Chapter 207 Chasing Pirates
Chapter 208: Pursuing Pirates
On the sea, the combined fleet had risked completing the firepower containment mission. In order to avoid unnecessary damage, the fleet commander, Major General Cisneros, ordered to retreat beyond the effective range of the port artillery.
The sails of several warships had just adjusted their angles when he heard the artillery suddenly go quiet.
Cisneros came to the bow deck of the "Forward" with some confusion, pulled out the telescope, and immediately saw that the iris flag with a blue-purple background had been flying above the artillery.
"These guys are too fast, aren't they?" He looked at the adjutant beside him in surprise, "Have they landed for an hour?"
The adjutant looked at the watch and shook his head:
"Not yet, General. Just 48 minutes have passed."
Cisneros's eyes twitched. It would probably take more than half an hour to march from the shore to the artillery without stopping. Did this Berthier run all the way into the pirates' artillery? !
He originally thought that this novice corps, which had only been established for more than half a year, and a group of policemen, could take down the fort before dark. Unexpectedly, the battle was over before noon? !
This is probably not a simple novice corps...
If someone told him at this time that it was those policemen who took down the fort, he would probably doubt his life even more.
On the Guard Corps side, the military doctor directed the men to carry the wounded into the tent, while Berthier looked at the battle statistics report just delivered by the adjutant and walked towards the fort on the slope.
8 police cadets were killed and 10 were injured. Berthier's corps had 3 killed and 5 injured. This was because the police cadets were too excited and rushed too fast on the battlefield for the first time. Otherwise, casualties could be reduced.
In terms of results, 282 pirates were captured alive and about 90 were killed. The fort in Bizerte was captured. The seized cannons, muskets and other supplies have not been counted yet.
Due to the characteristics of the port, after capturing the coastal fortress, the docks and towns behind it had almost no resistance.
In other words, the port of Bizerta, one of the two major bases of the Barbary pirates in Tunisia, had been captured.
He ordered his adjutant to do his best to treat the wounded, the troops who had just been responsible for the beaching to rest on the spot, and the two newly landed battalions entered the town to search for pirates.
Before dark, the Guards Corps had completely controlled the entire port of Bizerta and captured more than 40 pirates on the list, while more pirates had escaped from the port.
The adjutant of the legion looked at the still bright sky and said to Berthier:
"Commander, should we send cavalry to chase those fleeing guys? They should not have run too far."
Berthier shook his head: "Order, the whole army will rest in Bizerte for a day and a half and replenish some food and wine."
"Ah? Rest for so long?"
The adjutant was a little puzzled: "Sir, if this happens, the pirates may run away."
"It doesn't matter, just give them time to run." Berthier recalled Joseph's plan and smiled, "The day after tomorrow at noon, we will set off south again."
Bizerte faces the sea to the north, and there are only two places to go to in the south, Kairouan and Tunisia City. Now that the two armies are fighting fiercely in Kairouan Fortress, these pirates can only run to Tunisia City, which is Joseph's real goal.
...
Two days later.
Tunisia City.
In the Kasir Palace, dozens of naval officers with embarrassed expressions crawled on the ground, begging with tears in their voices:
"Great Bey, those Europeans suddenly attacked the port, we can't just let it go!"
"They are openly trying to kill us! This is simply an insult to you!"
"Great Bey, you must protect us! The navy has contributed a lot of taxes to you over the years..."
"Please mobilize the army and chop off the heads of those infidels!"
Hamoud Ali frowned in annoyance. He has been in trouble recently.
If it weren't for Yunis' sudden rebellion, he mobilized the guards from all over Tunisia to suppress the rebellion, resulting in less than 500 soldiers stationed in the port, and the Europeans would not have been able to break through the port of Bizerte so easily.
He waved his hand to shut up the naval officers who had just escaped from Bizerte, turned around and motioned the middle-aged official next to him to follow him into the back hall, frowned and asked:
"Sinanedin, the European army is already rushing here, what do you think we should do about this?"
The middle-aged official was a Tunisian "kadi", a position similar to that of a prime minister. He pondered for a moment, lowered his head and said:
"Great Bey, the Europeans are here to wipe out the pirates... because the navy looted their merchant ships and demanded a high ransom."
"So, what do you mean?"
Sinanedin whispered:
"Bey, the navy is not under your control. If sacrificing them can avoid the blame of the Europeans, it is not impossible to consider."
"Kadi" Hamud Ali nodded thoughtfully:
"What you said makes sense. Then let the guards lock up those people outside. You go and tell the Europeans that you can hand them over to..."
Before he finished speaking, Hafsa, who was fiddling with the harp not far away, suddenly stood up and walked over quickly, saluted him, and said anxiously:
"Bey, Lord Kadi, you must not hand over the navy!"
"Oh? Tell me your reasons." Ali turned his head and looked at her.
"You are the protector of the entire Tunisia. If you cannot protect the navy at this time, the whole of Tunisia will doubt you."
Sinanedin said hurriedly: "But the Europeans..."
"You don't have to worry." Hafsa looked disapproving. "I heard that they only came with two or three thousand people, and we have soldiers from the Imperial Guard and Navy, so we don't need to be afraid of them at all!"
Before Sinanidine could refute, she immediately continued:
"And now Bey's army is fighting the rebels. If you show the slightest weakness, you will make those who are still waiting to turn to Younis!"
Hamoud Ali immediately showed hesitation when he heard this.
Since Yunis launched the rebellion, Hafsa has judged the situation very accurately and demonstrated her extraordinary strategy.
And indeed, as she said, she must show a tough side in order to subdue all forces in Tunisia.
As for the Europeans, the navy robbed their merchant ships, but as long as they paid them enough money, their anger should be quelled.
Thinking of this, he looked at Sinanidine: "Kadi, you bring 30,000 rials to negotiate with the Europeans, and you must keep the navy.
"In addition, summon the Praetorian Guards to increase the defense of Tunisia City."
"But..." Sinanidine wanted to persuade him again, but seeing that he was resolute, he had no choice but to hug his chest and accept the order to leave.
Hafsa's eyes flashed with an imperceptible brilliance. Although she didn't know why Haji asked her to convince Ali to protect the navy, she obviously did it.
…
The Port of Bizerte is only 70 kilometers away from the Tunisian city. After three days of march, the Guards Corps arrived outside the city of Tunisia.
In conjunction with their actions, the combined fleet also headed south to the Tunisian port at the same time, leaving only one frigate and a few small boats to blockade the Port of Bizerte - after seizing the port fort, a small number of warships could complete the blockade task.