Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

7. Gold Rush – 5

There was an elderly man dressed in a uniform, strolling through Heidelberg campus. Aside from his white hair, one could see all the students greeting him as he passed by.

“It’s a good morning today, Professor.”

“The lecture on the paradox of the equitable tax system that you gave yesterday was really great.”

Most of them were German. However, the one who appeared to be a professor was French. Nevertheless, he responded without hesitation to their greetings in German. Sometimes some students asked questions or threw arguments against his lecture, but the white-haired professor responded with all his heart without being annoyed or offended.

His name was François Carnot,1l he was a professor of politics and economics at Heidelberg University. With a big smile, Professor Carnot saw off students with a bright look on their faces and entered his private room.

“You’re here, Professor.”

“Huh… why did you all come so early today when we don’t even have a lecture.”

François Carnot greeted the teachers with a big smile.

Along with Georg Hegel, 21 who called Napoleon Bonaparte the ‘spirit of the age riding a horse’, he was the most prominent professor and scholar at Heidelberg University. Nevertheless, he did not belittle his subordinates and there was no arrogance in his behavior. François Carnot was a respected and recognized professor.

“I was going to send someone else.”

Professor Carnot tilted his head at the teachers’ words.

“I got a letter from a professor in Paris. It’s about inviting you to the Tuileries Palace.”

Now, it has subsided because time has passed, but when Professor Carnot was called by the French Emperor, all the teachers were excited. If the Emperor called, then it was a promise to appoint him as a key member of the imperial government. When a professor was called, professors around him would also be called. For them, it was like a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.

However…

“This is difficult.”

Professor Carnot’s eyes were cold.

With an indifferent look on his face, he put the letter from Paris into his coat. And left the private room as if nothing had happened.

The atmosphere inside the room cooled down.

Secretary of State Caudran Pollins and U.S. Ambassador William Dinsmore looked blank as if they had heard an unimaginable story. Looking at them, Napoleon did not show any emotion. He maintained an attitude as if he had nothing to regret.

This was an important moment.

“Your Majesty… I am very sorry to say that, but… We, the United States, do not sell or give ownership of the land to foreigners. It’s a set of land ordinances established since the beginning of the federal government.”

“Uh, the relationship between the U.S. and me is not that shallow. Is it against your constitution, is it impossible to give me some privileges? I recall that the federal government was able to acquire a vast piece of land called Louisiana thanks to my decision.”

Pollins and Dinsmore looked at each other with embarrassed faces at the Emperor’s frowning reaction.

Napoleon was showing them a look of displeasure, but he was thinking completely different inwardly.

I’m probably the only one who knows the value of the towns of Dahlonega and Villa Rica at this point.’

The French Republic of the other world did not sell Louisiana to the United States and even engulfed Britain’s New World colonies in exchange after its victory in the war. Thanks to this, France had created a state that completely surrounded the United States to the north, west, and south, with the help of Spain, its ally.

In addition, France had strong military and naval capabilities that defeated Britain, which was the hegemonic power of the time… Tired of this, the U.S. had no choice but to be incorporated into the French-led order without daring to seek territory. It was natural for the U.S. in the other world to choose a national strategy focused on internalism rather than expansion, while being careful of France.

The U.S. focused its attention on its own land, which was still largely unexplored, and began to send exploration teams. The territory of the United States was more than twice as large as the mainland of the French Republic in Europe, and this vast land contained rich and fertile farmland and pastures like France.

While developing their territory in such mindset, the United States obtained one very remarkable thing.

Two large gold mines that could not be compared with ordinary mines were discovered. Napoleon remembered hearing about them directly from the newspapers when he stayed in Louisiana. So he knew exactly where the mines were.

The two gold mines were located in the villages of Dahlonega and Villa Rica in Georgia, and were among the four towns which Napoleon claimed ownership and development rights.

‘The United States of this world gained the huge territory of Louisiana and secured an access route to the Pacific Ocean. Compared to where I lived, luck went different ways.’

But when there was light, there was also a shadow.

Having gained too much territory at once, the U.S. had to devote its entire energy to manage and explore new land and establish an administrative network. It was no ordinary thing to manage a waterway that extended in all direction like the Mississippi River and its octopus bridge.

Just in time, a war broke out with Britain. The U.S. could not afford to thoroughly explore its own land.

‘Thanks to this, the mainland of the United States has received relatively little attention and the two gold mines are also still undiscovered. I’m lucky on this one.’

Napoleon knew how great the amount of gold buried in the two gold mines was.

At that time, land prices had jumped by more than 2,500% just by the measures of mining experts. Even in the villages around the gold mines, the price of low land soared due to the expected effect, but the value of the gold mines themselves was… left to one’s imagination. Napoleon wanted ownership of these whole gold mines anyway. The other two villages, Ellijay and Calhoun, were smoke screens to hide his true intentions. Following a complex and difficult process, a contract was to be carried out between Napoleon as an individual and the federal government.

