Conditions

"Mr. Envoy, what do you mean by 'win-win'?" Selim III asked with great interest. Clearly, due to the distance from France, his understanding of "win-win" was still rooted in the era when the France and the still-powerful Ottoman Empire fought side-by-side.

"You will regain de facto control over the Barbary region, gaining the right to send officials there and collect taxes. And we, France, will gain one or two ports there, as well as the right to mine resources in these areas," Saint-Mélan replied. "Your Majesty, you know that the Pashas of Barbary now rely primarily on piracy for income. Piracy is becoming increasingly outdated, as the navies of Europe nations are no longer what they used to be. The Barbary Pirates' fleet is no longer capable of engaging the Europe navy in direct combat. This business will become increasingly unsustainable for them. In fact, according to our intelligence, their economic situation is not good."

Your Majesty, making a fortune through robbery is unsustainable. Sustainable development depends on normal trade. North Africa is so vast, it must have many mineral resources. Through such trade, both sides can gain more benefits.

Your Majesty, in this plan, you only need to order the Pashas of the various Barbary kingdoms to come to Your Majesty's court. Once they come, you can find some pretext—these fellows have accumulated countless problems over the years; not to mention their unpaid contributions to your country, that's a ready-made issue, isn't it? You can then detain them, strip them of their Pasha titles, and send new, loyal Pashas to regain control of the Barbary region. We will provide you with various forms of assistance, including fighting alongside your army.

Of course, I estimate that these Pashas will not come at all. Their disloyalty is already common knowledge. At this time, Your Majesty can order the stripping of their Pasha titles and the suppression of the rebellion. As Your Majesty's ally, our country will naturally stand on Your Majesty's side without hesitation and help Your Majesty defeat the rebels. Your Majesty can also use these rebel territories to reward your truly trusted ministers.

I believe Your Majesty has also realized that the world has been changing and developing rapidly in recent years. In comparison, and if I may be frank, the great Turkey has lost its former prestige. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have been striving for reform. We, France, as Turkey's traditional ally, also hope to see Turkey revitalized. However, if I may be frank, within your country, there are considerable forces that do not support, and even oppose, your reforms. You also need new honors, new territories, new official positions, and wealth to encourage and attract more people to be loyal to you and support your reforms."

In the original history, Selim III saw the decline of Turkey and attempted to reform the Turkey system. However, his reforms threatened the interests of many people, ultimately leading to a rebellion by the Turkey's Janissaries. He was deposed and became the only Sultan in Turkey history to die by the sword.

When the rebellion broke out, the conservatives naturally took the opportunity to massacre the reformers. Then, the reformers outside Istanbul, angered by this, returned with their troops and again slaughtered the conservatives. After this chaotic war, Turkey was severely depleted and weakened, even to the point where it was being utterly defeated by its subordinate Pasha.

Selim III certainly couldn't agree to such a significant issue immediately; he needed to discuss it thoroughly with his subordinates. However, Saint-Mélan believed that the Turkey would support the plan, at most engaging in some haggling with the France over the distribution of profits. But overall, if you asked them whether they supported it, they would definitely say yes.

Don't assume that the supreme Sultan truly represents the interests of the entire green world. No one has that kind of representation. Even Selim III, let alone representing the entire green world as he claims, couldn't even represent all of Turkey. He could only represent Turkey and the group of people surrounding him.

For both the Sultan himself and the reformists surrounding him, more benefits were needed to unite their people and strengthen their power in order to overwhelm their opponents. If Selim III, as the leader of this group, chose to give up such benefits, it would only alienate his subordinates.

Moreover, the France aren't actually in a hurry, because fighting before the Olympic Games is certainly not out of the question. After all, France has established a "ceasefire for the Olympics," and they can't very well ruin it themselves. After all, at this point, the person ruling France isn't Trump. And France hasn't declined to the point where it needs to sell its soft power for money.

Preparations for the Olympic Games are progressing smoothly. The main venue is now basically completed, and some secondary venues are nearing completion. France athletes have also begun acclimatization training at some venues.

