AVIGNON, 1816
DAVOUT:
It is over, your Majesty. Waterloo fell, Paris fell, and now the enemy approaches from the north. We can do nothing but surrender to the vile Coalition. All is lost, and we must keep what we've still got. An escape to the south would be a fruitless endeavour.
NAPOLÉON:
Oh, indeed France is fallen!
But I can no longer obey; I have tasted command, and I cannot give it up.
I am surrounded by worthless generals who spent years at the military academy just to learn how to hold a knife and a fork. By illiterate peasants that know not stock from bayonet. I am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world, and yet they lay hands on everything they can get!
My officers have put every conceivable obstacle in my way.
...What a betrayal by the French people!
DAVOUT:
My Emperor, I cannot allow you to slander the men who have bled for you like this! Please, let us make terms.
NAPOLÉON:
You have failed me as well, Davout! First in Russia, now in France!
The damned continent of Europe is of mere antiquarian interest! The future lay East, in Asia, just as Alexander said!
DE GROUCHY:
East? Your Majesty, have you already forgotten the disaster in St. Petersburg?
DAVOUT:
My Emperor, the Austrians besiege Lunéville, which has likely already fallen.
There is no "East" of France, no path to "Asia"!
NAPOLÉON:
I speak not of Russia.
Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force.
Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him. I cannot found an empire on love. What I can do is found one on knowledge and wisdom. I am to be a new Confucius!
There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.
DAVOUT:
So you do recognize that we shall make peace? Excellent! Emperor, I--
NAPOLÉON:
Peace?
The battle was lost for civilization, and civilization will inevitably take its revenge.
There are two systems, the past and the future. The present is only a painful transition. Which must triumph? The future, will it not? Yes indeed, the future! That is, intelligence, industry, and peace. The past was brute force, privilege, and ignorance. Each of our victories was a triumph for the ideas of the Revolution.
Victories will be won, one of these days, without cannon, and without bayonets. Today is not yet that day.
One revolution remains, my friends. That of Han against Manchu!
For Europe is fallen to perfidious Albion... but Cathay? China is a sleeping giant. When she wakes, my comrades, she will move the world.
DE GROUCHY:
Your Majesty, you are mad.
NAPOLÉON:
Gendarme! We must ride to the port of Marseilles at once!
Nice!!! A good timeline could be written out of this. There are two paths I see to a Napoleon goes to China scenario.
1 Napoleon goes to China before his eventual defeat
2 Napoleon goes to China in his childhood instead, and if we can let the paint fly on the canvas, Napoleon could become a high general in the Qing military, and goes on a huge conquest, from Turkestan to Vietnam, too Taiwan, anywhere really (maybe becomes Buddhist)
I mean, now that I think of it, you can get Napoleon too go too many places for a
Napoleon goes to (blank)
He could go to Japan (Napoleon becomes Shogunate, with military campaigns, and becomes a Samurai, and Shinto Buddhist)
Napoleon goes to Persia
Napoleon goes to Ottoman Empire
Napoleon goes to Ethiopia
Napoleon goes to Zulus (maybe)
Napoleon goes to Australia (Maybe starts a revolution their)
Napoleon goes too America
Napoleon goes to New Zealand
Napoleon goes to India
Napoleon goes to Siam
The possibilities are endless.