And the British army is scattered all over the New World.

Northern Canada, the southern Caribbean Sea, and even towards South America.

We need to goad them into action.

“Especially the current British Ambassador is perfectly suited for this.”

Above all, British Ambassador Anthony Merry will be key.

***

Anthony Merry, 48 years old, a man who has spent his life as a diplomat.

“Mr. President, there is no peace without full compensation!”

He may seem sociable at first glance, but he is a very staunch [anti-American].

Because when he came to the United States, Thomas Jefferson didn’t even meet him.

Jefferson, who was pro-French, expressed his political stance by treating the British ambassador very coldly.

But if it had ended there, Merry would have ended up as just a British diplomat with many complaints about the United States.

But unfortunately, the [Crusoe Affair] broke out while Merry was serving as the ambassador to the United States.

It was an incident in which American slave traders killed a British merchant.

Jefferson, who was anti-British and on the verge of losing power, did not even properly address the incident.

As a result, Merry is now receiving tremendous criticism and pressure from his home country.

Even if he had been pro-American, it was a situation that would have easily turned him into an anti-American.

In fact, Hamilton, who was pro-British, greeted Merry with a troubled face.

“Ambassador, I hope you understand that our new government has just been established. Former President Jefferson was a [lame duck] at the end of his term and did nothing.”

“That is your country’s situation, not ours. In our home country, anger is growing over the death of the merchant Crusoe. When will the murderer be handed over?”

“Murderer? The death was an accident. Also, the trial for manslaughter is underway in New York.”

Merry shouted at Hamilton, who was waving his hand.

“Are you going to release the murderer who killed the Englishman! Do you take me for a fool? I know that the jurors in New York are sympathetic to a whale named Moby Dick!”

American trials use a jury system.

Under the American judicial system, a guilty verdict can become innocent if the jury is sympathetic.

But holding a trial in New York, where anti-British sentiment is already rampant?

It’s practically guaranteeing a not-guilty verdict.

Of course, as the President of the United States with a constitution based on the separation of powers, it was difficult for Hamilton to intervene in this matter.

“No, that’s, according to our United States Constitution…”

Just then.

-Creak.

The door to the President’s office opened without warning.

“Oh, I seem to have come at a bad time.”

It was Eugene Bonaparte who entered.

Hamilton was embarrassed, but he owed Eugene so much that he couldn’t point out the rudeness.

But Merry’s eyes widened when he saw Eugene.

“Nouvelle France Viceroy, Eugene Bonaparte?”

“Do you know me, Ambassador?”

“I saw you at the Treaty of Amiens. I remember you were next to the Consul, no, Emperor Napoleon.”

Merry, an experienced diplomat, considered the situation and frowned.

“Did you orchestrate this, Freischütz [a reference to a marksman in a German folk legend]?”

There is no other information.

But something is suspicious.

Merry wondered if Eugene was manipulating Hamilton from behind.

Of course, Eugene asked back with a puzzled look.

“What are you talking about? Are you suggesting that I killed that Crusoe or islander?”

“No, but it’s been strange from the start. Mr. Hamilton was not supposed to be the President! But suddenly, the political situation became strange, and he became the President!”

“Wait, isn’t it rude to say such things in front of someone, Ambassador?”

Hamilton was about to protest.

Suddenly, Eugene took off the glove he was wearing.

Before anyone could stop him, Eugene slapped Merry’s cheek with the glove.

-Smack!

Merry’s eyes widened in embarrassment.

“W, wh, what is this?”

“That’s insulting. I challenge you to a duel, Mr. Merry.”

“What?”

Eugene shouted with a very determined look, widening his eyes.

“Did you think you could get away with being so rude to me, the son of the French Emperor? Draw your gun, Merry. If you are a gentleman, fight honorably!”

Hamilton could only gape as he watched Eugene shouting as if he were a French knight.

“N, no, what is going on….”

The problem is that Eugene is a famous marksman known as the [Marksman of Freischütz] in Europe.

Merry quickly weighed his options and scurried away.

Regardless of diplomatic gains and losses, Merry would die if Eugene actually drew his gun.

“You’re both in cahoots! We’ll see!”

The door to the President’s office slammed shut.

-Bang!

Hamilton, who was standing there dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events, turned his head sharply towards Eugene.

