What if the french republicans had won some crucial battle against the austrians in 1796, like Schliengen? I hear that Napoleon's italian campaign was a diversion for the austrian army in order for a rhenish army to be more successful in a separate german campaign. Ironically, the french managed to attain better successes in Italy, under Napoleon, than they did in Germany. Only during the napoleonic wars that the french would secure their dominance over the german states.
But what if the republican french had managed to break out of the rhine border before OTL, securing a new sphere of influence in Germany alongside their sphere of influence in Italy?
What were the plans for the carveup of Germany? Would the Holy Roman Empire see a quicker end?
Would this result in greater panic from the reactionary powers?
Assuming that Jean Moreau, after the campaign, is acclaimed as a "hero of the republic" just like Napoleon, how do french politics play out after that? Will Moreau pine for influence in the Directory against Napoleon or will he decide to become a friend of his?