Wild North America 1846

Chapter 581 Sudden turmoil

Author: Portuguese toothless

Chapter 581 Sudden turmoil

When the Ottoman Empire's Sanjak Abdullah Faris, who was stationed in Sana'a, received an ultimatum from the Tang Empire's expeditionary force, ordering him to hand over 500 tribal culprits who had murdered the citizens of the empire within a time limit, he was completely stunned.

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It’s not that I don’t want to do it, it’s that I really can’t do it!

The Ottoman Empire ruled the entire Yemeni region and had to subsidize a large amount of funds every year. The local farmers and herdsmen were so poor that they could not collect any taxes at all. The government operations and military garrison all relied on subsidies from the imperial government.

As for those wealthy tribal chiefs and big landowners who owned a large number of farms and countless cattle and sheep, they were all difficult masters to deal with. They would raise the table and rebel if they said something wrong.

The entire long and narrow area of ​​the Arabian Plateau along the Red Sea, from Yemen, Hijaz to Jordan, is full of tribal armed forces. It is a barren area with strong folk customs. The Ottoman Empire has a weak sense of existence and only maintains superficial rule.

state.

The vast villages, towns and wilderness below are all owned by tribes, and each year they pay a symbolic fee of cattle and sheep fur.

The largest administrative area within the territory of the Ottoman Empire was the province under its jurisdiction. There was "Elalet" (Pasha's jurisdiction), which was equivalent to the governor of the West. Egypt was the frontier province of Pasha, and Ismail was in charge.

hereditary governor.

After his death, according to the Ottoman Empire's inheritance law, his eldest son can succeed as pasha and pass it on hereditary.

Baghdad in Iraq also has a pasha, but the governorate of Baghdad is higher than the surrounding provinces. The Baghdad Pasha manages the surrounding provinces and is a general governor who manages several provinces. The Ottoman Empire is an important border minister on one side.

There are states under the province, called "Sanjak", which is equivalent to the position of governor in the West.

The governor has jurisdiction over the region. The Yemeni region is Sanjak. Sanjak Abdullah Faris is the highest administrator of the Ottoman Empire stationed in the region. This is a down-and-out imperial noble who used to bribe the Caliphate with large sums of money.

Only the eunuch around him got this position.

Logically speaking

Sitting in Sana'a, the largest city in the entire Yemeni region, even the annual entry tax, cattle and sheep market transaction tax, merchant tax and other various taxes collected in the city are a huge amount of wealth, but they cannot be held up from top to bottom.

All the Ottoman officials are corrupt!

Led by Abdullah Faris, the shortages that were originally bought with a lot of money must be Daluo Teluo. It would be good to have half of the original quota of 2,200 city guards in Sana'a City, and they are all old, weak and sick.

Yes, many of them are part-time jobs for local merchants.

When officials from the top came to inspect, these merchants would close their shops, change their clothes, and go to the top of the city with swords and guns to go on duty. After they were done fooling around, they would do whatever they were supposed to do when they came back!

The reason for this is to pay less poll tax. The official officials above can eat empty pay and drink the blood of soldiers, which is a mess from top to bottom.

In the city lord's mansion

Apodula Faris panicked when he received the ultimatum from the expedition fleet. After the arrogant envoy left, he quickly invited several powerful chiefs and local French and British people to discuss how to deal with it.

Of the policy.

"It's a disaster, it's a disaster, by the Almighty Allah, Hussein and your tribe have caused a big disaster. You killed people and robbed horses. Now people are coming to your door and want me to hand you all over. You

What should I do?" A layer of sweat broke out on Abdullah Faris's fat face, he was really scared.

Dozens of large iron ships arrived from the hill in Sana'a Bay, covering the bay. The troops disembarking from the ships were like a forest of swords and guns. The cold murderous intent could be felt from a distance.

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Sanjak Abdullah Faris had neither the intention nor the ability to stop it. He originally wanted to do nothing, but ended up being approached.

plan for today

Only whoever caused the trouble in the first place should bear the responsibility. Sanjak Abdullah Faris was not willing to take the blame for these local tribes.

Everyone's eyes fell on Omar Hussein, the chief of the Hussein tribe. It was this greedy old man who was jealous of the more than 3,500 war horses hoarded by the Oriental team, and encouraged several other tribes to join in the killing and looting.

This is not a strange thing, everyone present has done it.

