Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 123 A Private Letter from Afar

Let's turn our attention to Iran. The Tabriz Railway became an instant hot commodity after its opening. Tens of thousands of goods and passengers traveled between the two cities, greatly boosting trade.

This made the Ottomans, who came for trade, feel that the railway was indeed a good option, but the Sultan ignored it. He was still thinking about how to give ethnic minorities equal status, as well as things like education and the rule of law. He didn't mention the economy at all.

“Shah, those international students will be back soon. We will arrange suitable positions for them.”

Nasserdin couldn't wait to see what changes these people could bring to Iran. Although Iran has already undergone many changes, it's not enough; other factors need to be added.

In addition to the first batch of students who returned from their studies abroad, Iran selects 150 people each year to study in Britain and Prussia. They enter government and educational institutions, and also start businesses, contributing new elements to social transformation.

"Has Russia made any moves lately?"

"I heard that Russia sent troops toward Prussia, forcing Prussia to dissolve an alliance. This must have been at Austria's request, since the struggle between Prussia and Austria in the central region was quite fierce."

The Shah already understood that the Austrian Habsburg family needed to maintain its control over the German region, and therefore required Russia's help, which not only quelled the Hungarian rebellion but also suppressed Prussia.

However, even the best allies have weaknesses, and the weakness between Austria and Russia was the Grand Duchy of the Danube. Austria's trade was heavily reliant on the Danube, and any move that threatened the Danube's access to the sea would provoke a reaction from Austria.

“Russia is quickly isolating itself,” Naserdin said. “I think the day when we go to war with Russia is not far off.”

Although the Russian military currently maintains a dominant position over Iran, Iran is gradually regaining the upper hand. Furthermore, due to European needs, over 10,000 troops have been redeployed to the South Caucasus, further weakening the region's defenses.

"Shah, the best course of action for our country in the war against Russia is a swift victory. They are relying on winter and their sheer size to wage a war of attrition. If we cannot decide the outcome in the shortest possible time..."

Amir concluded from the Napoleonic Wars that winter was Russia's most important weapon. Of Napoleon's 60-strong army, less than a tenth survived the harsh Moscow winter. While Iranian soldiers were better equipped than French soldiers to withstand the cold, Russia's sheer size meant that Iran couldn't afford a war of attrition.

"That's not entirely true. There's only one opportunity left for Britain, France, and Russia to sever diplomatic ties. It's probably coming soon."

Now we can only pray that Russia breaks with Europe as soon as possible, only then will they have an opportunity to take advantage.

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As the Shah's steward, Saeed naturally had a lot to do every day, especially after the Shah announced plans to invest in various sectors, which made him even busier. Fortunately, he only needed to oversee the overall situation; otherwise, this old man would have eventually passed away. He hadn't known about his son's situation for the past few months, but since he was going on the Shah's orders, there shouldn't be any problems.

"Sir, there is a letter for you."

Said thought it might have been written by his son, so he quickly took it, but he was disappointed because it was a letter from Mexico.

But there was a surprise inside when you opened it: a check for 20 riyals and a letter from Lawrence.

Lawrence's entrepreneurial ventures in Mexico were initially unsuccessful due to social unrest, and he struggled to establish himself in Matamoros. He soon began railway construction.

After overcoming numerous difficulties, the 22.63-kilometer railway was finally completed in the first year, connecting nearby farms and facilitating trade.

The construction of the railway inspired a spirit of change among the local people, and Lawrence's company successfully raised $150 million to build railways connecting to other areas. For security, the company also recruited a 200-person security team.

To secure more funds, Lawrence established Davis Brothers Bank, whose security convinced many that they should entrust their money there, leading to a gradual increase in the bank's funds.

In addition to his own efforts, he also received some support from family relatives in Mississippi. A relative named Jefferson gave him $10 and used his connections to help him secure some shipping business in the United States. Lawrence was very grateful for this and invited him to Mexico.

However, Jefferson was in a difficult position, as the US Congress was once again embroiled in a heated debate over slavery. As one of the most complex issues in American history, the conflict between slavery and capitalism led to numerous clashes between the North and South. The 1787 constitutional amendment contained several provisions concerning slavery, but the wording was vague. This sowed the seeds for even greater conflict between the North and South.

In 1804, as tensions between the North and South escalated, the federal government was forced to adopt the Mason-Dixon Line as the dividing line between the slave states in the South and the free states in the North. Afterwards, both sides moved westward in parallel without major conflict, and the capitalist system in the North and the slave system in the South coexisted to a certain extent.

However, as the United States expanded westward, more and more new states joined the Union. Both the North and South were concerned about the socio-economic systems these new states would adopt. According to the Constitution, each new state would have two seats in the Senate, which would inevitably disrupt the existing economic and political balance between the North and South. In 1820, Senator Henry Clay introduced the famous "Missouri Compromise," which largely maintained a balance between the North and South, preventing major conflict for more than 20 years afterward.

With the United States gaining vast territories in the West, including California and New Mexico, in the Mexican-American War, a fierce debate erupted between the North and South over whether these territories should join the Union as free states or slave states. The Southern states sought to expand their slave-owning territories and threatened secession. The nation once again faced the prospect of division.

With industrialization, the North began to rely on machinery for income, unlike agriculture which required a large workforce. However, for the South, which depended on agriculture, slave labor was an indispensable economic tool. The North, primarily based on commerce and industry, developed into a capitalist society and attempted to use its power to curb the South's economic development, thus advocating protectionist trade policies. The South, on the other hand, developed an aristocratic society similar to that of England, based on large farms, and promoted free trade. Furthermore, as the largest supplier of cotton, the South maintained friendly cooperative relations with England and preserved slavery.

As a Southern senator, Senator Jefferson needed to argue with the Northerners in Congress, so he didn't have time to go to Mexico, which Lawrence found regrettable.

(End of this chapter)