He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 433

(433) Eugene Throws the Bait of Power

The port of Seville had been an open gateway to the New World since the 15th century.

-Caw, caw, caw!

Even Buenos Aires, the best port city in the Viceroyalty of La Plata, wasn’t as large as this place.

Every time San Martin came here, he realized the New World hadn’t yet caught up with Europe.

Just outside Buenos Aires, the jungle awaited.

But at the same time, it was when he came here that he began to think the New World should be independent from the home country.

This place is too small.

The size of the Spanish kingdom is about 500,000 square kilometers, while the Viceroyalty of La Plata alone is 3.5 million square kilometers.

Of course, most of it is undeveloped, but Nueva España [New Spain, encompassing much of modern-day Mexico and Central America], the most developed of the New World colonies, was once all undeveloped.

For a moment, San Martin, lost in thought, sighed as he got off the ship.

“Hoo, I never thought I would come to the home country like this.”

Then, Jose San Martin’s friend, O’Higgins, asked from behind.

“Jose, why did they specifically call us?”

“Well, the new king is originally from the Americas. Although it’s the north. He may know our situation and told them to bring us.”

“That’s strange. I could understand Nueva España, but how did they know about us?”

Nueva España, or modern-day Mexico in the original history, is the most important New World colony along with Cuba.

Of course, strictly speaking, this Nueva España refers to the entire undivided colony.

For example, the Philippines can also be said to be within the jurisdiction of the Viceroy of Nueva España.

However, Nueva España usually refers to Mexico and Central America, which is right next to Nouvelle France [New France, a French colony in North America].

Originally, the territory of Louisiana was also managed by Nueva España.

One way or another, it is easy for the viceroy to know about the dissidents of Nueva España.

But how could they have investigated the far south, modern-day Chile and Argentina, which they had never contacted?

O’Higgins, who prided himself on never being noticed, was even more clueless.

Then, Bernardo O’Higgins widened his eyes.

“Wait, if that’s what you thought, why did you come?”

“Bernardo, why did you come?”

“Well, the king summoned me directly, and not coming is the same as treason, isn’t it? I had no choice but to come.”

As O’Higgins said as if he had no choice, San Martin smiled bitterly and replied.

“I have expectations for the new king.”

Again, before O’Higgins could ask what he meant, porters passed by them.

-Tap tap!

It could be seen at a glance that French workers were moving busily.

“Hey, move the luggage properly!”

“Is this the item going to Italy? Let’s go quickly!”

“Hurry! Another ship will be coming in a little while!”

Of course, they are shouting in French, but New World Spaniards also learn French as a liberal art.

In fact, San Martin and O’Higgins were rich in the New World, so they also went on a European Grand Tour [a traditional trip of Europe undertaken by upper-class European young men].

So, while San Martin was carefully listening to the workers’ words, O’Higgins tilted his head.

“What’s that again?”

“It must be the Beaumarchais cartel [a French trading company]. It must be a Mediterranean trade item.”

“Huh? How do you know?”

San Martin replied nonchalantly.

“There was a report from the British branch of the Freemasons. The new king has been bright in commerce since he was young, and he has almost taken control of the Mediterranean trade route. They told me to keep that in mind if I wanted to do an independence movement.”

Later, there is a conspiracy theory left in the original history.

The South American independence movement may have been triggered by England.

This is actually a conspiracy theory that started because of the Freemasons.

In particular, San Martin joined the Freemasons when he visited England and has since devoted himself to the independence movement.

That means he was deeply involved in the British Freemasons and the South American branch.

Of course, O’Higgins was not very surprised by that.

Because O’Higgins was also a member of the South American Freemason branch, the Lautaro Lodge.

Instead, O’Higgins frowned at the fact that the king was directly running a merchant guild, a French merchant guild at that.

“Isn’t that taking care of his own interests?”

“When you become king, the interests of the country become your own interests. Of course, those who didn’t know that have been taking the throne of Spain until now. However, the new king has achieved quite remarkable achievements in Nouvelle France.”

“Anyone who hears that would think you’re a loyalist to the king, not a member of a secret independence group. Haha.”

