In a world where Napoleon not necessarily conquers all of Europe, but somehow manages to become accepted as legitimate ruler of France, what would his ultimate plan for Germany and the confederation of the Rhine be post-Napoleonic wars?
Would France push for centralization of the confederation to have a strong buffer on the border of Prussia? Or would they allow the decentralization that most of the members certainly will want, risking that some external force may one day grow on expense of it?
Could this eventually lead to there being 3 "german" countries in Europe, Prussia east of the Elbe, Austria along the Danube and the confederation of the Rhine between the Rhine and the Elbe?