He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 538

Amsterdam, a prominent port of the French Imperial Federation, opens to the North Sea.

“It was here that Emperor Eugene declared the Imperial Federation system. It’s still the new system that governs Europe,” a gentleman remarked while observing the large wooden steamships entering and leaving the harbor.

His language, attire, and even demeanor were all that of a London gentleman.

In his hand, he held a pipe, a recent trend in London.

Exhaling smoke, the gentleman spoke of the treaty born in this port: The Treaty of Amsterdam.

This agreement established a federation of European nations centered around the French Empire, with the sole exception of England.

Suddenly, a young man, disliking the pipe smoke, retorted to the gentleman, William Lamb.

“Lord Melbourne, I am aware of that much. There’s no need to explain a diplomatic textbook to me.”

“Oh, is that so? Sir Robert Peel. Then, shall I test you? What is the core of the Amsterdam system?”

“It’s simple.”

The young man, Robert Peel, waved away the smoke and raised his nose. “It’s about dividing the rest of Europe with the French Empire at its apex, thereby subordinating the entire continent to France. Ugh, the smell of tobacco.”

Historically, many ambitious individuals in Europe dreamed of a Roman Empire – European unification.

In fact, even the late Napoleon dreamed of reviving the Roman Empire. Originally, in the original timeline, he even gave his son the title of King of Rome.

However, Emperor Eugene of the French Empire took a different approach.

He limited direct rule to the already conquered territories of Italy, Belgium, and the Rhine region.

However, he did not tolerate the existence of any other empire besides France on the European continent. If there was an empire, he would abolish it and divide it as much as possible.

The remaining countries would form a federation with France on a one-to-one alliance basis. It was, so to speak, a system similar to the Roman Confederation.

Here, territorial ambitions are satisfied in the New World. As a result, no country in the Old World of Europe had the capacity to challenge France. It physically eliminated the possibility of challenging the French Empire itself.

The Amsterdam Treaty was what gave birth to this French Imperial Federation system. It is also a system mentioned by Robert Peel, who would later become the Prime Minister of England in the original timeline.

William Lamb, Lord Melbourne, who could also become the Prime Minister of England, asked with a smile, “Isn’t Amsterdam still the Batavian Republic here? It used to be the Dutch Republic.”

“But by joining the Imperial Federation, it was deprived of its diplomatic and military rights. The Batavian Republic’s internal affairs are not interfered with, but its external affairs are entirely subordinate to France.”

“Indeed. Even protecting Batavia [modern-day Jakarta] in the distant East Indies is the French fleet. It’s something the Dutch should be furious about.”

Suddenly, Lamb turned his gaze. “But rather, the Dutch seem to like it.”

The sounds of boisterous chatter could be heard from a pub in the distance.

“Wahahaha! The English got swindled again, didn’t they?”

“They’ve completely lost Gibraltar. Now we can freely enter and exit the Mediterranean!”

“That means we don’t have to go to Marseille by land! We can go all the way to Suez by ship!”

Although the Dutch are proficient in foreign languages, the reason for speaking in English is obvious: to mock the English gentlemen who are looking at them.

Peel shrugged. “It’s because of England.”

“The British Empire, Sir Peel.”

“Isn’t that a name forcibly created because of the Empire Français [French Empire]? In fact, it’s strange that we, who have nothing to do with the Roman Church, are calling ourselves an empire.”

Currently, England has established the British Empire as its official national name, rather than the United Kingdom of Great Britain. It is the very term that would later be translated as the British Empire in the original timeline.

However, there is a problem that Peel pointed out. According to European tradition, there is only one empire: Rome. Therefore, to call oneself an empire, one must inherit the traditions of Rome.

The French Empire, though somewhat forced, also claims to inherit the legitimacy of Rome through the Catholic Church. The Holy Roman Empire, which could challenge that legitimacy, was dissolved long ago.

But where did England get its imperial legitimacy from?

“Don’t talk such French-friendly nonsense. We have merely taken over the throne of the Mughal Empire, which collapsed prematurely. Calcutta is still our colony, and there’s also Australia.”

It is the legitimacy of the Mughal Empire, which collapsed a little earlier than in the original timeline. Of course, it’s a stretch, and in fact, they don’t have territory worthy of an empire in the Indian subcontinent.

Also, they have long lost all their New World territories, including Canada. However, as they are developing the Australian region, which is a New World in the south, England also has a territorial scale worthy of calling itself an empire.

Peel snorted dismissively and asked, “So, when is the person we’re supposed to meet today coming?”

Unlike Lamb, an old politician who has been active since the 18th century, Peel is pragmatic. He is a post-revolutionary generation who believes that economic benefits are more important than a nominal empire. If the person they are supposed to meet today doesn’t offer a significant proposal, he doesn’t want to listen to the old man’s nonsense.

Just then…

“I’ve been here for a while, British envoys,” a voice said.

Not only Peel but even Lamb was surprised because the voice suddenly came from behind.

Just as Lamb was about to turn his gaze, a sharp voice spoke softly. “Don’t turn around, unless you want to be caught by the Emperor’s dogs.”

“Are they watching?”

“Probably. I’m disguised, but you aren’t, are you?”

Just as Lamb and Peel swallowed hard, the voice disappeared. “Let’s meet in the back alley of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in 30 minutes,” the voice instructed, as if staging a chase scene, secretly.

***

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, where the stock market was first born, is now deserted.

