He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 378

(378) The Russian Empire on the Eve of a Coup

August 1806, Saint Petersburg is sweltering.

“It’s not just a typical hot summer day; this is truly unusual weather,” Danton, the French ambassador to Russia, grumbled, fanning himself, his face flushed.

In fact, the late 18th century was still feeling the effects of the Little Ice Age, which lingered into the early 19th century.

Russia, being a northern country, is naturally cold.

So, since Danton’s arrival as ambassador, experiencing such heat had been a rarity.

Suddenly, his wife, Louise Danton, sighed, gazing out the window at the still-bright evening sky.

“And these White Nights make it so hard to sleep.”

“How is Saint Petersburg University, Louise? Would it suit Antoine or Francois? I suppose Frenchmen should ideally attend the University of Paris. Ah, wasn’t it closed during the revolution?”

“The Sorbonne is still closed, but [His Majesty] the Emperor has reopened the University of Paris, I believe. Still, this university is quite good. They don’t admit women, though, so our daughters will have to be sent to France.”

Danton started to nod, then paused, tilting his head.

“Huh? That’s still the case in France, Louise.”

In that era, women’s education was almost entirely entrusted to convents.

With limited opportunities for women in society, this was, in a way, considered normal.

Even in post-Revolution France, women’s suffrage was not yet recognized.

Historically, the first women’s university in France wasn’t established until around the 1870s.

Louise, the second wife of a former Jacobin revolutionary, bristled at the remark.

“Unbelievable! Olympe de Gouges, Sophie de Condorcet, and Madame de Staël worked so hard, yet women are still confined to convent schools? Unacceptable!”

“They’re lucky they didn’t lose their heads. The Jacobins found them quite irritating. Of course, Robespierre’s sister, Charlotte, is still advocating for women’s rights.”

“When will universities open their doors to women?”

Historically, Gouges was beheaded, Sophie’s husband was executed, and Staël was exiled.

However, in this timeline, the Jacobins fell earlier and more peacefully than in the original history.

Therefore, the women’s rights activists who would have been beheaded by the Jacobins are still alive and active.

Danton, though ignorant of history, smiled wryly, thinking about these so-called extreme feminists.

“Well, by the time Camille or Sophie are ready for university, things will be different, right? Anyway, those two can’t attend university here; we’ll have to send them to Paris.”

Why Paris?

The reason was simple.

Saint Petersburg, a pleasant place to live for the past four years, had suddenly become dangerous.

The warmer climate, while unusual, also made ship travel easier.

Just then, a gentleman entered the embassy residence.

“Ambassador, a message from Paris has arrived.”

Danton greeted the gentleman with a delighted expression.

“It’s here? Caulaincourt! What’s the news? Has Paris decided to move?”

“It was chaotic with the Viceroy’s return and the British situation.”

“What, Freischütz is back? Finally?”

The gentleman, Caulaincourt, was the French consul in Moscow, Russia.

Among the French in Russia, he was second-in-command to the ambassador in Saint Petersburg.

He was active, often stepping in when Danton couldn’t.

This trip to Paris was undertaken by Caulaincourt because the situation in the Russian Empire had grown dire.

But Eugene Bonaparte, nicknamed Freischütz, had arrived?

Until now, Danton had felt frustrated despite his efforts in Russia.

None of the influential figures in Paris understood the importance of the Russian Empire.

But Freischütz, who had forged an alliance with Russia, proposed a joint expedition to India, and engaged in joint military action in the New World, would be different.

“Then, we need to resolve this Tsar assassination problem even more urgently! Did you tell Freischütz that it could happen at any moment? If the Tsar dies, the connection with Russia that began in the New World will be severed!”

As Danton spoke passionately, Caulaincourt licked his lips.

“The Viceroy told me to escape.”

“What?”

“Since preventing the Tsar’s assassination is impossible, leave Saint Petersburg as soon as possible. That’s the Viceroy’s message.”

Danton cursed.

“That two-faced son of a bitch! What nonsense! How did I manage to sway the Russian elite to be pro-French!”

Danton hadn’t been idle in Russia.

For four years, while Eugene expanded New France to ten times the size of mainland France in the New World, Danton transplanted French society to Russia.

French merchants gained access to the Russian economy, previously dominated by the British, and he reignited the French craze among the Russian aristocracy.

This greatly benefited Eugene.

Danton grabbed Caulaincourt and exclaimed.

“You know, right? 30 percent of Russia’s trade, which was almost entirely with England, now goes to France.”

“I know. A trade surplus of 40 million rubles annually is flowing back to France.”

“Is that all? Financial advancements, merchant expansions, teachers, musicians, even artists! I even personally opened the Boarner Bank Saint Petersburg branch!”

Of course, Danton had another, more selfish reason for not wanting to leave Russia.

“Give up all these vested interests and connections and run? Ridiculous!”

It was about personal gain.

The debts he had accumulated disappeared during his time as the Russian ambassador.

The wealth he would amass in the future would rival Eugene’s, the richest man in France.

Abandon all this and return home?

If it were gold or stocks, it would be simple.

But the right to profit and the network that generated that profit couldn’t be carried away.

Seeing Danton’s anger, Caulaincourt chuckled.

“Ahem, I apologize. I was just surprised that it was exactly the answer the Viceroy predicted.”

“What do you mean?”

“Viceroy Eugene Bonaparte said this.”

