On the chilly morning of December 7th, 1797, Napoleon found himself engrossed in his work, his rhythmic humming accompanying the precise strokes of his pencil as he meticulously sketched a schematic diagram of the formidable 155mm howitzer cannon and the deadly shells it would fire.
During his time in Italy, Napoleon found that the cannons they currently have doesn't always bring the desired outcome. During the siege of Mantua, they had to haul over a hundred cannons to breach its defenses, which for Napoleon, was a cumbersome and time-consuming task.
He imagined a future where these howitzers would break down the walls of fortresses with greater speed and efficiency. One that doesn't need to be placed near the besieged city because the range of the howitzer he is designing is capable of hitting targets from 14 kilometers away.
But first, how does a shell differ from round balls or canister shots? Well, round balls are solid iron spheres that rely on their sheer mass and velocity to penetrate enemy lines or fortifications. They are effective at creating holes in infantry formations and causing damage to structures, but their range is limited. Canister shots, on the other hand, are quite the opposite. Instead of a single projectile, they disperse smaller projectiles in a cone when fired. Canister rounds are primarily designed for close-range combat against enemy infantry. They turn cannons into massive shotguns, devastating anything in their path. However, their use is limited to short distances, making them unsuitable for reaching distant targets like the walls of fortresses.
A shell round is a type of artillery projectile that consists of an outer casing filled with explosive material. Unlike round balls or canister shots, which rely on their mass or dispersion pattern, shells are designed to explode based on what fuze is installed in them. Some shells explode upon impact, while others have timed fuses that determine when the explosion occurs. There's a lot but the ability to control the timing of the explosion provides tactical flexibility in engaging different types of targets, which is what Napoleon wanted.
The reason the shell can reach an astonishing distance such as 14 kilometers is thanks to its aerodynamic design and propellant technology. The aerodynamic design of the shell, with its streamlined shape and pointed nose, allowed it to cut through the air with minimal resistance. This reduced drag and maintained the shell's velocity and trajectory over long distances. As for the propellant, Napoleon would use smokeless powder.
However, there is one slight problem. Getting a steady supply of smokeless powder, copious amounts of it. In this era, the chemical industry was in its infancy, Napoleon invested the earnings from their company in establishing one with Antoine Lavoisier operating it. From its inception, Antoine was able to synthesize smokeless powder. However, the problem is that he couldn't mass produce it.
The production of nitric acid was a complex and hazardous process that required specialized equipment and expertise. The main source of nitric acid at this time is the distillation of concentrated sulfuric acid with a mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. These nitrates were typically obtained from natural sources, such as saltpeter deposits or mineral-rich soils, and the problem with that is that France has no significant natural reserves of these nitrates.
But good thing, he doesn't have to go through all that process as he had already come up with another way of producing nitric acid. That is ammonia. To get a large amount of ammonia, he had to build a Haber-Bosch plant—a facility specifically designed for the production of ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process. This process involved combining nitrogen gas from the air with hydrogen gas derived from natural gas or coal, under high pressure and with the help of a catalyst. The resulting ammonia could then be used as a key precursor in the production of nitric acid through the Ostwald process.
With this innovation, Napoleon could now achieve mass production of smokeless powder, which, in turn, enabled the cost-effective manufacturing of ammunition for both artillery and rifles.
The sound of a door opening interrupted Napoleon's concentration. He looked up to see Ciela entering the room,
"Darling, are you busy?" Ciela said as she walked over to his desk and glanced at the blueprints.
"Just immersed in my work, my dear," Napoleon replied with a smile, setting aside his pencil.
Ciela's gaze was still fixed on the blueprint, from the drawing, she could tell that Napoleon was working on a new weapon, artillery to be exact, because it didn't look like a rifle. She also saw a shell-shaped projectile, so Napoleon is going to introduce a shell now. And lastly is the process flow diagram of the ammonia production facility.
"Hmm..." Ciela mused, her eyes fixed on the blueprints. "So, this is your next venture?"
