He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 494

(494) Eugene Crosses the North Sea

There’s a sea that sailors in Europe dread above all others.

“I always thought it was the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic, but damn it!”

Ippolito screamed, witnessing the monstrous waves of the North Sea.

He had confidently navigated the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, boasting of his seafaring skills.

But now, he could only wail like a child, utterly overwhelmed by the tempestuous sea.

Indeed, even the most seasoned sailors often feel helpless against its might.

Suddenly, Nicolas Surcouf, a truly experienced sailor, rushed to the young king at the bow and exclaimed,

“The waves are enormous, Your Majesty! You must go inside!”

“No, I have to see for myself.”

“What is there to see? The storm rages whether you watch it or not.”

King Eugene of Spain firmly shook his head.

“The threat of the enemy fleet is what concerns me. If the British appear, shouldn’t I be here to command?”

They were at the juncture where the Baltic Sea meets the North Sea, off the coast of Denmark.

In truth, they were closer to the Baltic Sea.

Eugene was leading the Swedish and Russian battleships, designed for the northern seas, back home.

Even though it was spring, the waves were fierce, and the entire fleet was struggling against them.

For Eugene, however, it was merely an uncomfortable voyage, thanks to his [Silver Letter ability, allowing him to foresee danger].

– Swish!

Suddenly, Eugene’s face, which had been calm, changed drastically.

A strange sign had appeared in his Silver Letter.

Danger, and storm.

Eugene frowned and turned to Surcouf.

“Captain Nicolas Surcouf, what is our procedure when a storm hits?”

“Yes? Well, we lower the sails and hold on as best we can. Or, conversely, we can try to ride the wind.”

“I don’t like the sound of either right now. It’s a storm, plain and simple.”

Instantly, Surcouf began barking orders to the crew.

“Everyone, lower the sails and secure yourselves with ropes! Your Majesty, to the cabin immediately!”

The captain’s authority on a ship is absolute.

This isn’t just because a ship is a confined world.

It’s because the sea itself is beyond human control.

Soon after, a storm that even an emperor couldn’t command swept over them.

– Wooo!

Amidst the relentless waves, Chief Royal Secretary Ippolito screamed without shame.

“Save me! I crossed the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, only to die in the North Sea!”

“Stop talking nonsense and get to the cabin, Ippolito!”

“Ugh! I think I’m going to die here. Hortense, Julie, Caroline! Oh, I’m going to heaven first!”

Eugene, who was forcibly dragging Ippolito toward the cabin, stopped in his tracks.

He thought he’d heard a strange name.

Julie must be Julie Récamier [a famous socialite], and Caroline likely referred to Napoleon’s sister.

That alone was problematic, but who the hell was Hortense [Josephine’s daughter and Napoleon’s stepdaughter]?

– Crack!

Suddenly, Eugene punched the cabin wall, cornering Ippolito.

“Hey, you bastard. Did you mess with my sister?”

“Huh, Eugene, no, Your Majesty! A wave is coming! You should avoid that first!”

“Don’t suddenly act like a loyal subject. I thought I told you not to touch her since we were young?”

Could it be that he was playing around with Hortense while she was in Europe?

Of course, Eugene expected him to deny it, claiming it was a namesake, a mistake, or something similar.

However, Ippolito rolled his eyes and stammered out excuses that sounded less than convincing.

“No, well, Your Majesty… Wasn’t that only applicable to Her Majesty the Empress [Josephine]?”

Come to think of it, what Eugene had always emphasized to Ippolito was not to covet Josephine.

Because in the original history, one of the reasons Josephine’s life was ruined was her affair with Ippolito.

But wasn’t it obvious common sense not to mess with a friend and lord’s sister?

On the other hand, thinking about the original history, Ippolito seemed to have messed with the wife of a French military commander when he was a non-commissioned officer.

Eugene glared, wondering how to deal with this playboy.

“Your Majesty, you must go inside!”

In the end, thanks to Surcouf’s urging, Eugene couldn’t punish Ippolito and was forced to seek shelter.

“You’d better be prepared for interrogation later.”

“Oh, Your Majesty! If I can only return to Spain alive, I’ll endure torture and interrogation!”

“You’re funny. I’ll start as soon as we get to land. Huh?”

Then Eugene, who was entering the cabin, stopped again.

“This… are we getting into port faster?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a cannon roared in the air.

– Bang!

Hearing cannon fire at sea is usually a bad sign.

But at this moment, the faces of the sailors on the battleship lit up with joy.

Surcouf was the first to run up and shout.

“It’s the Danish royal flag! We’re alive!”

The masters of this sea, the Danish fleet, had arrived.

***

All of this had happened because Eugene insisted on returning via the North Sea.

In fact, there were several routes to return, even without Napoleon’s permission.

First, they could take the southern route that the French Imperial Army had marched into Russia, or they could go to the Mediterranean via the Black Sea and Constantinople.

It would also be possible to cross North Africa, the opposite of the route Rommel took during World War II.

If they had crossed the desert, the 4th Corps might have been happier.

But Eugene had ultimately chosen the North Sea.

He had a valid reason, of course.

It was to strike a surprise blow against the anti-French alliance concentrated around Napoleon.

However, it was undeniably a difficult march – no, a voyage – from the perspective of the soldiers on board.

