Chapter 663: Effort and Gain
Seeing the Ottoman Grand Vizier’s doubts, Talleyrand smiled and explained:
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked the General Staff to recruit local residents in Tunisia. , organized as the Royal Legion, as the main defense force in North Africa, currently has 2 500 soldiers, most of whom have the same beliefs as you."
The image of Tunisian soldiers immediately appeared in Melka Mohammed's mind, and he hesitated:
" What His Majesty the Sultan needs are elites who can defeat the enemies in the north.”
The Ottomans had only one major enemy in the north, and that was Tsarist Russia.
Talleyrand wiped the coffee stains from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and looked very satisfied:
“Please rest assured, Lieutenant Colonel Moreau is an excellent commander. The Tunisian Army can be considered an elite force in our country.”
Of course, this Tunisian standing army is slightly stronger than the old French army, but that does not prevent him from bragging. And for the Ottomans, the French Tunisian Legion is definitely a ceiling-like existence.
Melka Mohammed was immediately overjoyed: "Great, can you invite twenty Tunisian instructors for Topiz? I promise to pay adequate remuneration to your country."
Talleyrand smiled and shook his head: "This is not appropriate."
The Grand Vizier was a little disappointed: "Then, ten instructors are okay?"
The lame man still shook his head.
"Mr. Talleyrand, you know that it is difficult to ensure the level of training if there are too few instructors..."
"You misunderstood," Talleyrand waved his hand, "I mean , if the new army trains in Constantiniya, it will inevitably be affected by the previous environment. Let them go to Tunisia and train with our soldiers, so as to achieve the best results.”
He blinked mysteriously again: "Moreover, it is impossible for those in the Guards to know the specific number of Topizis, separated by more than half the Mediterranean Sea.
"Also, the soldiers' salary can be It was first handed over to our country in the name of 'consulting fee', and then our country handed it over to the officers in Topizh. In this way, the Imperial Guard could not estimate the size of the new army by checking accounts. ”
Melka Mohammed’s eyes suddenly lit up.
This is indeed a good way to get rid of the constraints of the Guards. If we can really train 10,000 topizhi behind their backs Si, no, even if there are only 5,000 people, when this new army returns to Constantiniya, it will be able to completely suppress the power of the Imperial Guard.
His combat effectiveness against his own "Yelicheni" Imperial Guard. It is very clear that at Topiz's current level, 1,000 soldiers can defeat 5,000 forbidden troops, not to mention Topiz trained by the French army - 5,000 people are enough to firmly control the entire capital. br>
At the same time, Tunisia is an Islamic environment, and there is basically no need to worry that the new army will be "badly influenced" by Europe there.
Simply a perfect plan.
If the empire's financial resources can sustain it, it will not be impossible to train 50,000 Topizhs in Tunisia, defeat Russia, and retake Crimea!
Of course, this is just his wishful thinking.
Joseph would definitely not allow Osman to cultivate such a strong army. At most, four to five thousand new troops would be enough.
After all, he is going to dig the Suez Canal in the future. Don't wait until you go. The Ottoman new army will first eliminate the Mamluks and then regain the entire Egypt, which will be great fun.
Melka Mohammed’s smile suddenly froze. As the "grand treasurer" of the empire, after experiencing a short period of joy, he immediately thought that if he did it in the way Talleyrand said, it would be equivalent to the empire recognizing that Tunisia belonged to France.
He sighed bitterly: "His Majesty the Sultan still needs to make a decision on this matter."
Talleyrand did not wait long, and he got it at noon the next day. summoned by the Ottoman Sultan.
In the extremely spacious vaulted hall of Topkapi Palace, Selim III was leaning on the soft rafter, gesturing to the eunuch beside him. Immediately, a beautiful, half-dressed slave girl placed a cup of fragrant coffee in front of the French Foreign Minister.
The latter smiled and nodded to the Sultan: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty."
"I heard that you like the coffee here very much," Selim III gestured to the coffee cup, "This has just arrived from Mocha. I hope you like it."
Taleyrand picked up the coffee, blew on it, took a sip, and exaggeratedly praised:
"This Absolutely the best drink I’ve ever had! You’ve made me even more obsessed with Konstantinier!”
Selim III raised his index finger and waved to the eunuch:
"Send a ship of royal coffee to my friend to the port of Marseille."
"As you command, my greatest master."
Talleyrand smiled broadly and was about to say thank you when he saw Selim III looking at him and saying:
"My friend, I have learned about your sincerity from the Grand Vizier.
"Now, I hope to hear from you about your real purpose of coming to Constantiniya this time."
Talleyrand immediately said with enthusiasm: "Of course it is to promote more prosperous French-Turkish trade. ”
The young Sudan just looked at him with a smile.
Talleyrand said in his heart that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was indeed right. The current man in Topkapi Palace was much more difficult to deal with than his predecessor.
He pushed the coffee cup away, stood up and stroked his chest and saluted: "Your eyes can see everything, Your Majesty."
"I'm listening."
"Britain, my goal is Britain."
"Please sit down and talk."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Tallie Lang leaned back and said, "You know, our country is in the process of peace and The British are engaged in fierce competition. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hopes to exchange some of the things you need for Syrian cotton and Egyptian sugar cane. Oh, the French-Turkish trade must also be extremely important."
Selim III nodded slightly. .
He was naturally aware of the fierce competition between Britain and France in the textile industry. Although the cotton output in his hands was not large, it was enough to influence the bias of the balance.
Last week, he just received news from the Caribbean that black people were in full-scale riots, which meant that there would be a serious shortage of sugar this year. Egypt's sugar cane will become a strategic resource.
He pondered for a few seconds, twirled the "Tasbiha" bead string in his hand, and said:
"The number of steamships controlled by our country shall not be less than 40% of the number of ships entering the port. A gun foundry capable of manufacturing 32-pound guns, and 2,000 sets of French army standard equipment for Topizis training in Tunisia.
"And you, my friend, will receive Syrian and Egyptian products. 60% right of first refusal for shipped goods. ”
Talleyrand felt relieved, it seemed that he had been fooled. But to be honest, he only knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wanted to connect the situations in Egypt and Poland, but the deeper strategic goal was not clear.
Then he smiled again.
The Sultan's words just now indicate that the Ottomans intend to recognize France's claim to Tunisia.
(End of this chapter)