Kapitel 63: Chapter 63: The Anglo-Ottoman Alliance
"Shut up! Do you really think the general wants to seek those Brits' help? It's only because we can't defeat the French forces; our poor performance in battle is to blame. Otherwise, how could this have happened?"
"Alas, we are helpless!" All the frustration finally turned into a sigh.
As the sun rose from the sea, dark silhouettes soon appeared on the distant horizon: they were naval warships, with Nelson's fleet closing in fast. Before long, the massive bodies of several warships appeared at the horizon. As the ships drew nearer to the shore, their massive forms loomed ever larger.
"General, look at that ship flying the British Royal Flag—it's the flagship of the British fleet: HMS Victory! This warship has a displacement of an astonishing two thousand tons, with four decks and one hundred and twenty cannons. It was this very ship that defeated the French flagship, L'Orient," Hersh told Delamari, after spotting the British warships.
Hersh was an excellent staff officer, not only deeply familiar with the Turkish army but also knowledgeable about the military forces of other nations, both army and navy.
"120 cannons, the firepower on this single warship is equivalent to one-fifth of all the cannons in Turkey. And yet the British have more than one such warship. The current gap between Turkey and the top European nations is too great," Delamari observed, gazing at the majestic warship with a complex expression.
The strength of the British Navy filled Delamari with both envy and jealousy. As a man of strong patriotism, he dearly wished that this powerful naval fleet were Turkish.
"General, the British warships are almost here. Let's go and greet them," Hersh suggested, pulling Delamari out of his reverie.
Delamari nodded. Although seeking help was embarrassing, he had to admit that the British Navy was indeed formidable. Since defeating the Spanish over a hundred years ago, they had become the dominant power on the seas.
...
At sea, the British Mediterranean Fleet, still moving at high speed, was led by General Nelson aboard the HMS Victory. Alongside it sailed two cruisers and six frigates.
On the deck of the flagship HMS Victory, Vice Admiral Smith stood watching the approaching Turkish forces, a faint smile playing on his lips. "These proud Turkish camels are finally bowing to the mighty British Empire. Wouldn't it have been easier to do this earlier? Without our help, you could never defeat the French."
Aboard the HMS Victory, Smith, holding a naval telescope, watched the Turkish forces on land with disdain.
The battleship beneath his feet, though long since launched, remained a formidable force in the Mediterranean—this "bathtub" of a sea. Its 120 thirty-two-pound cannons possessed immense power, capable of decimating the French in a single volley.
"Enough, Smith. After all, we're here to defeat the French, and with Turkish help, our task will be lighter. So, when we meet the Turks, I expect you to show them respect," Nelson spoke to Smith. The Turkish alliance was crucial for Britain's dominance in the Mediterranean, and Nelson took this meeting very seriously, allowing no room for error.
"Rest assured, General Nelson, I remember," Smith nodded. Though proud, he was no fool and knew when to act appropriately.
As their conversation continued, the fleet neared the shore, preparing to dock.
A smaller warship soon arrived beside the HMS Victory to transfer Nelson and his party. Due to the lack of a suitable port, they had to resort to this method.
"General Delamari, good day! I am Nelson, commander of the British Empire's Mediterranean Fleet!"
Nelson approached Delamari, shaking his hand. Although Delamari was in need of his assistance, his military rank was technically higher than Nelson's, so Nelson still showed him considerable respect.
Indeed, Nelson knew how to handle the situation; Delamari's demeanor visibly softened after seeing Nelson's respectful approach, despite his initial reluctance.
Afterward, the group returned to Delamari's headquarters in Haifa, where all the Turkish military leaders were gathered. However, their expressions were grim. As soldiers, their sense of dignity was profound, and being forced to seek help from the British was a bitter pill to swallow, leaving them feeling dishonored.
Nelson noticed this but chose not to comment extensively. The failure of the Turks was an undeniable fact, a result of their nation's weakness—a scenario unlikely to occur under British command.
"Your Excellency, General Nelson, we hope your navy can cover our landing at Suez. This way, we can circumvent the French and strike at their supply line," Delamari began, explaining their strategic intent. "According to our intelligence, the French have established a lengthy supply line from Suez to Cairo. Destroying it would undoubtedly cripple the French army's combat effectiveness." Originally, Delamari intended to ask the British to deploy their marines to attack the French directly, but he hesitated, unable to voice the request.
Making such a demand would admit the utter incapability of the Turkish army. They had already become a laughingstock internationally; he could not afford to exacerbate this.
"That's entirely possible," Nelson nodded briskly, agreeing without hesitation. For the navy, such a task was neither difficult nor dangerous, essentially a trivial matter.
"Additionally, Your Excellency, we would like to request a few cannons from your navy, to enable us to counter the French artillery. Their artillery is overpowering, and our forces have suffered greatly, being completely overwhelmed in battle," Delamari continued.
Under circumstances where their artillery was at a disadvantage, any offensive by the Turkish army seemed akin to a suicidal mission. Therefore, they hoped to gain support from the British by borrowing several large cannons from the British ships, allowing them to engage Napoleon in artillery warfare again.
Upon hearing this request, Nelson furrowed his brows, "Your Excellency, these cannons are very important assets of the British Empire. I cannot simply hand them over to you. If these cannons were to be lost or damaged, I could not justify it to Parliament."
"We are only asking to borrow them, and I am willing to pay for them. If the cannons are damaged, we can compensate for them," Delamari persisted, even after Nelson's initial refusal, suggesting a rental arrangement.
"This..." Nelson hesitated upon hearing this proposal.
"Please help us, General Nelson. Without these cannons, we simply cannot breach the French positions. Just lend them to us for a while. Once we are done, I will return them immediately," Delamari pleaded, sensing the feasibility of his request and pressing further.
"Very well! But these cannons will need to be supervised by British soldiers, and they must be returned to us immediately after the war," Nelson finally relented.
"That's perfectly acceptable. I would also appreciate if some British artillerymen could assist us, as we are not very skilled in artillery," Delamari responded with a smile.
"Excellent, it seems this meeting has been very successful. Now all that remains is to defeat the French," Nelson said with a smile.
"Of course, this time, we will surely achieve the final victory," Delamari declared, raising a glass handed to him by an aide.
"Let us drink this glass to celebrate the victories to come!" Delamari toasted.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein