I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 335

Paris, the capital of the Great French Federation, the heart of Europe.

The Tuileries Palace.

“No, Your Majesty. This is too much. Are you telling me to go to Guangdong again? I can’t do it! Send someone else!”

The fiercely rising Four Dragons of Asia [South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore] were on a roll, continuously winning and surpassing Italy.

They originally had no rivals in Asia, and now, filled with confidence, what was there to fear?

To make matters worse, Britain, having been beaten by France, had no foothold in Asia, and France was merely observing the situation. The biggest issue was that there were no proper mediators.

Adding insult to injury, Qing China was neatly divided, making the Korean Empire and Japan ecstatic.

The Korean Empire, with Shandong Province as their de facto bridgehead, exerted influence in Beijing, while Japan virtually made Fujian Province their protectorate.

Watching all of this, I started to smell something fishy.

“What else can we do? You are the only one who symbolizes France’s military might.”

“There are plenty of other talented people besides me. There’s Lannes, Davout, Berthier, and Masséna.”

“Still, everyone agrees that sending you is the most efficient option, don’t they?”

“Seriously, did those crazy bastards really say that? They just don’t want to go themselves, you know?”

They used to beg to be sent, but now they’re whining about not wanting to go. It seems like they’ve forgotten their humble beginnings.

“So, you don’t want to go?”

“Your Majesty, I am Napoleon, the Marshal of France. I have my dignity. Going all the way to Asia is a bit….”

“I went even when I was Prime Minister. If I only listened to you, it would seem the Marshal is above the Prime Minister.”

“No… I mean… I’m getting old….”

“Berthier and Masséna, whom you suggested to send instead, are all ten years older than you. What do you think about that?”

Utterly speechless.

Napoleon rolled his eyes, searching for excuses, but couldn’t come up with any.

Whether he wanted to go or not, the parliament, the king, and the emperor were telling him to go. What could he do? If he didn’t want to go, he could resign.

“Of course, I’m not sending you without a reason. The situation in Asia is quite unusual.”

“It’s been like this before, but nothing ever came of it. Frankly, it feels like they’d just grovel if we told them to behave….”

“Logically, that’s what should happen. But you’re old enough to know that not everything in the world goes according to logic.”

“Still, it doesn’t make sense for Asia to reject France’s mediation.”

Think so? But the world is such that the unbelievable often happens, and that’s the law of the flag [a nation’s power and influence in a particular region or globally].

Just when you think you’ve defeated them, they come back to life. Just when you think it’s impossible, it happens.

The world is full of such absurdities.

Was it logical for Japan to launch a surprise attack on the United States in the original history?

It’s the same this time.

Can we completely rule out the possibility of the Korean Empire or Japan launching a surprise attack on French Pearl Harbor?

No. Thinking about it makes it more likely to happen, so it’s best not to think about it at all.

“Now, let’s change our perspective. If you go and stabilize Asia, your reputation will once again shake the world, right? The noisy Asia calmed down with the appearance of the French Marshal Napoleon? The newspapers won’t miss this great story, will they?”

“…I suppose so.”

“Your name will cover not only France but also all of Europe and Asia again. Much later, history books will record this Asian conflict like this: ‘The Asia of the Enlightenment was chaotic, but all these disputes were settled with the appearance of the French Marshal Napoleon.’”

“Hmm….”

Napoleon’s expression softened as if he were tempted, and he nodded slightly.

He was probably already imagining newspapers filled with articles praising him, stacked high in his house.

“Your Majesty, what if those guys are truly out of their minds, as you fear?”

“What else can we do? Then you do what you do best.”

“What I do best is….”

If they refuse to stop the war from spreading, there’s only one option.

Break all their limbs so they can’t fight.

“As always, I’ll give you the authority to make decisions on the spot if variables arise. But remember, if they show a willingness to talk, you must not take an aggressive stance.”

“I feel like I’m being tricked again, but I understand. I’ll go. But this time, please allow me to take as many fleets as I need.”

In the last war, he suffered a lot because he was isolated due to the naval inferiority.

Of course, Guangdong France’s naval power alone could fight against the entire Asia, but Napoleon seemed to be considering all possibilities.

“Good. I’ll give you what you want. So, make sure you achieve results and come back.”

“Have I ever failed to achieve results?”

Napoleon smirked and stood up.

“Then I’ll be on my way. I need to tell my wife that I might have to go on a long-term business trip again.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel guilty.”

“I know you don’t feel guilty at all. But please, if possible, make this the last long-distance expedition.”

“I promise.”

I swallowed the words ‘unless there are any unexpected events’ and waved goodbye to Napoleon.

I talked a lot, but I didn’t lie once.

It would be good if the situation calmed down just by Napoleon going, and if not, it wouldn’t be bad either.

If the Asian countries are truly blinded by their own success, they could become uncontrollable bombs in the long run.

Unlike Europe, where the system is gradually being established, Asia is currently in complete chaos, so there are no means of self-correction or mediation.

