He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 414

(414) Napoleon Wants World Hegemony

So, what is the architect of all this doing?

“Hahaha! Checkmate! I win!”

Eugene is watching the famous [Napoleon Attack – a chess move characterized by irregular piece advancements].

It’s a chess move that advances pieces in an irregular manner, and naturally, repeating such moves often leads to defeat.

However, in his lifetime, Napoleon won repeatedly with this irregular move.

The red-hatted priest looking down at the chessboard in front of him also seems to be in a losing position, with no place to move his pieces.

After a moment, the priest smiled and declared defeat.

“Excellent, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Come now, there’s no need for honorifics here, Uncle Fesch. Should I call you Your Eminence?”

“There is an Emperor, a Cardinal, and a Viceroy present. If this isn’t an official occasion, what is?”

Joseph Fesch, the half-brother of Letizia, is Napoleon’s uncle by kinship.

Surprisingly, he is only four years older than Napoleon.

Still, they relied on each other since Napoleon was young, and they have been close since Fesch was a rural priest in Corsica.

Of course, becoming a cardinal is all thanks to Napoleon’s support.

In fact, appointing a close aide of the French monarch as a cardinal has been a tradition of the Vatican since ancient times.

Looking at the cardinal maintaining a solemn attitude, Napoleon smirked.

“Chateaubriand wrote another article defaming me, didn’t he?”

It’s Napoleon’s usual way of speaking to bring up unexpected topics.

But Fesch is quite used to it and knows what he’s talking about, so he just looks a little embarrassed.

It seems Chateaubriand, the secretary, has caused another incident.

“He is talented, but too full of vigor. If Your Majesty shows leniency, he will gladly pledge his loyalty.”

“I’ve already shown plenty of leniency. He’s one of the two major writers who stab me with their pens in my own capital, along with Madame de Staël. By the way, he’s your secretary, Uncle?”

“You’ve forgotten. It was Your Imperial Majesty who recommended him as my secretary.”

Chateaubriand, a leading anti-Napoleon writer in France.

At this time, he is still writing articles close to the pro-imperial faction.

However, he is gradually publishing articles criticizing autocratic politics in newspapers, irritating Napoleon, who reads all the newspapers.

Napoleon chuckled and brought up another topic.

“The time to reassess the value of Alumina coinage is coming soon, Uncle.”

It seems like another random remark, but it’s an important issue since the Vatican designated the value of Alumina [a type of currency].

“His Holiness will gladly decide as you wish.”

“The new Pope is very dissatisfied with my coronation, isn’t he? I know it well. He would have preferred to receive the crown from the Archbishop in Rouen.”

“Rather, His Holiness is satisfied with the new diocese being established in the New World. It is thanks to Your Royal Highness.”

Looking at the cardinal subtly passing the credit to Eugene, who was standing beside him, Napoleon laughed heartily.

“Well, Eugene. You’ve made a great contribution to the Catholic Church without even knowing it. Shouldn’t you receive another knighthood from the Vatican? Hahaha!”

Although they are step-uncle and nephew, they are also the Emperor of the Empire and a Cardinal of the Pope.

The two are discussing matters of mutual interest while playing chess.

Thinking of it as a kind of meeting, Eugene smiled and replied.

“Having a seat in the Order of Saint John is enough, Your Majesty.”

“I told you this is a private occasion, tsk! How about I put your face on the Alumina coins to be issued this time?”

“It is sufficient for the coins to bear the image of Your Imperial Majesty.”

Napoleon waved his hand and laughed again.

“Nonsense. The Emperor’s son and the victor of Jena also deserve it! Of course, not as much as me, who won at Austerlitz. Hahaha!”

As always, Napoleon, who never fails to boast about himself, turned serious.

“Then, it’s time to answer as a Cardinal, not as an uncle.”

“Speak.”

“Tell the Pope. The entire Italian Peninsula, except for the Vatican’s territory, will become a direct dominion of France. Also, Romagna will not be returned.”

Rejecting Fesch’s real demand with a single stroke, Napoleon threw out another proposal.

“Instead, I will expand some of the Knights of Saint John’s territory in Egypt outside of Damietta and establish a Papal State in the New World. Larger than Romagna.”

Romagna is a crucial passage in the mid-eastern part of the Italian Peninsula.

