I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 229

Becoming the Genius of the French Royal Family 229. Fighting Poison With Poison (229/355)

Many people overlook the fact that France in this era was deeply mired in severe male chauvinism [the belief in the inherent superiority of men and the associated dominance in society].

This is the unvarnished truth.

People often assume that France, with its emphasis on liberty and equality, would be open-minded in this regard, but the reality was the opposite.

Even Rousseau, a leading figure of French Romanticism, argued that women were fundamentally different from men, existing somewhere between men and animals.

Therefore, women naturally lacked human rights, there was no need to educate them, and suffrage [the right to vote] was, of course, out of the question.

These were the common beliefs of conservatives living in this era.

In that sense, Fourier’s views on women were remarkably sensible and correct.

Fourier saw women and men as essentially the same human beings, with physical differences being non-essential.

He believed that suppressing the desires of half of humanity based on these differences undermined humanitarian values.

While John Stuart Mill of England is credited as the founder of modern feminism, Fourier’s achievement was undoubtedly the establishment of the term “feminism.”

And my thoughts are not much different from Fourier’s.

“Women and men may have significant physical differences, but arguing that they are not the same human beings is absurd.”

“As expected, Prime Minister, you have progressive ideas! I knew it.”

“However, in agrarian societies, productivity is the value of a person, and there is no choice but to emphasize the military power to protect it. So, naturally, men had no choice but to occupy a higher value.”

In fact, most of the values that humans claim are things that they can enjoy because human technology and living standards have improved that much.

Women’s rights were no different.

The inherent physical differences between men and women could be gradually offset by technological advancements, and people’s lives became more stable.

If humans had never escaped the agricultural age, would these arguments have emerged?

Of course, that wasn’t a bad thing.

As the times progress, society should naturally embrace values befitting the advanced era.

If a person’s body has grown, but their internal organs are the same as when they were a child, something is bound to break down.

Society is no different.

Operating a modern system on a structure with nothing will immediately break it, but the opposite can also be true.

“I think France is mature enough now to recognize women as equal partners. Even though there is still some discrimination, the atmosphere is shifting towards recognizing black people as human beings, so why can’t we do the same for women?”

“I see! Then we can start social enlightenment right away…”

“No, anything done in haste can cause excessive backlash, so we need to create an overall social consensus first.”

Doing the right thing is good, but shaking social order or causing excessive conflict should be avoided.

I don’t need to add fuel to a society where new controversies are constantly emerging in real time.

It is also necessary to carefully observe how this new ideology is intertwined with labor rights, which have been heating up society recently.

Above all, giving women and men completely equal rights in an era where wars are still ongoing and technology is not fully mature could create many conflicts.

So, for now, let’s take a conservative approach… but then, a brilliant idea came to mind.

“Prime Minister, but reform is inherently radical…”

“Ah, yes. It would be good to do it this way. In fact, like you, I have been deeply concerned about how to improve women’s rights. As someone who loves his wife more than anyone else and recognizes her abilities, how could I not be saddened by the reality?”

“As expected! You’re a feminist, Prime Minister!”

“…Listen to my story first. Do you know how Europe abolished black slavery?”

“Of course. The Prime Minister strongly condemned the inhumanity of slavery and brought in England…”

“Yes. That’s the point. Because England and France agreed, no one else could object.”

No one can deny that France is the country that moves Europe today, and England is following behind.

Therefore, if France and England’s interests align, most issues are handled smoothly.

The independence of Greece and the Opium War were good examples.

“If England and France have a unified opinion, it will spread throughout Europe in an instant. Otherwise, it will give the impression of being left behind.”

“Yes, that’s definitely right.”

“So, wouldn’t the fastest way to change the world with your theory be to spread this theory not only to France but also to England?”

“That’s… right?”

Fourier’s head slowly shook up and down.

Good. At this point, he’s almost completely on board.

Now all that’s left is to gently push him.

“But look at England now. Unlike our country’s moderate scholars, radical and violent movements are rampant, and even extreme claims like labor revolutions are emerging, right?”

“Yes…”

“So, if we offer some help in exchange for cooperation, wouldn’t they gladly accept it?”

At first, I thought about using the fiercely burning communism in England as a kind of ideological weapon.

But I immediately concluded that this was impossible and gave up.

If it goes well, we might be able to bring down England without touching it, but in the worst case, we might have to face the People’s Republic of England, which has succeeded in a communist revolution.

I wouldn’t support it, but the risks were too great to bear.

So, unfortunately, we can’t let England become a cradle of communists as it is.

I have no choice but to extend a helping hand before Pitt’s hair falls out from stress.

“But Prime Minister. Will the British government listen to your proposal willingly?”

“What I’m proposing is not a coercive demand to follow our will. I’m just saying that they should acknowledge your stay, not reject your claims, and consider them positively.”

“Yes…? You mean I’m going to England?”

Fourier, stunned, seemed to have grasped at least the outline of what I was drawing.

But no matter how he feels now, in the end, he has no choice but to accept it.

“Think about it. Even if you work in France, you’ll just be overlapping with my activities. And, to be honest, even if your influence is added to mine, there won’t be a significant difference.”

“It’s a painful but undeniable statement.”

“But if you work in England, you can bring a fresh breeze to that wasteland of women’s rights. From the British government’s point of view, a women’s rights promotion movement would be dozens of times more welcome than a radical communist movement, so they are more likely to welcome it.”

“It seems like that too…”

Originally, issues are covered with issues.

If the women’s rights movement spreads like wildfire in England, we can naturally respond to it.

Why can’t we do what those British guys are doing?

The game is over as soon as a situation is created where people say they don’t want to live being told they are more uncivilized than the British.

In fact, this wasn’t a bad offer for Fourier either.

What kind of person would refuse the opportunity for a Frenchman to go to England and leave such monumental footprints?

However, there is one thing that bothers me.

“Prime Minister. But I have no idea how to quell the radical communist movement in England. Besides, I’m also a communist…”

That’s right.

Fourier is also one of the well-known communists in this era.

But that’s why it’s even better.

“Is the communism you’re thinking of something that destroys the country, cuts off the heads of capitalists, and purges the government and nobles who defended them?”

“Absolutely not! How could I have such terrible thoughts…”

“Right? So, you just have to do as I tell you. I’ll write a letter to Pitt in advance, so he’ll probably welcome you with open arms.”

“……”

“If this goes well, you’ll be able to enjoy two honors at the same time: praise as a Frenchman thanked by the British Prime Minister and as a liberator of women’s rights. As an intellectual and as a man, don’t you feel the courage to take on the challenge?”

Since the story has progressed this far, the conclusion is already the same.

As expected, Fourier, who had been contemplating for a while, eventually nodded vigorously with a determined look.

“I understand! I’ll do it as you wish, Prime Minister!”

“Good. You’ll never regret it, so trust me and follow me.”

“Yes! I’ll trust you, Prime Minister, and do my best.”

On the spur of the moment, I agreed to send not only Fourier but also Saint-Simon, who was watching from the side, to England together.

Covering one side’s bomb with the other side’s bomb.

This is fighting poison with poison.

I’ll let Pitt off with just alopecia areata [patchy hair loss] instead of going bald, so he should send me a thank-you note.

※※※

“The commies are protesting again?”

“Yes. This time, the scale is even larger than before.”

“I’m going crazy… Do they really think they’ll come to their senses if I deploy the military?”

Unlike what I expected at first, that they would listen if I just suppressed them roughly, these communists were not exterminated like cockroaches.

Their vitality was tenacious, like killing one and two laying eggs.

Pitt admitted his misjudgment.

This is not a storm in a teacup, but a hurricane that hit the Thames [a major river in England].

It was a threatening disaster that could sweep away in an instant.

“Are there any other countries in a similar situation to us? It doesn’t make sense that these devilish bastards only live in our England?”

“As a result of investigation, there were similar movements in France. But unlike here, it subsided quickly and is developing into a fairly constructive discussion…”

“Why? The way France and here are industrializing is not much different, is it?”

“France is said to have improved labor laws on a large scale, giving workers a breather. This was done before the communists’ activities took on a full-fledged aspect, so it was surprisingly effective.”

Am I one step behind again?

Pitt cursed without realizing it and scratched his head.

Perhaps because of the rapidly increasing stress recently, a handful of hair came out through his fingers every time he scratched his head.

Seeing this, his stress soared again, and naturally, more hair fell out, repeating a vicious cycle.

There was no way out of this perpetual motion machine now, so he could only drink tea, which was unfair to his stomach.

He was only drinking tea, feeling unfairly treated, because he couldn’t see a way out of this perpetual motion, and his stomach started to hurt.

He was just drinking tea, feeling unfairly treated, because he couldn’t see a way out of this perpetual motion, and his stomach started to hurt.

However, a ray of light came to him in the dark darkness where he could not see ahead.

“Prime Minister. It’s a letter from French Prime Minister Christian.”

“…Don’t tell me he’s going to mock me again with his snake tongue while pretending not to.”

Pitt nervously tore open the antique envelope and opened the letter to check the contents.

If it was something that criticized him as usual, he was going to throw it away as firewood.

The officials took a step back, slightly worried that the fire would spread to them.

But unexpectedly, even after a long time, Pitt’s gaze remained fixed on the letter without moving.

Instead of getting angry as usual, he was smiling for some reason, whether he was happy or dumbfounded.

“Heh… this is…”

“Prime Minister. Is there any problem?”

“What’s the nation of freedom and equality… These bastards are the most devilish guys.”

If possible, I wanted to show this letter to other countries that denounced England as evil.

Where is the human who comes up with such tactics a benevolent and tolerant prime minister?

It would be better to say that he is a much more human and kind prime minister.

Pitt’s face was filled with a more than satisfied smile as he looked at Christian’s letter fluttering in front of him.

End