These supplies were indeed nothing to the deep-pocketed United Kingdom.
But the United Kingdom also had more than thirty thousand troops fighting in Portugal.
And the colony they had newly occupied at the Cape of Good Hope was constantly being harassed by the Boers. To bolster its defenses, the East India Company had already invested more than three hundred thousand Pounds Sterling, while over four thousand English Army troops were tied down at the Cape.
On top of that, the English had thrown in a "grand gift package"—plunging headfirst into the Caribbean mess to stir up trouble.
Joseph could be certain that the United Kingdom now absolutely had no spare strength left to meddle in wars elsewhere.
That meant the plan he had prepared for so long could finally be put into action.
He quickly put on his coat and said to Eman, "Please have Mr. Berthier come see me at once."
By the time Joseph walked out through the gates of Versailles Palace, the Chief of Staff had hurried over.
Joseph gestured toward the carriage. "We'll talk on the way."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Nearby, Alexandra, dressed in a lavish pale-purple gown and wearing a Lobster Hat personally designed by Queen Mary, watched several ministers climb into the Crown Prince's carriage with a faintly aggrieved look. She could only turn and board the carriage behind it.
The convoy set off.
Joseph first had Talleyrand briefly explain the situation in various regions to Berthier, then continued, "Last month, the Kabylia Tribe withdrew into Annaba.
"Next, we will provide assistance to those Berbers who identify themselves as Romans.
"The General Staff Headquarters will dispatch four thousand men from the Tunis Legion to Annaba, and then proceed as follows...
"At the same time, send twenty thousand soldiers from the Directly Subordinate Legion to