Cooperation and exploitation

"Your Highness, the first two points you mentioned are very reasonable. I can now make a promise to you on behalf of my father."

Rabia then feigned a troubled expression. "However, matters concerning the Port of Bizerte are beyond the authority my father granted me."

Before Joseph could say anything, she immediately added, "But if you could provide some financial support, I'm confident I could persuade Father."

"Furthermore, your funding will help us defeat Hamud Ali much faster, wouldn't you say?"

Joseph smiled and nodded, saying:

"Alright then, I'll provide another 2 million livres for military expenses to Younis Pasha. However, since it's military expenses, this money will only be paid after I've seen his army."

Two million?! A look of greed and surprise flashed in Rabia's eyes.

Although she had some reservations about the payment time, she figured it might be because the Crown Prince of France lacked confidence in his father's influence, so she accepted it.

She immediately shouted:

"You will soon see the army that will satisfy you!"

Afterwards, Joseph discussed some details of the "cooperation" with her, and then asked Joanne to take her to the guest room next door to rest, so that they could return to Algiers early the next morning.

After settling Rabia in, Consul Joanne immediately returned to Joseph's office, bowing somewhat anxiously and saying:

"Your Highness, I am not questioning your decision, but my duty requires me to offer you the advice I should. I have had contact with Younis before. He is absolutely an ambitious and extremely cunning man."

"You have provided him with substantial support, including weapons and millions of dollars, but it is difficult to guarantee that he will keep his promises or not collude with other forces."

"Perhaps you should send some troops to keep an eye on him, to ensure we get what we deserve."

Joseph gave him an admiring look:

"Thank you very much for your suggestion; your concerns are clearly valid. However, I've never truly trusted that Younis."

"Ah?"

Joseph smiled and gestured for him to sit down:

"You know, Mr. Younis once rebelled against his own father, and only fled to Algiers after being defeated. If he could betray even his own father, what chance would he have against anyone else?"

Joanne nodded repeatedly.

Joseph continued, "Furthermore, are you aware of Younis's other identity?"

"You mean Algiers' biggest smuggler?"

Joseph shook his head. "Smuggling is just his cover; in reality, he's a major shareholder behind the Algiers pirates."

Previously, the fact that the United States Charles had bought pirate intelligence from Younis's smugglers had already made Joseph suspicious of Younis.

He's just a smuggler, yet he knows the pirates' sea routes inside and out—that's clearly suspicious.

Joseph then ordered the Police Intelligence Division to investigate Younis in more detail, which revealed that he himself was involved in the pirate business.

This is also why he was able to gain a certain degree of freedom in Algiers —by investing in pirate forces and influencing the Algiers Parliament, he ultimately obtained the privilege of living in the Dakhla region. Of course, for Younis, this was simply a collaboration with the Algiers Navy.

Joanne exclaimed in surprise, "He's actually a pirate?!"

"That's right. Younis's fleet usually smuggles goods from the United Kingdom back to Tunisia, but if they encounter a suitable target along the way, the Smuggling Ship immediately turn into Pirate Ship. In fact, it's not hard to find out about him in Dakhla."

"Oh, that lady Rabia was a ruthless pirate leader. She sold 'white slaves' in Algiers many times. I even suspect that the 'white slaves' she gave as gifts were ones she herself had kidnapped from the Europe coast."

Joanne suddenly remembered something and asked:

"But, Your Highness, I heard that the United States got his intelligence on the pirates from Younis's men. If Younis is involved with the pirates, then why would he...?"

"It's a power struggle between pirate factions," Joseph chuckled. "Younis belongs to the outsider faction, and they've been openly and covertly fighting with the local Algiers. He's using the Combined Fleet to strike at his rival."

Joanne nodded silently. Knowing Younis as he did, the latter was absolutely capable of doing such a thing.

Joseph smiled and looked at him:

"Look at him, how can I trust someone who would betray even his own accomplices at any time to cooperate with him?"

Joanne asked in confusion:

"Then why do you support his return to Tunisia?"

He looked up and saw the Crown Prince smiling without saying a word. Realizing he had spoken out of turn, he quickly bowed and said:

"Oh, I'm very sorry, Your Highness, this is not something I should be asking."

Tunisia.

Kashir Palace.

