He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 368

(368) Successfully Escaping Through the Bermuda Triangle

In the 19th century, the so-called five oceans were virtually becoming the seas of England.

“And the Caribbean has been the same since the Seven Years’ War.”

On the sea route from the Caribbean to the Atlantic, there are islands that suddenly block the way, like an archipelago.

In later world history, this is the Bahamas, famous as a tax haven.

After the American Revolutionary War, it was also a refuge for royalists, like Canada.

Agriculture, mainly using slaves, is the main industry, so this is also a place affected by the ban on the slave trade.

Juno, the commander of the Royal Guard, frowned slightly as if suffering from seasickness, and asked again.

“Even though we have our own territories like Florida, Saint-Domingue [Haiti], and Martinique?”

“The British naval power is a problem, but occupying key locations is even bigger. Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and even the Bahamas.”

“So, that’s British territory, but we can still pass through?”

Eugene sat leisurely on the deck and replied.

“Well, the entire fleet that should be guarding this area is stuck in Jamaica.”

A parallel zone of numerous islands stretching across southwestern Florida and northwestern Cuba.

There are an estimated minimum of 700 islands and over 2,400 reefs.

If we encounter the British fleet here, it will be impossible to escape.

This is also why Eugene deliberately lured the British fleet to Jamaica.

Juno looked at the map on the mobile desk on the deck and asked.

“Then, on our way, shall we stop by that Bahamas island, or rather, New Providence Island?”

“Even if all the battleships are in western Jamaica, it would be troublesome to underestimate the British Marines too much. The troops on our *Nautilus*, *Horus*, and *Mercury* number only about 1,000.”

“Shouldn’t we resupply at least once?”

Eugene shook his head and stared at Nicolas, who was intently watching the front from the deck.

“There’s a place that should be completely empty by now. We should aim for that.”

Just as Nicolas Surcouf was about to signal for a course correction.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

From New Providence Island, the center of the Bahamas, the sound of shelling echoed loudly.

It seems the coastal battery is responding urgently.

However, the shelling only fell far out at sea, not reaching the *Horus* or *Mercury*, let alone the slower *Nautilus*.

Juno, who is not a naval expert but somewhat of an artillery expert, smirked.

“Futile shelling. As I recall, British carronades [short-barreled cannons] have a short range.”

“I guess that means don’t come close?”

“Makes me want to get closer. Huh?”

Suddenly, Juno turned around and tilted his head.

Because he noticed a strange shadow on the horizon.

Indeed, Nicolas Surcouf listened to the report from the navigator and rushed to Eugene.

“Your Royal Highness! An enemy fleet has appeared in the rear!”

By that time, Eugene was already watching the British fleet that had appeared in the rear sea.

In fact, the number was small, closer to a detachment than a fleet.

However, it was clear that they were chasing with all their might from the rear.

Eugene smiled wryly.

“Sidney is really persistent.”

“What shall we do?”

“Let’s go to Plan B.”

In an instant, Eugene pointed to the area marked as a [triangle] on the map.

“If they weren’t chasing us, we were just going to go, but this time, we have no choice but to gamble.”

Hippolyte, who was looking at the map, cautiously interjected.

“How about going up to Charleston now? Let’s ask for help from the United States.”

“Hippolyte, don’t you trust me?”

“No, Your Royal Highness. Frankly, you may be good at naval battles, but you’re not a sea expert, are you?”

Eugene chuckled and sat back leisurely.

“Before that, I’m a gambler who has never lost a gamble.”

Unlike Eugene’s very relaxed attitude, the crew of the Nouvelle France repatriation fleet were very nervous.

The operation Eugene named Plan B.

A route that would never have been chosen unless the enemy was chasing.

But if the British fleet was chasing, it was an unavoidable path.

With Nicolas’ gesture, the sails of the *Horus* changed direction.

-Whoosh!

West, a straight route.

***

At this moment, Sidney bet everything on a single gamble.

“We have to catch them! Open all the sails!”

The biggest problem is that he abandoned the fleet.

Off the coast of Jamaica, Sidney gathered the entire British fleet in the New World, under the pretext of rescuing the colony.

He also achieved a diplomatic [coup] by making France abandon the pretense of being pirates and directly bombard them.

Furthermore, he even got the Spanish fleet involved, so the British mainland should summon Sidney and give him a medal.

Anyway, they caught the fact that France was behind the Anglo-American War, and even evidence that Spain was involved.

Furthermore, if the British mainland starts negotiations in earnest, it could become a diplomatic excuse to make Spain break away from France.

Thus, Eugene’s repatriation operation is a decision with enormous diplomatic risks.

However, Sidney abandoned this good situation and took out his flagship and four battleships and headed north.

“We must not allow Eugene Bonaparte to return to the European continent. Then, England is finished!”

Just as Sidney was muttering through gritted teeth, Vice Admiral Hardy frowned.

“Isn’t that too much of an exaggeration, Admiral?”

“You saw it yourself! When that Crown Prince was still a kid, he conquered Egypt!”

“To be precise, what I saw was the recklessness of killing Admiral Nelson in close combat. I saw the conquest of Egypt in the newspaper. But, wasn’t that an army that had already been [Europeanized; trained and equipped in the European style]?”

Eugene has certainly achieved amazing feats so far.

