Chapter 187 Stealing a Home (Part 2)

Author: Seven Years Period

Chapter 187 Stealing a Home (Part 2)

In order to build battleships, Muhammad Ali built a labor camp on the hill behind the dock, which was filled with a large number of craftsmen who were coerced by the Egyptian government.

They had long been fed up with Ali's brutal rule, and members of the Karamanli family had secretly infiltrated the labor force.

And told those craftsmen that one day someone will come to save them. At that time, they will drive the battleship they built with their own hands and leave this hell.

The treatment of craftsmen in Egypt was extremely low, especially the conscripted laborers. They were no different from slaves in Ali's eyes, and the Egyptian soldiers were naturally even less likely to treat them well.

Everyone, including the craftsmen, had no real wages, and whips and sticks were commonplace.

Not only do they have to do high-intensity labor every day, but they also have very little food. There are often dozens or hundreds of craftsmen crammed into one room.

What was even worse was the coolies. They only had simple tents. In order to prevent them from escaping, many of them had their feet shackled. Every guard had the right to shoot and kill those who escaped.

As for those who are sick and injured, there is only one principle, that is, if you do not support idle people, you will die if you cannot work!

Under this kind of treatment, no craftsman wants to fulfill Ali's dream.

The so-called "Great Arab Empire" cannot move them.

Just wanting to survive has become their only inner hope. As for the warships they build, the level of craftsmanship will naturally be greatly reduced.

But these people gave the Austrian Navy the possibility of a complete victory. As the Austrian Navy's attack began, a large number of craftsmen rushed out of the labor camp that had been breached by the Marines.

Thousands of craftsmen rushed to the dock to seize the ships. They used the simplest tools to eliminate the only garrison in the dock.

Of course, there were also many craftsmen who did not want to leave this land. They rushed out of the dock and fled into the nearby mountains and forests.

Originally, the Austrian Navy could not take away these battleships, but with the help of thousands of Egyptian craftsmen, it was not impossible.

The craftsmen raised the sails, and the brand-new battleships sailed out of the port one after another, of course to ensure that they would act according to Franz's plan. Fifty marines were dispatched to each warship to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan.

Seeing the battleship sailing out of the port, the last courage of the Egyptian defenders also disappeared, because they knew very well that losing the battleship would only lead to death.

As a result, their morale collapsed completely and they fled in all directions under the cover of night.

As early as when the workers rushed out of the labor camp, many defenders greased their feet, but this time no one wanted to stay and be buried with the shipyard.

In fact, the Egyptian defenders did not understand until the end how those 4-5 meter high forts fell and there were so many hidden sentries. Are they all blind? Why did they not sound the alarm when so many enemies sneaked in?

Many of the Dragon Special Forces responsible for attacking the forts were selected from the mountain hunters of Tyrol. Those forts that are difficult for ordinary people to reach are as easy as drinking water for them.

And compared with the smugglers and bandits they usually deal with, these Egyptians appear to be less vigilant.

The battle went smoothly beyond Friedrich's imagination. The brutal naval battle he had expected did not happen. On land, the elite Austrian troops defeated the Egyptian defenders unilaterally.

What made him even more delighted was that Muhammad Ali, who had spent many years building the country with all his efforts, fell into Austrian hands.

No matter how shoddy the Egyptian warships were, the cost of each first-class ship would not be less than 1 million florins, and the price of a third-class battleship would not be less than 300,000 florins.

As the first ray of sunlight rose over the sea, Friedrich could hardly believe his own eyes. Behind him were nineteen huge sailing battleships, whose military power even exceeded the combined strength of the Austrian Navy.

No man can resist the temptation of cannons, giant ships and excavators, Friedrich touched his nose.

"Thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi, don't bully young people into poverty!"

In this battle, the Austrian Navy's fifteen steam gunboats and three steam landing ships were lost. They sank two Egyptian Navy cruisers, four battleships under construction, captured 19 enemy battleships, and rescued 3,000 Egyptian shipbuilders.

The Marine Corps suffered 39 casualties, wiped out nearly 2,000 Egyptian defenders, killed the Egyptian Minister of Navy Ash Pasha, destroyed eight forts, two arsenals, and three barracks. Alexander Governor Vishaxi Pasha committed suicide.

The casualties of the Marines mainly occurred after the landing, indiscriminate shooting and trampling when the line of sight was insufficient, and accidental damage by Congreve rockets. Two rockets even flew directly into the crowd.

Along with the secret dockyard, not only their fleet was destroyed, but also the war potential of the Egyptian Navy.

More than half of the craftsmen of the Egyptian Navy were abducted to Austria along with Friedrich's fleet. It was obvious that they could not return to their homeland of Egypt, so they simply stayed in Austria to work as craftsmen for the rest of their lives.

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

"It seems that our harem manager cannot do without you." Adjani said with a smile.

"She just doesn't quite understand her responsibilities yet," Franz said.

Adjani stretched out her slender white fingers and lifted Franz's chin.

"What a handsome little man. If you can fall in love with any girl, she will be lucky." The voice was pleasant and gentle.

"Miss Adjani, you've made fun of me again." Franz said modestly. Some habits are difficult to break, such as this somewhat hypocritical self-effacement.

"No, Archduke Franz, I am serious." Adjani said as she got closer to Franz, like a lion approaching step by step.

Adjani's facial features were already extremely beautiful, but her eyes lit up her entire facial features. Those were the most beautiful eyes Franz had ever seen. Even though he had seen them many times, he still didn't have the courage to look into them.

Then Franz's eyes moved downward unconsciously, and then he saw an even more heart-stirring scene. As his heartbeat accelerated and blood surged, Franz simply closed his eyes. However, a tempting aroma,

Still got into Franz's nasal cavity.

"Stop making trouble and tell me if you have anything to do. Otherwise, I will send you to my mother and let her play with you."

Adjani put away her smile and asked.

"Why do you have a soft spot for the Tyroleans?"

"Oh, is it so?"

"Tyrol is surrounded by mountains. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. I think you must know better than me. If one day, there is a rebellion in this place, you will have to pay a huge price. Not only will your hard work be in vain, but also

It will cost the lives of many Austrian soldiers."

“The peak produces false advocacy, and the dusk witnesses the true believers,” Franz said.

Since ancient times, the light infantry from the Tyrol region has been Austria's signature force.

During the Thirty Years' War, Tyrol was the Habsburg family's strongest supporter until their defeat.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the Austrian Empire abandoned Tyrol and ceded it to France and its allies.

Afterwards, with no hope, the Tyroleans revolted again and again to drive away the Bavarian army, and even repelled the French attack many times.

In the end, Napoleon had to mobilize an army several times larger than the rebel army to suppress it.

Adjani could understand what Franz meant, but she still asked.

"Who can guarantee that they will always be loyal?"

Franz just smiled and didn't answer.
Chapter completed!