He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 56

Napoleon’s Genius Son – Episode 55

(55) The Rhine Front, Dumouriez’s Treason Erupts

While Napoleon was creating [Believers] in the West, a [Traitor] was emerging in the East.

“Today, we seize Saint-Just, Carnot, and War Minister Beurnonville!”

This is the headquarters of the Army of the North in Brussels.

Originally the Austrian Netherlands, Brussels was the regional capital of what is now Belgium.

Immediately after the outbreak of the French Revolution, a revolution also occurred in the Belgian region.

This revolution was quickly suppressed by Austrian troops.

However, after the victory at Valmy, France went on the offensive.

In particular, with Hoche taking the lead, victories began to accumulate on the Rhine and Flanders fronts.

The Army of the North was the corps responsible for the Rhine and Flanders.

Among them, Hoche’s Moselle Division succeeded in breaking through the Flanders front.

In 1794, France finally conquered Belgium and entered Brussels.

However, not everyone gains glory from winning a war.

That is the case with the man shouting in the headquarters of the Army of the North in Brussels right now.

The commander of the Army of the North, Charles François Dumouriez.

Originally, he was a man in the spotlight as a favorite of the revolutionaries immediately after the revolution.

But now in crisis, Dumouriez looked back at his subordinates.

“Everyone knows, right? If we don’t act today, there is no chance!”

The tense guards of the Army of the North headquarters lined up in the headquarters office.

They all have something in common.

They are a group of officers who have served since the days of the old royal family.

Also, for that reason, they are high-ranking soldiers suspected by Paris.

Suddenly, Dumouriez’s adjutant, Brigadier General Lescuyer, spoke.

“General, can we really catch them?”

“Are you afraid, Brigadier General Lescuyer? Don’t you remember that this Dumouriez won in the Ardennes and liberated Flanders? Don’t you trust me?”

“But they are too important. Besides…”

Charles Louis Joseph de Lescuyer, soon to be the commander of this guard, took a deep breath and said.

“Brigadier General Ferrand is not on our side right now.”

Jean Henri Becays Ferrand, the deputy commander of the Army of the North, was wavering and had not rejected Dumouriez’s proposal.

The plan was to catch Saint-Just, Carnot, and War Minister Beurnonville – three big figures from Paris who came to inspect the front line of Flanders.

A daring plan for the front-line commander to kidnap the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers, in modern terms.

It is truly [Treason].

Why on earth did Dumouriez, the commander-in-chief of the Army of the North, make such an absurd decision?

Besides, why is Deputy Commander Ferrand wavering instead of reporting or stopping it?

The answer is simple.

Dumouriez sneered.

“After our defeat at Neerwinden, Paris suspects that our old aristocratic generals and officers are colluding with the enemy. Isn’t that why Saint-Just is coming now! Are we going to die like this?”

March 1793, Battle of Neerwinden.

Flanders, soon to be modern-day Belgium, was conquered by France, but the war was not over.

Rather, the Netherlands, feeling threatened, was poised to join the [Anti-French Alliance].

An alliance hostile to France was about to be formed, led by Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, Spain, and the Netherlands.

In the end, the Revolutionary Army advanced towards the Netherlands to preemptively threaten them.

It was the Holy Roman Empire’s Austrian army that blocked this.

The Revolutionary Army, which had won at Valmy, Ardennes, and Dunkirk, believed that it would win this time as well.

However, Army of the North commander Dumouriez was defeated.

He lost to the Austrian army led by Duke Friedrich Josias of Saxe-Coburg.

Defeat in war can happen.

At first, Dumouriez was just thinking of taking responsibility and stepping down.

However, Paris began to suspect Dumouriez and the old royal aristocratic officers.

It wasn’t just about being removed from his position, but about losing his head.

Finally, in January 1794, news came that members of parliament were coming from Paris.

In response, Dumouriez, who had been hesitating, made a decision.

“Friedrich Josias, the Austrian commander-in-chief, promised us. If we catch them, he will come and attack right away.”

“But, what will you do after that?”

“That is…”

Originally, in the original history, Dumouriez attempts ‘treason’ much earlier.

Why?

The reason is simple.

Members of parliament came from Paris sooner.

