I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 901 Punishment of Bavaria
On the sea outside the Port of London, dozens of senior naval officers on the first-class battleship "Royal Monarch" and some government officials looked at the strangely shaped warship speeding by in the distance, trailing thick smoke, and they immediately applauded and cheered.

Sir Hope pointed at the strange ship and explained it to the group of leaders:
"The Comet was equipped with two 52-horsepower steam engines and an unprecedented underwater propeller propulsion method, which allowed it to reach an astonishing speed of 12 knots with a favorable wind. Even without wind, it could still move forward at a speed of 8 knots.

"At the same time, it was equipped with 28 guns, and its speed and firepower exceeded those of similar French warships.

"We only need to build 30 more of these ships and the French fleet will lose its speed advantage in the Mediterranean."

The British officials applauded again and nodded to each other.

Since last year, bad news has been coming from the battlefield. The army was badly beaten by the French, and even the Mediterranean Fleet was driven out of the Mediterranean.

Now there is finally hope of revenge!

James Fox, the leader of the Whig Party, waved his hand and shouted:

"I think we should not be satisfied with just driving the French out of the Mediterranean, but build more advanced warships, such as more than 50 ships, to completely destroy the Toulon fleet!"

He has been very successful in the political arena recently. His biggest political enemy, Pitt the Younger, resigned due to the unfavorable war situation in France and financial problems.

At present, his party is in power in Parliament and the king is likely to appoint him as the next prime minister.

After he came to power, he really needed the navy to achieve a great victory to help consolidate his position.

Admiral Jervis, the Minister of Naval Warfare, immediately said, "The Chatham Shipyard is also developing a steam warship with 36 guns. But as you know, the Navy Committee has limited funds, so it is difficult to increase the number of ships to be built."

Fox immediately said nonchalantly: "Submit an application for additional funding to the parliament as soon as possible. I guarantee it will be approved."

"It is because of outstanding politicians and leaders like you that Great Britain can continue to write glorious chapters." Jarvis glanced at him and then continued, "Do you think 115 million pounds is appropriate?"

His original budget was to invest around 50 pounds to build 30 steam frigates and 25 level steam battleships.

But the profiteers in Jamaica had made him spend £36 on the timber for the ship's axles, and now he could use Fox's words to get more money for the Naval Committee.

Fox's eyelids twitched, but he finally gritted his teeth and nodded: "The navy is the life of the empire, and sufficient investment must be guaranteed. Just apply for the amount you need."

The day after the trial of the new warship, the shipyard director Sir Hope summoned the head of Bolton-Watt to discuss the order of additional steam engines. Admiral Jervis, who had just received a huge amount of funding, also attended the meeting with great interest.

"Then, if the shipyard increases the order quantity to 130 units," Hope looked at Bolton, "I hope the price of each high-pressure steam engine can be reduced to 1600 pounds."

Bolton's eyes suddenly flashed with ecstasy - the large order of 130 steam engines would make the company a fortune!
He was about to agree, but he heard Frank coughing and saying:

“Dear Sir Hope, we should think longer term!
"Obviously, the future ocean will be dominated by steam warships, and 130 steam engines are only enough to equip more than 50 warships at most.

"And this does not guarantee the complete destruction of the French fleet, as you know, the French are constantly building new ships.

“I believe that only with more than 80 steam battleships can anyone dare not challenge the empire’s maritime status!

"And this requires 200 steam engines."

Hope and Jarvis looked at each other, both quite moved.

Frank patted Bolton hard again: "Our company should also contribute to the empire. "If the Navy can order 200 units, we will not make any money, 1500 pounds each!"

Bolton wiped the sweat off his forehead and said with trembling lips: "Okay, okay, but expanding production will require a lot of funds..."

Frank looked at Sir Hope again and said, "Do you think the shipyard can advance 10 pounds to help our company expand the factory and purchase raw materials?"

Hope and Jervis looked at each other again.

Frank added hurriedly: "Don't worry, we can sign an agreement with the shipyard. If we can't deliver on time, we will compensate you tenfold."

Admiral Jervis originally planned to build at least 30 new steamships next year. It would be much cheaper to buy all the steam engines needed at once, so he nodded without hesitation: "Okay, then order 200 units and pay 10 pounds in advance."

Soon, both Chatham Royal Dockyard and Bolton & Watt were busy as hell.

The former re-edited the scale of building a new ship and recruited six or seven hundred craftsmen based on this. Various raw materials were piled up like a mountain next to the dock.

The latter built three new workshops, filled them with new equipment and parts, and even, at the suggestion of Sandel, raised 4 pounds to invest in the development of a new generation of 100-horsepower steam engines.

As the company's recent development momentum was as rapid as a volcanic eruption, there was an endless stream of people coming to invest voluntarily, and the 4 pounds was raised in just a few days.

……

While the British were enthusiastically building steamships, Bavaria was in a great panic.

A French army appeared without warning in Karlsruhe on the east bank of the Rhine, and then quickly passed through Württemberg - Württemberg had declared the day before the French arrived: "Adhere to strict neutrality and allow the warring parties to pass through its territory harmlessly."

Just four days later, Moreau led 4 French soldiers into Nördlingen in western Bavaria.

It would not be quite accurate to say that there was an "invasion", as in fact there was almost no fighting.

The main forces of Bavaria were gathered in the south, and there were only less than 300 border guards on the western border.

These people ran away immediately after seeing the French army.

Moreau only fired a few shots when he captured the Nördlingen town hall.

On the same day, Moreau gathered reporters in the square outside the city hall and announced loudly that his trip was to severely punish "Bavaria for assisting Austria in invading France."

He said so and seemed to do so.

The next day, Moreau's Corps continued to advance eastward, and two days later captured Ingolstadt, an important town in central Bavaria.

Subsequently, a large number of French engineers began to build pontoon bridges and other river crossing facilities on the Danube.

Heading south from Ingolstadt, less than 70 kilometers is the Bavarian capital of Munich.

Upon hearing the news, Archduke Karl Theodor of Bavaria was horrified. He transferred Dernberg's troops from the southern defense line to the north of Munich, and sent Foreign Minister Pappenheim to Vienna overnight for help.

(End of this chapter)