When they saw Hussein and other tribes snatching so many high-quality war horses, many tribes who were a little slow in their actions secretly regretted it. They thought that the fat meat in their mouths would not be spit out again. Who knew that those Easterners would

How powerful is the background?

Now I'm secretly glad that I didn't get involved in this muddy water.

As soon as Mr. Sanjak raised his head, some tribal chiefs who were watching silently began to criticize. What they said implicitly meant that the Hussein tribe was responsible for their own affairs.

"What's so difficult about this? Who snatched the horse and killed the man in the first place? Just go and negotiate with the Orientals yourself. Don't let us honest people suffer."

"In the name of God, it is indeed the brothers of the Hussein tribe who did something wrong. Since they sold the war horses to others, there is no reason to snatch them back? Let alone kill people. Now that the real owner comes to find him, he must give an explanation. This matter

I'm in trouble, I'm afraid the person who comes is not good!"

"Who says it isn't?"

"The Orientals gave them 5 days. I don't think they should delay it until the end. To show their sincerity, they should return the horses that they had robbed, and then prepare a heavy gift to invite the British and French friends to come to the middle to make peace. At that time, some people will come out to calm things down.

I can't bear to shed a lot of blood."

"Humph, there are many people who would rather give up their lives than their wealth. I'm afraid your good intentions will come to nothing!"

Several chiefs were chattering away. Chief Omar Hussein's face became very ugly, and he cursed in his heart. He greeted all the female relatives in the families of these tribal chiefs who were standing by.

Chief Omar Hussein has not been idle these days. While inquiring about the origins of these Orientals, he actively contacted some nearby nomadic tribes, promised horses and guns, and gathered troops to prepare for a head-on confrontation with these Orientals.

Touch it.

The news I heard was very bad. It was said that these Easterners were angry at the neglect of the Egyptian Ismail Pasha in the Suez Canal and launched a cross-ocean expedition with the goal of Egypt.

Thinking about the bad things he did to these Easterners, including robbing horses and killing people, they were much bigger and worse in nature than what he did in Egypt. Can these Easterners really let it go by apologizing?

Thinking about it myself, I think it’s impossible.

From British and French friends, we can clearly understand more things in the world. Chief ***-Hussein knows that he is in trouble.

The Tang Empire was a powerful empire in North America. It had always pursued a policy of colonial expansion, was cruel and brutal to the conquered lands, and violently suppressed it (note: the meaning of French friends). The territory it ruled was several times larger than the Ottoman Empire.

But it's too late to say anything now, the blood feud has already been concluded.

It is impossible for the Hussein tribe to migrate. This is because the fertile oasis in Yemen is only that big. It is this slender oasis along the Red Sea. After climbing over the barren mountains, there is the boundless Arabian Peninsula to the east.

Gobi and great deserts.

The city of Sana'a is located in the largest oasis, with several seasonal rivers crossing the oasis plain. The powerful local tribes all occupy considerable fields and are semi-agricultural and semi-nomadic tribes.

The chiefs and tribal elders are also big landowners. They have manors outside the city, houses and shops in the city, and many properties. How could all this wealth be lost?

The Hussein tribe is not a rootless nomadic tribe in the desert. If it were not a semi-agricultural state, it would be impossible to support tens of thousands of people in the tribe. Only places that are not suitable for farming will graze cattle and sheep, basically in Sana'a.

The area surrounding the city will not be farther than 150 kilometers away.

In comparison

Those poor desert tribes have a few hundred people, and no more than a thousand people at most. With the barren oases in the desert as their tribal base, no matter how many people there are, they can't support them.

These fields and pastures occupied by the Hussein tribe were territories finally won through continuous tribal wars over the ages.

One carrot and one hole, no extra space.

As long as they dare to leave, the manor, fields and pastures will be occupied by other tribes, and it is completely impossible to get them back without going through repeated bloody battles.

With so many people escaping into the desert, there is only one way to die, so it is better to fight.

The 300 new fast guns promised by the Egyptian envoy Yousef Shaheen have been put in place, and the more than 3,000 war horses stolen have been divided among the various tribes. It will be extremely difficult to get them out again. It is impossible to say that we have to bite the bullet and fight.

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If you win by luck, everyone will be happy.

After all, these Easterners came across tens of thousands of kilometers across the ocean, and there should be no reinforcements behind them. As long as they are repelled, they will naturally be able to live in peace for a year and a half. We can talk about the rest later.

