"I'm sure you are aware that the British rejected our demands," Napoleon said as he watched Berthier take his seat.
"Yes, Your Excellency. Is this the right time to plan for an offensive against the United Kingdom?" Berthier asked.
"That is correct," Napoleon confirmed as he took his seat. "Have you brought the documents regarding the location of the British Fleet in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay?"
Berthier nodded and pulled a folder from his briefcase. He placed it on the desk and slid it over to Napoleon. "Here are the latest intelligence reports, Your Excellency. Our scouts have been diligently monitoring the movements of the British naval forces."
Napoleon opened the folder and began studying the documents inside. Maps, charts, and reports filled the pages, detailing the positions of British ships.
"So they are only ten kilometers off our major ports, huh?" Napoleon commented, his brow furrowing as he studied the maps.
"Beyond the range of our naval artillery, Your Excellency," Berthier confirmed. "They have been doing that since the revolution broke out in France, and since we have plenty of ships to go around, the government couldn't risk deploying our fleet against them until now."
Napoleon leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the desk. "Their proximity to our ports presents both a challenge and an opportunity."
Berthier arched an eyebrow inquisitively. "An opportunity, Your Excellency?"
Napoleon's lips curled into a wry smile. "Yes, Berthier. The British may believe that their close presence gives them an advantage, but it also exposes a vulnerability. They are operating within our sphere of influence, and that means we can exploit the familiarity of these waters."
Berthier's expression brightened with understanding. "You're suggesting that we use our local knowledge to outmaneuver them?"
"Exactly. Our naval commanders and sailors are intimately familiar with the currents, shallows, and navigational challenges of these waters. We can plan our offensive to take advantage of it, which might catch the British off guard."
Berthier leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It's a risky approach, Your Excellency. But if executed correctly, it could give us a decisive edge. However, the British are really good at naval warfare, and the fact that the revolutionary government until now neglected the strengthening of our navy might pose a challenge. Most of our talented naval officers were executed during the revolution."
Berthier couldn't be more right. According to the reports he had received when he became First Consul, there was a glaring lack of experienced naval commanders in the French Navy. Their noble lineage had made them prone to the guillotine during the revolution. Though there were still naval commanders who had managed to survive, their political alignment and loyalty to the new order were often questionable.
Napoleon's expression turned contemplative as he considered the complex puzzle before them. The status quo of the French Republic and the United Kingdom had persisted for the last ten years – a whale and a lion, as some would describe it. One couldn't easily overpower the other, and the balance of power seemed unshakable.
Of course, he can break that status quo by building a modernized fleet but it would take time. Not only that, this is the perfect time for Napoleon to strike the British as the Russian Empire joined the war.
So as a commander, he asked himself some questions. What is the objective? Why is that an objective? And after achieving the objective, what to do next?
He dropped his initial plan of fighting the British, instead, they'll outmaneuver them.
Napoleon looked at the map again and devised a plan. The objective was for his French Atlantic Fleet to break off the blockade by sailing to the East, luring the British Fleet that is blockading the Atlantic Fleet out. And then, his Mediterranean Fleet will cross the Strait of Gibraltar and will be joined by the Spanish Navy.
But to do that, Napoleon needed something first, one that would confuse the enemy.
"Our colony in Saint-Domingue is an important territory of the French Republic," Napoleon said. "Why don't we publish a newspaper publicizing our plan of retaking that island by sending expeditionary forces there?"
"Your Excellency…I don't follow. I thought we were planning on fighting the British, why are we shifting our attention to Saint-Domingue."
"It's simple Berthier, we are misdirecting our enemy," Napoleon revealed. "By publishing our intention of capturing the territory of Saint-Domingue, the British spies within our borders are going to report it to their superiors. Which will make them believe that our main focus is on the Caribbean rather than the British Isles. So our Atlantic Fleet is going to sail out right from the port of Brest, and then slip through the loose blockade set up by the British."
The loose blockade is a tactic employed by the British Royal Navy against the French. It was a way for the British to lure the French ships out of their ports. There is a saying that 'to be able to get at the enemy you must let them come out to you if you cannot get at them.'
"So, once the word that we slipped past their blockade, the British ships are going to chase them right? And they knew their destination. When that time comes, our ship will turn 180 degrees, and sail towards the English Channel, joining the Mediterranean French Fleet and the Spanish Fleet. If executed properly, we will become the master of the seas for a whole day. They'll protect the invasion forces who will cross the English Channel."
"How about our ally? The Russians?" Berthier asked, noticing that Napoleon didn't take into account their new ally.
Napoleon hummed aloud, the reason why he gave Tsar Paul the list of conspirators is to make Tsar Paul declare war on the United Kingdom, which would make the British anxious to the point they'll send a number of their warships to the Baltic Sea to meet with the Russian Fleet, which is favorable to the French because it's a less warship to fight.
There is also another reason, Napoleon doesn't want the Russians to gain leverage on the negotiation table. Since they didn't partake in the invasion, they won't have much say in the post-war arrangements.
Napoleon's gaze shifted back to Berthier. "The Russians are already helping us by drawing the attention of the Royal Navy to the Baltic Sea. It's enough to help. By the way, how are the military reforms progressing?"
"About that, Your Excellency, I have already reorganized the structure of the army as per your instructions."
"Great. Now, let's prepare for an invasion. Berthier, I want you to summon the corps commanders in the city of Boulogne, along with their men."
"Boulogne?" Berthier repeated, tilting his head to the side.
"Yes, that city is going to be our staging point for our invasion of the United Kingdom."
Upon saying that, Beaumont entered his office.
"Your Excellency, the Minister of Police has come here to see you."
"Fouche? Ask him why," Napoleon ordered.
Beaumont exited his office to ask Fouche, and then moments later, he returned.
"It's about the mission you have entrusted him, Your Excellency," Beaumont said.
"Ah! Very well, let him in."
Visit freewe𝑏(n)ovel.𝘤ℴ𝑚 for the best novel reading experience