As the troops stood in their impeccable horizon blue uniforms, Charles Talleyrand was the first to break the silence, offering his initial observation.
"Quite a striking sight, Your Excellency," he remarked, his gaze sweeping across the rows of soldiers.
"Indeed," Napoleon replied. "Uniformity and discipline are the hallmarks of a formidable army."
"And look at those rifles, Your Excellency! They appear bigger than the previous bolt action rifle," Lucien Bonaparte chimed in, his voice filled with enthusiasm as he pointed to the new weapons that the soldiers were holding.
Napoleon nodded approvingly. "Not only bigger, but an improved version of our last bolt-action rifle. You see, during combat, some soldiers were having a hard time reloading their rifles after firing all of their bullets. In the heat of the battle, some rounds would fall to the ground due to the pressure of the moment. This new bolt-action rifle that I call, Napoleon Bolt-Action Rifle Model 2, solved that problem by using clips to feed the rounds, ensuring a faster and more reliable reload."
"Are we going to see how it performs, brother?" Lucien asked.
"Of course, all of them—"
As they were having a discussion, three men approached the First Consul.
"Your Excellency!"
One of the men called, stepping forward and offering a salute.
Napoleon instantly recognized the man from his black appearance alone, it was Alexandre Dumas. One of the highest-ranking generals in the French Army, serving as the commander of the 12th Corps.
The two people behind him were General Leclerc and Desaix. Just like Dumas, they were also General, and a commander of the Corps, 13th, and 14th respectively.
The generals' uniforms had undergone a significant transformation as well. They had shifted from the heavy woolen garments of the past to more practical cotton attire. Inspired by the style of World War II general uniforms, their new outfits predominantly featured a navy blue suit coat, matching trousers, and sturdy black boots. Adorning their uniforms were the distinctive golden aiguillette, signifying their ranks and displayed on the shoulder, as well as the insignia of the French Army proudly centered on their peaked caps.
Of course, this would not make them look gaudy like the army commanded by the original Napoleon, but the Napoleon of this world chose practicality over ostentation. He could have followed the same path but it would cost a lot more money. Wool is more expensive than cotton after all.
Napoleon returned the salute and asked. "Dumas, how are you liking the new uniform?"
"Well, Your Excellency, it's more comfortable and functional," General Dumas replied with a slight smile. "The cotton fabric is much more suitable for the demands of active service. It allows for greater mobility without sacrificing durability."
"Good to hear that our changes are being well-received," Napoleon said. "Now, I believe that you have something prepared for us?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. Please, if you would be so kind as to follow me," Dumas turned sideways and extended a hand towards the firing range.
Napoleon and his ministers followed General Dumas to the designated viewing area, where they could observe the soldiers' marksmanship.
As they settled into their positions, all eyes were fixed on the soldiers' downrange. General Desaix and Leclerc were standing among them.
They watched as the soldiers took their respective positions. General Desaix, who stood by Napoleon's right side, spoke.
"Your Excellency, the weapons that you brought to us are magnificent. I want to know how long it would take for the whole army to be equipped with the same rifle."
"Within the next two years," Napoleon answered without much of a thought. He knew well the capability of his arms factories and he had expected that one of the Generals might raise a question about it.
"That's good to hear. It's always best if the soldiers use the same weapons rather than heterogeneous ones. It helps on the logistics side."
General Leclerc, standing on Napoleon's left, added to the conversation. "Indeed, Your Excellency. Standardizing our weaponry not only streamlines logistics but also ensures that our soldiers can share ammunition and maintain their rifles more easily in the field."
"I get your points, General Desaix, General Leclerc," Napoleon replied with a nod, appreciating the practicality of the statement. "As a General myself, I know the importance of standardization, I don't have to be reminded."
Moments later, General Dumas approached them.
"Your Excellency, we are ready to commence fire," Dumas informed.
Napoleon acknowledged General Dumas with a nod and turned his attention back to the soldiers on the firing range. He watched as they adjusted their Napoleon Bolt-Action Rifle Model 2s, preparing to fire.
"Aim…fire!"
With a sharp command, ten soldiers pulled the trigger, firing in unison.
The ministers, particularly Talleyrand and Lucien who weren't accustomed to the gunshot sounds flinched as the rifles roared to life. Trails of smoke billowed from the muzzles, and the sharp cracks of gunfire echoed across the firing range.
Then they repeated the process, cocking their rifle again and again, eventually firing five bullets within ten seconds.
After that, the soldiers reloaded, pulling out a clip from the pouches of their webbing gear, and inserting it into the magazine well of their Napoleon Bolt-Action Rifle Model 2s. They fired again, this time within six seconds. It seemed like the soldiers were practicing their weapons seriously.
The next gun to test fire was the MG 08 or the Napoleon's Machine Gun Model 2. One machine gunner sat behind the tripod-mounted MG 08, inserting the 250-round fabric belt. According to the specifications, it can fire up to 450 rounds per minute. He wonders how long it'll take for the machine gun to expend its entire belt of ammunition.
With anticipation building, Napoleon and the gathered officials watched as the machine gunner, clad in the new cotton uniform, aimed with the MG 08. Seconds later, he pressed the trigger, and a continuous stream of bullets erupted from the muzzle.
The rapid staccato of gunfire filled the air, drowning out all other sounds. Brass casings ejected from the machine gun, creating a metallic cascade as they hit the ground. The gunner expertly traversed the weapon, sweeping it across the target area with controlled bursts of fire.
33 seconds later, the continuous stream of bullets from the MG 08 came to an abrupt halt as the belt of ammunition was expended. The machine gunner released the trigger, and the firing range fell into relative silence after the intense barrage of gunfire. Smoke hung in the air, and the officials could see the target area downrange riddled with holes from the bullets.
The officials clapped their hands at the performance. As they applauded, their attention shifted to the final demonstration—the 75mm French artillery pieces.
It was being towed by ten soldiers. Not only the 75mm artillery was being towed but its ammunition caisson as well.
Six crews positioned themselves around the field gun, each with a specific role. Four men were stationed at the field gun itself. One adjusted the gun's aim, another confirmed its status, a third handled reloading, and the fourth, an officer, gave orders to fire. The fifth and sixth crew members were stationed by the ammunition caisson. Their job was to retrieve shells and hand them over to the crew responsible for reloading.
A minute later, it was ready to fire.
"Fire!" The officer yelled and the gunner released the lanyard, striking the firing pin with a resounding clang. And in an instant, the field gun roared to life. The explosive force propelled the shrapnel shell towards the target dummies.
The shell exploded mid-air with a deafening blast, sending a shower of shrapnel in all directions. The target dummies, mere representations of the enemy marching in a line, bore the brunt of the explosion. Splinters and fragments filled the air, creating a deadly storm that shredded the dummies to pieces.
The crew of the gun, repeated the sequence over and over again, firing 15 rounds in just a minute. There's no way a line or cavalry would stand a chance against such a barrage.
After the demonstration, General Dumas approached Napoleon.
"I'm impressed," Napoleon said. "Now, as for your missions: You are to reassert French control over her North American territories. General Dumas, your task is in Saint-Domingue, while General Desaix and Leclerc will be in New Orleans. Remember the plan that we planned for, three weeks prior to this. Make no mistake."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
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