Now that all the elite troops of the Hussein tribe have been mobilized, plus reinforcements from more than ten tribes contacted by other tribes, they can form a desert cavalry of more than 5,600 people. If they can successfully attack by surprise, there is a possibility of victory.

Of course, it was impossible to publicize such a confidential matter on such an occasion. Chief Omar Hussein could only deal with it perfunctorily. He was unable to come up with the answer Abdullah Faris wanted, which made Sanjak

The adults were very dissatisfied.

He said with a stern expression;

"I have officially conveyed to you the ultimatum of the Easterners. This is no joke. They only gave you 5 days, and then the army will come to kill you.

In the name of Allah, forgive these greedy sinners.

The ancient city of Sara is innocent and cannot be destroyed by war because of your greed and mistakes. I only give you three days to give you a clear answer.

Either hand over the robbed horses, or hand over some people, at least show sincerity in solving the problem, and don't let Sana'a city be affected by the war, this is the home of all of us..."

Seeing Mr. Sanjak Abdula Faris chattering and irritated, the French businessmen Mitterrand and Santos did not interrupt, but only exchanged tacit glances from time to time;

The flames of war have been ignited, the rest may wish themselves well!

The British businessman George Stockton sitting on the side had no intention of interrupting, but he just sat there with his head held high and his legs crossed, looking lost in thought.

At this time, no one is stupid enough to step forward, pat their chest and say, "I will solve this big trouble." Isn't that sick?

International businessmen who are able to do business in Yemen are not generally well-informed, and they know much more than these local people and government officials. The army of the Tang Empire who followed the thousands-mile expedition was not easy to deal with.

Sala city

The streets are crowded with men and women wearing Arabic robes. There are many vendors on the edge of the crowded market, loudly selling local products such as fruits, chickens and ducks, creating a lively scene.

On the streets, you can often see small groups of imperial soldiers and sailors, each of them equipped with weapons, seemingly wandering around leisurely.

More than a dozen hotels and houses in the city have been completely occupied, and a large number of armed soldiers, numbering nearly 2,000, have been accommodated.

Once they take action, half of the city of Sana'a will fall in an instant.

The large house rented from the original detachment in the south has more than 40 rooms and two large livestock pens in the front and back. It was originally the house of a local Sabah man who did live cattle, sheep, horses and mules. The Orientals paid a lot of money to rent it.

after leaving briefly

The Orientals once again moved in with an army of more than a thousand people. Tens were pitched densely in the open space of the livestock pens in front and behind, and sacks were piled up on both sides. It turned into a large military camp, with soldiers armed with live ammunition every day.

Stand guard.

People in the city also feel the tense atmosphere. Even the prices of commodities have risen a lot. Firstly, the Orientals outside the city purchase large quantities and deliver them to the camp. Every day, there are more than 20 carriages of vegetables, dried fruits and hundreds of goods.

The cattle and sheep were driven to the seaside camp.

Secondly, the residents in the city were hoarding food for fear of any war.

This tense atmosphere lasted until the third day and was broken by two things.

The first thing is that Sala Bay once again ushered in a wave of fleets. This was the third batch of the Tang Empire's expedition fleet. It mainly carried the 4th Royal Marine Division and some supplies, followed by immigrants.

The main 4th fleet.

Their arrival intensified the panic in Sana'a.

The second thing is that there are many unknown armed men in Sana'a. Although these people are wearing Arab robes of different colors, they are obviously carrying weapons, some are guns and some are swords.

As a result, after noon, many fierce conflicts broke out in the city of Sana'a, causing more than a dozen casualties.

One of the two parties in the conflict was the Oriental army, and the other was the unknown armed men who poured into the city. When they were interrogated by the Tang Dynasty soldiers on the street, they suddenly broke out and tried to resist, and drew their swords and guns one after another...

As a result, the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty quickly pulled out the guns from their waists and opened fire again and again, beating the unknown militants until they were covered in blood holes and killed on the spot.

The gunshots intensified the chaos in the city. Citizens who didn't understand what was happening screamed and fled in all directions. Frightened horses ran wildly along the narrow streets, knocking down many stalls along the way, which caused even greater chaos...

Soon more gun battles broke out in the city. Some thugs tried to attack the soldiers of the expeditionary force, but they were shot dead directly on the street by the soldiers who had been well prepared. Gunfire broke out one after another.

The city of Sana'a was in complete chaos this afternoon, and even greater turmoil was yet to come...

(End of chapter)