Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 49: The Conclusion

Napoleon II stepped forward and closed the distance between his father and the men waiting a few paces back. They had not moved during the demonstrations. They had watched in silence, hands folded, posture precise. All wore dark coats cut in the new industrial style like in the late nineteenth century.

"These gentlemen," Napoleon II said, "are not newcomers."

He turned slightly and gestured to the first man on his right.

"Étienne Laforge. Director of Manufacture Laforge et Fils."

The man bowed once, shallow but respectful.

"Your Majesty."

Napoleon II continued. "His foundries supplied barrel steel to the Grand Armée during the Italian campaigns. At Marengo. At Ulm. At Austerlitz."

Napoleon I studied Laforge more closely now. The man’s hands were clean, but the knuckles were scarred.

"I remember the name," Napoleon I said. "Your barrels were reliable."

"We improved the process since then," Laforge replied evenly. "We had to."

Napoleon II moved to the next man.

"Pierre Montreval. Ateliers Montreval, precision machining."

Montreval inclined his head. "Your Majesty."

"They produced locks and firing mechanisms during the coalition wars," Napoleon II said. "Back when tolerances were measured by feel. They now work to measurements finer than a hair."

Napoleon I’s brow lifted slightly at that.

"And ammunition?" he asked.

Napoleon II smiled faintly and gestured again.

"Henri Valcourt. Société Valcourt de Métallurgie."

Valcourt stepped forward at half a pace. "We supplied shot and powder to the Rhine armies," he said. "We now produce drawn brass cartridge cases by the tens of thousands."

"These men will be the one supplying the army and they are expanding their factories, which will be needed soon if you want to militarize the army," Napoleon II pointed out.

"I will make a decree funding our military, and they will secure the contracts and they will secure the contracts," Napoleon I said, looking at the gentlemen who smiled at the mention of them securing contracts.

"That’s good to hear. Now, do you think France is safe now Father from the threat of the British Empire?"

"You made their weapons obsolete with that weapon of yours," Napoleon I chuckled. "However, the strength of the British Empire does not come from their land armies, it comes from the sea. Powerful those weapons might be but how can you fight their iron ships with it?"

Napoleon stroked his chin as he contemplated. With the invention of the metal cartridge bolt-action rifle, the machine guns, and the cannons, the French Army dominance over land warfare was secured as Napoleon I said, but the navy, it still remained a pain in the ass for the French Empire.

Their engineers are quickly adopting the new wonders of modern tech the French were exporting. Imagine they even skipped paddle steamers in favor of screw-propelled ships powered by what could be a reciprocating steam engine. And with the steel so cheap to manufacture in tons and exporting it to Britain also, they began to make ironclad ships.

Looks like he had unintentionally made the British Empire strong while he focused on investing in heavy industries. But that’s fine, heavy industries are better in the early game, those ships are for late game.

And as for the ships, he had already had a design in mind. One thing he just needed to do is to meet the high-ranking officials of the Navy and the naval architects and engineers, all of whom are known to Napoleon I.

"Father, I want to request an audience with the people of the French Navy. I want the best naval engineers and architects too. We will summon them to Versailles."

Napoleon I turned to Armand.

"Send a telegraph to the Ministry of the Navy," he said. "Summon the Admiralty Board. Every senior architect. Every engineer who has ever laid a keel for France. I want them in Versailles later in the evening."

Armand straightened. "At once, Your Majesty."

"We should return soon, the ladies are tired," Napoleon II said, looking over Marie Louise and his future wife, Elisabeth who were not tired at all. But he knew this is not an occasion where they should be present.

"You’re right," Napoleon I said. "We’ll be back in Versailles by the evening."

He turned once more toward the range, now quiet except for the low voices of crews securing equipment. Canvas was drawn back over steel. Belts were lifted and boxed. The field looked ordinary again, as if nothing decisive had happened there.

"Enough for today," Napoleon I added. "We’ve seen what needed seeing."

The signal was given.

Carriages rolled forward from where they had been waiting beyond the earthworks. Drivers reined in, horses steady and well-trained, steam and smoke no longer startling them after years of drills near foundries and rail yards.

Napoleon II escorted his father first. Marie Louise followed, Elisabeth beside her. The officers and industrialists remained behind, already surrounded by aides, clerks taking notes, hands moving fast. Contracts were already forming before the ink was ready.

The carriage doors closed.

They moved out through the gates without ceremony.

The road back to the station was longer than it felt on the way in. The excitement of arrival had faded. The land passed in silence now—fields, low stone walls, workers pausing to watch the convoy pass. Napoleon I leaned back against the seat, eyes closed but not asleep. His hands rested on his cane, fingers tapping once, then stopping.

"I apologize ladies for bringing you out to that kind of exercise. The gunfire was loud and it may have troubled you," Napoleon II said.

"We’re fine, don’t worry about it," Elisabeth said. "Sure we aren’t used to loud noises but that demonstration made us feel secure for the security of the Empire."

Napoleon II smiled hearing that. "You are becoming to act like a Queen?"

"The moment I committed myself to this relationship, I knew that I have to give my life to France. And as her future mother, it’s only natural that I enjoy seeing great developments in regards to society and technology," she said as she placed a hand over her chest.

Mother huh? Well in the future she’s going to be the mother of his children.

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