Before dawn, Sultan Tipu, covered in blood and mud, returned to Seringapatam with eight or nine hundred soldiers.
Indeed, several hundred people got lost on their way back. In the 18th century, without navigation and night vision equipment, this was already a remarkably low rate of loss. It showcased the fierce combat capability of the Tiger of Mysore.
However, his mad adventure was well worth it, as he had destroyed most of the British's heavy cannon, allowing the Mysorean army to hunker behind their defenses and delay the British with artillery fire.
Before the British arrived at Seringapatam, Mysore had already bought a large amount of gunpowder and shells through the Morocco-Ottoman transport line, enough to last their cannon until winter.
According to Marquis de Lafayette, the British would definitely retreat at the end of the rainy season.
Sultan Tipu firmly believed in his prophecy, which is why he fought desperately to keep the British below the walls of Seringapatam.
Because South Kannada on the west coast had fallen, it had become very difficult for Mysore to get supplies from Morocco via the Gulf of Oman. If the British could hold out until the end of the year, then Mysore would have no choice but to abandon Seringapatam.
In the months that followed, the British launched extremely fierce attacks, but Sultan Tipu, relying on the defenses arranged by Lafayette before his departure and his own bravery, repelled the enemies time after time. Despite suffering huge casualties of tens of thousands, the seemingly tottering Seringapatam was never breached.
Sultan Tipu, watching the bodies of soldiers being carried back from the front lines every day, frowned deeply, and his apprehension and hatred toward the British grew by the day.
What he didn't know was that at this point in history, the food supply inside Seringapatam was nearing exhaustion, the Mysoreans were panicking, and it would not be long before they had to retreat to Mysore City.
At this time, he had ample supplies. He had only lost a few border provinces like Vijayanagara and South Kannada, and the core areas of his kingdom were largely intact, with the nation's strength hardly diminished.
Compared to the historical Third Anglo-Mysore War, where he lost the administrative center Seringapatam and all territories east of Mysore, his situation was vastly better.
At the very least, if the British now proposed that he pay three million British pounds in reparations for their withdrawal, he would say just one word: "Scram."
As September approached,
the intensity of the British attacks visibly decreased.
The Marquess of Wellesley had contracted malaria and was burning with fever, almost unable to get out of bed. His soldiers also suffered heavily from diseases, with dysentery rampant in addition to malaria, causing more than 20% of the soldiers to lose their combat effectiveness.
Some unnamed virulent diseases appeared among the troops, causing those afflicted to bleed from their bodies and die within just three or four days.
The military doctor advised Wellesley not to let his soldiers eat rice—he believed this was the main cause of dysentery. But Wellesley couldn't comply, as this was the only food currently in the British Army's stores.
Although the armies of the Indian Princely States did not suffer widespread illness, their combativeness was not enough to threaten the Mysoreans.
Ultimately, the British Expeditionary Force could not endure the rainy season.
His Majesty the King's personally signed Order of Commendation and the commission promoting him to Brigadier lay on a table beside him; Wellesley struggled to sit up in bed and exchanged a wordless look with Cornwallis, who had come to visit him.
Gunpowder was nearly exhausted, new cannon were impossible to ship, and the Mysoreans kept launching stealth attacks on them. Both knew that this was where the war would end.
"Manata people can't even manufacture proper gunpowder; otherwise, a few more attacks might have crushed Tipu," sighed Cornwallis.
"Let Sir Sidney go to Seringapatam," Wellesley waved his hand, "at least we can save Vijayanagara and Karnataka."
Sir Sidney was the peace representative of the East India Company.
"And Northern Gidderdurga," Cornwallis added, "but the Mysoreans have also occupied Tiruchirappalli."
The two exchanged a resigned look. The East India Company had invested 3.2 million British Pounds and deployed thousands from the expeditionary army, yet this was the result.
At Mrs. Modant's salon, a man of ordinary appearance but clad in the latest style of loose-fitting long coat approached Mayor Herbert with a wine glass, offering a polite smile, "Dear Mayor, I did not expect to meet you here; I am truly fortunate."
Herbert turned around, paused for a moment, then nodded in recognition, "Mr. Styler? Oh, we met last time at the city hall."
"I am exceedingly honored that you remember me."
Styler's smile brightened, and after exchanging pleasantries, he stepped closer once the Mayor's company had dispersed, "Lord Brevferman must have mentioned our company's sincerity to you. As for the gas lamp project—"
Lord Brevferman was the connection Dupont had found, primarily responsible for bribing British officials with a very low commission of just 2%, certainly a gesture of respect towards Dupont.
Styler merely smiled ambiguously, "You know, Congress takes the installation of gas lamps in London very seriously. My report must contain convincing content to decide who will undertake the work."
Styler immediately said, "Please rest assured, Mr. Modant is very familiar with our company's capabilities; he will definitely ."
Mr. Modant was a major force in Congress for pushing the gas lamp project.
Mayor Herbert was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected this obscure 'Lightning Coal Company' to not only find an advocate in Lord Brevferman but also to establish connections with Mr. Modant.
If Styler wasn't exaggerating, it could be worth considering accepting his "token of goodwill."
"And Mr. Coffey's technical endorsement is essential; your company must gain his approval before—"
Styler smiled, "His endorsement will likely be submitted to you tomorrow or the day after, I assure you."
He could make such a guarantee because the technical head of London's gas lamp project had already accepted his bribe of 2500 British Pounds, even handing over the plans for the layout of London's pipelines.
"Oh?" Herbert raised an eyebrow, "Your company's efficiency is quite astonishing."
"Our company has invested heavily in the gas lamp project," Styler lowered his voice, "you see, if we can't secure this contract, our shareholders will suffer a substantial loss. In fact, that 8000 British Pounds could be negotiable."
The 8000 British Pounds was the bribe previously promised to Herbert, equivalent to 200,000 francs, which still left considerable room within the authority given by the Crown Prince.
And this Lightning Coal Company, was established in Britain with Dupont's assistance, specifically to secure the London gas street lighting project.