The Fox of France - Chapter 438 (Patreon)

Chapter 438: Severing Ties

The Americans made considerable preparations before declaring war on Britain. First was the American Navy, which had just leased two warships from the French, the "Free Trade" and the "Common Market," super second-rate cruisers. At least until the French "Hermes-class" super first-rate cruisers were launched and commissioned, these two ships were the most powerful super cruisers in the world.

Moreover, when leasing these two ships, the Americans didn't just lease the vessels but even the personnel to operate them. In other words, apart from changing the flag and issuing a few sets of new clothes to each French crew member, and placing a few American representatives on board, the ships were almost still French.

The Americans took this action before the war with Britain, but by then, American newspapers were already incessantly accusing the British of aiding the Indians in attacking peaceful American citizens, undermining their God-given effort to obtain superior materials for making boots through their labor.

At this time, the American "leasing" of French warships clearly had a specific purpose. The French naturally understood what the Americans meant. However, after serious consideration, Napoleon approved the deal.

"The British are currently our enemies, causing them trouble in any way is good. Of course, the Yankees are no saints either. If there's another country that could match the British in being despicable, cunning, and ruthless, it definitely would be America! We also can't allow it to truly annex Canada. That would pose a huge threat to our Louisiana. Just like any sheep, as soon as it dares to grow horns, it's a threat and provocation to the lion. Thus, in the symbolism of religion, a lamb without horns is holy, an example for all to follow and learn from. And those that grow horns? Well, you know Lucifer has goat horns..."

"Alright, Napoleon, don't get sidetracked," Joseph said. "Although your analogy is interesting, um, this analogy, I mean the one about lambs and goats, who said that?"

"Couldn't it be me?" Napoleon said.

"That sharp tone doesn't sound like your style," Joseph remarked.

"Ah, well, the analogy was Talleyrand's. After all, he was a bishop; no one knows better than him how to critique the Church," Napoleon explained.

"The Americans will soon declare war on the British, then use these two ships to disrupt the maritime routes between Britain and Canada. We, in turn, should cooperate, perhaps conduct a military exercise or something, claiming it's to maintain world peace and trade freedom. Then we'll tie down the British Navy, preventing them from sending supplies and reinforcements to North America," Napoleon added.

"What about Canada?" Lucien asked. "We can't really hand Canada over to the Americans, can we?"

Napoleon smiled without answering.

"Is that even a question?" Joseph scoffed. "If the British can't get their weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Canada, does it mean we can't either? Canada borders Louisiana!"

"Ah, I see!" Lucien had an epiphany. "We sell weapons to the Canadians, and when Canada can't hold on any longer, we can let the Canadians hire mercenaries from Louisiana. Then, set fire to the White House, and after the Canadian forces have expended themselves and America is weakened, won't Canada be ours? Not to mention Quebec has so many French speakers. Napoleon, Joseph, is that what you mean? You guys are so wicked, hahaha, wickedly brilliant! Hahaha..."

The British were equally aware of what it meant for the French to lease these warships to the Americans. Thus, the British Foreign Office immediately summoned the French ambassador to issue a formal protest, accusing France of disrupting regional peace. Of course, the British knew the French wouldn't heed their protests, but the procedure had to be followed.

According to the procedure, France naturally stated that this was entirely a matter of internal politics between France and the USA, and the transaction was in complete accordance with international norms, leaving no room for British interference.

An anonymous British official hinted to the newspapers that if war broke out between the US and Britain, and these two ships participated, should their crews be captured, Britain might consider them pirates and hang them from the yardarm.

When French media asked Lucien about this report and what France's reaction would be if such an event occurred, Lucien unhesitatingly responded, "They are welcome to try if they dare."

Regarding the same question, Foreign Minister Talleyrand said, "We wish to be friends with Britain, to become partners, but if Britain views France as an 'enemy state,' then all consequences will be Britain's own responsibility."

The two warships had just arrived in the US, filled up with coal and fresh water in Boston Harbor, and war broke out less than a week later.

These two American-flagged warships immediately left Boston and, after rendezvousing with the US fleet,

headed towards Halifax, Canada.

Halifax is Canada's largest naval base, where the British stationed a detachment of their fleet.

After entering the steam power era, the British slightly modified three old sailing warships, equipped them with steam engines, added iron armor, and then sent them to Canada.

Considering North America, the main potential enemies were the Americans and secondly the French. The Americans had suffered heavy losses in previous conflicts with the French, and although the French gradually returned the captured American ships to the Yankees, the Americans seemed to have lost confidence in building a strong navy. Their navy made limited progress afterward, only adding steam power to the original super cruisers. Because their hulls were more suited for high-speed travel, these modified ships were still faster than the British's retrofitted battleships, and not having iron armor also increased their speed.

According to the American plan, the fleet would first approach Halifax to see if they could catch the British naval detachment in Canada and eliminate them, then continue north to blockade the Saint Lawrence Seaway, intercepting ships sailing from Britain to Canada.

After America declared war on Britain, the British detachment immediately left Halifax. Although this detachment had three "battleships," the battleships of the sail era had no fighting power against the steam era's armored cruisers. Hence, while the British emphasized fighting upon encountering the enemy, they would avoid battles they knew they couldn't win.

The British plan was as follows: relying solely on the North American detachment's strength was insufficient to oppose the US forces with two French super cruisers. Instead of confronting the enemy's main force, they would attack American coastal ships. Compared to the entirely steam-powered French warships, the North American detachment's hybrid-powered warships had significantly greater endurance because they didn't always need to burn coal to sail.

Thus, the British believed they could harass the American coastline, forcing the American fleet, or at least those two French warships, to move south. Then, their "Indomitable" super cruiser hidden in the Saint Lawrence River (the first generation "Free Trade" sold to the British by the French) could emerge to eliminate the American warships left in the Saint Lawrence Bay.

Therefore, when the American fleet arrived in Halifax, they found an empty harbor. Considering the port's comprehensive defense facilities, neither the Americans nor the French dared to directly attack the port. So, the US fleet continued northward to the Cabot Strait.

Canadian Atlantic ports are quite interesting. Besides Halifax, most of Canada's Atlantic ports are inland ports along the Saint Lawrence River. The Saint Lawrence River's navigation conditions are so good that these inland ports are virtually indistinguishable from seaports at this time.

Exiting the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River leads to the Saint Lawrence Bay, a broad water area almost surrounded by land, with only the Belle Isle Strait and Cabot Strait connecting it to the Atlantic Ocean. The bay's coastline is intricate, with many reefs and shoals, making navigation challenging. Therefore, the US Navy dared not directly enter the Saint Lawrence Bay to block the river's mouth. They could only block the Cabot Strait. Further north, another navigable strait, the Belle Isle Strait, was considered, but given the unknown whereabouts of the British Navy, the Americans didn't dare to spread their forces thin. After all, most ships would take the Cabot Strait, especially those British ships currently en route to North America—unaware, in the absence of radio, that the US had declared war on Britain.

So, for a while, the US Navy enjoyed their time here, watching whales daily. Then occasionally, they would intercept one or two British ships unaware of the war's outbreak, but loaded with war materials. The Americans or French would stop them with cannon fire, board the ships, declare them captured, and then send them back to the US.

However, the whereabouts of the British North American fleet remained a mystery.

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