Egypt.

Cairo.

In the red-and-black striped Ablaq Palace, Muhammad Ali returned the list of gifts to the Chief Eunuch, instructing, "Send someone to find out what Ahmed is preparing for the King of France. We must ensure our gifts are worth twice as much."

The lavishly dressed Black man immediately bowed and said, "Pasha, the acting Governor is even defaulting on the salaries of his own guard. What could he possibly offer as gifts?"

This Ahmed was the representative sent by the current Governor of Egypt, Governor Husru, and the nominal ruler of Egypt.

Yes, two years ago Salem III had managed to install a Governor in Egypt, namely Husru Ahmed.

However, this nominal Governor, aside from the seal given to him by the Sultan, brought almost nothing to Egypt.

Muhammad Ali, however, very "knowingly" handed over all military and political power in Egypt, including allowing his Albanian Corps to accept the new Governor’s command.

Husru was initially very pleased but found the situation was not right just three months later.

All over Egypt, the people were eagerly waiting for him to allocate funds—including the "Waqf" donations from religious sectors, city renovation expenses, Mamluk group dividends, and even the Albanian Corps’ salaries.

The monthly expenditures amounted to nearly a million piastres, which is over ten thousand British Pounds.

Because no one in Egypt, from merchants to the Mamluks, took Husru seriously, he couldn’t collect any taxes and had to cover the expenses from his own pocket.

No matter how much he might have embezzled in Constantinople, he couldn’t withstand such huge expenditures.

Soon, the Albanian Corps, led by an officer named Tahir, mutinied because the Governor failed to pay their salaries on time.

Husru hastily mobilized the Mamluk Cavalry to suppress the mutiny, but the Mamluks had previously been beaten by Muhammad Ali’s Albanian troops and were owed money by Husru, so they made no real effort.

In less than three days, Husru, under the threat of the rebellious army, hastily fled Cairo, continuing to serve as Governor from the distant Damietta. However, worried that the Sultan would blame him, he sent his confidant Ahmed back to Cairo to mediate as acting Governor and Defterdar with Muhammad Ali and the Mamluk forces.

Muhammad Ali cast a sidelong glance at the eunuch: "Never underestimate any opponent. If I hear you say that again, you’ll not appear before me again."

The eunuch was so frightened that he quickly knelt and promised to carefully investigate Ahmed’s list of gifts.

At this moment, Tahir followed another eunuch in quickly, paying respectful homage to Muhammad Ali, and then excitedly said, "Pasha, we’ve just received news that the Empire has been ambushed by Persians in Georgia, and the situation is critical."

In name, he was still an officer of the Ottoman, so by "Empire" he naturally meant the Ottomans.

Muhammad Ali raised an eyebrow, took the secret report from Tahir, opened it, and read:

[In mid-October, Mirza’s fifty thousand strong army launched a surprise attack on Tbilisi from the east and south. That night, Georgian nobles inside the city revolted, setting fire to the Empire’s arsenal.

Ahmed Pasha gathered all forces to desperately resist, barely holding off the Persian attack.

However, three days later, the Georgian prince Zhulong led three thousand soldiers in a surprise attack on the west side of Tbilisi. Due to a lack of defensive forces on the western city, the rebels quickly overcame it.

Currently, Ahmed has fled to Marneuli. Meanwhile, Mustafa is regrouping his forces, preparing to head north to retake Tbilisi.]

Muhammad Ali’s eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Is the news reliable?"

"Absolutely reliable, Pasha."

"How does Constantinople plan to respond?"

"It’s said that the Grand Vizier has gathered eighty thousand troops, commanded by Imanzade Pasha, to head to Georgia to deal with the Persians."

Muhammad Ali put away the secret report, paced back and forth in the room, then looked at the Chief Eunuch still kneeling on the ground: "Immediately prepare 1.5 million piastres to send to Constantinople.

"Also, have Halil write a letter for me, expressing that Egypt will fully support the Empire’s war efforts in the Caucasus."

He then instructed Tahir: "Send troops to surround the Governor’s Palace. Ahmed must not be allowed to meet with the French ambassador."

He keenly realized that as the Ottomans had previously sent tens of thousands of troops to Georgia, adding another eighty thousand soldiers meant that the Empire would be unable to muster enough forces to deal with Egypt for at least one or two years.

This would be his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Three days later.

On the east side of Ablaq Palace, in Muhammad Ali’s private coffee room, Talleyrand contentedly read over the list of gifts once more, folded it, and put it into his pocket.

This was not the gift list for the King of France, but for him personally. He roughly estimated the value of the items to be over 100,000 francs.

Only then did Muhammad Ali smile and speak in precise French: "My dearest friend, you should know better than anyone that Egypt is forever France’s most loyal partner on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean.

"Back then, General Massena and we together defeated the Mamluks entrenched here. We have a friendship forged in blood."

Talleyrand’s lips curled into a smile. Indeed, as the Crown Prince said, this Egyptian Defterdar’s ambition was considerable—he just mentioned "Egypt is France’s partner" without mentioning the Ottomans.

This indicated that he didn’t consider Egypt a part of the Ottoman Empire at all.

"I quite agree." Talleyrand raised the coffee cup in front of him, "And the Crown Prince has never forgotten his friends along the Nile."

"Thank you, esteemed Crown Prince."

After a bit of flattery, Muhammad Ali turned to Talleyrand and said, "You know, the Mamluks are still restless, and the Governor sent by the Empire always tries to plot against me.

"If possible, I hope to purchase a batch of cannons and caplock guns from my French friends to ensure the stability of Egypt.

"Of course, rest assured, the price will certainly satisfy you."

Talleyrand, however, smiled and shook his head: "If Governor Husru brings an army from the Levant, relying solely on buying some weapons may not be enough for you."

Muhammad Ali was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

"This isn’t my opinion; it’s the Crown Prince’s instruction." Talleyrand, savoring the aroma of the coffee, said calmly, "The Crown Prince believes you should have your own cannon foundry to ensure Egypt remains stable."

Muhammad Ali’s heart raced but before he could express his gratitude, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs continued: "And to make qualified cannons, you need quality steel. Therefore, the Crown Prince also plans to help you build an ironworks."