With Napoleon's army at Strasbourg and preparing to move toward Austria through Bavaria, orders go out to France's special agents. A spy is sent toward Vienna to set up an intelligence network, since taking the Austrian capital is the key to their defeat. Meanwhile, one gentleman of note is sent to Prague in Bohemia to stir up Czech nationalists against Hapsburg repression. Another is sent to Orleans and the university there to assist in research and innovating new ideas. Speaking of which, the brightest young minds at the Sorbonne and elsewhere are tasked with making military advancements (specifically diamond formation for cavalry and fire-and-advance tactics for infantry).
Not only is France busy. The Ottoman Empire once more declares war on vulnerable Austria -- great news for the Emperor! The conservative Turks have no great love for Napoleon (they still bitterly remember his Egypt expedition) but they long to claim Austrian holdings in the Balkans, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Now facing a two-front war, Vienna has little hope to withstand the mighty French army while also protecting its eastern borders from the Ottoman legions. Better still, Russia itself might get dragged into war with the Turks as well!
For whatever reason, Hanover -- a minor German fief -- was in French possession. The Emperor decides to be rid of this exposed, isolated holding by "offering" it to another German city-state, Hesse-Kassel, in exchange for an alliance. Hesse-Kassel accepts, and now the bulwark of French client states in the Rhineland grows even stronger.
Finally, Napoleon approaches Innsbruck to the south of Bavaria. Tyrol is of great strategic importance to the Habsburgs because it controls several important Alpine passes. Bavarian nationalists have long claimed that northern Tyrol is more Bavarian and Austrian (although to us French it's hard to tell the difference...) and the Emperor has promised to expand the Bavarian territory by adding Innsbruck to their dominion.
Despite the winter weather, the meager garrison in Innsbruck is totally unready for Napoleon's forces. Their defeat is a certainty.
Taking Innsbruck obviously upsets Prussia, but rather than declaring war on France directly, Berlin declares war on Hesse-Kessel. Obviously the Emperor decides to stand by his "ally," and Prussia enters the War of the Third Coalition, albeit indirectly.
Making good on his promise, the Emperor gives Tyrol to Bavaria. There are cries of celebration in Munich, along with cheers of "Vive le France!" and "Vive l'Empreur!" Or at least that's what the propaganda inside France says...
With the Alps now under French control, Napoleon drives south and east toward Venice. He besieges the ancient city, which like Innsbruck is woefully undefended. After some perfunctory resistance, Venice surrenders. The Emperor is much more hesitant to give up such a rich and historic city, but he knows that the Venetians would much prefer to be governed by fellow Italians than by France (even if the Emperor is Corsican...). So, after Venice is taken and its buildings repaired, the Emperor plans to add Venice to the Kingdom of Italy.
More coming soon!