Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 172 A new beginning

When news of the Paris Peace Treaty reached Iran, the entire nation was in an uproar. No one had ever imagined they could defeat Russia; now the facts were undeniable, and even if they didn't believe it, they had no choice but to accept it.

The opposition forces remained silent, since you can't simply say it's fake; that would make you an enemy of the state. At the same time, one has to admire the Shah's leadership; he restored Iran's status in just four years.

Although the territory was recovered, the only regret was that Russia was not forced to pay reparations. But given Russia's financial situation, hoping for reparations was almost as bad as hoping the Tsar would be assassinated.

After the war, rewards were distributed based on merit. Six people, including Salami and Rouhani, who were on the front lines, were awarded the rank of general; 14 people, including Isfahani and Shapur, were awarded the rank of lieutenant general; and generals like Soleimani who fought on the front lines were awarded the rank of major general. Not to mention the colonels, lieutenant colonels, and so on; every soldier who participated in the war received a reward.

This marks the first large-scale conferment of military ranks in Iran, which is expected to enhance soldiers' sense of honor and responsibility, and strengthen the organization and discipline of the army. At the same time, these rewards elevate their loyalty and social status, ensuring their continued loyalty to the Shah in order to protect their interests.

What remains forever in the North Caucasus are the remains of thousands of soldiers who died on the battlefield. Before their withdrawal, the soldiers devoted considerable effort to building cemeteries and erecting monuments for their comrades who lay buried there. In Tehran, a monument commemorating the soldiers is under construction.

To many Shia Muslims, the soldiers are a sacred group, martyrs who sacrificed themselves for jihad. They triumph in their struggle against infidels, just as they had fought against various nations centuries ago. Though the opposing forces may gain a temporary advantage, ultimate victory remains theirs.

"Congratulations, General. You have paved an unprecedented path for Iran."

Nasser al-Din congratulated Rouhani on his return from the front lines, and Rouhani saluted him. "Rest assured, Shah, the army will always be the first line of defense for the country."

Naserdin nodded. He had been summoned here not just for a talk, but also for another mission the army needed to accomplish.

"The war with Russia is over, but our country still needs to control more land in other directions, especially in the northeast."

Nasser al-Din pointed his cane at Central Asia, saying that Khiva, Bukhara, and Kokand were important regions, and that if Iran didn't intervene, Russia would eventually annex them.

The report from St. Petersburg suggested that their only possible opportunity lay in Asia. The strength of the Russian army in Central Asia was considered "the best guarantee of peace." In 1822, the Tsarist Russian government authorized the Governor-General of Siberia, Speransky, to promulgate a law abolishing the existing political system of the Kazakhstan, dividing the Kazakh region into several administrative districts, all governed according to Russian political systems and by officials dispatched by the Tsarist government. Thus, the 366-year-old Kazakh Khanate came to an end. Following the conquest of the Kazakhstan, Tsarist Russia launched a powerful offensive in Central Asia.

In 1851, Petrovsky, who had become the governor of Orenburg, dispatched more than 2000 Russian troops. After a 22-day siege, they captured Akmejt, the famous White Mosque of the Kokand Fortress, thus forming the Syr Darya fortress line.

"Now that the Russian army has reached the Syr Darya River, our country also needs to accelerate its expansion. Therefore, it is necessary to send an army deep into Khiva and Bukhara."

The reason for using military force instead of diplomacy is that, after numerous negotiations, these Central Asian states are still in the Middle Ages and have no regard for current diplomatic treaties, even arbitrarily violating the friendship treaty signed by Iran. For instance, the Khan of Khiva directly defaulted on his debt, providing Iran with a convenient pretext for military intervention. However, sending troops is not an easy task; departing from Mashhad requires crossing the desert and facing the risk of water shortages. Therefore, this expeditionary force will not be large.

"We can send 3000 troops, but we need to make sufficient supplies."

In the arid Central Asia, water, camels, and guides are indispensable for military operations. Besides Central Asia, troops also need to be deployed to the Far East and East Africa.

An East African expedition had ventured deep inland and, upon discovering a series of tribes, immediately declared it Iranian territory. However, they needed to station troops there, otherwise it would be seized by other countries. They didn't need many; five thousand would suffice.

As for the Far East, 1.4 troops are needed. According to Bahram's intelligence, Siam is very unhappy about the news of Cambodia being incorporated into a protectorate, and the king is preparing to send troops to punish it. Moreover, the King of South Vietnam is also preparing to send troops. Nguyen Tri Phuong, who had previously negotiated, has become the military commissioner of Nam Ngum and has been working hard to build up his army in recent years. It seems he intends to resolve this issue in one fell swoop.

Currently, the colonial army has 2000 private soldiers and 20,000 recruited from Cambodia. These people are fine as a morale booster, but if a real war breaks out, I'm not sure what to expect.

Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize troops from the mainland and send warships to their doorstep to exert deterrence. All of this requires government spending, and future military spending may need to remain at the current level.

Naser al-Din wasn't in a hurry; they needed to celebrate properly. They had just won the war and naturally wanted to show off.

There were parades and celebrations all over the country, including among the clergy. They said nothing more; they were willing to do anything as long as the Shah could lead them to victory.

While the celebrations were underway, the governance of the new territory was also proceeding rapidly. Since most of the local Russians had fled, there was little opposition, and the Georgian Orthodox Church expressed its support for the Shah. To ensure peace of mind, the Orthodox Church headquarters were moved to Tehran. The church was allowed to have a church in the capital, and the position of Patriarch was re-established, with the power of appointment resting with the Shah.

The presence of Iranian soldiers in the region is not only boosting the economy but also changing the local culture. Nearly 100,000 veterans and their families live there, and the culture they bring is bound to influence the Georgian and Armenian regions.

The South Caucasus region is rich in resources, including abundant minerals such as oil, coal, and copper, as well as plentiful forests and water resources. It also has access to the Black Sea, which could halve the shipping time to Europe. This is why Iran is pushing for the unification of the two Danube principalities, as this would allow it to penetrate deeper into the European interior.

After the Iranian Railways Company planned the railway route, construction began, and the local unemployment rate dropped rapidly as a large number of workers began repairing the damage caused by the war. Furthermore, the emerging Iranian factory owners began investing in the north, with the government offering a two-year tax exemption and a three-year 50% tax exemption, seemingly preparing to make this region a major economic center for Iran.

　Research revealed that the historical protagonist had a nickname: the Cosmic Hub.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)