Life of Being a Crown Prince in France - Chapter 1241 - 1146: Governor of Egypt

Chapter 1241: Chapter 1146: Governor of Egypt

At this time, over 10,000 of the Ottoman vanguard had just crossed the river, and the troops behind were crowded at the riverbank, preparing to board the boats, almost helplessly watching the approaching Mamluk cavalry.

Infantry without formation are as fragile as chicks in front of cavalry.

Three thousand cavalry held their horse sabers by their sides, and just by galloping through the crowd, they easily sliced through hundreds of bodies of the Yeniceri Guard.

In an instant, cries and screams covered the north bank of the Harazunig River.

Countless Ottoman soldiers scattered like headless flies, trying to avoid the sharp blades of the Mamluks, many jumped into the river, only to quickly sink.

Rauf, pale-faced, fled hastily towards Abo under the protection of the guards.

Ibrahim, on his side, also did not linger in battle. After dispersing the Ottoman Army’s formations, he immediately turned east in pursuit.

At the same time, nearly a thousand Mamluk cavalry appeared on the south bank of the Harazunig River, launching a fierce attack on the Ottomans who had just crossed the river.

Just as the Ottoman soldiers were preparing to jump into the river in panic, a series of low horn sounds came from the distance.

An officer picked up a telescope and looked west, instantly calling out excitedly: “It’s the Albanian Corps! We are saved!”

Muhammad Ali personally led 3,000 soldiers to hold off the Ottoman troops on the riverbank, firing flintlock guns at the charging Mamluk cavalry.

The Mamluk officers immediately feigned defeat as instructed by Abdullah, turning south to flee.

The Ottoman soldiers, having just witnessed the north bank’s tragedy, were so relieved at surviving that they nearly knelt before Muhammad Ali.

The entire riverbank was filled with excited shouts, “May the Lord bless our Muhammad Ali.”

“Thank you, sir, praise be to you…”

“It was the Albanian Corps that saved us…”

Muhammad Ali took the opportunity to order the 10,000 Yeniceri Guard to return to Cairo for rest, while he pretended to cover the rear, moving the guards to tears once again.

Abdullah, on the other hand, pursued Rauf’s nearly 20,000 retreating troops near Suez, only turning back due to logistical constraints.

Massena’s army also entered Cairo City, handing over nearly 10,000 captured Halqa infantry to Muhammad Ali.

After resting for a week, they retreated from Egypt via Alexandria as per the previous agreement with France, leaving only over 300 Egyptian expedition team members and geological surveyors behind.

Indeed, Joseph wasn’t at all worried about Muhammad Ali betraying them.

Because he wanted Ali to betray.

Or rather, with Ali’s character and abilities, it was impossible for him to settle for just being the Governor of Egypt. Only by rebelling would France have the legitimate opportunity to intervene in the Egyptian situation at the behest of the Ottoman Empire.

Of course, during his initial unstable footing, he would definitely rely on France’s secret support, giving Joseph enough time to recoup the costs.

In fact, Joseph was unaware that, on a French transport ship returning from Egypt, it was full of gifts sent by Muhammad Ali, valued around 3 million francs—most of which were offerings from the Mamluk Nobles, of which he sent over seventy percent to his French friends.

After paying for the military expenses of this operation, there was still a substantial leftover.

Subsequently, Muhammad Ali began handling Cairo’s daily governmental affairs at the Governor’s Palace.

His first action was announcing a pardon for all Mamluk officers and soldiers.

Abdullah immediately, according to previous agreements, led his men back to Cairo to surrender. This was also one of the major reasons the Mamluks accepted the conditions laid out by the French—they helped Muhammad Ali drive away Rauf, and Ali must offer them compensation. This way, they could preserve their current interests as much as possible.

Of course, they completely underestimated the ruthlessness of this small Albanian officer.

Historically, after Muhammad Ali completely gained control over Egypt, he wiped out the middle and upper ranks of the Mamluks in one banquet.

Then, Ali secretly contacted religious forces.

Previously, the Mamluk class had too much dominance in Egypt, even forcing clerics to pay taxes to them.

Ali promised a few of the most influential clerics that in the future, he would ban the Mamluks from taxing religious figures.

These clerics immediately pledged their full support to him.

Finally, Ali also implemented some tax reductions.

Although the reduction was not substantial, it still made the lower echelons of Egyptian society grateful to him.

With the Church’s propaganda, Egypt was full of praises for their “new Governor” Muhammad Ali.

Constantinople.

Salem III strolled along the gravel path in the garden, his face unable to hide his smile.

After being out of Ottoman control for over a hundred years, Egypt was finally back in their hands, and he only had to declare renouncing the claim on Algiers.

Algiers was too far from the Ottoman heartland, without any land connection, its significance to the Empire was merely the annual tribute of several hundred thousand Acek, and required offering trade benefits to Algiers in return.

Whereas Egypt was not only extremely wealthy but also adjacent to the core area of the Empire, very convenient for governance.

Swapping Algiers for Egypt, this deal was simply too profitable, how could he not be happy?

He turned to the Grand Vizier Izett by his side: “The last time the position of Defterdar wasn’t given to the Badreya family, so let Nadine Badreya take the position of Governor of Egypt.”

Izett promptly responded with a bow: “Yes, Your Majesty. He indeed is the most suitable candidate.”

Salem III further asked: “By the way, what about this Muhammad Ali? He has made significant contributions this time; what would be an appropriate reward for him?”

The reports he received stated that after Rauf’s main force was repelled, Ali swiftly seized the opportunity of Cairo’s lack of defense, decisively disregarded Rauf’s timid retreat order, and decisively captured Cairo City.

Then Ali proceeded to the Harazunig River, defeating the Mamluks’ last struggle, saving tens of thousands of Rauf’s troops.

It could be said that without him, the Egyptian battlefield’s outcome would have been unpredictable.

Izett gave it some thought and suggested: “Your Majesty, considering his previous merits in quelling the rebellion and his actions in attacking Wallachia, along with his performance in Egypt this time, perhaps he could serve as Governor of Albania?”

Salem III shook his head: “His influence in Albania is too significant; it would be hard to control in the future.”

“Then, let him…”

As Izett was speaking, the Court Chief approached, handing two reports to the Sultan: “Your Majesty, these just arrived from Egypt. They seem to be signed by the Grand Cleric of Cairo and over a hundred Mamluk Nobles.”