He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 362

(362) Can We Save the Tsar with Arctic Route Letters?

Clearly, the Tsar of the Russian Empire is still Pavel.

“It’s more surprising that the assassination plot is only starting now.”

“Why is that?”

“With all due respect, Princess, but His Imperial Majesty Tsar Pavel is not the type to inspire loyalty in his subjects.”

Eugene shrugged, looking at Princess Alexandra, who was sitting demurely in the reception room of the Pensacola Viceroyalty.

“If that’s the case, it’s only natural that foreign powers and nobles would seize the opportunity. Especially with Crown Prince Alexander as the perfect alternative.”

Princess Alexandra had been staying at the Pensacola Viceroyalty for some time.

In fact, there are few places in the New World, especially in the territory of Nouvelle France [New France], suitable for a Russian Imperial Princess to reside.

It’s also out of the question for the princess to be in the Russian territory of Alaska, which is still being developed, or in the war zone of Canadian territory.

If this were Europe, the princess might visit the front lines to offer encouragement, but this is the New World.

If, by chance, the natives were to attack during transit, the princess could be kidnapped, and her life or chastity could be threatened.

Some tribes, embittered by long wars with the white man, scalp any white person they capture, regardless of their status.

Therefore, Philippe had moved north via the Mississippi River, but Alexandra remained in Pensacola.

As a result, she receives news of the situation in Russia proper faster, more frequently, and more reliably than Philippe.

The letters brought by Russian dispatch ships, deliberately allowed through by the British.

Letters desperately written by countless high-ranking Russian officials, such as Chancellor Kurakin, Foreign Minister Rostopchin, Empress Maria, and even Crown Prince Alexander, reached Alexandra first.

Russia’s top trading partner is still England.

Even with French trade increasing daily, that remains the case.

So, it’s only natural to be concerned when England and Russia suddenly start fighting in the New World.

In this situation, Sydney, the British naval commander in the New World, sent a letter demanding Pavel’s assassination.

Alexandra stared at the letter before turning her gaze to Eugene.

With a very calm demeanor, Alexandra asked.

“Then, does His Imperial Majesty know about this plot, that the British are behind it?”

“The key is how widespread this assassination plot is. If it’s just a small number, he might not know. Conversely, even if everyone is involved in the plot, he still might not know.”

“What do you mean? Everyone?”

Eugene stared at Alexandra before glancing at Philippe, who was sitting next to her.

“Duke Philippe de Chartres, your consort, would know better. It wouldn’t be strange if all the Russian high nobles revolted, even without the New World War.”

Philippe avoided eye contact.

In fact, in the original history, Pavel died in a coup in March 1801.

However, Alexander, his successor, took no action against the nobles who instigated the coup.

This was because Tsar Pavel had lost the support of the nobles to such an extent that even Alexander couldn’t control them.

His personality was as fiery as fire, his decisions were reversed in an instant, and he made political decisions based on his mood.

Moreover, in the original history, he adopted [anti-British policies] more drastically than he does now.

It’s rare to find a Russian Tsar who isn’t a tyrant, but anti-British policies were enough to provoke British intervention.

As a result, Pavel died amidst widespread resentment from the nobles.

Things aren’t much different now.

The only difference is that the one implementing the anti-British policies is his consort, Philippe.

In that respect, Philippe is responsible for this situation.

He has no face to show Alexandra.

However, instead of blaming her beloved husband, Alexandra turned her gaze to Eugene.

“But the New World War must have weakened His Imperial Majesty’s base, right?”

“I can’t deny that.”

“I am also responsible, then. And also, Your Highness, the Viceroy of Nouvelle France, you too.”

Slyly drawing Eugene in, Alexandra asked.

“How will you take responsibility? Your Highness, the Viceroy of Nouvelle France?”

Just as Eugene was about to frown, the Duchess of Louisiane [Louisiana], Marie Therese, who was also present, spoke up.

