He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 428

(428) First Encounter with Wellington

Who brought Napoleon’s era to an end?

There are several candidates.

Kutuzov of Russia, Blücher of Prussia, or even Napoleon himself are some theories.

However, the most obvious contender is undoubtedly the victor of Waterloo in the original timeline.

Arthur Wellesley, not yet the Duke of Wellington.

“Good heavens, this is truly remarkable. To gather popular sentiment in this way!”

Now 38 years old, the same age as Napoleon, Wellesley exclaimed in admiration.

Of course, the one who should be admiring is someone else.

Wellesley is in Salamanca, a city 110 kilometers northwest of Madrid.

He has been advancing north in a semi-circular fashion from the southern region, successfully evading the French army.

Even so, with Madrid lost, the situation is dangerous for the British army.

“This has become troublesome, General [Iron].”

“Shut up, Clinton. I told you not to call me that nickname.”

“Ah, it means you stand as firm as steel even when Hindus are right in front of you, what’s wrong with that? You can stand firm here as well.”

When his adjutant, Henry Clinton, spoke with a smirk, Wellesley waved his hand dismissively.

“That was just me bluffing because the Hindus’ guns were terrible. ‘Nabo’s’ [short for Napoleon’s] subordinates have very modern guns. You’ll die if you try to show off.”

Wellesley and Clinton had served together in the garrison under the East India Company in India.

In fact, the Indian garrison was treated like a regular British army unit, even though it belonged to the East India Company, as evidenced by both men holding the rank of general.

However, the treatment was different from that of the mainland army, and achievements in India were not well recognized back home.

Nevertheless, the 30,000 British troops stationed in Portugal willingly follow Wellesley.

This is due to his performance against Masséna so far.

Also, the fact that they have no one else to rely on in a foreign land plays a part.

Suddenly, cavalry commander Henry Paget spoke up.

“Commander Wellesley, let’s retreat for now.”

“What are you talking about, Lord Paget?”

“This is too much to handle. Originally, our army’s strategy in the Peninsular War was to scatter the front lines as much as possible and maximize popular uprisings, and to disrupt the French army’s supplies.”

Paget, a 39-year-old general who had fought in Flanders since the First Coalition War against France, shook his head.

“However, the king is rightfully in place, and the regions of Catalonia and Valencia have all sided with the new king. Doesn’t this ruin everything?”

Catalonia and Valencia are the northeastern coastal regions of Spain.

This area is the territory of the former Kingdom of Aragon and has different sentiments from Castile, which is centered in Madrid.

However, due to its proximity to France, it has historically been invaded by France many times.

Moreover, the royal family is of French descent, making it a hotbed of anti-French sentiment.

Originally, the British, specifically Arthur’s brother, Ambassador Richard Wellesley, intended to use this to incite guerrilla uprisings in the Aragon region.

If successful, at least 50,000 insurgents would have risen throughout Aragon.

The Marquis of Romana, who is holding out in southern Spain with 200,000 troops, would have had a good chance of winning.

However, Eugene’s success in winning the hearts of the people in Aragon has thwarted the Wellesley brothers’ plan.

“Originally, my brother’s plan was to incite uprisings in Zaragoza, Valencia, and Barcelona.”

“Where did Ambassador Richard go, by the way? I heard he was trying to use the former king.”

“He’s heading south. At least Gibraltar will be safe.”

Wellesley clicked his tongue, responding to Paget.

“Well, with the mobility that Eugene Freischütz has shown so far, nowhere is safe.”

“We need to get out of Salamanca first, General.”

“Mr. Hill, if it were that simple, we would have retreated to Portugal long ago. Has the Marquis of Romana retreated to Bailén yet?”

Wellesley snapped at Roland Hill, the infantry commander who suggested retreat.

Of course, in the original timeline, Wellesley fights in Portugal.

However, that was because, in the meantime, he was summoned back to his home country from Spain, and the French launched a large-scale invasion, causing the Spanish front to collapse.

Afterward, he fought alongside the Spanish insurgents again in Portugal, leading the Peninsular War to victory.

