Chapter 56: The Panic-Stricken Turks

"General, what should we do with these prisoners? We have not only Egyptians but also a large number of Turks!"

After a resounding victory, dealing with the myriad prisoners had become the biggest immediate issue.

"Lock up all the Egyptians and put them to work. As for the Turks, see if any are willing to surrender to us; they can serve as guides for us."

Napoleon looked around at the captives and commanded. His ambitions extended beyond merely conquering Egypt; he wanted to incorporate Turkey into his envisioned "Eastern Empire."

"Uncle Napoleon, are we really going to attack Turkey?" Upon hearing Napoleon's orders for the prisoners, Roland immediately guessed that Napoleon had not abandoned the idea of continuing the assault on Turkey.

In fact, Roland felt very uncertain about Napoleon's plan to advance north and attack Turkey. Although Turkey was gradually showing signs of becoming the "sick man of West Asia," as the saying goes, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse.

The Ottoman Empire, having dominated parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe for so many years, surely had some reserves. If the Ottomans truly decided to fight Napoleon to the death, it would likely be Napoleon who would suffer.

"Uncle Napoleon, isn't it a bit hasty for us to attack Turkey now? Although we have completely quelled the resistance in Egypt, we have only just begun to govern Egypt, and our foundation there is very weak. Advancing now might overextend our supply lines."

After some thought, Roland finally spoke up, advising Napoleon.

"No, Roland. Your thinking is too conservative. We have already clashed with the Turks today, and their strength is just as I anticipated. That's exactly why I want to continue the attack. Only by doing so can we deter the entire Arab world and thus control it."

"The Middle East is a very important region. From here, we can threaten the Holy Roman Empire and Russia to the north, and to the east, we can threaten India, Britain's most important colony. Such a critical place, France must keep it firmly in hand."

Napoleon spoke, clenching his fist, his confidence boosted by the recent victory.

"Alright then. But we still need to be cautious about our logistics. After all, the route from Cairo to Syria is very long, and with the British active in the Mediterranean, they are likely to send forces to raid our supply lines, so we must be very careful."

Napoleon is a stubborn man, and Roland alone couldn't persuade him. Napoleon was set on his plans to attack Egypt, and Roland could only subtly hint at the risks involved.

Whether Napoleon took these warnings to heart, Roland couldn't be sure.

...

Damascus, Syria:

Damascus, a major stronghold and the capital of Syria, is usually a place of peace and opulence. But recently, as the situation has become turbulent, the atmosphere within the city has turned eerie. High-ranking Turkish officials gathered in Damascus, including the Governor of Syria, Bazil, and the commander of the Turkish Albanian Legion, Delamari. The mood among them was somber, all due to Napoleon's victory at Suez. This battle was decisively won by Napoleon, who eliminated Murad as effortlessly as if he were sweeping away trash.

The strength of the French forces deeply alarmed the Turks, as Suez is practically the gateway to Turkish territory—a backyard that Turkey would never allow to be compromised. Thus, immediately after the victory at Suez, Sultan Mahmoud II of Turkey ordered Delamari from the Balkans to lead Turkey's most elite unit, the Albanian Legion, to Syria to help Bazil defend against Napoleon's invasion.

The Albanian Legion, the most elite of the Turkish forces, has been stationed on the Balkan Peninsula for years, defending against Austrian and Russian invasions. Their extensive experience in fighting Europeans in the region highlights their capability. Sultan Mahmoud II's decision to redeploy them showed his commitment to protecting Syria.

"General Delamari, you've finally arrived. You don't know how terrified I've been. I've been living in fear of Napoleon launching a sudden attack and invading Syria," Bazil said to Delamari with a tone of obsequiousness, a reflection of the immense pressure Napoleon had been putting on him. He had been eating poorly and sleeping worse, fearful of a sudden strike by Napoleon, whom he considered a devil.

"Governor Bazil, I need to know the details of the battle at Suez. The more detailed, the better," Delamari said upon meeting Bazil. Delamari, one of Turkey's finest army commanders, had abundant combat experience. However, this was his first time strategizing against the French, so he wanted to gather as much information about the French forces as possible to devise a strategy against Napoleon.