“Princess, that’s a bit of an uncomfortable point. As far as I know, Russia’s participation was an independent decision.”

“But if Nouvelle France hadn’t existed, there would have been no possibility of intervention.”

“Goodness, you’re saying that even after gaining territory thanks to Nouvelle France!”

Then, another sharp voice interjected.

“Oh, my, Russian Princess. That means you’re telling us to interfere in Russia’s internal power struggles.”

Princess Pauline, one of the three people in this viceroyalty whose entry no one can restrict, stepped in.

Pauline, still in her military uniform, looked even more imposing.

Still, or rather, in some ways, even more radiant than before, Pauline smiled brightly and said.

“That’s right. The plot may be hatched by the British, but this isn’t the Middle Ages. Are you going to send an assassin to the Emperor?”

“Wasn’t that something that happened in France, Princess Pauline?”

“Is that even possible in a country as heavily guarded as Russia? We were still in the days before my brother was even Emperor.”

Looking at Pauline, who didn’t back down an inch, Alexandra calmly stated.

“Then, let me put it another way. How about intervening to prevent the Russian Empire from falling into the hands of anti-French forces? This is not a demand, but a proposal.”

Eugene quietly stared at Alexandra, or rather, at Alexandra’s hands.

Unlike her calm words and actions, she couldn’t hide the trembling of her hands.

She must be worried about her imperial father.

But in this distant New World, there is little that Alexandra, who has no real power, can do.

So, she is clearly trying to mobilize as many people as possible.

“You’ve learned a lot, Princess.”

“Well, I’ve been watching what Your Highness and my husband have been doing from the sidelines.”

“Then you probably know what I’m going to answer.”

Alexandra tried hard to hide her trembling eyes as she looked at Eugene.

Eugene smiled.

In fact, what Nouvelle France had to do was decided from the beginning.

The only question is under what conditions they would act.

“Alright. Nouvelle France will intervene.”

In return, Russian America will become a vassal state of France, even if it becomes independent.

***

Of course, just because the decision-maker makes a decision doesn’t mean things will proceed smoothly.

“Impossible?”

The first to react this way was one of the few closest aides who could speak informally to the Viceroy of Nouvelle France.

Eugene looked up from examining the map.

Ippolito is standing there with a dumbfounded expression, holding a report.

Eugene leaned back in his chair and shrugged.

“What do you mean? Chief Adjutant, your job is to relay my decisions. It would be nice if you could occasionally think about implementation plans as well.”

“No, think about the physical time. First of all, we don’t even know what’s really happening in Russia. But it takes at least two months to get from the New World to Europe. It takes even longer to get to Saint Petersburg. And that’s when the British aren’t interfering.”

“It would take two weeks to get from England to Russia, though.”

Ippolito shook his head and said to Eugene, who nodded lightly in agreement.

“There’s no way to overcome this time difference. Besides, is Sydney stupid? He’ll soon know that his letter has been intercepted, and he’ll go into full blockade. Especially for all the fast ships.”

Ippolito has been by Eugene’s side for all his decision-making.

He seems to have grown in many ways.

However, he still doesn’t seem to have developed a perspective beyond handling the given tasks.

Just as Eugene was thinking that he couldn’t entrust him with independent operations, just like Junot.

“What about the Arctic route?”

Eugene turned his gaze to Nicholas, who was standing to his left, speaking out of the blue.

“Nicholas, that’s impossible.”

“I know that no one has ever succeeded. But it’s definitely worth trying to break through.”

“No, it’s impossible.”

This time, Eugene shook his head because it was too absurd an idea.

“Unless an icebreaker that can break through the ice is built, it’s impossible to break through right now.”

The Arctic route.

Strictly speaking, this route is not a route that passes directly through the Arctic Ocean.

To be precise, it refers to a plan to cross the sea adjacent to the Arctic Ocean and travel between the New World and Russia.

It is also a route that Russia has been challenging since the time of Peter the Great, but has repeatedly failed.

