Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 164 Stability
"Shah, the man has been brought."

Yaroslav was brought before Naser al-Din, who spoke to him in Persian, but he could not understand. It was a translator nearby who helped him understand what the Shah was saying.

"Should I say you're Polish or Russian?"

"If I could, I would prefer to call myself Polish. My country may be gone, but one day it will reappear on the European continent."

What a Pole! It seems his strategy was largely correct. It's a pity it wasn't implemented in 1848, otherwise it would have been even more successful.

"I originally thought Russians were united, but it seems that's not the case."

The Russian prisoners of war were all put to work on the railway, but unexpectedly, internal conflicts arose among them, with Poles, Lithuanians, and Russians fighting each other. If they hadn't separated them, there would likely have been fatalities.

"I know you. When the Ottomans attacked Vienna, it was King Sobieski of Poland who led the army to defeat them. However, to have fallen to this state, we must admit that your parliament has played a major role."

Jaroslav didn't understand high-level power struggles, but he got angry when the other side directly said that Poland's demise was its own fault.

"Despite the great setbacks Poland has suffered, it will never perish."

“I know, that’s why I’m meeting you today.” Nasser al-Din stood up and walked to the large Eurasian map. “Russia is currently showing signs of weakness. If you are willing to cooperate, I can provide you with some assistance.”

"Oh, so he really wants to be Napoleon?" Yaroslav wasn't sure if he was Prince Poniatovsky, but Naserdin was offering too much financial support, not only agreeing to let them study at Iranian military academies but also funding the establishment of their organization. In exchange, they would fight alongside Iran as part of the army against Russia.

"I want you to understand that no one is interested in your cause of independence right now. This is your last chance. If you can seize it, the restoration of your nation will no longer be a distant dream."

Naserdin glanced at Yaroslav and then left. He knew that the other party would definitely agree to this condition. No matter what the long-term disadvantages might be, as long as the country was restored, everything was negotiable.

The Poles desperately want independence, even if only for a year. Even when Chopin died in France, he wanted his sister to bring his heart back to Warsaw. Let alone those living on Polish soil.

“Shah, the Russian ambassador has been demanding that we retreat to the 1828 border, saying that this is the basis for peace talks between the two countries.”

This news was expected. Given how much Russia values ​​its land, it would be a real stretch to ask them to cede it. "I knew it. How could they possibly give up? They've probably already started mobilizing troops."

Now it's a battle between Iran and Russia. After the heavy rains ended, the Iranian vanguard began crossing the Caucasus Mountains towards the North Caucasus.

In the South Caucasus, Iran began a campaign to purge its newly occupied territories. Large numbers of Russians and young Russians residing in the region were expelled west of the Tiza River. At Iran's request, these individuals were allowed to leave with their belongings. However, for the vast majority of the expelled Russians, their main assets consisted of real estate such as houses and land. This led to a sharp drop in real estate prices in the region, prompting a large influx of eligible Iranians to rush in and snap up these forcibly abandoned properties.

However, these people only constituted a small fraction, with approximately 10 people being deported. But their total property valued at 2350 million riyals, most of which were confiscated by the government and then distributed to soldiers and sold at low prices to local farmers.

After the war subsided, reconstruction began in the region. The Iranian government allocated 500 million rials to restore local production, with Baku being a key investment target, as its oil production is a vital source of wealth and requires careful investment.

Iran cannot neglect its soldiers. As a modern army, it cannot simply use its soldiers and then discard them. Therefore, in addition to awarding medals and 24 months' salary, providing a plot of farmland is also an important policy for soldiers wounded in the war.

European armies fared much worse. The French army, touted as the world's best, often failed to pay its soldiers on time, especially when the war was going poorly. Sometimes, bribes had to be given to the cashier to receive their due pay. Accustomed to military life, the soldiers' hands were often very slippery. After the Battle of Eylau in 1807, in the freezing cold, a Jewish merchant from Warsaw brought in several barrels of brandy by sled. The frostbitten French soldiers scrambled to buy it, charging six francs a glass. This caused them considerable hardship.

Iran, needing to govern the new lands long-term, has reinstated the system of awarding land to soldiers based on merit. Disabled soldiers and families of soldiers killed in action are given priority in receiving land; if they do not want the land, they can exchange it for corresponding cash.

When Iranian soldiers heard about the land distribution, they charged forward with great enthusiasm. To them, such a reward was a gift from the Shah, and they were eager to take as many heads as possible.

The population census for the South Caucasus has also been completed, thanks to the previously poorly conducted census by the Russians. The Iranian government was able to recruit more civil servants to compile the results, and with the assistance of the local church, the census was finally completed.

The current population of the South Caucasus region is 200 million, including 90 Georgians, 80 from Azerbaijan, and 15 Armenians. There are also Catholics, Protestants, Zoroastrians, and other groups. The religious situation is complex, and this is despite the large-scale expulsion of Orthodox Christians.

The dozen or so bishops, led by those in Tbilisi, had already sworn allegiance to the Shah, and Naser al-Din naturally wouldn't make things too difficult for them. However, a considerable period was needed to test their loyalty. During this time, the individual believers continued with their lives, and local life was largely unaffected.

With Sukhumi's arrival, Iran now has access to the Black Sea, allowing it to export goods to Europe without having to go through the Ottoman Empire or detour around the Cape of Good Hope. Construction is still in full swing.

Just one day later, Jaroslav agreed to Nasser al-Din's demands. He formed the National Association with Polish soldiers and signed an agreement with the Shah. Nasser al-Din provided funding and weapons, and arranged for 10 Poles to study at Iranian military academies. In return, the National Association was required to assist Iran in the upcoming battles. It could be said that both sides got what they wanted, but the association was currently located in the south, far from Warsaw, so there was still a long way to go.

(End of this chapter)