I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 232

< Eye of the Storm >

Robespierre was aware that he had fallen into a kind of rut lately.

‘Was I only capable of this much from the start?’

The times had changed.

To be precise, France was changing.

France in Robespierre’s youth and France now were practically different countries.

In a way, his wishes had come true.

The revolution had succeeded, and the remnants of the old era had disappeared into history, leaving no trace.

Although the class system wasn’t completely abolished, he thought the current balance was just right, considering the stability of society.

However, he couldn’t deny a strange sense of helplessness.

-You have the ability to analyze situations clearly, but you tend to suggest extreme alternatives.

It was the advice he received from the Prime Minister whenever a major incident occurred.

At first, he inwardly rebelled, thinking he was right, but repeated results showed he was wrong.

When he clashed with Danton, they both received failing grades, and the same happened with the communists.

-The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Just because the intention is good doesn’t mean the result will be good. You need to consider that more.

During the enactment of the labor law, Robespierre enthusiastically presented various opinions in the National Assembly.

But the result was disastrous.

Most of the bills were cut down during the legislative process.

And by the hand of Prime Minister Christian, whom he respected.

-If we follow your opinion, an economic recession is inevitable. You need to have more balance.

-When drafting economic policies that affect society as a whole, consider the long-term impact.

In the end, as time passed, the Prime Minister’s opinions were all correct.

In fact, the UK, which rashly followed France without the necessary environment, is now experiencing growing pains in many ways.

But Robespierre wasn’t just feeling helpless because he was wrong.

‘Was there a fundamental problem with my perspective?’

Society is changing rapidly, but it feels like my knowledge and wisdom aren’t developing as quickly.

Naturally, he couldn’t help but reflect on himself.

“So, is that what you’re worried about now?”

“···Are you saying you’re not?”

Danton, whom he had been meeting frequently lately, smiled wryly and took out the wine he had brought, placing it on the table.

“Why wouldn’t I think that way? Anyway, bring some tasty snacks. If a guest comes, you should offer something delicious.”

“All I have in my house are cheese snacks. You know that, don’t you?”

“I almost forgot that you’re the kind of guy who doesn’t even put sugar in his tea.”

Danton shoved a piece of cheese Robespierre brought into his mouth, contorting his face.

“Come on, man. How can one of the leading figures in the French National Assembly eat such low-quality cheese?”

“Luxury is no different from the devil’s temptation. The more one is in such a position, the more abstemious [self-restrained] one must be to set an example for the people, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I don’t think using your salary freely is a luxury, unless you’re taking bribes.”

The salaries of French National Assembly members were by no means small.

Instead, there were very strict restrictions on corruption, so the integrity was quite high.

Danton was the type to enjoy luxury and gourmet food to his heart’s content using this generous salary.

He was so passionate in his romantic relationships that rumors circulated about him having several mistresses.

Of course, in France, adultery wasn’t a big deal for politicians, so only a few people seriously criticized it.

“We need to be more frugal because there are many people watching us… No, let’s stop there. I’ve already been told off by the Prime Minister for this.”

“See? Your integrity is almost obsessive.”

“The Prime Minister just told me not to impose my standards on others. And he added that you’re a bit too much, so don’t laugh like that.”

“···Well, I also got a warning from the Prime Minister, so I never take bribes, okay? Isn’t that enough?”

The two, who used to have fierce debates, now only had memories of the past.

No, to be precise, it might be more accurate to say that they no longer had the energy to do so.

“By the way, is it true that the Prime Minister has appointed you as the Governor-General of Hong Kong?”

“He came yesterday and asked me. He said I was the most suitable person.”

“Oh! That’s great. Isn’t that a huge success? A commoner and self-made man rising to the position of Governor-General.”

“···But I’m not very confident. As you know, our performance hasn’t been great lately.”

Even though Hong Kong is a small piece of land, it is a key area in France’s Northeast Asian policy.

If they make another mistake here, it would cause enormous damage to the home country.

Wouldn’t the Prime Minister completely lose faith in him then?

Danton looked at Robespierre with a curious expression and smiled.

“The great Robespierre has completely lost his confidence.”

“From my perspective, I don’t understand you, who is still full of unfounded confidence.”

“How frustrating. If you don’t have confidence, shouldn’t you trust the Prime Minister’s judgment? The Prime Minister said you were the right person, right? Since you’ve been wrong all the time lately, there’s a high possibility that your current judgment that you don’t have confidence is also wrong.”

It was a near-fallacy, but there was nothing to refute.

“Can···Can it be seen that way?”

“What did the Prime Minister say to you?”

“He told me to show a clean and fair image. If the Governor-General is such a person, the Chinese people’s perception of France will change.”