San Martin told O’Higgins, who was bursting into laughter, very seriously.

“It’s not impossible. If the new king really allows us New Worlders to have autonomy.”

O’Higgins looked at San Martin and nodded without realizing it.

In fact, the dissidents of La Plata are different from Nueva Granada or Nueva España.

Unlike Nueva España, which only dreams of independence from the home country, and Nueva Granada, where ambitious people who even dream of a republic have already started a rebellion, they are thinking of a constitutional monarchy.

But if the king of the home country is sane, unlike the previous Carlos IV, is there any need to establish another monarch?

It was then.

-Thud!

People in fancy clothes got off another ship, which was definitely from the New World.

“Oh, I’m finally back in Europe! I really missed it, Seville!”

“Since when did you become a Spaniard to make such a fuss?”

“Oh, Stephanie. Don’t be so angry. Anyway, we can go back to a pleasant European life now, right?”

You can see a man and a woman arguing lightly.

But the woman’s clothes, as well as the man’s, are unusual.

The latest French fashion, which even the New World upper class cannot wear, stands out.

In an instant, someone was seen speaking politely from behind the woman.

“Princess, I will escort you.”

Clearly, the woman was coming down with another handsome man.

In an era when free travel is usually difficult for women, the accompanying man is a guardian.

But how could one man push aside the man and say he would escort her?

The woman, Stephanie, smiled brightly and held out her hand.

“Will you?”

“Wait, leaving me, your fiancé?”

“Hmph, you played with other women not only in the New World but also on the ship! Get out of here! Hippolyte!”

Stephanie coldly shouted at the man, Hippolyte, and stepped down with the escort of another man.

Soldiers, who appeared to be escorts, were also embarrassed and followed Hippolyte, who was flustered.

O’Higgins clicked his tongue as he watched the scene.

“A very noisy group.”

“Maybe those friends are also Cortes [Spanish parliament] summoned by the king? Look at the flag, Bernardo.”

“Oh, come to think of it, it’s the royal flag?”

At that moment, someone spoke to the two.

“Are you San Martin and O’Higgins?”

When San Martin and O’Higgins turned their heads, they saw a young man in a neat military uniform standing there.

He must be in his mid-20s.

San Martin said to the young man, who looked a little younger than him.

“Who are you?”

“It’s nice to see you like this. I’m the one who called you.”

“Yes?”

At that moment, Hippolyte, who was running far away, turned around and shouted in surprise.

“Oh? Eugene, no, Your Majesty? What brings you here?”

In an instant, the busy port stopped all at once.

Of course, only those who understood French stopped, but there were many such people in this port.

For a moment, San Martin, who had been frozen, barely opened his mouth.

“Yo, Your Majesty?”

The young man, Eugene or Eugenio, smiled and replied.

“Yes, representatives of the New World Cortes. I am Eugenio I.”

Before they knew it, countless people were hurriedly getting off the ships that had come from the New World.

They were the members from the newly formed New World Cortes.

***

Simon Bolivar, San Martin, and Bernardo O’Higgins are all heroes of South American independence.

However, not all of them have the same thoughts.

Even Bolivar and Martin alone are not like that.

Above all, the truth is that none of them have properly started the so-called war of independence yet.

Suddenly, Martin opened his mouth.

“Anyway, I think we need a monarch.”

There is also a city council in the port of Seville.

Of course, it is not a place elected by elections like in France, but a traditional class-based council.

However, the parliament building was quite formally made, so it was enough to gather the members from the New World.

Also, it was a wonderful building for the members from the New World to see.

The 100 members gathered there all paid attention to San Martin.

Although he was still young, he was from a noble school in the home country, and his unwavering attitude attracted people’s attention.

Eugene also looked at San Martin with interest and asked.

“Why do you suddenly say that, San Martin?”

“I think there is a reason why Your Majesty called us. Also, I know exactly what it is when I see the people gathered.”

“What reason do you think it is?”

San Martin looked around and nodded.

“You have called the members of the Lautaro Lodge, Your Majesty.”

At that moment, the faces of the members turned pale.

