Napoleon in 1812

Chapter 23

4. What happened at the dinner – 1

Peace and harmony between France and Russia, between Napoleon I and Alexander I, was nothing more than a precarious and absurd treaty, just like an ice palace built in summer. The British had been aggressively targeting the two countries’ ‘uncomfortable cohabitation’, by using their wealth.

As the saying went, ‘A golden key opens every door’, and not only could money buy all things, but it also had the power to reshape the international relations themselves.

There was no other sassy foreign aristocratic politician like Britain. However, there was no one to reject the economic benefits offered by Britain either. Russia, which participated in the Continental Blockade, eventually took the hand of Britain. The reason was that the temptation of gold was too strong.

On the day that trade between the two countries resumed, Russian agricultural products (wheat, grain), canvas (flax, hemp), wood (mast, plank, timber), and iron were purchased in large quantities. Although many products had been left in bad stock because they had not been sold for a long time, British merchant ships bought them at prices higher than the market price.

Britain had also promised a financial aid as the recovery of their friendship with Russia, and the sum had been rumored to have shaken their neutral allies and France. Gold was also stronger than guns and cannons.

“Napoleon expelled the Russian ambassador who was staying in Paris. Alexander I responded by expelling the French ambassador from Saint Petersburg.”

“There’s a report stating that several divisions of the Iberian Peninsula are moving north. France’s allies and satellite nations are forming an army.”

“Finally, Nabot is starting to move! The war between Russia and France is coming!”

This was not the end of the news. The news that France’s great army had crossed the border and invaded Russia hit London. On June 24th, 1812, the first day of the FrenchRussian War, there was a shower of congratulations and applauses at the Palace of Westminster.

Among the politicians who looked refreshed as if a blocked blood spot had been pierced were Prince Regent George IV and British Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, Count of Liverpool.’11 George IV clapped and said, leaning his head toward Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, who was sitting on his left.

(The king of England did not sit next to the Prime Minister and lawmakers, but it was possible because George IV was a regent.)

“We succeeded in completely separating Russia from France. This will make the Nabot walk step by step toward his fall, wasting his force. Excellent, Prime Minister. Your predictions are not wrong.”

“It’s still too early to cheer, Your Highness. Now that we have succeeded in concentrating France’s power to the east, the kingdom has to invest and support the entire Iberian Peninsula. To end the war where the soldiers of the kingdom are suffering.”

Led by Commander-in-Chief Arthur Wellesley across the country, 60,000 British soldiers were serving on the Iberian Peninsula. Based on outstanding commanders, well-trained soldiers and support from home, they were gaining victory by capturing French troops that were lacking power.

However, Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson called for greater support and reinforcement.

“As the Prime Minister knows, the finances of the kingdom are not easy. There is a limit to tax increases and bonds to make up for defense expenses and debts that have grown like snowballs. Also, a considerable amount of money is being spent on pension payments for officers and soldiers who died in service. The political funding to split the French allies is also increasing day by day.”

The Navy was much more difficult to manage and cost more to maintain than the army. It meant that Britain’s military spending, which had more than 100 warships, was significantly larger than France, which had hundreds of thousands of army troops and was actively conquering.

Britain was blocking France and its allies’ entire coasts, spending astronomical sums to maintain that naval power. No matter how rich Britain was, the long-standing war and trade barriers were dealing a heavy blow on its finances. The situation in Britain, where prices and national debt rates soared day by day, was never good.

George IV was often said to be a moderate in the Great French War. It was also unusual for Britain, which had no history of having many troops stationed on the European mainland from the beginning, to send 60,000 troops to the Iberian Peninsula. Now they were fighting well enough and wasting France’s power, and many French troops in the peninsula had even been sent on a Russian expedition. The outlook on the Iberian front was bright enough, which was why George IV did not feel the need to invest more resources and manpower.

“It’s definitely an advantage in the war against Napoleon, but the ultimate goal of the kingdom is not to harden this situation. We need much fuel to make progress. Even with the same support as it is now, we are bringing honorable victories every day. If the royal family and the parliament guarantee more faith and support than now, how much more could we achieve? Perhaps the Duke of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley) will dedicate the victory of the Peninsula War to the royal family and His Highness.”

“Hmm…”

“Felipe II of Spain, who had built an unbroken empire before the British Empire, underestimated the revolts in the Netherlands, did not expand the size of the suppression force and gave the Dutch time. As a result, the Netherlands gained independence after nearly 80 years of war and ruled over Spain as king of Eastern trade. If you worry about the damage you will lose due to the continuance of the war, you will lose your chance and suffer even greater losses. The right investment is not to miss the timing.”

Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, Count of Liverpool, who had inherited William Pitt’s world strategy, called for a bold investment in the Peninsula War. His grand strategy was to make sure that Britain had a power advantage on the Iberian Peninsula with more troops and more support, and to hit the southern part of France.

George IV, who had been agonizing for a long time, eventually nodded heavily.

“There are a lot of things we need to do before we can send more troops in. As always, the Prime Minister and his lawmakers will take care of the issues.”

“Your brilliant decision will make the British Empire stronger. We will prepare as soon as we can so that we can deal with the Peninsular War.”

