Outside Talleyrand's estate, the coachman waiting for him jumped out from his seat and opened the door.
"It was a productive discussion, General Bonaparte," Talleyrand bowed his head politely.
Napoleon returned the gesture with a slight bob of his head. "We'll see each other again soon?"
Talleyrand's lips curled into a faint smile as he extended his hand toward the carriage.
"That you can guarantee, General Bonaparte," he assured him. "I have taken too much of your time and the Directory must be for your presentation."
With one last nod, Napoleon boarded the carriage.
***
Thirty minutes later, Napoleon arrived at the Tuileries Palace, the headquarters of the Directory.
Napoleon was escorted by the French guard to one of the offices where Citizen Paul Barras awaited him.
"General Bonaparte," Barras acknowledged Napoleon with a nod as he approached. "I see that you have already drawn your plan for your campaign in Egypt?"
"That's correct, Citizen Barras, are you the only one who will be hearing my presentation?" Napoleon asked.
"That is correct, General Bonaparte. My colleagues had given me their full trust to assess your plan and make a final decision. Let's take a seat."
They took their seats at a large wooden table, facing each other.
Napoleon placed his carefully crafted plan on the table, its pages filled with detailed maps, strategic analyses, and logistical considerations. Barras leaned forward, his eyes scanning the document, his expression growing increasingly serious.
"So, you might be wondering why we should invade Egypt and how it affects the United Kingdom. Well, Citizen Barras, Egypt holds immense strategic importance for France and poses a significant threat to British influence in the region. Allow me to explain in detail," Napoleon began.
He leaned forward, his hands gesturing toward the maps and documents before them.
"First and foremost, Egypt's geographic location provides us with a gateway to both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. By establishing a strong presence in Egypt, we can control the vital trade routes between Europe and Asia, effectively cutting off British access to these lucrative markets."
Napoleon pointed to specific points on the map. "Furthermore, Egypt's proximity to India poses a direct threat to British colonial interests. India is the jewel of the British Empire, a source of immense wealth and power. By disrupting their trade and communication routes through Egypt, we can weaken their hold on India and potentially incite rebellions among the Indian princely states, particularly with Tipu Sultan, who harbors a deep hatred for the British."
"I see, but how would you approach this, Napoleon?" Barras asked.
"Well, first a brief background to Egypt. Currently, it is under the rule of the Mamluks, a group of powerful military slave soldiers who have held control over the region for centuries. Their rule, however, has been marked by internal divisions and a lack of unity. This presents us with an opportunity, as their weakened grip on power makes it possible to disrupt their authority and gain the support of the Egyptian population," Napoleon explained.
He continued. "To achieve this, our approach will be two-fold. Firstly, we will engage in military campaigns to expel the ruling Mamluks and establish French control over strategic territories. We will utilize our superior military force and strategic maneuvers to defeat their armies and capture key cities. By removing the Mamluks from power, we will eliminate a major obstacle to our control over Egypt. Secondly, we will work towards gaining the support and loyalty of the Egyptian people. We understand the importance of winning the hearts and minds of the locals to ensure the stability of our rule. This will involve engaging with the Egyptians, respecting their culture and traditions, and addressing their grievances. Not only that, we can place Egyptians in positions of power and administration, allowing them to participate in the governance of their own country."
"But Egypt is a territory of the Ottoman Empire, right? Wouldn't they declare war against us from attacking it?"
"Of course, they would declare war on us, that's their territory after all," Napoleon said confidently. "But don't worry, they are not that much of a threat…they are facing internal issues so even if they declared war on us, I don't think they are going to fully commit. What's more, I have a card up on my sleeve, one that will ensure our domination in Egypt."
"And what is that, General Bonaparte?" Barras asked.
"We are getting into that, Citizen Barras," Napoleon said. "So, to execute this plan, I'm going to need 50,000 men, the French navy for logistics and transports, and funds, a lot of it."
"Well, anything you need to make your campaign successful," Barras said.
"Great. So, the reason why I'm asking for a lot of funds is that I want you to fund a new rifle that the troops will be using in this campaign."
"New rifle?" Barras repeated.
"Citizen Barras, as you are aware of my background, you know that I am not only a soldier but also an inventor. Two years ago, I presented a revolutionary rifle to the National Convention, although it was unfortunately rejected at the time. However, I firmly believe that these rifles should become the standard issue for our army, or at least for the army I'll be leading. Additionally, I propose that the Directory invests in acquiring new weapons, artillery, and mortars, which we will be able to demonstrate in two to three months. Moreover, considering the unique climate of Egypt, I suggest a modification to the army's uniform. I have personally designed a new uniform that would be better suited for the conditions we will face in Egypt. It will provide our soldiers with improved comfort and functionality in the challenging environment."
Barras hummed in thought. "Acquiring new weapons? From your company?"
"That is correct, Citizen Barras. Trust me, when those soldiers are equipped with the weapons and uniforms I designed, I swear that they will have a significant advantage on the battlefield."
"Is it going to be expensive?" Barras asked.
"No, as it is my company, we'll be willing to give you a discount. And since it is going to be my army, I'll be willing to contribute a significant portion of my own funds to ensure the success of this endeavor," Napoleon replied confidently.
"Very well, General Bonaparte. May this campaign bring glory and prosperity to France!"
"Good, this is making me excited," Napoleon chuckled.
With that, Napoleon left Barras's office.
Inside, Barras sighed in satisfaction as it seems that Napoleon is eager to go to Egypt. With this, Napoleon would be gone in Paris, and he hoped we would stay there for as long as he could come up with a way to return the public to the Directory.
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