Nevertheless, Roland Hill reported calmly.

“Conversely, we are currently dispersed. If we continue like this, there is a very high risk of being defeated piecemeal.”

Wellesley, deep in thought, asked.

“Has there been any news from Regent João?”

“No. But Lieutenant Colonel Richard Fletcher is working hard. General Moore is coming to Lisbon from London soon.”

“We need to hold out until that [defensive] Line is completed. Tsk.”

Regent João refers to the Prince Regent who is ruling Portugal in place of the mad Queen Maria.

Richard Fletcher is the commander of the British forces stationed in Portugal.

General Moore is the commander-in-chief for the Iberian Peninsula appointed by the cabinet, but he has not yet arrived in Iberia.

At that moment, a rugged-looking soldier returned hastily from the outskirts of Salamanca.

“Commander, something terrible has happened!”

Behind the soldier, there are troops who look like a ragtag bunch.

Their uniforms are a mess, and they don’t seem to have any discipline at all.

Wellesley clicked his tongue, briefly recalling the [elite Sepoy] corps he had commanded in India.

“What’s so terrible this time? Mr. Picton, don’t make such a fuss. And take a bath!”

“How can a scout wash up on the battlefield? More importantly, the enemy has appeared in front!”

“What? Did you see a flag? Or just skirmishers?”

Wellesley asked in surprise, and Lieutenant Colonel Picton, the reconnaissance commander, waved his hand and shouted.

“The Golden Eagle Standard! The flag of the Viceroy of the New World, Eugene!”

Eugene, who should be playing king in Madrid, has appeared.

***

Of course, Eugene’s arrival is no coincidence.

“Enemy sighted on the outskirts of Salamanca!”

Eugene is still wearing a French-style uniform.

This is partly because the Spanish military system is far behind that of France, but also because there was no time to prepare a uniform.

As soon as the coronation ceremony was over, Eugene marched north with only the Viceroy’s Guard Brigade and three elite divisions of the 2nd Corps, a total of 35,000 men.

This is because, in the original timeline, a battle between the British and French took place in Salamanca.

Of course, Masséna and Serboni, who were following behind, thought it was thanks to the successful reconnaissance.

“Indeed, Your Highness, or rather, His Majesty the King of Spain, Lasalle is the best. He has already completed the reconnaissance and returned.”

“Speaking of ‘His Highness,’ does that mean Lasalle and the Viceroy’s Guard will transfer to the Spanish army? Serboni?”

“I don’t know if they want to change their nationality, but in terms of military administration, they still belong to the French Grande Armée [Grand Army]. They are, after all, the guards of the Viceroy of New France. Marshal Junot as well.”

Serboni, the Chief of Staff of the 2nd Corps, shrugged his shoulders.

“Of course, our 2nd Corps is also likely to remain as a garrison in Spain.”

Currently, the French Empire stations troops in its so-called satellite states.

The Helvetic Republic, the Batavian Republic, the Duchy of Bohemia and the Duchy of Galicia, and the newly created Duchy of Warsaw are the same.

And Spain, where a new king has just ascended the throne and is bound to be unstable, goes without saying.

Of course, a large corps cannot be stationed indefinitely, so it will be reduced to about three divisions.

Masséna clicked his tongue, thinking that the soldiers who had been dragged here would be the target.

“This is very troublesome. My life plan was to finish this quickly, return to Paris, and enjoy a glamorous party.”

“Didn’t you decide to stand by the Viceroy, or rather, His Majesty the King of Spain?”

“That doesn’t mean I wanted to slave away in Madrid. Think about it. Junot only has to play the role of the guard commander, so I’ll have to do all the fighting in the end, right?”

Just as Masséna was grumbling, General Suchet, the commander of the corps’ direct division, shook his head.

“Well, it seems that His Majesty the King is going to lead the campaign himself.”

Eugene, who is at the head of the corps, is listening to the report of Lasalle, the commander of the returning cavalry brigade.

“Your Majesty, what shall we do? If you allow it, we can wipe out that small army.”

“Are they British?”

“Yes? Uh, I guess so? They don’t look Spanish.”

Eugene chuckled at Lasalle’s report and replied.

“If I send you on a reckless charge, you’ll just become cannon fodder for the redcoats.”

Lasalle eventually dies in a reckless charge in the original timeline.

Moreover, the redcoats, the British soldiers wearing red uniforms, are famous for their excellent marksmanship.

Because they control the area around India, the source of saltpeter, they can use a lot of gunpowder even during practice.

France has also put a lot of effort into gunpowder production, and they import some supplies from India, which Britain has not yet seized, through Egypt and the Mediterranean.

But it’s not comparable to Britain.

Of course, Lasalle would have been offended by that.

“Huh, are you provoking me? Have you found me unnecessary after using Ney and Murat? I’ll show you Lasalle’s breakthrough!”

“Lasalle, I’m being serious.”

“Yes? Uh, Your Majesty. Why are you doing this?”

Eugene stared at the slightly embarrassed Lasalle and turned his gaze.

“The enemy commander will be a man of honor. Hippolyte, go and propose a meeting.”

Hippolyte clicked his tongue and spurred his horse.

It’s not a pleasant task at all.

But now Eugene is not just Hippolyte’s friend or an appointed viceroy, but a real [crowned] King.

So, this is a royal order.

“Why is it always me who gets these dangerous missions? Understood!”

Of course, Eugene didn’t think for a moment that the British commander would kill the envoy.

***

Later in the original timeline, the man who would be called [Iron Duke] is very gentlemanly.

“I never thought we would meet like this. Prince Eugene Freischütz!”

Arthur Wellesley, or rather, Arthur Wellesley, the promising soldier who is merely the sixth son of the Earl of Mornington, is standing before me.

Furthermore, he is the man who would win at Waterloo and be granted the title of Duke of Wellington in the Netherlands.

Eugene felt his heart pounding for some reason and nodded silently.

“General Arthur Wellesley.”

“Do you know me? Well, I’ve heard that the Prince’s Sureté [secret police] spies are as widespread as our Alien Office [British intelligence]. Heh heh.”

“You killed Tipu of Mysore. I remember him because he was the one I originally intended to form an alliance with.”

In front of the Salamanca plateau, Eugene and Wellesley faced each other with only a few guards.

For Wellesley, negotiation is a better option than engagement, so it is inevitable.

But why did Eugene demand negotiation instead of fighting Wellesley?

Junot and Hippolyte, who were watching from the side, couldn’t figure out the reason and rolled their eyes.

At that moment, Wellesley clapped his hands in admiration.

“Oh, so your vision reaches as far as India. Those were good times. It was a battlefield of glory for me. Now, all I can do is run away.”

“Won’t you step down?”

“Oh, what do you mean by that?”

Eugene stared at the future Iron Duke with a face devoid of any smile.

“I don’t want to wage a war of attrition with Britain. If you retreat to London, I will open the way to Gibraltar.”

If someone who knew the original timeline was here, they might have mistaken Eugene for the Iron Duke.

But the reason why Wellesley is later called the Iron Duke is not just because of his stern expression after becoming a duke.

Wellesley smiled and firmly refused.

“That’s difficult. I have been ordered by the Prime Minister to establish a pro-British regime in Spain.”

Eugene nodded.

“Then, I have no choice but to fight. I’ll give you three days.”

Even in an unfavorable situation, he does not give up his goal.

That is the true foundation of the British Empire, the man who succeeded in conquering India, Wellesley.

Of course, in later original history, he was remembered in history for defeating Napoleon.

Watching Wellesley disappear into the distance with a nonchalant attitude, Hippolyte couldn’t help but ask.

“Why didn’t you catch him?”

Eugene replied without taking his eyes off Wellesley’s back.

“I probably can’t catch him.”

In fact, in the original timeline, Wellesley couldn’t catch Soult, but Wellesley is also formidable.

Besides, there’s no reason to confront the most dangerous enemy head-on.

At least, not yet.