He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 502

(502) Drake’s Drum Sounds

England is steeped in strange legends.

-Boom!

Buckland, a small city 130 kilometers northwest of London, lies near the renowned Oxford.

This small city, however, is famous as the home of a man known to all Englishmen.

Francis Drake, the 16th-century English privateer [a government-sanctioned pirate] who, alongside Charles Howard, famously defeated the Spanish Armada.

In Drake’s old mansion, a drum remains.

The caretakers managing the historic mansion gathered, startled by a sudden drumbeat.

“What was that? Where did that drumming come from?”

“Is someone playing outside? Is there a military band nearby?”

“That was definitely the sound of a military drum.”

The caretakers—John, Sam, and Bob—exchanged puzzled glances.

This area is so rural that a military band would never pass through. Moreover, there’s no venue nearby that would host an orchestra playing drums.

The reason they manage the mansion is simply because it’s a historic site; the Drake baronial family, descended from Drake’s nephew, died out in 1794.

The current heir to this mansion, Baron Francis Augustine Elliot Heathfield, is serving in the Royal Guard in London.

So, there’s no one to play the drum in the Drake mansion, which is practically empty.

Suddenly, John’s gaze sharpened.

“C-Could it be that drum?”

In the center of the mansion sits a drum said to have been left by Admiral Drake himself.

A historic artifact transported across the Atlantic Ocean.

But just because it’s historic doesn’t mean that drum is some special magical object.

The caretaker Sam clicked his tongue.

“You’ve been watching too many Gothic horror stories lately.”

“Haha, I do enjoy *The Castle of Otranto* often.”

“A masterpiece. Horace Walpole’s work that epitomizes the last century. Hehe.”

Gothic horror, commonly known as Gothic novels, was a popular genre during this era.

A frenzy erupted when Horace Walpole published his first novel in 1764.

End of the century, the Great Revolution, and the war period.

That’s why the British became engrossed in horror novels. Moreover, England’s gloomy weather makes people accustomed to ghost stories.

The problem is that this mansion is also a dilapidated house where ghosts might appear.

Barely suppressing their fear, the caretakers exchanged jokes while discussing their Gothic novel preferences.

-Boom!

Again, the drum sounded.

“Did you hear that?”

“Unfortunately, I did.”

“Who is it? Is someone here neglecting the humidity controls?”

However, the inside of the mansion is remarkably dry, with no humidity to be felt at all.

Feeling eerie, the caretakers looked at each other and shivered.

Then, John, a Gothic novel enthusiast, spoke again.

“By the way, there’s a legend associated with that drum.”

“What is it?”

“You know that’s the famous Captain Drake’s drum, right? Legend says Drake knew when enemy ships appeared because that drum would sound at sea.”

John made a chilling expression and told Sam and Bob.

“So, when England goes to war, that drum sounds.”

Sam, John, and Bob shivered and shook their heads.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been managing this place for years, and I’ve never heard it sound. How many wars has our kingdom fought in the meantime, John?”

“Right? I actually thought the drum wouldn’t last this long, don’t you think so, Sam?”

“I think the same as Bob. Come on, ridiculous horror stories only come out in novels.”

Just then.

-Boom!

Again, the drum sounded, and John swallowed hard, slowly turning his head.

“Come to think of it, Drake was a brilliant commander who defeated the Armada.”

“Oh, so?”

“That was a desperate war for England’s very survival.”

Just as Sam was rolling his eyes, John said with an uneasy gaze.

“Maybe, it only sounds at times like that?”

Bob blinked and asked.

“Like what?”

Let’s say that drum is mysterious and sounds when a war breaks out.

Come to think of it, wars are happening one after another on the continent, and there are also news of England’s allies being defeated.

So, let’s say that’s possible.

But who on earth is playing that drum?

Is it even Drake’s ghost?

-Doooom!

At that moment, the caretakers screamed and ran out as the drum sounded again.

“Aaaagh!”

Drake’s drum.

A mysterious drum that later gained a legend of sounding during the World War in the original history.

At this moment, it was emitting sound as if it would never stop.

As if a war for England’s fate was about to begin.

***

Drake’s drum is truly famous.

Anyway, the King himself mentions it in front of the Prime Minister.

“Prime Minister, have you heard? Drake’s drum has sounded.”

Prime Minister Pitt raised his eyebrows and bowed his head.

It’s not good for rumors to spread that the King is into the occult.

Even now, there are rampant rumors that Prince George is involved in suspicious pagan rituals.

Besides, the King is often not in his right mind, is he?

After pausing for a moment, Pitt replied to King George.

“Your Majesty is too fond of horror stories.”

“Heh, you must be as mad as I am. There’s nothing to enjoy but novels.”

“May you live strongly and long, Your Majesty. Longer than I.”

Then George III widened his eyes, his white eyebrows prominent.

“This, I must ask. Can you endure until victory?”

Pitt, who is decades younger than George, looks as pale as a sheet.

Of course, 19th-century Englishmen have white skin like the descendants of the Saxons, but Pitt’s pallor is beyond normal.

If news of victories had been heard repeatedly, his health might have improved a little.

However, the news coming in is of repeated defeats. Even naval battles have been lost.

The pressure simply doesn’t go away.