However, Hoche was投入into the Rhine region, and Eugene’s advice gave him independent command.

Thanks to this, Hoche was much more active than in the original history, overcoming the crisis on the front lines.

Therefore, Paris delayed its decision, and Dumouriez’s attempt at treason was also delayed.

But in the end, members of parliament came from Paris.

As soon as Dumouriez heard the news, he colluded with the opposing commander.

The Austrian military commander Josias readily accepted.

There is a person who mediated this collusion.

Dumouriez suddenly stood up and said.

“Shouldn’t we establish a new monarch and create a constitutional monarchy?”

Everyone here agrees that the old royal family was inefficient and had problems.

From the beginning, they agreed, so they did not defect and participated in the Revolutionary Army.

It’s just difficult to sympathize with the current Paris.

Then, is the alternative the [Constitutional Monarchists]?

Lescuyer was about to speak happily.

“Then, with Marquis Lafayette…”

At that time, Dumouriez gestured towards the headquarters door.

“Have you arrived, Duke of Chartres?”

Lescuyer turned his gaze and widened his eyes.

Everyone in this place knows his face.

The successor to the Orleans ducal family, the highest-ranking aristocrat before the revolution.

The eldest son of the Duke of Orleans, Louis Philippe Chartres Orleans.

Clearly, when the Duke of Orleans fled overseas, wasn’t he the one who fled with him?

Everyone who knows knows that even the French Freemasons abandoned Lafayette.

But Dumouriez is treating that Chartres with great respect.

There is only one answer.

Dumouriez has joined hands with the Duke of Orleans.

The Duke of Chartres smiled and said.

“To catch Saint-Just, that devilish guy. It’s like a dream.”

“All preparations are complete. As you can see, my direct command regiment has taken control of this headquarters.”

“Good. If this great project succeeds, the greatest contributor will be you!”

The plan: Kidnap the highest-ranking officials of the French Revolutionary Government dispatched from Paris.

After that, revolt and seize command of the Army of the North.

When the Austrian army invades, unconditionally surrender.

Furthermore, invade Paris with the Austrian army.

Overthrow the Public Safety Committee in Paris and establish a new constitutional monarch.

This is the plan of Dumouriez and the Duke of Orleans.

The constitutional monarch will of course be the Duke of Orleans.

Suddenly, Dumouriez shouted forcefully.

“Today, we will make this Army of the North a new army of the New Revolution!”

Lescuyer trembled with anxiety.

But the work has already been done.

***

The Revolutionary Government sends ‘dispatch commissioners’ to all armies to monitor them.

“Currently, this Flanders campaign is in a stalemate. It’s a little better than the Rhine area, but still can’t move forward.”

A very young 27-year-old, Saint-Just, explained to Carnot and War Minister Beurnonville.

Because the current dispatch commissioner of the Flanders campaign is Saint-Just.

Because he is also a member of the Public Safety Committee, he travels to and from Paris frequently, but his main post is here.

Conversely, Lazare Carnot and Pierre de Ruel Beurnonville were listening to the story and making judgments.

Carnot frowned as he looked around.

“It certainly seems that preparations for conquest are not complete. What do you think, Minister Beurnonville?”

“Isn’t Councilor Carnot preparing and sending supplies well? There are many piled up here too.”

“If it were me, I would have deployed it to the front. If you pile it up in the rear, the speed will be slower.”

Suddenly, Carnot said in a low voice.

“Whether Paris has judged Dumouriez as a traitor or not, it is clear that he is incompetent.”

War Minister Beurnonville wiped away his sweat and sighed.

“First of all, I will agree to the decision to summon him to Paris.”

Looking at the scene, Saint-Just smiled.

Saint-Just called Carnot and Beurnonville for this decision.

Carnot decides on war policy, and Beurnonville executes military administration.

It means that military affairs can be decided only when the opinions of the two people coincide.

Of course, in an emergency, the Public Safety Committee may simply decide.

For example, that was the case with Toulon.

However, when the front line is in a lull like now, the opinions of Carnot and Beurnonville were important.

Nodding arrogantly, Saint-Just said.

“We have liberated even the former Austrian territory, but [Holland] is still there.”

