A day later, in the opulent chambers of the Palace of Versailles, Sieyes stood before Napoleon's desk, observing as the First Consul signed a bill with determined strokes of his pen.
The bill in question pertained to the restoration of the Gregorian Calendar as the official standard of the French Republic, effectively replacing the confusing revolutionary calendar that had been adopted seven years prior.
"There was considerable controversy surrounding this bill, Your Excellency, I must say," Sieyes remarked, his tone respectful yet tinged with concern. "Some argued that your proposal implies opposition to the core principles of the revolution."
"Is that so?" Napoleon pondered, his demeanor nonchalant as he leaned back in his chair. "Rest assured, I remain committed to the principles of the revolution. However, this revolutionary calendar does nothing but bewilder me. It seems the extremist factions of the revolution sought to strip away any semblance of conventionality and logic from our lives."
"Well, that just goes to show how much the people hated the old order back then," Sieyes commented.
"Indeed," Napoleon responded a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "The past was filled with upheaval, and the people's fervor to break free from the old order was undeniable. But as we progress and mature as a nation, it becomes apparent that certain changes may have been driven more by fervor than reason."
He paused for a moment, then picked up the freshly signed document from his desk, holding it out towards Sieyes.
"I believe restoring the Gregorian Calendar will bring a sense of stability and continuity that our country needs," Napoleon explained. "Merry Christmas, Sieyes."
Sieyes accepted the document with a nod, but a hint of surprise crossed his face as Napoleon greeted him with a warm, unexpected wish.
"Merry Christmas, Your Excellency," Sieyes replied, his expression softening.
With that, Sieyes turned around and left his office, leaving Napoleon alone.
Napoleon proceeded to grab another document, continuing his work. This time, it was the reports of the expedition of the Army of the Orient. He opened it and perused the contents. According to the report, General Kleber, the Commander of the Orient, had just conquered Oman and Yemen in a seven-week campaign, basically putting the whole Arabian peninsula under French control.
Having the whole Arabian peninsula is one of Napoleon's wet dreams, as those regions have the world's half oil reserves. Controlling that region is basically controlling the lifeblood of the modern world. Napoleon could hardly contain his excitement at the prospect of the immense wealth and power that controlling the oil-rich lands of the Arabian Peninsula would bring to France. But first, he would have to mine for them.
Napoleon continued reading the report, and General Kleber was asking for instructions on whether they could continue towards India, ultimately removing British influence, or should they hold their ground first.
Napoleon pondered for a moment. While the ultimate goal was to remove the British from India, he couldn't overlook the significant achievement of conquering the entire Arabian Peninsula. Nevertheless, he was keenly aware that his forces were now stretched thin. The conquest had been swift and decisive, but it had also taken its toll on the Army of the Orient. They needed time to rest, solidify their gains, and await reinforcement. Not to mention that the British had sent a naval squadron to the region to counter the possibility of a French invasion of India.
So, Napoleon decided that General Kleber to stay put and wait for the Austrians to sign an official peace treaty with the French Republic. Once the peace treaty is signed, Napoleon could send fifty thousand troops, of course, equipped with the conventional weapons, to the Arabian Peninsula.
After reading that report, Napoleon set it aside and grabbed another one. The document that he just picked up is about the overseas colony of Saint-Domingue on the Caribbean island.
"The Haitian Revolution," Napoleon mused to himself.
He delved into the report, which detailed the revolutionary struggle that had unfolded in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. It all began in 1789 when the ideals of the French Revolution, such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, sparked a desire for freedom among the enslaved population of the island.
As the enslaved Africans and Afro-descendant people rose up against their oppressors, the colony plunged into a fierce and bloody conflict. The revolutionaries, led by Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, André Rigaud, and others, fought relentlessly for their emancipation, seeking to dismantle the brutal system of slavery that had plagued them for generations.
The French authorities initially sought to suppress the uprising, but the revolutionary fervor and resilience of the Haitian people proved formidable. As the conflict intensified, the situation on the island grew increasingly complex. Multiple forces were at play, including the French colonial authorities, the British, and the Spanish, all seeking to control the rich sugar-producing colony.
But Toussaint Louverture prevailed in governance. According to the reports, he had struck a deal with Great Britain, ending the naval blockade and withdrawing troops from Saint-Domingue. As part of the agreement, there was a promise not to spread the uprising to Barbados. He also conducted negotiations with the United States to secure their non-interference with their trade.
However, despite the shared cause of ending slavery, the Haitian Revolution was not without its internal challenges. Within Saint-Domingue, a factional conflict akin to a civil war emerged, pitting two influential leaders against each other. André Rigaud and Toussaint Louverture found themselves embroiled in what came to be known as the "war of the knives."
As the revolution progressed, ideological and strategic differences between the two leaders escalated into open hostility. André Rigaud, a free man of color, and Toussaint Louverture, a former slave, had once fought alongside each other against French colonial rule. They were both committed to securing freedom for their people, but their visions for the future of Saint-Domingue diverged, leading to a bitter rift.
Rigaud's faction represented a more moderate stance, advocating for a society that embraced both free people of color and white planters. He believed in working within the existing social framework to secure rights and equality for the colored population while maintaining a level of cooperation with the French authorities.
On the other hand, Toussaint Louverture's approach was more radical and assertive. He envisioned a Haiti that was completely free from European colonial rule and where former slaves could hold positions of power and authority. Louverture aimed to create a society that embraced its African heritage and culture, free from the shackles of slavery and colonial oppression.
Toussaint won the war, and Rigaud, defeated, left for France. His location is unknown, maybe, it is on its way to France.
In real history, Napoleon would reassert his control of Saint-Domingue from Toussaint Louverture, sending an expedition, and failing utterly thanks to yellow fever.
Napoleon leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. He wondered about what he should do as the First Consul of France. Napoleon also wanted to reassert control of Saint-Domingue but in a peaceful way. The constitution of the Year XII didn't address anything about abolishing slavery, so he might as well do so because the economy of the future wouldn't rely on slaves, but on machines.
"I think I should consult with Talleyrand about this matter first."
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