French Empire: But Napoleon IV

Chapter 1: Declaring War on Prussia, the French Emperor in a Hurry to Give Away the spoils.

July 19, 1870, in the royal courtyard of the east wing of the Tuileries Palace.

Eugène Napoleon sat in a room filled with the style of Napoleon III, decorated with iron frames, glass skylights, and various works of art, pondering a problem with frustration.

Napoleon Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte, the heir to the empire and the future Napoleon IV, had naturally short, slightly curved hair that was light brown in color.

He wasn't particularly handsome, but he wasn't ugly either. Moreover, Napoleon IV had deep-set eyes with bright yellow-green pupils.

At this moment, as sunlight shines through the glass skylight, the pupils change from transparent to deep blue.

Compared to his father Napoleon III, Eugène Napoleon resembled his great-uncle Napoleon I more.

Of course, the 14-year-old Napoleon IV was in good health, without his father's mental illness or his great-uncle's lameness.

Good health, however, could not solve the troubles in Eugène Napoleon's mind.

Before this morning, Eugène Napoleon was just a struggling graduate student sent abroad by his family to study French history at the Paris Institute of Arts and Sciences, waiting to return home after his studies and inherit his family's vast fortune.

As it turns out, the French study abroad scene is indeed chaotic. After observing the situation for a month in Paris, the second-generation rich kid finally decided to enter the study abroad circle and indulge himself. After a night of revelry, he immediately fell into a trap.

I don't know what kind of illness it is, how could it send me through time in just one night?

Eugène Napoleon, clutching his head and giving a wry smile, was naturally filled with a thousand regrets.

Not only did he transmigrate, but he also transmigrated to the fourth day of the Franco-Prussian War, the first day his father declared war in parliament. At this time, the position of crown prince was nowhere near as appealing as his vast fortune.

After a brief period of regret and reflection, and a vow not to act recklessly again, Eugène Napoleon calmed down and considered how to resolve the current crisis.

It seemed that his adoptive father, Napoleon III, had already declared war on Prussia. Once the war was declared, there was no turning back, and given the mobilization capabilities of Prussia and France, the collapse of the French front was almost inevitable.

Eugène Napoleon did not believe he could stop the defeat at the front; he was just a 14-year-old boy.

If he were to go to the front with his father, Napoleon III, Eugène Napoleon was not even sure if the mentally ill Napoleon III would be willing to listen to his advice.

The frontline battle lasted only a month at most before it quickly collapsed; a month was simply not enough time for Eugène Napoleon to do anything.

Eugène Napoleon's current idea is to dissuade his father, Napoleon III, from going to the front lines. Even if the quality of the French generals at the front is inferior to that of the Prussians, at least the absence of a master strategist would improve the situation at the front.

Even if defeat is inevitable, at least we can bring back more soldiers.

"Hey, Eugene, get ready to come to the front lines with me."

"Father, perhaps we should stay in Paris."

Napoleon III excitedly pushed open the door. At this time, His Majesty the French Emperor had not yet witnessed firsthand the numerous military problems of the French army at the front, such as lack of organization and chaotic mobilization. He still believed that the French army could sweep through Prussia with invincible force.

Napoleon III, who was about to open the door and take his only son to the front lines to gain experience, heard his son's words of dissuasion to stay.

The French emperor, who had just declared war on Prussia in Parliament, looked at his only son with a puzzled expression.

"Young Eugène, this is your chance to build up your military experience. In France these days... you know, without a good track record, it's hard to gain the trust of your subordinates."

Napoleon III wanted to take Eugène to the front lines because he genuinely believed the French army could win the war. It's impossible that he thought they were going to lose and would take his crown prince to their deaths.

Even if Eugène Napoleon's previous life was spent in France to gain prestige, that doesn't change the prestige of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University. Being able to get into this university and study French history, Eugène certainly had something to offer.

He knew that the prosperity of the Second French Empire was actually leaning more towards a bubble economy by this time, and it was at risk of collapsing at any moment.

As early as April and May of this year, the Second Empire was already on the verge of collapse. It was under pressure from the people and various opposition groups that Napoleon III promulgated a new constitution, attempting to use "constitutionalism" to appease the people's demands for a republic.

The current war against Prussia is an attempt by Napoleon III to further shift internal contradictions into external contradictions.

"Father, Paris is in chaos right now. I hope we can stay in Paris to direct the overall situation. It's too dangerous to leave Mother in Paris alone. Perhaps we should trust the generals; after all, Prussia isn't such a powerful opponent."

"Eugene, you have a point..."

Upon hearing Eugène Napoleon's words, Napoleon III fell into deep thought. The French emperor began to consider the political environment in Paris and worried that if the emperor and the crown prince were to leave, the Parisian capitalist class might take the opportunity to create chaos.

However, Napoleon III did not entirely agree with Eugène's words. In his view, how could the French army, which was to be mobilized to the front lines, be without his presence?

Napoleon III distrusted anyone in command of this vast army; military power had to be firmly in his own hands. However, Eugène's words also held some truth...

Seeing his father, Eugène Napoleon, performing a Sichuan opera-style face-changing act in front of him, he naturally felt a surge of urgency. He hoped that he and Napoleon III could both remain in Paris.

With a political strategist like Napoleon III in power, it wouldn't be so easy for the various factions within Paris to create chaos. With some maneuvering by himself, it wouldn't be impossible to stabilize the royal family's position.

But plans often go awry, and Napoleon III was destined to disappoint Eugène Napoleon. After some deliberation, His Majesty issued his own revised orders.

"Alright then, Eugène, I appoint you as Governor of Paris. You will stay behind to assist the Regent, Eugénie. I trust both of you. As for me, I will continue to the front lines to command the army and bring another military honor to the Bonaparte family."

"Father........"

Perhaps it was his admiration for his uncle's achievements, or perhaps he was worried about delegating military power... In any case, Napoleon III made a decision, and no matter how much Eugène tried to persuade him, he would not change it.

Looking at his father, who was determined to go to the front lines and risk his life no matter what, Eugène Napoleon felt a wave of weariness.