“You’ve become a spymaster now, Mr. Metternich,” Lamb observed.

Because currently, European stocks are mainly traded in two places: the Paris Stock Exchange and the Milan Financial Exchange. Both are characterized by being led by the Banque Boharne.

As a result, the historic Amsterdam Stock Exchange has become a quiet place where transactions occasionally take place – enough for Metternich, an exile from the Kingdom of Hungary, to meet with high-ranking British parliamentarians.

“I heard the real spymaster went to a French prison?” Peel inquired.

“Negotiations are underway. He’ll be released soon,” Metternich replied.

“It seems like Babeuf is finished this time,” Peel remarked.

Metternich, disguised as a stockbroker, smiled, his monocle glinting. “I hear he’s being deported to Guiana [French Guiana] in the southern New World – the most remote of remote places.”

Somehow, despite being an exile, he seems to have faster information than Lamb and Peel, the British diplomats. However, the pragmatist Peel clicked his tongue. Something came to mind upon hearing the news of the deportation to Guiana.

“Indeed, the Emperor cruelly deals with his political rivals,” Peel said.

“It’s not killing, but deportation,” Metternich corrected.

“It’s as good as being dead. He won’t be able to do the agitation he loves so much, will he? Besides, he won’t even be able to dream of overthrowing the system.”

Metternich chuckled and tilted his head. “Have you considered the proposal?”

Metternich doesn’t care about failed old allies. In fact, Peel feels the same way. He was merely reminding him of the fate that awaits if the exile in front of him fails.

Peel replied with a displeased look. “The risk is too great, Mr. Metternich. You might as well just live quietly in London.”

“You know very well that I can’t do that, Mr. Peel.”

“Or how about you emigrate to the United States? We’ll provide ample financial support.”

The proposal Metternich made is too risky, especially now that Babeuf’s republican revolt has failed. It has already been revealed how solid the French Empire created by Emperor Eugene is. But would the Amsterdam system be any different?

However, Metternich responded with a very relaxed attitude. “If necessary, I can run to Paris and blab about what England has been up to with me. You already know, but it carries a different weight when it comes from my mouth.”

Lamb and Peel’s faces hardened. Of course, everyone knows that England is backing Metternich from behind, but it’s a different matter when it becomes official. Besides, if that fact comes out of Metternich’s mouth…

“Then the loan is over too,” Peel realized.

The 1 billion franc loan will be gone, and England will face final bankruptcy. Peel, who values economic benefits, could no longer say anything because he realized that the opponent in front of him was not just an outdated figure from the 18th century.

Conversely, Lamb, who knew that fact from the beginning, was relatively calm. Lamb forced a bitter smile and snapped at Metternich, “There are many ways to threaten. We could kill you.”

“Mr. Lamb, if you’re aiming to be the next Prime Minister, you shouldn’t do that. After all, whether I fail or succeed, you’ll gain merit.”

“Is it really possible? The Emperor’s spies and armies are thoroughly guarding each major city. How can you incite a continental-scale revolt?”

Metternich replied very succinctly: “German nationalism.”

There are isms that should have originally burned the new 19th century – ideologies, doctrines, ideas: capitalism, socialism, anti-religionism, feminism, and another one: nationalism.

These are names that have been mostly pushed back with the establishment of the French Empire, a nation for all, but there is still a simmering desire beneath the surface. Those who speak not French, but German, and dream of a world for Germans again.

Metternich spoke very softly, but passionately. “There has never been a properly unified nation for the German people.”

“As far as I know, there was a country called the Holy Roman Empire. You were also its chancellor.”

“I was the Chancellor of Austria. But the Holy Roman Empire cannot be called a single nation.”

Suddenly, Metternich twisted his lips and wore a strange smile. “Therefore, in a world dominated by France, a nation-state that did not exist becomes an ideal, especially for the generation that does not know the Revolutionary Wars.”

Of course, this is not something that sounds very meaningful to the British because whether in the present or in the original timeline, England is a country dominated not by nationalism but by imperialism, just like the French Empire.

Peel threw out a practical question. “But a revolt is only possible if there is someone behind it. We can only provide funds.”

Then Metternich confidently replied, “Did you think I would start a revolt without an organization?”

That means all preparations are complete.

***

So, who will move the organization of the old relic, Imperial Chancellor Metternich?

“All preparations are complete, Herr Metternich,” a young man in suspenders said, standing behind Metternich.

Metternich was looking at the dark night of Amsterdam. The opposite of the system Metternich wanted to establish was born here.

“Robert Blum, do you not regret joining hands with me?”

The young man, Blum, replied with a firm face without batting an eye. “For the sake of the German people, I would not spare my life.”

“No, am I not an old-fashioned figure who follows the Habsburgs? A talent like you might have complaints.”

“What is important is to defeat the French imperialists,” Blum asserted.

Blum, the leader of the German Revolution of 1848 in the original timeline, continued, “To overthrow the empire of all people, which is nothing but an illusion, and to create a nation only for the German people – that is why I am with you, Herr Metternich.”

That’s right. The relic of the empire joined hands with young men who dreamed of republicanism, united by a common enemy: to defeat the French Empire.

In the dark night, Metternich nodded, his monocle glinting.

“Good. Now, let’s start the real revolution that our French comrades failed to do.”

It was the moment when the German nationalist revolution was being prepared.

September 1825. It happened in Amsterdam.