I Am the Crown Prince in France

Chapter 501 Lightning Coal Company (I want to ask for monthly tickets on my birthday)

In the early morning, Tipu Sultan, covered in blood and mud, returned to Seringapatam with eight or nine hundred soldiers.

Yes, hundreds of people got lost on the way back. This was a very rare loss rate in the 18th century without navigation and night vision equipment. It can be seen how brave and good at fighting this Tiger of Mysore was.

However, his crazy adventure was worth it-he destroyed most of the British heavy artillery, and then the Mysore army could hide behind the defense line and delay the British army with artillery.

Before the British arrived at Seringapatam, Mysore had purchased a large amount of gunpowder and artillery shells through the Morocco-Ottoman transport line, enough for their artillery to last until winter.

According to Marquis Lafayette, the British will definitely retreat at the end of the rainy season.

Tip Sultan firmly believed in his prophecy, so he tried his best to stop the British army at the city of Seringapatam.

Because of the fall of South Kannada on the west coast, Mysore has found it difficult to obtain supplies from Morocco from the Gulf of Oman. If the British can hold out until the end of the year, Mysore will have no choice but to give up Seringabadam.

In the following month, the British army launched extremely fierce attacks one after another, but Tipu Sultan repeatedly repelled the enemy with the defense line arranged by Lafayette before leaving and his own bravery. Although he also paid a huge casualties of tens of thousands of people, the seemingly shaky Seringabadam has never been broken.

Tipu Sultan frowned as he looked at the bodies of soldiers brought back from the front line every day, and his fear and hatred of the British increased day by day.

He didn't know that at this time in history, the food in Seringabadam had run out, and the Mysore soldiers were panicked and would soon retreat.

At this time, he had sufficient food and grass in his hands, and only lost a few border provinces such as Vijayanagar and South Kannada. The core area of ​​the kingdom was basically intact, and the national strength did not suffer much loss.

Compared with the situation in the third Mysore War in history, when he lost the administrative center of Seringapatam and all the territories east of Mysore, this was already a good deal.

At least, if the British now asked him to pay 3 million pounds in compensation in exchange for withdrawal, he would only say one word: Get out!

As September approached.

The British offensive had obviously weakened.

The Marquis of Wellesley had malaria and was so feverish that he could hardly get up. And his soldiers also fell ill in large numbers. In addition to malaria, dysentery was rampant in the army, and more than 20% of the soldiers lost their combat effectiveness due to illness.

There were also some unnamed severe diseases in the army - sometimes the sick people would bleed to death in just three or four days.

The military doctor advised Wellesley not to let the soldiers eat rice - he believed that this was the main cause of dysentery. But Wellesley couldn't do it because the British army's warehouses only had this kind of food.

Although the vassal army of the Indian princely states did not suffer from large-scale illness, their combat effectiveness was not enough to threaten the Mysore people.

The British expeditionary force did not survive the rainy season after all.

The commendation order issued by His Majesty himself and the commission for promotion to major general were placed on the table beside him. Wellesley sat up on the bed with difficulty and looked at Cornwallis who came to visit him in silence.

The gunpowder was on the verge of running out, and new cannons were impossible to be transported, and the Mysores were still attacking them. Both knew that the war could only end here.

"The Manatas can't even make qualified gunpowder, otherwise they might be able to defeat Tipu with a few more attacks." Cornwallis sighed.

"Let Sir Seely go to Seringapatam." Wellesley waved his hand, "At least we can keep Vijayanagar and Kannada."

Sir Seely was the East India Company's peace negotiating representative.

"And the northern part of Chitradurga." Cornwallis added, "But the Mysores also occupied Tiruchirappalli."

The two looked at each other again, with helplessness in their eyes. The East India Company invested 3.2 million pounds and sent out thousands of expeditionary troops, but only got such a result.

...

London.

In Mrs. Mordaunt's salon, a man with ordinary appearance but wearing the most popular loose long coat came to Mayor Mordaunt with a glass of wine and smiled politely: "Dear Mayor, I didn't expect to see you here. It's so lucky."

Mordaunt turned his head and was slightly stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "Is it Mr. Styler? Oh, we met at the City Hall last time."

"I am very honored that you still remember me."

Styler smiled more brightly, and exchanged greetings again. After everyone around the mayor left, he took a few steps closer and said: "Lord Braverman should have mentioned our company's sincerity to you. You see, about the gas lamp project..."

Lord Braverman was the relationship that DuPont found. He was mainly responsible for helping to bribe British officials, and the commission was very low, only 2%, which was considered to be very face-saving for DuPont.

Mordaunt just smiled and said without comment: "You know, the parliament attaches great importance to the installation of gas lamps in London. My report must be convincing enough for the parliamentarians to decide who will undertake this project."

Styler immediately said: "Please rest assured, MP Mordaunt is familiar with the strength of our company, and he will definitely support us."

Mordaunt is the main force in the parliament to promote the London gas lamp project.

Mayor Mordaunt was quite surprised. He did not expect that this unknown "Lightning Coal Company" could not only find Lord Braverman as a lobbyist, but also establish a relationship with Councillor Mordaunt.

If he did not exaggerate, he could consider accepting his "kindness".

"And Mr. Coffey's technical opinion letter. Your company must get his approval before..."

Styler smiled and said, "His opinion letter should be submitted to you tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. I promise you."

Of course he could guarantee it, because the technical person in charge of the London gaslight project had already received a benefit of 2,500 pounds from him, and even handed over the pipeline layout plan for London to him.

"Oh?" Mordaunt raised his eyebrows, "I am really surprised by the efficiency of your company."

"Our company has invested a lot in the gas lamp project. You see, if we can't undertake this project, our shareholders will suffer heavy losses." Styler lowered his voice, "In fact, the 8,000 pounds can be negotiated."

8,000 pounds is the bribe amount he promised Mordaunt before, which is 200,000 francs, which is still far from the authority given to him by the Crown Prince.

And this Lightning Coal Company was established in the UK with the help of DuPont. After completing all the company resumes and injecting tens of thousands of pounds, it was specifically used to undertake the London gas street lamp project.

At present, the company's apparent boss is a Scottish friend of DuPont, and the company manager Styler was recommended by the French Minister of Commerce.