The Crescent of the Sultan

To be honest, Selim is considered a long-time fan of the emperor. After all, the entire period from the late 18th century to the early 19th century was simply the emperor's personal show.

But Selim still had concerns in his heart, and he was not worried about General Gribois's refusal to release him.

After all, he and Louis XVI had an old friendship. The two had been pen pals for many years. It was not easy for Selim to find each other a lieutenant who had just joined the Raphael Artillery Regiment.

But the key point is that Napoleon only served for two years, and between 1786 and 1791, Napoleon wrote countless articles.

This includes making detailed suggestions on improving gun positions and ballistics based on mathematical calculations, studying options to reduce the cost of transporting artillery shells between arsenals, etc.

It can be said that without the excellent environment of the Raphael Artillery Regiment, Napoleon would never have been so productive.

And if the future God of War left such a field force prematurely, Selim didn't know whether the God of War would still be the God of War?

But Selim had no choice. It was okay to let him deal with the Austrians. After all, Selim thought he could deal with the Prince of Coburg.

But Suvorov and Potemkin, forget it, Selim didn’t want to go dancing in the Kremlin.

It's not that Selim is afraid of them, it's just that excellent generals also need to be polished in actual combat.

As for Yusuf Pasha, 150,000 Turkish troops were defeated by 25,000 Austro-Russian troops. Selim would only think that he could defeat the Russians if he converted to fetishism.

Hassan is stronger than Yusuf, but in front of Suvorov and Potemkin, let him lead the Imperial Navy, otherwise Selim doubts that Ushakov can fight all the way to Constantiniya.

As for land warfare, in the current situation where no generals are available, Napoleon may become the only life-saving straw for the Ottoman Empire.

Suvorov was indeed powerful, but at the beginning of the war, he only had more than 10,000 men.

Selim, by contrast, would have provided Napoleon with a hundred thousand troops.

Among them was a new mixed army of 2,700 artillery, 5,400 musketeers and 2,700 cavalry formed by Hamid I under Selim's instigation and relying on the French.

The entire army is divided into three brigades, totaling nine regiments and thirty battalions. Each regiment consists of two musketry battalions, one artillery battalion and one cavalry battalion. And Napoleon would get two of these brigades.

Here, Selim had to mention Hamid I's trust in him again. In one sentence: "He simply made me cry to death."

As the child of the previous Sultan, Hamid let Selim handle the formation of the new army, and he executed it.

The first is artillery reform. Since Frederick the Great took the lead in using new artillery to defeat the Habsburg army in the War of Austrian Succession, various European countries have launched artillery reforms.

The most successful of these was the French army under the leadership of Gribeauval, which was the basis for Napoleon's subsequent sweep of the European continent.

Compared to Gribewa's reforms, Selim placed more emphasis on the standardization, modularization and universalization of the new artillery force.

By deceiving Louis XVI, a large number of French engineers directed the establishment of artillery factories in the Ottoman Empire to produce field cannons of 4-pound, 8-pound, and 12-pound calibers and 6-inch howitzers and their ammunition. This was also the Ottoman Empire's main artillery.

At the same time, Selim also made improvements in the artillery carriages, ammunition boxes, sights and artillery tools, striving to make the deployment of artillery more mobile and flexible.

Next are the musketeers, a classic two-row line infantry that adopts future French army tactics. Each battalion fires in units of company, sub-battalion, half-battalion and battalion. The phalanx focuses on mass formations and column formations, and also trains shooting and bayonet charge tactics during the march.

"Well, with the emperor's level, there should be no problem, right?" Selim took Paul to the outside of Constantiniya. The new army training camp is in the suburbs 25 kilometers away from the city. The person in charge is Hassan Pasha and General Clarion.

The former is Selim's close confidant. He studied at the Army Academy in Paris and can be considered a returnee.

The latter naturally relied on Selim's trick of cheating and gained more than 100 million yuan. Twelve gold cats' eyes, five red and sapphires weighing ten carats each, and twenty moonstones, citrines, and emeralds were given to him. Queen Mary's gift.

As for Louis XVI, he has a bullfighting suit, two taels each of West Lake Longjing Mingqian tea and Yuqian tea, plus two taels each of Langyao red and enamel colored porcelain. As for why he gave this gift, it was naturally Selim’s promotion. Of course, oriental treasures themselves are also scarce items. Even Selim could not get many of them. Rare things are more valuable.

Entering the gate of the training camp, the new army has gathered under the organization of Hussein Pasha. Gribewa 12-pounder cannons, 8-pounder cannons, and 4-pounder cannons are lined up in sequence.

Under the sun, the dark cannon body glowed slightly, and the inscription on the cannon body was chosen by Selim - I come, I see, I conquer.

