Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 249 Mosul

Upon hearing that the officers were planning to escape on their own and not take them with them, they were furious. They told the others about this, and such actions undoubtedly chilled their hearts.

You're really something, running away and letting the soldiers be cannon fodder. Well, then don't blame them.

"Since they are heartless, then don't blame us for betraying them."

Ahmed Barzani, the most powerful tribal leader among the Kurds. He couldn't stand the arrogance of the Ottomans, and with Mosul already surrounded by Iranian troops, it was only a matter of time before he defected to open a path for his tribe.

"The Ottoman Empire is on its last legs, and there is no future in following them. Egypt is in the same boat. The only country that can change this is Iran."

The Kurds also heard a lot of news from Iran, such as how many Arab tribes had become wealthy after joining Iranian forces. Iran not only gave them titles and money, but also offered rewards for joining the army.

This statement appealed to many people; if they could survive, who would want to become a mercenary and fight?

"This is risky."

"What are you talking about? If there were no risk, why would we even be discussing this?"

The crowd was also inclined to rebel; since the Ottomans were inhuman, they could only turn to the anthropomorphic Iran.

Moreover, there are Kurds in Iran, and their situation is much better than in Ottoman territory. Given the stark contrast between the two sides, and considering all these factors, it's no wonder they are in this predicament.

On the evening of August 19th, the sweltering heat finally cooled down. Everyone enjoyed this hard-won moment of leisure; in times of war, such tranquility was a rare and precious thing.

Restaurants and other food supplies in the city had long been closed. Everyone was clutching their food sacks tightly, fearing they would be confiscated by the Ottoman soldiers. The common people were eating dirt, and the soldiers were only half-full, while high-ranking officers and wealthy merchants could enjoy large amounts of meat and fine wine.

Inside the mansion, several wealthy businessmen and military officers were gathered together. The table was laden with beef, mutton, wine, and other delicacies. A violinist was also playing for them.

"Thank you all for your help, generals. The money earned from this grain harvest has been secured, and I will deliver it to you all after the event."

Yes, the wealthy merchants and military officers colluded to make a fortune by monopolizing the city's grain industry. Furthermore, they cut corners on military supplies, keeping only what they had for themselves.

Because of the fighting, transportation was extremely inconvenient, and the flow of goods was frequently interrupted. Under these circumstances, the advantages of the troops became apparent. If there was any danger, there were troops to protect them; if passage was obstructed, there were "passes" and means of transport. As a result, some resourceful logistics personnel began to devise unconventional methods.

Those in charge of the money used public funds to buy and sell goods. Then they had military vehicles transport the goods to other places to purchase supplies and sell them here. This "buying and selling" was extremely profitable.

Even those who only transport goods have ways to make a living. They don't have to worry about not having funds or being able to do business. They just pick up a few "passengers" while hauling goods and collect some tolls. They can make a little money no matter what.

"Oh dear, the situation is getting more and more difficult. I think we'll have to leave soon."

The others agreed and decided to leave together after one last job. They raised their glasses to celebrate making more money.

At the south gate of Mosul, Ahmed had gathered a large crowd, and the garrison soldiers quickly approached him to inquire. "We're here for a change of guard duty, please leave."

The harsh tone made the other party feel something was wrong. Before he could ask any further questions, Ahmed killed the other party and led his men to seize the city gate.

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Malatya looked at the Kurdish soldiers who had defected and lamented that the Ottomans were utterly inhuman. At this point, trying to run away was futile; they'd have to fly away.

Moreover, they are so unpopular. The other party arrived before he had even done anything, which made him feel bad about getting credit for doing nothing.

"I have reported your requests to the higher-ups. If you can capture Mosul, you will have made a great contribution."

The Ottoman Empire and Russia had similarities in that they were both multi-ethnic states; however, they also had differences. Russia was at least able to maintain control over its entire nation, while the Ottoman Empire could not. Ethnic relations in the Balkans and the Middle East were very poor, to the point that both countries had experienced uprisings.

"Thank you, sir. However, the leader would like to ask one more question: what kind of treatment can we expect in Iran?"

Since he's going to align himself with Iran, he needs to consider the terms of service. If the offer isn't good enough, he might as well become a minor warlord in the region, which would likely get him a better deal.

"That would be wonderful. You can be rewarded for your merits, and you can earn a salary by joining the army. If you could convert, I think everything would be even better than it is now."

For example, many of us have now joined the army and obtained ranks. This is something the Ottomans couldn't provide.

This is quite appealing. The Ottomans gained absolutely nothing from Tanzimat in the capital; on the contrary, the Christians took a step forward. This situation must change, and wouldn't Iran be a good example?
"These are our conditions. We'll discuss the specifics after things are settled. Don't worry, we won't treat you unfairly."

The messenger left, having delivered the message. Although it was unknown how many Kurds had defected, it was still good news. Just as Arabs allied with Iran, the Kurds could also benefit from aligning themselves with them.

We'll have to wait and see how things unfold, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. They'd barely begun negotiations when the other side presented their gift: Mosul.

The Ottoman army here was the most corrupt, with not only the resale of military supplies and the monopoly of food, but also the practice of drawing salaries for non-military personnel. The actual number of soldiers was one-tenth less than the number on paper.

Moreover, I wonder if the officers here had contacted the barbers in the East, since they used the same methods to motivate the soldiers. On the one hand, they encouraged the officers and soldiers to get rich, and on the other hand, they let them gamble! When the soldiers lost all their money, they were then encouraged to fight again, and after the battle, they would rob again, gamble again, and lose again. This cycle continued, and the morale problem was solved, while the officers also made a fortune.

It was a miracle that such an army could fight so bravely. Before long, Ahmed captured the south gate and began to attack the city.

That night, the citizens of Mosul couldn't sleep. They thought Iran had stormed the city and fled into their cellars. Some Ottoman soldiers resisted, and some Kurds joined the attack.

Mosul had never been so lively. The Ottoman officer heard the commotion and, abandoning everything else, immediately led his men out of the city.

(End of this chapter)