Why, isn’t it said that even growing children should stumble at least once?

They need to know that not everything in this world goes as they please, so they can grow into healthier adults in the future.

If Napoleon can be such a presence to the Asian countries, this will also contribute to world peace.

Or not, and that’s okay too.

※※※

Spring in the midst of the chaotic 19th century, even more turbulent than the 18th century.

Napoleon, formally assigned to his mission, arrived in Guangdong, France, with his fleet and army.

“It’s been a while, Governor-General Robespierre. I’m glad to see you’re still going strong.”

“I’m just holding onto my position because I haven’t been dismissed yet. I’m as happy as if it were my own that the Marshal is still going strong.”

Robespierre’s complexion was hard to read.

Well, with Asia in such a mess, the person in charge couldn’t be completely at ease.

After exchanging pleasantries, Napoleon received a detailed report on the current situation in Guangdong, France.

“This may not be directly related to this mission, but His Majesty asked me to take a good look at how Frenchified this place is while I’m here.”

“In that case, it would be much faster to see it for yourself than to explain it. There’s a saying in the East that one experience is better than a hundred questions.”

Robespierre deliberately called an Asian official and assigned him to Napoleon.

“This friend’s name is Raymond Chang, an Asian-Frenchman. He was born and raised here, and he’s very smart and good at his job. Of course, his French is also top-notch.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll be in his care.”

As the saying goes, Raymond Chang’s face clearly showed that he was Asian.

But after talking for only a few minutes, it was immediately obvious that his identity was undoubtedly French.

“Oh… Guangdong France’s economy is so booming?”

“Yes. This is probably being reported to the home country as well. If the current trend continues, it may merge with Pacific France within the next ten years. Of course, Pacific France is also growing surprisingly fast, so variables may arise.”

“Unexpected. I thought Asia was not easy to blend into Europe, but this side seems to be very well assimilated.”

What surprised Napoleon the most while looking around Guangdong France was their culture.

The Frenchification was proceeding so smoothly that it was questionable whether this was France or Asia.

Napoleon, who had gone through all sorts of trials and errors with Bernadotte in Arabia, knew how amazing this was.

Raymond Chang offered a cautious guess to Napoleon’s question.

“Guangdong has traditionally judged its advantages and disadvantages from a merchant’s point of view. In that respect, being included in France, the best economic power, is something to be welcomed with open arms. I grew up in such an environment, so I had a great admiration for France.”

In short, capitalism completely overwhelmed nationalism.

“When I was young, children who spoke French well openly looked down on those who didn’t. But it doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.”

“Really? Do you think it’s because they think it’s degrading to show off just because they speak a language?”

“No. It’s because there are no children who can’t speak French anymore. Being able to speak French is not a big boast in the home country, is it? It’s the same as that.”

“That much change has happened in one generation. His Majesty will be very interested.”

Economic growth and opinion polls can be accessed in reports.

But the story of how people actually live cannot be followed by listening on the spot like this.

Napoleon understood why Christian had distinguished Arabia as an overseas territory and Guangdong as a land to be incorporated into the home country.

‘Capitalism is amazing. They say there’s nothing you can’t do with money….’

And Raymond Chang didn’t say it, but Napoleon, who stayed in Guangdong for a few more days, learned one more reason why they were not hesitant to Frenchify.

It is because of the gap that is incomparable to the surrounding countries.

This can also be said to be a capitalist point of view, but it was not limited to a purely material point of view, but also a problem belonging to the spiritual realm.

Pride in enjoying economic power, military power, and cultural level that cannot be compared with neighboring countries.

In Christian’s frequently expressed words, Guangdong was currently heavily immersed in French뽕 [a Korean slang term for extreme nationalistic pride or admiration for French culture].

Young people who grew up in this atmosphere from an early age were just like French people from their thoughts and actions.

Not only in administration but also in the military, young people were actively advancing, and there were cases where they had conflicts with their grandfathers due to very different ideas.

Napoleon felt this clearly at his welcoming event.

“Woo-oh-oh-oh!”

“Marshal Napoleon!”

“The world’s best strategy! The sword of France!”

“Marshal! Please look this way!”

The welcoming crowds, more crowded than when holding a triumphal parade in Paris, shouted Napoleon’s name.

It was like a legendary figure had actually appeared.

Excited by the exotic experience, Napoleon secretly thought that this was not bad either.

‘Now, I just need to threaten the Asian countries appropriately and return to my home country, right? Another glorious achievement will be added to my career like this.’

Could there be a more cost-effective job than this?

However, Napoleon’s optimistic expectations were shattered in less than three days.

The Four Dragons of Asia nicely rejected Napoleon’s mediation proposal to stop expanding their power any further and cease all battles.

When he heard the news, Napoleon was surprised that he was not angry enough to surprise himself.

Just dumbfounded and dumbfounded.

‘Ah, people don’t even get angry when they’re too dumbfounded.’

A small realization flashed through his mind.