He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 506

(506) The Liberator of the Netherlands, Wellington is Born

Yantwerpen, known as Antwerp in English, is a core city of old Flanders.

“If this place is breached, the road to Paris is essentially open.”

Looking at the hexagonal star-shaped walls, Clinton, the adjutant of the British Continental Expeditionary Force commander, said.

Of course, if it weren’t a strategic stronghold as Clinton said, Wellesley wouldn’t have come here himself.

But Yantwerpen, as directly observed, seemed impossible to penetrate.

The walls, originally built during the era of siege warfare before the Great Revolution, stand tall.

Observing the thick walls that even weakened the impact of shelling, Wellesley asked,

“The French Northern Army is virtually annihilated, so why is this place still resisting?”

“The mayor said he would hold out until the Emperor arrives.”

“That’s troublesome. This is a typical [Vauban style] fortress, making a breakthrough difficult.”

Wellesley clicked his tongue.

“The mayor has caught on to our weakness.”

Jan Steven Verbrauck, the current mayor of Yantwerpen.

Originally, he was a man who gained vested interests when Austria ruled Flanders.

However, after Napoleon took power, he immediately turned pro-French and served as mayor for over 10 years.

But why would such a shrewd Verbrauck engage in a siege?

In fact, Napoleon aimed to make Yantwerpen a port comparable to London and implemented intensive investments.

Thanks to that, Verbrauck also became a wealthy man.

Of course, he’s not just holding out out of gratitude.

It’s because Napoleon won in Leipzig.

If they hold out a little longer, there’s a very high possibility that Napoleon will return.

Also, they are confident that they can withstand a British attack.

Pointing to the seemingly solid castle and the moat surrounding it, Clinton said,

“From a macro perspective, Yantwerpen is a dangerous port. If we seize this opportunity to occupy and destroy it, it would be beneficial.”

“Why?”

“I heard that it was a more developed port than London in the Middle Ages. If France decides to pour resources into it, there’s a risk it could surpass London.”

To Clinton, who mentioned Napoleon’s strategy that was actually attempted in the original history, Wellesley simply replied,

“That’s a matter for Prime Minister Pitt to worry about, Clinton.”

The instability of London’s position as a port is of no concern to Wellesley or the Continental Expeditionary Force.

The number of Continental Expeditionary Forces that gathered in London and then moved back to the Low Countries totals 150,000.

Sending soldiers from all over the world, especially from India, home safely is a bigger task.

Of course, after winning.

At that moment, a sturdy-looking general, along with his guards, ran up and asked,

“What should we do? Should we start the siege?”

“Well, Lord Thomas Graham. Do so if you wish. But I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“There’s no need for someone who will soon become a Marquess to personally lead the siege.”

The deputy commander of the expeditionary force, Thomas Graham, stated with a serious face.

“His Majesty the King will soon bestow a title upon you. Congratulations.”

Originally, in the original history, Britain lavished titles on Wellesley.

Originally, he was the third son of the Earl of Mornington, an Irish nobleman born after the so-called conquest of Ireland.

However, the incident of granting him an earldom during the defense of Portugal, a Marquisate during the recapture of Spain, and then a Dukedom during the conquest of the Low Countries is truly unprecedented promotion.

It shows how psychologically cornered Britain was by Napoleon at the time.

But now that Napoleon is far more overwhelming than in the original history, the awarding of titles is naturally inevitable.

However, Wellesley only indifferently looks at the fortress.

After all, a title won’t tear down that star-shaped wall.

“A title, a meaningless honor if we don’t win.”

“Titles are not revoked even if you don’t win. Of course, I believe you will win.”

“Are you still filled with revenge against France?”

Then Lord Graham replied, still seriously.

“The French Revolutionary Army desecrated my wife’s coffin. I have a reason to take revenge.”

Originally, Lord Graham was a follower of liberalism and a lover of the French Revolution.

However, his wife, who was famous for her beauty, fell ill and went to southern France for treatment.

Unfortunately, his wife eventually died.

The problem arose after that.

In 1792, revolutionaries surrounded Lord Graham’s party as they were returning home with his wife’s coffin.

At that time, Britain and France were fighting, and national sentiment was bad.

The revolutionaries broke the coffin containing Lord Graham’s wife and insulted it.

From that moment on, the Baron made it his goal to destroy France.

He has lived as a bachelor without remarriage and has since devoted himself to the military, going wherever France is fighting.

Just as Lord Graham was about to go prepare for the siege again, Aide Clinton explained.

“Major General Thomas Graham is an excellent general. He also defended well when France launched an attack on Sicily from Naples.”

“So, let’s just let him attack Yantwerpen here?”

“He’s also a siege warfare expert. There’s someone else more suitable for the position of deputy commander.”

At Clinton’s words, Wellesley reluctantly asked,

“One-Eyed Beresford?”

“He may not be able to see with his left eye, but he has experience participating in various offensives. Didn’t he invade Corsica, campaign in India, and even attack Buenos Aires in South America?”

“They all failed. Ah, India was successful thanks to me, though.”

Lord William Beresford, commonly known as the One-Eyed General.

In fact, he didn’t lose it in battle, but anyway, the appearance of one eye makes his charisma stand out.

As Clinton mentioned, he is a general who has fought all over the globe.

However, there are few cases of victory.

Of course, he is not incompetent; he just doesn’t deal well with unconventional war situations.

“He’s a great figure as a military organizer. If it were me, I would entrust the rear to Beresford rather than Graham, who is burning with revenge.”

Again, Wellesley, who had the same assessment in the original history, stroked his shaved chin and said.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t use either of them.”

“Yes?”

“Hey, Lord Graham!”

