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Chapter 405: The Gateway to Egypt

As for the other major powers on the European continent, France's military intervention in Tripoli should not provoke much reaction.

Austria is bleeding profusely in Silesia and is practically begging France for military reinforcements.

Spain is a close relative, and France has a secret agreement with them to jointly retake Gibraltar and unify the Iberian Peninsula. Offer them a few benefits, and they will certainly stay out of it.

Russia, in particular, hopes France will send troops to Tripoli, as the 12,000 soldiers stationed there are all from the Ottoman Guard Army. Russia wants to control the Black Sea, which requires completely crippling the Ottoman Empire. The more Ottoman troops France can eliminate in North Africa, the fewer enemies Russia will face on the battlefield later. Moreover, the Twin Trading Company's busiest route is through the Mediterranean, and if France controls another trade port in the Mediterranean, Russia will also benefit.

Poland is currently experiencing a wave of national awakening; its elite class is constantly giving speeches, organizing public demonstrations, and causing quite a stir, leaving them no time to meddle in other nations' affairs.

The only major power that would oppose France attacking Tripoli is Prussia. But Prussia's navy... well, they barely have a navy, so what can their objections achieve? France and Prussia are already clashing in the Southern Netherlands; worst case, we'll send more troops and see if my great-uncle won't teach them a harsh lesson in Silesia!

Other smaller nations, such as Sardinia, Denmark, and Bavaria, wouldn't dare interfere in France's business.

Therefore, Joseph was determined to have Tripoli this time!

Speaking of which, he had to thank the British. If they hadn't manipulated Benguiur into attacking Tunisia, he wouldn't have such a solid pretext for intervention.

In reality, at this time, Tripoli was largely seen by European nations as a desolate land with fewer than 700,000 inhabitants. Although its land area was only slightly smaller than Tunisia's, its output and port location were quite ordinary. Only a few habitable cities like Tripoli and Zawiya, and the Port of Tripoli, held any significant value.

However, Joseph knew very well that Tripoli would be a crucial gateway to Egypt. Without Tripoli, the idea of digging the Suez Canal in Egypt would be an unrealistic fantasy. Once the Suez Canal opens, it could halve the sea trade route between the Far East and Europe. It could be said that whoever controls the Suez Canal will control Europe's economic lifeline. Under such circumstances, the British would undoubtedly fight tooth and nail to prevent France from gaining control of the canal. Before France could shake Britain's maritime supremacy, a foothold in Egypt could only be established through overland supply lines from Tripoli.

Joseph had to take advantage of the favorable international situation he had created to quickly establish actual control over Tripoli. By the time other countries realized what was happening and tried to intervene, it would be too late.

Berthier looked at the Crown Prince in astonishment, and after a moment, he spoke:

"Your Royal Highness, a large portion of our forces are tied up in the Southern Netherlands and Silesia. If we hastily attack Tripoli, what if the Ottoman reaction is severe?"

After all, Tripoli was nominally a province of the Ottoman Empire, so his concern was not unfounded.

Joseph said calmly, "Selim III's main energy is focused on implementing domestic reforms; he won't expend resources on distant Tripoli. If the Ottoman Empire sends a large number of mainland troops, the Russians will immediately and eagerly seize the opportunity to invade and swallow up all their territories along the Black Sea. And even if the Ottomans really do come to fight, we have ample troops."

Berthier was stunned for a moment, then hesitated, "Your Royal Highness, with all due respect, our forces might be insufficient..."

Joseph smiled, "If I'm not mistaken, the campaigns in the Southern Netherlands and Algiers will conclude by the end of the year, allowing us to deploy over 60,000 troops to Tripoli."

...

October 25, 1789.

Paris.

The rain poured down heavily, with occasional flashes of sharp lightning, making the entire sky appear gloomy.

Several unassuming black carriages stopped in the Palace of Versailles square. The door of the frontmost carriage was pushed open, and a footman, huddling his neck, stepped out, placed the steps before the door, and then hurriedly unfurled an umbrella.

Marquis Wellesley, the British Foreign Secretary, bent down to exit the carriage and looked toward the main gate of Versailles Palace. He saw no one there to greet him, only a few guards at the entrance staring coldly in their direction.

Wellesley's face was darker than the storm clouds above. Just this morning, he had received a confidential letter from Governor-General Cornwallis in India.

The letter stated that the Maratha Confederacy demanded 250,000 pounds sterling in military funds, along with 20 cannons and 15,000 flintlock muskets, to continue sending reinforcements to Carnatic.

Hyderabad, on the other hand, asked an exorbitant price, proposing that Britain return the Kondavidu region and, after repelling Mysore, be granted Nellore in Carnatic.

Cornwallis had already accepted the Maratha demands on behalf of the East India Company. As for Hyderabad, he could only state that he had to await the board of directors' decision, attempting to delay as much as possible.

Wellesley took a deep breath of the cold air. He couldn't understand why Hyderabad, which had allied with Mysore decades ago, would suddenly create obstacles now, which was somewhat understandable, but why would the Maratha, who had long sided with Britain, also suddenly make things difficult?

Little did he know that Salah, the French consul in Mysore, had secretly contacted the Maratha a few months prior.

Salah remembered the Crown Prince saying that Indians would feel cheated if they didn't gain an advantage in everything. So, he and Shah, the representative of Mysore, made extravagant promises to the Maratha, even offering to cede North Canara to them and provide 200,000 pounds sterling in benefits, in exchange for their support against Mysore.

The Maratha then turned around and used these promises as their bargaining standard to present their conditions to Britain.

As for Hyderabad, they increased their demands on Britain by thirty percent, building upon the benefits Salah had offered.

Wellesley knew that the East India Company could only accept their demands. Without the assistance of the native Indian states, the British army, having to trek tens of thousands of nautical miles to fight Mysore, would eventually be worn down and defeated.

He gritted his teeth, stepped through the puddles on the ground, and led several diplomatic officials toward the main gate of Versailles Palace.

Whether it was because the rain was too heavy or the footman hadn't held the umbrella properly, by the time Wellesley finally met Talleyrand's infuriating face, half of his clothes were drenched, and water droplets plinked from his cuffs, making him appear extremely disheveled.