Chapter 196 Military Reform

If Napoleon were just a parvenu, when his family came to share in his achievements, he might have kicked out ten or so siblings from his home, fearing that others would know his background. He now rules France, while his mother speaks with a strong Corsican accent. His shameless sister would disgrace him, making people wonder if he lacked manners as well.

Fortunately, the family still has Roland, an outstanding nephew. Otherwise, Napoleon would really doubt what he has gained by going to such great lengths for this family.

The reason Napoleon has always supported these inept scions of the family is deeply rooted in his Italian blood and the influence of the family. In Corsican tradition, the family is central, and the struggles between families never cease. This family concept leads people to want to leave everything they have acquired to their offspring without reservation.

Of course, while Napoleon gives glory to his own family, he has not forgotten his brothers who follow him.

On May 19, 1804, Napoleon held another grand banquet, where:

Louis-Alexandre Berthier, Prince of Neuchâtel and Wagram, Duke of Valangin, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Joachim Murat, Prince of the Empire, Grand Duke of Berg (later King of Naples in 1808), was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Jean-Andoche Junot, Duke of Abrantès, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Count Jourdan, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Roland Massena, Duke of Rivoli, Prince of Essling, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Pierre Augereau, Duke of Castiglione, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, Prince of Pontecorvo, later King Charles XIV John of Sweden in 1818, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Guillaume Marie Anne Brune, Count Brune, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Jean Lannes, Duke of Montebello, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, Duke of Trévise, was promoted to Marshal of France.

Michel Ney, Duke of Elchingen, Prince of the Moskva, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Louis Nicolas Davout, Duke of Auerstädt, Prince of Eckmühl, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

Jean-Baptiste Bessières, Duke of Istria, was promoted to Honorary Marshal of the Empire.

François Christophe Kellermann, Duke of Valmy, was promoted to Imperial Marshal.

François Joseph Lefebvre, Duke of Dantzig, was promoted to Honorary Marshal of the Empire.

Dominique-Catherine de Pérignon, Marquis of Pérignon, was promoted to Honorary Marshal of the Empire.

Jean Mathieu Philibert Sérurier, Count of Serurier, was promoted to Honorary Marshal of the Empire.

Amidst the enthusiastic applause of the attending generals, Napoleon awarded the baton of marshal to 18 individuals. The marshal's baton symbolized their status. The French marshal's baton was 75 centimeters long, carved with an eagle pattern, and wrapped in a golden outer layer.

From the eyes of the other generals, Napoleon saw eagerness. The saying goes, "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier." And these generals, without exception, all wanted to become marshals. This would become their goal as they fought for their country.

After the conferment ceremony, Napoleon announced reforms for the army and navy. The Empire would establish the Army Department and the Navy Department, both departments falling under the leadership of the cabinet but reporting directly to Napoleon. The Army Department and Navy Department would be mainly responsible for the development of the two branches of the military. As for operations, these would primarily be handled by the General Staff. However, the navy would separately establish a Naval Command.

These appointments won Napoleon tremendous popular support and solidified his rule. Regarding the choice of Minister of the Army Department, Napoleon decided to replace Marmont with Berthier because he planned to reform the army, and Marmont's character was evidently unsuitable for such a heavy responsibility.

As for the Minister of the Navy Department, Napoleon temporarily had no suitable candidate, so he decided to let Decrès continue for the time being, which was also Napoleon's final opportunity for Decrès. If he still couldn't complete his tasks well, Napoleon would not hesitate to give up on him.

In addition, further reforms were planned for the Imperial Army and Navy. Currently, the Imperial Army had approximately 200,000 soldiers, a number that was definitely insufficient.

Therefore, Napoleon planned to reorganize and expand these troops once again. As for the current troops, Napoleon planned to reorganize them into corps. Each corps would command 5 infantry divisions, supplemented by heavy artillery regiments, cavalry regiments, engineering regiments, logistical support units, and the corps headquarters. Each corps would have a total strength of around 80,000 soldiers.

After the first expansion, Napoleon planned to organize the country's forces into three corps, totaling about 240,000 soldiers.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Infantry Divisions and the Training Division, along with the Central Cavalry Division, would be integrated into the Central Corps, led by Lannes as the Corps Commander and Ney as the Deputy Corps Commander. This was the most powerful force in France. Its main responsibilities were to defend the capital, Paris, and guard against the British in the direction of the Netherlands.

Then, the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth divisions, along with some remaining Italian units, were organized into the Italian Corps, led by Marshal Murat as the Corps Commander and General Junot as the Deputy Corps Commander. Just like the name of the corps, its main responsibility was to garrison French Italy and guard against Austria.

As for the final corps, Napoleon named it the Eastern Corps. The remaining French infantry divisions and Davout's northern cavalry division would be incorporated into it. Marshal Davout would serve as the Corps Commander, with Marshal Marmont as the Deputy Corps Commander. The purpose of this corps was to guard against the Germanic region. The Germanic people in this area had always been hostile to the French, aiding rebellious forces within France. To ensure stability in France, these rebellious forces had to be eliminated. Meanwhile, Napoleon had his eyes set on this region for future campaigns; when Napoleon launched his offensive here, this corps would serve as the main force.

In addition to personnel restructuring, the Imperial Army would begin to extensively equip horses and mules, further enhancing the Empire's logistical capabilities. Furthermore, Roland's armament factory was researching the latest rifles and cannons. Napoleon believed that with these new weapons deployed in the army, the combat effectiveness of the French army would increase exponentially. By then, no country would be able to threaten France anymore.

Lastly, concerning the navy, Napoleon divided the French Navy into the Atlantic Fleet and the Mediterranean Fleet. 

The Atlantic Fleet would be the main force, tasked primarily with countering the British fleet. Napoleon equipped the fleet with a large number of warships, including 8 newly built Dunkirk-class battleships, 15 cruisers, and several escort ships. This fleet was commanded by Admiral Decrès, the Minister of the Navy.

The other fleet was the Mediterranean Fleet, based in Toulon, equipped with 3 Dunkirk-class battleships and 8 escort ships. Count Serurier and Admiral Féliberl were appointed as the fleet commanders.

Napoleon placed great hope in these two naval fleets because France had long been besieged by the British Navy, almost isolated on the European continent. However, Napoleon believed that the establishment of these two naval fleets would help France break through the blockade of the British Navy. As long as the French Navy could defeat the British Navy, the French army could easily land on British soil. At that time, with the powerful French army, defeating the weak British land forces would be effortless, and the British would no longer be his opponents, nor could they obstruct him.