In fact, that’s inevitable.

Unless it’s the later years when global warming has progressed, an icebreaker that breaks the ice is essential in the Little Ice Age like this era.

However, since this icebreaker is not something that a non-powered ship can do, the development of a steamship is essential.

Nouvelle France is just now creating the world’s first steamship.

But they couldn’t have built something like an icebreaker, and even if they did, there’s no guarantee that they could break through.

However, it is also true that there is a romance for sailors, as Nicholas does.

Then, a man standing at the end of the viceroyalty suddenly opened his mouth.

“Then, how about departing for Siberia?”

Barthélémy Catherine Joubert.

One of the men who carried out the 21-man cavalry breakthrough in Italy with Lasalle and Champot.

He was also a man who had been with Lasalle and Champot on the Egyptian and Orient expeditions, and even to the New World.

In fact, in the original history, he gained Napoleon’s attention and rose to prominence even before Lasalle or Champot.

However, in Eugene’s viceroyalty, he strangely failed to achieve any achievements.

This is because he focused on Joubert’s military administration skills.

One of the reasons was that the Nouvelle France army in the New World lacked capable people to take on military administration.

But suddenly, Joubert came up with a bizarre proposal.

“Just cross the Bering Strait. Since it’s not winter now, cross the Bering Strait from here to Siberia, and then deliver this news back to Europe.”

Of course, this was also an absurd idea, and Eugene opened his mouth wide.

“Joubert, I thought only Lasalle could make such crazy noises.”

“I do it sometimes, too.”

“It sounds like you’re saying you’re going to do it.”

Joubert stared at Eugene and said.

“If you allow me, I’d like to give it a try.”

Originally, in the original history, Joubert became the commander of the Italian army.

However, he died early, fighting against Suvorov.

In fact, Eugene thought that he had done everything he could by just letting Joubert live longer.

But Joubert himself didn’t seem to think so.

Suddenly, Eugene stared intently at Joubert and nodded.

“Alright. But I can’t just trust you, so I’ll prepare too.”

“Huh? What are you going to prepare, Your Highness?”

“It’s obvious. Ippolito. To break through the blockade, we have to go with determination.”

When Ippolito interjected and asked, Eugene tapped the map lightly and replied.

“Break through and return home with the line-of-battle ships [a type of warship]. We have no choice but to take this news back to the home country.”

The assassination crisis of the Russian Tsar.

Eugene decided to break through with [diversion] again this time.

***

In Nouvelle-Orléans [New Orleans], at the port on the lower Mississippi River, Alexandra grabbed Joubert’s hand.

“Please, Monsieur Joubert, please deliver the news before anything happens to His Imperial Majesty.”

Of course, Alexandra knows to some extent how reckless it is to cross Siberia.

But it is even more difficult to break through the British naval power and return to Russia to take countermeasures.

Also, even if the Viceroy of Nouvelle France directly deals with this issue, he will not only care about Russia.

Therefore, she is pinning her hopes on Joubert’s slim chance of reaching his destination.

Joubert looked at Alexandra and smiled.

“His Imperial Majesty may return home before I do.”

“Is it that easy for the Viceroy to return home? He has to sort out the internal politics of the New World, and then fight a naval battle again. Maybe he’ll be defeated in the Atlantic and captured?”

“If I arrive first, will you give me a reward?”

Instantly, Alexandra’s eyes lit up.

“I will give you the title of Count of the Russian Empire. If that would be a reward.”

Joubert, a commoner who is thirsty for achievements, shouted.

“I will gladly run!”

Again, the steamship began to move north along the Mississippi River.

-Poo-ooo!

Marie, who was seeing them off from the port of Nouvelle-Orléans, turned her head.

“Eugene, then, are we going home too?”

Eugene smiled as he watched the disappearing steamship.

“Yes, it’s time to go home now.”

In 1806, it was time for Eugene, the Viceroy of Nouvelle France, to return to Europe.