Napoleon in 1812

Arthur Wellesley was of Irish descent, but was basically an admirer of parliamentary democracy, the foundation of the British political system.

It was because it was the reason why Britain could secure and control vast overseas colonies with a strong navy, had innovative industrial technologies, excellent finance, and tax systems to make it the richest country in Europe, and could promote the interests of the country to the fullest while wisely grasping and exerting influence.

For all these reasons, Arthur Wellesley chose parliamentary democracy, which allowed various and outstanding talents from all walks of life to participate in state affairs.

It had been praised as the most advanced and exemplary political system in Europe. However, today, Wellesley had no way to hide his skepticism about the parliamentary cabinet, which he had considered to be the ideal political system.

'The war in which the fate of my country is at stake has just begun. With the victory or defeat of this war, the Kingdom will face an extreme future of prosperity or decline. But these people are only buried in the upcoming elections and are engaged in a political dispute that does not help at all the important matters of the country...!'

He compared it with Britain's rival, France. Starting with politicians, high-ranking officials, and capitalists under the outstanding figure of the era of Napoleon Bonaparte, the media, citizens, soldiers, and even the poor were united to cry for the overthrow of Britain and Russia.

Stimulated by the Strasbourg talks and the attempted assassination of the Emperor, they were engaged in the war in a more serious manner than ever.

When the British heard of this extraordinary mindset of the enemy's people, they should have work to unite the national opinion and discuss countermeasures, but they were only rejecting the responsibility on each other, so Wellesley could not hide his miserable heart beyond frustration.

"I'd like to say a word to the lawmakers I respect. I guessed that the reason why I was summoned to Westminster Parliament was to discuss about the reorganization of the corps, maneuver training, and preparation of field tactics, and to have in-depth discussions about the difficult situation of the war. I hope that Britain's top institution, where collective intelligence is concentrated, will perform their proper duties in the right way. This is also what I want to say as a citizen of London, not only as a commander of the British army."

The Westminster lawmakers straightened their faces at Wellesley's words that meant that they should stop being rude and talk constructively. They must have been aware that their actions were shameful.

"...We believed too much in Austria's caution. Although they gave in to France and Napoleon, we all doubted that sincerity. In fact, I didn't think they would blindly devote their loyalty to France like Denmark, Poland, and Saxony."

Prime Minister Charles Grey spoke about his mistakes with a dark look. This wrong judgment was also largely attributable to him.

"But breaking our predictions, Austria began to act much earlier. Perhaps because of their fear of Napoleon. I don't know if the full revision of their diplomatic route was done in Strasbourg, but they seem to have decided to take one side anyway."

The defeat of the kingdom in the naval battle could also be one of the reasons why Austria thought differently than before.

Anyway, Austria, Britain's long-standing ally, joined the opposite camp for the first time since the Seven Years' War, and that would become a big mistake among the numerous circumstances that Charles Grey had to go through during his prime ministerial term.

"It has already become a game that we cannot win with a short, decisive battle. Then, the Kingdom should use all the means that can be used regardless of saving face. France's defeat of the Kingdom's navy will eventually strengthen the vigilance of other powers against them. I think there is a hole here to overcome this difficulty."

It was already certain that the ruling party would be replaced. Charles Grey gave up his desire to extend his term as Prime Minister. Instead, he wanted to make up for a little bit of his past mistakes for the short time he had left.

'If you don't want to be hit by stones thrown by angry Londoners, of course you should do that.'

Wellesley glared at the Prime Minister with an ungraceful look. He was dissatisfied with both parties who made this filthy political struggle, but he was still more resentful toward the Whig Party, which had made the situation even worse.

"...The other day, I met His Highness and received significant information. Originally, it was scheduled to be revealed when the momentum of the war had matured a bit, but the situation has changed, so it can't be helped."

Wellesley was listening to the Prime Minister's speech in the hope that this incompetent idiot would not waste his precious time in vain again. But what Charles Grey said was something to which even Arthur Wellesley could not keep the same facial expression.

