Chapter 662: Giving and Gaining

Chapter 663 Giving and Gaining

Talleyrand saw the Ottoman Grand Vizier showing doubts, so he smiled and explained:

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked the General Staff to recruit local residents in Tunisia and organize them into the Royal Legion. As the main defense force in North Africa, there are currently 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 that Lieutenant Colonel Moro is a very outstanding commander, and the Tunisian Army Corps commanded by him can be considered an elite 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 Osman, 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 will do, right?"

The cripple 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. "What I mean is that 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: "Furthermore, being separated by more than half of the Mediterranean Sea, it is impossible for those in the Imperial Guard to know the specific number of Topizis.

"Also, the soldiers' salaries can be paid to our country first in the name of 'consulting fees', and then our country will transfer them to the officers in Topiz. In this way, the Guards cannot estimate the size of the new army through audits. ”

Meleka Mohammed's eyes suddenly lit up.

This is indeed a good way to get rid of the constraints of the Praetorian Guards. If we can really train 10,000 Topizis behind their backs, 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 Guards.

He is very clear about the combat effectiveness of his "Yerycheni" Forbidden Army. At Topiz's current level, 1,000 soldiers can defeat 5,000 Forbidden Army. Not to mention the Topiges trained by the French army - 5,000 people are enough to firmly control the entire capital.

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.

It's a perfect plan.

If the empire's financial resources can sustain it, it is not impossible to train 50,000 Topizhs in Tunisia, defeat Russia, and retake Crimea!

Of course, this is just wishful thinking on his part.

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: "On this matter, His Majesty the Sultan still needs to make a decision."

Talleyrand did not wait long. He was summoned by the Ottoman Sultan at noon the next day.

In the extremely spacious vaulted hall of Topkapi Palace, Selim III leaned on the soft floor and gestured to the eunuchs 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 been shipped from Mocha. I hope you like it."

Talleyrand picked up the coffee, blew on it, took a sip, and exaggeratedly praised:

"This is 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 at 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 thanks when he saw Selim III looking at him and saying:

"My friend, I have learned from the Grand Vizier your sincerity.

"Now, I hope to hear from you the real purpose of your visit to Constantiniya this time."

Talleyrand immediately said enthusiastically: "Of course, promoting French-Turkish trade can make it more prosperous."

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, stroked his chest and saluted: "Your eyes can see everything, Your Majesty."

"I'm listening."

"England, my goal is England."

"Please sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Talleyrand bowed and said, "You know, our country is in fierce competition with Britain. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hopes to exchange some of the things you need for Syrian cotton and Egyptian sugar cane. Oh, the Franco-Turkish trade must 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 production in his hands was not much, it was enough to influence the balance.

Last week, he just received news from the Caribbean that blacks were rioting, which means that there will be a serious shortage of sugar this year. Egyptian sugar cane will become a strategic resource.

He pondered for a few seconds, twisted the "Taisbiha" beads in his hand, and said:

"Our country controls no less than 40% of the number of steamships entering the port, a foundry capable of manufacturing 32-pound cannons, and provides 2,000 sets of French standard equipment for Topizs training in Tunisia.

"And you, my friend, will have the priority purchase right of 60% of the goods produced in Syria and Egypt. "

Talleyrand felt relieved, it seemed that he had been fooled. But to be honest, he only knew that His Royal Highness wanted to link the situation in Egypt and Poland, but he was not sure about the deeper strategic goal.

Then he smiled again.

The Sultan's words just now had already shown that the Ottomans were going to recognize France's claim to Tunisia.