Make France Great Again-Chapter 173: Minie Rifle

"Migne, we’re going to make it big! Do you know? We’re going to make it big... Oh God, I never thought I’d ever find myself here! Oh! My Holy Mother Mary!"

In a certain reception room of the Elysee Palace, Captain Henry Gustav Devigne rose excitedly, pacing back and forth as he stared at the decorations in the room, muttering repeatedly about "making it big." For an ordinary French captain, being invited to the Elysee Palace was an unparalleled honor!

"Migne, didn’t you hear me speak?" Perhaps because the middle-aged man sitting on the chair did not respond, Captain Henry Gustav Devigne became slightly displeased, and his tone turned aggressive.

Seated in a grey crepe chair with large blue jacquard patterns, Claude Adeline Migne raised his head to briefly glance at the endlessly turning Henry Gustav, and with a touch of discontent in his words, said, "I heard, Captain Gustav, can you be quiet for a moment?"

Captain Migne’s words made Captain Gustav a bit unhappy. Coming from a coarse background himself, he looked down somewhat on Captain Migne’s pretentious behavior; they were both captains, so why did he consider himself superior?

"Fine! I’ll be quiet, alright!" Gustav muttered in a huff, but his feet showed no intention to stop, dashing about the reception room. Sometimes he marveled at the portraits hanging in the room, sometimes he caressed the exquisite porcelain from the Eastern Empire placed in the corners, just like Grandma Liu in the Grand View Garden.

Sitting quietly on the chair, Captain Migne contemplated the upcoming conversation with the President, occasionally placing the item wrapped in a handkerchief in his palm.

Until someone opened the reception room door from outside, both Captain Migne and Captain Gustav paused what they were doing. Migne put the handkerchief back in his pocket, while Gustav carefully placed the porcelain back in its original position.

Under the watchful eyes of Captain Gustav and Captain Migne, Jerome Bonaparte appeared in front of them, and Migne also stood up, ready to greet Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte glanced at Gustav and Migne, inquiring, "Would you please tell me who is Claude Adeline Migne? And who is Captain Henry Gustav Devigne?"

Before Migne could respond, Gustav quickly stepped forward, extended his hand, and enthusiastically introduced himself to Jerome Bonaparte, "Mr. President, I am Gustav!"

Then he pointed at Migne and introduced, "He is Migne!"

"I heard you’ve created a revolutionary product that can change the entire history of infantry!" Jerome Bonaparte exaggeratedly praised Captain Gustav and Captain Migne.

Although the Minie bullet and the Minie rifle were indeed pinnacle creations of muzzleloaders, the Minie rifle’s peak only lasted about 16 years.

In the Austro-Prussian War, Austria’s defeat indicated that breach-loading rifles with resolved gas tightness were far superior to muzzleloaders, and the Minie rifle rapidly declined.

As the birthplace of the Minie rifle, France, within just four years after the Austro-Prussian War, had entirely equipped every army with the Chassepot rifle.

However, nearly a million Chassepot rifles did not help the Second Empire win the Franco-Prussian War. Many armies were captured shortly after receiving the new Chassepot rifles, and a million Chassepot rifles quickly exited the stage in their debut battle.

Symbolizing the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian conflict, France, having researched a more stable breach-loading rifle, once again discarded the Chassepot rifle, with many rifles being semi-sold and semi-gifted to Russia, where not every man had a gun.

It can be said that the Minie rifle and the Chassepot rifle were products born at the wrong time.

"Mr. President, you are right!" Once again, before Captain Migne could speak, Captain Gustav preemptively said, "Our bullets can allow soldiers to reload faster!"

Having said that, Captain Gustav, in a host-like manner, said to Captain Migne, "Captain Migne, quickly show that item to Mr. President!"

Migne glanced at Captain Gustav, his eyes filled with disdain. In his view, Captain Gustav was overly eager to showcase himself to the President, which would only bring the President’s displeasure.

Sure enough, Jerome Bonaparte’s face showed an unhappy expression, and he coldly said, "Mr. Gustav, could you please be slightly quieter?"

Seeing this, Captain Gustav dare not continue to flaunt himself.

Gustav’s forced humility gave Captain Migne the "flaunting" opportunity, who once again pulled out a red handkerchief, respectfully inviting Jerome Bonaparte, "Mr. President, could you please sit here!"

"Certainly!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately quickened his pace to Captain Migne’s front.

Captain Gustav had no choice but to follow Jerome Bonaparte to the gold lacquered snail-shaped table.