Napoleon nodded. "Yes, indeed. I will assign Etienne to oversee the development of the howitzer and the shell, while Antoine will be responsible for establishing the ammonia production facility."
"I see…Anyways, darling, you have a visitor," Ciela said.
Napoleon looked up at Ciela, curiosity evident in his eyes. "Who is the visitor?"
Ciela smiled knowingly. "It's Paul Barras, my love. He wishes to discuss some urgent matters with you."
Napoleon's brows furrowed slightly. "Paul Barras…as in the director of the Directory? Did he mention why he wants to see me?"
Ciela shook her head. "No, he only said that he needed to see you urgently, though I can assume that it will be your new assignment, Napoleon."
Napoleon sighed. "So the time has come huh?"
With that, Napoleon stowed the blueprints and sketches carefully in a drawer.
"I'll see him now," Napoleon said.
"I'll get him here," Ciela replied before leaving the room to fetch Paul Barras. Napoleon took a moment to gather his thoughts and mentally prepare for the meeting.
Moments later, Ciela returned with Paul Barras in tow.
"Citizen Barras, I'm afraid that we don't have an appointment…but nevertheless you are welcome. Please have a seat," Napoleon gestured, offering Barras a chair.
Barras nodded his thanks and settled into the chair.
"Thank you, darling, you may go now," Napoleon said.
Ciela nodded and left the room, leaving Napoleon and Barras alone.
"Thank you for seeing me promptly, General Bonaparte," Barras said. "I apologize if I interrupted your work."
Napoleon waved off the apology. "No need for apologies, Citizen Barras. I am always at your service. Now, what urgent matters do you wish to discuss?"
Barras leaned forward, his expression grave. "General Bonaparte, you are aware that the United Kingdom is still at war with France right?"
"Yeah, that I am aware of," Napoleon confirmed.
"Well, I have come here personally as a representative of the state to ask for your military expertise. The Minister of War, Monsieur Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer had come up with a proposal to attack the United Kingdom through a naval invasion. But some of the generals disagreed with the proposal, stating that it was dangerous as most of the naval forces of the United Kingdom are concentrated along the English Channel."
"I agree with them," Napoleon agreed. "We would risk our fleet and face potential losses if we were to engage the British in a direct naval invasion."
Barras nodded, appreciating Napoleon's understanding of the situation.
"Indeed, General. That is why I believe your expertise and your innovative thinking could provide a solution to this predicament, like how can we attack the United Kingdom without losing much from our side?"
Napoleon contemplated momentarily. He knows what Barras is doing and that is leading him to suggest a campaign far away from France. In real history, Napoleon was approached by the Directory and proposed that he lead a campaign to invade the United Kingdom, but Napoleon refused and opted to attack Egypt instead. The Directory wholeheartedly and eagerly agreed with Napoleon's proposal and so the Egyptian campaign was born.
Good news for Barras, he is going to do just that.
"How about we attack the United Kingdom through Egypt? With its strategic location and rich resources, it offers a unique opportunity for us to strike at the heart of British interests."
"Egypt?" Barras repeated. "How?"
"Well, I don't have a detailed plan at the moment, but if you will give me a week, I can present it to you, if that's okay."
"That would be perfectly acceptable, General Bonaparte," Barras replied with a nod. "Take the time you need to formulate your plan."
"I will, Citizen Barras," Napoleon said.
"I will go now, General Bonaparte. I'll be waiting on that plan of yours," Barras said as he rose to his feet.
"Have a safe journey back, Citizen Barras," Napoleon responded, extending a hand in farewell. Barras shook his hand firmly before turning to leave the room.
As he left Napoleon's room, Barras's lips curled into a sinister smile. His plan of sending Napoleon away was coming to fruition. The fact that Napoleon was the one who suggested it made it even better for him. If Napoleon were to die in that barren land, Barras could tell the citizens of France that it was Napoleon's idea to invade Egypt.
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