He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 435

435. Persuading Napoleon to Approve the Federation

In reality, the war in Spain was far from over.

-Bang!

A gunshot rang out towards the high Torres Vedras defensive lines.

Of course, the shot wouldn’t even reach the walls.

A sentry briefly came up to check, then went back down.

It was as if the troops stationed here didn’t even care.

Massena clicked his tongue.

“That defensive line is really high.”

Then the Chief of Staff of the 4th Corps, Serboni, grumbled.

“Frankly, Marshal, if King Eugene, or rather, Viceroy Eugene, had attacked it early on, it wouldn’t be this bad.”

“Major General Serboni, that’s why you still haven’t been promoted.”

“What kind of insult is that? Once you go above the division commander level, there’s only the corps commander left.”

Massena laughed heartily and turned around.

“Haven’t you heard they’re creating a lieutenant general rank between major general and marshal this time? Unfortunately, you’re not included in that. It’s because you weren’t at Austerlitz [a major Napoleonic battle].”

This was not Spanish territory, but the Kingdom of Portugal, near the capital, in the Torres region.

In September 1807, the French 4th Corps had been stuck here for over half a year.

This was because Eugene had urgently dispatched Massena when Wellesley’s British forces showed signs of advancing beyond the defensive line.

It was as if Eugene and Marie were willing to be surrounded by Spaniards.

However, both Eugene, who sent him, and Massena, who arrived, were quite relaxed.

This was because they were confident that Eugene had completely taken control of Madrid, or rather, the Castile region.

Currently, there was no news of any rebellion.

As Massena inspected the 4th Corps encampment in the Torres region, Serboni questioned him.

“So, are you telling me to work under Marshal Oudinot or Marshal Lannes? I refuse, Your Excellency.”

“That’s your problem. You judge with your heart when you should be judging politically. If you think about it, it would have been easier to rise in the world because you’re from Corsica.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, just tell me straight. Are you saying that King Eugene did well not to attack?”

Massena shrugged and replied.

“Isn’t that right? King Eugene made the right decision. If we had fought a war of attrition here, even if we won, rebellions would have broken out all over Spain.”

This was something Massena faced in the original history as well.

When the Peninsular War broke out, Massena was dispatched to replace the marshals who had repeatedly failed.

However, Massena had to face Wellesley, who had already built strong defenses.

He racked his brains to break through the defensive line, but it was all in vain, and he was forced to retreat due to supply lines being cut off by guerrilla rebels.

In comparison, the current stalemate was rather favorable.

Of course, the Italian Beauharnais Cartel, which was in charge of supplies, was taking quite a loss.

At that moment, a general who was moving patrol units in the camp approached and asked.

“Then, shouldn’t we retreat too?”

Massena scoffed at the general who asked the question.

“Suchet, you’re making quite a shrewd remark.”

“Being under Your Excellency, I’ve developed a sense. Isn’t our mission to block the British forces here?”

“It’s not even a complete blockade, really. They have all the naval power.”

Massena frowned as he looked at the distant coastline.

“Of course, there’s something strange. It seems like they’re not blockading the Spanish waters? Why is that?”

In reality, Portugal had lost half of its territory.

This was not only because they didn’t have the strength to oppose Massena’s 80,000 troops, but also because the British forces hadn’t been fighting with all their might.

If they had used their full strength, the British Navy would have blockaded the Spanish waters, regardless of the Atlantic or Mediterranean.

However, as the Cortes [Spanish parliament] representatives from the New World had come, Britain was not actively implementing a naval blockade.

Massena was thinking that something must have happened within Britain when.

-Doo-doo-doo!

A series of cavalrymen were seen galloping from the north.

“Hee-ho! Marshal Massena, still playing in front of the fortress today! Where are you!”

“Now, now, General! You must follow procedure! You can’t just come in like this!”

“Why are you being like this with allies? Lamark, was it? You should learn some tricks too!”

Massena looked at Lasalle, the leader of the cavalry who had suddenly rushed in, and said to Serboni.

“That guy will never become a marshal.”

“That’s right.”

“But he might become the commander of the Imperial Guard. Hey, Lasalle!”

In fact, even if they were the same French army and had met before, procedures had to be followed when a messenger unit arrived.

However, Lasalle ignored the notification procedure and ran through the camp.

Of course, Massena was not as formal as Lasalle, so instead of scolding him, he asked about the matter first.

“What brings you here so noisily?”

Lasalle jumped off his horse and smiled.

“It’s a request from His Majesty, King Eugene. He said to leave only the Suchet division here and move to Seville to assist the King of Spain.”

“Isn’t that an order?”

“Hey, it’s just the King of Spain asking a French marshal for a favor.”

As Massena was about to scoff at Lasalle’s banter, Lasalle said with a meaningful look.

“I think they’re about to do something big.”

Massena narrowed his brows and started to move.

“I hope it’s not a war. The people here are tenacious. Let’s prepare to return!”

So, Eugene was calling the most important forces.

Just before making a decision that would shake Spain.

Even giving up the blockade of Wellesley.

***

This decision had to be reported to the Tuileries Palace in Paris.

“Jomini? Ah, yes. The Swiss man who is Eugene’s chief of staff. What’s the matter?”

Jomini bowed his head towards Napoleon, who was still surprisingly not gaining weight.

“Actually, Rochejacquelein is more suited for this kind of task than I am. But since I am currently serving His Majesty, I had no choice but to come. Heh heh.”

