The victory at Bavaria sent waves of fear through the courts of Europe. Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia realized that they were facing an entirely new form of warfare—one that their outdated tactics could not counter. Manuel knew they would attempt to adapt, but he was always several steps ahead.
To further ensure France's supremacy, he established military academies to train officers in these new doctrines, creating an elite core of tacticians and strategists who could wield his technological innovations to their fullest potential. Engineers were given nearly unlimited funding to continue advancing weaponry and battlefield technology.
Railway lines began construction, intended not just for trade but for the rapid movement of troops across France. Manuel envisioned a future where wars were fought with precision strikes rather than prolonged, costly campaigns. Speed, efficiency, and overwhelming firepower would be the keys to victory.
The Spy
While France flourished under Manuel's leadership, the rest of Europe desperately sought a way to counter his advancements. The British, the most determined of his enemies, knew that defeating Napoleon on the battlefield was now nearly impossible. Instead, they turned to the age-old craft of espionage.
The British Spy
In the heart of Paris, deep within the bustling industrial districts, a man known only as William Ashford worked tirelessly under the guise of a factory supervisor. Fluent in French and deeply embedded within the workforce, Ashford had spent months secretly gathering information about France's technological advancements. His mission, sanctioned by the highest levels of the British government, was simple: steal the secrets of Napoleon's new war machines and bring them back to London.
Through bribes, careful observation, and intercepted blueprints, Ashford compiled detailed notes on the construction of rifled muskets, explosive artillery shells, and even the early blueprints for steam-powered vehicles. He marveled at the ingenuity of France's industrial revolution, knowing that such advancements could change the fate of Europe forever.
One fateful night, Ashford successfully smuggled a collection of stolen documents out of the factory, hidden within the false bottom of a wooden barrel. Under the cover of darkness, he made his way to a waiting ship bound for England.
A Flawed Copy
Days later, the British military received Ashford's stolen intelligence. Engineers and weapon smiths pored over the schematics, eager to replicate France's innovations. However, despite their best efforts, the technology was far more advanced than anticipated.
The rifled muskets, though copied, lacked the same level of precision. The explosive shells, while powerful, were unstable and unreliable. The steam-powered vehicles, though theoretically feasible, were beyond Britain's current manufacturing capabilities.
Even the ironclad ship designs, which had excited the British Admiralty, proved difficult to produce without the specialized materials and processes France had pioneered.
Britain had gained invaluable knowledge, but without the industrial foundation and the visionary mind of Napoleon himself, their versions were crude imitations.
Manuel's Response
When the news reached Manuel, he was neither surprised nor angered. He had expected such an attempt. In fact, he had planned for it.
Using misinformation, Manuel had intentionally allowed outdated blueprints to circulate among less secure sectors. What Ashford had stolen was an incomplete and flawed picture of France's true military capabilities. While Britain wasted resources trying to replicate old designs, France would continue innovating.
In response, Manuel ordered a crackdown on spies and traitors. The newly established Ministry of Internal Security intensified surveillance across France, making future espionage attempts nearly impossible.
More importantly, Manuel doubled down on innovation. The secrets Britain had stolen were already obsolete. His next advancements—railway artillery, rapid-firing weapons, and even early forms of armored land vehicles—would ensure that France remained leagues ahead of its enemies.
The War Continues
With Britain's espionage efforts failing to close the gap, the balance of power remained in Manuel's favor. The war was far from over, but he knew one thing for certain:
No nation could match his vision. The world had not yet seen the true extent of his genius, and when they finally did—it would be far too late to stop him.