After saying that, Desai gently helped Rolina, who was still crying in a low voice, sent her to the camp bed, and hugged her in her arms, and then said gently, "You should continue to be strong, because this world has always followed the law of the jungle, and the survival of the fittest and the survival of the jungle are natural. Therefore, fate only believes in the sweat of the strong, not the tears of the weak!"

The black beauty raised her face with tears and said, "But I just want to live quietly, be with Ali, and be with you!"

Desai smiled because this was the first time that Rolina, who was stubborn in character, expressed her feelings to her, even though she was half-forced and half-relocated by Desai before. Every time after the **joy, she would sneak out at night while the man was sleeping soundly.

At this time, a trace of reluctance may arise in Desai's heart, but he knows it is impossible. The mainstream society can generously accept Desai's adoption of Rolina as his personal favor, but will never recognize a mixed-race illegitimate son of a monarch, especially many generals and ministers under Desai's command. Once he learns that Rolina is pregnant, many people who hold racial stance will show strong dissatisfaction.

Of course, the regent of Desai, who monopolized power, could use iron fist to calm it down at all costs, but this approach was stupid and dangerous, with extremely unreasonable ratio of benefits to costs, which would lead to a great internal division. So in the end, the rational Desai had to choose to give up. He had to send Rolina away before her belly became bigger and sent him out of the Europeans' vision.

In the next 20 years, Desai will continue to secretly give various help to Rolina and his son in Cape Verde. As for whether they achieve the perfect ending they imagined in their hearts, only God knows.

Ten minutes later, when Rolina gradually stopped crying and then lay down in Desay's arms and fell asleep, he gently placed the black beauty on the camp bed, covered it with a blanket, gently wiped away the tears on his face, and finally tiptoed out of the room. At this time, Captain Jacques, the chief guard, was still waiting in the duty room. When he saw the marshal coming, he immediately stood up.

"Are the ships and personnel ready?" Desai asked.

"Yes, Marshal! All transport materials are being urgently allocated from the military warehouse and will be transferred at around 6 o'clock tonight. In addition, the soldiers selected from the black brigade and their families have been recruited and are currently secretly gathering in the port area." The Chief Guard continued to report: "A total of 5 three-masted or double-masted ocean-going merchant ships were collected, which can transport two thousand blacks and 1,000 tons of various living and military materials. The remaining 3,000 black soldiers and their families will also set off in two weeks. In addition, in accordance with your instructions, I have sent someone to inform the Liaison Officer of the British local fleet in Lisbon. Lieutenant Colonel Bomer agreed that after the above-mentioned transport ships left the estuary of the Tejo River and entered the Atlantic Ocean, the two British warships anchored on the high seas will be given full escorts. On arrival on Sao Tome Island and landing, the British Navy will provide necessary fire cover."

Desai nodded and instructed: "Remember to include Rolina and Ali on the first list. In addition to soldiers and family, entourage, etc., there must be medical staff and Catholic priests. As long as the weather allows, they will set off immediately after night tonight, and there is no need to wait until dawn tomorrow! Also," Desai paused, looking at his commander of the guard, and then said: "These black soldiers need a qualified commander, and I also need a trusted subordinate to command them."

Hearing this, Captain Jacques raised his head and straightened his body, he gave a standard military salute and said, "His Marshal, stand before you, the brave and loyal Irishman, Raymond Jacques, can shoulder this glorious mission."

"Thank you, Major Jacques! Two years, at most three years later, I will send someone to take over your job. I hope I won't disappoint me, my Baron Jacques!" Desai, who received a satisfactory answer, was awarding his title as the Chief Guard.

Major Jacques accompanied him to Cape Verde, not only to command the black soldiers, but also to assume the governor of the overseas colony. Every two to three years, Desai will send someone to rotate the governor of Cape Verde. As the plenipotentiary governor, Major Jacques received a secret order not only to protect Rolina and his son, but also to open up the colony on the west coast of Africa and have a supervisory function. When necessary, Jacques can use the temporary arbitrary power granted by Desai to punish all ambitions except the heirs with military law.

Because human nature is the most unpredictable, anyone will develop ambitions in his heart whenever conditions are suitable. Therefore, Desai must prepare for the future and let his confidant take charge of the military and political power of the Cape Verde colony until the heirs in his fertility grow up.

Given Cape Verde's unique geographical location, once the French gain a foothold, they can successfully conquer the transportation between Europe and South America and South Africa, and expand their power to the western continent of Africa. All this will inevitably make the British deeply uneasy. Therefore, Desai took the initiative to send someone to inform the British liaison officer, and then invited two British warships to follow and escort, allowing the British to monitor this strange conquering army throughout the process, so as to express their feelings to London and not cause any trouble to the future cooperation between the two sides.

In addition, Desai also told the upcoming Governor of the Cape Verde colony that he must maintain good cooperative relations with the British, that the islands can be opened to passing British fleets, and that a small number of British soldiers or liaison officers can be allowed to land on the island freely.

"In the next three years, perhaps five years, or even longer, we must not be enemies of Britain! Unless the European army under my command successfully lands on the Ireland Island." Desai emphasized at the end.