For France, which controls Milan, Venice, and Genoa, a direct passage is needed to project troops to Naples, a hotbed of rebellion.

Therefore, Romagna, which was originally Papal territory but was seized during the Italian campaign, cannot be returned.

Instead, Fesch showed interest in the offer to give more land.

“If it’s the New World, where exactly are you referring to?”

“My son here knows better than I do, right? Where would be good? Martinique? Since that’s Josephine’s hometown, should I give it to you or Hortense?”

“Sending Hortense to the New World once might be a good idea. She seems to be getting more twisted, only thinking about Dejean these days. Cuba would be good.”

Fesch was surprised and reacted first to Eugene, who subtly threw out a kind of grievance and discussed Cuba.

“But isn’t that a colony of Spain?”

Eugene turned to Fesch and smiled subtly.

“It won’t be in three years, Your Eminence.”

It’s truly a scene where the division of the world’s territories is taking place in a family chess gathering.

***

So, what about Napoleon’s chess skills?

“I have a question.”

“What is it, Salomon?”

“Is His Imperial Majesty really good at chess? I heard he wins every time.”

Eugene glanced away from the window in the inner chamber of Prague Castle.

The historians of the original history and the chess players who face the Emperor in this era have a common assessment of Napoleon’s chess skills.

Slightly better than Murat, but worse than Berthier.

He’s not a complete beginner, but it can’t be said that he’s at a great level.

Instead of giving such an explanation, Eugene simply replied to the neatly dressed, greedy-looking young man.

“Originally, anyone becomes good at chess once they become a ruler. Surely, that’s not why you came.”

“Actually, I came because I was curious why you are still staying in Prague. You’re not going to Vienna, you’re not advancing to Berlin, and you’re not returning to Mainz on the border.”

“Well, isn’t that up to His Majesty to decide? Prussia and Hungary haven’t completely declared surrender yet either.”

Then Salomon Rothschild, or Solomon Rothschild, smiled and replied.

“Then I’m a little faster than the King of Austria. Our Rothschild family surrenders unconditionally, Your Royal Highness.”

Eugene stared at Salomon and tilted his head.

“The Duke of Hesse-Kassel wants to conditionally join the Confederation of the Rhine.”

“He still hasn’t come to his senses.”

“He’s quick-witted. His Imperial Majesty is in a very good mood right now. He might even really give the throne to the Duke of Saxony.”

At that moment, Salomon was surprised and asked back.

“The King of Saxony becomes king? He was clinging to Prussia?”

The reason Salomon came to Prague is simple.

It is because Napoleon is stationed in the Duchy of Bohemia after the victory of Austerlitz.

It is also for the purpose of guaranteeing the re-establishment of his brother Louis’s rule and firmly suppressing Austria, which surrendered unconditionally, but even so, he is staying too long.

However, Napoleon and Eugene came to apologize for the Russian coup and heard strange things.

However, Eugene replied with a calm face.

“Winning a war doesn’t mean the victor can do whatever they want. Completely destroying a country with tradition becomes a hotbed of rebellion. Just like Russia, Prussia, and Austria experienced in Poland.”

“But giving even greater benefits to the betrayers is.”

“That’s how even ungrateful Jews like your family get opportunities, isn’t it? Think of it positively.”

Salomon’s face turned pale, and he knelt down.

“Please forgive me. We were dragged into the Russian coup without knowing anything. If you allow it, Nathan in England will come running from London to apologize right away!”

In fact, it would be half true.

However, the Rothschild family is skilled in gathering information.

Although there is no heyday of the original history in this era, didn’t they know that when a coup occurred in Russia, it was favorable to England and unfavorable to France?

Instead of questioning, Eugene replied concisely.

“I don’t need an apology from the financial world, Salomon. Of course, not even your lives.”

“Should we offer all our assets? If you really need it, we will gladly!”

“Well, you came well-prepared. Good, then send your youngest brother to me as a hostage.”

The youngest, [Jakob – later known as James], who was trembling behind Salomon, blinked, and Salomon was also embarrassed.

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you understand? I’m going to use ‘Jacques’ there as my page.”

“No, um, would that be alright with you?”

Jakob becomes Jacques when changed to French.

