I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 102

The Direction of European Continental Hegemony

“Pitt, what do you think about this war?”

“Yes? I can only say it was a painful defeat.”

“Ah, my question was a bit off. I was curious about how the young people of England viewed this war. I thought you would have a fairly flexible perspective since you spend a lot of time with the intellectuals who will lead England in the future.”

“Thank you for thinking highly of me. Of course, this war has been the biggest topic at our university. But as students, there are as many opinions as there are people.”

“That’s true. But I’m sure there were quite a few persuasive opinions among them. Actually, I like to hear the opinions of these young people.”

Pitt, unaware of my background, reacted with surprise.

Without me having to explain, Alexandre, who was now half my follower, immediately jumped into the conversation.

“Prince Christian studied at a school where excellent commoners mainly attend. Of course, there is not much distinction in status among the aides who assist him. He values ability above all else. That’s why the proportion of young intellectuals is quite high.”

“…So that’s why you have a much more flexible way of thinking than ordinary politicians. I wonder if the course of this war would have been a little different if our politicians in Parliament had been like that.”

“In fact, the situation would have been different if the Parliament had only listened to your father’s story. What did you think while watching this meeting?”

Pitt hesitated and didn’t answer immediately.

No matter how dissatisfied he was, it would be difficult to criticize his own country’s Prime Minister in front of a foreign prince.

So I spoke for him.

“It may sound presumptuous, but let me give you my opinion first. The problem with the British Parliament and the Prime Minister is that they were too focused on short-term gains and made too many enemies. They have always been in the position of the strong, so they were only unilaterally dragged around even in negotiations where they were at a disadvantage.”

“Isn’t that because His Highness brilliantly saw through Lord North’s scheme?”

“That’s exactly the proof that Lord North was arrogant. You would agree that the more experienced and seasoned politicians are, the more they tend to overestimate their own experience, right?”

Perhaps because he had learned his lesson several times.

Not only Pitt but also Alexandre next to him nodded immediately.

“As Your Highness said, there are many such politicians in Russia as well. They can’t help but try to lecture us, always saying, ‘Back in my day…’ They basically think they are more experienced because they have lived longer, and therefore more superior.”

“That’s right. In fact, that’s true in many ways. Skilled experience has a significant impact in many fields. But when it comes to politics or negotiations, that kind of perception becomes poison.”

“I felt that very clearly last time. Lord North fell into a similar trap this time.”

“That’s right. No matter how much you try not to underestimate the other party, you can’t help it because that perception is already ingrained in your head. The premise should be that if you can come up with a clever plan, the other party can also come up with it, but that kind of vigilance doesn’t work when the opponent is much younger than you.”

This was clearly one of the reasons why I have been so successful so far.

The reason why Theresia, Kaunitz, Mofu, and the former Duke of Orléans were caught off guard by me was because they didn’t consider me an equal opponent in the first place.

Of course, after I had established a firm foundation, it would have been a desperate struggle even if they had taken it seriously.

“But that’s strange. Did Lord North underestimate Your Highness even after being so thoroughly defeated by you?”

“Rather than underestimating me, he probably overestimated himself. He probably thought that the other party was formidable, but he could somehow manage because he had the advantage of experience.”

The subsequent conversation was mainly led by me and Alexandre, but Pitt was also listening intently to our conversation.

After a few hours, Alexandre asked as he watched Pitt’s back as he politely greeted us and left.

“But why did you call that student? No matter how talented he is, he is still British. I don’t think he will be friendly to Your Highness.”

“Of course not. I think there is a higher possibility that he will become my most hated enemy in the future.”

“Then there was no need to tell him this and that about Your Highness, was there?”

“No, that’s why I called him.”

I chuckled as I looked at the puzzled Alexandre.

People usually look down on those they think are inferior to them, but conversely, they instinctively shrink in front of those they consider superior.

Even if that’s not the case, they give more meaning than necessary to the other party’s words and actions.

For example, when playing Go or chess, if someone who is weaker than you makes a strange move, you judge it as a blunder and try to punish it.

But if a clear master makes such a move, you worry, ‘Wow, what does this move mean?’ and end up getting tangled up on your own.

The reason I called Pitt to this place was not to win him over.

No matter what I do, he, who will become the youngest Prime Minister of England, will not become my follower like Alexandre.

So, I’m trying to establish a clear lead in advance and make him think of me as an opponent who is one level above him.

The reason I called Alexandre was also for that reason.

He, my ardent follower, lavishly praised me, and each time, Pitt’s face grew more and more rotten.

It’s not a Frenchman but a Russian who is saying it.

The evaluation of foreigners tends to feel more objective.

Here are the achievements I have made objectively, so Pitt probably couldn’t even have proper doubts.

In the end, no matter how hard he tries to analyze me, the only conclusion he comes to is that I am invincible.

The only conclusion is that I am an inhuman human being and a perfect superhuman with no weaknesses.

The reason why Pitt’s shoulders looked particularly weak as he left was probably because he couldn’t even grasp how to confront me.

I hope he continues to struggle and fight hard with the imaginary me.

Now, I don’t think I will have the *yoyuu* [leeway/ability] to pay attention to England for the time being.

※※※

As the results of the Treaty of Paris were announced, France was in a festive mood almost every day.