Meanwhile, at Napoleon's place, Pauline was arguing with Napoleon.

"What? You want to participate in the Olympic Games? No way, no way!" Napoleon shook his head like a rattle-drum. "Pauline, can't you be normal? The Olympic Games have always been for men only. Women don't even have the right to watch. Now we've... sigh, it's all that bastard Joseph's fault, it's all that bastard's fault for spoiling you!"

While cursing Joseph the bastard viciously, Napoleon reiterated his firm stance. "In short, Pauline, there's no room for negotiation, absolutely no room for negotiation!"

"Napoleon, don't spout nonsense if you're not well-educated! Women did compete in the ancient Olympic Games!" Pauline stood up defiantly, firmly slapping the label of ignorant and uneducated onto Napoleon's head.

"Damn it!" Napoleon exclaimed. "The ancient Olympic Games did have a women's race, but how many decent women could you find to race against? Do you want to race against a bunch of old ladies?"

"Oh, Napoleon, you even know that?" Pauline said in a deliberately surprised voice. "Then don't you know that Cynisca won the chariot race at the 96th Olympic Games? I think I'm no less capable than Cynisca, it's just that my brother isn't as open-minded as Cynisca's brother."

Cynisca was the sister of Agesilaus II, King of Sparta. At that Olympic Games, she disguised herself as a man to compete. The judges actually saw through her disguise, but everyone was afraid of her brother Agesilaus II, so they all said, "I saw nothing; it's a man!"

Everyone initially thought that with so many participants, Princess Cynisca was just one of many and most likely wouldn't win. They assumed she'd simply go home after the competition, and that would be the end of it—perfect! However, who knew that the Greece men of that year wouldn't do so well, allowing Princess Cynisca to actually snatch the championship. Later, the Greece erected a statue of this Sparta princess, inscribing on its base the following words: "I, Seneca, won the chariot race riding a raging steed. This statue is erected in my honor to prove that I am the only woman in all of Greece to have won this title, and I have no regrets for the praise I have received!"

Napoleon was naturally aware of this story. When Pauline brought it up, Napoleon was momentarily at a loss for words, so he asked:

"You also want to participate in equestrian competitions?"

"Hmm!" Pauline felt there was hope, and couldn't help but count on her fingers, "Speed racing, steeplechaser, pistol, rifle, skeet... I'm sure I can win more championships than Princess Cynisca!"

Napoleon's face darkened. After thinking for a long time, he resorted to his final trump card—the blame-shifting tactic. "My agreement alone isn't enough. You still need to go to Joseph. If he has no objections, then I have no objections either."

"Okay!" Pauline slammed her fist on her palm. "I'm going to find Joseph right now!"

After watching Pauline leave, Napoleon, his face contorted with rage, immediately ordered his adjutant, "Bring Lucien here! How dare he try to shift the blame onto me!"

That same evening, the same argument arose with Joseph.

"Pauline, I'm not going to argue with you about his principles. I'll just say one thing," Joseph said, frowning. "How old are you? Your sister is about to become a mother! Mom asks me every day when you're going to get married. It's unbelievable! She's even trying to find you a husband from one of my students or assistants. Hmm, the way you are now..."

What's wrong with me?

"Oh, I won't go into that. Anyway, there's still almost a year until the Olympic Games officially start. If you can find yourself a husband within that year, and he has no objections, then I have no objections. Otherwise, don't even think about it."

"Joseph, you're being unreasonable!"

"So what if I'm being unreasonable! I'm telling you, don't argue with me, hurry up and find yourself a husband, then the problem will be solved, right? Hurry up and don't waste any more time."

"Hmph!" Pauline turned and walked away angrily.

"Hey, Pauline!" Joseph called from behind.

"What?" Pauline turned around, fully expecting that Joseph might have changed his mind.

"Um..." Joseph paused, then said, "Pauline, there are two more things you must pay attention to. First, your husband, he must be a man; second, Mom doesn't want to see a divorce in our family."