Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

6. Paris, City of Light – 2

The higher the position, the more politically significant their actions were. Unintentionally, those who watched attach such interpretations. Moreover, it was the venue for the victory ceremony, where so many citizens’ eyes were focused. What Napoleon could do in this situation was, of course, political.

‘This is a position where I can use every move and statement that happen in everyday life. Then I have to use it thoroughly.’

The story and situation of the gold and silver shop merchant named Cersault were unfortunate. Napoleon felt sympathy for him as a human. But that was all. Napoleon had a sad look at Cersault’s story but did not forget his position. He then combined himself with Cersault to create a story. A story that could not have been more ‘human’ as a propaganda for the Emperor.

How could Napoleon use this incident to impress the Parisians who were disappointed in him? The answer to that was the present situation.

‘Yes. I guess I was ‘Napoleon’ after all.’

Napoleon of this world had destroyed numerous pieces of the French history and put up propaganda about the Empire and himself. What was the difference between him and himself now? Napoleon could not answer this question. After leaving Laurent Cersault like this, he could feel the odd change in the street at Concorde Square. The faces of the citizens, who had been welcoming the Emperor, who had cooled down the enthusiasm of the event that they did not want, became lively and curious unlike before.

Napoleon’s unconventional actions attracted citizens’ eyes and hearts.

Clap clap clap clap clap!!

The citizens applauded the benevolence and tolerance shown by the Emperor when no one asked them to. Deceived by false propaganda, they shouted ‘Long live the Emperor!’ with touched faces. Napoleon waved in hand with a determined face. It was the face of the Emperor.

“This little man heard the tactics and strategies of Your Majesty the Emperor who put Alexander I on his knees. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart, Your Majesty! Thus, there will be no more forces in Europe to stand in the way of the Empire!”

Hugues-Bernard Maret. He was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the French Empire. As soon as he saw Napoleon, he ran to him with a red face and lined up tireless flattery. Napoleon roughly accepted his praise and remembered a man whose whereabouts he was curious about.

“Do you know where Sir Bishop Talleyrand… no, where Talleyrand-Périgord is now?”

“Oh… you mean that vulgar guy? He must be diligently slandering the great Empire and defaming Your Majesty’s dignity in front of the Tuileries. As always.”

“If the low-spirited, greedy sound he was making bothered you… We’ll take care of him. Your Majesty doesn’t have to worry. We’ll make sure it doesn’t backfire…”

They looked ready to kill him if they were asked to, and Napoleon had to calm them down.

‘Here too, Talleyrand’s reputation is hitting the bottom.’

Well. Talleyrand-Périgord was an unbelievably corrupt, obscene and greedy man who was a former Catholic priest. When he worked as a diplomat, he always asked for a small amount of bribes from the subject of negotiations, and when he was appointed governor of a province, he also took his lover and subordinates to his office.

Despite being such a flawed figure, the government appointed him. His abilities were superior to anyone else, and his loyalty to France was firm. Personally, Napoleon had no affinity for Talleyrand.

However, the royals of other countries were still following the old system, and to sort out the tangled diplomatic situation of the French Republic at the time, there was a desperate need for a figure like Talleyrand who could handle high-ranking nobles. That was why Napoleon kept him as a governor.

“I need to talk to him, so please call him here. It’s not because of him slandering the Empire, so I hope you don’t make any trouble with strange speculation and over-loyalty.”

“…I will follow your orders, Your Majesty!”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Maret did not look happy, but responded steadily, not refusing the Emperor’s words. He left, leaving only Napoleon and his secretaries in the office. Napoleon wondered what Talleyrand might be thinking now.

‘No matter how hard I think about it, Nabot and Talleyrand-Périgord of this world are bound to oppose each other…’

Napoleon, who had worked with Talleyrand for a considerable amount of time, knew well that he had quite a temper, although he did not show it. Talleyrand was currently staying near the Tuileries Palace. Although no one talked about it, it was the birthplace of the National Assembly and the holy place of the Revolutionary Republic, where the public assembly was held every week.

Nabot from this side of the world could not have proclaimed an Empire and left the Tuileries alone, so thorough censorship and cover-up must have been carried out. The fact that Talleyrand lived near the palace itself was like showing his position against the current system and Napoleon.

‘We’ll see when we meet.’

Napoleon sat and waited quietly for Talleyrand. How long had it been? The door to the tightly closed office opened and an elderly man walked in. Rough gray hair, a high nose, tightly closed lips, and an iron face where no one could imagine a change in expression. Although he seemed a few years older than Napoleon’s memory, he was indeed Talleyrand.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor of France. May the Empire and His Majesty have infinite glory and victory.”

“Long time no see, Talleyrand-Périgord.”

