Chapter 662: Cooperation
Talleyrand nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, Grand Vizier, there are always shameless individuals who attempt to disrupt our mutually beneficial trade through war or intimidation."
He gently removed Melek Mehmed Pasha's hand from his coffee cup and smiled.
"However, in my experience, evildoers are often beset by misfortune. Their fleets might encounter a storm as soon as they pass the Strait of Gibraltar."
"A storm? In the Mediterranean?"
Talleyrand waved dismissively.
"Perhaps a sea monster instead. Who knows? But I am confident that Mediterranean trade will remain undisturbed by the British."
Melek Mehmed stared at the "nonsense" spouting from the Frenchman's lips but couldn't miss the unwavering confidence on his round face.
"With all due respect, your fleet is still no match for the British Navy."
"You'll see," Talleyrand replied, his smile unbroken.
"Even the almighty British Navy will adhere to the rules of the Mediterranean."
The Grand Vizier shook his head slightly.
"Even if what you say comes to pass, it would leave our trade in a very precarious position. That is not something we are willing to accept."
His concern was valid. If France monopolized Mediterranean shipping, it could easily manipulate the pricing of imported goods at Ottoman ports, effectively controlling the empire's maritime trade lifelines.
Talleyrand responded swiftly.
"My dearest friend, you must not underestimate the friendship between our two nations.
"These new steamships will not be operated solely by us. We are prepared to sell them to you at any time."
Melek Mehmed Pasha's breathing quickened.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. There is vast potential for cooperation between our nations." Talleyrand smiled broadly.
"A 32-meter steamship would cost you only 300,000 akçe—a significant discount, I assure you."
Selling Steamships to the Ottomans
One French franc was typically worth 10 akçe, but due to the debasement of Ottoman silver coins, a franc could exchange for as much as 12 akçe.
This meant a single steam-powered paddle ship was priced at around 25,000 francs, with a production cost of approximately 14,000 francs.
For cutting-edge technology, this was an incredible deal.
Joseph, the French Prince, understood that monopolizing Mediterranean shipping outright would alienate the Ottomans and potentially drive them into a tighter alliance with Britain. The resulting trade embargoes or hostilities would negate any short-term gains.
By selling steamships to the Ottomans, France could instead secure their goodwill and establish a mutually beneficial relationship:
Trade Agreements: By offering such a generous deal, the Ottomans would feel compelled to reciprocate, potentially lowering tariffs or granting France priority access to key exports like cotton and sugarcane.Post-Sale Profits: The Ottomans lacked the expertise to maintain or repair steamships, ensuring long-term service contracts that could recoup any initial "discount."Managing Technology Risks: The paddle steamships were not suited for military applications. Even if the technology was leaked, it wouldn't significantly impact France's strategic position. Moreover, by the time others could replicate the design, France would have already moved on to more advanced models.
The Grand Vizier's Reaction
Melek Mehmed Pasha immediately rose and placed a hand over his chest.
"This matter is of great importance. I must inform His Majesty, the Sultan."
"Naturally." Talleyrand glanced at his coffee cup and shook his head in mock regret.
"Truth be told, I haven't had my fill yet."
The Grand Vizier hesitated but slowly sat back down.
Talleyrand continued, "You see, if we set aside our minor disagreements over North Africa, there are countless areas where we can collaborate."
Melek Mehmed nodded.
"I'm listening."
Talleyrand picked up his freshly refilled cup of coffee, clearly savoring the moment.
"We need to better meet each other's needs.
"For example, my country can increase the supply of silk, iron goods, chemical products, and weapons to Constantinople and the Levant. Oh, and don't forget steamships."
The Grand Vizier immediately picked up on the key term.
"Weapons? What sort of weapons are you referring to?"
"Flintlock muskets, cannons, military uniforms, surveying equipment—whatever you might need. We could even discuss trading blueprints."
France was transitioning to percussion-cap firearms, making flintlock muskets surplus inventory. Selling them to the Ottomans at a premium was an excellent way to offload outdated stock. Similarly, cannons mounted on outdated carriages could also be sold without hesitation.
The Ottomans' military struggles were rooted in systemic issues like their crumbling Janissary system. Upgrading their weapons wouldn't transform them into a formidable force, making such sales a safe proposition.
Additionally, with tensions rising between Poland and Russia, France needed the Ottomans to exert pressure on Russia. Equipping them with modern weapons was a practical move to achieve this goal.
Expanding Economic Cooperation
Melek Mehmed was ecstatic but composed himself enough to ask,
"And in return, what would France require from us?"
Talleyrand set his cup down gently.
"I'll need more cotton and sugarcane. Surely, this is a modest request?"
Despite its decline, the Ottoman Empire remained resource-rich. For example:
Cotton: Syria and Greece were significant cotton producers, with nearly 20% of Britain's imported cotton sourced from Ottoman territories.Sugarcane: While its production in Egypt lagged behind the Caribbean, it was the closest source of sugarcane to Europe.
Melek Mehmed Pasha nodded confidently.
"I will recommend this to His Majesty."
Military Assistance
Talleyrand wasn't finished. "Oh, by the way, I've heard that His Majesty is training a new 'Topçu' army."
"Yes, there are currently 600 soldiers being trained based on Russian military manuals."
This wasn't a secret. Sultan Selim III's "Nizam-ı Cedid" reforms aimed to modernize the Ottoman military, and any major power's intelligence network would have known about it.
Talleyrand raised an eyebrow, feigning disappointment.
"It's well known that a good teacher is more important than a student's aptitude.
"To be blunt, the Sultan has chosen the worst possible instructor."
"This was on the recommendation of General Omar Agha."
Talleyrand leaned in conspiratorially.
"Omar Agha only sees strength in those who once captured him. But let me tell you: among Europe's great powers, Russian training is considered the weakest."
The Grand Vizier's eyes narrowed.
"Are you suggesting that French officers train our new army?"
Talleyrand shook his head.
"No, I don't believe any European army is suitable for training your troops.
"I also understand that your Janissaries strongly oppose the formation of new armies. Their greatest objection is the idea of infidel instructors."
"This has indeed caused the Topçu army to remain small. If it grows too large, it risks inciting rebellion from the Janissaries."
"In that case, you need instructors from within the Islamic world."
"Where could we possibly find such experts?"
Talleyrand smiled.
"The Royal Tunisian Corps."
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