Jacques Mayer Rothschild, soon the founder of the French Rothschild family, famous for [Château Mouton Rothschild – a renowned winery] wine.

So, it’s not like Eugene just told them to send anyone.

On the other hand, it is a great opportunity for the Rothschild family.

The Rothschild family has already sent their young sons to various parts of Europe to attempt overseas expansion.

They need a way to enter Paris anyway, but without reducing the shares of the French Central Bank, the youngest has entered the inner circle of the French Imperial Family.

At that time, Eugene stared at Salomon.

“Salomon, do you know that our Imperial Majesty has forgiven Austria twice?”

“Ah, I know. You have already occupied Vienna twice.”

“This is the third time. Also, the third time, perhaps even His Imperial Majesty will not forgive. Neither will I.”

This is a warning not only to Salomon but also to his father Mayer and the entire Rothschild family.

“There will be no second time, Your Royal Highness.”

It was the moment when Salomon, or rather Rothschild, bowed his head to Eugene Bonaparte.

***

Of course, just because Eugene offered generous conditions doesn’t mean he didn’t receive anything.

“So, the Jewish banker family took the lead, and the Jews in Germany contributed to the war expenses?”

Unlike the original history, Napoleon did not pay much attention to accumulating wealth because the period of being strapped for money was short.

In fact, when you think about it, after succeeding in Toulon in his early 20s, the Boerne Bank was fully responsible for the finances, so he spent a prosperous youth.

So, he doesn’t even remember the names of the families that own shares in the French Central Bank well.

Eugene reported to Napoleon, who was looking at the throne where the representative of the Habsburg family once sat.

“It’s 25 million francs. Of course, I plan to guarantee the interests of the former Austrian territory so that those friends don’t go bankrupt. Road maintenance rights, post office establishment, and priority purchase rights for French products.”

“Somehow, it seems like you’re just increasing the workload. Should we spare the Hohenzollerns [the ruling dynasty of Prussia]?”

“It’s not easy to eliminate two countries at once.”

Napoleon turned to Eugene, who was talking as if eliminating a country was a chess game.

“I was thinking of intermarrying with the Habsburg royal family. Pauline with Karl, and you with Marie Louise.”

This time, Eugene was a little embarrassed and widened his eyes before barely answering.

“I’m engaged, though.”

“Do you think I didn’t allow the marriage for no reason? You deserve a better match. Because you’re my son. Because you’re Josephine’s son.”

“Would you say the same thing if Charles was in front of you?”

The name Charles is very common.

Even Napoleon’s adjutant is Louis Charles Cafe.

But here, Napoleon and Eugene both know who Charles is that Eugene is talking about.

Charles Napoleon, the biological son of Josephine and Napoleon.

At that moment, Napoleon’s eyes flashed.

“Of course! ‘Our’ Bonaparte is a rising clan. No matter how much it is a citizen’s empire, it is ultimately hereditary! To strengthen the family, we need the halo of a traditional family! Also, Marie is a royal family that was removed by the revolution!”

It is surprising that Napoleon, who is from Corsica and obsessed with blood ties, is saying this.

It means that he sees Eugene not just as an adopted son but as a family member, like a biological son.

Even so, he will be lower in the line of succession than Charles.

Suddenly, Napoleon looked back at the throne and muttered.

“Nevertheless, to seize world hegemony, we must sometimes take risks.”

Eugene suppressed his turbulent heart and shone in his eyes.

“Hegemony, you say?”

Napoleon nodded.

“Yes. Not conquest, but hegemony. This complex Europe, the ancient royal families, the troublesome people, cannot all be unified into one. But they can be [controlled].”

The concept of hegemony in the original history only came out in the 20th century, but the word itself still exists in Greek.

World conquest is already impossible in the 19th century.

Europe is too complex in terms of ethnic composition, making it difficult for anyone to unify it into one.

However, even if the unification of a single empire is impossible, the establishment of a [hegemony – dominance or leadership] system of a single empire may be possible.

This is the structure in Napoleon’s head right now.

“That’s my ambition, Eugene. Now, tell me. Can I destroy a thousand-year-old royal family?”

Eugene saluted, looking at Napoleon’s burning eyes.

“I will carry out your will, Father.”

Now, the time has come for the Habsburg royal family to perish.

As a step towards Napoleon’s world hegemony.