A woman in her early twenties, with a slender figure and features that clearly resembled Greece, turned back and forth in front of the mirror, admiring her French-style clothing—custom-made in Arabia style, of course.

She was Hafsa, the most beloved wife of Tunisian Beihamud Ali.

"Inam, isn't this color a bit too dark?" she asked the maid beside her. "I remember I also ordered a light-colored one."

"Yes, Your Excellency." Before the maid could answer, the tailor's assistant, who was serving nearby, eagerly approached, "You mean this one?"

"Okay, help me change."

Just as the maid Inam took the long dress and turned around, the female assistant slipped a note into Hafsa's hand.

The latter frowned slightly, glanced at the maids, and saw that they were busy unfolding the complicated long dress. He quickly unfolded the note.

When she saw the distinctive cross-shaped mark on the note, she quickly crumpled it into a small ball, swallowed it, and then whispered to her female assistant:

"Who gave you this?"

The latter also answered in a low voice:

"It's your fashion designer. He's outside the hall."

Hafsa nodded, casually tried on the new dress, and hurriedly went outside the palace, where she saw a young man respectfully bowing to her.

"Mr. Zaganos, is it? I'm very satisfied with your dress." Hafsa adopted an arrogant demeanor, deliberately walking away from the Guard. "I'd like to have a few more dresses made for formal occasions."

"Ah! It's my honor!" Zaganos hurriedly followed, head bowed. If Joanne were here, she would definitely recognize him at a glance as Agent Ishaq from the Police Intelligence Division.

Hafsa whispered:

What's wrong with him?

Ishaq glanced back at the Guard and said in a barely audible voice, "A Rebellion is imminent."

"What? Is it related to him?!"

"Don't worry, he's safe," Ishaq said. "However, he asked me to tell you that you should find a suitable time to inform Bey about this."

"Huh? Why?"

"You'll learn the specifics later. For now, just remember to inform Bey of the Rebellion within seven days. Oh, and there are some clues you can use..."

"Yes, the style will definitely be in line with current trends." Ishaq and several Guard passed by, he spoke loudly and vaguely, then hurriedly whispered, "Madam, this is the important part. After the war starts, you must persuade Bey as soon as possible to..."

Hafsa's expression remained calm, but her heart was in turmoil as she tried her best to memorize every word "Zaganos" uttered.

After the latter finished speaking, she hurriedly interjected, "Tell him I'll take care of it. Tell him to be careful."

"Yes, madam."

Algiers.

North Sea of Dakhla.

As dusk settled, in a three-story palace entirely white, with tall columns and onion-shaped spires, a troop of Guard Corps in orange robes arrived before the gilded arched door. The leading officer politely knocked on the door.

"Lord Younis, is there anything I can do for you?"

It was called an order, but it was really just a routine inspection. Such inspections were conducted three times a day, morning, noon, and evening.

Although Younis had close ties with the Algiers Navy, he was also a "cash cow" for the Algiers Guard Corps.

More than 20 years ago, the brothers Muhammad ibn al- Hussein and Hamud Ali, with the help of the Algiers Guard Corps, returned to Tunisia and seized the throne from Bey.

According to the pre-agreed "troop borrowing fee," Tunisia will pay the Algiers Guard Corps an annual tribute of 50,000 Riyal.

Younis, as leverage to blackmail Tunisia's Bey into making timely payments, was "protected" by the Algiers' Imperial Guard.

However, Younis was quite influential and managed to get in touch with the navy, which forced the Guard Corps to allow him to live freely in Dakhla, but he was absolutely forbidden from leaving the area.

There was no response from inside, so the officer raised his voice:

"Lord Younis, are you asleep?"

After being asked three times, the officer showed a strange expression, exchanged a glance with another officer, and ordered the soldiers to break down the gilded gate.

The house was empty.

The officer was alarmed and hurriedly blew his wooden whistle. Immediately, fifty or sixty Guard Corps soldiers rushed in from all directions.

"He's missing! Search for him!"

Within ten minutes, the soldiers reported that not only Younis himself, but also his son, two daughters, and personal Servant had all disappeared from the palace.

The bodies of four Imperial Guard Corps on patrol were also recovered.

The officer turned pale with fright and jumped onto his horse to report to his superiors.

