Chapter 1084: Calm Waters in Europe
Lazaziz immediately contacted a dozen of the most influential tribal chiefs and traveled with them to Mitidja to discuss the matter with Rahman, the provincial Trade Official. After the removal of the Janissaries and the naval forces, Rahman, who had contributed significantly to the effort, had been appointed Trade Official, effectively making him the fourth most powerful man in Algiers.
In the lounge on the second floor of the Mitidja City Hall, Lazaziz spoke with a tone of deep dissatisfaction. "Lord Rahman, people are leaving the tribes every day. Right now, it is just the men, but soon their families will follow."
Another tribal chief chimed in, "My tribe only has about eight hundred able-bodied men left. Are we supposed to have the women and the elderly handle the spring sowing next year?"
"I had originally planned to purchase several thousand acres of land, but at this rate, we don't even have enough hands to farm the land we already own..."
Rahman raised his hand, cutting them off. "So, what exactly is it that you want me to do?"
Lazaziz immediately replied, "Please advise the Governor to stop accepting applications for 'new cultivated land'!"
"Or modify the decree so that the land must be purchased with currency," another suggested.
Rahman simply shook his head slightly. "If the Governor were to actually do that, you all would be in grave danger."
It was no joke; every Berber at the bottom of the social ladder was now staring hungrily at that free land. If anyone dared to suggest stopping the distribution now, the common folk would likely tear that person's entire family apart.
"By the way, I am going to Paris next week to report on our trade situation to the Crown Prince. Does anyone wish to accompany me?"
As he spoke, he stood up, clearly signaling the end of the meeting. "If you wish to go, prepare a gift worth at least 3,000 riyals."
...
News from North Africa quickly spread across all of Europe.
In Berlin, the capital of Prussia.
Inside the City Palace.
William III slammed the report onto the table and turned to Prince Heinrich and the others. "Tell those stubborn fools that if they are unwilling to give up their serfs, they can give up their heads instead!"
The latter replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, I fear that if we are too harsh, it will negatively impact the morale of the army."
The core of the Prussian army was the Junker nobility. Although the reform of serfdom was vital, they could not afford to alienate the nobles too much.
Currently, at least seventy percent of the Prussian nobility were resisting the abolition of serfdom, either openly or in the shadows.
William III frowned. "Then what do you propose we do?"
"Perhaps we could extend the period for serfs to buy back their land by a few more years. Furthermore, they should continue to provide labor service to their lords for the first five years."
Historically, many Prussian serfs had not finished paying off the cost of their land even by the time of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.
William III said angrily, "The pace of our reforms is already slow enough, and yet we are still expected to make concessions!"
As he spoke, an official stepped in quietly and whispered a few words into the ear of the Prime Minister, Baron vom Stein.
William III glanced at him and asked, "What has happened?"
Stein hastily bowed. "Your Majesty, France took control of the entire territory of Algiers last month."
"Hmph, the French have gained another wheat-producing region." William III nodded dismissively, then turned back to Prince Heinrich. "We can consider extending the buy-back period, but the peasants cannot continue to perform labor service. That would interfere with my ability to conscript soldiers from among them..."
...
Vienna, Austria.
The Schönbrunn Palace.
As the Foreign Secretary recounted the situation in Algiers, Franz II remarked casually, "Without Britain to provide a check, North Africa is nothing more than a snack that France can consume whenever it pleases."
Cobentzel added, "It is just that their speed this time was indeed quite remarkable. I had originally thought it would take them at least a year or two to completely suppress the resistance there."
His brother, Ludwig von Cobentzel, spoke with a hint of admiration, "Regrettably, there was almost no resistance. The French skillfully exploited the internal conflicts within Algiers."
Cobentzel nodded. "They are indeed very clever. However, this will surely infuriate the Ottomans, which qualifies as good news for us."
Algiers was still nominally an Ottoman territory. Once a Dey was elected, the result had to be reported to the Ottoman Sultan for formal investiture.
Franz II's eyes lit up. "If the Ottomans sour their relationship with France because of this, it will be very beneficial for us to consolidate the situation in Wallachia."
Cobentzel bowed. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Furthermore, the trade between us and North Africa will benefit from this change."
Previously, Austria and the Ottomans had been hostile toward each other due to the struggle over Wallachia. Out of respect for the Ottomans, Algiers had almost never traded with Austria. Now, that problem no longer existed.
Franz II gestured to the secretary standing by the door. "Draft a letter in my name to congratulate Paris on their brilliant victory in North Africa."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
...
London.
10 Downing Street.
Lord Grenville frowned as he looked at Fox, the Foreign Secretary. "You said before that as long as we provided weapons and funds to the Algiers tribes, they would give the French a massive headache. And yet now, French immigrants have already begun farming in Mitidja."
"This..." Fox lowered his head and said, "Prime Minister, no one expected the French to wipe out all Ottoman influence in just four or five months..."
William Pitt Junior, standing nearby, cleared his throat and said, "Actually, this might be our opportunity."
Grenville had clearly reached the same conclusion. "You mean, winning over the Ottomans?"
"Yes, Prime Minister," Pitt nodded. "While the Ottomans certainly won't go to war with France over this, they are bound to be extremely dissatisfied."
"We can at least try to persuade Salem III to sell Egyptian sugar to us."
"We could even help the Ottomans strengthen their armaments. Not only would this threaten France's sphere of influence in North Africa, but it would also make the Russians nervous."
Currently, Britain was locked in a struggle with Russia over Persia. If Ottoman military strength along the Black Sea coast increased, Russia would inevitably have to redeploy troops to respond.
The pressure on Britain in the direction of Persia would then be reduced accordingly.
"Your suggestion is excellent." Grenville nodded slightly and turned to Fox. "Please submit a detailed plan to me regarding this matter."
After Pitt had proposed the money-printing strategy, the British government's financial situation had eased. Indeed, Petty had subsequently applied for an additional issuance of 400,000 pound sterling to increase control over Afghanistan.
Naturally, there was quite a bit of surplus left from that money, enough to provide the Ottomans with flintlock muskets and cannons, as well as to assist in training their army.
...
Paris.
The Palace of Versailles.
Without an overly grand welcoming ceremony, Rahman and more than thirty others were granted a very low-profile audience with His Majesty the King. However, what they represented were the collective interests of the Algiers nobility.
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