Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 614 Undercurrents (Part 1)

By 1872, most countries around the world were recovering to varying degrees from the economic crisis. But only one country remained in decline: the Ottoman Empire.

The economic crisis caused a sharp drop in the prices of cotton, tobacco, and raw silk on the international market, directly cutting off the main source of income for farmers and landowners. Deprived of income, farmers were forced to borrow heavily from lenders and mortgage their land in order to survive and pay taxes. A silent wave of land consolidation swept through the Ottoman countryside.

The government offered no disaster relief measures and no tariff protection. Faced with famine, the court's only response was to order prayers in mosques throughout the country. But prayers could not extricate the farmers from their plight, and the remaining tax farming system pushed them to the brink of despair.

The Ottoman lira, like a kite with a broken string, depreciated by more than 40% against the pound sterling. But repayments still had to be made in pounds, and interest payments alone drained half of the treasury's revenue. Demands from European creditors arrived at the court like death knells, but the Sultan remained unmoved.

In the cities, workshops closed, and artisans were reduced to abject poverty. In the countryside, farmers who lost their land either starved to death or were forced into exile to Istanbul or overseas. The streets of the empire were filled with idle young men and beggars with numb eyes.

Economic hardship quickly escalated along ethnic and religious fault lines. Crescent Moon Christians directed their anger at relatively wealthy Greek and Armenian merchants, accusing them of colluding with foreign capital, and the situation in the Balkans became unstable once again.

Ibrahim Pasha was utterly disillusioned with the court. Instead of staying in Constantinople, he went to Bursa, where he found a group of people who shared his ideals.

"Welcome, Ibrahim Pasha!"

Brotherhood President Suleiman Demirel personally welcomed Ibrahim's arrival, and Ibrahim extended his hand in return, saying:
"I have long heard of the Brotherhood of Restoration's reputation, and I hope you can find what I'm looking for."

"That's natural!"

Upon entering the headquarters, Ibrahim noticed many familiar faces. These included Mohammed Ali, the governor of Sivas; Ahmed Pasha, the governor of Bursa province; and even Kamil Pasha, who controlled the treasury. It was truly a gathering of talent.

"Camille Pasha, what's wrong with you...?"

Camille also saw Ibrahim, whom he had sent to Anatolia.

"Ibrahim, I wonder what you saw in Anatolia. It must have changed your mind."

The other party nodded. He had already witnessed the inaction of the Ottoman court and government, even if they were just going through the motions.

"Alright, gentlemen, let's discuss that later. Now it's time for business!" Demirel quieted everyone down and began today's agenda.

The economic crisis also presented an opportunity for the Brotherhood to grow rapidly, drawing in marginalized bureaucrats and disillusioned intellectuals. Although the program made them somewhat uncomfortable, it was far better than the situation under Ottoman rule at that time.

"Gentlemen, we can't continue like this. The country is suffering, and the Sultan is indifferent. This government cannot continue; change is necessary!" These words were quite insightful and piqued everyone's interest. In the past, this would have been just empty talk from a group of people, but this time, with so many government and local figures gathered, they all unanimously thought of another word: a coup!

Coups were nothing new to the Ottomans; there were countless coups centered around Janicheri, and one even resulted in the killing of the Sultan (Ottoman II).

Between Suleiman I and Mahmud II, nine sultans were deposed in coups or assassinated. The main force behind this was the Royal Guard, which Mahmud II abolished after the Jixiang Coup, thus eliminating the possibility of further coups. However, among all developing countries, the modern army and teachers represented the most advanced aspects; the new ideas they embraced and the corruption they witnessed in the country were intolerable to them.

"What you say is very good, but I don't think that's the purpose of today. You've gone to great lengths to gather everyone together, so I'm afraid you're going to do something big!"
Please tell us, are you preparing for a coup?

Camille Pasha stated their thoughts directly, and Demirel applauded.

"As expected of the Empire's Minister of Finance, so clever!"

Demirel did not deny it. "That's right, exactly. Do you all intend to let Abdul continue like this until the last hope of the empire is destroyed?"

The Sultan of today has moved beyond his original absurdity, heading in an even more outrageous direction. He ordered his carriages, horses, and even his frequently used tables and chairs to be plated with pure gold. This was not mere decoration, but an obsession. He believed that the "immortality" of gold would protect his rule. Most extravagantly, he commissioned craftsmen to create a pair of pure gold horseshoes for him and demanded that his favorite horses in the zoo also wear them, arguing that it would "make them worthy of the status of a royal zoo."

Kamil Pasha knew this all too well; he was practically begging the Sultan. But the Sultan wouldn't listen; he insisted on this course of action, even though the Ottoman treasury was effectively bankrupt. He issued an order that left all his courtiers speechless: "Melt all the silverware in the palace and cast it into a giant silver ball to be displayed in the garden. Let the European envoys see that the Ottomans are still wealthy!"

This adds another chapter to his absurd history. But even so, he's the Sultan. Can you really expect him to be deposed like the royal guards did hundreds of years ago? That would be a gross underestimation of the new army.

The Ottoman New Army began during the reign of Selim III. On paper, the 20 reformed and trained Ottoman soldiers were considered tough and brave. With ideal command and ample supplies, they were capable of competing with European armies.

"I know what you're all worried about, otherwise I wouldn't have invited you here. The Brotherhood will handle everything; you just need to provide assistance!"

Demirel walked to the center of the conference room, tapping his fingertips lightly on the long oak table, his gaze sweeping over each face, whether filled with doubt or solemnity.

“I understand your concerns about the loyalty of the new army, the risk of a coup, and the potential disgrace after failure. But please take a look at this.” He took out a stack of yellowed papers from his drawer and distributed them to the crowd. “The soldiers’ and officers’ pay is often delayed, which leads to low morale, lax discipline, and even mutinies.”

“Under the current circumstances, the new army will not stop us, and because of the instability in Bulgaria and Bosnia, Abdul has already deployed his most loyal troops to the area to suppress the unrest. This is our chance, and we only have one.”

(End of this chapter)