He led the conquest of Egypt, turned the Ottoman Empire into a pro-French regime, and killed numerous commanders on the battlefield, with Suvorov at the apex.

Moreover, after coming to the New World, he dramatically expanded the French colony, which had been nominal, under the [seigneurial system; a form of land tenure].

He has not yet advanced to the Louisiana Great Plains or the Rocky Mountains, but it is only a matter of time.

And what about internal affairs?

He dramatically expanded the population of Nouvelle France from less than 50,000 to 400,000, and in line with the population increase, he brought the Mississippi River area under his direct control.

Above all, during the friendly relationship with England, he fully imported steam engines and machine tools and created the [Nouvelle France Beauharnais Konzern; a large industrial conglomerate] under the command of DuPont and Brunel.

Above all, he is actively embracing Native Americans and using them as a source of troops.

Since the start of the Anglo-American War, there has been no force to touch the Nouvelle France colonial government.

But that is possible because of Napoleon’s background from the outside.

Hardy pointed that out.

“Anyway, Napoleon is the problem, and the Crown Prince is a secondary existence. Even if he returns to Europe, wouldn’t it just be adding another useful general? Rather, Crown Prince Eugene is more threatening when he is in the New World.”

However, Sidney scoffed.

“Then why is Eugene de Beauharnais so eager to return to Europe?”

“Isn’t the New World more backward than Europe? He must be tired of it. Besides, if he goes back, he’s at least the Emperor’s son, but here he’s just the boss of a bunch of beggars?”

“It’s the opposite. Here he is a [King in all but name], but if he goes back, he’s just the Emperor’s adopted son. But, you know.”

Suddenly, Sidney gritted his teeth as he looked at the French imperial [eagle] flag faintly visible in the distance.

“From our British point of view, the naval admiral who killed Admiral Nelson is returning. Also, a [military leader] is created who can act separately from Napoleon. Don’t you know how scary this is strategically?”

Only then did Hardy widen his eyes.

Although he is not in the army, Hardy knows the importance of diversionary tactics.

Even the British Navy in the Atlantic alone, Edward Berry and Sidney Smith launched diversions.

It is thanks to this that the east coast of the United States was completely blockaded with a small number of ships.

What if the same thing happened on the European continent?

“We must catch him. Sails to the maximum!”

Just then.

“We must stop. Vice Admiral!”

Captain Thomas Lewis of the *Minotaur*, an accompanying battleship moving on the port side, shouted.

Sidney frowned as he watched the *Minotaur* suddenly brake.

If he hurried a little more, he would be able to catch up, but why stop?

“What are you doing, Lewis! Should I throw you into the Atlantic!”

“Admiral, get a hold of yourself. Look at what’s ahead!”

“What nonsense are you talking about, huh?”

Instantly, Sidney shouted in surprise.

“Lower the sails! Immediately!”

With great difficulty, Sidney’s flagship, *Theseus*, stopped.

-Squeak!

With the sound of the sails being lowered, Sidney widened his eyes as he looked ahead.

“Those crazy bastards, they’re crawling into the [Sea of Death]?”

The Sargasso Sea.

A sea of death where the wind does not blow and there are many reefs due to the earth’s air currents.

Among them, there is a particularly serious area.

A triangular zone with Bermuda as its apex.

Later in the original history, it will be called the [Bermuda Triangle].

“Look there. The ship.”

Suddenly, at Vice Admiral Hardy’s words, Sidney turned his gaze and burst out laughing.

“Damn it, when I get back to the mainland, I must tell them to start developing steamships!”

In the distance, the steamship *Nautilus* was emitting smoke over the Sea of Death.

***

Of course, it’s not as simple as it looks from the outside.

“The wind has stopped!”

Still, it is an era when sailing ships dominate the ocean.

A sailor is someone who is good at handling sails.

When the wind stopped, everyone panicked and was in confusion.

Juno, who was not as embarrassed as the navy because he was in the army, looked around with a slightly pale face.

“This is the Sea of Death.”

“The wind doesn’t blow, there’s a lot of seaweed, and sometimes reefs appear.”

“They say that if you come here, you become a ghost ship. Oops!”

Instantly, Juno was also surprised and shouted, pointing to the front.

“Look, look there. There are no people on the ship!”

A sailing ship with no people in sight was drifting.

A ship called a ghost ship.

It must have strayed from its route and entered this area by mistake, lost its way, and the crew died.

However, Eugene calmly instructed Nicolas.

“Nicolas, connect the *Horus* and *Mercury* to the *Nautilus*.”

“That will slow us down tremendously. Also, it is impossible to supply coal.”

“We don’t have to go through the entire Sargasso Sea. Don’t forget that our ally is Spain, and we are carrying the heir to Spain on board.”

Eugene smiled as he took the hand of his fiancée, Marie, who was looking at him steadily from the side.

“Turn the course southeast and go to the Canary Islands.”

Nicolas nodded and vigorously instructed the *Nautilus*.

“Connect the two ships with ropes! And turn the helm!”

The *Nautilus* powerfully emitted steam.

-Beep!

Early April 1806.

Nouvelle France Crown Prince Eugene passed through the Bermuda Triangle.

Unfortunately, Columbus had passed through it in the old days, so it was not the world’s first.

Now, it is time for Eugene to return to Europe.