Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 573 Heading to Constantinople

The debate continued within the government over the two proposals, and Shahriari, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, submitted a "Request for a Delay in Implementation" to Shah.

"Last year's expenditures were like the Karen River during its spring floods, flowing endlessly. The suppression of rebellions on the river, the maintenance of ships in the Gulf, and the deployment of troops in Afghanistan have already consumed half of the annual revenue. Although the canal is now open to navigation, its benefits are like those of a young lion hunting its prey, and it still needs time to grow. If we were to invest huge sums of money in people's livelihoods at this time, it would be like lighting thirty-three candles at the same time, but only having enough oil for one candle."

From a fiscal perspective, implementing the current policy would require an additional expenditure of over 4000 million riyals. The country's surplus is insufficient to offset this expenditure, so he requested the Shah to postpone the implementation of the entire policy. A portion of the policy could be implemented initially.

He suggested that the establishment of a development bank and agricultural policies could be implemented first, while also pointing out that the current situation of banks and stocks is not good, and there may be a severe economic recession.

Nasser al-Din approved the proposal and ordered some of its components to be implemented immediately. Shortly after he gave the order, another proposal was presented to him.

Sadiq believed these suggestions were highly beneficial to the country, and that it would be too late to regret them if they weren't implemented. However, as the vice minister, he couldn't report directly to the Shah when the chief minister was absent, so he took a roundabout approach.

Iranian law allows petitions to be delivered directly to the Shah. Therefore, Sadiq used his connections to gather 500 signatures to create a petition, which he then submitted.

He refuted the Ministry of Finance's suggestion from all angles. While the investment was substantial, it would bring long-term benefits to industry and commerce. If agricultural, industrial, and commercial funds were invested, the output would recoup the investment within three years. Five years later, it could not only support the expansion of the military to 500,000 but also build another fleet.

"Your Majesty's army needs superior firearms, but the stability of the empire requires a robust armor of livelihood. If farmers have new farming tools to increase grain production, and merchants have access to loans from local banks, who would be willing to follow the rebels? This economic plan is truly the cheapest way to maintain stability, far superior to recruiting an additional 100,000 troops!"

Furthermore, Sadiq also supported establishing a construction corps in the Transoxiana region. This was because a large contingent could quickly form towns nearby, which could then be connected by rail and telegraph lines, creating a robust defensive line. Even if the Russian army advanced south, it would be unable to break through for a time.

Not only the leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, but also the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Bureau of Trade jointly signed the proposal. They all supported it. Naserdin simply wrote an order and had his secretary deliver it to them, of course, only after a new order was issued.

“Shah, this is a telegram from Prince Murad.”

"read"

In the telegram, Murad detailed his situation in Egypt. The Egyptian government, disillusioned with the Ottoman Empire and facing a growing British threat, proposed subjugation to Iran in exchange for security. He also mentioned that the Suez Canal's current navigation status was less than ideal and that it would require time to develop.

"It's alright. Egypt's geographical location has always been important. Since the Ottomans couldn't protect it, let Iran do it."

Naser al-Din asked the State Secretary, "Where are Murad and the others now?" "Your Highness should be in Constantinople by now, and Sultan Aziz is preparing to welcome our delegation."

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The mist over the Golden Horn had not yet dissipated, but the morning light over the Bosphorus Strait already outlined the gilded dome of Topkapi Palace with a dazzling brilliance. On this morning, the Ottoman Empire welcomed the Iranian Crown Prince with unprecedented protocol. Sultan Abdulaziz himself stood on the mother-of-pearl steps of Dolmabahçe Palace, flanked by imperial guards wearing feathered hats, their ceremonial rifles gleaming with bayonets, their presence a stark contrast to the newly installed gaslights in the Galata district across the strait.

As Murad set foot on Ottoman soil, the Istanbul military band played both the Shahnameh March and the Ottoman military anthem simultaneously—a carefully arranged detail that elicited a slight nod from the accompanying Iranian diplomats.

"Our noble brothers from the East have brought the fragrance of the Persian Plateau," Sultan Aziz began in Persian. Murad added, "We are brothers, and should unite under the Prophet."

The welcoming banquet was held in the Dolmabahçe Palace banquet hall, where crystal chandeliers shone like stars. Gilded tableware was served on Isfahan blue-glazed porcelain plates, and a whole roasted lamb was stuffed with Persian saffron rice. When the waiter brought out Damascus rose dew, the Minister of Commerce and Industry suddenly exclaimed in Turkic, "I've heard that thirty ships dock daily at your country's Chakhbahar port?"

The accompanying Minister of Commerce and Industry, Rabbani, immediately responded in fluent Arabic: "Just like the number of ships that pass through the Dardanelles Strait every day—but we charge only one-third of what your country charges."

The real confrontation took place in a private meeting. Murad pushed open the Venetian glass window, pointing to the rows of European embassies in the Pella district across the river: "Bankers in London and Paris are sucking the blood out of the empire." He turned and unfolded a copy of the *Oriental Economist* weekly, "If your country adopted the mineral-backed loan model we used in Afghanistan, why would you need to mortgage Syria's tobacco monopoly to Britain?"

Grand Vizier Ali Pasha stroked his amber rosary: ​​"But your country recently seized donated goods destined for Mecca at your customs station in Basra." Murad clapped his hands in acknowledgment, and his attendant immediately presented a gift list: "These are ten times the amount of goods our country is compensating us with, and they have already been blessed by the Qom Religious Academy."

This meeting gave the Iranian delegation a real show of success; their language and etiquette far surpassed those of the Ottoman nobles. They were also far more knowledgeable, understanding not only world affairs but also speaking other languages.

After the banquet, Aziz spoke with several key ministers in a private room. This meeting was a diplomatic maneuver that the Ottomans were forced to undertake, as there were already voices within the country advocating for the complete removal of the Ottoman family from power and the replacement of the Sultan by someone else. And under the current circumstances, that "someone else" was already quite obvious.

"Damn it, what cards do we have left to play?"

The Sultan questioned everyone, but they remained silent. The reason was simple: he had run out of leverage. In terms of military strength, the Ottoman army had already tested its strength against the Iranian army in 1858 and failed; economically, Iranian goods had already occupied half of Ottoman territory, and Syria and Palestine were flooded with Iranian products.

In terms of prestige, whether it was the Crimean War of 1853, the Ottoman-Persian War of 1858, or the recent Russo-Iranian conflict, Iran has emerged victorious in every instance. Its prestige has surpassed that of the Ottomans, making it the most prestigious nation in the entire Middle East. The Ottomans have fallen behind in every aspect and have no hope left.

(End of this chapter)