He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 361

(361) 1806, Intercepting the Plot to Assassinate the Tsar

January 1806. Despite the winter chill, Robert Surcouf set sail again today.

“Alright, lads! Let’s make sure we have a successful plunder today!”

“Hooray!”

“Tch, if it weren’t for the British Royal Navy, we would have plundered hundreds of ships already. Heh heh!”

The departure point was Port-au-Prince in Saint-Domingue, essentially a privateer fleet as formidable as the French regular fleet.

-Poo-ooo!

At its center was the ship emitting smoke, the Nautilus.

It was currently the first steamship deployed for military use.

Inside, the workers were fervently shoveling coal, and outside, the paddlewheel turned, propelling it forward.

It wasn’t particularly fast compared to a sailing ship, and it had only traveled along the coast, never crossing the ocean.

However, it was more than capable of navigating the Caribbean Sea, where islands were scattered everywhere.

The only problem was the supply of coal.

Recently, as the conflict between Britain and Nouvelle-France [New France] had begun, importing coal from Europe had become impossible.

Therefore, the issue of importing coal from Nueva España [New Spain, i.e., colonial Mexico] and the United States was being discussed.

Of course, this was a matter for the higher-ups, not a concern for the ‘sailors’ who steered the ships.

Originally part of Eugene’s navy, now a privateer fleet led by Captain Robert Surcouf, the Caribbean ‘private pirate’ privateer squadron had set sail.

Suddenly, Joachim Drouet, the captain of the flagship, the sailing ship [Triton], spoke beside Privateer Admiral Robert.

“Have you heard, Captain? Five merchant ships heading to Martinique were seized again.”

“What excuse did the British bastards give?”

“They said they stopped at Charleston Harbor in South Carolina to load American cotton. So, they seized them, claiming they were the same as American ships.”

Robert scoffed and boasted.

“Those pirate bastards. We can’t lose to them! Seize every ship flying the British flag! Why? Because we are officially pirates!”

The sailors burst into rough laughter.

Among them were mainland Frenchmen, people of mixed race from Saint-Domingue, and even escaped slaves from the southern United States.

This diverse composition was a real example of the current situation in Nouvelle-France.

Furthermore, so were the achievements of the Robert Surcouf privateer fleet.

In any case, half of the 30 ships currently belonging to this fleet were originally British ships.

-Swaaa!

The Surcouf privateer fleet, composed of plundered ships, set out into the heart of the Caribbean.

“Forward! Suspicious ships spotted!”

“What is it? These days, most British ships travel in groups because of our pressure, don’t they?”

“It’s a fast ship. It might be difficult to catch?”

Listening to the watchman shouting from the ship’s lookout, Robert raised his telescope.

“No, the wind will stop soon. Send the Nautilus!”

The wind in the Caribbean is unpredictable.

Therefore, when the wind suddenly stops, it is common to stay and drift in the waters for a while.

However, it becomes a problem if you are being chased by a pirate ship.

The ship emitting smoke from the Surcouf squadron moved forward, making noise.

Towards the British [brig] ship that was quickly fleeing with the wind.

-Krrruuung.

Suddenly, as Robert said, the wind stopped.

Before joining Eugene, Robert was a member of a privateer fleet that roamed the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Therefore, he was quite familiar with the winds around here.

As the Nautilus approached the brig ship that could not move due to the stopped wind, the brig ship fired its cannons as if struggling.

-Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

However, watching the cannonballs fall into the sea, Robert sneered.

“The armament isn’t very good. It looks like an old-fashioned carronade [short-barreled cannon]?”

“It’s a fast brig ship that focuses on speed rather than cannons or gunpowder. But it’s still a sailing ship, so it can’t move when the wind stops.”

“The Nautilus is the same when it runs out of coal. While we hold it, if the wind blows, surround it immediately!”

Soon after, the wind blew like a ghost.

-Kung!

However, before the Robert squadron could approach, the brig ship moved hastily and crashed into something unexpected.

It had an accident because it moved without properly checking the reefs.

Vice Admiral Drouet clicked his tongue.

“Oh dear, it’s running aground on its own.”

“Can we catch it?”

