I Am the Crown Prince in France

Chapter 208 Chasing the Pirates

On the sea, the combined fleet has taken the risk to complete the fire containment mission. In order to avoid unnecessary damage, the fleet commander Rear Admiral Cisneros ordered to retreat beyond the effective range of the port batteries.

The sails of several warships had just adjusted their angles when he heard a sudden silence from the fort.

Cisneros came to the bow deck of the "Forward" with some confusion, pulled out the telescope, and immediately saw a blue-purple fleur-de-lis flag flying above the fort.

"Are these guys too fast?" He looked at the adjutant on the side in surprise, "Did they land for an hour?"

The adjutant looked at his watch, shook his head and said:

"Not yet, General. Just 48 minutes have passed."

Cisneros's eyes twitched. It would probably take more than half an hour to march from the shore to the fort without stopping. Did this Berthier lead the soldiers directly into the pirate fort? !

He originally thought that this novice army, which had only been established for more than half a year, and also brought a group of policemen, could capture the fort before dark, which would be considered fast. Unexpectedly, the battle was over before noon? !

I'm afraid this is not a simple novice army...

If someone told him at this time that it was the police who captured the fort, he would probably doubt his life even more.

On the side of the Guards Corps, the medical officer directed the men to carry the wounded to the tent, while Berthier looked at the combat statistics report just sent by the adjutant and walked towards the fort on the slope.

Eight police cadets were killed and 10 injured. Berthier's Legion had 3 killed and 5 wounded. This was because the police academy students were too excited and rushed too fast for the first time on the battlefield. Otherwise, casualties can be reduced.

In terms of results, 282 pirates were captured alive and about 90 more were killed. Captured the fort at Bizerte. The seized cannons, muskets and other materials have not yet been accounted for.

Due to the characteristics of the port, after capturing the coastal defense fortress, there is almost no resistance from the docks and towns behind it.

This means that the Barbary pirates have captured the Port of Bizerte, one of the two major bases in Tunisia.

He ordered his adjutant to do his best to treat the wounded. The troops who had just been responsible for grabbing the beach rested in place, and the two newly landed battalions behind them entered the town to search for pirates.

By nightfall, the Guards had completely controlled the entire Port of Bizerte and captured more than 40 pirates on the list, while more pirates had escaped from the port.

The adjutant of the legion looked at the still bright sky and said to Berthier:

"Commander, do you want to send cavalry to chase those escaping guys? They shouldn't have run too far yet."

Berthier shook his head: "Send the order for the entire army to rest for a day and a half in Bizerte and replenish some food and wine."

"Huh? Have you rested for so long?"

The adjutant was a little confused and said: "Sir, if this is the case, the pirates will probably run away."

"It doesn't matter, we just need to leave time for them to escape." Berthier recalled Joseph's plan and smiled, "We will set off south again at noon the day after tomorrow."

Bizerte faces the sea to the north, and there are only two places to go to the south are Kairouan and Tunisia City. Now that the Kairouan Fortress is fighting fiercely between the two armies, these pirates can only run to Tunisia City, and this is Joseph's real goal.

…

Two days later.

Tunisian city.

In the Cahir Palace, dozens of embarrassed naval officers were lying on the ground, crying and pleading:

"Great Bey, those Europeans suddenly attacked the port, we must not just let it go!"

"They are blatantly trying to kill us! This is simply an insult to you!"

"Great Bey, you must protect us! The Navy has contributed a lot of tax revenue to you over the years..."

"Please mobilize your troops and chop off the heads of those heretics!"

Hamoud Ali frowned distractedly. All kinds of troubles had been happening one after another recently.

If it hadn't been for Younis's sudden rebellion and his own praetorian guards from all over Tunisia to quell the rebellion, leaving less than 500 soldiers stationed at the port, the Europeans would not have been able to attack the Port of Bizerte so easily.

He waved to shut up the naval officers who had just escaped from Bizerte, turned around and motioned to the middle-aged officer next to him to follow him into the apse, frowning and asked:

"Sinanidin, the European troops are coming here. What do you think we should do about this?"

The middle-aged official is the Tunisian "qadi", which is a position similar to the prime minister. He thought for a moment, lowered his head and said:

"Great Bey, the Europeans are here to destroy pirates...because the navy robbed their merchant ships and demanded high ransoms."

"So, what do you mean?"

Sinanidine whispered:

"Bey, the navy is not under your control. If sacrificing them can avoid European censure, it is not impossible to consider."

"Qadi" Hamoud Ali nodded thoughtfully when he heard this:

"What you said makes sense. Then let the Guards lock up those people outside. You go and tell the Europeans that they can be handed over to..."

Before he could finish speaking, Hafsa, who was playing her harp with her head down not far away, suddenly stood up and walked over quickly, saluted him, and said very anxiously:

"Bey, Lord Cady, must not hand over the navy!"

"Oh? Tell me your reasons." Ali turned to look at her.

"You are the protector of the entire Tunisia. If you cannot protect the navy at this time, the entire Tunisia will be suspicious of you."

Sinanidine hurriedly said: "But the Europeans..."

"Don't worry." Hafsa looked disapproving. "I heard that they only came with two or three thousand people, and we have soldiers from the Imperial Guard and Navy, so we don't need to be afraid of them at all!"

Before Sinanidine could refute, she immediately continued:

"And now Bey's army is fighting the rebels. If you show the slightest weakness, you will make those who are still waiting to turn to Younis!"

Hamoud Ali immediately showed hesitation when he heard this.

Since Yunis launched the rebellion, Hafsa has judged the situation very accurately and demonstrated her extraordinary strategy.

And indeed, as she said, she must show a tough side in order to subdue all forces in Tunisia.

As for the Europeans, the navy robbed their merchant ships, but as long as they were compensated with enough money, their anger should be quelled.

Thinking of this, he looked at Sinanidine: "Kadi, you bring 30,000 rials to negotiate with the Europeans, and you must keep the navy.

"In addition, summon the Praetorian Guards to increase the defense of Tunisia City."

"But..." Sinanidine wanted to persuade him again, but seeing that he was resolute, he had no choice but to hug his chest and accept the order to leave.

Hafsa's eyes flashed with an imperceptible brilliance. Although she didn't know why Haji asked her to convince Ali to protect the navy, she obviously did it.

…

The Port of Bizerte is only 70 kilometers away from the Tunisian city. After three days of march, the Guards Corps arrived outside the city of Tunisia.

In conjunction with their actions, the combined fleet also headed south to the Tunisian port at the same time, leaving only one frigate and a few small boats to blockade the Port of Bizerte - after seizing the port forts, a small number of warships could complete the blockade task.