“And what else?”

“···He told me never to implement extreme policies. He strictly forbade things like beheading criminals with a guillotine or setting price ceilings to stabilize the market…”

He said a few more things, but they were drowned out by Danton’s laughter.

“Isn’t that okay? The Prime Minister knows you better than anyone and is sending you there.”

“······.”

“Go and do whatever you want. If it goes well, this could be an opportunity for you to make a comeback.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

As Danton said, if he becomes a has-been and is pushed out, he will just become a loser.

The person he dreamed of being in his youth was certainly not like this.

Let’s start again with a completely new mindset in a completely new place.

It feels like the fog in his head has cleared up a bit.

If things go wrong again… he can kneel before the Prime Minister and ask for help.

He’s used to causing trouble.

※※※

“Kuhahaha! Have some more!”

“Hahaha! Well, it’s not bad to have such a gathering after a long time.”

Two glasses clinked together, and a clear, beautiful sound echoed through the room.

Come to think of it, this is the first time Napoleon has brought alcohol and treated me like this.

“I prepared it with care because it seems like the Prime Minister has been too busy lately. Does it suit your taste?”

“It’s delicious. But what favor are you trying to ask for, doing things you don’t usually do?”

I’m not an idiot, so if you go this far, I can’t help but notice.

“I’m just saying this in case, but I can’t send you to the Governor-General of Hong Kong. Not because there’s a problem with you, but because sending a soldier as Governor-General doesn’t look good.”

“Of course, I understand. Don’t worry, I’m not trying to make such an unreasonable request.”

I already knew that Napoleon’s boredom was building up.

After all, how could a man who was rampaging all over Europe in the original history stay still without getting restless?

It was good that he rose to the position of Marshal of France, but the problem was that the enemies were cleared up too quickly.

It’s like a shonen manga [a genre of Japanese comics aimed primarily at a young male audience] protagonist who feels bored because the enemy dies in one punch, which is quite annoying.

If there was an opponent in Europe to beat up and take concessions from, it would be different, but the structure of Europe is too stable right now to do that.

“How likely do you think it is that a major war will break out in Europe, Prime Minister?”

“Well… I don’t think there’s much chance right now.”

The cause of the world war that swept across Europe was ultimately the highly industrialized powers vying for colonies.

However, the reality is that only France and England have reached that level of technology in Europe right now.

Prussia has also been torn to pieces, so perhaps the tragedy of a world war itself may not have happened in the world now.

In the first place, that is the best thing for humanity.

Napoleon, who wants a chance to be active, would not want such a ridiculous war to happen.

He’s just caught up in the anxiety that he might not be able to seize the opportunity to satisfy his desire for honor anymore.

“If a big war really doesn’t break out on this continent, there wouldn’t be a big problem if you granted my request.”

“···Hmm?”

“If nothing special happens, I won’t need to be here as Marshal of France. Small-scale disputes can be ended by Lannes or Davout.”

“That’s true.”

“So I’ve been thinking about it, and… according to what you said, the Governor-General of Hong Kong doesn’t have military command, right? Then who will control the troops stationed there?”

Was he aiming for that position from the start?

He asked about wanting a world war, but it was a build-up to hear that such a thing would not happen from the beginning.

As expected of a talented person who graduated from military academy early.

He’s got a good head on his shoulders.

“Wouldn’t we organize a supreme commander position to control the military in Northeast Asia?”

“···I see.”

Napoleon seemed to be contemplating for a moment after hearing my words.

After all, he is the Marshal of France.

It wouldn’t be easy to ask to be sent to a position that is less authoritative than that.

But if he really makes such a request, it may be because he has something else in mind.

“Prime Minister. Compared to stable Europe, the current situation in Northeast Asia is a chaotic and hellish place. Please dispatch me to prevent any unforeseen circumstances. In fact, isn’t the most suitable person for the commander of the expeditionary force me?”

“I’m asking just in case.”

“Yes.”

“···You know that even if you are the commander of the expeditionary force, you don’t have the authority to raise an army on your own, right?”

“Of course. I know that would be treason against the country.”

Okay, if a smart person said it this way, he would have understood.

“If an accident happens in Asia, there is a possibility that it will spread to Europe, so in a way, your responsibility may be heavy.”

“Of course, I understand. Soldiers are ultimately a profession that must go to the battlefield and give their lives. Who would sincerely want war? I will do my best to play the role of a deterrent to prevent war.”

“Okay. I’m glad you understand.”

But… did he really understand?

Somehow, the saying that the less interested a person is in money, the more they like money comes to mind.

My anxiety is wrong, right? Please say so. Please.

< Eye of the Storm > End