He welcomed him politely.

The former Secretary of Foreign Affairs? The former Bishop? The former Minister of Foreign Affairs? He did not know what to call him, so he just decided to call him by his last name.

“The reason I called you who was resting at the base of the Tuileries is that you have a duty to do for the Empire.”

Napoleon continued his words calmly.

The war on the Iberian Peninsula was a futile war that did nothing to the national interest and honor of the Empire, so it had to end as soon as possible. He had no intention of reconciling with Britain, but he was determined to conclude end-of-war negotiations with Spain and Portugal, and a turning point for new relations improvement was needed.

Napoleon briefly explained the situation that was currently facing the imperial government and the army on the Iberian Peninsula, and listed alternatives and solutions.

“I understand that you have many regrets about what happened in the past. But for France, that you are loyal to, let go of your old feelings and help out. Now is the time when we need the skillful negotiating skills of Talleyrand-Périgord.”

Talleyrand remained silent.

He was a excellent diplomat who could maintain a straight face under any circumstances, so he did not express his feelings, but with his own short experience, Napoleon could notice that Talleyrand was now confused.

‘If you think of Napoleon in the past, you may be suspicious of such a forward-looking attitude.’

Napoleon decided to wait a little longer for his answer.

But what Napoleon did not think of was the level of actions and remarks Nabot of this world had made to Talleyrand. Not knowing how rude and petty Nabot was, he failed to control the gap with his pre-awakening.

Talleyrand was in shock and confusion beyond embarrassment. Naturally, the cause lied in the changed attitude of the Emperor as if he had become a completely different person. After dismissing him as Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Emperor had never visited Talleyrand. When the Emperor called him as soon as the expedition was over, Talleyrand thought of two possibilities.

The first was that the Emperor, who had low tolerance, was very angry with the advice and criticism about the future of the Empire he was writing and tried to harm him. The second was that he had found his communications with Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia.

There was a good chance that it was the latter. If so, he stood here with clean recognition and determination to face a just punishment. He had never imagined that the Emperor would hire him again to stop the Iberian War after having rejected him for such a long time. And he did so with such a common sense and gentle attitude!

Talleyrand stuttered uncharacteristically.

“…What can I refuse to Your Majesty and the French Empire? But… the situation across Iberia right now is worse than you think. In order to discuss agreements on the end of the war, not a few imperial concessions will have to be done.”

Asked how far he would allow concessions, the Emperor replied.

“The return of all the territories occupied by the Empire within the peninsula, and the abdication of King Joseph I, who was established by the Empire. Based on this, I hope that Spain will once again act as our friend.”

It was the Emperor who had forced Joseph Bonaparte, his brother, to be king of Spain. The Emperor, whose pride reached heaven, just said that he would destroy the declaration he had made in his past.

“They will never accept Your Majesty’s offer.”

Nevertheless, Talleyrand was skeptical. The Emperor had forcibly deposed their king and usurped the throne, and the French army had viciously taken their houses and property as local supplies. The Spanish people had a deep hatred for them. Insurgent militias were taking revenge against the French with a tactic called ‘guerrilla’. The French, whose comrades were brutally murdered by them, also harbored fierce resentment.

The war between France and Spain had already crossed a line to be resolved by diplomatic talks.

“Even if the Empire’s forces take over the entire Spanish mainland, they will move the capital and government to the New World to resist, as did Portugal in the past. The Empire must advance, fight, and occupy it to end the long war. Of course, it was unfeasible from the start because of the existence of Britain.”

From the beginning, this war should not have been fought. Talleyrand criticized the Emperor’s past in a subtle tone. All this was his fault for grinding the nation’s capabilities for his endless greed and ambition. The Emperor’s current attitude was astonishing, but Talleyrand thought this was also one of his many whims.

Although a prominent figure of the times, the Emperor was basically rude, impatient, and inconsiderate of others. Knowing that the Emperor was morbidly reluctant to point out his faults, it was time for him to pour out insulting remarks toward Talleyrand.

In the past, Talleyrand had heard ‘You’re shit in a silk stocking!’ and this time he thought that it might be something more vulgar and ugly. But Napoleon’s words were surprising to Talleyrand, who was prepared to be insulted.

“It was my fault, my fault. As you said now, we should not have intervened in the matter of the Spanish throne from the beginning. And even if we did, it was ridiculous to point our guns at an ally.”

“So I’d like to ask you. What would you do first to prevent the deterioration of the war in this situation? I am asking you now for your opinion, which was right at the time.”

Talleyrand who was bowing his head, opened his eyes wide.

Words that Napoleon Bonaparte could never say were coming from the Emperor in front of him.

TL notes

[1] Hugues-Bernard Maret