I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 320

Becoming a Genius in the French Royal Family < The Ordinary Military Academy of the Great Empire >

< The Ordinary Military Academy of the Great Empire >

The world is becoming Frenchified.

It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but this was a consistent phenomenon occurring across the continent.

Europe, of course, the Americas, and even Asia.

Even in Arabia, which seemed as incompatible with Europe as oil and water, changes were observed.

Of course, Arabia was only in its nascent stages, but Asia was a different story.

Guangdong France, which had begun to be completely Frenchified, quickly developed into the wealthiest and most advanced country in Asia.

Since many Asian countries were trading with France, the development of Guangdong France quickly spread throughout Asia.

They wanted to learn French culture and knowledge, but Europe was too far away.

In that situation, a good role model like Guangdong France emerged, so how could they just stand by?

Scholars from Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom], Japan, Vietnam, and even numerous countries that had split from Qing [the last imperial dynasty of China] were coming to Guangdong France every day.

Many people tried to learn even one thing and return to their homeland, but quite a few ended up settling down there.

“Are technicians welcome to immigrate? Do they really give citizenship?”

“I can’t achieve my goals in my hometown, which is full of old fogies. I should try to start a second life here.”

It is said that even mountains and rivers change in ten years, but Guangdong France changes in a month.

Asia was undergoing a major upheaval to the point where even this new saying was created.

And, of course, the rapidly changing social landscape created various incidents and accidents.

Conflicts between the old and new generations, the emergence of nouveau riche [newly rich] due to the rapid influx of capital, and the resulting social conflicts.

At first glance, these problems seem to be sickening society, but it’s a different story if the conflicts are resolved.

Constant development and innovation, conflict and resolution, are proof that the society is alive.

Experts predicted that Guangdong France would merge with France without any problems in about 20 years.

Capital that foresaw this and invested for the long term poured in like a flood, and those with a keen sense used it to make even more money.

The Chua family, a traditional merchant family that had taken root in Guangdong, was one of those people.

The Chua family, who were particularly quick-witted among the quick-calculating people of Guangdong, sided with France faster than anyone else and sold military supplies.

Thanks to this, by the time the Great War ended, they had nearly tripled their already wealthy fortune.

The Chua family, who invested this fortune and obtained French citizenship, took another gamble here.

Instead of seeking success in Guangdong France, they chose the land of opportunity across the Pacific.

They began their second challenge in French Polynesia.

Of course, this was not a simple gamble.

Guangdong France is successfully being incorporated into France, and it will be completely merged with France in about 20 years.

Unlike other overseas territories, this was an undeniable fact.

However, French Atlantic, formerly called New France, and French Polynesia were already part of France.

Of these, French Atlantic was already almost established, but French Polynesia was in a slightly different situation.

The city was still being built, and when you looked around, everyone was an immigrant, so there was less fear of racial discrimination compared to other Western countries.

Where else would be a better place for Asian immigrants to settle down?

Rather than quietly waiting for Guangdong France to become part of France, it is a hundred times better to rise high in a place that has already become France.

With that judgment, the Chua family, who moved to Califonie (California) in French Polynesia, immediately began preparing to be incorporated into the mainstream of society.

“No matter how I think about it, the answer is soldier. The only way to climb to the top of this society is to succeed in the military.”

They were already successful as merchants, but there were still too many things they couldn’t do with just money.

You can exert influence by sponsoring influential politicians, but that’s the limit.

In order to reach a position where you can directly wield power, you must eventually succeed in a public position.

However, no matter how talented Asians are, it is still difficult to be elected through normal routes.

Even though French Polynesia is a paradise for immigrants, if you look at the ratio, whites still account for 40%, blacks 20%, Native Americans 20%, and other races only 20%.

So, in the end, the only answer is the military.

Most of the famous people who are recognized in France right now are people who have succeeded based on their military careers.

It’s not about becoming like Napoleon, Jean Lannes, or Davout, who are like figures above the clouds [unreachable ideals].

Based on the success achieved in the military, you can run for parliamentary elections or take a position in the government.

The eldest son of the Chua family, Eugene Chua, moved to the Royal Christian Naval Academy in California with the expectations of his family.

※※※

“Hoo···Hoo···.”

My heart feels like it’s going to explode with tension.

It hasn’t even been a week since an Asian who had lived in Guangdong all his life crossed the Pacific.

But suddenly, it’s admission to a military academy?

It’s also a school named after France’s great King Christian.

How many people from powerful families will there be?

I can already picture it.

Even if an Asian like himself goes in, he’ll probably be told, ‘Hey Ching [derogatory term for Chinese], light my cigarette,’ and he’ll be a cigarette errand boy all the time.

Eugene Chua, trembling, entered the assigned dormitory, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Of course, he thought that arrogant and overbearing white people would look at him with contempt, but the reality was different.

There were only two white people, and black people, natives, and two Asians were staring at him.

‘What? Asians are almost half? I’ve heard that French Polynesia is a racial melting pot, but is the military academy like this too?’

It is a long-standing tradition of Asians to feel strong when they are together and to feel weak when they are alone.

Eugene Chua, who suddenly felt empowered, reached out to the Asian students.

