Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 182 Journey to Europe
The Iranian army moved, heading towards Bajon. Rama IV knew that a battle was necessary to boost morale, so he decided to launch a preemptive strike.

In addition to the troops being trained, Iran also has four Nadir-type machine guns that were previously delivered. It's a good opportunity to test their power.

Siam has launched an attack, with King Rama IV personally leading the army. A total of 42000 men and 10 war elephants are attacking the Iranian positions.

Many were frightened by the war elephants, which were much larger than themselves. Muhammad was also surprised to see such large animals, but there was no time for lamentation. They had to win this war. The British dared to secretly sell weapons to Siam, which showed that they still underestimated Iran.

"Machine guns ready...fire!"

Nadir's machine gun began firing bullets. Although moving targets were more difficult to hit than stationary targets, it was no problem for him to fire in a burst.

The soldiers who received the muskets had been training for less than a month. When they saw the enemy firing bullets continuously, they were so frightened that their hands went limp. They threw down their guns and ran away.

"Don't run! Attack! Attack!"

King Rama IV sat atop his war elephant, watching his assembled army crumble like a house of cards. Although he had anticipated this outcome, he had not expected the battle to end in just an hour and a half.

Peeta, the younger brother, shouted at the soldiers at the top of his lungs and killed several before barely managing to stabilize the formation. But the enemy clearly wouldn't let such an opportunity pass; instead of advancing, they unleashed another tactic.

A large herd of cattle charged towards them, their horns strapped with swords and their tails ablaze, charging like madmen.

"Fire the arrow quickly!"

The officer's order prompted the soldiers who had taken cover to grab their crossbows and fire at the charging cattle. Several cattle were hit, but this did not stop the herd.

The soldiers were completely scattered, and even the war elephants were frightened and fled in all directions, trampling many people to death.

In this battle, the Iranian army won a great victory, which even the British watching from the sidelines found unbelievable. It seemed that their aid was of little use and that Siam was only fit to be ruled by the British Empire.

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In the port of Beirut, a luxurious ship was already waiting. Nasser al-Din and the delegation behind him were preparing to board it to Europe.

For the Shah's security, the Iranian government chose to send him via the Eastern Mediterranean rather than the Black Sea. They will board a ship in Beirut and travel to Venice, then by train to visit various cities across continental Europe.

"The Ottomans did not treat this land well at all. It was filled with violence, discrimination and backwardness, and the sultan was even complacent about it."

No one knows what the Shah was thinking when he arrived in Najaf. Such a large city, yet only 60 families. Was this still the prosperous Mesopotamia and Syria? "It seems the Ottomans are no longer suited to rule here. Egypt is no longer suitable either."

"Shah, it's time for us to board the ship, please."

Naser al-Din boarded the ship, and Pezeshkian was responsible for explaining to the Shah their itinerary of discussions with various European governments.

In response to the Iranian monarch's visit, various governments persuaded their monarchs to meet with Nasser al-Din. Meanwhile, in the Austrian Empire, Emperor Franz Joseph I planned to meet the Shah at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

As the most moderate of the great powers, Austria had a solid foundation: the developed industry of Bohemia, the fertile plains of the Hungarian region, and a considerable bourgeoisie. If governed properly, it might have surpassed France.

The discussions between Iran and Austria mainly revolve around the Balkan issue. The merger of the two principalities along the Danube River, which Iran previously proposed, is currently under discussion. Austria must ensure that the local pro-Austrian or neutral tendencies are maintained and must not allow them to side with Russia.

At this point, Iran's role becomes clear. As a newly joined Black Sea nation, Iran can balance the local situation. This is also why Franz wanted to meet with Nasser al-Din; they both ascended the throne in the same year, and Franz is only one year older than Nasser al-Din, so a meeting between two young people would certainly be much better.

"Shah, please look at this map of the current situation in Europe. After the turmoil of 1848, the countries have stabilized, but two major trends are driving Europe: the unification of the German Confederation and the unification of the Italian region."

Pezeshkian pointed to the German regions and the Italian peninsula, where the idea of ​​unification is strengthening. They are poised for a second unification, an event that would impact Europe and the world, and Iran's role in this remains unclear.

"These two places are too far for our country, but the unification of Germany will certainly cause Prussia, Austria and France to fight each other endlessly. We just need to play the best role in this."

If Iran were geographically located in the Ottoman Empire, it might be able to intervene more forcefully, but this would also make Iran's situation more difficult. Due to geopolitical issues, those in Europe would certainly suppress it relentlessly, preventing any resistance.

“I think the journey ahead will be very interesting,” Nasser al-Din said.

Meanwhile, in Venice, Count Karl Ferdinand von Bur-Schönstein, President of the Council of Ministers of Austria, was discussing a meeting with other ministers.

After the Crimean War, Austria returned to its old ways. The local people demanded a constitutional monarchy, and although a new constitution was drafted, it was never implemented.

The expansion into the Balkans and German territories kept the government busy, with the core issue still being ethnicity. The Magyars became increasingly aggressive, constantly oppressing other ethnic groups, which posed a threat to an emperor who wanted to establish a centralized government.

The visit of the Iranian Shah might boost Austria's situation. Although trade between the two countries is limited, there is potential for cooperation in certain sectors. Furthermore, they could work together to counter the Ottoman Empire, a potential scenario where Iran annexes the east and Austria annexes the west—a win-win situation for both countries.

(End of this chapter)