As Lord Graham, who was walking away, turned around, Wellesley shouted cheerfully.

“Stop doing useless things and let’s go back. Napoleon won’t come this way anyway!”

To be precise, Wellesley has no intention of luring him this way.

***

But returning doesn’t mean going back to London.

“Amazing, Commander-in-Chief Wellesley! You are truly the liberator of the Netherlands!”

Amsterdam, once the capital of the Batavian Commonwealth, now has the House of Orange back.

It is William V, who was protected in England as an exile.

Wellesley looked at William and respectfully paid his respects on the floor of the Amsterdam Palace, formerly the Tongyeong Palace.

“Well, thank you. Your Majesty. Or, is the official title Stadtholder [a Dutch term for head of state]?”

“Anything is fine! I, Willem, will truly make you the greatest man in the Netherlands! Yes, a Dukedom would be good!”

“Wait a minute. Your Majesty. That’s not something I can receive carelessly.”

Willem raised Wellesley’s body and shouted.

“It doesn’t matter! The Netherlands is no longer a republic. It will be a kingdom. Also, I, as the king of the new Kingdom of the Netherlands, will issue the first order: to grant the Dukedom to Wellesley, the savior of the kingdom!”

From the perspective of modern history, it sounds strange, but to the people of the 19th century, [Monarchy] is a model of stability.

Unlike the parliament, the monarch is not capricious.

Rather, if you understand the monarch’s personality, you can predict it.

But the Netherlands has been in a state of modified monarchy, mixed with a parliament-centered system.

So when Willem returned, the British Cabinet unexpectedly urged the Netherlands to become a monarchy.

It’s not a bad story from Willem’s point of view, so he immediately declared the monarchy.

If things go well like this, Wellesley would really be declared the Duke of the Netherlands, just like in the original history.

However, Wellesley coldly replied.

“You’re too excited.”

“Isn’t it natural? I’ve been in exile for nearly 15 years. I almost died completely in Jena! But finally, I’m back. To my family’s homeland, to my kingdom!”

“Napoleon is coming soon.”

Wellesley glared at Willem coldly and said.

“If it were me, I would give you the Dukedom or not after defeating Napoleon, Your Majesty.”

Willem didn’t know what to do.

Anyway, Willem relies on England more than the Neo-Jacobins of France.

So the commander of the British Expeditionary Force is like an absolute being to Willem.

On the way out of Amsterdam Palace, Paget, the cavalry commander, clicked his tongue and spoke to Wellesley.

“Aren’t you being too harsh, Commander?”

“Shut up, Paget. How is the cavalry supply going?”

“We are reorganizing the remnants of the Hanover Regiment. But, surprisingly, some of the ‘Sepoys’ [Indian soldiers in the British army] are good at handling horses?”

Wellesley stroked his slightly bearded chin and replied.

“Organize them separately. There is a high risk of fighting each other, and the possibility of not working well together is even higher. If possible, I would like to have Prussian line infantry.”

Then, Roland Hill, the infantry commander who was following closely behind, stepped forward.

“I will negotiate with Commander Blücher.”

“Would you do that, Roland? Once the negotiations are completed, Beresford will take care of the organization. Once that’s done, I only have to worry about one thing.”

“What are you worried about?”

Suddenly, Wellesley’s eyes flashed.

“Napoleon’s route of advance.”

It’s easy if Napoleon just moves as predicted.

But Napoleon, whom Wellesley has observed so far, is truly unpredictable.

Especially now that he has repeatedly won victories, no one knows how he will change his mind.

“Napoleon took a completely unpredictable route during the Russian expedition.”

“He received cooperation from the Turks. He’s amazing.”

“Yes, Clinton. So, there is a risk that he will go south this time, contrary to our expectations.”

Wellesley, who was walking out of the palace, stopped.

“We have to fight in a situation where we don’t deviate from our British supply lines as much as possible. To do that, the Low Countries are the best battlefield.”

There is a globe in that place, which always exists in the European courts of this era.

“How do I lure him in? This devil of the continent.”

Wellesley said, staring at the corner of the globe, the Western European continent.

***

Of course, if he moved as we wanted just by waiting, he wouldn’t have been nicknamed the God of the Battlefield.

-Clatter!

One person rushed into the temporary headquarters of the British Continental Expeditionary Force outside Amsterdam Palace.

“Urgent news!”

“What is it, Colonel Roland Hill? Did Napoleon come?”

“The Commander-in-Chief has been awarded the Dukedom!”

Roland said with a joyful face.

“Duke of Wellington of Somerset! Along with the title of Liberator of the Netherlands!”

Then Clinton, Paget, and Graham cheered all at once.

“Congratulations!”

“A Dukedom, my goodness! The home country really recognized our army’s victory!”

“Regardless of victory or defeat, this glory will continue for generations!”

Giving a title to the Commander-in-Chief is not just the glory of one person.

It also means that there is a high possibility that special privileges will be given to the subordinates who follow Wellesley.

But Wellesley, instead of being happy, slammed the desk and shouted.

“That’s not the news I’m waiting for!”

The cheering headquarters became quiet.

At this moment, Wellesley’s gaze is fixed on the map on the headquarters desk.

The land between the Rhine and the Elbe in the middle of the map.

The space-time where Napoleon in the east and Wellesley, or Wellington, in the west face each other.

“Yes. You’re not going to move as I want, are you? Napoleon.”

“Isn’t that natural?”

“Then I’ll have to move first, Clinton.”

The man who is now the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, jumped up from his seat.

“Prepare the entire Continental Expeditionary Force for departure! Advance to Paris!”

Thus, a large-scale decoy expedition to lure Napoleon began.

Early July 1810.

It was the day the Liberator of the Netherlands was born.