Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 116 Delta War

For the Iranian army, the Nadir Shah-type machine gun made up for their lack of firepower, so they placed a large order. The military factory also received a large order and began production. How to organize it was their business; all we needed to do was produce it.

Meanwhile, Iran continued to make diplomatic breakthroughs. During the trade fair, Iran established diplomatic relations with Spain, Sardinia, and the Two Sicilies, further expanding its diplomatic reach.

Iran tries to present a positive image, but compared to the Ottoman Empire, Iran's presence is still too low, and only major powers would maintain relations with Iran.

Of course, Iran's diplomacy in the East has also made great progress; they are currently engaged in physical diplomacy with Vietnam. However, Vietnam is indeed quite incompetent; since its founding in 1802, its army has been unable to defeat a force of just over 300 men. Furthermore, Vietnam allowed Vietnam to occupy the port of Cholon.

Bahram has been mobilizing local residents to reinforce the embankment city. During this time, he has urgently learned Chinese and can now barely issue direct instructions.

The local Chinese already disliked the Vietnamese, and naturally they would help anyone who intended to fight back, not to mention the Khmer.

By this time, they had run out of cannonballs, but the locals told them they could make cannons directly from wood. Pouring in some iron filings and firing it would produce considerable destructive power.

The soldiers injured by the iron shot fell to the ground, howling in pain. Some were so frightened that they knelt down and begged for mercy, but the defending soldiers who rushed up attacked them without saying a word, slashing them one after another until the Vietnamese under the swords cried out weaker and weaker until they were covered in blood and flesh and could no longer be human.

Within minutes, the once-fierce Vietnamese forces crumbled, and the people on the embankment seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, routing them completely. However, the overall outcome was not as ideal as expected. Had they been leading a real army, they would have been absolutely certain of annihilating these people in one fell swoop.

"Sir, you have worked hard to protect the embankment. This is a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."

Bahram looked at the pile of silver in front of him, then at the person in front of him, and said.

"Thank you for your kindness. It seems you've also been exploited by the local government for a long time."

“The lord is right. The Hue court is levying exorbitant taxes on the local people. Our property has been plundered, and the farmers have been forced to sell their children. We are on the verge of starvation.”

Perhaps Heaven heard our plea and brought you here to help us fight against those ignorant people; we will never forget you for all eternity.

Li Cai used his business acumen to voice their grievances, but most of them were fabricated. In reality, the Nguyen Dynasty had always focused on assimilation. Since Ha Tien, the only place ruled by the Chinese, was taken over by Vietnam, they could only gain respect through economic means. Utilizing the local rice trade and their hardworking spirit, many Chinese controlled the economic lifeline of the southern region.

“You shouldn’t thank me, but Shah. Without his leadership, we wouldn’t be here.”

"Yes, yes, we are grateful to the Shah. We hope the Shah can protect us, and we are willing to become his subjects and pay his taxes." Voluntarily becoming the Shah's subjects—isn't that a bit too audacious? This was actually Li Cai's intention.

Unable to gain the support of the Qing Dynasty in their homeland, these Chinese could only band together for mutual support in their local area. Some could use their economic resources to obtain the privileges of the monarch, or recruit soldiers and build their own independent regime.

The peak of the Chinese community was in 1767 when Zheng Zhao established the Thonburi Kingdom, but it was quickly overthrown by Rama I. Afterwards, the Chinese continued to trade in Southeast Asia, and then a few decades ago, a group of merchants established the Lanfang Company on the island of Borneo, but it was severely impacted by Dutch attacks and never recovered.

These people have nothing to do with the Chinese in Vietnam. They just want more power, but the higher-ups don't listen at all. Officials treat them like cash cows, taking whatever they want from them. If things continue like this, it might be better to let foreigners rule them; maybe that would be better.

"Once we get through this battle, I will go to Shah to recommend you for credit."

Bahram made a promise to them, saying that since Iran needed to govern here anyway, they might as well let them help as a middle class.

"Then thank you very much, sir."

By this time, Vietnam had launched more than 10 attacks on the riverbank, suffering losses of over 1000 men. Enraged, Emperor Tu Duc rebuked the generals at the front for their ineffective attacks and appointed the high-ranking official Nguyen Tri Phuong as the Military Commissioner of Southern Vietnam, concurrently serving as the Governor-General of Dinh Bien and the Circuit Intendants of Long Huong and An Ha, to lead troops to Saigon.

But news of Vietnam's predicament had already reached other places, and Cambodian King Anton was preparing to send people to discuss the situation. As the King of Cambodia, the country he led was now in imminent danger.

After the fall of the powerful Khmer Empire, Cambodia plunged into a 400-year Dark Age. Cambodian monarchs could only survive by becoming vassals of the Siamese and Vietnamese.

However, this situation could not stop neighboring countries from wanting to annex it. Siam and Vietnam fought again for control of Cambodia. From 1841 to 1845, the two countries fought a war for control of Cambodia.

This war was also accompanied by uprisings among the Cambodian people, with insurgents indiscriminately massacring all Vietnamese they encountered. Initially, the Hue court was very confident in suppressing the rebellion, ordering its troops stationed in Cambodia to quickly advance and suppress the uprising. It also ordered the captured rebel leaders to be executed by slow slicing, their bodies displayed in the roads as a deterrent. However, the rebels in various locations established outposts and waged guerrilla warfare, making suppression unsuccessful. Simultaneously, uprisings broke out in Ha Tien, Ba Xuyen, Chi Son, and Tra Vinh in Cochinchina, with insurgents including Khmer, Chinese, and Vietnamese, and receiving support from Siam. This greatly alarmed the Nguyen Dynasty court, which recalled its troops from Cambodia to Cochinchina for a full-scale suppression.

Siam was also in a difficult situation, mired in war with both sides at a military stalemate. Ultimately, they agreed to a ceasefire and cease interference in Cambodia's internal affairs. King Anton of Cambodia sent envoys to Hue to pledge allegiance to the Vietnamese court, after which the Vietnamese army withdrew entirely from Cambodia, entrusting all affairs to Anton's management.

An Dong was formally crowned King by Brahmins from both Cambodia and Siam. Although Siam still maintained a military presence and political advisors in Cambodia, the Cambodian King wielded considerable decision-making power, and the Vietification policies previously implemented by the Nguyen Dynasty were completely abolished. Diplomatically, Cambodia paid tribute to both Siam and Vietnam. The arrival of Iran had given him hope. Although he had previously written to Britain, having another country couldn't hurt.

(End of this chapter)