Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 229 Policy Adjustment towards Russia
Fortunately, the Qing Dynasty has not yet ceded its access to the sea, so their conflict is not yet over. Therefore, Iran must accelerate its advance into Central Asia, and if it encounters resistance, it will not negotiate but fight directly.

"This is really troublesome. If Russia finds a way out to the sea, we'll be under a lot of pressure."

Amir urgently met with Pezeshkyan and Rouhani, and Chief of the General Staff Salami also came.

"As you all know, Russia and Qing China signed a treaty in which they suddenly acquired a territory larger than France. And they won't stop there; they'll certainly get even more from the Far East."

If they gain access to the sea, it will have irreparable consequences for our country.

In reality, Russia's acquisition of ports in the Far East has a relatively small direct impact on Iran, but it opens a gateway. Russia has long been confined to the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, two pocket-shaped inland seas, while the Far East lacks such inland seas. Once it gains access to the sea, a large area, including northern China, will fall within Russia's sphere of influence. The Russian navy can also move south to attack Qinistan. This is something Iran cannot tolerate.

"Currently, it appears that Russia is preparing to use Far Eastern ports as a springboard to enter the Pacific and the South. This will damage our interests in the Far East, and we must also accelerate our strategic deployment here."

It's called a strategic deployment, but its actual purpose is unclear. Currently, Iran primarily trades with the Far East; it lacks significant military presence and bases in the north. This is why the war against Japan needs to be swift—Iran hopes to acquire land in Japan as an extension of its expansion.

"In that case, we can't just stop at Japan. We should also take over the neighboring Kingdom of Korea."

The Chief of the General Staff's suggestion was simple: if they wanted a port, then block it up right on their doorstep. Besides Japan, neighboring Korea also seemed promising; perhaps it could become a wealthy colony like Qinistan.

"Again? Does the Chief of Staff know that Iran spent 5500 million to raise funds for the war against the Ottomans, and still has 2000 million left for the war against Japan? If we launch an expedition, it will be a huge expense."

And won't this provoke a reaction from Britain? Will they just stand by and watch this happen?

Pezeshkian countered that their primary focus in the Far East was trade, and they shouldn't invest too much effort there; moreover, Britain and France wouldn't stand idly by and watch Iran continue like this. This plan was unworkable.

“Then I would like to hear your opinion,” Salami said.

"Instead of struggling to contain Russia, we should threaten it from other places. We have already gained control of the South Caucasus and have established our own power in Bukhara. We can certainly create tension here."

Pezeshkian pointed to Tbilisi and Bukhara on the map and continued, "These places are close to Moscow and Crimea, and their economies are relatively developed within Russia. The Far East and Siberia, on the other hand, are undeveloped areas, and without a railway, it would take at least several months to get there from Moscow. By the time they transport their troops there, the war will probably be over."

Therefore, my opinion is to continue putting pressure on Russia in the north, so that they dare not fight freely in the Far East. At the same time, we should bring Kokand and Bukhara under our protection, which will prevent Russia from using them to harass our country.” Pezeshkian solved the problem from another direction. They didn't need to go all the way to the Far East; they only needed to create some crises on their doorstep. Compared to the Far East, which was neither here nor there, Moscow and Ukraine were the core of Russia's rule.

"But if that's really the case, who will protect our interests in the Far East? Will we rely on the Qing Dynasty, which surrendered without firing a shot, or the other two?"

The Far East is also hopeless; even if they put up some resistance, they easily ceded territory. If this were Iran, they would have ceded all Iranian land north of Isfahan, including the capital Tehran.

"This is also what we are discussing today: Britain, France, the United States and the Netherlands have clearly stated that they will form an alliance to bring the Far East into a more civilized form."

This plan has been discussed countless times. Apart from Qing China, the other two countries lack the capacity to fight Russia; their fate is to become dumping grounds for Russian goods. They want colonies, right? Then Iran will help them find them. It's better to have them both join than to let Russia monopolize everything.

"Since that's the case, I have nothing to say, but if other countries make a deal with Russia, it would be a real catastrophe for our country."

Salami concluded by saying that Russia and Europe are a circle, and no matter how much they greet Europe, they cannot integrate into this European circle due to issues such as religious beliefs.

If you can't fit in, don't force it. Otherwise, it's pointless to waste so much effort for a disproportionate benefit.

This idea didn't originate with the Shah, but rather with Ulema. The condescending attitude of the British in Iran made the local population uncomfortable. Coupled with the varying degrees of discrimination faced by Iranians traveling to Europe, a trend towards unifying the Crescent Moon sect began to spread.

Unlike liberalism that emulates Britain's constitutional monarchy, this ideology opposes wholesale adoption of European models but does not restrict Iran's foreign exchanges. They believe that the Quran and the Shah are the only bonds that can unite people from all regions of the land. The Ottoman Sultan has relinquished his leadership here, and Iran should take his place.

Thanks to the flourishing of education, many people have unearthed Iran's history. An empire that once spanned three continents—Europe, Asia, and Africa—is now reduced to such a small territory. It's truly unacceptable that a country that contributed significantly to global cultural and physical exchange has been reduced to such a small area.
This kind of thinking has spread to the military and government, especially to promoted officers and civil servants. Without the military and political reforms driven by the Shah, they would not have been able to enter this place monopolized by the nobility; therefore, the Shah's favor is like the Quran, something that must be remembered.

"If we had the land of Russia, the population of France, the army of Prussia, and the wealth of Britain, no country in the world would be willing to go to war with us. Unfortunately, no one is now."

"It is precisely because we do not have them now that we must begin to restore them. If we annex the Ottoman Empire and Egypt, we will be able to withstand any attacks from Britain and France in the world."

The army optimistically estimated that in this war against the Ottomans, they could advance all the way to Syria, dividing Ottoman territory in two. At that point, Sudan would certainly surrender, and they would give up not only Mesopotamia but also other parts of the land.

(End of this chapter)