"General Napoleon, Hooray! Wansheng! ”

"Victorious General! Victorious General! ”

In the city of Cairo, a large army with a tricolor flag poured in.

Although the uniforms were dirty and the hats were rotten, the morale of these dusty soldiers was very good.

After all, there were 10,000 people when they set out, and almost 10,000 when they returned.

Over the course of a year, they killed and captured tens of thousands of enemies, but they themselves lost less than five percent.

It dealt a heavy blow to the Ottoman Empire, diluted most of Britain's energy, and made a great contribution to the French Republic.

Of course, the Syrian and Palestinian girls are also very good.

As an occupying force, they always have some privileges.

They had been away from France for a long time, and the harsh ascetic military discipline could not be maintained at all.

There were idealists, but most of them were concentrated among the officers, and among those who gave up their aristocratic status, there were many people who were clean and self-conscious.

But there were also some who couldn't control themselves, and a few officers even hooked up with a few Bey women left behind in Damascus.

The soldiers, on the other hand, refused to accept the restraint at all, and whoever dared to obstruct them from finding a woman would be prepared to be shot.

This kind of expeditionary force, which is far away from the homeland and has no timetable for returning to China and retiring, can have strict military discipline, but it is impossible to be strict to that extent.

Besides, we French people have generously given you such good things as "freedom, equality, and fraternity", and what do you mean by still holding on to your wives and daughters?

Is it stubborn? Is it resistance to the revolution? Is it a feudal ruler in his heart?

The French detachment that was sent out to prevent the collection of taxes and grain, in addition to asking for money and food, naturally had to work with girls.

It's no wonder that the local people have begun to support the rangers from the nomadic tribes, and you are the same anyway, so we will always support the Lord of the Stars and Moons.

In this case, the situation in Syria is naturally becoming more and more unfavorable for the French army. Even if they keep winning battles, it's useless.

Napoleon could not take one or two thousand men to Istanbul.

The puppet army he organized couldn't hold the back road at all.

With Napoleon's talent, it is possible to send a puppet army brought out by some French officers to maintain law and order, or even fight the Ottoman army together.

But the British fought the puppet army with as much ease as the French fought the Ottomans.

The British threw hundreds of sailors on board a ship. You can easily capture a coastal town fortified by a puppet army and used as a supply point.

With the increasing exchange of messengers between London and Istanbul, the cooperation of the British Ottoman army was also slightly more ambiguous.

Of course, most of the French soldiers were unaware of the crisis, and they enjoyed it.

But they had an extremely good leader, the most astute general.

Napoleon, realizing that he could not achieve a decisive victory, withdrew his troops to a place that would be easier to defend before the real crisis struck.

As a result of Menua's efforts, Egypt already had a rudimentary civil bureaucracy that did not require those Chuba to be directly responsible for collecting taxes.

That's not to say that there are more good people in the tax department, in fact, there will only be more bad guys. After all, most of the locals who collaborated with the occupation forces were the most shameless and unconscionable scum of society.

However, the tax administration, which is mostly organized by the locals, is similarly inefficient, corrupt, and full of demands for physical and monetary demands other than legitimate taxes, but it is much less hostile.

After all, they don't have weapons, unlike the grain requisition squad that directly kills the men when they become malicious at the moment, and the women are in turn, so they can only engage in extortion.

Not to mention that the French officers had no psychological pressure to execute these auxiliaries. And it is too painful to execute one's own soldiers.

However, for most officers and soldiers, although they have lost the opportunity to exert power. It was a joy to be able to withdraw to Egypt.

After all, both officers and soldiers were allowed to keep most of the trophies, from precious metals to women.

And killing fathers and brothers, ignoring people's children, this kind of thing sounds cool, and it's very pleasant to do, but the risk also exists after all. There are also quite a few detachments killed by the locals in collusion with nomadic cavalry.

Although the death toll is small, every soldier who falls into the hands of the enemy will die a terrible death.

The owners of these cavalry are the most powerful Hashemite family and the Saudi family on the Xingyue Peninsula. The former is of noble blood and is considered to be the descendant of the "messengers", while the latter believes in a more religious and conservative school than the mainstream Xingyue cultists.

Like the Mamluks in Egypt, these two families were subject to the Caliphate in Istanbul, but they had a great deal of autonomy and a very long history.

Napoleon thought that he could form a common front with them against Istanbul, but in fact his united front work was extremely unsuccessful.

The soldiers from Mecca and Medina hated the infidels so much that it was impossible for them to die an easy death once they fell into their hands.

They would sacrifice the captured French to their Lord of the Stars and Moon in various ways.

The Hashemite family did not dare to ally with the infidels because of their background, while the upper echelons of the Saud family did not have a psychological barrier to cooperating with the infidels, and their cooperative relationship with the British has continued for several generations, helping the British destroy many Portuguese and Dutch strongholds in the Persian Gulf and the Star and Moon Sea.

