Chapter 562: Preparing for War
Regarding troop recruitment, Joseph was the least concerned.
His earlier, arduous efforts to implement land reforms, overcoming significant resistance, were now yielding substantial dividends. A large number of French peasants, despite still paying off their land redemption fees, were confident the land was theirs to keep. This newfound ownership, coupled with the recent removal of the despised tax farmers, had generated unprecedented support for the French monarchy and government.
Joseph was confident that if he issued a recruitment notice at the beginning of the month, over 100,000 soldiers could be enlisted by month's end.
Additionally, the Guards Corps' prestigious reputation and generous pay were magnets for young men eager to enlist.
The lowest-ranking soldier in the Guards Corps, a private, earned 27 francs per month. After just a year or two of diligent service, promotions to corporal came with a salary increase to 35 francs.
This was on par with the wages of government clerks. But since the military provided food, clothing, and housing, a soldier's actual income far surpassed that of a civil servant.
Such attractive wages were a powerful draw for young men from modest backgrounds.
Furthermore, the sight of the Guards Corps triumphantly returning from the Netherlands, combined with relentless promotion by the Ministry of Military Affairs, had transformed military service into a highly esteemed profession—at least for the Guards Corps. Traditional units still carried a stigma of inferiority.
Even Parisian young women considered marrying a Guards Corps soldier a fashionable aspiration.
The Paris Military Academy had become so popular during its recruitment periods that it faced an overwhelming number of applicants. Despite increasing its intake to over 5,000 soldiers and several hundred officers annually, the rejection rate remained as high as 70%.
Joseph made a note to expand the Paris Military Academy further.
This expansion, however, would not be easy. The academy had already absorbed several smaller military schools, leaving few available for consolidation. Particularly in the Paris region, apart from the Royal Military Academy, there were no other institutions left to merge.
This made establishing satellite campuses in other regions a necessity.
Joseph also realized the academy's name, Paris Military Academy, no longer suited its role. Initially, it had been a guise for discretion. Now, it lacked gravitas and failed to reflect its expanded mission.
The academy's scope had grown unwieldy, encompassing military, policing, equipment development, and even tax training programs. It was time to reorganize.
He began drafting plans:
Reorganize the Paris Military Academy into Specialized Institutions: French Royal Police UniversityFrench Economic and Taxation UniversityFrench Royal Military UniversityRoyal Mechanical and Chemical UniversityParis Army Officer AcademyParis Military Technical SchoolLyon Military Technical SchoolToulouse Military Technical School
The police, tax, and other administrative programs would be separated into their own institutions.
In the military domain, a new Royal Mechanical and Chemical University would focus on equipment research and development. Joseph planned to appoint his father as its president and locate it near the Palace of Versailles, using the Royal Arsenal as an affiliated facility.
The French Royal Military University would train high-ranking officers. With a three-to-four-year curriculum, its graduates would begin their careers as junior officers, focusing on command and staff positions.
The Paris Army Officer Academy would train sergeants and specialized personnel, such as cavalry, artillery, and cartographers, with a two-to-three-year program.
Finally, three schools—Paris, Lyon, and Toulouse Military Technical Schools—would train ordinary soldiers with a maximum one-year curriculum. Outstanding graduates could earn non-commissioned officer ranks.
In the 18th century, unlike in later eras where recruits were already literate and educated, soldiers required foundational training from scratch. The Paris Military Academy's model of comprehensive training had proven highly effective, even shielding recruits from the influence of veteran misconduct.
The schools in Lyon and Toulouse could consolidate existing regional academies, scale up rapidly, and tap local populations, meeting the goal of adding 50,000 new troops in two years.
"Sigh…"
Joseph set his pen down, releasing a long sigh.
Building so many schools seemed promising on paper, but each would require an enormous financial investment—easily millions of francs.
"I suppose it's time to squeeze the church for funds again," he muttered. "After all, education falls under their purview…"
After finalizing his military and recruitment plans, Joseph sent his draft to the General Staff for review and refinement. Without pause, he shifted his attention to diplomatic preparations.
Historically, Napoleon's military prowess was unmatched, but his abysmal diplomacy turned almost all of Europe against France, including long-standing allies like Spain. Of course, Britain's exceptional ability to stir trouble played a significant role.
Joseph understood that no matter how powerful France became, it couldn't singlehandedly take on Britain and its allies.
Even a lucky French victory would leave the nation battered, requiring decades to recover—or worse, it could end up like post-WWII Britain, permanently diminished.
Moreover, Britain's dominance at sea meant it could easily cut off French trade routes, severely hindering France's capacity for prolonged conflict.
Thus, building a coalition of allies was imperative. Letting France's allies wear down Britain's would be the wisest strategy.
Sharing the spoils of victory was a necessary cost. Napoleon had tried to monopolize the benefits of war, only to be forced to relinquish them all in the end.
Joseph's first thought was France's natural ally, Spain, under the Bourbon dynasty.
Thanks to his efforts cultivating a strong rapport with Carlos IV and securing secret agreements regarding Gibraltar and Portugal, Joseph was confident Spain would side with France in any continental war.
[Note 1]: Before the French Revolution, soldiers in France's traditional army endured abysmal conditions. Poor wages, harsh treatment, and severe punishments deterred all but the most desperate from enlisting. Officers, however, lived in a completely different world, enjoying privileged lifestyles and professional respect.
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