Napoleon in 1812

Chapter 4

Napoleon’s cry from the middle of the grasslands – 3

Napoleon was struggling to calm down the urge to kill Napoleon of this world. He called in Baron Fain, the chief secretary. He gave orders to Baron Fain, who rushed in.

“Send a messenger to Alexander I, saying that we have no intention of continuing the war with Russia. Let’s be at peace with each other and go back to our previous agreement. Send the most competent diplomat you can find from the Republic… No, the Empire and persuade him well.”

For now, making peace with Russia was an urgent priority.

Dozens of luxury carriages, pulled by six horses per vehicle, were moving in a row, creating dust clouds. The carriages were full of couriers, maids, bodyguards, artists, cooks, poets, horsemen, lovers, and other servants. In front of them, the flags symbolizing the French Empire fluttered in the wind.

‘Damn, how many civilians do you have to take for one enemy? Did you have any thoughts about these people going to war?’

Almost a whole village seemed to be moving. Looking at the luxurious procession, Napoleon’s stomach was burning. Yes, it was only natural in current European Society for a high-ranking general to be followed by tails of that size when he left on an expedition. But Napoleon changed that obvious thing. When he was a general, Napoleon ate the same meal as the soldiers, slept in the same place, and led them from the same height.

He broke all kinds of stereotypes, such as rapid military maneuvers, aristocratic sense of authority, and arrogant strategies to maintain military discipline. It made the military think only of efficiency and combat power. As a result, the French army led by Napoleon was able to reign as the best army in Europe.

“I have to change everything… from one to ten…”

Looking at Napoleon muttering with a grim look, the generals around him slowly pulled back.

“I’ll have to clean up before that, right? All right, all right…”

One corner of his mouth went up and he smiled. I’m not smiling… that damn Nabot of this world. I’m going to work hard and put everything in order.

‘The only one who can save Europe is His Majesty. And the only way is to oppose Napoleon.’

France’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Talleyrand, [1] was a man who had even heard the voices of the second-in-command of the French Empire in the past. He said in a letter that he would fully stand on the Tsar’s side and promise to respond within France. Only then did Alexander I have the courage to face Napoleon in full force.

The war between Russia and France, two great empires, came to an end.

Alexander I, Tsar of the Russian Empire, was staying in the city of Vilna, the former capital of the duchy of Lithuania. He had already received the news of the sudden stop of Napoleon’s 400,000 soldiers in the Neman River basin instead of marching.

“We don’t know what else the sly Napoleon will do. Why don’t we stop the operation and watch the expedition’s movement?”

“They are consuming astronomical supplies every day. They must have a reason for not moving despite that.”

Alexander I considered his aides to be right and focused on figuring out the situation while waiting for the serfs coming from the eastern part of Siberia. The change happened the very next day. There was some intelligence that the French were packing up and retreating as if they were being chased by something, even though the full-scale inland advance had not begun. While staff officers drew question marks with puzzled expressions on their incomprehensible behavior, Alexander I thought. They’re not trying to be sneaky, they’re trying to go back because something unexpected happened.

“The French have sent an envoy. It seems that they are trying to promote peace with our country.”

“Who is the envoy?”

“It’s Louis Chankelier for foreign affairs.”

Alexander I stroked his beard. He was the highest-ranking diplomat who served under Napoleon. Usually, on the first day of negotiations between countries, it was customary for low-class diplomats to visit each other first and then gradually increase their status. Calling the Minister of Foreign Affairs as a negotiator from the beginning turned Alexander I’s doubts into conviction. There was something big going on in France.

“Since France finally broke peace and invaded the stronghold of our Empire, it is impossible to make an agreement to just go back to how things were two months ago. I will state our conditions.”

Alexander I recited the negotiation proposal after a brief discussion with the advisors.

The complete withdrawal of the French troops from the territories of Prussia and Austria. The independence and sovereignty of the Duchy of Oldenburg, which France annexed in 1810. The acknowledgment of Russia’s annexation of the Duchy of Warsaw. The exception of Russia in the trade blockade with Britain. 40 million francs to pay for Russia’s border invasion.

Whenever he heard each of the negotiation conditions, Louis Chankelier’s heart burned black. The Emperor had told him ‘If you think Russia’s proposal to end the war is reasonable, accept it. You can make some concessions in the process.’ However, this was beyond the limits and could not belong to what the Emperor had called a ‘reasonable proposal to end the war’. It was a proposal that would never be accepted by the French Empire…

‘If I accept this, His Majesty and the citizens of Paris will never leave me alone… Uh…’

Louis Chankelier, whose face color did not change at all as an excellent diplomat even though he was getting sick from inside, quietly folded the paper. The eyebrows of Alexander I and the Russian diplomats, who were looking at him with sharp eyes, wiggled.

“Can I take that now as the official refusal of the French Empire?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! We cannot accept these conditions at all.”

“…That’s too bad. Then let’s see each other on the battlefield. That’s where we will decide who will cry and laugh at the end.”

When Louis Chankelier stepped down quietly, Alexander I ordered his entourage.

“Let’s figure out what’s going on in France right now. And… contact Vilnius and Minsk. If you have a chance to strike Napoleon’s tail, do it without delay.”

TL notes

[1] Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord