In this way, the Governor-General decided to postpone the plan to attack Britain and concentrate on attacking Egypt. It was the only viable arrangement for glory, wealth, power, and a possible peace with England, as well as to get rid of General Napoleon, who was a great threat to them. After all, due to the peace agreement signed with Austria, Europe only needed a small number of troops. Once the United Kingdom was intimidated, the world would be peaceful.
The Decision
France's colonization of Egypt was not a new plan, nor was it absurd. Because the Dutch had colonies in the Far East, the Spanish had colonies in South America and even the South Pacific. Of course, there was also the United Kingdom, the only country that was still an enemy of France after the signing of the Campo Formio Peace Agreement. It had colonies on several continents. In addition, the French partisans felt that they had the right and duty to spread the fruits of the revolution that they had worked so hard to obtain to the rest of the world.
As early as 1769, the French Foreign Minister proposed to Louis Fifteen to turn Egypt into a French colony so that once the American colonies were lost, they could be replaced by Egypt. However, this proposal was rejected by Louis Fifteen. A few years later, another foreign minister brought up the matter again to Louis VI, but was also rejected.
The declining empire had lost control of remote provinces. While Egypt, ruled by the Mamluks, was not much better off.
As early as April 1796, when the French envoy who returned from Turkey talked about the internal collapse of the Turkish Empire and the ambitions of Russia and Austria, Napoleon had already planned to invade Egypt. However, the one who was most determined to attack Egypt was the French businessman, Charles Magalon. As he was the French Consul stationed in Cairo, he had close ties with Paris, the French Foreign Ministry, and of course, the Directorate-General.
In August 1797, Ma Jialong submitted a memorial to Paris, pointing out the necessity and benefits of occupying Egypt. He suggested that the French land in May (to avoid the summer heat and the flood of the Nile), and he said that the conquest of all Egypt could and must be completed within nine months. The three-month flood season could be used to consolidate Alexandria, Tamia, and Rosetta, creating conditions for the French army to march into India and expel the British. At least it could cut off the British merchants from India. France's new strategic position in Egypt would, in turn, make Cairo, Alexandria, and Marseille the new world trade center ports of France. In the summer of 1797, Ma Jialong's proposal was supported by Talleyrand, and Monge encouraged Napoleon to seriously consider the adventure of conquering Egypt. However, Meng Ri's starting point was completely different. He saw the conquest of Egypt as the triumph of the ideals of the French revolution over ignorance and tyranny-the conquest was French citizenship.
In addition, throughout the spring and summer of 1797, the victorious Napoleon submitted a series of international political situation analyses to the Directorate-General in Paris. On May 26, for example, he encouraged the Directorate to seize Malta, saying that it was of great value to us and that if we did not move forward, it would fall into the hands of the British sooner or later. He further explained that the islands recently occupied by France, including the Ionian Islands and Corfu, were more valuable than all of Italy, not only because they were rich in resources and prosperous in commerce, but also because they had an important strategic position to support the Turkish allies. However, it was not until his conversation with Monge in September and October that his ideas were further strengthened, and he proposed that in order to truly destroy Britain, we must occupy Egypt (his adventurous plan was somewhat contradictory, emphasizing the need to support the Turkish Empire while planning to deprive it of its richest provinces). After a discussion with Monge, Napoleon decided to send a secret envoy to Malta.
After his diplomatic role in Rashtat gradually faded, Napoleon focused on making plans to conquer Egypt. On March 5, he submitted a long official analysis of the expedition, including what he thought would be needed-twenty-five thousand infantry and three thousand cavalry-which he believed would be enough to occupy Egypt and Malta.
Napoleon's report was only a matter of formality, because the Governor had already discussed and decided on this matter with him. On the same day, the Governor issued a decree announcing the launch of a new military operation, including Napoleon's proposal to establish a Mediterranean Coast Military Committee to command military operations in Egypt. Another order authorized the replenishment of the troops in Marseille, Toulon, and other port cities, as well as the formation of a fleet to escort the expeditionary force. At the same time, the Minister of the Army was authorized to allocate 1 million Francs to the newly established Military Committee and to allocate 500,000 Francs to the Army and Navy every ten days until the preparations for war were completed. Another decree ordered the Minister of the Navy to equip warships at Toulon so that they could fight at sea for three months. On the same day, the Governor also issued several orders, instructing the commander in Italy to mobilize all the ships in Genaya to prepare for the transportation of troops. He also ordered General Massena to immediately set off for Civitaveccia, Italy, and ordered General Wobion in Ajaccio to be ready to go.
Although the purpose of this military operation was top secret, and only a few of Napoleon's senior generals knew about it, the plan to mobilize and transport troops was put into practice in full swing.
Two days later, on March 7, the Directorate-General appointed Vice Admiral Brueise as the commander of the fleet while continuing to prepare troops, ammunition, and artillery for the expeditionary force. A few days later, Bertier was relieved of his position as commander of the Italian Army and transferred back to Paris as Chief of Staff of the Expeditionary Force. A week later, Louis Dessey took over Bertier's duties in Civitaveccia, Italy.
In mid-March, the Minister of the Army informed the eastern and southeastern garrisons of France that large-scale military movements would take place in their military areas. At the same time, he ordered all the military commanders in France and the French-occupied areas to mobilize troops to Leon. Then, General Born organized and equipped these troops, and transported them to the Mediterranean coast through the Rhine River by thousands of barges.
The Directorate-General was so secretive about the purpose of the military operation that he had never worked with Napoleon, and Kléber, who was now one of the commanders of the expedition, still did not know the final destination of the expedition. What was even more surprising was that the Secretary of the Navy himself had not been informed of the true purpose of the expedition until March 15th!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。