So, when it comes to this, you need to figure out why you're doing this. Is he resistant to do Napoleon as a Great Man, as Great Man historiography is often considered trash, subpar, or heavily biased (i.e. trash). Even though Napoleon is effective,the example that proves it, it isn't something you would want to argue in a contemporary history state.

I am having a hard time understanding the Empirical over Rational argument you are trying to use and how it concerns Napoleon and the Revolution. To further complicate it would be Napoleon as a moderate Revolutionary (see his Meritocratic nobility and legal code).

Now, you could have a very good and very interesting paper if you focused on Napoleonic Hero Worship and how it contributes to the legacy of Napoleonic scholarship. You'll spend more time reading already published literature rather than visiting state archives but it has a lot of potential.

Replying pragmatically, can you tell us what level of dissertation this is intended to be? If not in terms of degree to be granted, in terms of how much investment you want to do. This way the advice that you get can be better tailored to the scope and effort.

Sounds awesome, /u/HarryCochrane !