"His Highness was sorry that the royal family could not set an example for the war in which the Kingdom's life is at stake. Therefore, I have recommended the bravest, most dedicated, and most meaningful thing the royal family can do. It is to set the name of the royal family itself as collateral for a safe asset."

The news of George IV's permission to issue war bonds in the name of the royal family was a surprise to both the Tory Party and the Whig Party.

Since the honorary revolution in 1688, the British Parliament had been responsible for the issuance and repayment of government bonds, and the royal family had not been involved at all in them.

For the first time in a long time, the royal family gave its name. Among the pouring sad news, there was some really dramatic good news.

'He was saving it to take it out at the most decisive moment. He seems to be a sly person to monopolize all the spotlights and praise while wrapping up as if it was only his ability that persuaded the royal family.'

The situation had changed now and his term as Prime Minister would soon come to an end, so he must have revealed it without hesitation. Arthur Wellesley, who understood the Prime Minister's intentions, did not deny the fact that royal support would be a great help despite his slight displeasure.

Wellesley opened his pocket watch hanging on his right hand. The hour hand and minute hand of the clock, handcrafted by Swiss craftsmen, were moving very regularly. At that moment, Wellesley's consciousness escaped from Westminster and swam through the battlefields of the past.

He saw a person with an arrogant smile standing on top of fallen red coats. Napoleon Bonaparte, the man who gave him a fatal defeat, was there. Wellesley felt some fateful attraction. He would surely face him again on a different battlefield.

'I don't have to win much. Only one. If I can achieve only one victory, the final winner will be me and the Kingdom.'

Waiting for his participation in the near future, Wellesley had a determined expression.

'Battle is the act of filling the last piece in a work called victory.'

This was the theory that Napoleon, who learned military tactics in the biography of old heroes, had long embraced and polished. He faithfully followed his theory and made his enemies become impatient first.

At the same time, he also enjoyed using operations that completely destroyed the willingness of his enemies to carry out the war by building a scheme in which he could not lose, and then bringing in his enemies to annihilate them at once.

In this way, Napoleon, who was called a 'strategist with a devil's brain' by his enemies in the past, changed his position before the Great War and thought about it.

'If I were the British Prime Minister or a British general, which strategies would I try to deal with France?'

This genius strategist imagined it without difficulty. The sharpest and most deadly move that could corner France at once. It was to promote France's geopolitical weaknesses and psychological anxiety in neighboring countries.

In 1812, Napoleon's soul, which was in a very different world from here, crossed over and started a new life in a new body.

At that time, France was in a great crisis, and at the heart of it was Nabot of this world, who had made a crazy plan to advance to Moscow by mobilizing hundreds of thousands of soldiers from French troops and allied countries.

He hurriedly revised this grand strategy and somehow managed to escape the terrible situation by improvising, but when he thought about it, he was still caught up in a dizzying feeling.

History and records were mirrors that illuminated the future. There were always precedents in the history of war with the numerous countries that had existed on this land, even if it was not France.

One fact that could be deduced from them was that no matter how wealthy a country was, and no matter how powerful its army was, it would inevitably collapse if it fell into the hell of a multiple front.

If Napoleon was British, he was confident that he would give France this multi-front hell. Britain had the strongest and most reliable means and conditions to make this possible.

Their capital was powerful enough to be comparable to the economic power of Europe as a whole, and was safe from the French Great Army.

'If I were the Commander of the British army, I would have built a line of defenses at key points between Prussia and Russia along the Elbe River. And I would have dragged the war as long as possible with a double or triple defense line.'

In the end, the war of this era was a fight of capital, and the trend intensified as the war progressed. Although France had grown a lot, it was still no match for Britain, which had been a European leader long before.

Imports, raw materials, and supplies from vast overseas colonies had made it possible for Britain to pour out finances that could overwhelm other countries only in military expenses.

Its mainland was safe and the Atlantic Ocean was still under British control. No matter how much money Britain distributed to Prussia, Russia, and Sweden, it would be able to maintain its wartime status for a longer period than France.

