Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 196 Lunch
Located on the left bank of the Seine, the Saint-Germain district is a newly emerging urban area in recent years. French nobles began to move out of the then aristocratic Marais district to build their own mansions, and Saint-Germain, with its relatively low population density and pollution, quickly became the new residence of the French nobility.

Alphonse Rothschild greeted the guests at the mansion, saying, "It is a great honor for the Shah to be a guest. My father is waiting for you inside."

Alphonse, dressed in formal attire, greeted Naserdin and his entourage.

"Thank you for your hospitality. It's a pleasure to be here," Naserdin greeted the other party.

"please"

Led by Alphonse, Nasserdin met James Rothschild in the restaurant.

"Welcome, Shah. It is a great honor to have you here."

James asked Nasserdin to sit down, and a servant brought out a bottle of wine.

"How about a glass of Bordeaux?"

"Thank you then."

"So they really are drinking wine," James realized, finally convinced that the person in front of him was different from Osman.

"I have heard a lot about your reputation even in Iran. Your brother once held sway in London, and your other brothers are doing very well in Austria and Prussia."

James hadn't expected Nasserdin to know so much about their family. He took a sip of wine and then said...

"These are all things the newspapers say. My brothers are indeed all over Europe, but they are all honest and law-abiding. No matter how the government changes, as long as they can protect their own property, that's fine."

"It seems I've been reading the newspapers too much," Nasserdin said, taking a sip of wine. Now, let's get down to business.

"I've heard that your bank frequently helps important figures in Europe make investments and that you have friends throughout Europe. I wonder if I could become one of those friends?"

I wasn't comfortable going into Europe alone, so it would be best to find someone who had connections throughout Europe to invest in bankers. In that case, Rothschild was the best choice.

"The Rothschilds welcome all friends, and I would be happy to help the Shah resolve his financial problems."

The funds available to the Rothschilds were limited, only 50 riyals, which he transferred from a series of income sources in his East African colonies. While it's uncertain how things will turn out, consider it proof of his cooperation with the Rothschilds.

"Oh, by the way, I wonder what your opinion is on movable property credit companies? I've seen them getting quite popular lately."

James's face darkened the moment he heard it was from their arch-rival. "It's nothing but a scam to make money. Anything needs constant experimentation before it's presented to the public. But this is like a hastily made, low-quality product, only concerned with novelty to get people to spend money."

The situation was indeed unfolding as he had predicted. James had bought 5000 shares early in the IPO to gauge the market, but after a few years of frenzy, the credit company's fortunes had gradually slowed. They had opened an ironworks in Prague, invested in iron mines in Spain, and established plantations in Ceylon. But they had expanded too far, and to survive, they needed to keep expanding.

"Well, I can only wish him all the best in getting out of this unscathed. Come on, let's drink to our friendship."

"cheers"

The lunch was very pleasant because Nasser al-Din was only interested in investing, not controlling the world. All that was needed was to drive in the first nail, and then leave the rest to time.

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At the Paris Exposition, the Iranian Oil Company sold large quantities of kerosene lamps. They also ordered a considerable amount of kerosene, which at that time cost 25 francs, or 10 rials per barrel, because it was used very little. However, once kerosene lamps became more widespread, they were used up quickly.

The kerosene lamp spread rapidly; within three years of its invention in Poland, much of Europe was using this more efficient lighting method. Iran also contributed significantly to this technological innovation.

In the East, the first kerosene lamps had already appeared in Saigon and Shanghai. Locals were curious about this form of lighting, as it was far superior to rapeseed lamps. Merchants living in the cities bought them, and the price of an oil lamp once rose to 50 taels of silver.

The steady stream of orders enabled the Iranian Oil Company to increase its refining and extraction capabilities, generating 200 million rials in revenue in its first year. The company used this money to hire European and American scientists, build Baku University, and, more importantly, contribute a portion to the government and the Shah. They plan to continue their efforts, not only producing kerosene but also lubricants and a series of new kerosene-based products.

The concentration of capital led to industrial restructuring, prompting the Iranian Ministry of Commerce and Industry to issue new orders: the establishment of the Iranian Mining Company and the Bushehr Shipping Company, the reorganization of the Iranian Steel Company, and the Bandar Abbas Shipyard. Some of these enterprises are state-owned, while others are partially owned by the public. These enterprises became model factories, attracting Iranian capital to specific industries. Simultaneously, exports were used to accumulate funds for future development.

After discussing with his government for several days, Napoleon III decided to support the two plans proposed by the Shah. If successful, there would be countless benefits; even if they failed, it wouldn't matter, since everyone has failed before.

To demonstrate his respect for Iran, Napoleon III agreed to amend the treaty with Iran, restoring its tariff autonomy. French citizens in Iran were required to abide by local laws, and criminal offenses would require consultation with France; minor offenses would be tried locally, while serious crimes would be discussed further.

This treaty was the result of Iran's persistent efforts, and this news has caused concern for its nemesis, the British Empire. Because Britain also has unequal treaties with Iran, it seems that the promised 5% low tariff is untenable.

Palmerston prioritized eliminating the deficit and expanding land holdings, raising funds from the financial markets while negotiating with the Qing army. They had already entered Guangdong; if necessary, they could even march directly from Tianjin to Beijing to discuss matters face-to-face with their emperor.

Of course, he had one thing he was most worried about: the United States. For decades, the United States had developed faster than them, in every aspect, including railroads, telegraphs, industry, and trade.

Territorially, the United States, through the Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny, acquired over 500 million square kilometers of land. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, they took land from this region. If they were allowed to continue producing for decades more, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Palmerston abhorred the misdeeds of his predecessors. Why raise taxes? Besides, this wasn't the right way to do it. If you really can't handle it, open up trade and make them pay protection money! Why insist on this? Now look what's happened; the British Empire's throne is about to be overthrown after only a few decades. What was he supposed to do?
(End of this chapter)