This partnership will be an important reason for the British Empire's domination of the worlds, and will also allow the Saud family to become the overlord of the Star-Moon Peninsula and the "servants" of the two holy sites of Mecca and Medina.

But this is only the attitude of the upper echelons of the Saudi family, because of the relationship of public opinion, they only dare to cooperate with the British quietly, and dare not openly cooperate with the French.

So they all encouraged their own soldiers, brutally executing captured French soldiers.

And compared to dying in a dignified battle, this kind of death has no honor at all.

After retreating to northern Egypt, the defensive line and supply lines would be greatly shortened, and the threat to the French would be greatly reduced by these cavalry, plus the booty they brought back.

So there was no reason for the French soldiers to be demoralized.

Moreover, the 10,000 French troops left behind welcomed the 10,000 comrades-in-arms who returned from Syria victoriously with the warmest hugs and the warmest broth.

Napoleon stood on the balcony. He smiled and waved to his men.

These left-behind soldiers will soon be sent to the front line, so that they can see that their comrades come back in good image, it is necessary.

Napoleon also gave a short speech: "Citizens of the Republic, glorious soldiers, you have crossed the seas and brought civilization and order from Paris to Cairo like great waves. Liberating the peoples of Egypt and Syria from the brutal rule of the Turks, from Alexandria to Cairo, the flag of the republic flies everywhere, and the seas, deserts, and swamps cannot stop you. You should be proud that all the honor belongs to you! ”

"Now we are gathered in Egypt to deliver the most powerful blow to the enemies of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and to bring all the pretentious monarchs to the feet of the Republic. Just as they once knelt at the feet of the Roman Republic. ”

"The French Republic will receive the most glorious peace, when you will return to your homeland, and your countrymen will speak of you. Look, this is the hero who once liberated Egypt! ”

Napoleon's few words provoked even greater cheers from the soldiers, and even some people who had some slight doubts about abandoning Syria had been dispelled by this time, and they all believed that Napoleon could lead them to victory.

Napoleon's logistics were also well done, not only with hot soup, but also with new shoes and new clothes when they arrived in Egypt.

Although not a military uniform. But it's nice to have a new linen shirt and cotton shoes.

This is also a thought, the soldiers have armor and weapons captured from the Ottoman army. All you need is a coat to distinguish friend from foe.

However, most of the generals had grim faces, and they knew that such a withdrawal was actually undefeated and defeated.

Berthier did his best after Menois's death, but he was unable to provide new combat clothing, and those clothes that could be changed were indeed better than nothing.

The impact of tattered military coats on morale is still obvious.

And then there's the military boots. This is a rare seizure, but it is extremely critical.

"A good pair of boots allows a soldier to maintain a certain combat effectiveness after walking long distances, which is extremely critical to the strength of the army." It was General Kleber who spoke, the number two man in the Egyptian Sending Army. He has been directing operations on the Syrian side: "What we need are military boots. ”

"I've been paying attention to this issue for a long time, and we're already collecting cowhides." Berthier's face was impassive, but his stomach was scolding that military boots were not something that the occupying authorities could make.

This thing is in mainland France, and it is also one of the most difficult to supply military supplies.

To collect cowhides on a large scale in Egypt will only make the local people and you desperate.

"That's what you answered half a year ago, I don't accept such delays, you have to give me a time, when, where, and how many cowhide boots to deliver." Kleber had been patient for a long time, and he could indeed get supplies by capturing them, but he couldn't capture them except for some valuable supplies such as military boots. "And wine, my soldiers need it."

"I'm just going to shovel the wheat and olive for you, and I'm not in a hurry to plant vines for you!" Bertier was also furious, he was tired of collecting food and textiles, and he had to monitor all kinds of rebels, and he could not bear the unreasonable demands of his own people. "Of course, you'll say then why there's not enough olive oil and food."

Ignoring him, Kleber turned to General Napoleon and said, "If you want more supplies, you want more land, and we should take back Syria, where we need sandy land, where we can grow vines and not compete for food." And the abandonment of Syria will lead to the fact that in the event of our defeat there will not be enough room for us, and now the enemy only needs to win once, and we are finished. ”

It was very uncomfortable for him to give up the land he had held on to for so long, not to mention that he had not suffered defeat.

Napoleon just shook his head.

"Holding Syria is useless to us, General Napoleon needs you to go north into Asia Minor." Bertier's words were not fair, something that Napoleon could not have done.

However, Kleber did not refute it, he did not fulfill Napoleon's strategic requirements, and if Napoleon had not appeared several times in his despair, he would have been finished.

At one of these times, he did not find any problems at the front, but Napoleon, who was far behind, was through reports. Seeing that he was about to face the enemy's main force, he ran thousands of miles despite everyone's opposition and saved him at the last moment.

So Kleber did not consider himself to have the right to oppose Napoleon.

