Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 382 Hijaz
Sultan Aziz also learned of the situation in Mecca, and he was naturally furious, for he had lost his status as Caliph and guardian of the Two Holy Lands. He even wanted to beat up the Iranian ambassador and force him to kneel before the Ottoman flag in apology.

However, persuaded by his ministers, he held back. Why? Because the Ottoman Empire was truly incapable of fighting Iran. After the last war with Iran, the Ottoman army began reorganizing and upgrading, but the results were poor. Due to a lack of funds, only a third of the annual budget was allocated to the army. Furthermore, because the Ottoman Empire had not implemented fiscal reforms, revenue increases were limited. No matter how strong the will, it was futile.

"Are we going to be bullied by Iran?" the Sultan roared, and all the ministers remained silent.

"Sudan, at present, the only solution is through negotiations. We are unlikely to get the support of any European country, and Bulgaria and Serbia in the west are also in turmoil. It would be better to negotiate with Iran first and focus our attention on Serbia."

At this time, the struggle between Bulgaria and Serbia was most intense in the Balkans. The Ottomans had ruled the Balkans for centuries, and their decline and instability provided opportunities for independence movements in various regions.

The Ottoman rule over Serbia was characterized by severe oppression. Serbs were taxed, and their Christian faith was restricted. This period brought significant setbacks to Serbian culture and history, but the Serbs maintained a strong sense of national identity, protecting and preserving their language, beliefs, and traditions. Therefore, their resistance against the Ottomans was as fierce as that of the Bulgarians.

Sudan had no choice; compared to Serbia and Bulgaria, Iran was indeed quite far away. Moreover, these people, with Russian support, were relentlessly opposing the Ottoman Empire, and they had to be completely suppressed.

Meanwhile, there was jubilation within Iran. Under the Shah's leadership, they had captured Mecca and Medina. This was largely driven by religious sentiment, with religious leaders issuing a joint statement declaring their support for all of the Shah's decisions. Even the elders who had resisted the land buyouts succumbed to religious fervor. The policy proceeded very smoothly.

The land policy unleashed tremendous productivity, much like the land reforms previously implemented in Iran. This boosted farmers' enthusiasm, and Iran has also paid particular attention to the management of the Mesopotamian region, initiating plans for dams, reservoirs, and canals, with an estimated investment of 2000 million rials.

In recent days, Nasser al-Din has been meeting with various prominent figures in the Hejaz, including religious leaders, Mecca merchants, and well-known local scholars. Most of them are Sunni who have recently converted to Shia Islam and have begun praising Ali and his descendants, including Nasser al-Din.

“Shah, we plan to establish an industrial zone in Jeddah and Yanbu, with a five-year tax exemption, which is expected to attract 200 million in investment.”

Sadiq became Naser al-Din's assistant and began helping Shah manage affairs in the Hejaz region. Having lived there for nearly a year, he had gained a basic understanding of the situation in the Hejaz.

"Well, it seems that to connect Baghdad and Mecca, we still have to go through Damascus."

Nasser al-Din envisioned the Hejaz Railway, built by the Ottomans, which ran from Damascus to Medina. However, its construction was met with opposition from local tribes. Iran, on the other hand, did not face this obstacle, as it had largely subjugated the Arabs, either through religious or financial means.

“Shah, Damascus is still in Ottoman hands. We should consider a railway from Sana’a to Muscat. But the British will definitely react in Aden.”

That being said, the route from Sana'a to Muscat is also through towering mountains and vast deserts. Detours may be necessary, which would significantly increase costs.

However, if completed, it would bring many benefits. For example, the time required for trade between the two sides could be reduced by four-fifths, and troops could be quickly deployed to Hejaz; these are all benefits brought by the railway.

“No matter how difficult it is, we must try. The port will be expanded, and great days are yet to come for them.” Naserdin looked at Sadiq, gesturing for him to come and answer.

“Sardig, I remember you were among the first people to go to England to study.”

"Yes, thanks to the Shah's kindness, I went to study at Oxford University in England. After returning home, I first went to the Tabriz City Government, and then worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It's been 12 years now."

Naser al-Din nodded. "Twelve years can change a lot. Who could have imagined that a country that was once no match for the Ottomans would become so powerful today?"

By the way, I saw your name at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They said you were doing a lot of diplomatic work in the Balkans.

Sadiq said with some pride, “Yes, Shah, between 1858 and 1859 I traveled to Romania, Serbia, and Greece, as well as the cities of Varna and Heraklion. I held talks with many local people.”

"Shah, these countries, though not as powerful as Britain and France, can still cause the Ottomans some trouble. Maintaining good relations with them will be entirely beneficial. Romania, in particular, is a country we must win over; we can support its rights in Dobroca and its sovereignty in Bessarabia."

The Shah agreed. The Ottoman Empire had alienated the people through its diplomacy and was plagued by internal ethnic hatred. The main contradictions facing the Ottoman Empire now lay in the conflicts between these ethnic groups and between the urban compradors and the rural conservatives. Unless the government was determined to break down these barriers, nothing would work.

Moreover, regarding Romania, Naserdin always had a sense of familiarity, as if he had lived there before, though he didn't know why.

However, the local resources and geographical location are truly excellent, and Romania also has a territorial dispute with Russia. This provides a reason to bring the other side into the alliance. Moreover, the two sides can increase cooperation in trade, as Romania's grain and mineral resources are needed by Iran.

“You did a great job, and you accomplished your missions in Jerusalem and Mecca exceptionally well. You can report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when you return.”

"Shah!" Sadiq was about to kneel down. He knew that returning to report meant a promotion. Perhaps even a title—a golden opportunity to rise to nobility. Many had been promoted after completing their tasks successfully; now it was finally his turn.

"Of course, I would like you to write a diplomatic report on the Ottomans. What would their diplomatic situation be like if our country were to go to war with the Ottomans again?"

Sadiq naturally agreed to Shah's request, but said that they should first sort out the situation in Hejaz.

(End of this chapter)