Chapter 108: After the Victory (Part 2)

"Oh? What else could there be?" King George III was puzzled. He couldn't fathom what else could be significant enough to concern Wellington, the Field Marshal of the British Army.

"Your Majesty, please take a closer look at the last part of the report," Wellington suggested.

"The last part?" King George III repeated, his face full of curiosity. He picked up Nelson's report again and examined it closely. Sure enough, at the end of the report, Nelson emphasized that during this battle, Napoleon's nephew, Roland, led a team that utilized a new type of weapon. This weapon had a high rate of fire, and in the early stages of the battle, the French army used it to repel the Austrian cavalry's attack.

"A new type of weapon?" King George III muttered, finally understanding why Wellington had come to see him today.

"You want to focus on the French army's new weapon?" King George III asked Wellington.

"Exactly, Your Majesty. The Battle of Florence has already proven that this new weapon can significantly impact the outcome of a battle. According to Vice Admiral Nelson's report, the French army's new weapon possesses formidable combat capabilities. If the entire French army were equipped with this weapon, they would become even more challenging to defeat," Wellington explained.

"So, what do you propose?" King George III set the report aside and asked Wellington.

"I request, Your Majesty, that we mobilize our domestic intelligence forces to obtain this new French rifle. Additionally, we should command our domestic arms factories to intensify their research on new weapons. Our army already lags behind the world's leading military powers. If we fall behind in weaponry as well, then the British Army will have no future," Wellington said urgently, his tone full of concern.

"Understood. I will assign this task to the intelligence bureau. As for new weapons, summon Cotton; I will discuss this matter with him," King George III said, signaling his support for Wellington's proposal.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" With the king's assurance, Wellington saluted and promptly exited.

...

With Wellington's proposal accepted by King George III, all of Britain sprang into action. They began frantically gathering intelligence on the French army's new weapon.

While Britain was expending great effort to uncover information about the French army's new weapon, another major power in the East was also taking notice of the battle.

This nation was Russia.

Inside the St. Petersburg Palace, Tsar Alexander I of Russia was intently reading a letter.

"Your Majesty, is something troubling you? You seem quite worried lately," Prince Barclay asked with concern, noticing the worried expression of Tsar Alexander I of Russia.

For some reason, since the previous day, Alexander had been visibly troubled, and it was unclear what was bothering him.

"Are you aware of the current conflict between France and Austria in Italy?" Alexander asked, closing the letter and turning to Prince Barclay.

"Of course, that war has captured the attention of all Europe. Some places have even set up betting pools to determine whether France or Austria will win. Why, Your Majesty, have you placed a bet as well? That would be unfortunate, as I know many believed Austria would win," Prince Barclay said with a smile, trying to lighten the somber mood.

"Hmph, I'm not that idle. The domestic issues are already troublesome enough without adding such frivolities to my plate," Alexander replied with a cold snort.

"Then what is troubling you, Your Majesty? Is it the Turks in the south causing problems again, the Swedes in the north, or perhaps an issue with Poland?" Barclay asked.

Russia's vast territory brought many challenges. With numerous borders came numerous enemies, whether the Turks, Swedes, or Poles, none of whom were easy to deal with. As a result, Alexander often wore a worried expression.

"It's because of the situation in Italy," Alexander stated.

"Italy? That's not within our sphere of influence. Why would anything there concern us?" Barclay asked, puzzled. Italy was far from Russia, and they had no significant interests there.

"Barclay, I've told you many times, one must have a long-term perspective. While we may not have direct interests in Italy, something there has the potential to impact our future interests," Alexander explained.

"What exactly do you mean, Your Majesty?" Barclay inquired, still confused.

"The recent battle in Italy revealed that Napoleon's forces are using a new type of weapon with a high rate of fire. This weapon played a crucial role in their victory over the Austrian cavalry. If such technology spreads and the French army becomes fully equipped with these weapons, it will make them even more formidable. This could significantly alter the balance of power in Europe," Alexander elaborated.

Barclay's expression grew serious as he grasped the implications. "I understand now, Your Majesty. If France becomes too powerful, it could threaten our own security and influence. What do you propose we do about this?"