Carnot and Beurnonville agreed.

“The Netherlands is more of a problem. It is rich, financially developed, and has excellent shipping power. Moreover, it is a republic, but it is hostile to our revolutionary government.”

“Isn’t it practically an aristocratic republic? Our revolutionary government, which aims for universal suffrage, must have been scared.”

“Tsk, that’s why we should have won.”

Suddenly, Carnot looked at Saint-Just and said.

“There must be a reason why you were stalled at Neerwinden, right?”

Saint-Just smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s right. Maybe.”

Saint-Just has been working as a dispatch commissioner in Flanders and has been suspicious of Dumouriez.

Strangely, there were many letters communicating with the outside world.

Moreover, after losing once, he only carried out overly passive operations.

In a situation where he should immediately drive the army and advance into the Netherlands, he is only conducting defensive warfare.

Maybe he’s not a traitor.

However, if left as it is, it will be more harmful than a traitor.

Be sure to replace the commander and lead the revolution to victory.

That is why Saint-Just is moving now.

‘Finally, I can get rid of that dangerous Dumouriez! To complete the revolution!’

That time.

“Catch him!”

Suddenly, soldiers surrounded the members of parliament who had arrived in Brussels.

Dumouriez appeared in front of the surprised members of parliament.

Saint-Just was shocked and shouted.

“What is this, General Dumouriez!”

However, Dumouriez coldly looked at Saint-Just and just sneered.

“To complete the revolution.”

For the same reason as Saint-Just.

***

Those who came to kill Dumouriez today were instead in danger of their lives at the Brussels headquarters.

“This is treason!”

Carnot and Beurnonville were sitting blankly.

However, Saint-Just struggled and tried not to be caught by the soldiers.

Looking at the scene, Dumouriez frowned and shouted.

“I’m just trying to revive the cause of the revolution.”

“That’s absurd! Where do you see the cause of the revolution? Soldiers catching the representatives of the people?”

“No, you are the ones who betrayed the revolution.”

Dumouriez approached Saint-Just and pressed him.

“You kill all the opposition and just oppress them!”

Originally, Dumouriez did not even think about treason.

However, when he heard the news that members of parliament were coming directly to the headquarters, Dumouriez had no choice but to make a decision.

What is the reason?

Because Saint-Just said he was coming.

Saint-Just has already sentenced countless exiled aristocrats to death.

Compared to the original history, he has not killed even a tenth of them, but it is still cruel in the eyes of others.

So, Dumouriez had no choice but to revolt because of his own life.

That was the time.

-Tang! Tang! Tang!

Dumouriez, surprised by the sound of gunshots suddenly heard from outside, looked out the window.

“What?”

At that moment, Deputy Commander Brigadier General Lescuyer ran up and shouted.

“It’s a big deal, General! I think we’ve been discovered. Boaharnais and his subordinate, Lieutenant Colonel Davout, are coming now!”

“Alexandre Boaharnais? That incompetent guy? How!”

“Ah, I think Brigadier General Ferrand finally betrayed us!”

Dumouriez gritted his teeth and made a decision.

“Fight! First, catch these guys and break through!”

However, Saint-Just moved incredibly quickly at that moment.

-Clang!

He broke the window, grabbed Carnot next to him, and ran away.

It was so fast that Dumouriez’s soldiers couldn’t catch him.

At that moment, a shout was heard from outside.

“Here, Louis Nicolas Davout has come under the command of Major General Alexandre Boaharnais! Traitor, Dumouriez! You are surrounded! Surrender!”

Dumouriez, who was gritting his teeth, gave an order.

“I can’t help it. I’ll take even the Minister of War with me. Breakthrough!”

“Yes? General, what are you going to do!”

“Lescuyer, do you want to die here? Duke Chartres, get up too!”

Anyway, the kidnapping failed.

The Duke of Chartres is just sitting blankly.

Then there is only one way to live.

Dumouriez began to run, leading the soldiers.

“Go to the Austrian camp! That’s the only way to live!”

On this day, Dumouriez succeeded in escaping, shaking off Davout’s pursuit.

To the headquarters of the Austrian army, Josias’s camp.

January 1794.

France began to be shaken by Dumouriez’s treason scandal.