Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 596 Disagreement
After an hour's recess, everyone debated the mutual aid bill again, but still could not reach an agreement. The speaker had no choice but to announce a vote.

"Agree!"

"be opposed to!"

The final result was 136 votes in favor, 140 votes against, 70 abstentions, and 4 absentee votes. Both the Progressive and Liberal parties received a large number of dissenting and abstaining votes, and were in internal chaos.

Mousavi returned to the podium to address members of parliament.

"I regret today's vote. Many of my colleagues rejected this excellent proposal for the country and its people because of their own selfish motives. You are completely oblivious to the current difficulties facing the country and are clinging to outdated terms."

Vakoff is a saint, but he originally came to help the poor. His true intention was to build a better society.

If the Prophet were alive, he would never have witnessed this situation. He would certainly not want to see self-proclaimed loyal believers treating their own people as inferiors. You are the ones who have failed the Prophet, and you have failed your own faith!

"Unforgivable!"

Conservative lawmakers clamored for Mousavi to be hanged, but the speaker continued to maintain order, and police escorted Mousavi out of the chamber.

For political parties, this vote was nothing short of an earthquake. Left and right, liberals and conservatives were divided by this proposal. Within parties, the issue further fragmented into factions.

Mousavi led some Liberal Party MPs to break away and form the National Liberal Party, which was joined by 12 Progressive Party MPs. Meanwhile, conservative MPs from the Ba'ath Party broke away and formed the Homeland Party.

此时的议会格局是，进步党111席、自由党99席、复兴党35席、辉格党34席、祖国党30席、民族自由党29席。席位更加分散，不过也是政党重组的重要过程。

Conservative clerics vehemently criticized Musawi for "blasphemy" during their Friday sermons and organized larger marches of devout believers to defend the "purity of faith." University students and unemployed workers also took to the streets, demanding political reform and guarantees of basic necessities.

"Parliament is currently in a state of turmoil over the mutual aid association issue. Although it was rejected in the end, if it manages to pass in the House of Commons, the House of Lords will also reject the proposal."

Musharraf reported the situation to the Shah, but Nasser al-Din didn't want to hear it and said directly.

“Your Excellency, this is a matter that you should handle. Don’t make me decide everything.”

Musharraf knew exactly what the Shah was thinking. Under the current circumstances, providing the people with security could quell their resentment. The drawbacks of the previous rapid economic development had become apparent. If the people's lives could not be improved, they would surely rebel.

Moreover, Vakhf's enormous wealth was indeed the envy of the government, including a series of lands, shops, and funds accumulated by successive religious leaders, totaling more than one billion riyals. If these were used to fill the fiscal gap, they could certainly pull the government out of the deficit.

"As I've said before, everything should be for the sake of the people's livelihood. Without their support, this country would fall apart in an instant."

If one can do good for the country, it will inevitably involve bloodshed and turmoil, even in Britain.

Nasserdin was also exhausted. He thought his time travel was based on modern historical knowledge, allowing him to understand the course of history and strategize as if everything was under his control. But the truth is, history is never a game where you can read the script and set up your pieces in advance. Even if he remembered the major events written in history books, it doesn't mean he could control history. Without a "God's-eye view," your information is still limited.

Not to mention that you might not be able to grasp the practical methods of operation in that era based solely on book knowledge. For example, you may know that gunpowder and the compass were great inventions of ancient times, but could you really instruct craftsmen to make matchlock guns? Could you really command an army armed with cold weapons to win a battle?
Your actions that alter history can, in turn, create a butterfly effect.

That's how Nasser al-Din is now; the whole world has changed. Any small detail can cause the country to change course or even fall into a new quagmire. Otherwise, why establish a constitution? It's to find a few allies. He himself is watching the situation from behind the scenes.

"Perhaps you could talk to Mousavi. If you can get his support, you'll be able to enact policies more effectively."

The waiter brought over two cups of coffee, along with milk and sugar cubes.

“Have a drink!” Shah said to Musharraf.

…………

The Prime Minister left the palace, having considered the Shah's proposal for only three seconds before making his decision. Currently, the government is caught in a fierce conflict between conservatives and liberals; if nothing is done, his government will collapse soon.

How ironic that the first government after the constitution lasted only about ten months before collapsing. Musharraf had to retaliate immediately.

“Damn it, you should have died long ago. Shah spared you out of mercy, so don’t blame me for being ruthless now.”

Musharraf returned to the Prime Minister's residence and began rewriting his speech. This time, he would personally go on stage to see what they had to say.

The commissioner who went to Basra to investigate has also returned. According to his report, the mutual aid society established by Mousavi has helped more than 1000 people maintain a basic standard of living. During the economic crisis, the number of members of the mutual aid society increased significantly to 4100. By paying a small membership fee, members can obtain the most basic protection.

This was indeed a way to resolve the conflict, but the conservative clergy also found an excuse, saying that the Vakhf was sacred and inviolable, which was just for their own selfish reasons.

"Help me invite these people to the palace."

Naserdin wrote down a list of names on a piece of paper and handed it to his attendant, instructing him to invite these scholars and members of parliament to the palace for a reunion. He estimated they would arrive soon.

Musharraf also made up his mind and announced that he would publicly discuss the details of the mutual aid society. This step was followed by a parliamentary vote on the proposal, which drew strong opposition from the Fatherland Party.

"Prime Minister, you are trampling on the sacred traditions of Vakhf! Do you want to turn the land of salvation that the Prophet gave to the believers into a tool for you to fill your financial hole?"

But Musharraf didn't back down at all, retorting directly: "Have you ever been to the slums of Basra? There are children crying because they have no bread, and old people shivering in the cold winter! The Mutual Aid Association has saved 4000 families, while the warehouses of Waqf are filled with moldy grain, and the rent from the shops is being pocketed by clerics. This is the real betrayal of the Prophet!"

Unsurprisingly, conflict erupted in parliament again. Not only were proposals disrupted, but even the normal functioning of parliament was thrown into chaos. Members of the Homeland Party blocked the parliamentary passage, preventing the speaker from entering the chamber. Police were eventually called in to separate them.

(End of this chapter)