Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 50: Discussing the Future of French Navy

At seven o’clock in the evening, the carriage reached the main entrance to Versailles. Its facade was brightly lit with an orange glow that gave in an ethereal sensation to those who have seen it.

It was the last week of November, and the cold had settled in for good. Napoleon II stepped down first, then offered his arm to Elisabeth. She took it without hesitation. Together they crossed the threshold.

The moment the doors opened, warmth met them.

Not the heavy heat of braziers or crowded hearths, but an even, quiet warmth that filled the hall without smoke or smell. Warm air rose gently through concealed grilles set into the marble floor, fed by a centralized steam heating system that ran beneath the palace like a second circulatory network. The chill vanished within seconds.

Elisabeth exhaled softly.

"I almost forgot that it is the fall season in France whenever I enter this palace," Elisabeth commented, still fascinated by the heating system of Versailles.

"You’d appreciate it more in winter," Napoleon II said. "You might want to stay here all day and get cozy."

"But other people can afford this system right?" she asked, turning to look at him.

"Well the system such as this working in Versailles is expensive, both from the installation and the procurement of the technology. But the middle class can afford to install small-sized heat pumps in their house provided that there is electricity."

Napoleon I and Marie Louise followed suit, and they too felt the warm radiating in the air.

"Father," Napoleon II said. "I supposed the people we invited for a discussion for tonight have arrived."

"They arrived," Napoleon I confirmed. "Armand just told me they are already waiting in the west conference hall."

Napoleon II nodded. "Good. Let’s not keep them waiting."

He turned to his fiance. "Elisabeth, you join my mother for a while, I’ll be meeting with important people."

"We will."

With that, Napoleon I and Napoleon II were escorted to the west conference hall of the Versailles. The moment they neared the entrance, they saw two Imperial Guards standing in attention.

"They are inside, Your Majesty," Armand said quietly.

Napoleon I acknowledged him with a short nod and pushed the doors open himself.

The men inside rose at once.

Napoleon I took in the room in a single glance.

"Sit," he said.

They did.

Napoleon II remained standing for a moment longer, hands resting on the back of a chair.

"Why don’t we go around the table?" Napoleon II said.

"Good idea, gentlemen, introduce yourselves one by one to my son here," Napoleon I ordered.

The men exchanged brief looks, then one chair scraped softly as the first stood.

"Admiral Denis Decrès," he said. "Former Minister of the Navy." His voice was steady, worn smooth by years of command.

Napoleon II inclined his head once. He already knew the name. Everyone did.

The next man rose more slowly.

"Jacques-Noël Sané," he said. "Naval constructor." He placed one hand on the table as if it were a habit from leaning over drafting boards.

A third man stood, younger than the rest, his coat cut plainly.

"Pierre-Simon Girard," he said. "Engineer with an experience with steam systems and hydraulic mechanisms."

Napoleon II’s gaze lingered on him a moment longer.

The fourth introduction came from a man with ink-stained fingers and a faint smell of salt still clinging to his coat.

"Stanislas Dupuy de Lôme," he said. "Naval architect."

Another chair moved.

The sound cut cleanly through the room.

"Baron Pierre-Barthélemy Portal de Giraud," he said. "Minister of the Navy."

Then another.

"Vice-Admiral Henri de Rigny," he said. "Active command. Mediterranean Fleet."

A final officer stood, older, broader, his uniform worn at the seams.

"Admiral Charles Baudin," he said. "Dockyard oversight. Brest and Toulon."

"Okay, seems like everyone is all accounted for," Napoleon II said. "Let’s all take our seats."

They obliged and took their respective seats.

Napoleon II was the first to speak.

"Everyone, the reason why we summoned you here is to discuss the threat of the British Empire in regards to their advancements of their ships. They are using steam as a means of propulsion. Masts became obsolete and they are faster, durable, and stronger than any of our current active ships in service with France."

The officials nodded their heads in agreement.

"Our army on land is stronger but our naval fleet is at the mercy of the British Empire. I want our empire to be able to compete in the seven seas and end British dominance in shipping and trade. We can’t do that if we don’t have a modern navy."

"Do you want us to make steam-powered battleships?" Girard asked.

Napoleon II nodded his head. "Yes but before we proceed on that, I want you to explain to these gentlemen here who doesn’t have the technical knowledge on how steam engines work as marine propulsion, so that we are on the same board here."

"Very well, Your Imperial Highness," Girard said before speaking. "Steam engines used by the British work on the principle of converting heat into motion. Coal is burned in a boiler. The heat turns water into pressurized steam. That steam is directed into a cylinder, where it pushes a piston back and forth."

He paused, making sure the non-engineers were following.

"That back-and-forth motion is then converted into rotation through a crankshaft. In land engines, that rotation turns wheels. At sea, it turns screw propeller."

Decrès nodded. "The British abandoned paddles quickly." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"They had to," Girard replied. "Paddles are exposed. One solid hit and propulsion is lost. They also interfere with broadside guns."

Dupuy de Lôme leaned forward. "The screw propeller solves that. It sits below the waterline. Protected. Harder to damage."

"Exactly," Girard said. "The propeller pushes water backward. Newton’s law. The ship moves forward. It doesn’t rely on wind. It doesn’t care about currents. Speed becomes predictable."

"And fuel?" Portal asked.

"Coal," Girard answered. "Which means range is limited by bunkers. But unlike wind, fuel can be stockpiled."

Napoleon II folded his hands.

"Which means logistics decides naval power," he said.

"That’s correct, Your Majesty."

"But there is one fatal flaw in the system, especially the reciprocating steam engine. Is the British using single stage expansion?"

Girard nodded. "Yes. The British are still using single-stage reciprocating engines in most of their ships. High-pressure steam enters one cylinder, expands once, then is exhausted."

"And the problem?" Napoleon I asked.

"The problem, Father, is that after the expansion, there’s still some pressure and heat left unused."

"In a single-stage engine," he continued, "steam enters the cylinder at high pressure, does one cycle of work, and is then released. That steam still carries heat. Still carries pressure. But it is thrown away."

He looked around the table, making sure they were following.

"That means coal is burned to create energy that is never converted into motion. Fuel consumption rises. Boilers work harder. Engines run hotter. Metal fatigues faster."

Girard nodded slowly. "Which shortens service life."

"And limits range," Decrès added.

Napoleon II inclined his head once. "Exactly. Britain can afford that waste because they dominate coal supply routes and refueling stations."

Napoleon I leaned back in his chair. "And you intend to reverse that order."

"Yes," Napoleon II replied. "We will make efficiency our advantage. Instead of the single-stage we are going to add more stages, extracting more energy from the steam until it condenses back into water to be boiled again in a boiler."

"That’s a revolutionary idea sir, but I believe the British would have done it if that is the case," Girard said.

"The reason they didn’t adopt it is because they don’t have the tools and equipment to make one. We are superior in terms of heavy industries and machinery. And also, there is another part where we can be of advantage."

"What is it?" Napoleon I asked.

"Oil."