Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 261 Progress
The news that Iran had completely occupied Kagoshima spread like wildfire throughout Kyushu. The daimyo of domains such as Hizen, Higo, and Saga began mobilizing their armies, while the Satsuma domain itself struggled to resist the enemy.

Iran didn't have much incentive to guard these Japanese prisoners, but killing them outright would make them feel honored. Looking at their peculiar hairstyles, Adil decided to use a two-pronged approach to ensure they died after suffering immense psychological and physical trauma.

The first group they selected had their hair cut off by the Iranian army. As expected, they resisted fiercely, but ultimately it was all for naught. However, this was just the beginning. After that, things became more clandestine, something the eunuchs were likely very experienced in.

After these two incidents, these people died unwillingly, while others were released. When they saw their miserable state, many people were frightened. Would they also suffer the same fate?
As for Kagoshima, it was temporarily administered by Iran. Local merchants were extorted, especially those accused by Iranian merchants, who were hung from trees and whipped by soldiers until the whips were smoking.

Britain and the United States have been closely following Iran's developments, and both feel that these actions deserve punishment, so they have remained silent. Their role is simply to act as mediators between the Shogunate and Iran, seeking to gain more benefits through mediation.

British Minister to Japan, Aguilar, and US Consul General to Japan, Harris, visited Kagoshima. The place can only be described as devastated; Iran's attack on the area has been devastating, leaving nothing but ruins.

"I'm sorry, this place has just been through a war and has not yet recovered. Please forgive us."

The two expressed their understanding, saying that the Japanese were shameless and deserved such punishment.

Of course, they didn't forget their business. In a relatively intact house, the two began reciting the lines they had already prepared.

"Lord Adil, because of this sudden war, Lord Ii Naosuke of Edo has asked us to mediate the conflict between your country and Japan. May I ask what your country's conditions are?"

The shogunate said so, and Adil also stated the basic conditions.

"Our demands are that the Japanese businessmen apologize and provide compensation. We also want a portion of Kagoshima ceded to our country."

This is the most basic requirement, because Iranian merchants have suffered the most from fraud in Nagasaki. Since the Satsuma Domain is willing to take the lead for Kyushu, then let them make the compensation.

"I think they will agree to this request. The lords here clearly don't understand the international situation and dare to defy the free world. Your country has given them a great gift. If they can't see the situation clearly, things will probably be much more complicated than they are now."

“Mr. Harris is right. If we join forces, we can lead the Far East toward civilization. I think the Shogun of Edo will be very grateful to us.”

Adil described this scene to the two men, how barbarism was being transformed into civilization, wasn't that what they had always been passionate about? To this end, they had killed 90% of the native inhabitants of the New World and provided scalp massage services to the remaining people.

Alas, why can't they understand their own good intentions?
However, the previously mentioned five-nation invasion of Japan was originally planned for several years later, but Iran attacked the Satsuma Domain first. Should they follow suit? Besides the United States, Britain, France, and the Netherlands are unwilling to send troops. They don't know how much benefit they would gain, and the journey from their homeland to the Far East is too far; the cost of fuel for a single expedition wouldn't even cover the expenses.

Moreover, hasn't Iran become too enthusiastic about expansion lately? A few years ago, it seized the South Caucasus from Russia; last year, it sent people to occupy Tashkent; and this year, it has ruthlessly torn a piece of flesh from the Ottoman Empire. Prussia would have to admit defeat compared to you.

However, Iran deserves all of this, given its victory over the Ottomans. The Ottoman throne was originally intended for Iran, forcing European countries to reassess their stance towards the nation.

Britain was envious, but they already had India as a huge financial drain and various ports. Britain wouldn't surrender until it had squeezed India dry.

Of course, they also know how to gain the most benefits at the lowest cost. Now that Iran and Samoa are at war, why not let them expand their influence further, and then Britain can watch the show from behind and provide diplomatic support?

"We will hand this over to the Shogun in Edo. Please rest assured that Britain and the United States will support Iran's legitimate rights."

"That would be troublesome"

Meanwhile, in Edo, Ii Naosuke was holding a grand banquet at home to celebrate the defeat of the Satsuma Domain, the shogunate's arch-enemy.

"You've finally met your match. If you had listened to me earlier, things would have been fine. You had to let things turn out like this."

Ii Naosuke understood perfectly well that Japan now faced only two paths. The first was to open the country to the outside world, and the second was to be forced to open the country to foreign powers.

Rather than being forced to open the country after a bloody battle, it's better to take the initiative and voluntarily submit to America, thus avoiding further physical suffering. As for those courtiers who spend their days idly at home studying, they know nothing and are simply making a fuss to make things difficult for the shogunate, so there's no need to waste any effort on them.

Although it was a despicable act, like "dropping a bomb in a cesspool—inciting public outrage," he was not afraid, and even felt no remorse. He believed that everything he did was for the country, for all its people—including those who opposed him.

Furthermore, Japan's proactive opening of the country was also a way to suppress the powerful southwestern domains. These regions had a long-standing tradition of interacting with foreigners. For example, the Saga Domain, located near Nagasaki, was still influenced by the Dutch and learned a great deal about Western technology even under the isolationist system. Long before the arrival of the Black Ships, the Saga Domain had already developed proper reverberatory furnaces, used Western methods to smelt iron and manufacture cannons, and even had models of steam locomotives.
Then there's the Satsuma Domain. As early as the Sengoku period, they imported the first matchlock gun in Japanese history from Tanegashima. The Satsuma daimyo at the time was Shimazu Takahisa. They not only maintained correspondence with the upper classes of India, Ryukyu, and other countries and regions, but also imported a batch of Western horses from Europe to improve their cavalry. Even during the Edo period when the country closed itself off from the world, the Satsuma people continued their ways, engaging in smuggling through Ryukyu and making a fortune.

Iran's actions against the Satsuma Domain have kept him on his toes for at least five years, and consequently, the surrounding southwestern domains will not dare to make any rash moves. Only the Choshu Domain is willing to risk everything to aid the Satsuma Domain. That's fine, let's send you all to your deaths. Even if they win, their strength will certainly be weakened, and then the shogunate can deal with them.

(End of this chapter)