Migne gently unfolded the handkerchief, revealing a silver metallic bullet wrapped inside it that emitted a luminous sheen.

"Mr. President, this is our invention in Algeria!" Captain Mine said with a slightly excited tone to Jerome Bonaparte. From his tone, it could be seen that Captain Mine had considerable confidence in his own invention.

"Exactly!" Captain Gustav interjected from the side.

"Captain Mine, could you explain to me what’s so marvelous about this bullet?" Jerome Bonaparte reached out and pinched the silver bullet on the handkerchief between his thumb and forefinger, examining it carefully.

Although he had seen the Minie bullet on certain websites before, this was the first time he’d actually touched one.

The Minie bullet was cylindrical with a rounded head, featuring several annular grooves on the outer circle. There was a conical cavity at the base of the bullet, filled with a recesses cork, giving it a slight resemblance to future metal-jacketed bullets, albeit smaller in length and caliber, making it appear somewhat strange.

"Mr. President, it is designed to be slightly smaller than the bore, allowing soldiers to load it quickly. Generally, if a bullet is like this, it can’t be aimed properly, but this bullet is different..." Captain Mine pointed at the cork in the cavity at the bullet’s base and said to Jerome Bonaparte, "When fired, the gunpowder gas forces the cork into the cavity, expanding the bullet, which grips the rifling and forms a strong gas seal. Under the pressure of the rifling, the bullet spins out of the barrel, greatly improving accuracy.

We tested this bullet’s performance in Algeria, and its effective range can be about 2.5 times that of a regular bullet. Ordinary bullets lose accuracy beyond a range of 200 meters, while the Minie bullet can still accurately strike the enemy within 500 meters!" frёewebnoѵēl.com

"500 meters! We can completely eliminate the enemy before they even notice us!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded and commented with a sigh.

"Exactly! This will greatly enhance the army’s combat capability!" Captain Gustav timely expressed his opinion.

"However, can the bullet you designed be used on the current rifles of the French Army?" Jerome Bonaparte asked again.

Mine paused for a moment and said carefully, "Mr. President, I think the French Army should consider redesigning a type of rifle!"

He then added, "Of course, this is just my personal opinion! In fact, this bullet can also be used on the existing rifles of the French Army. It only requires an adjustment to the rifles. However, doing so may reduce the effective range!"

"Captain Mine, you must have considered the weapon needed to equip this rifle!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Mine.

"Mr. President, traditional smoothbore rifles cannot meet the bullet’s demands; we need new rifled guns! Although I can’t provide you with a physical item immediately, I promise to design a new rifle for you and for the country as quickly as possible!" Captain Mine earnestly said to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Mr. President, I will assist Captain Mine in setting it up!" Captain Gustav also hastened to express his position to Jerome Bonaparte.

Jerome Bonaparte looked at the Minie bullet in his hand, then at Captain Mine. He believed Captain Mine would not disappoint him. He pretended to hesitate for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright! Captain Mine, I believe in your ability!"

"Thank you for your trust, Mr. President!" Mine excitedly said to Jerome Bonaparte.

For Mine, a military enthusiast, being able to personally set up a rifle was undoubtedly the greatest recognition of him.

"Captain Mine, Captain Gustav! What do you want? Money or promotion opportunities?" Jerome Bonaparte asked Captain Mine and Captain Gustav.

"I..." Captain Mine hesitated after uttering just one word, not knowing what choice to make.

Captain Gustav also remained silent; he desired money, but he knew that some matters had to be decided by Captain Mine. The President didn’t seem particularly favorable toward him.

"Since neither of you has decided yet, why not listen to my suggestion!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the two silent men.

Captain Mine and Captain Gustav nodded simultaneously.

"In fact, this patent of yours could be considered a groundbreaking design, but you have to know that these days, remakes are everywhere, and as long as it’s useful, those guys are happy to use them!" Jerome Bonaparte shrugged his shoulders and told the two men about the "reality."

In the 19th century, with imperfect intellectual property laws, thinking of demand-sitting extortion for a revolutionary weapon or invention was simply impossible; why bother with patent fees when theft is an option.

If it’s a hostile country, that provides an ideal excuse to copy the invention blatantly under the guise of warfare.

"The first option is, I could pay each of you 30,000 francs, and the patents for the rifle and bullet you designed will all belong to me! The second option, I will pay each of you 5,000 francs, and I’ll transfer you to the Ministry of War."

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