CHAPTER 386: CHAPTER 381: ALLIANCE IN FORM BUT NOT IN SPIRIT

"What do you need me to do?"

Since Canning already fully understood the undisclosed transactions behind France and Britain, he was obliged to contribute to the cooperation between Britain and France.

"Ambassador Canning! We indeed need your help!" Valerovsky sincerely said to Canning: "We hope you can provide maximum support to the Ottoman Empire. We are very worried that the Ottoman Empire might directly surrender to the Russian Empire."

Although the negotiations between Rifat Pasha and Menshikov were just delaying tactics, no one could guarantee that the fake negotiations wouldn’t turn into real surrender.

Once the Ottoman Empire couldn’t withstand the pressure from the Russian Empire and surrendered, France’s desire to go to war with the Russian Empire was very likely to die in the cradle.

After all, the two main parties had already announced mutual understanding. For a third party to declare that the understanding between you two is not legally effective and to forcefully start a conflict is to trample "peace" underfoot.

Despite Jerome Bonaparte and the military commanders around him secretly boasting that "truth is only within the range of the cannon," they had to outwardly love peace more than anyone else.

Whether it is an eastern war or a western war, there must be a justified reason to go to war.

Even the future World War I started because an assassin trained by Serbia assassinated Archduke Ferdinand, which incited fervor in the Austria-Hungary government.

With a mindset of revenge, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with harsh conditions, some of which involved Serbia’s territorial sovereignty. After Serbia sought help from its big brother Russia, the Russian Empire declared to guarantee Serbia’s sovereignty.

Afterwards, Austria-Hungary’s ally gave an insincere promise to Austria-Hungary, which led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, Russia declaring war on Austria-Hungary, Germany declaring war on Russia, and then declaring war on France.

Thus, World War I started in a confused manner. Austria-Hungary’s justification was that its Archduke was shot by an assassin trained by Serbia, while Russia’s justification was that Austria-Hungary’s demands on Serbia were too harsh.

Both sides had somewhat strained reasons, but each was enough to declare war on the other.

Of course, the final outcome was very tragic, with three crowns falling, the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, and a lost generation in the French Republic.

It could be said to be a lose-lose situation.

Even a total war based on nationalism requires a suitable pretext, let alone a semi-noble natured war, which needs some embellishment to deceive the domestic populace successfully.

"Is the French Empire still not ready?" Ambassador Canning asked suspiciously.

"This is a clash between major powers. One can’t be too careful!" Valerovsky answered cautiously, then added, "Rest assured! It won’t be long before France will be ready to fight alongside Britain!!"

"I understand!" Ambassador Canning nodded in response to Valerovsky.

Since the French Government behind Valerovsky was ready to prepare for war, the Kingdom of Britain felt more confident.

The terrestrial army of the French Empire united with the naval army of the Kingdom of Britain was truly invincible.

On April 5th, a late telegram appeared in the British Embassy in the Ottoman Empire.

The telegram once again appointed Stratford Canning as the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, and also reinstated his authority to call for support from the Mediterranean Fleet.

Now, Canning was about to play out the role of a king returning in glory.

That afternoon, Canning personally visited the residence of Muhammad Ali.

In the residence, Canning delivered an impassioned speech urging Muhammad Ali to maintain a tough stance against the Russian Empire, and personally assured the Ottoman Empire that if the Russian Empire attempted to invade, the British Mediterranean Fleet would swiftly come to their aid.

Elated by Stratford Canning’s assurance, Muhammad Ali was overjoyed. He had thought that upon Canning’s return, he would once again choose to support Rechid, not expecting such a guarantee would be made to himself.

Now, with backing from both Britain and France, Muhammad Ali no longer feared the Russian Imperial Army. He also personally assured Ambassador Canning that he would adhere to the Kingdom of Britain’s orders, becoming a loyal subordinate to the Kingdom of Britain.

Canning, however, was a hundred times skeptical of Muhammad Ali’s guarantee.

If not for the turbulent current situation, wherein interfering in the Ottoman prime minister’s replacement would cause unnecessary trouble, Canning would undoubtedly have replaced Muhammad Ali with Mustafa Rechid.

Subsequently, adhering to the principle of the historic Anglo-French rivalry, Canning subtly indicated to Muhammad Ali that there was a simple method to prevent Menshikov from making a move on the Ottomans—the key was for the Ottoman Empire to unwaveringly separate the Holy Land disputes from other issues involving Russia, treating it as an independent problem.

