Chapter 261 Strengthening the Navy
October 5th, 1801.
Within the opulent confines of the Palace of Versailles, Napoleon found himself in his sumptuous office. He extracted a finely crafted timepiece from his coat pocket and meticulously inspected the hour. The slender hands pointed firmly at three o'clock in the afternoon.
"It's already time…why haven't they arrived yet?" Napoleon muttered impatiently, a faint click of annoyance escaping his lips.
He had an appointment with the Minister of Navy and the French Naval Engineer today where they would discuss reforms Napoleon planned to implement and check the ship design the French Naval Engineer came up with.
Napoleon's impatience grew with each passing minute. He drummed his fingers on the polished mahogany desk, his mind racing through a list of possible reasons for the delay. Was it a matter of protocol, or had some unforeseen circumstance arisen? He had little patience for tardiness, especially when it concerned matters of state.
While he waited, his thoughts wandered to Ciela and Isabella. It pleased him to see his wife spending time with her sister, rebuilding their bond after years of separation.? Currently, they are shopping with his children at the Boulevard Aveline. As much as he'd wanted to join them in their shopping, Napoleon's administrative duties prevented him from doing so.
Just as Napoleon's frustration was about to reach its peak, there was a polite knock on the office door. He straightened in his chair, his sharp gaze locked on the entrance. "Enter," he called out in a commanding tone.
The door swung open and Beaumont entered his office.
"Your Excellency, the Minister of Navy, Denis Decrès, and Monsieur Jacques-No?l Sané from the Académie de Marine have arrived," Beaumont informed.
"Oh, about time," Napoleon Napoleon's irritation ebbed slightly as he heard that his awaited guests had finally arrived. He motioned for Beaumont to show them in.
Minister Denis Decrès and Monsieur Jacques-No?l Sané entered the room with a sense of urgency, their expressions apologetic. Napoleon gave them a curt nod of acknowledgment but wasted no time on pleasantries.
Napoleon beckoned them closer and took their seats.
Decrès and Sané bowed their head first before taking their seats.
Napoleon checked his timepiece again and smacked his lips. "So, you are almost five minutes late. You know, I don't tolerate tardiness especially as I have a lot of business to attend to," Napoleon admonished lightly.
Denis Decrès cleared his throat and responded, "My sincere apologies, Your Excellency. We encountered some unexpected delays on our way to Versailles. A carriage that was ahead of us broke its axle on the road, causing a temporary blockage."
Napoleon sighed. "Well, I'll forgive you this time, but let us not waste any more time on the matter of tardiness. We have pressing issues to address," he said, his voice resuming its authoritative tone.
The Minister of Navy and Jacques-No?l Sané nodded in agreement, grateful for Napoleon's understanding.
"So first off, is the reforms in the Navy," Napoleon opened the drawer under his desk and pulled out a document containing a comprehensive plan for naval reform. He placed it on the desk, producing a light thud.
"This document," Napoleon began, his gaze fixed on the two men before him, "outlines the reforms we must undertake to rejuvenate our navy. He focused his gaze on Decrès. "Have a look."
Decrès took the document and began to read through it meticulously. His brows furrowed in concentration as he absorbed the details of the comprehensive plan for naval reform.
The document detailed a sweeping transformation of France's naval infrastructure. Major ports and shipyards were to be modernized, and equipped with drydocks, slipways, heavy crane systems, advanced manufacturing workshops, and assembly halls. These upgrades would facilitate the construction of warships that are powered by steam.
Not only that, but there's also a part where new ports and shipyards were to be constructed along the coast of France and her colonies like in Northern Africa. As for the workers, they would outsource them from their territories, particularly India, where according to the assessment of the French Governors, Indians were innately good at shipbuilding and would be a valuable addition to the workforce.
This expansion of naval infrastructure and recruitment efforts aimed to bolster France's maritime capabilities on a global scale, allowing them to maintain far-flung territories that they had gotten from the British in the Treaty of London.
Regarding the organization of the French Navy, Napoleon implemented a command structure akin to the United States' numbered fleet system. The First Fleet is designated to oversee the English Channel and the North Sea, with its headquarters located in Cherbourg. Meanwhile, the Second Fleet's jurisdiction encompasses the North Atlantic Ocean, and its central hub is situated in Brest. The Third Fleet is responsible for patrolling the Mediterranean Sea, with Toulon serving as its headquarters. Covering the South Atlantic Ocean, the Fourth Fleet has Cape Town in South Africa as its operational base. The Fifth Fleet has been tasked with monitoring the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, with its headquarters in Jeddah. The Sixth Fleet oversees activities in the Indian Ocean, with Kolkata as its headquarters. Finally, the Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility extends to Oceania and the Pacific, and its central command is based in Sydney.
Each numbered fleet would be commanded by the Fleet Admiral, and then reported to the Grand Admiral of the French Navy, which would be Brueys d'Aigalliers, the man responsible for making the invasion of the British Isles a reality, and the Grand Admiral of the French Navy would report to the Minister of Navy, and then to the First Consul.
The cost of construction, port facilities, refurbishments, and the ships would be covered by the French colonies through taxes. The people in the colonies were expected to contribute to these endeavors, as their resources and labor were essential to the success of these ambitious naval reforms.
As for the materials needed to construct those facilities, the industrial might of France that spurred sixteen years ago with Napoleon and Ciela's company as its center would manufacture the materials. French industrialists who spoke to Ciela during the birthday celebration were encouraged to invest in the French colonies where they would start heavy industries such as steel manufacturing, locomotive manufacturing, machine tool manufacturing, coal mining, oil refining, and electric power generation.
This comprehensive industrial infrastructure development aimed to ensure a self-sufficient and advanced manufacturing base for the production of materials, machinery, and technologies essential for the naval reforms and the broader industrialization of France and its colonies.
"Your Excellency, I must say I'm impressed," Decrès praised. "Of course, an impressive undertaking must be complemented by an impressive ship."
Napoleon smiled as his gaze flickered to Sané. "So, Monsieur Sané, is it ready?"
"Of course, Your Excellency, one moment," Sané rose to his feet and walked to the door. He signaled someone from the hallway before returning to his seat.
"Your Excellency, I present to you, the future of the French Navy."
As if on cue, men entered Napoleon's office, pushing a card with curtain covering an object resting atop.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