Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 350 Trigger

For ordinary Vietnamese people, Hue, the capital of Vietnam, is an ordinary day, but for Phan Thanh Giang and Nguyen Kinh Phuong, it's a difficult day.

“Mr. Pan Qingjian and Mr. Ruan Jingfang, the people of your country have openly burned down the temple of our country’s priests. This is a blatant provocation.”

The Iranian ambassador to Vietnam, Mirza, lodged a protest with the two men because people in Nha Trang burned down a local Zoroastrian temple and killed 18 Zoroastrians.

Zoroastrianism spread rapidly in Vietnam. With official permission, Zoroastrians built temples throughout the country and spread their faith. However, this was irreconcilable with the indigenous Buddhist and Confucian faiths of Vietnam. In particular, the proliferation of temples encroached on their building space, and followers abused their privileges, further fueling the Vietnamese people's hatred of Zoroastrianism.

The conflict erupted in Nha Trang, which is close to Cinnestan and was therefore most affected. The presence of over 3000 Zoroastrians in the area has severely damaged local interests. The conflict has escalated, resulting in several bloody incidents.

The most serious incident occurred this time when, with the support of the government, local Confucian scholars led the people to destroy the temple and kill 18 believers. Upon receiving the news, the Iranian envoy immediately went to the royal palace to demand an explanation.

"Your Excellency, our country needs to investigate this matter. If it is as you say, we will provide compensation."

Pan Qingjian, a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and Minister of Rites, offered his advice to the Iranian minister: at present, a more detailed understanding of the situation is needed. However, they both understood the root cause: the unbridled expansion of Zoroastrianism. Severely punishing the perpetrators might provoke local resistance, so Pan Qingjian decided to delay, allowing the Iranian side to find its own solution eventually.

"No need for such formalities. The facts are clear: the local people have damaged our property. Your country needs to severely punish the perpetrators and provide compensation. This is our demand. Please take a look!"

Iran's demands are quite "simple," including: severely punishing the perpetrators, paying 100 million rials in compensation for the temple, opening Haiphong port as a trading port, allowing Iranian merchants to enter the northern region, and prohibiting the imposition of taxes.

"We will not agree to such conditions; this is blatant blackmail!"

Ruan Jingfang threw these conditions at the other party without hesitation. As the Minister of War, he would never agree to such conditions.

"In that case, may I take it as you intending to wage war against our country?"

These words surprised Pan Qingjian. "How did this come to mean war?"

Pan Qingjian quickly waved his hand, trying to ease the tension: "Your Excellency, please don't misunderstand. We did not intend to offend your country, but these conditions are indeed somewhat harsh, and we need time to discuss them."

He sneered, "Time? Your country has already delayed for far too long. If you cannot provide a satisfactory answer immediately, my country will have no choice but to take even harsher measures."

Ruan Jingfang slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "This is a blatant threat! We are not lambs to the slaughter!"

Pan Qingjian quickly pulled Ruan Jingfang back and whispered, "Calm down, now is not the time to act impulsively."

He turned to the minister, his tone sincere: "Your Excellency, we understand your country's anger. However, this matter is far-reaching, and we need to consult with the King before making a decision. Could you grant us some time?"

After a moment's hesitation, the other party reluctantly nodded: "Since your country is so sincere, our country will not press too hard. However, if your country's reply does not satisfy us, you will bear the consequences."

After seeing the envoy off, Pan Qingjian and Ruan Jingfang looked at each other in bewilderment.

“What should we do?” Pan Qingjian sighed. “If we agree to their conditions, the people will be outraged; if we don’t, we might really have to go to war.” Ruan Jingfang clenched his fist: “So what if we fight! We Vietnamese are not to be trifled with.”

“We must not be reckless.” Pan Qingjian shook his head. “Iran is a powerful nation, and we may not be a match for it. Moreover, if war breaks out, it will be the ordinary people who suffer.”

After much discussion, the two decided to first report to the king and then summon their ministers to discuss countermeasures.

The following day at court, after hearing the report, King Nguyen Phuc Thi of Vietnam frowned and asked, "My esteemed ministers, how should this matter be handled?"

The ministers were divided in their discussions. Some advocated a hardline approach, while others suggested compromise and concessions.

At this moment, an elderly minister stepped forward: "Your Majesty, this old minister has a plan."

"Oh? Please speak, Minister Chen."

"In my humble opinion, we might as well adopt a strategy of 'retreating to advance.' On the surface, we agree to Iran's demands, but in reality, we impose restrictions. For example, we can open the port of Haiphong, but only allow Iranian merchants to operate in designated areas; we can allow them to enter the north, but they must pay high tariffs. In this way, we can both temporarily quell the incident and safeguard our national interests."

Ruan Fushi's eyes lit up: "This plan is brilliant! Minister Pan, Minister Ruan, what do you think?"

Pan Qingjian and Ruan Jingfang exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We agree with Lord Chen's plan."

“Alright, let’s do it this way.” Nguyen Phuc Thi made the final decision. “Phan Ai Qing, you will be in charge of negotiating with the Iranian envoy; Nguyen Ai Qing, you will strengthen border defenses to prevent any unforeseen events, and also deploy the Flying Dragon Army in Nha Trang as a precaution.”

The Flying Dragon Army is a newly established army in Vietnam, equipped with foreign weapons such as muskets and artillery. It represents the first step in Vietnam's military reform efforts, and its deployment in Nha Trang is also intended to guard against a potential surprise attack from Iran.

Pan Qingjian met with Mirza again.

"Your Excellency, after careful consideration, we have decided to accept your country's request. However, some details require further discussion."

After listening to Pan Qingjian's suggestion, the minister frowned slightly: "These restrictions... I'm afraid they're not quite appropriate?"

Pan Qingjian smiled and said, "Your Excellency, this is already the biggest concession our country has made. If your country insists on forcing us to do something against our will, it may backfire."

The minister had no choice but to nod. "In that case, I will report back to the country. Once the Shah agrees, we can sign the contract."

"That's wonderful. The two countries have always been very good neighbors. Instead of thinking about war all the time, we can enjoy lasting peace by taking a step back."

The envoy returned to send a telegram, while Pan Qingjian was relieved that the country had escaped a disaster. All that was left was to wait for the other party to sign the contract; it should be done quite quickly.

But this wait brought even greater trouble. The Zoroastrian temple in Tuoyang was also damaged, and this time the impact was even greater, with over 300 people injured. It also affected Hue city, with Iranian merchants and believers flocking to the embassy. Even if Pan Qingjian had nine mouths, he couldn't persuade the minister anymore; he had to figure out what to do next.

(End of this chapter)