In the Holy Land dispute, Russia indeed had the right to demand the restoration of privileges per the treaty, but to maintain Turkish sovereignty, other Russian demands must be refused. What kind of religious rights the Sultan’s subjects should enjoy must be granted by the Sultan himself based on his position as the Ottoman Empire’s monarch, not through any system controlled by Russia.

In other words, it meant nullifying all of France’s efforts before December 20th, putting France and Russia back on the same starting line.

Faced with Canning’s suggestion, Muhammad Ali was clearly somewhat resistant.

The current Ottoman Empire had already offended the Russian Empire, and there was no need or capability to further provoke the French Empire.

Otherwise, the small stature of the Ottoman Empire truly could not withstand the attack of two major European land powers.

Thus, Muhammad Ali tactfully refused the suggestion proposed by Canning.

Seeing that he could not shake the diplomatic relations between France and the Ottoman Empire, Canning could not help but sigh inwardly.

It now seemed that Muhammad Ali was not entirely a "fool" enamored with power struggles.

Subsequently, Canning and Muhammad Ali discussed the condition proposed by Menshikov of placing all Eastern Orthodox Christians and the Greek Church within the Ottoman Empire under the protection of the Russian Empire.

The two reached an agreement on this issue, believing that Menshikov... no, it should be said the Tsar behind Menshikov, viewed the Holy Land disputes and the protection of the Greek Church as the Trojan Horse within the Ancient Greek wars, using this "horse" to achieve the infiltration and dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire.

After the long and tedious analysis ended, Canning rose to bid farewell to Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali enthusiastically saw Canning off from his mansion.

After Canning left, Muhammad Ali once again called in Fate Pasha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Foreign Minister Fuad Effendi.

The three of them sat on sofas in three different positions to exchange views on the situation of the Ottoman Empire.

Muhammad Ali believed that the Ottoman Empire should resolutely reject Menshikov, thus dispelling Menshikov’s unrealistic ideas.

Fuad Effendi and Rifat Pasha, however, offered a view completely different from Muhammad Ali’s.

Fuad Effendi and Rifat Pasha thought that the Ottoman Empire should unswervingly use delay tactics, in order to wait for aid from the West, particularly from the French Empire.

As former ambassadors of the Ottoman Empire to the Kingdom of Britain, they really lacked sufficient confidence in the combat effectiveness of the British homeland forces.

In their words, "The Kingdom of Britain has dispersed its limited forces across various colonies, and the troops remaining in the homeland are hardly enough to support a high-intensity war. Moreover, the favorite conscription method in every British war is to capture vagrants on the street, hand each of them a gun, and order them to fight.

The combat ability of those forcibly conscripted soldiers is imaginable, not to mention that some British officers can be bought with a certain amount of money.

Unlike the French officers, most of whom rely on battle achievements or come out of military academies!"

In summary, Fuad Effendi and Rifat Pasha believed that the quality of French soldiers was far superior to that of the Kingdom of Britain.

The war between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire was not only a war of the Black Sea, but also a war on land.

In every sense, they should help France to continue stalling.

Under the insistence of Fuad Edifen and Rifat, Muhammad Ali abandoned his idea and ordered Rifat Pasha to do his utmost to stall the Russian Empire.

Rifat Pasha expressed that he would certainly continue to maneuver with Menshikov.

During the period from April 6th to 26th, Rifat Pasha used all his might to maneuver with Menshikov.

Including but not limited to pretending to be ill, going out, handling other diplomatic affairs, etc.

Unable to see progress in the negotiations for a long time, Menshikov was held accountable by Nicholas I, who severely criticized Menshikov and ordered him to quickly make the Ottoman Empire sign the treaty.

On April 28th, Menshikov came to Muhammad Ali’s residence and delivered an ultimatum to Muhammad Ali, ordering them to quickly furnish a solution, or else the Ottoman Empire would suffer the merciless assault of the Russian Empire.

Muhammad Ali readily agreed to Menshikov’s opinion, turning everything over to Rifat Pasha.

Rifat Pasha continued to delay unhurriedly.

In early May, Menshikov found Muhammad Ali for the second time, this time with even more severe terms, demanding that the Ottoman Empire must provide him with a suitable solution within two weeks.

At this point, Muhammad Ali reluctantly agreed to Menshikov’s proposal, telling Menshikov that the Imperial Council would discuss the demands he raised on May 17th.