“Of course. Hey, everyone. Push forward!”

Drouet, who once played the role of a real pirate in the Caribbean and was recruited by Robert when Eugene came to the New World, commanded the ship and approached.

However, from the British brig ship that was in chaos, a man on the deck went into the cabin and came out urgently.

A dark blue short coat and white pants.

He is definitely a British naval officer.

“Never let it be taken. Throw the box away!”

In an instant, as the naval officer was about to throw a box into the sea, Robert jumped over the rope himself.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Robert, a former pirate who flew to the deck with excitement, cut down the naval officer with a cutlass.

-Fyuk!

The naval officer fell away, and Robert snatched the box from among the shocked British soldiers.

“Now, shall we see what’s inside this treasure? Huh?”

At that moment, Robert was dumbfounded by the letter that came out of the seemingly precious box.

After seeing the contents of the letter, he was even more shocked.

***

March 1806, an unexpected guest visited the Viceroyalty Palace in Pensacola.

-Thump!

Eugene looked at the pile of documents that the ‘precious’ uninvited guest, who had requested an interview, had poured out and asked.

“What is this?”

“Well, it’s a letter of protest from the Russian mainland because of the treaty that the Viceroy made arbitrarily.”

“What’s the problem? It was done with the permission of Princess Alexandra, the Emperor’s representative, and Duke Chartres, the Emperor’s son-in-law.”

That very son-in-law, Louis-Philippe de Bourbon, Duke of Chartres, shrugged and plopped down in his seat.

“We never received permission from the Tsar [Russian Emperor]. Besides, Russia is actually not at all prepared to fight Britain alone.”

“Oh, so this was a solo act.”

“Are you saying that as if you didn’t know? The British ambassador is formally protesting to the home country whether to declare war.”

Currently, the Russian Empire’s son-in-law, Philippe, is waging war on the British Canadian front.

However, Russia has never actually declared war on Britain.

No matter how much Eugene instigated it from behind, the commander ultimately bears the responsibility for the war.

In short, son-in-law Philippe engaged in unilateral combat in the New World.

Of course, there is a justification that Eugene prepared.

“Didn’t you make the excuse that the Hudson’s Bay Company invaded Russian territory first?”

“I did.”

“Besides, you should also emphasize that it is the indigenous soldiers of [Napoléon] who actually carried out the war, not Russian soldiers.”

So, before the start of the war, Eugene and Philippe created this justification.

First, they use the ‘Hudson’s Bay Company,’ which is only known by name in Europe because it is active in the heart of Canada.

They created the claim that their mercenaries invaded Russian territory.

Of course, it’s a fake justification, but it takes 6 weeks for news to travel from the New World to Britain, and more than 2 months to other parts of Europe.

By the time the truth of the incident is reviewed, the battle has already broken out.

But in fact, the American natives, called ‘Indians’ in Europe, stood at the forefront of the battle.

In this situation, before the other side comes to their senses, they declare the indigenous liberation zone [Napoléon].

Then, they wage war with Napoléon at the forefront.

It’s like covering your eyes and ringing the bell, but it’s a tactic that uses the difference in information speed between the New World and Europe.

However, there is a reaction to this.

Philippe, in military uniform, who had just rushed to the Mississippi River by boat from the battlefield, pointed out that point.

“Viceroy. The reason why Your Highness and I have been able to act arbitrarily in the New World so far is because the New World and Europe are far apart. But to conduct a subtle diplomatic war here, the distance becomes a problem again.”

Eugene smiled bitterly and asked back.

“Then, are you saying you’re going to withdraw from the war now?”

“That’s what will happen if Tsar Pavel sends an order to stop the war.”

“So, not yet. Then why did you come all the way to Pensacola? By now, Britain would have started a counterattack to recapture Montreal, right?”

Previously, Philippe replied with a relaxed smile.

“Jomini, whom you sent, is in overall command of the defense of Montreal and is doing well. But the negotiation with the Viceroy can only be done by me.”

Eugene briefly admired the pile of letters from the Russian mainland.

The intention is clear just by looking at the first sentence.

It’s to stop the war.

