Chapter 1645 - 1551: Three Ways to Cook a Fish · Part 1

Chapter 1645: Chapter 1551: Three Ways to Cook a Fish · Part 1

Jalal nodded in agreement: "You are quite right. Although Ali Pasha is remarkably capable, he is also highly ambitious. There are rumors that he even wants to take on the role of Governor of Haniz."

"And your country once helped him defeat the Mamluks, and maintains dense trade relations with Cairo. Currently, only your country’s strong influence can ’advise’ Ali."

Talleyrand discussed for quite a while how difficult it would be to convince Ali to withdraw from Haniz, only to pretend to be very hesitant in response to Jalal’s repeated pleas: "Due to the deep friendship between our two countries, I cannot stand idly by."

He lowered his head in thought for a moment, sighed, and said, "Well, 7 million Kurush, I will personally go to Cairo and give it a try."

million Kurush equals 21 million francs. Absolutely a lion’s demand!

Yet Jalal’s face displayed no sign of displeasure; instead, a hint of relief appeared.

His greatest concern was that the French people did not want to offend Ali, who was at the peak of his power, and would reject this matter.

As long as the French were willing to take charge, he was not afraid of a high asking price. Where there’s an asking price, there’s negotiation, and the Sultan sent him to do just that.

Immediately, he displayed an expression overflowing with gratitude: "We are so thankful to you, France is forever the most trustworthy and respected great nation on this earth!"

"It’s just that, as you see, the Empire’s financial situation is not ideal. The Sultan’s army is still in Transcaucasia teaching the unreliable Persians a lesson, while revolts frequently occur in Greece and other places. The Grand Vizier is worried about military expenses all day long..."

Talleyrand said earnestly: "You know, this money is not for our country, but is meant to ’persuade’ Ali Pasha.

"Ali is currently well aware that there is no army that can drive him out of Haniz. You must offer him benefits greater than what he can gain from Haniz."

A shrewd light flashed in Jalal’s eyes; the French truly don’t understand the situation on the Arab Peninsula well enough to talk about ’profits.’

He immediately said: "You need not worry about that. In fact, most of Haniz is desert; Ali has no revenue from there. Oh, before the rebellion in Diriyah, it only paid the Empire 200,000 Kurush in taxes annually..."

He was not lying. Other than the two Holy Cities, Haniz only has a few coastal oases producing dates and goats, and it’s extremely poor. If war breaks out in certain years, the Sultan even has to provide extra military funds.

However, Talleyrand unhurriedly followed the orders of His Royal Highness the Regent, saying:

"There are things the Sultan cannot do, but Ali Pasha can.

"I heard from Cairo that Ali Pasha plans to monopolize the ’pilgrimage tax’ of the Holy City, and the tax rate will be several times that of the Holy City Guardian."

He glanced at the Sultan’s Envoy and intensified his tone: "More importantly, he can use pilgrimage rights to influence the political situation in Constantinople and profit from it."

Jalal’s heart suddenly tightened.

It’s very likely true what the French say. What the Sultan desires most is smooth pilgrimage routes, but Ali has no such concerns. He can completely use pilgrimage rights to cultivate a faction that supports him in Constantinople—pilgrimage is a momentous event in any Ottoman person’s life.

And Joseph’s certainty comes from Muhammad Ali having done exactly this throughout history.

Talleyrand continued: "Besides the influence on the Holy City, Ali Pasha will also establish a ’Red Sea Trade Transit Station’ at Jeddah Port."

Jalal was momentarily confused: "What is that?"

"Simply put, he would forcibly require all merchant ships heading to Yanbu, Aqaba, El Tur, these ports, to first stop at Jeddah Port, either to pay taxes or directly unload cargo.

"Afterward, he would use flatboats to redistribute the goods to the northern ports of the Red Sea."

Jeddah Port is a central port in the Red Sea, located to the west of Mecca.

If Ali intercepts all merchant ships entering the Red Sea here, it would be equivalent to monopolizing all trade from the Arabian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, including Syria and other regions. Trade with Egypt goes without saying.

Yes, historically, this is exactly what he did, transforming the impoverished Haniz region into the second largest source of fiscal revenue.

Jalal’s pupils contracted sharply; despite decorum, he loudly exclaimed: "He does not have the authority to do this! This, this is treason!"

Imposing a ’personal tariff’ on trade affecting half of the Ottoman Empire indisputably amounts to high treason.

Talleyrand silently commended His Royal Highness the Regent for his ’great commercial vision’ before saying seriously: "As it stands, nobody can stop him from doing this."

Jalal was stunned for a moment, then anxiously asked: "Is this information reliable?"

"Once Ali Pasha begins implementation, you will be able to fully confirm it."

"No, he must be withdrawn from Haniz." Jalal suddenly realized that what he thought was a simple ’haggling’ task was actually a Herculean one.

He said with a strained face: "But the Empire really cannot come up with 7 million Kurush at present..."

"How much funding can the Grand Vizier allocate?"

In his panic, Jalal confessed directly: "Approximately 2 million Kurush."

"This makes it quite difficult." Talleyrand’s expression appeared more troubled than Jalal’s, and after pondering for a while, he said, "Or, exchange it for other interests?"

"What do you mean?"

"For instance, monopoly rights on trade in southern Syria."

Jalal became immediately concerned: "How can that be?!"

Syria is the Empire’s most lucrative commercial zone—the core of the Levant.

Talleyrand shrugged: "Once Ali Pasha controls Haniz, he will similarly dominate trade there."

The Sultan’s Envoy instinctively shook his head: "No, no..."

Talleyrand smiled and lowered his voice: "Who do you think would find Ali Pasha’s monopoly on Syrian trade the most unacceptable?"

"Huh?"

Talleyrand continued: "The Azim family, Agar Faction, and the Bedouins.

"They will see the Egyptians as deadly enemies and exhaust every means to drive them out of Syria. Then, when the Sultan sends an envoy to mediate, he will be able to suppress the two factions simultaneously."

Jalal suddenly saw a glimmer of hope.

The Azim family has been entrenched in Damascus for over a century and can be said to be its actual controllers. The Agar Faction are the Imperial Guard of Damascus, Aleppo, and other cities, yet they have long severed command from Constantinople, forming armed groups. The Bedouin nomadic tribes, in turn, control the transportation routes in Syria, collecting protection fees everywhere.

These are all long-standing threats the Sultan in Constantinople has wanted to eliminate.

If they engage in conflict with Ali, whoever gains the upper hand will be advantageous for the Empire!

The Sultan’s Envoy slowly nodded: "I will quickly report your proposal to His Majesty the Sultan."