Lightning Coal Company

In the early morning, Tipu Sultan, covered in blood and mud, returned to the city of Seringapatam with eight or nine hundred soldiers.

Yes, hundreds got lost on their way back. This was an extremely high rate of loss in the 18th century, without navigation or night vision equipment. It shows just how brave and skilled the Tiger of Mysore was.

However, his reckless gamble paid off—he destroyed most of the United Kingdom heavy artillery, allowing Mysore's army to once again remain behind their lines and use artillery to delay the English Army.

Before the United Kingdom arrived in Seringapatam, Mysore had already purchased a large quantity of Gunpowder and shells through the Morocco - Ottoman transport route, enough to power their cannons until winter.

According to the Marquis de Lafayette, the United Kingdom would definitely withdraw by the end of the rainy season.

Tipu Sultan firmly believed in his prophecy, which is why he fought so hard to hold off the English Army at the gates of Seringapatam.

With the fall of South Kanara on the West Coast, Mysore is finding it increasingly difficult to receive supplies from Morocco via the Gulf of Oman. If the United Kingdom can hold out until the end of the year, Mysore will have no choice but to abandon Seringapatam.

For more than a month afterward, the English Army army launched a series of extremely fierce attacks, but Tipu Sultan, relying on the defensive lines set up by Lafayette before his departure and his own bravery, repeatedly repelled the enemy. Although he suffered heavy casualties of tens of thousands of men, the seemingly crumbling Seringapatam was never breached.

Tipu Sultan frowned as he looked at the corpses of soldiers brought back from the front lines every day, and his fear and hatred of the United Kingdom grew stronger with each passing day.

Little did he know that at this time in history, the food supply in the city of Seringapatam had run out, the morale of the Mysore army was low, and they were about to be defeated.

At this time, he had ample Provisions and had only lost a few border provinces such as Vijayanagara and South Kanara. The core area of the kingdom remained largely intact, and the country's strength had not suffered much damage.

Compared to the Third Anglo-Mysore War in history, which resulted in the loss of the administrative center of Seringapatam and all the territory east of Mysore, this is incredibly good.

At the very least, if the United Kingdom were to demand Pound Sterling 3 million in reparations in exchange for withdrawing their troops, he would only say one word: Get out!

September is approaching.

The English Army offensive noticeably weakened.

The Marquess Wellesley contracted Malaria and was so feverish that he could barely get out of bed. His soldiers also fell ill in large numbers. In addition to Malaria, Dysentery was rampant in the army, and more than 20% of the soldiers were rendered unable to fight due to the disease.

Even more serious, unnamed diseases appeared in the military—sometimes those who contracted the disease would die within just three or four days, their bodies oozing blood.

The army doctor advised Wellesley not to feed the soldiers rice—he believed it was the main cause of Dysentery. But Wellesley couldn't do it, because that was the only food available in the English Army's Warehouse.

Although the auxiliary armies of the Indian Princely States did not suffer from widespread disease, their fighting strength was far from sufficient to threaten the Mysore.

The British Expeditionary Force ultimately could not survive the rainy season.

The commendation decree personally signed by His Majesty the King, along with the letter of appointment for promotion to Major General, lay on the table beside him. Wellesley struggled to sit up in bed, exchanging a silent glance with Cornwallis, who had come to visit him.

Gunpowder was running out, and new cannons were impossible to deliver, while the Mysore continued their relentless attacks. Both men knew that this war could only go so far.

"The Maratha can't even produce decent Gunpowder, otherwise a few more attacks might have been enough to defeat Tipu," Cornwallis sighed.

"Let Sir Xili go to Seringapatam," Wellesley waved his hand. "At least we can save Vijayanagara and Kanada."

Sir Xili was the East India Company's peace negotiator.

"And there's northern Chitradurga," Cornwallis added, "But the Mysore have also occupied Tiruchirappalli."

The two men looked at each other again, their eyes filled with helplessness. The East India Company had invested Pound Sterling 3.2 million and deployed thousands of Expeditionary Force, only to achieve this result.

London.

At Lady Mordaunt's salon, a man of ordinary appearance, but dressed in the latest trendy loose-fitting long coat, approached Mayor Mordaunt with a wine glass and a polite smile, "Your Excellency Mayor, it's such a pleasure to meet you here."

Mordaunt turned around, paused slightly, and then nodded. "Mr. Styler? Oh, we met at the City Hall last time."

I am very honored that you still remember me.

Styler's smile widened, and after another round of pleasantries, once everyone around the mayor had left, he stepped closer and said, "Lord Braveman should have mentioned our company's sincerity to you. What about the Gas Lamp project..."

Lord Braveman was someone DuPont had found. His main job was to help bribe United Kingdom officials, and he took a very low commission of only 2%, which was considered a great favor to DuPont.

Mordaunt simply smiled, neither confirming nor denying, and said, "You know, Parliament takes this Gas Lamp project in London very seriously. My report must contain enough persuasive points to convince the members before a decision can be made on who should undertake it."

Styler immediately replied, "Please rest assured, MP Mordaunt is very familiar with our company's strength, and he will definitely support us."

Mordaunt was a key figure in Parliament pushing for the London Gas Streetlight Project.

Mayor Mordaunt was quite surprised, not expecting that this little-known "Lightning Coal Company" could not only find Lord Braveman to act as an advocate, but also climb the social ladder through MP Mordaunt's connections.

If he wasn't exaggerating, then it might be worth considering accepting his "kindness."

"And there's Mr. Coffey's technical opinion letter; your company must obtain his approval before..."

Styler smiled and said, "His report should be submitted to you tomorrow or the day after, I assure you."

He could certainly guarantee it, because the technical head of the London Gas Streetlight Project had already received a bribe of Pound Sterling 2,500 from him and had even given him the plans for the London pipeline layout.

"Oh?" Mordaunt raised an eyebrow. "I'm truly surprised by your company's efficiency."

"Our company has invested heavily in the Gas Lamp project. You see, if we can't secure this contract, our shareholders will suffer huge losses," Styler said in a low voice. "Actually, the Pound Sterling 8,000 is negotiable."

The Pound Sterling 8,000 was the bribe he had promised Mordaunt, which was 200,000 Franc. There was still a considerable margin to go before reaching the authority granted to him by the Crown Prince.

This Lightning Coal Company was established in the United Kingdom with the help of DuPont. After completing all the necessary company records and receiving tens of thousands of Pound Sterling in investment, it was specifically designed to undertake London Gas Streetlight projects.

Currently, the company's apparent owner is a Scotland friend of DuPont, while the Company Manager Styler, was recommended by the France Minister of Commerce.