'If they prolong the war like that, drive France and its neighboring countries to their limits, and work from behind, the French side will be shaken a hundred times. In that way, they could make French allies one by one into French enemies.'

Now, France's hegemony in Europe seemed completed based on the 'European Union', but in reality, it could not be seen as solid.

No, the reason why many European countries joined the Union in the first place was because they judged that their participation in the Union was advantageous for their own interests, while being guaranteed safety from foreign countries. If safety and interests were threatened, there would be no reason to maintain the Union.

The same was true for the countries on the Iberian Peninsula. Overwhelmed by France's strong military power and hegemony, they declared neutrality in this war under the pretext of preventing the independence of their colonies.

However, if France was shaken, they would be willing to go back on their words at any time and resume the war again. In particular, Spain suffered tremendous damage from the French army in the Peninsula War and even lost some territories.

Indeed, if Britain had been preparing for war like this, it would have been difficult to find a solution, even for Napoleon. However, there was no strategist in England who could pursue bold operations like Napoleon without being blocked. After all, this was also the luck of France.

The news that the corps of Karl Ludwig, the commander-in-chief of Austria who returned to the military, moved north was the very news that Napoleon had been waiting for.

The French troops were already ready to go out, but they could not move easily. Because Austria's silence was uncomfortable and suspicious.

They knew that Austria would never betray France easily after the victory of the Battle of Cala Emboixar, but they were still one of the few forces that could advance directly to the French mainland due to their geographical position. The French could not help but be vigilant.

So Napoleon, along with his field marshals and staff officers, set the conditions for the campaign: Austria should at least raise its troops first and move. This promise itself was another pressure on Austria.

Eventually, the Austrians raised their army as promised shortly after, and Napoleon and his party were able to hold a ceremony in Paris before it was too late.

"Finally, Judgement's Day has come! Death to the enemies of France!"

"This will certainly be the last war that threatens the future of the Empire!"

"Long live His Majesty the Great Emperor! Hurrah!!"

Napoleon shook hands with each of the high-ranking officers powerfully, receiving their loud cheers. Napoleon and the officers turned around and stood in front of the soldiers they would lead. After that, flutes and drums started to be heard from the military band.

The elite soldiers selected within the corps began marching in rows according to the beat and melody without even a centimeter error. Their march, angular and unstoppable, was propaganda. They were promoting how well-trained they were to the citizens gathered at the Place de la Concorde.

Of course, Napoleon was leading them at the forefront. Napoleon's appearance as he greeted the citizens with a dignified expression while lifting his symbol, his tricorn, high on a colorful horse, was no different from a hero in a myth.

The citizens of the square were revered by the majestic appearance of their Emperor and had no choice but to give enthusiastic cheers and applause. The city's women generously sprinkled hyacinth flowers on the path of the Emperor and his guards. The meaning of hyacinth in flower language was 'victory'.

Napoleon received the attention of all citizens at once. He looked at the tallest building on the Place de la Concorde, the clock tower, and waved for the last time.

This was because there was a family member that Napoleon, who was very indifferent to family love, sincerely loved. As if responding to him, a small white hand shook frantically outside the clock tower. A smile appeared on Napoleon's face.

'I really want to see the final stage of my father's appearance as the Emperor of the Empire.'

Napoleon could not refuse the request of his son, who was already showing his mature side. Although he may not be able to pass on to him the Emperor's laurel crown, Napoleon vowed to let him live as the most respected, envied, and loved Frenchman in the world.

In the streets were Napoleon and his troops passed by, there were numerous newspapers scattered. The newspapers were all different, but their covers and headlines were about the same.

'Never forgive the Prussian traitors!!'

TL notes

Here's a map of the current situation in Europe, with some troop movements:

dark blue = French Empire

light blue = French allies, members of the Union

red = Coalition members

grey = neutral countries

I made this map based on to which I added the Basque country to France, and the provinces of Volhynia and Podolia to Poland.