Simon Scarrow - Fire and Sword

‘Sire, we—’

‘Wait!’ Napoleon held up a hand to silence his brother, and continued reading a moment longer.Then he picked up his pen, dipped it into the inkwell and signed his name with a flourish before setting the pen down and looking up with a stern expression. ‘Now then, gentlemen, what can I do for you?’

Lucien stared back at his brother coldly.‘We requested an immediate audience with you last night . . . sire.’

‘I know. I had other business that needed attending to first.’

‘Really? More important than attending to a deputation of members of the government of France?’

‘You are senators, Lucien,’ Napoleon responded quietly. ‘It is I who am the government of France, whether I am in Paris, or here in Warsaw. You would do well to remember that when you address me.’

Lucien bit his lip, then took a sharp breath and nodded. ‘Yes, sire. Of course.’

Napoleon inclined his head slowly. ‘Very well. I will permit you to make your presentation.’

Lucien shifted uncomfortably and glanced at the guardsmen before he continued. ‘Sire, might we speak with you in a more private setting?’

‘Forgive me, but I was given to believe that your business with me was of some importance.’

‘Well, yes.’

‘Then let us accord it the setting it deserves. Now, I have plenty of other business to attend to today and I’d be obliged if you got to the point.’

‘Yes, sire.’ Lucien drew himself up. ‘We have been sent from Paris to represent the views of the senators, as well as the members of the other houses of the legislature. In the first instance we are required to congratulate your majesty on the defeats you have inflicted on the enemy, and to wish your majesty well in your ongoing campaign against Frederick William and his Russian allies. It is hoped that you will crush the enemy swiftly and bring the war to a conclusion.’

Lucien paused and Napoleon bowed his head in acknowledgement. ‘I thank the senate for its kind wishes. But I don’t think that you have come all this way just to congratulate me.’

‘There is more,’ Lucien admitted.‘It is the view of the senate that the time has come for France to make peace and enjoy all that your majesty, and our courageous soldiers, have laboured so long to win. Austria has been humbled. Prussia is occupied and the Tsar’s armies dare not venture far from their homeland. Your triumph is complete, sire, and now you can enjoy the fruits of peace.’

‘My triumph will be complete when Russia joins my alliance against Britain and I finally dictate the terms of peace in London. Then, and only then, can there truly be peace.’

‘But since the defeat of our fleet at Trafalgar there is no prospect of defeating Britain, sire.’

‘Which is why I issued the Berlin decrees,’ Napoleon explained with forced patience. ‘If we cannot beat them at sea, and they do not dare to face us on land, then we must strike at their Achilles heel. Trade. Trade is the lifeblood of Britain. That is why I have forbidden trade with Britain from any port in Europe over which we hold influence. As their trade with the continent withers so the British merchants will lose markets for their goods. Their factories and mills will begin to close. There will be popular unrest, and when the people of Britain are hungry and desperate enough they will rise up and Britain will have a revolution, just as we did, gentlemen. And when that happens King George and his aristocrat followers will share the fate of King Louis and his aristos. And then there will be peace.’

He paused to let his words sink in and Lucien licked his lips nervously. ‘That is a fine strategy, sire. In principle.’

‘And it will work in practice,’ Napoleon insisted. ‘Given enough time.’

‘That is to be hoped. But at present the decrees are being flouted openly. Our brother, King Louis of Holland, turns a blind eye to trade with Britain, and word has reached Paris that Marshal Masséna is selling licences to Italian merchants to trade with Britain.’

Napoleon felt a surge of anger at the last comment. That fool Masséna would spoil everything with his greed. He might be a fine general, Napoleon conceded, but there was none as corrupt and avaricious as Masséna. If it was true that he was selling licences he must be dealt with the moment the present campaign was concluded. He looked steadily at Lucien and gestured dismissively. ‘Teething problems, brother. That is all. Once I have the time to ensure that the Berlin decrees are enforced effectively it will only be a matter of time before Britain falls and our triumph is complete. Then you and your companions can have your precious peace.’

‘But first you must defeat Russia,’ Lucien said deliberately.‘Might we ask how you propose to undertake such a task? There are not enough men in the whole of Europe to conquer and occupy such vast tracts of land as there are in Russia. So great an achievement is beyond even your undoubted abilities, sire.’

‘Enough!’ Napoleon stabbed a finger towards his brother. ‘Nothing is beyond my abilities in this world. If I decide to conquer Russia then it will be so.’

Lucien shook his head.‘It cannot be done. Ask your officers, sire. We already have, and those with any experience agree that the subjugation of Russia is impossible. If that is the case then there is no alternative to making peace with the Tsar. And Britain.’

‘There will be no peace with Britain,’ Napoleon replied firmly. ‘Not until they are beaten.’

‘Then let there be peace with Russia at least. For the sake of the people of France. Sire, they grow so weary of war. The cost of your armies constantly threatens to bankrupt the nation. Your battles rob families of their fathers and sons, and tens of thousands of those men who have avoided service now wander the land in bands of brigands. War has exhausted France, and you would be wise to heed the popular mood, sire. When the news of Jena and Auerstadt reached Paris there were few celebrations.You won yet another battle, sire, but still the war goes on.The people are tired of war.’

‘I know my people, Lucien. I know that they are loyal to me. They proved that when they voted to approve the senate’s proposal that I become their Emperor. By millions of votes to mere thousands. So don’t presume to tell me what the people think. I know what they think.The people love me.’ Napoleon smiled coldly.‘Even if your precious senators don’t.’

His brother froze at his words. Behind him the other senators glanced fearfully at each other before Lucien spoke again.

‘Sire, do you not recall the day when you became First Consul? We stood side by side in order to save France from the tyranny of corruption and incompetence. It would be dangerous if the people began to wonder whether they have not simply exchanged one form of tyranny for another.’

‘Do you call me a tyrant?’

‘Not I, sire. But others do.’

‘Then pass their names on to Fouché and they will be dealt with.’

‘That is precisely why I do not pass their names on to Fouché, sire.’

The two brothers stared at each other for a moment, and then Napoleon looked past Lucien at the other senators and pointed to the door. ‘Leave us.’

They looked to Lucien for a lead. He nodded slightly and they retreated from the room. No word was spoken until the door was closed and then Napoleon pointed towards the chairs set against the walls of the chamber. ‘Bring one of those here and sit with me, brother.’

After an instant’s hesitation Lucien did as he was told and settled stiffly on his chair under the penetrating gaze of his brother. At length Napoleon leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk. ‘Is it true what you say about the public mood?’