He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 442

(442) Eugene Proposes a Royal Marriage Alliance

If rulers could live forever, hereditary succession wouldn’t be an issue.

“Insolent! After all I’ve done for that noisy fellow, he stabs me in the back?”

Napoleon’s roar echoed through the Tuileries Palace office.

In truth, Napoleon was only 39 years old.

Even if human lifespans weren’t as long as in modern times, it wasn’t yet time to panic about a successor.

Moreover, unlike in the original history, his adopted son was highly capable, and he already had a biological son.

However, that was precisely the cause for concern.

The adopted son was too capable, the biological son was young, and the bigger problem was that they were half-brothers.

Therefore, even though it wasn’t yet time to worry about succession, Napoleon’s mind was complex.

Yet, without Napoleon even mentioning it, voices against hereditary succession emerged from the Council of Five Hundred.

Furthermore, Desmoulins wasn’t an anti-emperor like Babeuf, but someone Napoleon had showered with benefits.

Then, Talleyrand, leaning on his cane, tilted his head.

“The timing is curious, Your Majesty.”

“What do you mean, Talleyrand?”

“This happened just as King Eugene left Paris and even Princess Hortense departed for the New World. This cannot be a coincidence.”

Of course, Talleyrand was among those who most wanted Eugene to leave Paris.

However, he seemed regretful that a situation was unfolding that shook Napoleon, or rather, the Emperor and his close aides.

If Eugene had been in Paris, he might have used his friendship with Desmoulins to suppress the remarks.

However, there was something odd about Talleyrand’s words, and Napoleon blinked as he asked back.

“Eugene, I understand, but why Hortense?”

“Were you not aware? Currently, the forces leading the social scene in Paris are mostly close to the old royalists or anti-imperialists. The only pro-imperial figure was Princess Hortense.”

“What’s so great about those gossiping people at parties?”

As Napoleon scoffed, Talleyrand spoke with an elegant demeanor.

“Your Majesty, those are the very people who originally started the revolution.”

It had been eight years since the 19th century began.

However, the social scene in Paris was still dominated by salons [gatherings in private residences to discuss intellectual and artistic ideas].

Salons that should have collapsed after the revolution.

But because Napoleon’s rise to power was so smooth, salons remained central to social life.

The problem was that this social scene had become a meeting place for old royalists.

In any case, the old aristocracy originally dominated the social scene.

However, after the French Revolution began, the old aristocracy was ousted from power at once.

All of this was confirmed when Napoleon came to power.

Except for some revolutionary aristocrats who cooperated with Napoleon, most of those moving in the center were bourgeois [middle class] and soldiers who participated in the revolution.

On the other hand, unlike during the French Revolution, old aristocrats, except for those who were completely royalist, were allowed to return.

Some even had part of their old property returned.

Aristocrats who had lost political power but were wealthy.

They were gathering in salons, complaining about the Emperor.

Hortense was one axis that protected Napoleon in this salon social scene.

However, after Eugene’s continuous requests, Hortense finally went to the New World to marry Desais.

Of course, the reason Napoleon hadn’t allowed it until now wasn’t because of the social scene, but because of a patriarch’s natural reluctance to send his daughter far away.

Suddenly, Napoleon scoffed.

“Nonsense, I’m more concerned about those workers.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Look at the British newspapers!”

Napoleon’s hand threw the newspaper on the desk.

-Whack!

Talleyrand, who was leaning on his cane, couldn’t catch it in time.

Instead, Napoleon’s chief of staff, Louis Constant Berry, quickly picked up the newspaper.

As Talleyrand carefully looked at the newspaper that Constant showed him, Napoleon recited the contents aloud.

“Factories are being built in London, farmers are becoming factory workers, and disputes are frequent as machines are introduced. The British like to write about this honestly.”

“If you like honesty, there’s no reason to be angry with Camille or Chateaubriand.”

“That’s different! I need to know the information accurately, but my people don’t need to know it accurately!”

Talleyrand made a dumbfounded face.

Of course, this was a statement that simultaneously showed Napoleon’s brilliance and stubbornness.

Throughout his life, Napoleon praised British newspapers and criticized the French press.

However, it was naturally because of Napoleon that the French media only repeated parrot-like sounds.

Anyway, it was now 1808, and the famous Luddite riots [protests against industrialization and new technology] would occur in 1810 in the original history.

In short, collective actions by workers resisting the Industrial Revolution were about to occur in England.

