Chapter 288 Conspiracy
"Come on, Berthier, is that really bad news?" Napoleon's eyes sparkled with mischief, and a collective chuckle filled the room.
Berthier grinned, his laughter infectious. "You know, Your Excellency, it's all about the dramatic flair."
"We have bad news. We are at war with Spain—"
Talleyrand couldn't contain himself, and his laughter rang out, causing Berthier and Napoleon to look at him as if he was crazy.
"Okay, Talleyrand, that's too overly dramatic even for you," Napoleon said.
Talleyrand cleared his throat, finally regaining his composure. "My apologies, Your Excellency. Let's return to being serious for the moment. The Kingdom of Spain has bitten the bait."
"With that, our forces in the Caribbean have invaded Cuba, Florida, and the New Philippines. Cuba was the first to surrender, followed by Florida. General Leclerc captured New Philippines and is pushing westward, towards California," Berthier outlined.
"Since we have invaded Spanish territories in the Caribbean and in North America, it attracted the attention of the United States, whom we can imagine is not too pleased with our actions," Talleyrand added.
"Can I assume that the Kingdom of Spain has received this news as well?" Napoleon asked.
"Very likely, Your Excellency," Berthier replied.
Napoleon nodded thoughtfully and reached to one of his drawers. "Okay, let's focus on the expedition."
He rose to his feet and walked over to a side where a curtain was draped over the wall. He beckoned the two to follow him. The moment they were behind him, Napoleon pulled the cord, and the curtain slid aside, revealing a large, detailed map of the world. It was like the map he showed Desaix when he invited him over; the only difference is that most land in the North American continent is marked blue, except for the east side of the Mississippi River, which is marked red, indicating the territory of the United States.
"What is this…Your Excellency," Talleyrand asked, his mouth gaped in awe.
"This is the territory I want for New France. Everything that is marked blue is a must-have land," Napoleon said firmly. "The regions that are marked hold a treasure that we can extract, minerals such as iron, coal, and oil. Once we have fulfilled it, we are going to annex it."
"Wait–Your Excellency, are you serious? Not even a colony? You are going to straight up annex it?" Talleyrand looked at Napoleon, astonished with a subtle mix of concern etching his face.
"Of course, it's a new frontier, settled by only natives with whom we can cooperate for a smooth transition, something that the United States failed to do. And then I'm going to introduce a law where we would grant land to French people who cultivate and develop these regions. They will become an integral part of our expanding empire."
"I guess we'll have to send in reinforcements because the United States is not going to allow a European power to expand so significantly in North America without resistance," Berthier added.
Napoleon nodded in agreement. "Which is why you will send sixty thousand men in the region. I will personally lead the troops myself."
Declaring that Berthier and Talleyrand were left momentarily speechless by the audacity of Napoleon's plan. Sixty thousand men, plus ninety thousand led by the First Consul himself was a force to be reckoned with.
"Do you really have to go there, Your Excellency?" Berthier asked, judging how warfare evolved over time, the head of state could simply appoint generals and do all the work, but Napoleon saw this operation as an opportunity to increase his popularity among the people.
"If I personally lead our troops in the conquest of North America, It would make every French citizen like me even more, especially those who are still hesitant."
"Understood, Your Excellency, if that is what you wish," Berthier acknowledged Napoleon's decision.
"Any moment now, the Kingdom of Spain and the United States representative will come to France for a diplomatic mission."
"Let's hope they arrive before I depart," Napoleon said and added. "Oh, Berthier, I want you to draft an invasion plan towards Spain—for pressure tactics."
***
Two days later, at the capital city of the Kingdom of Spain. King Charles IV threw a goblet across the room in a fit of rage. The goblet shattered against the stone wall, its contents splattering in all directions. Charles IV, the ruler of Spain, was not accustomed to such humiliations, and the news he had just received had pushed him to the edge of fury.
His advisor, Manuel Godoy, stood nearby, unfazed by the outburst.
"Those damn French!"
"Well if we think of it logically, Your Majesty, we are the ones at fault here. Our ship of the line attacked a French transport ship which gave them a casus belli. However, the extent of their response is beyond what anyone could have anticipated," Godoy replied, attempting to calm the furious King.
Charles IV paused, his anger giving way to frustration. "Yes, you're right, Godoy. But to lose Cuba, Florida, and the New Philippines so quickly... It's a blow to our pride. Not to mention, it's in the newspaper. The people already know…Yet still—I remember the First Consul giving his words that he would buy Cuba from us—only to renege with war."
"We are not alone in this, Your Majesty. In fact, the United States is seemingly looking to join our side. They see the French invasion of Spanish colonies as a threat to their national security," Godoy revealed.
"Who was the stupid captain again that attacked French transport ships?" Charles IV asked.
"It was Captain Antonio Boneo, Your Majesty," Godoy replied. "He is currently being held as a prisoner of war along with his crews."
Charles IV clicked his tongue in infuriation. "And there were four dead, right? I can't believe that we would lose our colonies in the Caribbean and North America over the shooting of a transport ship. Let's talk with the First Consul, I shall write a letter to him and implore his reason, hoping that he might reconsider this unnecessary war."
***
Charles then wrote a letter to Napoleon and after that, he had tasked a messenger to deliver it promptly to Paris.
A day later, the letter arrived at the Paris Post Office where Minister of Interior, Lucien Bonaparte took a look at it. He carefully removed the royal seal from the letter and read its contents.
The tone of the letter was amiable and conciliatory but Lucien doesn't want the letter in that tone.
He handed the letter to a person behind him.
"I want you to alter this dispatch, make it hostile and insulting," Lucien ordered the master forger hired by the Minister of State.
"Understood."
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