Chapter 429 War Reparations
Chapter 430 War Reparations
Lefebvre looked at the fleur-de-lis flag flying on the coastal defense fortress of Annaba Port not far away, and shook the reins happily.
He had never expected that the battle would go so smoothly, and it took only two and a half days to capture the entire Annaba. You know, at the marching speed of the Tunisian Army, it would take almost two days to cover the entire territory of Annaba.
In other words, I can return to Europe in a few days, and I will definitely be in time to participate in the big battle in Silesia.
A company commander ran over on horseback, raised his hat and saluted Lefebvre:
"Master, we found a large number of heavy artillery in the Algiers fortress!"
"Oh?" Lefebvre waved his hand indifferently, "The Algiers' cannon is of little value."
Based on the casting level here in North Africa, the power of the 32-pound coastal defense gun is not as good as the European 18-pound gun.
The company commander immediately said:
"Sir, those guns are produced in Britain. There are three 32-pound guns, eight 24-pound guns, and the lighter ones have not yet been counted."
Lefebvre's eyes immediately lit up - if it were British goods, so many heavy artillery would be a profit!
It was indeed a profit - at that time, the Duke of Leeds spent tens of thousands of pounds building Annaba's coastal defense fortress, but it fell into the hands of the Guards Corps without firing a single shot. Some batteries still have their factory oil seals.
While talking, another cavalryman came to report that a large number of flintlock guns were found in the warehouse at the port, including Prussian Potsdam 1740 and Dutch AI, as well as some British Brown Bess. The total number has not yet been counted, but it is estimated to be at least 7,000.
These guns were the second batch of British aid to the Algiers Guards. However, due to the procrastination of the Algiers, they had not yet been handed over to the army after several months. At this time, they all took advantage of Lefebvre.
Lefebvre suddenly felt that it was acceptable not to go to Silesia - just for seizing so many supplies, he should be able to get a commendation from the General Staff.
He looked at the staff officer aside and said:
"Try to get some fortress guns to Constantine (the city of Algiers, originating from Rome, not Ottoman Constantinople), and then we can go back."
Constantine was a city in Algiers south of Annaba. Holding there would be equivalent to blocking Algiers' main route into Tunisia. With the assistance of the 24-pounder artillery, the Tunisian Army will be able to complete the task of guarding Annaba in the future.
…
Tunisian city.
Cahill Palace.
Chandarle, the emissary of Dey of Algiers, paced anxiously up and down the corridor.
He had been prepared to take a boat to Paris if he could not see the French negotiators before tomorrow.
Fortunately, the big shots from Paris are here. He only hoped that General Keheler would persist for a few more days, and he would be able to use his interests to stabilize the French army.
Soon, footsteps were heard from the other side of the corridor, and Count Segur, the French special envoy for negotiation, came over with several officers from the General Staff.
Chandalle hurriedly rushed up to greet him, touched his chest with great respect, saluted, and greeted him in Arabic.
Segur didn't seem to care about what the translator said, and went straight into the hall in front of him and sat down at the head of the long table. Currently, the French model is popular in Tunisia, and people of high status are no longer willing to sit on the carpet and talk. Something happened.
Chandalle had no choice but to follow in awkwardly. It took him a long time to seize the gap between the chatting of several French people and hurriedly interjected:
"Dear envoy, I am Aga from Difan in Algiers, and I am also the plenipotentiary negotiator appointed by Dai..."
Difan is the parliament of Algiers. He holds a position similar to that of Speaker.
Segur raised his eyes and glanced at him, and said slowly:
"Oh, what are you going to talk to me about?"
Chandalle immediately said: "Special envoy, we should discuss the truce issue in the Annaba region..."
Segur listened to the translator, smiled and raised his hand to interrupt him:
"That's unnecessary. The battle in Annaba ended the day before yesterday."
He turned his head and looked at the officer beside him:
"Lieutenant Colonel Adrian, our legion should be on its way to Constantine, right?"
Of course, under the current international situation, France has no plans to attack Constantine, but this does not prevent him from using this to scare the Algiers. With the remaining forces in Algiers, the French army could even fight all the way to their capital Mitijia.
Chandalle's pupils suddenly shrank. He knew that although he had not received the news yet, the French would not lie about the situation of the war.
He panicked and said: "Actually, there shouldn't be a war between Algiers and France at all. This would harm everyone..."
Segur stopped him coldly:
"No, the war started the last time the Janissaries of Algiers invaded Tunisia."
Chandalle cursed the British thousands of times in his heart - he had clearly agreed to fully support Algiers' attack on Tunisia, but as soon as the French army appeared, they disappeared.
"Well, that was just some obligation to the Tunisian Guards before." He had no choice but to say, "We realize this is a mistake and are willing to do something to save the peace between our two countries."
Segur said very cheerfully: "Our country has invested more than 200,000 rials in response to Algiers' invasion. These losses must be borne by Algiers."
200,000 rials is about 4.4 million livres. It's not that Joseph is soft-hearted, but for Algiers with a population of only more than 2 million, this is already their limit.
Segur continued: "In addition, Annaba, as a key route for invading Tunisia, will be managed by our country in the future. Constantine, which is adjacent to our country, will become a buffer zone and no troops can be stationed."
"This..." Chandar said anxiously, "I'm afraid these requirements are too much..."
"This is the decision of His Majesty the King." Segur glanced at him and said, "You can refuse, and then we will continue to talk in Mitiga."
"No, no! These can be discussed..." Chandar waved his hands hurriedly.
Tunisia.
Susa Province.
Sfik was staring at the low hills behind the tribe in a daze, and the rumbling sound of artillery still rang in his mind from time to time.
Suddenly, a group of tribesmen holding knives and spears rushed towards the road next to the tribe, cursing.
Someone grabbed him and said, "Sphek, let's go teach that sheriff a lesson!"
"That guy actually let go of ten carts of olive oil. We didn't get a penny for security."
"And last time, he let the fur traders in the city enter the tribe..."
"How much money have we lost recently? I want to kill that bastard!"
"Yes, kill him!"
"Sheriff?" Sphek was startled, and suddenly remembered the sheriff's white uniform - very similar to the uniform of the French army he had seen in Annaba - and immediately shouted in horror, "Are you crazy? You must not attack the sheriff!"
Seeing that he couldn't stop the tribe, he hurried to the tribe leader's residence and broke into the house:
"Uncle, stop them! Hurting the sheriff The sheriff will attract the army!"
"The army?" the chief said disdainfully, "What are you afraid of? The warriors of the tribe will drive them away."
"No, no..." Sfeik's eyes were full of fear, "By the way, have you seen the Algiers Guards?"
"Huh? No."
"They are devils! Devils that can tear people apart in an instant!"
"Why are you saying this?"
"And those armies..." Sfeik swallowed his saliva, his face pale, "They are war gods that can tear devils apart! No one can stop them. If we don't stop everyone, the tribe will be finished!"
On the main road next to the tribe, more than 20 people who had been to the Annaba battlefield were frantically driving away the troublemakers, fearing that they would hurt the sheriff.