I, who had control of the media, took full advantage of this opportunity to spread eulogies praising me every day.

[Prince Christian’s diplomatic victory. The victory or defeat was already decided before the war even started.]

[Reasonable praise from Spanish representative José Monino. “Prince Christian’s ability has already transcended the realm of human beings.”]

[The triumph of the Treaty of Paris led by Prince Christian. France’s leap forward, washing away all previous humiliations. All that remains for England is a huge pile of debt.]

Articles of this kind circulated throughout France almost every day, only changing the headlines.

Won’t people feel repulsed if the same content is repeated all the time?

Of course not.

It’s a victory in which they beat England and took a huge amount of spoils.

People wanted to feel this fulfilling national pride every day, and the reporters responded to that wish.

“Long live Prince! Long live!”

The voices of the citizens who gathered at the Tuileries Palace almost every day without being told to do so pierced my ears.

To be honest, it was a bit noisy, but I couldn’t kick them out because they came because they liked me.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable to live like this every day?”

Louis XV, who had come to Paris in person after a long time, looked at the crowds gathered outside and laughed in disbelief.

“Long live His Majesty the King! Long live France!”

I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the loud shouts that echoed into the palace.

“What can I do? I have to endure it.”

“It’s also a problem to be too popular.”

“How is the atmosphere in Versailles? I don’t think it’s much different from here.”

“It’s similar. However, the nobles are thinking one step further than the people who are purely happy. What profits can be made from the newly recovered colonies and India, where influence has been regained? Almost every day, such discussions are taking place.”

I expected that.

The nobles of Versailles were already coming here to ask for favors, so what would it have been like at Versailles Palace?

“The rumor that you will become the Governor-General of New France has already spread. If an official announcement is made, it will be even noisier than it is now.”

“Yes. In fact, I’m having a headache because of that issue right now.”

The joy of winning the war was only temporary, and when I returned to reality, the things I had to deal with had snowballed.

The main concerns were not only the post-war management but also the operation of the expanded West India Company and New France.

“We can gobble up what England has pioneered, but… the biggest problem is the population, right?”

“Yes. No matter how much money we pour in, we can’t dream of developing the region unless we have basic manpower to support it.”

In the long term, we have to match the population to that of the United States, but this is by no means an easy problem to solve.

“First of all, the simplest and most ignorant way is to accept people who immigrate from the home country, but this has clear limitations.”

“But sometimes the simplest method is the best, isn’t it? I think what you proposed last time is a good method.”

Currently, France boasts the highest population in Europe, but the number of poor people is also absolutely large.

This was largely due to the hopeless taxation and administrative system, but also due to the fundamental limitations of agricultural power in this era.

So, I once proposed a plan to relocate the poor who do not own land or cannot make a proper living to New France and lease land to them at a low price.

I was sure that if we implemented it, there would be a line of applicants.

However, the problem was that the distance from France to New France was unimaginably far.

It is not easy to move hundreds or thousands of people and provide support until they settle down.

“The only way to increase the population is immigration. But there are limitations to sending people from the home country, so I will think more about that part.”

What comes to mind right now is to attract people from the United States or Spanish colonies and to assimilate the natives, but the same problems are expected.

Since it was not a goal that could be achieved in the short term anyway, it would be okay not to come up with a solution right away.

“Still, I’m rather happy with the current worries. Compared to the problems that used to give me a headache, this is nothing.”

“Well, compared to the worries gained from defeat, the problems caused by victory can be said to be happy worries.”

“That’s right. To be honest, the debt that only made me sigh has been reduced considerably, and the income from India has increased significantly, so the finances have been relieved. The Minister of Finance also has a very bright face. I think the happiest person in the world right now is him.”

“That may be the case. But Your Majesty, it may sound like I’m pouring cold water, but in fact, there are still a few mountains that France has to climb.”

As if to answer Louis XV’s questioning question, Marie slowly approached with a letter in her hand.

Louis XV, seeing her, was startled and stood up from his seat.

“Why did you come out when you should have just stayed in bed?”

“It’s okay, Your Majesty. My body has already recovered.”

Her expression, who gave birth to a son wonderfully amidst everyone’s blessings on the day the war ended, looked flawlessly clear.

Since the time of his birth was monumental, my and Marie’s son was called the child of victory and received the blessings of many people.

However, the contents of the letter in Marie’s hand were serious enough to postpone such congratulations for a while.

“It’s a message from my brother in Vienna.”

“…Joseph II? I thought he sent it to congratulate you on your birth, but was there something else?”

Marie’s brother is the emperor who jointly rules the Holy Roman Empire with Maria Theresa.

Although he was pushed back by his mother and only wielded authority as the second-in-command, he was nominally the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

The weight of that name is by no means light.

Marie nodded with a slightly subtle expression.

“Yes. There are important matters to discuss… He says he will visit in person. He also asked me to speak well to Your Majesty…”

“What?”

Louis XV’s expression, who had already been complaining about various new problems, was distorted.

I, who was roughly guessing what the content would be, also let out a low sigh.

The rise of the newly emerging Prussia and the confrontation between Joseph II, who wanted to revive Austria through enriching the country and strengthening its military.

The War of the Bavarian Succession was approaching.