“Nice to meet you. Did you guys come from Guangdong too?”

The two students, whom he naturally thought were compatriots from his hometown, smiled and shook their heads.

“No. We came from Joseon. My father sold all his property because he thought the future was in France and bought citizenship here.”

“I’m from Joseon too. Still, I’m so glad to meet a fellow Asian friend here.”

Are people from Joseon also immigrating to France?

In fact, they are not the only ones who foresee the future and invest.

Eugene Chua felt a strange sense of kinship and smiled back.

“My name is Eugene Chua. I came from Guangdong France, and my father runs a small factory here.”

“My name is Park Min-heung. I’m from Gangwon-do, Joseon.”

“I’m Sohn Seong-ji. I was born and raised in Hanseong [old name for Seoul], Joseon. But now I want to live as a proud Frenchman.”

“Park Min-heung, Sohn Seong-ji.”

The French pronunciation was so clean that it was hard to believe they were Asians from Joseon.

Maybe they immigrated even earlier than himself.

Indeed, there are so many quick-witted people in the world.

“Your goal is also to succeed as a soldier, right?”

“Of course. Otherwise, there’s no need to enter the military academy, right?”

“Then, why don’t we study together and share information in the future? For the sake of the status of Asians, people like us should stick together and succeed together.”

“That’s a good idea. But there’s something more important to make a definite impression at the military academy.”

“Is there something more important than grades?”

Was it because I hadn’t been here for only a week since immigrating that I lacked information?

Park Min-heung and Sohn Seong-ji smiled strangely at Eugene, who was bewildered.

Even the white and black cadets who shared the same room nodded while exchanging glances.

“The fastest way for us to become heroes of the military academy is to crush the Army Academy with soccer.”

“···Huh? Crush them with what?”

“Soccer. Don’t you play soccer in Guangdong France?”

How could they not? His nickname was Thierry [referencing Thierry Henry, famous French soccer player] of Guangdong.

But what does that have to do with being good at soccer at the military academy?

“The Naval Academy and the Army Academy don’t get along. But I heard that our school’s soccer skills aren’t very good. So, last year, we were defeated by the Army Academy with a score of 5-0, and our school became the shame of the Navy because of that.”

“Oh······.”

“So, if we are selected as the school’s representative team and beat the Army Academy, we can become heroes in an instant. Asian? That doesn’t mean anything.”

I wondered if they were making fun of me, but judging from their extremely serious voices and expressions, that didn’t seem to be the case.

No… is this really the military academy of France, the strongest country in the world with the best army in the world?

Well, if you think about it, Europe and France are just crazy about soccer, so it’s not incomprehensible.

How else would there be an article about the British Prime Minister dancing wildly in the middle of the parliament building after defeating the Holy Roman Empire [historical European power] in the semi-finals?

“But I grew up in Guangdong France, so I’m used to soccer, but are you guys okay? You wouldn’t have played soccer in Joseon, would you?”

“We grew up here since we were young, so we’re used to soccer. Do you know what Sohn Seong-ji’s nickname is here? The man with two hearts.”

“One heart is beating in Joseon, and the other is beating here in France. And Min-heung is the best goal scorer I’ve ever seen. He chose the wrong path. If he had gone to Europe France instead of the military academy, he could have played in Ligue 1 [French professional football league].”

“Oh my… I never thought I’d meet comrades in such a faraway place.”

Living in soccer was not just their story.

As for Eugene Chua, he was a troublemaker who ignored his father’s words to learn commerce from a young age and spent his childhood playing soccer and fighting.

He was mentally justifying that he had entered this far with the physical strength and athletic ability he had developed, so it was not a wasted time, but what is this?

You just need to be good at soccer at the military academy.

Eugene Chua inwardly cheered at this situation, which seemed to have been prepared for him.

‘Father! So, what did I tell you! I told you it would all be useful.’

The anxiety that he would not be able to adapt well to the military academy disappeared cleanly in a single day.

And in fact, what happened next was a matter of course.

The three Asian freshmen who appeared like comets at the Naval Academy quickly rose to become the most popular people in the school.

This is because the balance of the game was destroyed every time these three entered.

The Naval Academy students, who had not forgotten the defeat they suffered against the Army Academy last time, were eagerly waiting for the upcoming competition day, saying that this was their chance to get revenge.

Finally, on the day the exchange match date was set.

The Naval Academy and the Army Academy of French Polynesia were turned upside down by an unexpected notification.

“We have to win this exchange match no matter what!”

“If we lose, we’re really dead! It’s not a figurative expression, but we have to win because we can really die from our seniors when we are commissioned later!”

“What? Why?”

“Haven’t you heard? This time, His Majesty Christian is visiting French Polynesia for the first time in a long time, and we received a call saying that he will be visiting the military academy exchange match because the schedule is right!”

It is a well-known story that the king is as serious about soccer as other French people, to the point where if you don’t know it, you’re a spy.

In other words, this is a golden opportunity to catch the king’s eye.

The eyes of the three Asian soccer geniuses, who are called the best soccer geniuses since the founding of the Naval Academy, burned with fighting spirit.

This place, where the sound of kicking balls and people’s angry curses are heard even louder than the sound of gunpowder, was the Naval Academy of Great France.