Chapter 194: The Empty Seat of the Little Giant (1)
Chapter 194: The Empty Seat of the Little Giant (1)
Strange. Truly strange.
The world seemed to be spinning wildly, like a carousel turning endlessly—no, not just a little. Quite a lot.
“Why exactly did they attack us? I simply cannot understand it rationally.”
France had the Bourbon dynasty. Spain had the Bourbon dynasty.
We did not spread the revolution into their territory in violation of the Declaration of Tilsit. In the first place, we hardly had the capacity to interfere with them—we were busy enough surviving on our own.
So what sort of reasoning had unfolded in Madrid that led them to harass us like this?
“Well, the answer is obvious. From the perspective of the old regimes pursuing absolute monarchy, they must have found us intolerable.”
Deputy Talleyrand, who had rushed all the way from distant Paris to this intermediary stop in Dijon, spoke with an air of simplicity, as if the answer were self-evident.
“Is it really that simple, Deputy Talleyrand?”
“There are even rumors that the current Spanish king, Carlos IV, suffers from intellectual disability and impotence. Compared to that, this explanation is quite reasonable, wouldn’t you say?”
Prime Minister Godoy was essentially the queen’s lover, while the king merely stamped approval whenever Godoy offered an opinion. Spanish nobles were mired in endless factional conflicts.
When you hear it all together, you cannot help but think, Is this really a country?
Still, if the words came from Deputy Talleyrand—widely expected to become the next foreign minister—it was probably the most reliable assessment France could obtain.
“To exaggerate slightly, the prostitutes of Parisian brothels are cleaner than Madrid’s aristocracy.”
“So if we summarize it, this war happened because the filthy figures of the old absolute monarchy felt offended?”
“Of course there may also be behind-the-scenes maneuvering by blacksmith guilds or merchants. But if we strip away the abstract causes and focus only on the fundamental one, then yes.”
“Do those bastards think war is some kind of game?!”
Since the storming of the Bastille in 1789, how many people had died regardless of nationality?
Frenchmen. Germans. Now Russians. Spaniards. British.
Hundreds at the Bastille. Thousands at Amiens. Ten thousand at Valmy. Another ten thousand in Corsica. And now Spain had invaded—no doubt more lives were lost in Saint-Domingue and the Pyrenees.
And the cause of all this was merely… offended feelings? The whims of a handful of rulers?
Damn it. Was this some kind of crime of wounded pride?
It was absurd.
People who did nothing but win the lottery of birth by being born with platinum spoons in their mouths threw away human lives like disposable cards.
Didn’t those who believed in God, Jesus, and the Pope fear hell at all?
Perhaps because of my anger, my eyes began trembling slightly and my face twisted.
“Deputy Talleyrand, if those bastards want war so badly, then let’s give it to them! Give General Bonaparte the troops and march straight to Madrid—”
“Your Excellency.”
“These bastards treat human lives as if they’re worth less than animals!”
“Your Excellency.”
Talleyrand had risen from his seat. He approached me and gently tapped my shoulder.
“I understand why you are upset, but please calm yourself. The guards are becoming alarmed.”
“…Understood.”
I exhaled deeply and slowly sat down.
“I find the man sitting on the Spanish throne utterly repulsive. What do you think, Deputy Talleyrand?”
“I feel the same, Your Excellency. However…”
“However?”
Talleyrand leaned closer and lowered his voice.
“The feelings Talleyrand holds as a Frenchman differ from those he holds as a diplomat.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Please do not misunderstand me. From a diplomatic standpoint, France should have lost the recent war against Russia.”
“What?”
Talleyrand pulled a map from his coat and handed it to me.
“This is… a map of Europe.”
“Indeed.”
He tapped France with his finger.
“France lies at the crossroads of Europe. If a transformation begins here, unlike in distant regions such as the Balkans or Iberia, its influence will eventually reach all of Europe.”
“That’s true.”
I nodded.
In the world of the twenty-first century where I had once lived, most countries were democratic republics—South Korea, the United States, France, Germany.
…Of course, beyond the 38th parallel there were still people worshipping a pig, but even they called their state a democratic republic in their constitution.
The wave of revolution that began in France eventually swept across the entire world.
From the perspective of someone who had seen the future, Talleyrand’s words were entirely correct.
“If that tide someday becomes a tsunami and sweeps across Europe, France will become the pioneer and elder brother leading the rest.”
