Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 516 The Meeting of Three Monarchs (Part 1)
Soon it was time for the opening of the Baghdad Industrial Expo, an exhibition that brought together numerous domestic and international companies and new ideas—a groundbreaking event, as the newspapers put it.

Various Iranian companies and research institutes, covering industries such as textiles, military, machinery, food, agriculture, furniture, oil, and mining, as well as Prussian companies Krupp and Siemens, Austrian textile company Mandrol, and French company Leclercaux, participated in the exhibition.

Naserdin was also present, as he had done at previous expositions, and this time was no exception. All the prominent figures would be attending, along with foreign guests.

The Habsburg royal guard appeared in Baghdad, and the flags of Iran, Austria, and Sicily were displayed along the main roads.

Franz was captivated by the scenery of Iran, so different from that of Europe. Maximilian, having been there once before and having a general idea of ​​the area, didn't look around. Instead, he discussed strategy with Naser al-Din across the way.

Iran, Austria, and Sicily now form an unbreakable private triangle. This relationship also extends to the national level, with Iran using substantial funds to promote the development of Austria and Naples, while the two countries leverage their status to assist Iran's diplomacy in Europe. Either way, two countries will support Iran.

Despite relinquishing leadership of Germany, Austria was still an important European nation. The Habsburg family maintained intricate connections with various royal families; even Prussia, after defeating Austria, quickly sent a corps of officers to assist Austria in strengthening its army.

"Nasserist, do you really think I can be the King of Spain?"

"What, do you think you're not capable enough?"

Maximilian disagreed upon hearing this. "I am very confident in my abilities. Look at the land of Sicily; it is thriving there."

Maximilian wasn't wrongly accused; his abilities were indeed commendable. Sicily's mining and shipping industries were booming, and its military weaponry was being upgraded. At this time, Sicily had 10 million people and 1000 soldiers, still not comparable to Italy, but sufficient for self-defense.

Beginning in 1860, Iran and Austria increased their investment in Sicily year by year. Industrialization began in the region, with Naples becoming the national textile center, and large quantities of Sicilian wheat being exported to Iran. Economic strength recovered rapidly, and protests from the local population decreased significantly.

Maximilian gained immense prestige in Sicily, and if he were to become King of Spain again, the Habsburg family would once again be plunged back into the era of the Thirty Years' War. That scenario of European dominance was something every member of their family desired.

However, while that's the theory, putting it into practice is still difficult. The most important factor is France's stance; if Napoleon III disagrees, it probably won't work.

"Don't worry, despite his success, his tenure won't last long."

This left Maximilian and Franz completely bewildered. Napoleon III was still the undisputed ruler in France, so how could he possibly fall?

But only Nasserdin knew that Napoleon III was now truly walking a tightrope. The economy seemed to be doing well, but it had also created a huge working class whose lives were far from secure, and who all lived in Paris—the old center of sports.

Now, what he needed to do was use war to divert attention. After the friction with Prussia, many French people called for war to push France's borders all the way to the Rhine. Napoleon III took advantage of public opinion and launched a war against Prussia. If he won, his position would be secured.

"Ah, no need to overthink it. Let's talk about something else. There should be people in Spain who support Maximilian. If we can win them over, we'll be halfway there." There's a growing sentiment in Spain now that they're looking back to the past, to the Habsburg dynasty under Charles I and Charles II. The current Bourbon dynasty not only fails to revitalize Spain but also brought in foreign invaders, leading to Spain's occupation.

They didn't want to relive this painful history, so they wanted the Habsburgs to become kings again, so they could return to their most glorious era.

"I never imagined that my family would be able to regain its throne in Spain. I never dared to dream of it before."

Franz lamented that his reign as Emperor of Austria had been fraught with misfortune. He now needed to rebuild his strength and at least become capable of self-defense.

Since he approved the military spending, the criticism he faced grew daily. But he suppressed it all, even his own mother raised the issue. He even had to leave Schönbrunn Palace and move to another place to live and work. He firmly believed he was right and that no matter the cost, the army must be well-managed.

"There are many unexpected things."

The three young men share a common goal: to revitalize their nation or family, and aspire to a powerful army and a prosperous economy. Most importantly, they also face threats from Russia and Italy.

Saying it's a threat might be a bit inaccurate; more accurately, it's pressure. Italy isn't a major concern, but Russia poses some danger, not to mention the two henchmen, Greece and Serbia. We must proceed with caution.

“Sigh, sometimes this position is really tiring. You can’t imagine how many protests I receive every day. The citizens of Vienna are unwilling to support the government’s decisions. They only see that their money is decreasing.”

Franz sighed; recently, his wife had also been arguing with him. Although it had been several years, he still loved her. His wife loved to travel, and he had given her two-thirds of his wealth. But his wife disliked Iran, perhaps because they supported the suppression of Hungary.

There is also a portion of the population who do not trust themselves; spending money is necessary, and so is maintaining an army.

“If the monarch is relaxed, then the country will suffer. Workers get paid for their work, farmers get food from farming, and the uneducated are relaxed, but they don’t even have enough food to last a day.”

Nasser al-Din had countless stories to tell the two Habsburg brothers, which was like discovering a new world for them. They realized that Iranian stories could be so fascinating; it seemed there was much more to learn and exchange.

The carriage arrived at the venue, instantly bringing the atmosphere to a climax. The arrival of the three monarchs added unparalleled honor to the exposition.

Reporters raised their cameras and snapped photos incessantly. These were the monarchs of three countries, and the Austrian Emperor's first visit to the Middle East—how could they not record this historic moment?

(End of this chapter)