Chapter 1560: Chapter 1466: Guiding the King of Egypt

"Baron Trudeun has done an excellent job." Joseph nodded and instructed Lavallette, "Then please accelerate the follow-up plan."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Director of Security responded, then hesitated, "Your Highness, however, the Minette Ironworks and Gregoire Brothers Steel Company have some complaints about reducing sales to Northern Germany. I’m concerned they might not strictly comply."

According to the plan, France’s ironworks need to cede part of the market to Prussia’s "steel industry boom."

But these two companies have significant sales in the North German Countries, and the French Government cannot openly issue a ban. If they continue to sell secretly, there is nothing anyone can do.

Joseph sighed, "Tell them not to focus solely on low-end markets. Also, the Ministry of Finance will provide them with part of the subsidy funds."

This time, just the over two million francs Baron Trudeun "earned" from the Prussian Queen is enough to subsidize all French companies for their losses in the North German market.

Moreover, what they’re being asked to forgo is only part of the low-end market, which isn’t very profitable.

Joseph finished speaking and remembered something, "By the way, where is Charles now?"

After experiencing emotional distress in Berlin, Charles barely managed to complete his "inspection of Essen’s armaments" and couldn’t wait to return to Paris.

"By calculating the time, he should be near the Rhine River soon, Your Highness."

"He’s not in a good state, is he?"

"Um, it seems so, Your Highness."

Joseph thought and instructed, "Don’t let him return to Paris, send him directly to Brest instead."

He then gestured to Eman at the door, "Please help me draft a letter inviting Princess Mary Elizabeth to Brest to attend the ’White Sand Beach Food Festival.’

Marie Elizabeth William is the Baden Princess, 18 years old, cheerful, easygoing, and very beautiful, making her Queen Mary’s ideal choice for Charles’ wife.

Joseph honestly didn’t know how to comfort his brother this time, so he decided to leave him with their mother, who was vacationing in Brest. Surely, she’s good at handling such complex emotional issues.

As for Princess Mary Elizabeth, the hope was that Charles would like her and thus forget his previous heartbreak.

"Yes, Your Highness." Eman was about to turn around but suddenly hesitated, "Your Highness, I’ve never heard of the ’White Sand Beach Food Festival.’

"Hmm, it hasn’t been started yet. But we can start preparing now."

Joseph certainly couldn’t let the Baden Princess go to Brest and catch crabs with his mom, so he could only hastily invent a food festival.

Having Charles and the Baden Princess attend could quickly raise the festival’s fame, possibly even becoming a signature tourist event for Brest in the future.

Having finished discussing Prussia’s issues, Lavallette continued, "Your Highness, there is also news received yesterday from Mr. Delate from Cairo.

"Najd has a tribe called Diriyah, currently leading troops besieging Mecca City.

"Muhammad Ali seems to want to take this opportunity to send troops to occupy Gaza and the Sinai area. However, his current military budget is limited, so he might propose a loan from our country."

Gaza, which later became known as Gaza and its surrounding area, connects North Africa and Central Asia.

After occupying this place, they’ll be able to drive straight into the Ottoman Empire’s "money bag" in the Levant area.

Joseph wondered, "What is the background of this Diriyah tribe?"

The Director of Security quickly replied, "Your Highness, they originate from the Aliz area, the current chieftain named Saud Bin Abdul Aziz. After forming an alliance with the Wahhabi movement, he declared himself Imam and quickly unified tribes in Southeast Najd and Hijaz.

"According to intelligence collected by Mr. Delate, Saud currently has around 30,000 troops."

Joseph understood immediately; it was Saud.

Historically, he indeed occupied Mecca at one point and later another holy city, Medina.

Lavallette continued, "Your Highness, Mr. Delate believes that the Ottoman Empire currently finds it challenging to muster enough forces to handle wars in both the Hijaz and Gaza directions. If we provide support to the Egyptians, we should gain considerable benefits after their victory."

Joseph, however, shook his head firmly, "No, immediately command Mr. Delate to ensure Muhammad Ali does not wage war against the Ottoman Empire."

Lavallette asked no further questions, only bowed, "Yes, Your Highness."

After the Director of Security left, Joseph called Talleyrand over, instructing the Foreign Ministry to promptly send an envoy to Egypt and provide thorough instructions.

...

Half a month later.

In Egypt, at Ablaq Palace, Muhammad Ali looked in surprise at the French envoy Pello sitting across the carpet, "Are you certain this is the wish of the Regent King?"

Previously, French liaison officer Delate advised Egypt not to attack Gaza, which he grudgingly understood.

But just now, this envoy brought a new suggestion from the Regent, which suggested he proactively propose to Constantinople that Egypt "station troops" to repel the Diriyah tribesmen invading the Holy City.

Pello nodded, "His Highness sent me here to remind you that, although the Saud army’s numbers seem large, their actual combat effectiveness is very weak.

"Just suppressing the resistance of the tribes around Mecca will exhaust most of their energy.

"If you rashly attack Gaza, you will be facing the Ottoman Army alone."

Muhammad Ali said nothing, but his eyes were full of disbelief.

He, being so close to the Arab Peninsula, didn’t have such detailed understanding of the Saud army.

Pello glanced at his expression and said coolly, "You can completely trust our nation’s intelligence capabilities."

Well, all intelligence on this front came from the oral account of the Regent King.

Joseph remembers that historically, the Saud army, without Ottoman interference, took five full years to advance from Mecca to Medina.

Expecting them to join Egypt in attacking the Ottoman Empire? That’s purely wishful thinking.

Pello continued, "If you lead your army to recapture Mecca, the rewards will be much greater.

"First of all, you can request the Sultan to appoint you as the Governor of Egypt. Many issues in Egypt will be easier to resolve in the future.

"Secondly, the Sultan will definitely allocate you substantial military funding and most of the logistical supplies you need. You actually only need to send 20,000 troops to defeat the Diriyah people.

"Finally, recapturing the Holy City will bring you great prestige."

As he spoke, Muhammad Ali’s brow gradually relaxed.

Indeed, if the French intelligence is accurate, he will undoubtedly be caught in a fierce battle. Although Egypt has developed well under his leadership in recent years, it still pales in comparison to the mighty Ottoman Empire.