The core of the Lautaro Lodge, the South American branch of the Freemasons.

Although it is headquartered in Caracas, important branches are scattered in the capitals and major cities of the Spanish colonies in the New World.

In fact, the members were hesitant and afraid when they saw each other.

Since it was a secret society, they only knew the faces of people from the same city branch.

However, it became clear when San Martin, the head of the branch directly appointed by the British Freemason Master, who was in a high position even in the Lautaro Lodge, spoke.

The king knew and summoned the Freemason members.

“No, 설마! Are you going to kill all of our New World independence activists!”

“Ha, it’s a trap!”

“Wait? Independence movement?”

It was when the members were confused with each other.

Because not all Freemason members are independence activists.

At that moment, Eugene fired a pistol into the air.

-Bang!

Everyone hurriedly lowered their heads and held their breath.

This is because the king’s title, called Freischütz [German for “free shooter”], the shooter of Matan, came to mind.

Shooter, Eugene looked back at everyone with cold eyes and said loudly.

“Everyone, shut up and take your seats. I didn’t set a trap, and I didn’t call you without knowing that you were independence activists.”

Of course, he didn’t call them knowing that they were members of the Freemason Lautaro Lodge.

Historically famous activists, dangerous people sent by the Viceroyalty, and information investigated by Surte [likely a reference to a character or organization providing intelligence].

He issued the summons based on these three things.

Then, someone kicked the chair and stood up.

-Thud!

It was Simon Bolivar.

“Then, why did you call us? The new king of Spain!”

Eugene replied to Bolivar, who was staring at him intently.

“I am the king of Castile and Leon, Aragon and Granada, and Nueva España and Granada, La Plata, and Peru, not Spain.”

Bolivar frowned as he thought about what that meant.

The current king called each region of the home country and the viceroyalty equally.

Could it be that he really sees the New World colonies and the home country the same?

In an instant, Eugene said again.

“Therefore, I want to appoint an elected viceroy to replace me in the New World. The reason I called you is because of that.”

All the members in the parliament hall were shocked.

***

Until now, the viceroy was only a governor-general selected from the home country.

“An elected viceroy! What does this mean? No, then who?”

“Th, th, this is an opportunity! Yes, he’s from France, isn’t he? He’s used to elections, so he made this proposal!”

“Our New World Creoles [people of Spanish descent born in the Americas] will rule directly instead of the Peninsulares [Spanish-born people residing in the colonies]!”

All the Creole members, that is, white members born in the New World, shouted excitedly in their lodgings.

In fact, Eugene’s proposal is a bomb, so it cannot be decided overnight.

Therefore, everyone came to the lodgings to consider Eugene’s proposal.

However, the proposal was so sweet that few people thought of rejecting it.

But Bolivar sat in the hall of the lodgings and muttered.

“This is a really clever trap.”

O’Higgins was surprised by the words and asked.

“Señor Bolivar, what do you mean?”

“Isn’t it? He threw the position of elected viceroy in the place where we gathered. Then, who does he think of as a candidate?”

“You don’t mean he’s giving us, who have nothing to do with it, the position of viceroy?”

Bolivar shouted, slamming the desk.

“If not, there’s no reason to call only the core members of the Lautaro Lodge and talk about this!”

At that time, San Martin opened his mouth with a calm attitude.

“Then, I should have expectations for the viceroy who will be elected this time.”

“Señor San Martin! What do you mean!”

“I think we need a king. I saw it when I came to Europe. How much blood a republic sheds.”

Originally, San Martin, who advocated a constitutional monarchy even in the original history, looked back at the members.

“So, it is best to establish a nominal king and have autonomy through the parliament.”

Most of those gathered here dream of independence.

However, it is not easy to fight against the trained army, developed civilization, and old ruling organization of the home country.

But the king made a conciliatory proposal.

If they don’t accept it, it’s war, but is it easy to beat the winner of Jena [a major Napoleonic victory]?

“Think carefully, Señor Bolivar.”

Bolivar glared at San Martin as he entered the bedroom.

Contrary to the original history, Bolivar would have rejected San Martin’s proposal.