But wouldn’t France have these problems too?

Rather, thanks to Eugene’s involvement, it had become even bigger.

“Anyway, we’re bound to have these problems too. Industrialization is already underway in the Vendée.”

“That’s true. But you can worry about that in ten years. According to Mollien’s report, the people who pay the most taxes in France are still large landowners and traders.”

“Anyway! Workers are more dangerous than those socialites who only talk. But Desmoulins is different!”

For a moment, Napoleon gritted his teeth and glared.

“He’s clearly the most powerful figure in the lower house! How dare he oppose hereditary succession!”

Moreover, from Napoleon’s perspective, he was an ungrateful fellow.

Why?

Because it was Napoleon who saved Desmoulins during the Anti-Coup that occurred in Vendémiaire [a month in the French Revolutionary Calendar, referring to a specific event].

Yet, he was bringing up the theory against hereditary succession like this; it was unbelievable.

In a flash, Savary, the Minister of Police and head of the secret police, who had been listening silently, opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, if you wish, we can kill him.”

“What? Savary, what are you talking about?”

“He deserves to die for daring to betray Your Majesty’s grace.”

Napoleon was momentarily speechless at Savary’s thorough words.

However, the one most surprised by Savary’s mention of assassination was someone else.

As if in competition, Fouché, who had now risen to the position of Minister of Security, cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“Ahem, Your Majesty. Even if we don’t kill him, there are ways to expose scandals.”

Napoleon now had an interesting expression.

“Scandals?”

“Yes. For example, issues with women, bribery, or involvement in vested interests.”

“Desmoulins is clean. How could that simpleton cause trouble with women! I thought you had already discovered something!”

Napoleon waved his hand, but Fouché twisted his lips.

“If there aren’t any, we can create them. Frame him, or set a trap.”

In short, he was saying to ruin Desmoulins.

Whether by killing him outright or politically.

However, Napoleon was a generous man in these situations and hesitated for a moment.

In any case, during difficult times, Desmoulins was a pro-Bonaparte member of parliament who took the lead in making Napoleon the Consul.

Suddenly, Napoleon turned to another head of intelligence, as if rebuking him.

“While the Minister of Police and the Minister of Security are pledging their loyalty to me like this, what are you doing? Chief Surte?”

Rochejacquelein blinked and bowed politely.

“I am not skilled in such matters, Your Majesty.”

“That’s ridiculous. The man who oversaw espionage across New France, Spain, and Central Europe is saying that.”

“I was merely following the orders of King Eugene.”

Rochejacquelein, who had lightly turned the conversation, took out a letter.

“I didn’t expect this situation to arise, but His Highness sent a letter.”

Napoleon hurriedly accepted the letter.

Napoleon knew well that Eugene often came up with extraordinary solutions in these situations.

In an instant, Napoleon narrowed his brows.

“If problems arise, solve them with marriage?”

Unlike Napoleon, who was famous for his poor handwriting, Eugene wrote in neat cursive.

There was no way he could have misread it.

Napoleon, lost in thought, instructed Rochejacquelein.

“I need to hear the story directly. Tell Eugene to come to Marseille.”

“Your Majesty, King Eugene is now the ruler of a country, so it’s not that easy.”

“This is a matter of the survival of the French Empire, no, the Bonaparte family! Talleyrand!”

Marseille, the southernmost part of the French Empire, was 774 kilometers from Paris.

However, it was a whopping 1490 kilometers from Seville, where Eugene had recently been staying.

Of course, he had ordered it expecting him to use a ship, but it was by no means a simple matter.

Moreover, from Eugene’s perspective, wasn’t it an event where a king visited another country?

“It is an imperial order! Summon the King of Spain immediately!”

However, Napoleon’s order was firm.

In any case, for Napoleon, Spain was ‘already’ the country of his adopted son, soon to be a vassal state.

***

Of course, Eugene was caught completely off guard.

“I can’t believe you’ve become so afraid of the opposition and the media.”

In fact, Eugene’s thought that Spain was a vassal state wasn’t much different.

So, the fact that Napoleon, nominally the ruler of another country, was summoning him wasn’t something that hurt his pride at all.

However, regardless of pride, having to travel 1490 kilometers, an even greater distance by sea, was no ordinary matter.

What if an accident happened within Spain while he was away?

It was true that this kind of matter couldn’t be handled by letter, but it was still too much.

