Of course, Muhammad Ali was well aware that he was participating in an extremely dangerous gamble—his earlier actions amounted, in fact, to flagrant disobedience of orders.
But the stakes on the table were far too rich; he was willing to risk his life for them.
As the sun approached the horizon, sudden chaos erupted among the outer garrison forces of Cairo. Before long, they threw down their weapons and fled back into the city.
An officer galloped up to Muhammad Ali, exclaiming in Albanian: "Sir, the Egyptians have retreated!
"According to the soldiers we captured, Ibrahim's main force was defeated by the French, and more than a hundred thousand French soldiers will be crossing the Nile at dawn."
With his expression unchanged, Muhammad Ali mounted his horse and rode to the frontline in person, directing the pursuit of the routed enemy.
No one noticed that, at the very moment he flicked his riding whip, he let out a long exhale.