“That makes sense.”
“But can we survive until that tide becomes a tsunami?”
“….”
Talleyrand raised three fingers.
“This war gave us three things.
First, proof that France remains strong. Even if it was an expeditionary force, we defeated two nations simultaneously. Other countries will certainly reevaluate our military power.”
“And the second?”
“Economic profit. We can demand war reparations from Russia and Spain and extract additional gains through prisoner negotiations.”
“Then the third?”
“The anxiety of other nations.”
“Could you elaborate?”
“Historically, whenever one country grows too powerful in Europe, everyone gangs up on it. When Prussia rose, Europe split into two camps. When the Dutch Republic prospered, Britain and France joined forces to crush it.
If we had lost this war, Europe would have rejoiced and left France alone. ‘France is weakened! What a relief! The revolution won’t spread through military force!’ they would have said.”
“But instead… we won.”
Talleyrand tapped the map again.
“Spain, Russia, Prussia, the Holy Roman Empire, Sweden, Denmark, even Norway. Intellectuals already whisper about liberalism, and now Russia and Spain have been thoroughly defeated. The monarchs will be deeply unsettled.
Anxiety only grows over time. Eventually they will raise armies to excise France—the tumor of Europe.”
Overthrow the revolution and restore the old regime. The palace courtiers would love nothing more.
“But Britain is still on our side.”
“I did not say it would happen immediately.”
He continued.
“Your Excellency is knowledgeable about democracy, are you not?”
“…Yes.”
“Tell me—how long can the Tory Party remain in power in Britain?”
“Quite a long time, I imagine.”
“Quite a long time—but not forever.
Eventually a new prime minister will come. If the Whigs take power, Edmund Burke—who is deeply hostile to us—may become prime minister.
Even the goodwill Britain has shown us now can be interpreted as a means to maintain its Mediterranean dominance.
Furthermore, the British and French have long been rivals. Even British commoners often harbor hostility toward France. As France grows stronger, their fear will grow as well.
Once their government changes, France must prepare to fight all of Europe.”
So it came down to political logic.
I took a breath before speaking.
“So the more we develop, the closer we come to a continental war.”
“Precisely.”
“And when that happens depends on us.”
“Yes.”
“This is suffocating.”
“Is it?”
Unlike me, who sighed heavily, Talleyrand laughed lightly.
“Do not worry too much. This is only the prediction of one man. Predictions are often wrong.”
“Deputy Talleyrand.”
“Yes?”
“When do you believe that moment will come?”
The smile vanished from his face.
“…Ten years at the earliest. Twenty at the latest.”
“Ten years… or twenty.”
Around 1803.
Or perhaps 1813.
A long time for a person’s life, but not so long for a nation.
“At least it seems France will continue developing until then.”
“With someone like you willing to bear the burden of the people, France will certainly progress faster than those rotten absolute monarchies.”
“…I am not the Finance Minister right now.”
“Very well. Then let us say future Finance Minister.”
What a slippery man.
Whether he noticed my thoughts or not, Talleyrand smiled again and pulled out another map.
“What is it this time?”
“Since we discussed a gloomy future, let us talk about something more entertaining in the present.”
“Entertaining?”
“Boston. Saint-Domingue. This is a map of the West Indies and North America.”
“Exactly. Compiled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
He tapped the map again.
“We should extract not only reparations but also some real treasure from Spain.”
“Southern Louisiana… Arkansas. And part of Santo Domingo.”
“The Foreign Ministry has already drafted a general framework. But when it comes to money, the Ministry of Finance is the true expert.”
“Ha. If we’re taking something, we might as well take a lot.”
I dipped my pen in ink and drew a circle on the map.
The most delicious thing in the world is taking what belongs to someone else.
Just like how the best ramen is always the one your younger sibling cooked for a late-night snack.
According to both the Bencao Gangmu and the Dongui Bogam, eating other people’s food leads to long life and good health.
“Spain should withdraw from North America and focus on South America with Portugal.”
“Hm. There are still many vacancies in the Foreign Ministry. Would you be interested?”
Ah.
No thanks.
I’m already busy enough defusing the bomb you just handed me.
France, Versailles Palace.
Office of the President of the National Assembly.
“I was told you summoned me, Mr. President.”
“Welcome, Deputy Danton. I have been waiting.”
As the two men shook hands inside the office, the setting sun sank beyond the window.