Soon, more Guard Corps arrived and blocked off all the nearby roads, while cavalry pursued them toward the port—as long as Younis didn't leave the port, there was still hope.

In the darkness, more than twenty horses galloped madly toward the port of Dakhla. Given the Algiers Guard Corps' low response efficiency, this was the only number of cavalry that could be mobilized in such a short time; many more officers and soldiers were still at home, not even properly dressed.

About twenty minutes later, the cavalrymen finally saw the faint glow of torches in the distance.

The officer in charge spurred his horse, drew his Saber, and shouted, "Prepare to intercept! Note: anyone who dares to resist, except Younis, will be killed on the spot!"

"Yes!"

As they drew closer to the seven or eight horses ahead, suddenly a row of dense firelight flashed in the night, followed by a series of loud "bangs".

Three Algiers Guard Corps fell from their horses in alarm, while the others, terrified, pulled on their reins and scattered to the sides.

"It's Musket. There's an ambush, be careful!"

"What should we do? There seem to be quite a few of them..."

"Younis has run far away!"

"I know! Saikeli, go back and get some people! Piri, you go check out the situation!"

"I... yes, sir!"

Meanwhile, after firing one shot, Prosper of the Police Intelligence Division immediately ordered his men to mount their horses and head towards the port in the dark.

They had only 14 people in total—almost all the Police Intelligence Division Algiers.

They didn't know how many pursuers they would face, and they only hoped that they could use the darkness to scare the enemy by firing two guns at the same time.

It was more than ten minutes later when the Algiers Guard Corps discovered that the ambushers had already left.

Meanwhile, Younis had already arrived at the port.

The Algiers pursuers split up, with some heading straight for the port's fortifications, while others went to notify the navy to send ships to intercept them.

Before long, a naval galley spotted a Sloop moving. At this time, it was unusual for anyone to be out at sea.

They immediately issued a warning, but the Sloop accelerated and headed towards the open sea.

On the galley, the Algiers Navy officer ordered the cannons to be loaded and issued a final warning to the Sloop. At the same time, the nearby gun emplacements, having received the signal, were ready to destroy the Sloop at any moment.

Just then, a colossal figure suddenly appeared in the darkness, like a prehistoric beast lying on the sea.

Before the Algerians ' galley could react, a series of flames spewed from the huge black shadow, followed by several columns of water several meters high shooting up in front of the galley, causing it to shake violently.

"Yes, it's Warship!" the galley commander exclaimed in shock, then hurriedly ordered his men, "Retreat! Retreat immediately!"

He could clearly feel that those shells were at least 24 pounds. If he had been hit by one, his light patrol boat would likely have been torn in two.

That "behemoth" at sea was none other than the French Navy's Fourth-rate Battleship, the "Advance"!

Seeing the galley rapidly retreating, the "Forward" also turned slightly, turning its port side toward the shore gun emplacements, and soon unleashed a volley of fire.

In reality, naval guns could hardly inflict substantial damage on the fortifications, especially since the United Kingdom had just reinforced them for Algiers and added many large-caliber heavy guns. In a direct confrontation, even Fourth-rate Ship, let alone First-rate Ship, would be no match for these fortifications.

However, the tremors caused by shells hitting the fort, along with the dazzling gunfire and terrifying roar in the night, terrified the Algiers gunners, who, unable to aim properly, haphazardly lit the ignition Gunpowder.

Most of the shells from the British cannons landed about half a nautical mile from the HMS Forward. Meanwhile, Younis's Sloop had already reached the French Frigate.

Several ropes were thrown down from the frigate. Younis immediately leaped up, grabbed the knots, and climbed up.

France Sailor dragged Younis's family and Police Intelligence Division onto the ship and immediately set sail for the open sea.

Behind them, the Algiers Navy finally reacted, with oarsmen on seven or eight Warship rowing frantically while the sails slowly rose.

However, the gunfire from the "Advance" quickly forced them to scatter and take cover—these light Warship, with a maximum of only 18 guns, were no match for the "Advance's" 60-gun arsenal. They couldn't even defeat the escort ships responsible for picking up people in shallow waters.

The two France warships sailed straight north, and after entering the deep sea, they immediately implemented a blackout, disappearing from sight on the dark sea.

(End of this chapter)