This was because if a state required ownership of land, it could effectively be understood as asking for overseas territories. The federal government would have doubts about the French and Napoleon’s intentions, and separating lands from their homeland to give it to a foreign country (even a friendly one) would cause anger among the U.S. people.

Naturally, these experienced diplomats would not accept such a potentially dangerous event.

“All four villages are only about 100 square kilometers. And the land of substantial economic value is much smaller than that. Moreover, I know that most of the residents in these villages are not U.S. citizens…”

“…Your Majesty is right. All four villages are indigenous enclaves. We are protecting them and that is why…”

“I don’t see any reason to be reluctant to my offer. Aren’t they a pain in the neck of the federal government?”

They frowned, but did not refute Napoleon’s comments revealing American disgrace. Actually, if the natives were forced to move somewhere else, that was good as well.

“So what do the Ambassador and the Secretary of State think about my proposal?”

“Please wait a minute… we will have a little more talk and then make a decision.”

Caudran Pollins and William Dinsmore began to discuss with low voices and serious faces. Napoleon showed with his facial expressions and gestures that he would not eavesdrop on their words. Of course, he could not help but hear the words that came naturally.

‘It looks like Nabot couldn’t speak a foreign language at all, but I’m different.’

Napoleon could understand American English.

“What on Earth is the French Emperor’s intention? To have an eye on that useless land… Isn’t it too far away from the French mainland? I doubt that the Emperor has any information about such a remote place, so I can’t understand his suggestion.”

“I’ve heard that northwestern Georgia is a land where it’s easy to grow cotton. Rumor has it that France is in the middle of developing cotton and spinning machines… Isn’t he trying to make up for the shortage of raw materials? Then, Georgia would have caught his eye.”

“If they just buy and use the cotton we grow, wouldn’t it be cheaper and simpler for them? In fact, there were cotton and cotton products included in the tariff reduction items we proposed.”

“Well, they could have some personal interest in doubling the suppliers.”

“Hmm… That wouldn’t be a big problem, but…”

Their discussion ended after 15 or 20 minutes. Pollins opened his mouth with a stern look.

“I don’t think it will be easy to accept Your Majesty’s proposal, because firstly, it is subject to the current laws and public sentiment of the federal government, and secondly, it may be a reason for diplomatic disputes. I’m so sorry, but…”

“No, don’t be. I like the offer I made in the first place. I have no intention of accepting any other offer.”

“…I know you would say that, so I will look for a compromise between the two positions. However, I would like you to know that there are some issues that we cannot compromise on.”

Napoleon and the two Americans spent a long time on that subject.

The contract thus concluded was as follows:

…(omitted)… The United States will delegate the economic and development rights of the villages of Dahlonega, Villa Rica, Ellijay and Calhoun in Georgia to the Emperor of the French Empire for 50 years. This development right cannot be donated or sold to anyone unless they are citizens of U.S. nationality. We also inform you that after 50 years, they will automatically return to the federal government. In return, the U.S. ships will be recognized as exceptions to the Milan Decree. In the event of capture or pillage by French trawlers in Normandy, the U.S. will demand apologies and legal compensation in dollars and francs three times equivalent the plunder to the French Empire.

“All agree.”

Although ownership was not recognized and development rights were limited to 50 years, Napoleon was very satisfied.

The demand for ownership was only a smoke screen anyway. Development rights, including mining rights, were Napoleon’s real goals. Federal State Council member Pollins clearly stated in the contract that the development and economic rights could not be exchanged with anyone other than U.S. citizens. Of course this included states or organizations.

However, there were no control regulations for raw materials, resources, or income generated by development or mining in the land.

In other words, if Napoleon developed Dahlonega’s and Villa Rica’s gold mines, mined gold, and transfered all of the revenue from it to the French Empire’s treasury, there was no problem regarding the law or the contract.

‘Fifty years is enough time to fully develop and suck up the gold mines.’

Napoleon was very pleased with this deal. How much help would the gold mined from two huge gold mines help France’s finances?

A smile appeared on his face.

“In addition, please ensure that the issues involved in this contract are secure and confidential. I will keep quiet about it except for a few members of the cabinet.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. We’re going to include this document in the federal government’s list of top secrets. Even if the government changes, Your Majesty’s rights and contracts will not change.”

“It was a truly constructive encounter. Please give my regards to President Madison Jr. as well. I hope this deal will lead to a Democratic-Republican victory.”

“Our President will be very pleased with your support.”

Napoleon smiled.

Lip service could be done at any time. Since he got such a big gift.

Map of the North American continent in 1812, red: Britain, orange: Spain, green: United States

Map of the North American continent in the other world before Napoleon crossed, blue: France

@ Author’s notes:

From 1828, when the gold mines were first developed, to the 20th century, a total of about 24.6 tons of gold were mined in Dahlonega and Villa Rica.

Thank you!

TL notes

[1] I think it’s him: Joseph François Claude Carnot, but I’m not sure.

[2] Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Sorry for the quality of the images, they were originally like this. I’ll update them if I find better ones.