Chapter 432： Ottoman "Combined Fleet"

In the face of Abdul Mejid I's worries, Marshal Mahmoud didn't take it to heart at all, and even felt that Abdul Mejid I was worrying for nothing.

"Your Majesty, I can assure you that even if all our fleets are destroyed by the Russian Empire, Constantinople will not be invaded by the Russian Empire!" Mahmoud said calmly and calmly to Abdul May Gide I responded.

"Why is this?" Abdul Mejid I looked at Marshal Mahmoud suspiciously. He was deeply anxious and didn't understand why Mahmoud was really so confident.

"Your Majesty, the warships of Britain and France are now docked in Greece!" Mahmoud replied to Abdul Mejid I: "They can join the battlefield at any time and fight side by side with the Ottoman Empire!"

"But, they haven't joined the battle after all! And the British fleet seems to be deliberately blocking the French fleet!" Abdul Mejid I responded to Mahmoud.

Since Jerome Bonaparte warned the Russian Empire of war, Wallevsky of the embassy in Constantinople immediately sent a telegram to the port of Toulon, and the Mediterranean Fleet was stationed in the port of Toulon. called over.

When the French Mediterranean fleet arrived in the waters near the Ottoman Empire, it was intercepted by the British fleet in the Mediterranean.

The British Mediterranean Fleet, stationed in Malta, sent a request to the French Mediterranean Fleet not to continue to the Ottoman Empire.

The French fleet in the Mediterranean immediately rejected the request of the British fleet in the Mediterranean, and claimed that they came to protect the peace and stability of the Mediterranean.

Just as the French and Mediterranean fleets were about to be at loggerheads in the waters of the Ottoman Empire, the French ambassadors Valewski and the British ambassadors Canning appeared, and they asked the two fleets to calm down.

In the end, the French fleet and the British fleet went to the Greek waters to be stationed.

The joint stationing of the Anglo-French fleet made the Greek Kingdom, which was about to declare war on the Ottoman Empire, immediately live in Bengbu. Under the muzzle of the British and French fleets, the Greek Kingdom immediately extinguished the idea of ​​declaring war on the Ottoman Empire.

The kingdom of Greece could only honestly court the British godfather and the French godfather for their protection.

When the foreign minister of the Ottoman Empire asked Canning why the French Empire was not allowed to fight side by side with the Ottoman Empire, Canning smiled wryly and explained to Fuad Effendi that he had received an order from Prime Minister Aberdeen, who was in Aberdeen. After receiving the news of the French Empire's declaration of war on the Russian Empire, he immediately asked the British Fleet to block the French Fleet by telegram.

Canning knew that the Prime Minister of Aberdeen was close to the Russian Empire, but he did not expect him to be so close to the Russian Empire. This order was a joke about his political future. (Aberdeen considers itself to have been carrying out a strategy against France)

From the moment he received the order of the Prime Minister of Aberdeen, Canning had already concluded that Aberdeen's political life had completely entered the countdown stage, and the next step was to see what reason Aberdeen would fall for.

However, even if Aberdeen is close to collapse, as long as he is still serving as prime minister in the cabinet, then Canning must carry out his task.

Canning had no choice but to explain the situation to Wallevsky, and after obtaining Wallevsky's understanding, the scene of the confrontation between the British and French fleets took place.

Otherwise, it is very likely to see the scene of the British and French Mediterranean fleets firing at each other in the Ottoman waters.

Although the French fleet could not directly help the Ottoman Empire, French supplies were being continuously transported to Rhodes Island. As long as the Ottoman Empire suffered serious damage, the French Empire army could immediately join the battle.

"Your Majesty, this is the reason why I want to send a fleet to **** me!" Marshal Mahmoud showed a fox-like smile, and he said to Abdul Mejid I without hesitation: "If you say this If only the fleet is severely damaged, then the entire Black Sea will become the world of the Russian Empire. At that time, will Britain and France still be able to sit back and ignore it?"

"You mean to let me give up the Ottoman Empire navy?!!" Abdul Mejid I asked in a hurried tone with wide eyes.

"Your Majesty, I didn't say I would give up the Imperial Navy!" Mahmoud coughed twice, spread his hands and said innocently to Abdul Mejid I: "I'm just talking about a possibility, A possibility of the destruction of the imperial fleet! Based on the strength of the imperial navy and the Russian imperial navy, I do not think that the Russian imperial navy is capable of annihilating our fleet!"

It is a far-fetched thing to annihilate the opponent's navy in a traditional naval battle under solid shells, unless it is as extreme as Trafalgar a few decades ago.

