"Yes, Your Highness."
Talleyrand first bowed in acknowledgment, then hesitated slightly and said: "Your Highness, what if the British fail to respond properly and the Russian army actually enters the Khyber Pass..."
His concerns were not unfounded.
According to the strategic plan just mentioned by the Crown Prince, France would strongly support Russia in its Middle East expansion.
Currently, Afghanistan is extremely weak due to the King, Tamerlane, having died without clearly designating an heir, leading to fierce battles among his over twenty sons.
If Russia gains control of the area east of the Caspian Sea, it can easily conquer Afghanistan after defeating Persia, allowing entry into the Khyber Pass.
The Khyber Pass is the only land route from the Middle East to the Indian Peninsula.
The combat capability of the Indian Princely States is by no means capable of stopping the flood-like Russian ground forces.
