Open Conspiracy

Joseph read the report about the two United Kingdom Spy with remarkable calm—he might actually feel uneasy if the United Kingdom didn't stir things up. 🏆♤ ☯♗

The Spy was apprehended by Ishaq himself, leading the team.

Because the intelligence was so detailed, the two men didn't even have time to commit suicide before they were knocked unconscious by Tunisia agents.

Ishaq also found a lot of useful documents at the two men's secret residence, which allowed him to confirm their identities Spy without much interrogation.

"Besides their origin from the British Naval Intelligence Bureau, is there any other useful information?" Joseph put down the thin report and looked at Ishaq.

Ishaq said with some helplessness, "Your Highness, those two only received orders; they didn't even know who the officer who gave the orders was. Then they were crammed onto a merchant ship and landed in Port of Tunisia as Italy merchants."

Joseph shook his head helplessly. "Send them back to Paris, let Talleyrand take them to the United Kingdom, and squeeze as much profit as you can. Oh, and it would be best to get Jeanne back; Her Majesty the Queen would be very happy."

He knew very well that, given the British Government's thick skin, even with conclusive evidence, they would vehemently deny that this was one of their own Spy. If they couldn't deny it any longer, they would at most pay some money to ransom him.

As the central figure in the Affair of the Diamond Necklace [Note 1], Jeanne had been hiding in the United Kingdom, and Queen Mary would get furious whenever she mentioned her. Using two Spy to please his mother and at the same time save face for France was more worthwhile than asking for some money.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Ishaq accepted the order and left, but returned less than ten minutes later, bowing solemnly and saying, "Your Highness, intelligence has just arrived from Tripoli. Four days ago, over ten thousand Ottoman Army landed in Tripoli and announced that Benjiul would be appointed as the Pasha."

Joseph frowned immediately. The earlier reinforcement of Morocco's troops to Algiers didn't seem to indicate anything, but almost at the same time, an Ottoman force of tens of thousands appeared to the east of Tunisia, with the United Kingdom troops present on both sides. This was definitely not a simple matter.

His immediate thought was to write to Paris, requesting the General Staff Headquarters to send reinforcements to Tunisia in case of unforeseen circumstances.

However, just as he picked up the pen and paper, he suddenly paused.

The United Kingdom were not fools; they would never have believed that just over 20,000 North Africa troops, plus 10,000 Ottoman Army, could shake France's foundation in Tunisia. With the fighting strength of these troops, France only needed to send an additional 20,000 soldiers to make Tunisia impregnable.

So, what exactly are the United Kingdom trying to do?

Joseph looked at the Mediterranean Sea map on the wall and narrowed his eyes slightly. Although Toulon is only more than 400 nautical miles from Tunisia, it still separates the two sides of the Mediterranean Sea.

Even if only 20,000 French Army were sent to Tunisia, the logistical costs would be no different from those of overseas garrisons. Given Tunisia's current situation, not to mention the large number of indigenous tribes owing taxes, even if tax revenue were normal, supporting 20,000 troops would severely impact the economy.

As for a swift and decisive victory, completely defeating Algiers and Tripoli is also unrealistic.

France is neither able nor willing to wage a major conflict in North Africa at present.

France's Finance have only just begun to improve, and various domestic reforms require substantial funding. At this juncture, deploying troops in North Africa could very well worsen the Finance situation once again.

Moreover, regardless of whether the French attack Algiers or Tripoli, the other side will attack Tunisia, leaving the French Army unable to defend both ends. Unless more troops are deployed, but that would place an even greater Finance burden on the country.

Even if France were to defeat both of these countries at any cost, it would be difficult to take them all. If France only occupied the small territory of Tunisia, the Europe countries wouldn't care too much. But if it included the two large countries of Algiers and Tripoli, it would be equivalent to taking over most of North Africa, an area far larger than mainland France, and controlling most of the Mediterranean Sea trade.

This was unacceptable to the major Europe powers. At this point, United Kingdom could form alliances and demand that France relinquish its interests in North Africa, or even directly send its fleet to intervene.

The British Parliament might not risk offending Russia and the United States and going against France for such a small area as Tunisia. But if it were most of North Africa, those United Kingdom MPs would not hesitate to grant Pitt the Younger. the authority to wage war.

Modern France is far from being a match for the United Kingdom in the Mediterranean Sea. Historically, the France had painstakingly built up their warships over a decade, and even with the combined efforts of the Spain and Dutch Navy, they were annihilated by the English Fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. How much more so now?

It would be even more unacceptable to commit a large number of troops to North Africa without occupying Algiers and Tripoli. The huge military expenditure would have nowhere to be recouped, which would inevitably lead to Finance in France and exacerbate domestic conflicts.

Therefore, the best-case scenario for France is to maintain a sizable army in Tunisia, thus wasting Tunisia's Finance revenue.

This means that Tunisia contributed very little to France for a long period of time.

Joseph unconsciously tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "The United Kingdom have pulled off a carefully orchestrated Open Conspiracy..."

Port of Lisbon, on the western side of the European Continent.

On the United Kingdom third-class Warship Colossus, having completed resupply and preparing to weigh anchor and set sail, there was a knock on the door of the officers' quarters. The voice of Lord Talmos, the newly appointed United Kingdom diplomatic envoy to the Maghreb nations, came from outside. "Your Excellency, news has just arrived from Constantinople."

"The door is open, please come in."

Lord Talmos entered the cabin and handed a confidential report to the United Kingdom Minister of Foreign Affairs Marquess Wellesley: "Hamid I is critically ill, and their Prime Minister Yusuf does not seem to have any intention of threatening Tunisia."

"In fact, according to information gathered by our inside agents, the Ottomans only wanted to use the Tripoli garrison to threaten the Mamluk officers in Egypt."

[Note 1] The Affair of the Diamond Necklace: In 1784, a fallen Nobility named Jeanne, upon learning that Archbishop de Rohan wanted to curry favor with Queen Mary, impersonated the Queen's maid and used forged letters from the Queen to deceive the Archbishop de Rohan, making him believe that Queen Queen was interested in him. Later, she even found a courtesan who resembled the Queen, dressed her up as the Queen, and met with Rohan in the dead of night to "confess their feelings."

After Rohan became convinced, Jeanne revealed to him that the Queen wanted to buy a diamond necklace worth 2 Livre, but didn't have enough money. So, without hesitation, Rohan paid the down payment himself, bought the necklace, and gave it to Jeanne to give to the Queen.

Jeanne and her husband immediately disassembled the necklace and sold it. The Queen only learned of the affair when the Jeweler came to collect the final payment. Subsequently, all those involved in the case were arrested.

But after Jeanne was arrested, she escaped from the Bastille in 1787 and was protected by the United Kingdom in London. She even wrote a book about her fraud to humiliate the French Royal Family.