Mahmoud's explanation made Abdul Mejid I a little moved. The strength of the Ottoman Empire alone is only a dead end, and he must rely on the help of Britain and France.

At present, Britain is unwilling to help the Ottoman Empire due to certain influences, and it is also unwilling to let France help the Ottoman Empire.

Abdul Mejid I had to give them some stimulation, even if it was at the cost of losing some people.

Abdul Mejid I paced back and forth in the empty palace, thinking about the pros and cons.

Mahmoud quietly stood by and waited for Abdul Mejid I to make up his mind.

When Abdul Mejid I stopped and raised his head again, his eyes flashed fiercely, "Marshal Mahmoud, will our fleet really not be completely wiped out?"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured!" Mahmoud had a smile on his face, patted his chest and assured Abdul Mejid I.

"If that's the case, then I agree to your request! The remaining fleets of the empire are all under your command, please don't let me down! Grand Marshal!" Abdul Mejid I eloquently addressed Mahathir. Maud said.

General Marshal Mahmoud nodded to Abdul Mejid I.

After Marshal Mahmoud left the palace and went to the Imperial Navy Command, the various fleet commanders of the Navy Command asked Mahmoud, Abdul Mejid I's "holy sanction".

"Don't worry! Your Majesty didn't blame our Admiralty for this! On the contrary, he thought our navy should be praised!" Marshal Mahmoud replied cheerfully to the fleet commanders in front of him.

Hearing the words of Marshal Mahmoud, the fleet commanders present breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, no one wants to face the wrath of His Majesty the Sultan, and besides, the problems of the navy were not caused by them.

They also hired people (British instructors) and bought equipment, but they are still inferior to the Russian Empire. What can they do?

In the final analysis, it is the Ottoman Empire's naval system that has its own problems.

Just when the commanders of the fleets were thinking wildly, Mahmoud said again: "Everyone! We should take a warning from the series of tragedies that happened a few days ago! Now, at the request of Your Majesty, I will re-form a ship guard formation. , this formation will cover most of the empire's existing fleets, who of you is willing to be the commander of the fleet?"

Mahmoud looked around, and he saw desire in the eyes of the surrounding fleet commanders. Undoubtedly, all the fleet commanders present wanted to be able to command this fleet.

"Grand Marshal, I think you should preside over this fleet yourself!" A voice came from the fleet commander.

All the fleet commanders present reacted immediately, and they all told Grand Marshal Mahmood that since Mahmoud proposed this proposal, then the Grand Marshal should act.

Mahmoud shook his head and declined: "I'm too old to do long-term offshore operations. The future is yours!"

The fleet commander present hurriedly touted Marshal Mahmoud, saying that he could still be loyal to His Majesty the Sultan for several decades, how could he be old-fashioned.

Mahmoud just smiled at these almost nauseous touts, he was too aware of his ambitious fleet commanders.

If you give them a chance to rise, they will definitely replace themselves without hesitation.

"Since none of you are willing to recommend yourself, it's up to my old man to assign!" Mahmoud said to the fleet commander present.

"It should be like this!" All the admirals present agreed with Mahmoud's suggestion.

After thinking for a while, Mahmoud decided to choose a more secure fleet commander to serve as the commander of the new fleet.

The commander of this convoy does not need a brave man.

After some careful screening, Mahmoud selected the most secure one of the fleet commanders present, Osman Pasha. He believed that as long as Osman Pasha did not lead the army to act rashly, even if it was just to anchor the ship at Sinop port, the empire would The navy won't suffer much damage either.

Although Mahmood kept saying that he would use a fleet as a funeral, Britain and France would agree to take action against the Russian Empire, but when he really wanted him to appoint a defeated general, Mahmood did not Willing to be appointed, he doesn't want to see his efforts go to pieces.

Osman Pasha, who received the appointment, showed bewildered eyes, and he looked at Marshal Mahmoud at a loss.

The surrounding fleet commanders also cast envious glances at Osman Pasha.

"Grand Marshal, I..." Osman Pasha wanted to say something, but he hesitated.

"Protect this fleet and try to avoid unnecessary conflicts!" Grand Marshal Mahmood sighed and said to Osman Pasha earnestly.

"I see!" Osman Pasha responded with a nod to Mahmoud.

A huge Ottoman fleet with four sailing battleships, eight double-deck battleships, two three-sailed fast battleships and eight steam-engine ships was formed, which would be responsible for the sea transportation from Sinop to the Caucasus.

Mahmoud did not know that the commander of the fleet he appointed would be the "culprit" in destroying the entire fleet.