"We must investigate this new weapon and consider its impact on our own military capabilities. If the French can develop such technology, then so can we. We need to ensure that our army is not left behind in this new arms race," Alexander replied.

"I will see to it that our intelligence services focus on gathering information about this new French weapon, Your Majesty," Barclay promised.

"Good. We must stay vigilant and prepared for any eventuality," Alexander concluded, determined to maintain Russia's position on the European stage.

"Your Majesty, you are referring to the Austrian cavalry being annihilated by the French forces," Prince Barclay deduced quickly. Having spent considerable time by Alexander's side, he was no fool. As soon as Alexander mentioned Italy, Barclay understood what was troubling him.

Like Austria, Russia was a nation renowned for its cavalry. In fact, the Russian Cossack cavalry was even more famous than the Austrian Hussars. It was thanks to the formidable Cossack cavalry that Russia had managed to carve out vast territories despite being surrounded by powerful adversaries.

Cavalry had long been a measure of a nation's military strength, but now, with technological advancements, something seemed to be threatening the strategic value of cavalry. However, Russia's intelligence network was not as robust as Britain's, and they had yet to uncover what exactly the French were using to defeat the Austrian cavalry.

Nevertheless, this did not prevent them from feeling a sense of crisis. Whatever it was that posed a threat to the Austrian Hussars today could threaten the Russian Cossacks tomorrow. Russia needed to prepare for this new reality.

"Exactly," Alexander confirmed. "If the French have developed a weapon capable of neutralizing the Austrian cavalry, it is only a matter of time before it poses a threat to our own Cossacks. We must not ignore this development."

"Indeed, Your Majesty. The implications are serious. If our cavalry loses its strategic value, our military capabilities will be significantly weakened. We must find out what this new weapon is and develop countermeasures," Barclay agreed.

"We cannot rely solely on our current intelligence network. We must expand our efforts and possibly collaborate with other nations to gather information. We cannot afford to be left behind," Alexander said firmly.

"I will see to it that our intelligence services prioritize this matter. We will also reach out to our allies for any information they might have," Barclay promised.

"Good. We must stay vigilant and adapt to these changes. The survival and strength of our nation depend on it," Alexander concluded, his resolve evident.

As Russia began to mobilize its intelligence and military resources to investigate the new French weapon, the nation braced itself for the challenges ahead. The evolving nature of warfare required swift adaptation, and Alexander was determined to ensure Russia remained a formidable power on the European stage.

"Exactly! We must quickly find out how the French achieved this. The Cossack cavalry is Russia's most crucial combat force, and I will not allow anyone or anything to threaten them," Alexander declared.

"Barclay, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Can you handle it?" Alexander asked, looking directly at Barclay.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you," Barclay replied, nodding firmly.

Barclay promptly turned and left. Historically, Europeans had often been wary of Russians, which made it difficult for Russia to integrate into the European community. Consequently, Russia had little in the way of an effective intelligence network within Europe. The task at hand—uncovering details about the French army's new weapon—was further complicated by the fact that the weapon had already proven its efficacy in battle. The French government would undoubtedly guard it closely.

Barclay knew he had to prepare meticulously for this challenging mission.

---

The Battle of Florence had a significant impact on various nations, with many European powers becoming deeply concerned. They all mobilized their intelligence networks to scrutinize every detail of the battle, not willing to miss even the smallest piece of information.

The news that the French army had equipped a new type of weapon spread quickly among these nations, causing widespread unease. Among those most worried was Austria, which was currently engaged in combat with France.

When the news reached Vienna, most Austrians found it hard to accept. The Hungarian Hussars had always been the pride of the Austrian army, its elite force. But now, even the Hungarian Hussars had been decimated, losing an entire division in a single battle—an unprecedented loss in recent decades.

Although the Austrian government attempted to suppress the news immediately upon learning of the defeat, the shadow of the loss loomed over Vienna. Every Austrian official wore a worried expression, especially Prince Windisch-Grätz, who was about to face the wrath of Emperor Francis II.

In a tense meeting with Emperor Francis II, Prince Windisch-Grätz would have to explain the catastrophic defeat and the unprecedented loss of their elite cavalry. This situation underscored the urgent need for Austria, like Russia, to understand the new threat posed by the French army's advanced weaponry and to adapt their military strategies accordingly.