Will victory ever come?

Pitt barely smiled and replied.

“I will endure, Your Majesty.”

King George sighed deeply.

He barely remembers hearing news of victory since ascending the throne.

America was lost, they lost in Egypt, and they haven’t even gained a foothold in Europe.

The only news of victory seems to have been in India, but that’s an outdated army far behind Europe, isn’t it?

Now, even the monster of France, Napoleon, seems to have returned.

Of course, George knows that Pitt is a capable prime minister, but that doesn’t mean he’s good at conducting wars.

Wondering if there’s really a way to win, King George asked.

“I’m sure you’re doing well even without me asking, but how is the war situation?”

“Napoleon won at Leipzig. King Karl is believed to have been killed in action, and King Maximilian has turned to Napoleon’s side. The self-proclaimed Emperor Wilhelm is currently seeking asylum.”

“Hamburg? Oh no, Sydney is dead, is there anyone brave enough to cross the North Sea?”

There was no intention to be sarcastic.

But Pitt seems to have been hurt.

Clenching his teeth, Pitt told the King.

“Still, Your Majesty’s Royal Navy is intact. Soon, you will be able to meet Wilhelm in London.”

He couldn’t even ask if the Kingdom of Hanover was safe.

In fact, it’s a meaningless question.

England is already at war with Napoleon, and if they don’t win, the Electorate of Hanover inherited from their ancestors will also be lost.

George shook his head and said again.

“Good. Then Napoleon will return to France.”

“No, he won’t be able to set foot in Paris.”

“Huh, why? No matter how quickly our navy transports troops, there won’t be enough time, will there? Napoleon is said to be as fast as lightning.”

Of course, Napoleon may spend time reorganizing his army again.

However, there is no longer any force in continental Europe to stop Napoleon. Even because of the rebellion in his home country, it is time for the Grande Armée [Napoleon’s Grand Army] to return to France.

But Pitt said something unexpected.

“Already, mercenaries from all over the world, from Your Majesty’s territories, have departed.”

George’s eyes widened.

It’s the first time he’s hearing this.

Even though it’s an era where the cabinet effectively rules the kingdom, wasn’t war at least the king’s business?

Above all, the colonies are nominally royal territories.

After shivering for a moment, George calmed down.

“When? No, it’s meaningless. The Queen must have approved it when I wasn’t in my right mind.”

“I am sorry.”

“Speed is important in military matters, so there’s no need to apologize to me. But I’m curious.”

This time, George asked in a truly sarcastic tone.

“How exactly do you intend to stop Napoleon’s return and defeat him again?”

He dispatched troops without even asking the King.

Then he must win.

Otherwise, even if the King is mad, he will remove the Prime Minister.

“The tactics are up to the new commander-in-chief, Arthur Wellesley.”

“That friend is the son of the Earl of Mornington, isn’t he? Was he the Governor-General of India?”

“The Governor-General of India is Arthur’s brother, Richard. He is also currently the Earl of Mornington.”

Lightly pointing out that George’s memory is not normal, Pitt said firmly.

“However, I can tell you the strategy. First, we will liberate the Dutch Republic to tie down France’s feet.”

The moment the Netherlands is liberated from under the French jackboot, England will finally be safe.

Also, Paris comes within range of the British army.

That’s why France set out to conquer Flanders during the Great Revolution.

But George couldn’t help but ask again.

“How exactly? Even though it’s in the middle of a civil war, doesn’t France have a large army stationed in Flanders?”

This time too, Pitt’s answer was simple.

“We have also sent a large army.”

So, a war of attrition is Pitt’s grand strategy.

***

The Dutch coast is notoriously difficult to land on.

-Swish.

However, there is virtually no French fleet in the North Sea.

At best, the Batavian Republic’s [Dutch Republic under French control] own fleet has been working hard to defend the coast.

However, due to repeated internal uprisings recently incited by England, they no longer have the capacity to send out the fleet.

This is how a large fleet safely crossed the North Sea to Holland, the old capital of the Netherlands.

“I see the lowlands!”

General Clinton, standing at the bow, shouted, and Collingwood, who had been commanding the fleet, turned his head.

“Originally, landing is difficult in the lowlands.”

“Don’t worry, Admiral Collingwood. We have carried out amphibious landings in even worse seas.”

“But are those Hindu friends familiar with the sea?”

Looking back at the soldiers wearing Hindu turbans, Arthur Wellesley chuckled.

“Those friends have more problems with the cold than the sea. Well, it’s a moderately hot season now.”

Fortunately, the season is summer in July.

It’s a hot period for the Netherlands, which is a relatively cold region.

So the tropical soldiers, the Hindu Legion, each shouted and jumped off the ship.

“In the name of Shiva! Defeat the enemy!”

“Let’s go!”

“Vishnu, please have mercy on us who kill the enemy!”

At the forefront is, of course, Wellesley.

“Now, we take the great first step to overthrow the oppressor Napoleon in the lowlands!”

With Wellesley at the head, the Dutch liberation army entered the lowland mud all at once.

-Splish, splash, splosh!

July 7, 1810.

England finally landed on the European continent.

Under the command of Wellesley, the master of Indian conquest.

Only to defeat Napoleon.