Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1220: Chapter 1125: An Insignificant War

Este suddenly thought of something: “Wait a minute, the Wozan Tribe has fewer than 800 warriors, they don’t need so many guns at all.”

Lord Elliot shook his head and said: “Pillage? No, you misunderstood. We are going to support the Wozan in controlling the entire north of Morocco.”

“Ah?” the young diplomat exclaimed, “But didn’t you say before that you wanted to pillage Melilla…”

“Yes, pillage Melilla, but that’s the job of the Rif Tribe.”

Melilla is a Spanish territory in the northeast of Morocco. Although poorly located and rather barren, it is a significant supporting point for the Ceuta Fortress.

Ceuta is located on the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, facing Gibraltar across the sea. It is an important strategic position in Spain’s hands.

Este was already confused: “What does this have to do with the Wozan Tribe?”

“The Rif Tribe is too weak,” Lord Elliot said, “They are willing to plunder Spanish towns as desperadoes, but they are by no means a match for the Spanish army.

“So I have them pillage Melilla in the name of the Wozan Tribe.

“And since the Wozan Tribe claims to be the rulers of northern Morocco, if anything happens here, the Spaniards will definitely look to them for a resolution.

“How could the Wozan people compensate for something they didn’t do?

“We will operate in the dark, and soon the Spanish will launch an attack on the Wozan Tribe.

“Then you’ll understand the significance of those 3,000 flintlock guns.”

Este wiped the sweat from his palms and reminded: “Your Lordship, doing so might infuriate the Moroccan Sultan.”

“He might be unhappy, but that’s all,” Lord Elliot said confidently, “No, he must even support the Wozan Tribe.”

Este, as a diplomat who had stayed in Morocco for a long time, immediately understood the envoy’s intention.

Morocco has always claimed that Spain’s occupation of Ceuta and Melilla is illegal and has launched tens of thousands of troops in 1720 and 1774 to attempt to recover these places, but they were repelled by the Spaniards.

Now that the Wozan Tribe wants to “drive away the Spaniards and recover lost territory,” the Moroccan Sultan can only reluctantly support them, even though he has long been unable to actually control these northern tribes.

The next afternoon, the British envoy quickly reached an agreement with the leader of the Wozan Tribe.

“Merchant Elliot” would provide weapons and funds for the Wozan Tribe, helping them to unify several major tribes in the north in exchange for a trade monopoly in northern Morocco.

As the local power in northern Morocco, the Wozan Tribe naturally did not want to miss such a good opportunity.

A week later, the first batch of weapons was transported through secret channels to the Bou Helaoue Mountain—Britain had many caravans in Morocco, and smuggling something was simply too easy.

Shortly thereafter, the Wozan Tribe launched an attack on the neighboring Zumi Tribe.

…

Royal Palace of Madrid.

“These despicable, shameless savages!” Baron Jose Perez-Lorca shouted, shaking his fist, “They must pay for what they have done!”

Marquis Aishikunlaji echoed, “We should immediately dispatch troops and wipe out all the Moroccans from Tetouan to Fez!”

Campos frowned and looked at the Chief Minister: “Your Excellency, the French Expeditionary Army is already on standby in Seville, should we focus on attacking Gibraltar first?”

Before Count of Florida Blanca could say anything, Baron Luerka interjected, “Gibraltar can be attacked at any time, but the opportunity to send troops to Morocco is extremely rare.

“Besides, the Gibraltar Fortress is heavily fortified, and it would take at least two or three years to starve out the British Army there. In comparison, the war in Morocco will only take a few months to achieve victory.

“We can completely deal with Melilla’s issue first and then launch an attack on Gibraltar.”

Yes, not long ago he received 5,000 escudo gold coins from a “wealthy merchant engaged in maritime trade in Morocco.” The latter asked him to lobby the Spanish government to send troops to Morocco as soon as possible.

However, since Morocco is a land that Spain has always coveted, no one doubted his actions.

Count Aranda reminded, “Shouldn’t we discuss this matter with France first? After all, North Africa is also a core interest area for France.”

Baron Luerka immediately said, “Our two countries have long reached a tacit agreement, dividing the sphere of influence along the Mulu River. Resolving the tribes in northern Morocco will also help them control places like Oujda.”

Count of Florida Blanca paused for a moment in thought and looked at Campos: “We can pull 25,000 soldiers from the Talavera Legion; if it’s just to clean up the tribes in northern Morocco, the war can be over in no more than three months.”

Indeed, more than 20 days after the attack on Melilla, the Spanish garrison had learned that the Moroccan Sultan’s forces were not involved and that it was instead done by a newly emerged Wozan Tribe.

Although this tribe controlled most of the northern region of Morocco, they at most had four or five thousand troops.

As long as they are dealt with, Spain could gain provinces in the north like Tangier, Tetouan, and Fez, with over a hundred thousand square kilometers of land.

Moreover, since the Moroccans provoked first, the Moroccan Sultan would most likely have to pay a large amount of compensation to Spain.

Even the cautious and steady minister Campos agreed that sending troops to Morocco indeed seemed like the best choice and no longer opposed it.

Three days later, Charles IV signed the document declaring war on Morocco.

The Spanish troops stationed in Portugal had always been in a state of readiness, and immediately gathered at Lisbon Port to set out. Less than a week later, they landed in Melilla.

And it wasn’t until then that Fari received the news of Spain suddenly sending troops to Morocco.

Well, the plan to attack Gibraltar did proceed as planned, but Spain only sent 3,000 soldiers. By comparison, the 5,000-strong French force seemed more like the main force.

However, what the Spaniards did not anticipate was that they soon suffered their first defeat in North Africa.

The initial progress was extremely smooth; the Spanish army took control of large areas of Tangier and Tetouan within a week, facing little resistance from the Moroccan tribes.

But this led to an underestimation of the enemy among Spanish soldiers, and soon over a thousand infantrymen recklessly approached the Rif Mountain area.

The Wozan Tribe, taking advantage of the forest cover, launched an ambush on them, killing over 400 and capturing more than 200.

The Spanish commander immediately dispatched over ten thousand troops to suppress the Moroccan tribes, but they could not find a single person in the silent Rif Mountain.

…

Italy.

Florence.

A young man, dressed in a dark grey overcoat with his hat pulled low, stood on the fence of the flower bed on the street, speaking solemnly to more than ten bystanders gathered around him: “Why are people losing their jobs every day? Why can you hear the cries of hungry children everywhere? Why do creditors want to seize our homes?

“It’s all because of those damned French people!”