The Fox of France - Chapter 401 (Patreon)

Chapter 401: Siege

Although the naval mines didn't work, the pirates' act of setting fire themselves played a significant role. So now, the French explicitly state that counting on incendiary bombs is futile. Currently, they can only support the Turkish landing operations with solid cannonballs.

As a result, the Turks have no choice but to rely on a direct assault. Confidently, they advance, only to quickly retreat under the barrage of pirate cannons and rifles. Tahir Pasha once again comes to the French warship, seeking tactical guidance.

"Breaking through the enemy's defense head-on and landing directly in the harbor is somewhat difficult. We can choose to land first in a flat area, establish a temporary dock, and then transport personnel and weapons from there to attack from the land," Admiral Treville suggests.

"People can get ashore, but cannons can't. Without cannons, even if many people come ashore, it won't be of much use," Tahir Pasha remarks.

"The key is not to destroy the enemy's defense from the land side, but to attack the unprotected high-value targets of the enemy," Admiral Treville says, "The pirates' strength is limited, and they concentrate their forces guarding the harbor direction. The remaining forces may not even be enough to guard the walls. But, are there really valuable and precious things left in Tunis city?"

"Pasha, you see, they burned down the entire harbor area themselves, even many houses in the wealthy district over there have lost their roofs. Obviously, it's to prevent fires. But what about the people who originally lived there? Will they continue to live in houses without roofs, especially those wealthy individuals? Will they continue to live in houses without roofs?" Admiral Treville questions.

"General, are you suggesting that their wealthy individuals and valuable items have already been moved to estates outside the city? If we attack those estates, it would greatly undermine their defense?" Tahir Pasha inquires.

"Yes, esteemed Pasha. However, the enemy is well-prepared, and their estates may not be easy to capture without cannons. So, our French naval infantry is willing to assist you in such operations," Admiral Treville replies.

Tahir Pasha understands that the French are eager because they hope to get a share of the loot during the raid. Last time in Tripoli, most of the "benefits" reportedly fell into the hands of the Turks, causing dissatisfaction among many French soldiers. In the recent attack, French artillery support was slow and inaccurate, even hitting the Turks at times, raising questions about potential issues due to uneven distribution of loot.

In any case, the French this time are requesting everyone to participate in the raid.

Tahir Pasha is inclined to refuse the French, but he is concerned that the French might continue to perform poorly in subsequent firepower support. In the end, both sides reach an agreement: the French send their naval infantry to land alongside the Turks, but in subsequent operations, each side can act independently to avoid conflicts for various reasons.

So, a group of Turks and French begin landing near the harbor.

The Barbary pirates are not oblivious to these actions, but for now, they can't spare enough people to stop the Turkish landing. They can only continue to guard the city.

Tunis is one of the few fertile lands in North Africa. The climate is perfect for olive trees, making it a crucial olive oil-producing region since the Carthaginian era. In recent decades, with the decline in pirate business, cultivating olive trees has become a significant source of revenue for Ahmad Pasha and his officials and generals in the suburbs.

Upon discovering the Turkish and French armies landing, Ahmad Pasha is initially worried about a coordinated attack from both land and sea. Therefore, he quickly mobilizes the army to defend the city.

"Hussein, do you think we can hold off the enemy?" Ahmad Pasha asks his commander, Hussein.

"Pasha, they landed in positions where they couldn't bring cannons. Without cannons, it's challenging for them to threaten the walls. With the protection of the walls and our new rifled muskets, we can defend the city," Hussein replies.

This answer eases Ahmad Pasha's concerns, and he pats Hussein on the shoulder, saying, "My brother, I entrust the defense of the walls to you."

Hussein immediately kneels before Ahmad Pasha and says, "Pasha, I will use my life to protect these walls and will not let the enemy breach them."

However, the Turks did not launch an attack on the walls. Only a squad of about a hundred Turkish cavalry arrived near the walls, stopping beyond the range of the cannons on the walls. It seems they are monitoring the movements of the defending forces inside the city. There is no action for a long time until the evening, when the cavalry turns away.

During this time, Hussein considers sending troops to actively engage the cavalry, but Ahmad Pasha fears a French conspiracy and firmly rejects Hussein's suggestion.