“What on earth are you doing, Nouvelle France Viceroy?”

“What’s wrong? I was just responding to an insult.”

“Apologize to the British Ambassador immediately. Or else.”

Then Eugene tilted his head and asked.

“Mr. President, have you forgotten that you owe me a favor?”

Hamilton, flustered, was speechless, and Eugene smiled and reassured Hamilton.

“Don’t worry. Whatever happens, France will be with the United States.”

For example, even if a war breaks out, or rather, especially if a war breaks out.

***

In the future original history, something that is unimaginable is one of the common assumptions in 1804.

“How dare America fight our Great Britain?”

That the words of Anthony Merry, the British Ambassador to the United States, shouting in anger, are common sense.

That’s how huge the economic gap is between England and the United States.

First of all, England is an industrial country and the United States is an agricultural country.

The population of England is 20 million, and the population of the United States is still 5 million.

Above all, England has an invincible navy, but the United States does not have a single ship of the line [a type of warship].

However, the Acting Governor-General of Canada, Robert Milnes, looked a little displeased.

Although he sent a strong letter, military action was also a burden for Milnes.

“The new president doesn’t seem to think so, Mr. Merry.”

“Governor Milnes, this is a challenge to our Great Britain! We must immediately dispatch the Nova Scotia Fleet!”

“Well, using [privateering tactics] is too burdensome. The Caribbean Fleet doesn’t want to get involved?”

But Merry shook his head and shouted.

“Admiral Edward Berry is currently back in his home country. It will take two months for him to return. The only fleet that can mobilize right now is in British Canada!”

So, the reason why British Ambassador to the United States Merry ran to Canada is simple.

Privateering tactics, a tactic of kidnapping fleets and sailors.

It is an aggressive offensive act before the war that the Royal Navy of England often uses.

“Now that the United States has committed hostile acts against British merchant ships, the British fleet must also seize goods and blockade American merchant ships!”

This is not just because Merry is angry about Eugene’s duel request or because he is anti-American.

From the perspective of England, where trade is a lifeline, it is a national problem that a merchant was murdered while going to trade.

But the United States is not offering any solutions.

Then, in the 19th century, they had to wage war or impose an economic blockade.

So, Merry’s idea is to pressure the United States with privateering.

Even if he requests instructions from his home country, it will not be much different.

But Milnes hesitated.

“I don’t like the New World Yankees either. But offensive action is difficult.”

“The United States military is not that strong. Especially the navy!”

“Well, the Nova Scotia Fleet has only 1 ship of the line, mostly 7 frigates [a type of warship], and about 9 sloops [a type of warship]. If you want to threaten with privateering tactics, you need 10 times this force.”

At that moment, Merry shouted again.

“So, we need a threat, not a full-scale war. British merchant ships were burned, and goods were stolen. The merchant also died! But you’re going to leave it alone! No one in the home country will understand!”

In this era, most of the officials in the colonies are middle-class based on the standards of the home country.

Of course, having taken the risk of coming to the colonies, it is easier to succeed when returning to the home country.

But that’s only if they do a good job, and if they only cause problems like now, they will naturally be far from the path to success.

Milnes, the acting governor who dreams of success, licked his lips and asked.

“Are there any instructions from the home country yet?”

“Probably not. Prime Minister Pitt has no interest in the New World. He is only interested in France and India.”

“That’s sad. This New World is the future of the world.”

Milnes sighed and finally nodded.

“Okay. Then let’s do a limited threatening voyage.”

Merry, who had been delighted, narrowed his brows.

“What if that doesn’t work?”

“Won’t the instructions from the home country come by then?”

“Before the instructions come, the United States may act aggressively. Besides, the Nouvelle France Viceroy seems to be behind it.”

How to deal with it when privateering turns into a dispute?

The answer Merry wants is one.

War.

But Milnes, an experienced official, shook his head.

“Ambassador, do you think the new president would commit such an extreme act? The Federalist Party basically wants to get along with us in a friendly manner. So do the people in the Northeast.”

At that moment, Merry sneered.

“He is the one who made the British colonies independent in this New World. Governor. Don’t forget that. Besides, the Nouvelle France Viceroy is behind him.”

But sometimes, even if you know everything, war happens.

Late January 1805.

A fleet set sail from the port city of Halifax Island in British Canada, Nova Scotia.

The target was New York.