Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 371 The Holy City (Part 1)

Naser al-Din valued Ottoman investment so much not only for economic gain, but also to prevent Britain and France from taking too much of the local market share.

The British discovered a decline in their textile exports to the Ottomans, as well as their imports of Ottoman cotton and tobacco. This was replaced by a surge in demand for Iranian industrial goods. Their economic expansion in the Ottomans was exceeding expectations and was encroaching on their markets.

Iranian cotton fabrics, clothing, kerosene, and furniture entered Anatolia in large quantities, while Ottoman-produced grains, cotton, tobacco, timber, and other raw materials were exported to Iran in large quantities. This trade accounted for a quarter of Ottoman's annual trade and continued to increase.

Meanwhile, railways invested in by Iran itself are being completed, from Erzurum to Ankara, and from Mosul to Aleppo, each of which is 100% controlled by Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran also established factories and explored for minerals within the Ottoman Empire. Taking advantage of France's shift of attention to the Americas, Iran seized a significant portion of French business in the Levant. This was largely due to Iran's cost advantage.

As more and more people went to Iran to work, a new type of employment agency emerged within the Ottoman Empire. They mostly engaged in trade between the two countries, as well as side businesses such as postal services and job placement. Without exception, they were all Shia Muslims.

Now things are really messed up. The Greeks and Armenians are in charge of trade between the Ottoman Empire and Europe, the Shiites are in charge of trade with Iran, and the Sunnis are left to take the beatings. The Sultan must be wondering how fifty years of effort can be less effective than Iran's ten.

Meanwhile, railway construction within Iran is accelerating. The Mesopotamian Railway, which runs from Mosul through Baghdad and Najaf to Basra, is already operational. The Baghdad-Tehran railway carries a large volume of passengers and goods, and telegraph lines are being laid, in preparation for using new-era technology to completely control the region.

The Shah is also preparing for the relocation of the capital, and some clerks have already begun working in Baghdad. Construction in Baghdad is nearing completion; local agriculture has recovered, and industry and commerce are developing. The Kurds, on the other hand, have submitted to Iran. They find their room for maneuver has disappeared; faced with cannons, surrender is the best option.

Iran's impressive performance has stirred up a wave throughout the Crescent Moon world. They all have one question: Is the Ottoman Empire still viable? Shiites gave a negative answer, while die-hard Sunnis supported the Ottomans. But many others used their own judgment to find the answer: following Iran offers a future.

The southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula is the so-called Hejaz region. It is home not only to the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina, but also to the legendary tomb of Eve.

The holy city attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year, and the fees levied on them account for half of its total revenue. Jeddah, to the south, is an important port for transshipping goods from India and Egypt. Influenced by the British East India Company, European merchants have already established agencies there.

In Mecca, Sharif, Abdul Rapasha, who was in charge of guarding the Hejaz, was calling a meeting with others. He needed to think about the Hejaz and the holy city.

By this time, Hejaz had become the most important, and only, land route connecting the Ottoman Empire and southern Yemen. However, as Iranian influence deepened, Hejaz gradually changed its previous supportive stance towards the Ottoman Empire and began demanding more from Constantinople. Meanwhile, the Ottoman army stationed there was reduced to 500 men, and Hejaz was essentially in a state of "semi-autonomy."

"Everyone knows the purpose of our visit today, right?" Pasha asked.

“I know, we have to make a decision. Actually, pledging allegiance to Persia isn’t shameful. The Ottomans could conquer, Egypt could conquer, so if we proactively show our loyalty to Persia, they might give us better terms,” someone nearby said.

The others remained silent because this man belonged to a tribe in the eastern Hejaz region. He frequently traded with the Shamari tribe in Riyadh, and over time, he had spoken with the tribal chief, who was also a high-ranking official in Riyadh province, Iran. According to the chief, Iran was very tolerant of them. As long as they showed loyalty, Iran would provide them with good living conditions. He himself lived better than other tribes.

"But we also need to consider that although Egypt and the Ottomans have taken turns occupying this area, heretics have never entered Mecca. If we agree, what will believers around the world think?"

Abdul Rapasha was also worried about this, because since the Fatimid dynasty of Egypt, no Shia state had controlled the region. If Iran were to enter, who knows what kind of bloodshed it would unleash.

“But the current situation doesn’t allow us to wait any longer. That Caliph seems to have no ambition whatsoever. Are we going to waste our time on him?” “We can’t let this go to heretics either. Do you know what the rulers of Iran are doing? Many of the things they do violate the Quran.”

The argument in the meeting room continued. Abdullah Pasha remained silent for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his brow furrowed. The candlelight flickered in the hall, illuminating the varied expressions on everyone's faces.

“What you say makes sense,” he finally spoke, his voice low and solemn, “but Mecca and Medina are not only holy cities of the Hejaz, but holy sites for the entire world. Our decision will affect not only the future of the Hejaz, but also the faith of millions of believers.”

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the silhouette of the Kaaba in the distance. In the darkness, the lights of the holy city still shone brightly, and the faint chanting of pilgrims could be heard.

“Although the Ottomans are weak, they are still Sunnis and maintain the ‘orthodoxy’ of the Holy Land. If we rashly side with the Persians…” He paused, not continuing.

“Lord Pasha,” an elderly Medina nobleman rose, his voice steady, “but the Ottomans are now struggling to maintain even a garrison of 500 men. Taxes increase year after year, yet there is no return. Our Hejaz merchants, tribes, and even scholars from the Holy City are all complaining. And the Iranians—”

He glanced around and lowered his voice: “They promised a three-year tax exemption, opened up trade privileges in the Persian Gulf, and even allowed us to retain our existing rights. All they need is nominal allegiance.”

"Nominal allegiance?" A cold laugh came from the corner. Everyone turned to see the Jeddah merchant representative who had been silent all along. "Don't you all know what lies behind Iran's 'nominal' allegiance? Their 'tolerance' is only for those who have completely submitted. Look at Bahrain, look at the Omani coast—ostensibly autonomous, but in reality, their taxes, armies, and ports are all firmly controlled by the Persians."

Silence fell over the hall once again.

Abdullah Pasha took a deep breath and said slowly, "Perhaps... we have a third way."

"A third way?" The crowd looked at him in confusion.

“Autonomy.” Pasha’s gaze hardened. “Neither dependent on the Ottomans nor subservient to Persia. Hejaz can become an independent state, striving for recognition from other nations based on its status as a holy city.”

“But this requires strong allies,” someone questioned. “Without external support, how can we withstand the wrath of the Ottomans? How can we deal with the ambitions of the Persians?”

“The British,” Pasha smiled slightly. “There are more and more European merchants in Jeddah, and the British East India Company has long wanted to establish a firm foothold here. If we promise to open the ports and grant them trading privileges, they may very well support us.”

“But the British are Christians too!” a religious scholar couldn’t help but retort. “Allowing infidels to interfere in Holy Land affairs is more dangerous than the Persians!”

“But the British won’t interfere with our faith,” Pasha calmly replied. “They only care about commercial interests. As for the Persians… if they come in, the first thing they’ll do is change the direction of prayer in Mecca.”

These words caused everyone's expression to change.

(End of this chapter)