Chapter 501 Lightning Coal Company (asking for monthly votes on the Emperor’s birthday)
In the early morning, Tipu Sultan, covered in blood and mud, returned to Selingapadan with eight to nine hundred soldiers.
Yes, hundreds of people got lost on their way back. In the 18th century, when there were no navigation and night vision equipment, this was a very rare rate of loss. This shows how brave and capable the Tiger of Mysore is.
However, his crazy risk was worth it - he destroyed most of the British heavy artillery, and then the Mysore army could nest behind the defense line and use artillery to delay the British army.
Before the British arrived at Salingabatan, Mysore had purchased large quantities of gunpowder and shells via the Moroccan-Ottoman transport line, enough to last their cannons until winter.
According to the Marquis de Lafayette, the British will definitely retreat by the end of the rainy season.
Tipu Sultan firmly believed in his prophecy, so he desperately blocked the British army under the city of Seringapadan.
Because of the fall of South Kannada on the west coast, it has been difficult for Mysore to obtain supplies from Morocco from the Gulf of Oman. If the British could hold on until the end of the year, Mysore would have no choice but to abandon Salingabatan.
In the following more than a month, the British army launched extremely fierce attacks one after another. However, Tipu Sultan relied on the defense line deployed by Lafayette before leaving and his own bravery to repeatedly repel the enemy, although it cost tens of thousands of people. suffered huge casualties, but the seemingly crumbling Selingapadan was never breached.
Tipu Sultan frowned every day as he looked at the corpses of soldiers brought back from the front line, and his fear and hatred of the British grew day by day.
Little did he know that at this time in history, the food in the city of Salingabadam had been exhausted, and the Mysore soldiers were panicked and would soon be defeated.
At this time, he had sufficient food and grass in his hands, and only lost a few border provinces such as Vijayanagar and South Kannada. The core area of the kingdom was basically intact, and the national strength did not suffer much loss.
Compared with the situation in the third Mysore War in history, when the administrative center Selingabadan and all the territory east of Mysore were lost, this is already as good as heaven.
At the very least, if the British asked him to pay 3 million pounds in compensation in exchange for withdrawing troops, he would only say one word: Get out!
September is approaching.
The British offensive weakened significantly.
The Marquess of Wellesley was stricken with malaria and was so feverish that he could hardly get out of bed. A large number of his soldiers also fell ill. In addition to malaria, dysentery was rampant in the army, and more than 20% of the soldiers lost their combat effectiveness due to illness.
There are also some unnamed serious diseases that appear in the military - people who get sick sometimes bleed from their bodies and die in just three or four days.
The military doctor advised Wellesley not to let his soldiers eat rice - which he believed was a major cause of dysentery. But Wellesley can't do it, because this is the only food currently in the British army's warehouse.
Although the servant armies of the Indian princes did not suffer from widespread illness, their combat effectiveness was not enough to threaten the Mysore people.
The British Expeditionary Force ultimately failed to survive the rainy season.
The order of commendation personally signed by His Majesty the King and the letter of appointment for promotion to major general were placed on the table nearby. Wellesley sat upright on the bed with difficulty and looked at each other in silence with Cornwallis who came to visit him.
Gunpowder was on the verge of running out, new cannons were impossible to transport, and the Mysoreans continued to sneak attacks on them. Both of them knew that this war could only go so far.
"The Manata people can't even make qualified gunpowder, otherwise they might be able to defeat Tipu with a few more attacks." Cornwallis sighed.
"Let Sir Seely go to Seringapadan." Wellesley waved his hand, "At least we can keep Vijayanagar and Kannada."
Lord Seeley was the East India Company's peace negotiator. "And north of Chitraldurga," Cornwallis added, "but the Mysoreans also occupied Tiruchirappalli."
The two looked at each other again, with helplessness in their eyes. The East India Company invested 3.2 million pounds and dispatched thousands of expeditionary troops, but only achieved this result.
…
London.
In Madame Mordaunt's salon, a man with ordinary appearance but wearing the most popular loose long coat came to Mayor Mordaunt with a wine glass and showed a polite smile: "Dear Mayor, I didn’t expect to see you here, what a blessing.”
Mordaunt turned his head and was startled for a moment before nodding: "Is it Mr. Styler? Oh, we met in the city hall last time."
"I'm honored that you remember me."
Styler smiled even brighter and exchanged some pleasantries. After everyone around the mayor left, he moved a few steps closer: "Lord Braverman should have mentioned our company's sincerity to you. .You see about the gaslight project..."
Lord Braverman was Dupont's connection. He was mainly responsible for helping bribe British officials, and the commission was very low, only 2%, which was considered a great favor to DuPont.
Mordaunt just smiled and said noncommittally: "You know, the Parliament attaches great importance to the installation of gas lights in London. My report must have enough content to convince the MPs before they can decide who will undertake this matter."
Styler immediately said: "Please rest assured that Senator Mordaunt is very familiar with the strength of our company and he will definitely support us."
Mordaunt was a major force in Parliament promoting London's gaslight project.
Mayor Mordaunt was quite surprised. He did not expect that this unknown "Lightning Coal Company" could not only find Lord Braverman as a lobbyist, but also have a relationship with Councilor Mordaunt.
If he didn't exaggerate, you might consider accepting his "heart".
"There is also Mr. Coffey's technical opinion letter. Your company must be approved by him before..."
Styler smiled and said: "His submission should be submitted to you tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I guarantee you."
Of course he can guarantee it, because the technical director of the London gas light project has received his 2,500 pounds as a benefit and even handed over London's pipeline layout plan to him.
"Oh?" Mordaunt raised his eyebrows, "The efficiency of your company really surprises me."
"Our company has invested a lot in gas lighting. You see, if we cannot undertake this project, our shareholders will suffer heavy losses." Styler lowered his voice, "Actually, the 8,000 pounds is still negotiable."
8,000 pounds was the bribe amount he promised Mordaunt before, which was 200,000 francs, which was still a lot of room for the authority given to him by the crown prince.
This Lightning Coal Company was established in the UK with DuPont's help. After completing all the company resumes and investing tens of thousands of pounds, it was specifically used to undertake the London gas street lighting project.
Currently, the apparent boss of the company is a Scottish friend of DuPont, and the company manager, Styler, was recommended by the French Minister of Commerce.
(End of chapter)