I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 336

The Clenched Fist

Extensive discussions took place among the Allied nations regarding the mediation proposal initially put forth by Napoleon.

It was clear that the Four Dragons of Asia [a term referring to the rapidly industrializing economies of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, but in this context, likely referring to the alliance of Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Manchukuo] had no desire to confront France head-on.

However, no one advocated for simply bowing down in submission.

Neither the Korean Empire, Japan, Vietnam, nor Manchukuo showed any inclination to accept Napoleon’s mediation.

Prime Minister Jeong Yak-yong of the Korean Empire urged caution, but few supported his view.

Notably, the rapidly rising war hero, Ryu Hyo-won, voiced strong opposition, which proved decisive.

“We are a nation with sovereign rights. What does sovereignty mean? It means our rights cannot be infringed upon. We are not a nation that will grovel and submit like a dog just because France tells us to.”

“But, General Ryu, France hasn’t unilaterally demanded our submission.”

“Yes, they have! Telling us to cease further expansion is drawing a line, limiting our potential. What right does France have to do that?”

Even ministers who usually sided with Jeong Yak-yong now agreed with Ryu Hyo-won.

“General Ryu is right. Frankly, what have we done wrong? At most, we’ve taken one province in the Central Plains as a protectorate and occupied another.”

“The same goes for Japan and Manchukuo. Vietnam accepted Thailand’s surrender but didn’t colonize them. They accepted surrender when offered and didn’t commit massacres. So why are we being told to stop?”

*These men have been blinded by repeated victories.*

Jeong Yak-yong finally understood why they were acting this way.

The officers and officials now saw Asia as their personal treasure trove.

Why should they be stopped when immense wealth was within their grasp?

“But if we continue to ignore France’s proposal, their patience will run out. What will we do then? Are we planning to fight France?”

“Of course not. But if we concede to everything out of fear of minor conflicts, we’ll be on the path to becoming a vassal state. We are allies of France, not vassals.”

They seemed to have forgotten that they had begged to be accepted as allies.

Jeong Yak-yong clutched his head and sighed deeply.

He and his peers had witnessed France’s sweep through Asia and were still vividly aware of it.

But those now in key positions had only been low-ranking officials then and knew that period only through records.

Perhaps that was why this disconnect had arisen.

If public opinion had been on his side, he might have been able to do something, but even that wasn’t the case, which made his head spin.

Seo Yong-bo, upon hearing that the Korean Empire was planning to reject Napoleon’s mediation, dragged his old body to the palace gates.

He laid down a mat as if performing Seokgo-daejoe [a traditional Korean form of protest involving kneeling or prostrating oneself before a government building] and pleaded with the Emperor.

“Your Majesty! Going against the Great French Empire and the Christian Emperor is a violation of the celestial order! Even considering that the current Empire is deviating from traditional Confucian order through modernization, this is something that must not be done.

Please reconsider this choice that will bring us neither honor nor benefit!”

Despite the earnest appeal from the man who had once been a powerful figure in the court, no one listened to him.

Young men even openly insulted and mocked Seo Yong-bo near him.

“What nonsense is this Confucian geezer spouting!”

“Does he still think this is the Joseon era [the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting for approximately five centuries]?”

“So what if he’s the Son of Heaven! Does that mean our Emperor should bow down to those European bastards?”

“Those Italians are all talk, but when you actually fight them, they’re nothing.”

“Hey! Drag that Confucian geezer out of here!”

If there hadn’t been guards nearby, the man who had once held the position of Chief State Councilor would have been beaten to death by young men in broad daylight.

Jeong Yak-yong sensed that domestic public opinion was hopeless and hoped that the other allies would intervene.

If the other three nations all agreed to France’s mediation, the Korean Empire would have no choice but to follow.

However, Jeong Yak-yong didn’t know that the domestic public opinion he considered hopeless was actually the mildest.

※※※

“The former Emperor of Manchukuo is dead?”

The sudden news created a strange atmosphere in the Japanese Imperial Palace.

Prime Minister Ienari asked, and the Foreign Minister replied in an awkward voice.

“Well… it seems he died of shock after hearing the current Emperor of Manchukuo’s decision to reject France’s proposal…”

“What a ridiculous death.”

“The former Emperor of Manchukuo maintained his position by siding with France, so he must have been more pro-French than anyone else and feared France’s power.”

“What a coward.”

Ienari sneered coldly.

No matter how fearful one was of France, one couldn’t simply be a pushover; otherwise, how could the country be managed?

He had completed his reforms by borrowing France’s power, but he didn’t act as weakly as the Emperor of Manchukuo.

Of course, France was a formidable opponent.

But that was only the case when facing them head-on.

No matter how strong an opponent was, they could be used in many ways depending on how they were handled.

“By the way, is it true that Kondo advised His Majesty the Emperor to accept France’s proposal?”

“It seems so.”

“And what did His Majesty say?”