“There’s no need to tell me that Rochejacquelein is Eugene’s man. It will only hinder Rochejacquelein’s promotion. Fouché and Savary are against it.”

“I don’t think he’s a friend who wants a promotion. Anyway, I was ordered to present a letter to His Majesty and receive a reply, so I came here like this.”

Napoleon glanced at Jomini, who was speaking in fluent French, and took the letter.

“Introducing elections in Spain?”

Napoleon’s eyes widened in surprise, and Jomini smoothly added.

“Limited elections, Your Majesty.”

“Have you considered the impact that will have on our France? As it is, our empire is now reducing elections as much as possible and extending the terms of office of the members of parliament.”

“I understand that you feel threatened by elections, Your Majesty. However, King Eugene told me to tell his father, His Majesty, the following.”

Napoleon was very sensitive to public opinion.

Napoleon also knew that elections could threaten the power of the monarch.

But if Eugene fully introduces the electoral system in Spain, how will French public opinion move?

Could an election craze break out in France?

However, Jomini mentioned another aspect.

“Only the members of parliament elected by election will accept French rule, unlike the nobles.”

Napoleon narrowed his eyes.

Eugene sometimes does things that are hard to understand.

But when you look back, there is a rational reason for Eugene’s actions.

There must be a calculation behind the introduction of the electoral system this time.

What on earth is it?

“Why is that?”

“The nobles are strong. They have land, connections, and assets that have been passed down for generations. But the members of parliament, even if there are some nobles, are ultimately emerging forces. They must rely on the monarch or a greater power.”

“That’s the French Empire?”

Jomini smiled with a coaxing expression towards Napoleon.

“Furthermore, it will be easier for you to rule Spain with financial power, not military power.”

Napoleon raised his eyebrows and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Cook, do you think I forgot that Eugene manages most of my assets?”

“I’m not just talking about Your Majesty’s wealth or gold.”

“Hahaha! I know. But isn’t Eugene the richest man in France, not me!”

At that moment, Napoleon slammed the desk violently and shouted.

“You’ve come up with a very interesting idea, Eugene!”

On the other hand, the ministers who were listening to Napoleon’s instructions were bewildered.

Even Jomini, who brought Eugene’s letter.

But Napoleon, who had read Eugene’s intentions, turned his head and looked for the Minister of Finance.

“Mollien!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Tell me.”

“Eugene has declared that he will entrust Spain’s finances to France. Draw up a plan to take over the Central Bank of Spain.”

As Mollien was about to write down Napoleon’s instructions, Napoleon turned to Jomini.

“Will this work, Jomini?”

Jomini’s mouth dropped open.

Napoleon hadn’t even heard all of Jomini’s words yet.

In fact, Jomini had not imagined this kind of solution.

But after combining Eugene’s instructions and Napoleon’s words, he understood.

From the beginning, Eugene was talking about [financial domination] to Napoleon.

“Indeed, no one can follow His Majesty’s genius. I will tell him that. Your Majesty.”

Everyone in that place trembled.

At the scale of the Bonaparte father and son’s political strategy that dominates France in this era.

***

Of course, in fact, Eugene did not come up with this method only for Napoleon’s sake.

“The Central Bank of Spain is on the verge of bankruptcy? Jacques, is that really true?”

Ippolito, the chief aide to the king, who was still staying at the Seville Palace, asked urgently.

The boy standing in front of Ippolito is Jacques, the youngest son of the Rothschild family.

He was sent to Eugene as a hostage and attendant in the past, but in reality, he is almost a secretary.

Jacques, who had been inspecting the books of the Spanish Royal Central Bank under Ippolito’s instructions, nodded.

“Yes, Chief Aide. When I looked at the books, it was certain that it would go bankrupt within a month if there were no additional contributions.”

“Oh, so that’s why Eugene said he would borrow the power of France!”

“But, why did you say it would also benefit the nobles? I really don’t know about that point.”

At that time, a clear voice was heard from outside the palace office.

“Because the great nobles who invested in Banco de España [Bank of Spain] will also go bankrupt.”

Jacques bowed his head in a hurry and paid his respects.

“Your Majesty, have you arrived?”

“Are you learning your job well, Jacques? How are you doing?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am being treated more than well in both respects.”

Eugene smiled and patted Jacques on the shoulder.

Jacques Rothschild, who will later dominate French finance in the original history.

However, if he grows up under Eugene’s care from a young age, he will naturally become a pro-Eugene faction.

At that time, Ippolito asked urgently.

“Wait, but the people of the New World couldn’t invest in the central bank, could they?”

Eugene smiled and replied.

“Yes, the New World may be ahead in agricultural production, mining production, and industrial production. But.”

“Finance is made to be controlled by the home country?”

“That’s right, Ippolito.”

Eugene looked at the ledger with double-entry bookkeeping.

Banco de España, a bank created by the Spanish royal family at the end of the 18th century.

However, it was already on the verge of bankruptcy due to reckless management and repeated wars.

Originally, in the original history, it was barely saved by a special contribution from the royal family after the end of Napoleon’s rule.

But now, French capital will be invested and a system of indirect financial control will be realized.

“Voting is freedom, the monarch is responsibility, and capital dominates. This is the new Spanish ruling system.”

That is the solution that Eugene, as the monarch of Spain, persuaded the Emperor of France.

Furthermore, even the nobles of Spain and the influential figures of the New World.

However, as Napoleon had realized, there was one flaw in this.

That is, the number one financier in France is Eugene.

In September 1807, Eugene’s system of domination through finance took its first step.