Pello added: "Defterdar, besides the aforementioned interests, there is one more crucial point.
"That is, should the Ottoman Sultan face simultaneous threats to Gaza and the Holy City, there is a high possibility that he would choose to compromise with the Persians and recall the troops from Transcaucasia to deal with you."
Muhammad Ali was a very astute person, and he nodded thoughtfully at once.
Transcaucasia was only an additional benefit for the Ottomans, while Gaza was connected to the affluent northern Levant; not to mention the Holy City, which Salem III would never give up.
So, even if I move fast enough and can occupy Gaza in a short time, I will soon face an Ottoman army of nearly 200,000.
Egypt currently has only fifty to sixty thousand troops, of which the absolutely loyal Albanian Army numbers fewer than 13,000.
Even if I am lucky enough to hold Gaza, I will surely suffer significant losses.