“He said that if the ministers’ opinions were already decided, he would respect the ministers’ and the Prime Minister’s wishes.”

“Of course, he would.”

After all, the Emperor was merely a figurehead to hold the Great Japanese Empire together.

He had no real power to make independent decisions.

Seeing Kondo rush to the Emperor, knowing this, showed how anxious he must be.

The Foreign Minister, sensing Ienari’s discomfort, quickly added a word.

“Minister Kondo seems to have forgotten who helped him rise to his position. He’s been a diplomat in France for so long that he might be mistaking himself for a Frenchman.”

“That might be true. Is he mistaking France for the one who put him in his current position, not me?”

“Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so clueless about the situation.”

He could be removed from his position immediately if he wanted to, but he wasn’t worth the effort.

It was a waste of time to bother with a man who would soon be stepping down anyway.

“Whether Kondo does anything or not, it won’t affect the overall situation, so let’s talk about something else. What’s Vietnam’s reaction?”

“Vietnam is no different from us. Only a few are saying that we should respond to the mediation immediately, and they are leaning towards rejecting it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. They’re even going so far as to say that if France continues to interfere, they’ll just fight. They say they have nothing to fear since France can’t even enter the jungle…”

“…That’s plausible, isn’t it?”

France might be stronger than Italy, but Vietnam’s defensive tactics using the jungle were definitely a unique strength.

Of course, there was also the option of destroying other cities while avoiding the jungle.

Still, if Vietnam didn’t surrender to the end, their territory wouldn’t be completely occupied, would it?

*If things go wrong, it would be good to use those guys as shields again.*

Now that the alliance’s opinion was unanimously decided, there was nothing to hold back.

Ienari announced in the Emperor’s name that the Great Japanese Empire would not yield to any pressure from other countries.

Manchukuo, Vietnam, and the Korean Empire agreed and responded, and the situation grew out of control.

The Four Dragons were once again stirring up a dark storm in Asia.

※※※

[I will give you the authority to make decisions on the ground if variables arise.]

Napoleon had been gleeful when he obtained authority from Christian, but now he felt nothing but dismay.

To be honest, he had never expected this to happen.

“What’s wrong with those guys? Could it be that they don’t understand French?”

“They are all allies of France. That’s unlikely.”

“Then why are they rejecting the mediation? Was my request that unreasonable?”

No matter how he thought about it, this mediation was designed to save face for the allied nations as much as possible.

He wasn’t telling them to withdraw their troops from the occupied territories, nor was he telling them not to profit.

Was it really that difficult to accept his request to draw the line there and stop the war?

In other words, rejecting this meant that they were full of thoughts of continuing the war…

“If the war in Asia escalates further, there will definitely be a reaction in Europe, right?”

“Of course. The British and the Holy Roman Empire are already watching closely, aren’t they? Those who are eager to secure new markets in Asia won’t miss this opportunity.”

“Then the war will escalate again…”

His plan to take the glorious record and slip away was completely derailed.

Robespierre even came to see Napoleon after hearing the news that the mediation had fallen through.

He demanded to know what conditions Napoleon had presented that made them do such crazy things, but after hearing the conditions Napoleon presented, he fell silent.

Then he left, saying, “Those bastards are completely insane.”

Napoleon was secretly angry at the feeling that Robespierre felt that the final responsibility for this matter lay with Napoleon, not himself.

“If… the war in Asia escalates further, Europe gets involved, and it turns into a great war…”

He wasn’t afraid of war.

The difference in national power between France and other countries was already much greater than in the previous war.

The problem wasn’t the victory or defeat of the war, but the fact that a great war had broken out.

*I expected you to be able to prevent this situation, but I guess I was wrong.*

He could hear it.

Christian’s sigh, full of disappointment.

He could see it.

The newspaper editorials saying that Napoleon was just a good fighter and not suitable for this kind of thing.

No matter how crazy the Asian countries were to cause this, the fact remained that he had failed to mediate.

*Don’t be ridiculous. That couldn’t happen.*

He had built his career without allowing even a single failure, and now he was going to have this blemish at the end?

And because of Asian countries, not great powers like Britain or the Holy Roman Empire?

“…That can’t happen. It can’t happen.”

Until last year, the name Napoleon was always second when it came to naming the greatest figure in French history.

He had no intention of rising to first place, but he would never allow himself to be pushed out of his current position.

Seeing Napoleon’s face grow increasingly fierce, Raymond Chang spoke as if to comfort him.

“Grand Marshal. But the situation isn’t completely overturned yet…”

“Yes. It’s not completely overturned.”

The point was to prevent the escalation of the war in Asia.

“If they can’t understand words, I’ll have to shove them directly into their ears.”

Napoleon asked Robespierre to send a new ultimatum.

[Stop fighting in all disputed areas immediately. And withdraw your troops from all occupied territories and send representatives from each country to French Guangzhou.]

*Try to refuse if you dare.*

*I’ll make it impossible for you to do so.*