Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 144: The Situation in the East
May 20th, 1835. At the Palace of Versailles.
Napoleon II has been reading the reports from Egypt. According to it, they are starting site inspections for the construction of the Suez Canal that will connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Also, the Egyptian government has granted territorial concessions to the French Empire, which means the controlled coastal cities of Egypt in the Arabian Peninsula are now under French control.
But it would take weeks for the French officials to arrive and secure the territory.
Another report from Marshal Davout confirmed that he had successfully defeated the Tunisian forces that had resisted French advances along the frontier and captured their capital city.
"So the Northern African region is slowly being absorbed by the French Empire huh?" Napoleon II commented as he read further on the report.
Marshal Davout is now focusing west, where he’ll face the Moroccan forces gathering along the frontier as they are the only states that can resist French expansion in the region.
If they defeat the Moroccan forces, which certainly they will and easily like the others, they will gain the entire region for the French, and he could imagine the resources they could extract from the region as it is rich in phosphates, iron deposits, copper, and agricultural land that had barely been organized for large-scale production.
While at it, Napoleon II was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Your Imperial Majesty," Beaumont’s voice sounded from behind the door. "His Grace Charles-Louis is here to see you."
"Let him in," Napoleon II granted permission and the door was opened.
Charles-Louis stepped in and bowed. "Your Imperial Majesty, I hope the day is treating you well."
"It is treating me well with this report," Napoleon II said as he showed the document he was holding. "Things are looking good so far in North Africa. Marshal Davout is truly the Iron Marshal of the French Empire. Now, do you have any surprises for me?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. I have one of our French merchants selling in Canton Qing China. He just arrived today to discuss the market situation in China."
"Really?" Napoleon II looked up to him.
"He is outside, Your Imperial Majesty. With your permission I can summon him inside," Charles-Louis finished.
Napoleon II considered it for a moment before nodding.
"Bring him in."
Charles-Louis bowed slightly and stepped back toward the door. He opened it and spoke briefly with Beaumont outside. A few seconds later, a man entered the study.
He was in his early forties, dressed in a dark traveling coat that still carried the dust of a long journey. His posture was respectful but steady, the kind of composure often found in men who had spent years negotiating in foreign ports.
The moment he crossed the threshold, he bowed deeply.
"Your Imperial Majesty."
Napoleon II studied him for a moment.
"You are the merchant from Canton?"
"Yes, sire."
"What is your name?"
"Remy Beauvilliers, Your Majesty. Representative of the Marseille East Asia Trading Company."
Napoleon II gestured toward the desk.
"You have come a long way. And for a long amount of time. Tell me, what was your impression of the French Empire the moment you returned to your homeland?"
"I must say, Your Imperial Majesty, that I am beyond shocked from what I have witnessed. France has truly changed, it is now modern with horseless carriage, steam locomotives, electricity, and other contraptions that are beyond my understanding. I have been in China for over twenty five years. A lot has changed since the last time I saw her."
Napoleon II smiled. "I’m pleased to hear that. As an Emperor of the French Empire, I only wanted the good for our country and our people. Now for the reason why you were invited here is to discuss the Chinese market. Tell us everything you know and the situation at hand. I plan to penetrate China with our goods but I was told that they don’t even like what the west are selling."
Remy Beauvilliers inclined his head slightly before answering.
"That is correct, Your Imperial Majesty."
He clasped his hands in front of him as he gathered his thoughts.
"The situation in China is... complicated."
Napoleon II gestured lightly.
"Begin from the beginning."
"Yes, sire."
Beauvilliers took a step closer to the desk.
"Foreign trade in China is controlled almost entirely through what is known as the Canton System. It has existed for decades and remains the only legal channel through which European merchants can conduct business with the Qing Empire."
Charles-Louis listened with interest.
"Only one port?" he asked.
"Yes, Your Grace," Beauvilliers replied. "Canton. All foreign merchants are confined to that single port."
Napoleon II leaned back slightly.
"No access to the rest of the country?"
"None."
Beauvilliers shook his head.
"We are not allowed to travel inland. We cannot freely move through Chinese cities, and our ships may only dock in Canton during the trading season."
Napoleon II tapped a finger on the desk.
"And who manages this trade?"
"The Cohong guild, Your Majesty."
Charles-Louis frowned slightly.
"I have heard of them."
Beauvilliers nodded.
"They are a group of licensed Chinese merchant houses approved directly by the Qing government. Every foreign trader must conduct business through them. We cannot sell or purchase goods without their mediation."
Napoleon II raised an eyebrow.
"So the government controls trade through a handful of merchants."
"Yes."
"And the prices?"
Beauvilliers allowed himself a faint smile.
"Not always favorable to us."
Napoleon II chuckled quietly.
"I would imagine not."
Beauvilliers continued.
"The system exists because the Qing court believes China has little need for foreign goods. They consider their empire self-sufficient. They view the world differently, Your Majesty. In the eyes of the Qing Emperor, China is the center of civilization. Nations outside their borders are considered... lesser."
Charles-Louis spoke quietly.
"Barbarians."
Beauvilliers nodded.
"Yes. That is the term often used."
Napoleon II smiled faintly.
"And yet they trade with those barbarians."
"Yes, sire," Beauvilliers said. "But under strict conditions."
He paused before continuing.
"Foreign merchants are treated more as tributaries than equals. The Qing court expects outsiders to acknowledge the superiority of the Emperor of China. This attitude is why negotiations with them are extremely difficult."
Napoleon II nodded toward him.
"Tell me about the British."
"The British have attempted several times to establish more formal relations with the Qing government."
Napoleon II raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
"They asked for additional ports to be opened to foreign trade," Beauvilliers said. "They also requested permission to establish permanent embassies in Beijing."
Charles-Louis crossed his arms.
"And the Chinese response?"
Beauvilliers shook his head.
"They refused."
Napoleon II leaned forward slightly.
"Completely?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Beauvilliers spoke with quiet certainty.
"The Qing Emperor sent a message to the British crown stating that China had no need for foreign products and saw no reason to change its system."
Napoleon II smiled faintly.
"That must have angered London."
"It did."
Beauvilliers paused before continuing.
"And that anger has led to another problem."
Napoleon II already suspected the answer.
"Opium."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Beauvilliers nodded grimly.
"The British East India Company began selling opium in large quantities to Chinese merchants. The drug enters through smuggling networks along the coast."
Charles-Louis frowned.
"And the Chinese government allows this?"
"They do not," Beauvilliers replied. "In fact, they are trying desperately to stop it."
Napoleon II leaned back in his chair again.
"But they cannot."
"No, sire."
Beauvilliers’ voice lowered slightly.
"The opium trade has grown beyond their control. It spreads through the population quickly. Addiction is becoming widespread, especially in the coastal provinces."
Napoleon II’s expression grew thoughtful.
"The British are exploiting that."
"Yes."
Beauvilliers continued.
"Opium is now one of the only goods the Chinese consistently purchase from foreign merchants. It reverses the silver flow that once favored China."
Charles-Louis nodded slowly.
"Tea and silk once drained European silver reserves."
"Exactly," Beauvilliers said. "Opium changes that balance."
Napoleon II rose from his chair and walked slowly toward the large map mounted on the wall.
China stretched across a vast portion of the eastern hemisphere.
A civilization older than most European states.
"And now?" Napoleon II asked.
Beauvilliers answered quietly.
"The Qing officials are growing more aggressive in trying to stop the opium trade."
Napoleon II turned toward him.
"How aggressive?"
"There are rumors," Beauvilliers said carefully, "that the Emperor may soon appoint special commissioners to seize foreign opium shipments and punish merchants involved in the trade."
Charles-Louis frowned.
"That would provoke the British."
Beauvilliers nodded.
"Yes."
Napoleon II studied the map for a moment.
"And if London is provoked?"
Beauvilliers hesitated before answering.
"Many merchants believe it could lead to war."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Napoleon II finally spoke.
"A war between Britain and China. It’s going to be a one-sided war?"
"With the western technology being superior to the Qing, I’d say it is going to tip towards the British favor," Beauvilliers said.
"That can’t happen," Napoleon II said. "Which is why it’s time for the French Empire to directly communicate with the Emperor, and say that instead of trading with Britain, they should trade with France."
