He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 484

(484) The Empress, Queen, and Princess Defend the Main Camp

Here, the Palace of Fontainebleau was originally a separate palace.

“All of Paris is engulfed in the flames of rebellion, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Sérurier, the general appointed as the Governor of Paris, reported with a dismal expression.

He was a man destined to become one of the twenty-six Marshals in another timeline.

He had followed Napoleon since the Italian campaign, and although his age kept him from many expeditions, his skills were well-regarded.

However, while responsible for the defense of France in the Emperor’s absence, he had lost Paris.

Fortunately, the Empress, the Prince Imperial, and young Princess Florence were safe at the Palace of Fontainebleau.

But when the Emperor returns, he will naturally be held accountable, assuming the rebellion is contained.

Empress Josephine, shocked, gripped the railing of the throne and asked,

“The citizens, have they abandoned us?”

“Of course, those who have risen up are only a small fraction of the 400,000 citizens of Paris. However, as you saw during the Great Revolution, a preemptive strike can shift the tide.”

“Goodness, what on earth was Savary doing? And Fouché?”

In fact, the primary responsibility lies not with Sérurier, but with Savary, who heads the secret police, and Fouché, the Minister of Police.

Sérurier is strictly in charge of borders and external defense.

But the ministers responsible for public order are nowhere to be found in Fontainebleau.

Presumably, they would have fled here when the uprising broke out.

Minister of the Interior Chaptal reported, his face covered in soot.

“Both of them have lost contact. It is presumed that they have been captured or confined by the rioters.”

The Empress slumped down, unable to remain standing.

Beside her, Napoleon’s throne stood visible.

It was only a year ago that Napoleon sat on this throne, but it feels like a dream.

The fact that Paris is engulfed in the flames of rebellion sounds equally surreal.

Clearly, the French Empire was a system welcomed by the citizens.

Emperor Napoleon enjoyed high support from the citizens, and Empress Josephine was a beloved symbol.

But this rebellion has revealed how fragile that support truly was.

Suddenly, the Empress stared at Sérurier.

“General Sérurier, what should we do now?”

“For now, the Capital Defense Division near Paris will protect Your Imperial Majesty.”

“But if a revolution has occurred, can the army be trusted? Back during the Great Revolution…”

Twenty years ago, when the Great Revolution broke out, the Empress was in Martinique.

However, even after returning home, disturbances occurred constantly, and many were imprisoned.

The Great Revolution saw the overthrow of the House of Capet, which had lasted for a thousand years.

Could the Bonaparte family, which Napoleon had created in his own time and had shallow roots, withstand this?

Sérurier replied with a resolute face.

“The Capital Division I command is composed entirely of veterans from the Italian Expeditionary Force. They are the most trustworthy and loyal. There is nothing to worry about.”

The army was a power the Bourbon royal family never possessed.

Of course, the Bourbon royal family had a guard, held military command, and had officers composed of nobles.

However, not even a single private had affection for the monarch’s family.

The Bonaparte family is different.

Napoleon, Eugene, and even Josephine are regarded as symbols of victory.

Madame Victoire, soon Victory Madame.

That was Josephine’s nickname in the military.

Josephine, with a slightly regained composure, asked again.

“Then, should we retake Paris?”

“That requires a decision from Your Imperial Majesty.”

“What do you mean by that? My decision? I’ve never made any decisions before, except perhaps for the rose garden.”

Sérurier, losing the confident expression he had shown until just now, hesitated and said.

“Currently, with His Imperial Majesty absent, only Your Majesty can make a decision.”

In fact, Sérurier had mainly made contributions in the rear during the Italian campaign.

Although he is a solid general, he is not the type to make critical decisions.

Also, the military capture of the capital is not simply a tactical issue but a political one.

If a bloody conflict breaks out when the army enters, Sérurier cannot take responsibility for it.

Josephine, realizing anew that she is the Empress, squeezed her eyes shut.

“This is not something I can judge alone. Where are Cambacérès and Talleyrand?”

“They are currently on their way to Fontainebleau. Fortunately, they were out on local inspections and diplomatic negotiations.”

“So, Paris has completely fallen into the hands of the rebels.”

Suddenly, Josephine opened her eyes.

“Then, we must protect the Bastille.”

The Bastille, once a prison for political prisoners and a fortress guarding the outskirts of Paris.

However, since the revolutionaries occupied it and seized the armory during the French Revolution, it has been virtually abandoned.

But why did Josephine suddenly say that it should be protected?

Unable to understand the reason, Sérurier blinked and asked again.

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s a symbol of the revolution, isn’t it? Even if the rebels have occupied the Île de la Cité [Island of the City, the historical heart of Paris], they probably haven’t taken the Bastille yet.”

“I will call a scout to check.”

Josephine told Sérurier, who was trying to move busily.

“If it has been occupied, capture it. If not, just keep it in check from the outside. Then, the rebels will also be distracted by it, and we can buy time.”

The symbol of the revolution, the Bastille.

If the imperial faction defends or retakes it, it will have a political effect.

It signifies that Paris has not yet completely fallen to the insurgents.

Only then did Sérurier realize what she meant and saluted.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

However, when everyone had left, the Empress looked around the empty space and murmured anxiously.

“Come back quickly, Napoleone.”

All of this is just a temporary fix until Napoleon returns.

***

The Spanish Federal Kingdom is no exception.

“A rebellion has broken out in Madrid?”

The Queen, ‘Maria I’, who does not reside in the capital Madrid, asked back in disbelief.

Why on earth is a rebellion breaking out at this time?

Even taxes are being waived due to the past civil war.