“Because of his expedition to the frozen land of the East, Napoléon will not be able to pay attention to the Iberian front for at least half a year. Just try to solve it during that time.”

The British army was recruiting. Therefore, there had to be time to train the volunteer young people and transform them into a united army. The installation of military facilities to produce and supply more war materials was necessary, and discussions to pass the budget were essential. Prince Regent George IV and Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson set a six-month period for all of this, which was clearly a reasonable choice. This was because common sense said that the victory would never be decided in a short period of time, as the war between Europe’s greatest powers broke out.

But their belief was destroyed in its worst form. The news came 20 days later and shocked the entire British nation beyond London.

Russia was defeated. Napoleon won an overwhelming victory.

The Russian elite troops were captured.

Can Russia continue the war? What choice will Alexander / make…

The members of the Westminster Palace fell into a huge panic and missed their day’s work. The Prime Minister failed to answer a flurry of questions from reporters, and Prince Regent George IV did not appear outside the palace. British government bonds had never been shaken in any unfavorable circumstances. However, the price of a 100-pound share, which was commonly sold on the London Stock Exchange, temporarily dropped to 68 pounds. From British citizens to financiers, from commercial and industrialists to politicians, they all realized their fears of Napoleon and France again at that moment.

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The Russian expedition of Napoleon I, the Emperor of the French Empire, caught the attention of all European countries. It was clear that the order and power leading Europe would be greatly reversed depending on whether Russia or France won the war. Whether it was an ally of France, an enemy country that was pretending to be with France, or a neutral country that was looking at both sides, they all paid attention to each news coming from the East.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, also known as Talleyrand, had served as the minister of foreign affairs since the first days of the presidential government and had led France’s hegemony with his skillful negotiations, international diplomacy, and ability to grasp the situation. However, he continued to oppose Napoleon’s increasingly ambitious war after the Battle of Austerlitz, was eventually dismissed from his minister position, and was now a prominent figure in Paris who continuously criticized Napoleon’s ambition to conquer

However, all of this was a camouflage trick to make Napoleon believe that he was just a ‘loud old man who had gone away’. It had been a long time since Talleyrand had abandoned his loyalty to France, or to be exact to Napoleon and the French Empire. He was in close contact with Joseph Fouché, who had previously served as Paris’ Minister of Police but was also dismissed due to conflicts with Napoleon, and was serving as governor of the Illyria region, plotting to bring Napoleon down.

“That’s very surprising news. Don’t tell me the Emperor was preparing for this and divided the expeditionary forces. Russia’s delay operation will be useless.”

Talleyrand, who had been on various lines in Prussia and Austria, was able to hear the news of the French-Russian war in Paris faster than anyone else. Napoleon’s unconventional moves in the process caught Talleyrand’s attention.

‘He did not act like a proud, vain and greedy Emperor. Rumor has it that he will give up the Russian expedition, but he is never the one to admit his fault and accept advice from others.’

The Russian expedition had been judged by Talleyrand as the highest peak among the many wrong judgments that Napoleon had made in the past. During the preparation for the Russian expedition, Talleyrand had contributed greatly to the countless criticisms, but in fact, it was a trick to stimulate Napoleon’s rebellious temperament, which flared up when he faced opposition. Taking the opposition around him as a challenge to his authority, Napoleon eventually went on the Russian expedition. Napoleon’s defeat was imminent. He could feel it and celebrated quietly.

Despite the opposition of numerous officials, the Russian expedition was carried out with great stubbornness. But now Napoleon himself was going to give it up. What changed the Emperor’s mind when he was in the madness of war? How should Talleyrand take this?

“…It doesn’t matter. The heart and public opinion of Paris have already left the Emperor, and Alexander I has no intention of giving up the war. However, I am curious about the color of the face of the Prince of Beilstein (Metternich), 21 given that the war can last for a long time. I hope he doesn’t get too excited and ruin his Rococo style office.”

Talleyrand smiled softly and savored his coffee. After drinking a bit, he closed his eyes. The continent was doing a blockade against Britain, but Britain’s overwhelming naval power led to the isolation of the entire European continent, with the discontinuation of trade routes between the New World and Asia.

However, in the midst of the blockade, smuggling trade continued between Britain and all of Europe. The evidence of that was the Brazilian coffee Talleyrand was drinking. Napoleon’s Continental Blockade, which should eventually dry up Britain’s economic power, was nothing but a delusion that Napoleon had dreamed of. Napoleon’s reign was coming to an end. Thinking about the future, Talleyrand prepared a plan to move for France and his own interests.

As a result, the plan was delayed for a long time. The spies sent by Alexander I found out about the revolt that had not even occurred in Paris and soon disappeared. News about the Battle of Hrodna reached Talleyrand, who strengthened the intelligence channel with some unknown anxiety.

It made even the cool-headed Talleyrand freeze. It had been a long time since he had been so excited. But like the British politicians, Talleyrand did not show anything and only grabbed his forehead.

Yes, Napoleon’s reign was not over yet.

TL notes

[1] George IV, Robert Jenkinson

[2] Klemens von Metternich