M'zab was a major tribe south of Algiers, with nearly seventy thousand people and a territory of more than eighty thousand square kilometers.
However, most of their land lay in the Sahara Desert. Only through an underground pipeline irrigation system built over centuries had they obtained a few oases capable of growing crops.
Joseph was not surprised by how cut off they were from information. The people here had spent their entire lives dealing only with Algiers and the Touggourt Tribe to the east. In their minds, Algiers was probably the most powerful tribe in existence.
Lavalette and Berthier exchanged glances before continuing, "Your Highness, should we send a force to M'zab?"
The Chief of Staff added, "Eight hundred Infantry will be enough."
Joseph had been about to nod when something suddenly occurred to him. He raised a hand. "No need. Since the M'zab people are so loyal to Algiers, let us grant their wish."
M'zab was almost entirely desert and had few natural resources, making it the perfect habitat for the Algiers Guard Corps. He immediately instructed Berthier, "Tell colonel Ney to leave a few 'gaps in the defenses' at the mountain passes east of Medea..." Medea lay south of Mitija, the capital of Algiers. Its territory was almost entirely occupied by the Atlas Mountains, with only a few passes at its westernmost edge leading south to El Oued, the city of M'zab.
At the Tunis Legion camp outside Mitija, Zhemile gloomily drank "fermented grape juice"—he was forbidden from drinking alcohol, so this was all he could have.
Just as he drained his eleventh cup, an officer entered his tent. Raising his hat to him, he smiled. "Colonel, colonel Ney invites you to attend tomorrow morning's ceremony welcoming His Excellency the Governor."
Zhemile glanced at the newcomer. He was