Throughout the day, the Turks land over three thousand soldiers. The French, on the other hand, land only about a company. However, after landing, instead of immediately rushing towards their target, they, under the guidance of French instructors, construct camps and defensive fortifications on-site to guard against potential pirate attacks. However, the pirates do not counterattack during the night. Additionally, Turkish cavalry has conducted preliminary reconnaissance in the vicinity, identifying more than thirty plantations. Therefore, the French and Turks gather to discuss how to allocate these targets.

After rejecting suggestions like using games of chance to allocate targets, they settle on drawing lots. This method is deemed more fair. The next morning, the Turkish cavalry returns to the same location as the previous day, continuing to monitor the movements of the defending forces inside the city. Meanwhile, the other forces head towards their designated targets.

Lieutenant Philippe, the leader of the French naval infantry, drew the estate known as "Mehdi" in the lot drawing the previous night. Of course, they only learned the name later; at this moment, they refer to it as Estate Number Five based on the map markings.

Early the next day, Lieutenant Philippe leads his unit towards Estate Number Five.

Based on intelligence provided by the Turkish cavalry the previous night, Estate Number Five is not small, surrounded by tall walls, indicating a strong defense. However, it also implies potential valuable items inside. The prospect of looting, including Lieutenant Philippe, raises the morale of the entire unit.

Although the loot cannot be entirely theirs, French military has rules, even in looting. All captures must be handed over to the nation, and the nation will distribute them uniformly. Otherwise, chaos could ensue, with enemy forces retreating, French forces pursuing, valuables scattered, and French soldiers scrambling to loot. This could lead to a counterattack by the retreating enemy, resulting in a disastrous outcome for the French.

Therefore, all loot theoretically requires documentation and registration before being handed over to the nation. Nonetheless, it is not without gain; the nation awards them with military honors, and after retirement, substantial assistance is provided.

After an hour of marching, Philippe and his unit arrive near Estate Number Five.

"Is this Estate Number Five? It's like a mini Bastille! Just with more and larger windows," Philippe exclaims upon seeing the high walls surrounding Estate Number Five.

This kind of construction is quite normal in North Africa. The security situation there is not comparable to that in France. Even during the Kingdom era, before

 the French conquest, these fortresses were constructed, but they were mainly used to defend against Berber mountain bandits and internal rebellions.

"Captain, the gate is closed!" a French soldier points out.

"Should we knock?" another soldier jokingly asks.

"Let's not make noise. There might be dogs or guards inside. Let's find another way in," Philippe decides.

Searching around the estate, they find a door hidden behind some shrubs. The door looks less sturdy than the main gate, but it's still a door.

"Let's try this side door. Be cautious; we don't know what's inside," Philippe instructs.

Upon opening the door, they find a small courtyard inside. It appears that this door is more like a servant's entrance, perhaps used for deliveries or similar purposes.

"Spread out, search the courtyard, and be cautious. We don't know if there are any guards around," Philippe orders.

The French soldiers spread out, carefully checking corners and alleys in the small courtyard.

"Captain, there's a door over there. Shall we check it out?" one soldier suggests, pointing towards a smaller door on the side.

Philippe nods, "Carefully, slowly."

As they approach the smaller door, they can hear faint sounds from inside, like people talking.

"Someone's inside. Prepare for anything," Philippe warns.

They slowly open the door, revealing a room with several individuals sitting around a table, talking and drinking.

"Hands up! You're all under arrest!" Philippe shouts, aiming his rifle at the individuals inside.

The room falls silent as the startled residents of the estate look up at the armed French soldiers.

Meanwhile, back at the harbor, a small group of Turkish cavalry is monitoring the movements inside the city, keeping a close eye on the defenders' activities. The Turks have no intention of attacking the city walls head-on, but they are gathering intelligence for future operations.

Hussein, the commander appointed by Ahmad Pasha to defend the city, is determined to hold the walls at all costs. He believes that as long as the walls remain intact, the city is secure.

The French naval infantry, after successfully landing and setting up defensive positions, starts moving towards their designated targets. Lieutenant Philippe, leading a unit, draws the lot for Estate Number Five. As they approach the estate, they encounter challenges, including a closed main gate. However, they find a side door and cautiously enter the small courtyard.

Inside the estate, they discover a group of people gathered in a room. Philippe, thinking they might be guards or defenders, orders them to surrender. The residents of the estate, taken by surprise, comply with the French soldiers' demands.

The situation inside the city and the estate unfolds, setting the stage for further developments in the ongoing siege of Tunis.

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