Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 621 Secret Discussion
All the cabinet members came to the office, and they were discussing the telegram they had just received. The Ottomans were too audacious; there had never been anything like it before.

"Shah has arrived!"

Nasserdin walked into the office, and everyone stopped talking. They all looked at the Shah.

"What's wrong? Why are you all staring at me? Is there something on my face?"

Everyone denied it, and the atmosphere instantly became lively. Nasser al-Din gestured for everyone to sit down.

"As you all probably know, the Ottoman Progressive Council sent a telegram inviting me, the Shah of Iran, to become Sultan!"
"Tell me, although this is a very common thing in Europe, it's quite a novelty here."

According to the history of hundreds or even thousands of years ago, the throne of this land was always seized by the strong through the army; there has never been such a situation before.

Prime Minister Musharraf spoke first: "Shah, the Ottomans are doing this simply to find a patron. There are frequent uprisings in Bosnia and Bulgaria, and Anatolia is suffering from a severe drought, which is quite unfavorable for them."

Therefore, it is crucial for them to have our country as their patron. If the Shah becomes the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, then they can accomplish many things through Iran. Of course, we can also gain market access and population benefits, which are beneficial to our economy.

Musharraf hadn't finished speaking when Abdullah interrupted, "That's true, but we can't ignore the risks. Neither Russia nor Britain wants to see this happen."

Abdullah presented a map of the current situation in the Middle East, saying, "As you can see, the Ottoman territories in the Balkans are frequently invaded by Greece and Serbia, and there are uprisings in Bosnia, Bulgaria, and other places. Behind all of this is the Russians, who want to take the opportunity to expand their sphere of influence."

"For Britain and France, Egypt and Tunisia in Africa are their next targets for occupation. France has already occupied Algeria and Britain controls the Egyptian railways. If they cannot manage relations between the two countries, they will likely face many difficulties."

Colonies have always been coveted by nations. France, being close to North Africa, began its conquests there. The British navy, with its widespread presence, controlled all major ports and waterways. Russia, wanting to penetrate the Black Sea, saw the Ottoman Empire as its target. Coincidentally, Iran also desired Mediterranean ports, making the Ottoman Empire another objective.

"I also believe that the current situation is somewhat dangerous. Our country has just emerged from the economic crisis and should not undergo major changes. If it were to escalate into a war with Russia or Britain, we would likely suffer heavy losses."

Rabbani also believed that accepting the Ottoman Sultan under the current circumstances was inappropriate and that they should wait for a more opportune time. Several other ministers expressed the same view.

“Shah, I believe you must accept the Sultan.”

Construction Minister Sadiq strongly supported the Shah's trip to Constantinople, which sparked controversy among others.

"Your Excellency Sadiq, you should know what our country is about to face. A hasty annexation would provoke the hostility of Russia and Britain, and other countries would not help us. I fear that the Sultanate's position will be taken away before we even have a chance to settle in."

"Just like Frederick in Europe..."

“Napoleon was overthrown by various countries less than 100 days after returning to Paris, and we don’t have his military means.” But Sadiq did not back down and directly refuted him.

"You've only seen the downsides, but not the benefits. The Ottomans still control most of Anatolia and the Balkans, as well as nominally Egypt and Tunisia. These areas combined have a population of over 2000 million, and much of the land remains undeveloped. The economic benefits involved are incomparable."

The tobacco, wool, and minerals produced by the Ottoman Empire can serve as raw materials for our industry, and there are also numerous investment opportunities in the region that can help businesses expand their markets.

Furthermore, who says this is an annexation by our country? Isn't this just the other side offering themselves up? They can start a war, but they should also consider the reasons and consequences. With the economy in such dire straits right now, I don't believe they can simply sweep through Baghdad.

I know this is a difficult choice, but if it succeeds, you can imagine what the future holds.

If this comes to fruition, Iran will undoubtedly become the dominant power in the Middle East. With the second largest land area and population after Russia, and if properly developed, its industry could rank among the top three in the world.

Even so, significant divisions remained within the cabinet. Shah dismissed the other ministers, leaving only the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the Army Minister.

"What do you think of me going to Constantinople at this time?" Nasser al-Din said, stating his purpose directly.

Faced with this question, all three couldn't help but want to stop. The situation in the Ottoman Empire was too chaotic; if anything happened to the Shah, it would be very bad for Iran. Currently, Nasser al-Din holds real power in Iran, and while the government might be pleased if that power were suddenly relinquished, it wouldn't be good for Iran and would likely cause chaos. Power stirs up emotions, and no one else possesses the same prestige as Nasser al-Din, capable of uniting everyone around him.

"Shah, this matter requires careful consideration."

“Yes, Shah, you don’t necessarily need to go. The Progressive Committee can extend an invitation and let our army clear the way first, so that your safety can be guaranteed.”

General Rouhani's words were more direct, but the Shah waved them off, saying, "This is a solution I've carefully considered. The Ottoman Empire is still too tempting. If left unchecked, who knows what trouble might arise, and Russia will continue to encroach on Ottoman territory."

Since that's the case, let's take a gamble: all soldiers will have their leave canceled and return to their barracks to await orders.

Seeing the Shah's resolute attitude, Rouhani said with equal firmness, "Shah, the military will not object to your trip to Constantinople. However, to ensure your safety, you must bring the army with you."

This is their bottom line. If anything happens to the Shah, it will have unimaginable consequences for Iran. Russia and Britain will certainly force Iran to relinquish its sphere of influence, just as they did with Egypt. Furthermore, it's unclear whether the new Ottoman army will support the Shah or require military protection.

Naserdin didn't say anything, only that he asked for it to be done as soon as possible, preferably within the next two days.

It was unclear why the Shah was in such a hurry, but Rouhani still dispatched an army to accompany him. Nasser al-Din spoke with his family, gave Murad some instructions, and took his fourth son, Ali, with him before boarding a train bound for the Ottoman Empire.

(End of this chapter)