Eugene was just thinking that he should have invented the telephone sooner.

Then, his chief secretary, Hippolyte, shook his head.

“Wasn’t it King Eugene who created a constitution that prevented the Emperor from dictating in the first place?”

“That’s true, but laws can be changed.”

“But when His Majesty was in the New World, it was the early days of the founding, so there was no time for that. Then it was immediately war.”

Hippolyte lightly pointed out.

“Just as you were trying to solidify your position, Desmoulins suddenly came out. But the French are actually the people who cut off the king’s head.”

So, the fact that Napoleon was in trouble now was actually because of Eugene.

Of course, Napoleon probably knew this fact, unlike others.

However, he must have left it alone because he was confident that he could change the situation at any time.

The reason he was calling Eugene now was to ask if there was a way to avoid bloodshed as much as possible.

Eugene smiled bitterly.

“I’m glad I became the King of Spain, full of subjects loyal to the king.”

“Where is such a country? The Majesty in front of me is the King of Castile and Aragon, Leon and Galicia, Granada, and Nueva España and La Plata, and where else? Anyway, that kind of place?”

“Peru and Nueva Granada. In fact, thanks to dividing it like this, my work has increased even more.”

Suddenly, Eugene turned around at his office desk and clicked his tongue.

“The administrative work is really no joke.”

It couldn’t be compared to when he used to rule a viceroyalty with a population of 300,000.

Back then, he only had to worry about exploration, war, and diplomacy.

Now, he had divided power among the local Cortes [Spanish parliament], effectively establishing a personal union system of independent states, but strangely, there was a lot of work.

This was because the work of coordinating the relationship between the home country and the colonies had increased dozens of times as the two became equal.

For that reason, Eugene was effectively using Seville as the kingdom’s capital to communicate with the New World.

Ignoring the growing dissatisfaction in Madrid.

Suddenly, just as Eugene’s thoughts were becoming complicated again, Hippolyte asked.

“What are you going to do? You’re not going to ignore it, are you?”

“Are you telling me to be invaded by the French army right now? Besides, I’ve already suggested a solution.”

“No, you caused such a fuss because you hated arranged marriages. How can you suggest arranged marriages as a solution?”

Hippolyte was the one who had his fiancée stolen after Eugene suggested an arranged marriage.

Besides, Eugene himself had rejected Napoleon’s arranged marriage and effectively had a love marriage, hadn’t he?

However, Eugene smiled bitterly and replied.

“It’s easy if you use a couple who are already dating.”

Then, the parties involved would have no reason to oppose the arranged marriage.

***

Since ancient times, humans have married outside to defeat enemies and increase friends.

“Today, in a world ruled by monarchs, there’s no need to say more.”

Marseille Headquarters office, two powerful men who controlled Europe were meeting.

Usually, this kind of event would be a matter of great diplomatic record.

But now it was a secret meeting, and thorough security was being carried out inside and outside the headquarters.

Just the fact that two monarchs were coming here had to be moved secretly, so it was no ordinary matter.

However, it was a bit funny that the Emperor and King who had gathered like this were only discussing marriage.

Of course, only the King thought so; the Emperor on the other side had a serious face.

Napoleon, the person who created this funny meeting, glared at Eugene.

“So, who should the Bonaparte family marry? Perhaps the British royal family?”

At that moment, Eugene was so surprised that his mouth dropped open.

“Father, you really surprise me often and greatly.”

“So that’s a yes?”

“No. It’s a method I never even thought of. Besides, the risks are too great.”

Eugene shook his head and explained.

“England is not a country with enough faith to not attempt war even if they have a royal marriage.”

In fact, the British royal family, the Hanover family, and the Bonaparte family forming a marriage was a plan that even Talleyrand couldn’t have imagined.

However, Eugene knew about the world wars in the original history, where England and Germany started wars even though their royal families were cousins.

Also, since England was a constitutional monarchy anyway, royal marriages rarely affected politics.

Napoleon, with a frustrated face, asked as if pressing him.

“Then who should marry whom as the answer?”

Eugene smiled leisurely at Napoleon and said.

“Pauline and Louis Charles Capet. In other words, the Bonapartes and Bourbons become one. Right in Paris.”

Napoleon was shocked.

First of all, the marriage itself was a problem, but there was another reason.

Looking at Eugene, Napoleon asked.

“Why is that the solution?”

Rather, it would be a marriage that strengthens the Bourbon support forces.