Napoleon, who had been watching them argue, spoke: "Go to the vicinity of Cairo and bring the British over, and we will do our best." ”

Kleber did not expect Napoleon to do this: "If the enemy is allowed to assemble calmly, we may face 80,000." Or even a hundred thousand enemies. How many people can we muster? Twenty thousand? Or twenty-five thousand? ”

The French army in Egypt totaled more than 30,000 people, but the other side had the right to control the sea and the initiative, and it was impossible for the French army to fully assemble.

In fact, it was difficult to even assemble 20,000 men, but Napoleon could do it.

"Isn't that enough? We also did not deal with 80,000 Ottomans. Bertier was frustrated with the situation and desperate for a solution.

"We are going to face 20,000 British with 80,000 Turks." Although Berthier was his close confidant, Napoleon, when analyzing the situation with his subordinates, still stated the real difficulty, "It is difficult, but it is also better than being harassed by the British day and night." Little by little, the Ottomans squeezed over, and it was better to lose the ability to fight in the field. Only by fighting a big battle, a decisive battle, will we have a chance. ”

Napoleon looked at this deputy, who had fought with him for several years, a typical military man who obeyed the orders of a politician, regardless of whether the other side made a ridiculous decision or not.

Strong and reliable, and doesn't let your guard down when everything goes well.

Strong execution. We will not be discouraged and weak in times of difficult times.

Indeed, a respectable military man.

"You're right, we only have a chance if we have a decisive battle." Kleber eventually took his tattered boots with him. Seriously gave Napoleon a military salute. "For the French Republic!"

Napoleon, however, was a more brilliant general, and he saw farther than others: "But I fear that General Nelson will not give us even such an opportunity, for he is a man who never falls for it." ”

All the French generals had different expressions on their faces, some heavy. But there are also those who are skeptical.

For example, Kleber: "He is indeed amazingly astonishingly astute, but he is only a naval admiral after all, and the battle of the Nile Estuary, it is only because our navy is too conservative that he will be completely annihilated." On land. If you want to defeat us, you can't just get caught in the trick. ”

Napoleon didn't explain anything, and he didn't want to hurt morale too much, in fact he wouldn't have even touted Nelson today, if it weren't for the means of boosting morale.

He pulled out a small note and handed it to his men: "Nelson is certainly no match for us, especially when he has to work with teammates like Osman. Before they slowly study how to proceed together, we will go to Thebes, where the tomb of an ancient pharaoh is being excavated, and it seems that a Mr. Bourbon is still being excavated. ”

"What?!" The French officers were surprised, they passed the note and were more surprised, "He killed General Menois?" He also found the Copts in Egypt as allies to dig up the pharaoh's treasures from the tombs of the ancient pharaohs?! ”

"Damn the church again, these priests are counter-revolutionaries!" There were priests of Ciric in the French army, but none of them could participate in such high-level meetings, so several of the most revolutionary-minded generals scolded without hesitation.

Both the goddess of love and beauty, Tyr, the goddess of justice, and Ancavantra, the goddess of change, provided some priests, but they were all insufficient, and the power of the Revolution was not entirely consistent with their creed.

"But if the news is reliable, then things like Pharaoh's scepter and pure gold armor might really help us." Kleber analyzed.

Berthier looked at Napoleon, and the other nodded.

However, Berthier triumphantly explained: "The information is, of course, infallible, and not only have the informants provided several key information, but their position is also unquestionable, and they are allies of freedom, equality, and fraternity." ”

…………

Wu Bourbon-Xin now had enough men, and Muhammad Ali was relieved of most of his posts by Murad Bey, and at this time he was making a meritorious service with his only remaining company, digging under the scorching sun under Wu Xin's command.

Wu Xin, of course, was under the parasol, enjoying the gentle service of several ladies, who fanned him with a fan made of papyrus and shoved the peeled grapes into his mouth.

Delia was still wearing heavy armor in the scorching sun, and together with Muhammad Ali, she did not dig with their hands, but they endured the scorching sun together.

"I'm sure Sibo doesn't like those women, they can't compare to you, Bishop Delia." Muhammad Ali didn't have any opinion on Wu Xin's happiness, but he still felt that he should take advantage of this matter and drive a wedge between Wu Xin and Delia. "It was Murad Beyi who gave him all the women, and if he refused, it would make people suspicious, I believe that His Excellency Sibo must be helpless, he is not disloyal to you."

These women were all the wives of Ahabi Beyi, and of course Murad Beyi agreed to Wu Xin to take over his daughter, and because his daughter was on the other side of the Red Sea, he asked the other women of the former son-in-law to take good care of his future son-in-law on his daughter's behalf.

How thoughtful! How enlightened!

Of course, Ms. Mesadir was among them, and she was pounding Wu Xin's legs.

She thumped her leg and gave Delia a defiant look.

Wu Xin, who was "helpless", rolled in the pile of fat powder, couldn't see anyone at all, and could only occasionally hear his happy voice.

"Huh! How could I care about such a trivial matter, I would not have had any unrealistic hope for such a low life as you men. Delia sneered and took out a piece of paper from the Bible and gave it to Muhammad Ali. Look at it and you'll understand. (To be continued.) )