The new Prime Minister of the Federal Parliament, Álava, replied heavily.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“What is the reason? I, no, We have no memory of imposing heavy taxes.”

“It’s the Armada issue.”

Armada, at first glance, is easily understood as the Invincible Armada.

But in fact, it simply means fleet.

The full name of the famous Invincible Armada in history is ‘Armada Invencible’, with the modifier ‘Invincible’ attached.

So, Álava is saying that the rebellion broke out due to the fleet issue.

“Currently, due to rumors that the fleet is in danger of being dismantled due to lack of tax revenue, the citizens of Madrid are enraged and rioting.”

Although it is an era when Spain has lost its hegemony, there is nostalgia for the days when it was a superpower.

Especially Madrid, which was the core of the former Kingdom of Castile, is even more so.

However, as taxes were exempted and each region of the kingdom was divided and made autonomous, the royal finances became insufficient.

Therefore, discussions are underway to reduce the defense capabilities that rely on France, and Madrid, dissatisfied with this issue, has revolted.

Of course, it is an absurd story for Marie.

“That makes no sense. Prime Minister Álava. If that were the case, the rebellion should have broken out here in Seville first. Besides, the reduction of the fleet is not a decided matter.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. The citizens of Seville are moved just by Your Majesty residing here. In fact, we are planning to expand the fleet by borrowing loans from France.”

“Then what is the problem?”

Álava sighed.

“You have been away from the capital for too long. His Majesty the King has completely vacated the country.”

If Marie had stayed in Madrid, the pride of the citizens of Madrid would have been intact.

However, as Spain became a Federation, the importance of Seville increased greatly.

Because it is a place where you can directly communicate with the New World colonies ranging from Nueva España [New Spain, i.e., Mexico], Peru, Río de la Plata [River of Silver, a historical region in South America], and Nueva Granada [New Granada, a Spanish colony in northern South America].

So, when Eugene ruled in Spain, he stayed in Seville, and Marie is doing the same.

After briefly touching her forehead, Marie asked back.

“You’re saying that it hurt the pride of the citizens of Madrid. Also, England is behind it, right?”

“There is a high possibility.”

“We should have captured the Port of Gibraltar quickly.”

Facing Marie, who frowned slightly, Álava carefully said.

“If you order, I will send letters to each Cortes [Parliament] of the Federation to raise a coalition army to suppress the rebellion.”

“Even if we do, they will say it’s a problem for Castile.”

“That’s… Um, that’s probably right.”

In fact, this is the biggest problem with the divide and rule policy that Eugene chose.

For each region, the events that occur in that region are the responsibility of the region’s resources alone.

This was the reality of the Spanish kingdom before the Bourbon family unified it.

However, Eugene chose a division policy, reverting to the old days when the Habsburg family ruled.

Of course, Eugene had the French Empire in mind and was planning to implement financial control.

“It’s a pity that the 2nd Army Corps is not here at times like this. Commander Álava, first send a letter to the leaders of the uprising. Let’s talk.”

When Marie ordered after much deliberation, Álava was startled.

“Your Majesty, negotiating with rebels is unheard of in the Spanish royal family!”

“That’s what happened in France, and eventually my father died.”

“Ha, but, Your Majesty, there is also a risk of ambush!”

Despite Álava’s dissuasion, Marie firmly told the Prime Minister and the court.

“I am the Queen of the Spanish Federation and the ‘mother’ of all Spanish subjects. Kill me? Then that person will be cursed by all Spaniards!”

All the vassals stared at Marie with wide eyes.

The queen in front of them is not just a princess who grew up in a greenhouse.

She is a person who survived the whirlwind of the Great Revolution and ascended to the throne of a foreign country.

“I will prepare, Your Majesty.”

Prime Minister Álava paid his respects.

It was the day that Marie, who was only a queen in name in Spain, took her first step as a monarch.

***

Across the Atlantic, the port city of Miami in Florida is noisy with cannon fire.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

At the Miami Governor’s Office, a woman who was listening to the cannon fire asked in disbelief.

“Aren’t those people Americans? Why on earth are they attacking us?”

The woman’s name is Hortense.

She is an imperial princess who has the Emperor as her adoptive father, the Empress as her biological mother, and a foreign king as her brother.

However, she was also enduring hardship by coming to the colonies of the New World instead of the French Empire.

No matter what, she never thought she would get caught up in a war.

Major General Dumas, the commander of the Miami garrison, frowned and reported.

“It seems they have joined hands with England.”

“Why? England and the United States were on bad terms, weren’t they?”

“I hear that the pro-British faction is in power now.”

Dumas sighed as he looked at the ‘American’ fleet firing cannons outside the harbor.

“If this continues, Florida may even be occupied.”

Of course, it is not yet an era when cannon fire properly reaches the land.

However, if the United States, with a population of over 5 million in the early 19th century, pushes with quantity, even the New France colonies are in danger.

Also, the home country is currently caught up in war and it is difficult to help the colonies.

Unfortunately, Deje, who oversees the military command of New France, had left on an expedition to the midwestern part of the continent.

Then Hortense slammed the desk and stepped forward.

“Stop talking like a coward, General Dumas! Just because Deje is not here, does that mean we should lose this land? This is land that my brother shed blood and sweat to return to France!”

“Uh, I remember he didn’t shed blood and sweat.”

“Call Governor Toussaint! We need to discuss defense measures!”

Hortense glared and stared at the enemies firing cannons outside the harbor.

“Until Deje returns, I have to protect this place.”

Eugene’s sister, Napoleon’s adopted daughter, Josephine’s daughter.

It was the moment when Princess Hortense began the defense of Florida against the American fleet.

Of course, all of this will be resolved when the two return to France.

Napoleon, and Eugene.