No matter how economically dependent the Russian mainland is on Britain, they don’t simply give back the occupied territory.

However, continuing the war is naturally a burden on the home country.

But from Philippe’s point of view, the entire British Canada is in sight.

Moreover, there are former French residents, so Quebec, which is culturally familiar to Philippe, who is from France, is also in sight.

Since Nouvelle-France cannot easily come forward, Quebec may be placed under Philippe’s rule.

In this situation, would he want to give up?

Eugene, who had been lost in thought for a moment, asked.

“What kind of negotiation do you want?”

“Isn’t it obvious? More support, more guarantees, more rights.”

“Not independence?”

This time, Philippe widened his eyes and was about to close his mouth, but Eugene slyly probed.

“Don’t you want to build an independent country here? The opportunity to become king will not come again unless it’s here.”

Originally, in the original history, Philippe eventually returned to France and became the [Citizen King].

But Eugene certainly has no intention of letting that happen.

Also, from Philippe’s point of view, it would be difficult to imagine that mainland France, where Napoleon has stably seized power, will be overturned again.

On the other hand, in Russia, he would be lucky to receive a nominal title as the princess’s husband.

But in the New World, he already has vast territory under his feet.

Could an ambitious person like Philippe stop here?

Philippe, who was staring at Eugene, shook his head slightly and stepped back.

“There are only two forces that can become independent in the New World. The British, who have already become independent, and the Spanish, who have vast territory and potential.”

“Russia and France have small populations. But if we use the power structure, it is possible to create an independent force. However, a prerequisite is needed.”

“What is it?”

Eugene tapped the pile of letters from the Russian mainland and asked.

“Support from a third force that will exclude interference from the home country. Isn’t that what you want from me? A sponsor who will not swallow the Russian independent forces but will support them. That’s why you came, right?”

After all, the conquest of Canada by the nominal [Russian Alaska] army is entirely thanks to Nouvelle-France.

But what Eugene is saying goes beyond that.

The power to prevent the huge European power of the Russian Empire from interfering with Philippe, who is like a colonial governor.

Soon, the power of mainland France, with a population of 30 million.

A country that is almost equal in population to Russia, which boasts a population of approximately 40 million, and is overwhelmingly superior in scientific and technological civilization and economic power.

The country that is Philippe’s motherland.

Louis-Philippe looked at Eugene with burning eyes.

“It sounds like you’re saying you’ll help me. What are the conditions?”

It was the moment when Eugene was smiling, contemplating what conditions to present to Philippe.

-Tatadak!

Suddenly, someone burst into the Viceroyalty Palace interview room.

“Viceroy! Urgent report!”

“Oh, this is an important negotiation, who told you to come in without permission? Huh? Surcouf?”

“Yes, it’s me. My brother, Robert, has delivered an urgent document.”

Eugene’s line-of-battle fleet admiral, Nicolas Surcouf, gave an urgent report.

“The British pirates seem to be plotting something absurd! And it’s about Russia!”

Indeed, an unexpected situation had occurred that even Eugene had not anticipated.

***

The highest-ranking officials in Pensacola gathered urgently in Eugene’s Viceroyalty Palace conference room.

“So, Robert Surcouf captured the fast messenger ship sent by Sidney Smith?”

“That’s right. It was a really close call. If we had been just a little late, it would have disappeared across the Atlantic.”

“And the captured captain, Samuel Hood, had a [secret letter]?”

Nicolas Surcouf nodded, looking at the letter placed on the central conference table.

“He tried to throw it into the sea to get rid of it in the box. I barely caught it, but the contents are terrible.”

Suddenly, Philippe, who was looking at the letter, licked his lips.

“Isn’t it just Sidney’s unilateral action? There’s no way the British mainland would seriously accept that.”

However, Eugene shook his head heavily.

“No, Pitt may be plotting it himself. Son-in-law Philippe.”

The unfolded letter, the contents gleam in the sunlight.

-〈The New World War is now in a stalemate. To break this situation, we must break the balance of power, and there is only one way. We must kill Pavel, the Russian dictator who harbors absurd ambitions.〉

What would have already happened in the original history.

The Pavel assassination plot was proposed to Britain in the New World.