Caulaincourt cleared his throat and relayed Eugene’s message.

“All personal property losses will be compensated. Upon returning home, he will be guaranteed a position as a consultant to the Imperial Family and the Boarner Bank. So, return home quickly.”

Danton frowned.

If he were just a common thug motivated by self-interest, he wouldn’t have been able to build such a vast network in the Russian Empire.

Danton remained one of the three major politicians of the revolutionary period because he could see beyond personal gain.

“It sounds incredibly dangerous.”

“Didn’t I report it as such?”

“First, I’ll entrust Louise and my children to you, Caulaincourt.”

Louise, who had been watching Danton with concern, asked.

“What are you going to do, Danton?”

Danton stared intently at the desk, then stood up.

“Well, I can’t just abandon that moron [Emperor] to his fate.”

On the desk, the black double-headed eagle, the flag of the Russian Empire, stood alongside the eagle flag of the French Empire.

***

The Summer Palace of Saint Petersburg, Peterhof, echoed with the Tsar’s fury.

“Why can’t the conquest of the New World be completed? You incompetent Prime Minister!”

Alexander Borisovich Kurakin, the Prime Minister, trembled before the Tsar.

Despite his unpredictable nature, Pavel rarely ordered executions.

However, if the Emperor wished, he could dismiss the Prime Minister and exile him to Siberia.

“Tsar, please calm down. It is difficult to wage war against England right now.”

“Calm down? You’re suggesting I abandon my daughter Alexandra and my son-in-law in the New World?”

“If we claim it was the son-in-law’s unilateral action, the Empire can avoid a crisis. But if we continue on this path, [Rossiya] will face massive retaliation from England.”

Tsar Pavel scoffed at Kurakin’s advice.

“Retaliate if they dare! Can those seal-clubbing bastards even reach Saint Petersburg!”

Historically, England had advanced to Denmark and burned Copenhagen.

If they allied with Sweden, a traditionally anti-Russian nation, invading Saint Petersburg wouldn’t be impossible.

Even without its navy, England had ways to bring Russia to its knees, like the Continental Blockade in the original history.

Foreign Minister Rostopchin bowed his head.

“Your Majesty, England still accounts for over 60 percent of our Empire’s exports.”

“Rostopchin, are you contradicting me? You’re just protecting the interests of the great nobles who export those goods! You sell even the grain and resources that could enrich our Empire to England for personal gain!”

“It’s materials that can’t be used domestically anyway. If England imposes a full blockade like they do on America, our Empire’s economy will collapse!”

Pavel dismissed Rostopchin’s advice and shouted, his eyes flashing.

“Even so! I will not surrender a single inch of territory occupied by the Empire to England! Oh, has my friend arrived!”

The French ambassador, the charming bon vivant Danton, entered.

The Russian nobles glared at Danton, perhaps with the same resentment they showed Rasputin in the original history.

Danton, who had somehow become the Tsar’s favorite, forced a smile and adopted a cheerful demeanor.

Pavel didn’t seem inclined to listen to any assassination warnings today.

“It’s been a while, Tsar. I bring French news. Viceroy Eugene Bonaparte has returned home! Hahaha!”

Tsar Pavel rarely laughed so heartily.

***

But the threat of assassination didn’t vanish with the Tsar’s improved mood.

“Monsieur Danton, how was your trip?”

Startled, Danton turned to the voice in the dimly lit embassy.

“What? You didn’t leave?”

“My family has already departed, feigning homesickness.”

“What will you do when a coup breaks out? It could happen as early as today.”

Caulaincourt, who remained in Saint Petersburg despite being the Moscow consul, shook his head.

“To make the Russian Empire friendly to France. Isn’t that the Emperor’s order? I must uphold it.”

Even in the original history, Caulaincourt served the fallen Napoleon until his exile.

Perhaps his aristocratic background convinced him that the Empire was the best path for France.

Danton, a former Jacobin and self-serving politician, laughed at Caulaincourt’s loyalty.

What good is loyalty after death?

No one knew how long the Bonaparte family would last.

However, seeing the loyal Caulaincourt, a useful plan formed in his mind.

Danton chuckled.

“Heh heh! It’s amusing. But there is one way.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t stop the assassination attempt or the coup. Not with the Tsar’s temperament. But, if Freischütz sends a fleet himself…”

Danton smiled strangely.

“Escape is possible, right? Not just for us, but for the Tsar too.”

If only Tsar Pavel could be spirited away.

Even if the Russian Empire’s regime was handed over to the Crown Prince, another member of the Imperial Family, or a powerful noble, the divine legitimacy would still reside with the Tsar.

A way to make the nobles, commoners, and serfs of the Empire feel a constant pang of conscience.

France could hold the Tsar in its grasp.

Caulaincourt, a loyal but sensible gentleman open to schemes, nodded as he listened.

“Then, the friend who arrived today will be helpful.”

“Huh? Who is it? Even Surcouf?”

“Surcouf has not arrived yet.”

Suddenly, men in old black uniforms emerged from the shadows of the embassy.

-Chuck!

As Danton flinched, the young man at the head announced.

“Hello, Monsieur Danton. My name is Barthélemy Joubert. I am the cavalry commander of Viceroy of New France. I came from New France to prevent the Tsar’s assassination.”

It was General Joubert, who had rushed from completing the Russian tour to Alaska.

He had finally completed his mission and arrived in Saint Petersburg.