Although it was under the sun, Selim felt a chill coming from the muzzle of the cannon. He remembered the words of Louis XIV: "The cannon is the last argument of the king."

Selim walked up to a group of soldiers and shouted loudly: "The first brigade is out, the infantry is in formation, the artillery battalions are on both sides, and the cavalry is paying attention to protecting the two wings." The army began to change its formation, and soon, the soldiers They've finished forming up.

Selim continued to wave the command flag, "Infantry, shoot, the artillery concentrates its firepower to bombard the Chinese army, and the cavalry is on both wings preparing to cut off the enemy's artillery in a roundabout way."

The soldiers quickly completed the order, and Selim then ordered: "Infantry, shoot while moving, charge with bayonet fifty yards from the enemy, cavalry cut both wings, and artillery conduct a round of bombardment on both wings."

At this point, today's drill has been completed, and the target area is in dilapidated condition.

Selim nodded with satisfaction and shouted: "Soldiers, in view of your excellent performance, what kind of reward do you hope to receive?"

A group of soldiers suddenly shouted: "Barbecue, barbecue." At this time, a rather cunning-looking infantryman took the opportunity to ask: Your Majesty, will you stay and dine with us? "

The officer on the side immediately wanted to stop him, but Selim waved him away. Selim asked gently: "Soldier, what is your name and which battalion you belong to." The young man suddenly became cautious and replied: "The 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Regiment, Saladin, Your Majesty." "

Selim smiled and said: "Then today, I will have a meal with the soldiers of the Second Infantry Battalion." The officer who was secretly scared by the side suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

The soldier shouted happily and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, thank you very much for your generosity. I will go and tell the brothers in the camp the news." Selim nodded.

The dinner didn't last long, but all the soldiers were very happy.

Especially some of the new recruits. Although their seniors had said that His Majesty had often had dinner with the soldiers before, for them this was the first time they had close contact with the legendary Sultan.

After dinner, a group of soldiers started a literacy campaign, and officers at regiment level and above were called in for a meeting.

"I am very satisfied with today's exercise, so I decided that after the meeting, each regiment commander and staff officer will be awarded an Opal Medal, each brigade commander and staff officer will be awarded an Amethyst Medal, and Hasan Pasha was to be awarded the Order of the Sword of the Empire, and General Clarion was awarded the Order of the Imperial Legion of Honor.

You must have heard the recent news that the Russian-Turkish war is about to begin. I hope you can hurry up and train. The future of the empire depends on you. The meeting is dismissed! "

After receiving the medals, the officers thanked the Sultan and left one by one, with envy of Hassan in their eyes.

And Hassan Pasha was left alone by Selim.

"Hassan, I estimate that in August, Catherine's despicable usurper will definitely declare war on the empire.

At that time, you will lead the 2nd and 3rd brigades to defend against the Russians, and I will take the 1st brigade to guard against the Austrians. As for your boss? "

Selim smiled playfully.

"What do you think of Napoleon Bonaparte?"

"Your Majesty also knows about him?"

Hussein couldn't help but be surprised by Selim's intelligence.

"But Bonaparte is still just a lieutenant. Your Majesty, isn't this too...?"

Selim laughed.

"No problem, I will take command of the army, and Bonaparte will be my deputy in command of you and the Guards."

Hassan replied: "Yes, Your Majesty. I also want to ask, when will Bonaparte arrive?"

"Half a month, I'll ask him to come see you then."

After Selim finished speaking, he took Paul with him and left the training camp. After all, the Grand Vizier and Grand Mufti were still waiting for him at Topkapi Palace.

Although there was no electricity in this era, Topkapi Palace still has brilliant lights. After all, it is the residence of the Sultan.

When they arrived at the meeting hall, Yusuf Pasha and the Grand Mufti were already waiting here.

Selim stepped forward and said: "My Grand Vizier and Grand Mufti, please wait for a long time. How are the supplies being prepared?"

The two of them bowed hurriedly and said: "I have met Your Majesty. We have prepared enough supplies for the war for more than a year and a half, which are stored in Sofia, Bucharest and Trabzon.

In terms of transportation, Sipaxi cavalry and civilian husbands will undertake these tasks. "

"Good, I knew you wouldn't let me down. The war is coming, long live the empire, long live Allah!"

Selim shouted fervently, and even the two old men beside him also shouted. In the night, roars came from the Topkapi Palace, as if the jihad of the Ghazis had already begun.

Later Ottoman historians commented on this scene as "thunder before the new moon rises."

After Selim finished fooling the two old men, he went straight to the palace and lay down on the big bed that belonged to the Sultan.

While he was thinking about when the reply from his little Sophia would arrive, he complained about why there was no telegraph machine in this era.

Paul on the side covered Selim with a quilt and guarded the Sultan as he slept.

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