Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 191 Leisure Time
Naserdin left Berlin for Belgium, and on his way he came to Frankfurt, the seat of the German Confederation Parliament.

Naserdin noticed an ambassador in his forties sitting in a chair in parliament, smoking a cigar in a very wild manner.

"So smoking is allowed in your parliament?"

"Yes, originally only the Austrian ambassador did this, but the new Prussian ambassador broke this rule. You see, it's this one."

Following the other's gaze, Naserdin saw the Prussian ambassador to Bismarck. He looked like a formidable opponent; it was said he had dueled more than ten times during his university years.

"What a ruthless person."

This future Iron Chancellor has not yet crossed paths with us, but they will in the future.

After Frankfurt, Nasserdin boarded a train to Belgium and the Netherlands. He was greeted by King William III of the Netherlands and King Leopold I of Belgium in Amsterdam and Brussels respectively.

Iran maintained a normal diplomatic stance towards both countries, with little diplomatic repercussions between them. Nasser al-Din simply toured the two countries and enjoyed the scenery.

In Amsterdam, Iran and the Netherlands signed a free trade treaty. Because the Netherlands is a parliamentary monarchy, the treaties were negotiated by the Dutch Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

The same is true for Belgium, where the king has little power. Nasser al-Din mainly meets with members of the royal family, including the King of Belgium and his son, Prince Leopold, who is 21 years old.

Well, the first thing Nasserdin noticed about him was his handsome appearance. He looked a bit frail, but he seemed very friendly and had a lot to talk about with Nasserdin.

The 1848 revolution did not reach Belgium, thanks in large part to Leopold I's political maneuvering, which facilitated the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, securing an important ally for Belgium.

There was no negotiation between the two countries. After a short tour, Naserdin boarded a train to Paris, France.

On the train, Pezeshkian and Naserdin discussed the rest of the journey.

"Shah, this Emperor Napoleon has supported the Ottomans many times, so it will be difficult for him to gain their support."

"No, the interests between nations are not determined by the preferences of a monarch. France helped the United States gain independence, but the United States did not become an ally of France; instead, it befriended its former enemy, Britain."

We don't need to be overly ingratiating; as long as there's mutual benefit, the other party will come forward to talk to us on their own.

France also needs to develop its economy, so Nathaniel Gardner certainly wants more colonies and markets. Coincidentally, he has an investment project; he wonders if His Majesty the Emperor would be willing to invest.

Napoleon III was getting impatient. Now that France's prestige had been restored and European countries were paying attention to France again, it was time to find an investment destination for his domestic patrons.

Looking at the map, Algiers and the Ottoman Empire seem like good options—they're close by and powerful. But those two territories alone aren't enough; they need more.

Napoleon III, having spent his time in exile in England, witnessed firsthand Britain's power and prosperity, as well as the transformative effects of industrialization on British society. Upon ascending the throne, he resolved to use the power of the state to accelerate France's industrialization. A follower of Saint-Simonian philosophy and a firm believer in expert-led governance, he immediately removed politicians lacking economic expertise from prominent positions and replaced them with followers of Saint-Simon. However, just as Britain sought colonies worldwide, France also needed to restore the glory of its first colonial empire.

Nasserdin's letter to him was full of flattery, calling him the man who would lead France back to its former glory. He couldn't wait to meet him.

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When the Davis Brothers Bank in Mexico received 100 million riyals from Iran, they also sprang into action.

The army in the north has already marched south toward Mexico City, and for the sake of their family's future, they have also recruited 2000 people to form a civilian army, which is currently operating in the town and it is unclear how they are doing.

But Lawrence found a better path: he was definitely leaning towards the liberals over the conservatives. He also wanted to win over the conservatives, but for now, he'd use their numbers.

The two brothers rallied together and founded the National Action Party of Mexico, using the slogan of defending the country to attract those around them. They also released their own political platform: the Charter of Action for Mexico.

The charter outlined several major problems facing Mexico, including military interference in Congress, weak military capabilities, insufficient economic development, and social division. Lawrence proposed uniting all Mexican ethnic groups and social classes to develop the economy.

On the crucial issue of land, Lawrence proposed a moderate land reform: the government would buy up the land and then sell it to farmers at a low price. While this approach benefited landowners, it was still groundbreaking for Mexico.

All the liberals around Lawrence supported him and spontaneously went to Matamoros to support his policies.

As mayor, Alvarez announced his intention to build a new Mexico, a respectable nation. Local landowners smoothly relinquished some of their land, which the government then purchased and sold to farmers at 25% below market value.

But would they really do something that loses money? Even if the price were reduced by a quarter, most farmers still couldn't afford it. So, the sister bank could lend you money, but at an annual interest rate of 4%, with a maximum repayment period of 50 years. Calculated this way, the 25% price difference could be repaid quickly, and you could even make a considerable profit.

Regarding industry and commerce, the Charter of Action proposed unifying internal tariffs and attracting foreign investment to develop industry, which received support from urban industrialists and businessmen. It also received support from another reformist leader, Juárez.

Juárez currently serves as Mexico's Minister of Justice and a Supreme Court Justice. He enacted the Juárez Law, which abolished the privileges of clergy and military officers, and declared his intention to fight for Mexico.

It is now necessary to secure all possible support, so Juárez sent people to Matamoros to discuss cooperation.

Compared to Juárez's uncompromising approach, the Davis brothers were able to compromise to some extent with the conservatives. Of course, the military was also a key area they actively courted, proposing not only to build a first-class army but also to significantly improve soldiers' benefits, offering them land in exchange for ten years of service.

Of course, Mexico is different from the United States; it has a large indigenous population and people of mixed indigenous and indigenous descent. To garner their support, the only way to appease them was to find a target for their anger: the United States. Therefore, the final charter states that the future will wash away the shame of the previous wars and restore Mexico's international standing.

Such a comprehensive document naturally garnered considerable support, but whether they could successfully seize power depended on God's will.

(End of this chapter)