Chapter 407 Both Sides Playing with Fire
January 8th, 1822.
The dawn of the new year found no respite in the Greek lands, where the fires of revolution blazed with undiminished fervor. Across the rugged terrains and ancient cities, the Greek revolutionaries, burning with the desire for independence, clashed fiercely against the formidable forces of the Ottoman Army. In every corner of the beleaguered nation, from the shadowed groves of olive trees to the sun-baked streets of historic townships, the air was thick with the sounds of battle. Guns chattered, and cannons shouted, their roars echoing across valleys and hills.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the resolve of the Greek fighters remained unbroken. They fought with a tenacity born of centuries of subjugation, their spirits bolstered by the prospect of a free homeland. Meanwhile, the Ottoman troops, seasoned by countless battles, maintained a relentless assault, seeking to quell the rebellion that threatened to destabilize their empire's hold over the region.
The conflict however was not limited to the Greeks and the Ottomans. As the French and the Russians also entered the fray, the geopolitical stakes heightened significantly. The French openly supported the Greek cause, while the Russians sided with the Ottomans, each driven by their strategic interests in the region.
Seven days prior, a significant naval development unfolded. The Russian Black Sea Fleet, demonstrating a bold show of force, crossed the Bosphorus Strait. Their destination was the Ionian Sea, where they would confront the French Imperial Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, already positioned in the area.
Both navies operated under strict and potentially explosive orders. The French had clear directives to engage militarily if the Ottomans crossed a predetermined line of demarcation. Conversely, the Russians had orders to retaliate against the French fleet if they initiated hostilities on Ottoman-held territory.
This high-stakes standoff at sea mirrored the escalating tensions on land. As each day passed, the possibility of a larger European conflict loomed larger. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation were underway, but progress was slow and fraught with difficulty. Neither France nor Russia seemed willing to make concessions, and their rigid stances only served to exacerbate the situation.
Captain Emeriau, aboard the 'Ciela Bonaparte', stood beside Admiral Jean-Fran?ois-Timothée Trullet, the commander of the French Mediterranean Fleet.
"So we are literally standing on a fine line here, Admiral," Captain Emeriau remarked. "The situation is palpable; you can cut it with a knife. This is the closest we've been to open conflict in a long time."
Admiral Trullet nodded gravely, his gaze fixed on the distant Russian ships.
***
January 15th, 1822.
At the capital city of the French Empire, Paris, the newly constructed headquarters known as Hexagone Balard was bustling with activity. The modern facility, designed to streamline military command and communication, was a hub of strategic planning and analysis. Within its walls, French military leaders and strategists were engaged in intense discussions about the ongoing situation in the Mediterranean.
In a high-level meeting room, the Chief of General Staff, Marshal Davout, was presiding over a briefing. The room was filled with maps, charts, and the latest intelligence reports.
"The standoff in the Mediterranean has lasted longer than we anticipated," Marshal Davout said. At the Hexagone Balard in Paris, Marshal Davout continued, "The Russians siding with the Ottomans complicates the situation. Once the Ottomans cross the demarcation line, we're looking at a conflict that would be a prelude to the war of the fifth coalition."
"French closest allies, Spain and Italy, have expressed their support in France," the Grand Admiral, Marshal Murat said. "They are sending a detachment from their main fleet to the region. This is going to be a coalition but not against France, but Russia."
Marshal Berthier, the Minister of Defense.
Marshal Berthier, the Minister of Defense, weighed in on the conversation. "While the support from Spain and Italy is a positive development, Germany, Poland, and Britain have decided to go neutral."
"Germany and the British are to be expected. Our relationship with the British is not strong because we literally blew up their empire, and the Germans, well not until Princess Charlotte of Prussia and His Imperial Highness, Francis are married. The Polish? How dare they? We gave them a huge land, and developed and modernized them. How come they decide to go neutral?"
Marshal Lannes expressed his frustration with the Polish decision to remain neutral.
"Well at least we have the full support of our colonies overseas," Marshal Ney added, trying to lighten up the mood.
Moments after bickering, one of the staff members entered the meeting room.
"The Emperor is here!"