In the 19th century, whether it is today's Napoleon or later Bismarck, when facing the invincible huge British fleet, there would be a look of frustration in his heart. For a whole century, no country dared to challenge the British's dominance at sea. Desay was the same. He was confident that he could defeat the British Expeditionary Force for the second and third time on land, but he would never be arrogant in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, and in a suicide showdown with the British fleet.

A week ago, when he learned that General Colling Wood, the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, resigned due to illness and was about to return to London, Desay urgently ordered Minister Manresa, who had just arrived in London, to make a suggestion to the Whitehall Council and the Downing Street Cabinet: he hoped to invite Lord Horazio Nelson's comrade-in-arms and deputy of his lifetime to serve as general military adviser to the joint fleet of Catalonia and Poland.

This means that the various naval forces under Desai are ready to be completely opened to the British, and their every move is under the surveillance of the British. Desai's military philosophy is quite simple. Since the navy is far inferior to the British, I might as well just put my head down and learn from his masters.

...

Late at night on November 24, 1810, the estuary of the Tejo River under the stars came into the sea.

The Mediterranean sea breeze is warm and soft, as if it is still smelling of fresh grapes and olive oil. On the wide oak deck of the three-masted sailboat, Ali is with Rolina, constantly comforting her depressed sister. At this time, Major Jacques stood on the side of the ship not far away, looking quietly at the fleet under the moonlight, and slowly moving towards the west coast of Africa.

Due to too many taboos and considerations, Desai did not come to the dock to see off the expedition fleet, but he had made a promise to Rolina: within 5 years, someone would be sent to pick Rolina and her son back to Europe to meet.

The day after the ocean-going fleet heading to Cape Verde left Lisbon, Desai and his army were busy packing their luggage and various spoils, preparing to leave Lisbon the day after tomorrow, set off again and return to Catalonia.

During this period, the rash Times reporter John Gerrard rushed over after hearing the news. He repeatedly asked Marshal Desai to follow the army of the Regent to conduct interviews anytime and anywhere. Given the increasing good relationship with the British, Desai had no reason to refuse, so he nodded in agreement. Similarly, Desai also needed the Times, which had strong political influence in the upper class in London, to promote a positive image for itself, Catalonia, and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw.

After realizing that there was one follower next to the British overseas reporter, he asked casually.

"The tall and reckless guy you mentioned is Giovanni Belsonni. Two weeks ago, he was just a strongman who made a living on the streets of London. He is said to be from Italy and studied water conservancy engineering in his early years." Gerald described his former assistant in this way, "He was just my boss who was bored. He sent me bodyguards and assistants from London, but he wanted to be an attention-catching adventurer every day, and even yelled to look for treasures in Egypt. So this morning, I fired him and let the fantasy go back to London and continue to act as a clown in the street circus."

Giovanni Belsonni?

Street strongman?

Explorer?

Egypt?

A series of familiar words triggered a memory of the time traveler's previous life. Soon, Desai learned why this person was called Giovanni. Belsonni. This Italian was called the greatest Egyptian explorer in history, including the tomb of Sethi I, the largest tomb of the Pharaoh in the Valley of the Kings, and the greatest temple, the Temple of Abu Simbelle, which was all discovered by him.

Before going to Portugal, in order to expand the political and cultural influence of the Kingdom of Catalonia in Europe, the Sai Cabinet accepted Desai's suggestion and prepared to build a large historical museum in the capital Manresa, preparing to present the splendid Mediterranean civilizations one by one for thousands of years. During this period, Egypt's culture and cultural relics were the top priority.

Unfortunately, for some reason, Desai has a bad personal relationship with French Consul General in Cairo Deroveti, and it is difficult to buy a large number of cheap and exquisite ancient Egyptian relics from the latter. However, now, things have taken a major turn. Desai is about to have a natural adventurer who can help him find the Egyptian treasures buried under the dust of thousands of years of history.

Two hours later, Giovanni Belsonni, who was about to board the ship and leave Lisbon and return to the UK, was brought to Desay by a team of fully armed French soldiers. Without any unnecessary nonsense, the superiors handed over a lot of money to the Italians and also asked the latter to sign a purchase contract. Now Giovanni Belsonni went to Egypt, the sacred adventure land in his heart, digging along the Nile River, and continuously transporting ancient Egyptian relics from various eras he had discovered to the History Museum in Manresa.

After the Italian adventurer left, Desai stood on the balcony and said to himself: "I am protecting the precious heritage of history!"

During the period when Muhammad Ali monopolized the power of Egypt, many ancient Egyptian relics were extremely severely damaged. In the short 18 years from 1810 to 1828, 13 temples completely disappeared from this land that shone with the light of ancient civilization: a large number of stones from ancient ruins were used to build factories, or sent to lime kilns, burned into lime. How many statues and reliefs suffered the same fate will never be known.

Therefore, in Desai's view, looting ancient cultural relics was a serious transnational crime in the 21st century; however, in the 19th century, it was the most powerful and effective rescue protection for ancient Egyptian civilization.
Chapter completed!