Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 557 Dramatic Changes?

“Shah, it’s unrealistic to give only Hokkaido to Japan. If we can’t get some from other places, it will be difficult for Japan to move north to fight Russia.”

Gervorak proposed to the Shah that the southern region, including Seoul, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty, be given to Japan, and the northern region to the Far East, which would be a compromise.

"That's one method. If that really happens, we should also be prepared for all of Korea to fall into Japan's hands."

To get people to work, you always need to prepare something. But Nasserdin feels that he will still have to fight Japan someday.

"Once the records are complete, send them to the relevant departments. Tell them to take immediate action, as there will be new countries to engage with this year, and they should be prepared."

Gerwock made sure to relay the orders to the various departments, since changes in the three countries would also affect their allies and colonies, and Iran would have to act based on the situation.

In the east, progress was smooth; except for the Tohoku region where resistance continued, most areas accepted the new government. To consolidate his rule over the entire country, Emperor Meiji personally traveled to Edo and issued the "Imperial Edict Renaming Edo as Tokyo." In the edict, the Emperor made Edo his direct fiefdom, and his retainers were also granted fiefdoms. Edo, the former seat of the Edo Shogunate, was renamed "Tokyo," and Edo Castle was renamed Tokyo Castle. At the same time, he released five governing principles, declaring his intention to build Japan into a world power.

The Tohoku region, with the support of French officers, continued to resist the Emperor. In the Aizu Campaign in August, the Aizu Domain, the most willing to resist in the Ouetsu Reihan Alliance, surrendered, and the entire alliance began to disintegrate.

Meanwhile, in the west, the situation in Paris deteriorated rapidly. First, the Bazin Legion, besieged in Metz, surrendered to Prussia. The reason was simple: their honor and status were given to them by the imperial government, and now that it was a republic, their status would vanish with the wind. Why should they be loyal to this government?

Bazin's hometown is Versailles, where he owns a 100-hectare forest and a 50-hectare vineyard, and he spends his summer vacation at his country villa.

In addition, he owns his own forests, vineyards, a castle, six private villas built in scenic areas, and various investments in Paris! It should be said that as long as he doesn't make some crazy and irrational investments, his family will never have to worry about food and drink!

But all of this was based on the establishment of the empire. When the empire collapsed, Bazan and the others knew very well that their noble status had come to an end. Without their various privileges and noble salaries, could they still maintain their previous lifestyle?

Climbing up step by step from the bottom, the more effort you put in, the greater the reward. You bleed, sweat, and fight desperately, and in the end, you gain privileges for yourself and your entire family!

From commoner to nobleman, it's an earth-shattering change! Who would give up the privileges of nobility? Why should the establishment of your republic negate my life's struggle? If that's the case, then surrender and go to Louisiana, where their last hope lies. As long as the royal family exists, their rights remain.

Bazin's surrender meant that the last of France's elite troops fell into Prussian hands, while Prussia was able to free up more troops to besiege Paris.

With the complete siege of Paris on June 28th, the protracted siege began. The Troch government failed to demonstrate its proper functioning; they didn't even know the population of Paris or how many days' worth of food they had. Initially, they believed Paris had 1.5 million people and enough food to last 80 days, during which time the Southern Army would surely come to their aid. However, due to the advance of the Prussian army, refugees and onlookers poured into the city, and the actual population of Paris exceeded 2 million.

Moreover, the government had not yet implemented food rationing, so initially consumption was normal, but they soon discovered that the granaries were not being replenished and were slowly running out.

First came the meat. Public and private zoos were completely empty; every edible animal had been turned into mass-produced food. Cats and dogs were no longer pets; even rats ended up on the dinner table. Everything edible had been eaten; there was nothing left.

Even during periods of food shortage, the situation differed significantly between the upper and lower classes. Officials and the wealthy could still enjoy the finest cuisine, including meat and alcohol. The lower classes, on the other hand, had to survive on meager portions of food for several days, such as using a 10-centimeter piece of meat to cook a pot of very bland soup to feed a family of seven for five days.

This stark divide between the upper and lower classes exacerbated their conflicts, especially after the government stopped the National Guard's daily allowance of 1.5 francs. The anger of the lower classes could no longer be contained, and an explosion was imminent.

Meanwhile, Prussia also captured Versailles. This proved that the siege of Paris was officially entering its final stages, and the whole of France was becoming increasingly restless.

In the southern Orleans theater, the French Southern Army and Prince Karl's army were locked in a fierce battle, with sieges every day and a large-scale battle every three days.

Both sides continued to reinforce their troops. Initially, the Prussian army had only 28,000 men attacking Orléans and even captured the city for a short time. However, the retreating Southern Corps, under the strict orders of Gambitta, regrouped and reorganized on the Loire River.

As for the resistance from the local guerrillas, it came wave after wave. They destroyed railways, attacked transport teams, and ambushed small groups of Prussian troops, turning the entire north into a battlefield.

But just when all of France was desperately resisting the invaders, a serious internal conflict broke out in Paris!

The royalists went mad. They attacked the Provisional National Defense Committee and the left wing of Montmartre with all their might. They harshly criticized the policy of non-resistance and forced these people to leave the city and fight the Prussians!

Troch and his associates went mad; they actually forgot what freedom of speech was and immediately ordered the arrest of royalist activists!

But to everyone's surprise, these royalists were very well-informed and escaped Paris under cover of night, seeking refuge with the Prussians in Versailles. This caused an uproar throughout Paris!
The people began to split into two factions. One faction believed that the royalists were right and that they should fight the enemy to the death. At this time, there were only a little over 100,000 Prussian troops surrounding Paris. If they started the war now, they would definitely win!

However, the other faction condemned the royalists' defection to the enemy, arguing that these spineless cowards were unworthy to represent France!
This is truly a case of internal strife before even driving out the invaders. If you ask people from other countries what they think, they'll just sit back and watch. It's not like the Greek War of Independence; are they expected to form a volunteer army to help?
(End of this chapter)