Therefore, cheers naturally erupted when the Danish fleet made contact.

– Wow!

Amidst the unprecedented cheers of the French Imperial Army’s 4th Corps, the Danish fleet admiral saluted.

“Hello, Your Majesty. My name is Johan Ulfert Fischer. This is my adjutant, Steen Andersen Bille.”

“It is an honor to meet the victor of Alexandria! Your Majesty!”

“The honor is all mine to meet two such distinguished admirals. Heh heh. By the way, the victor?”

Eugene asked back, a strange feeling washing over him.

Fischer, and Bille.

Originally, they were Danish naval admirals who fought against Nelson in the original timeline.

They were defeated, of course, but their courage was admirable, and they are remembered as Denmark’s maritime heroes.

He felt a little embarrassed to hear them call him the victor.

The Battle of Alexandria was clearly a defeat.

But Vice Admiral Bille shouted with sparkling eyes.

“Of course! In the end, the dead are the losers, and the living are the winners. You sank Nelson, who held an invincible myth in the Atlantic, in the Mediterranean, so aren’t you the winner, Your Majesty?”

Even though he had never fought Nelson, he seemed to be in awe of him.

Denmark had lived very peacefully for 20 years, unlike in the original timeline.

Instead of the British burning Copenhagen, they had maintained a pro-French neutral stance.

This was because Russia had turned against Britain, and Britain didn’t have the resources to bother with Denmark.

But France and Britain had re-entered a state of war.

Furthermore, Emperor Napoleon had won in Russia.

King Frederick VI of Denmark, who had maintained neutrality for so long, finally made a decision.

To choose France, the ruler of the land, over Britain, the ruler of the North Sea – no, all seas.

It was the same decision he had made in the original timeline.

That’s why Eugene was optimistic that Denmark would help.

Suddenly, Ippolito sneered at Bille’s words.

“Oh, that friend is flattering a bit.”

“Even if you flatter a hundred times better, you know you won’t be forgiven.”

“Oh, Your Majesty! Let’s talk about that after we get back alive?”

Nicolas Surcouf, who was watching the king and chief adjutant from the side, tilted his head and whispered.

“To get back alive, we need the full support of the Danish fleet.”

Currently, Eugene’s goal was none other than Hamburg.

But to get from the Baltic Sea to Hamburg, they had to cross the Jutland Peninsula, or the Jutland Peninsula in Danish.

Of course, they were likely to fall within the detection range of the British Navy.

Therefore, the assistance of the Danish fleet, which was familiar with the North Sea, was essential.

The quick-witted Vice Admiral Bille reported.

“First of all, 9 battleships and 11 sloops are ready, Your Majesty.”

“The fleet supported by Sweden has 5 battleships and 10 sloops. Also, the Baltic Sea fleet that departed from Russia has 7 battleships.”

“Then there are a total of 21 battleships and 21 sloops. How far are you planning to go? I think it is possible to return sufficiently.”

Eugene shrugged at Bille, who asked confidently.

“The goal is to go around the Jutland Peninsula.”

Although he spoke in German, the Danish nobles of this era had German blood mixed in.

The Danish royal family itself came from Germany, and the Duchy of Holstein was still Danish territory.

Therefore, Admiral Fischer nodded without any hesitation.

“That’s our specialty, Your Majesty.”

“It’s definitely possible, heh heh!”

“But, with that much, you don’t have to prepare on such a large scale, you can just land, can’t you?”

The last point was Surcouf’s concern.

He seemed to have been thinking about it ever since he came to St. Petersburg on a smuggling ship and brought the fleet back.

In fact, if it was certain that Denmark was a friendly country, it would be much easier to go by land.

But Eugene shook his head.

It would have been easier to go by land, but it was difficult to strike at their weakness that way.

“If we can safely enter Copenhagen, that is.”

Besides, there were still variables.

Even the Danish naval admirals tilted their heads, not understanding what he was talking about.

Fischer asked carefully.

“What do you mean by that?”

At that moment, the whistle echoed loudly from the observation deck.

– Peeeep!

At the same time, Surcouf ran back to the bow and shouted.

“Ahead, unidentified fleet appears!”

While everyone’s faces changed, Eugene clicked his tongue.

“Finally, they’ve come. The British fleet.”

The enemy he expected but didn’t want to face.

The Great Britain Royal Navy had appeared.

***

So who was the British admiral who had ventured into the North Sea, no, the Baltic Sea?

“Hahaha! Finally, I’ve caught Eugene Freischütz!”

In fact, there weren’t many North Sea veterans in the British high ranks.

But there was an admiral who had gone beyond the North Sea to the Baltic Sea and had experience ringing the victory bell.

That was the man who had received a knighthood from the King of Sweden, Sydney Smith.

Berry clicked his tongue next to Sydney.

“Not yet, Admiral Smith.”

“Shut up, Berry. We met at sea, so it’s the same as catching him!”

“It looks like there are a few more.”

Unlike Berry, who was assessing the number of battleships, Sydney shouted boldly.

“Ha! Anyway, we win!”

Berry agreed with that and gave orders without objection.

“All fleets, prepare to intercept. Prevent the opponent from reaching the coast!”

Soon after, the flag signal was sent to the entire fleet.

– Flutter!

The Sydney Smith fleet had arrived in the North Sea.

To catch Eugene Freischütz.