Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 280 River (Part 1)

Naserdin had spent three months in Austria, and anyone would have grown resentful if he stayed any longer. He and Franz parted ways in Prague. Meanwhile, Prussia, Denmark, and Sweden had to cancel their trips due to time constraints, so the Shah decided to head directly to Russia, the only major European country he hadn't yet visited.

Russia is also taking the Iranian Shah's visit very seriously. Preparations are proceeding smoothly, with Alexander even personally overseeing the process, all in an effort to ensure the best possible welcoming ceremony.

However, no matter how much they prepare in St. Petersburg, they still have to compete with Iran for spheres of influence in Central Asia.

By this time, the Samarkand palace had become the residence of the Governor of Transoxiana. After discussing the situation with the officials who had come to take over local civil administration, Yahya decided to implement three policies: freeing slaves, encouraging land reclamation, and promoting Christianity. At the same time, he adopted a mild approach towards the local powerful figures, confiscating their private armies and gathering them together for strict supervision.

The previous expedition against Kokand dealt them a devastating blow, forcing them to cede Tashkent and offer tribute in exchange for peace. The destruction of Kokand was only a matter of time; the most important thing now was to govern the region.

From the very beginning of its political history, Central Asia had been ruled by nomadic regimes. Apart from the Persian Protectorate and the Anxi Protectorate established during the Tang Dynasty, the region received little development from advanced regimes. It was only after the Industrial Revolution, when Iran, leveraging its machinery and railways, projected its power into Central Asia, that it brought this land under its control.

The Transoxiana Viceroyalty is divided into three provinces: Khiva, Samarkand, and Tashkent, each further subdivided into districts and counties. Iran adopts a policy of low taxes and levies for the local population, striving to alleviate their burdens. Those who are physically strong are incorporated into the local police and army to maintain order.

In contrast, after annexing Kazakhstan, Russia vigorously implemented colonial rule there. Various taxes were levied on the herders. At the same time, Kazakhs were forced to perform unpaid labor for the Russian army. This not only aroused discontent among the descendants of the Khan but also provoked resistance from the Kazakh people themselves.

In contrast, Central Asia under Iranian rule was a paradise. Some nomads crossed the Syr Darya River into Iranian territory, prompting the Russian governor-general to send troops to capture them, leading to tensions between the two countries over the issue of migrants and the Syr Darya River.

"The current railway plan starts from Mashhad and connects Ashgabat, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent. The railway company has raised 700 million for this project, but the railway is needed in various parts of the country, so it will have to be postponed."

Yahya ignored this and said directly, "Don't let them think like that. I'll write directly to the Shah. If the river is lost, the consequences will be unimaginable. Russia might advance unimpeded and directly attack Mashhad. I'm afraid no one can bear the consequences."

The Transoxiana region is indeed rich in resources, possessing not only vast tracts of land suitable for mineral exploration but also fertile ground for cotton cultivation, which can generate revenue through exports. Furthermore, with the development of Iran's textile industry, cotton prices have risen significantly. Large-scale cotton cultivation here could potentially reduce dependence on Indian cotton.

However, this Iranian version of the rice-to-mulberry conversion hasn't been very successful. Small-scale protests and attacks have occurred near Samarkand because the area primarily grows grains, and cotton, a crop with extremely high water consumption, would inevitably squeeze out grain cultivation space. This has provoked opposition from farmers. The Shah's strategy for governing Transoxiana is to transform the region without disrupting the local socio-economic structure. Any major changes in the region could severely impact Iran's already fragile rule. Meanwhile, millions of Transoxiana's population are being transported to Mesopotamia through immigration policies, where they will live as new people in a new land.

At this time, Iran had an army of 2.3 in Transoxiana, three times the number of Russia's. However, a large portion of these were originally tribal soldiers from Khiva and Bukhara. Yahya dispersed them and distributed them among various armies to prevent them from forming alliances. Furthermore, the delivery of weapons and ammunition from Iranian territory took a long time, which is why Yahya built the railway.

"Governor, please calm down. The route from Mashhad to Samarkand involves crossing many places, most of which are desolate and hot deserts. Building a railway in this area requires not only extensive surveys but also various preparations, such as constructing supply depots and water towers along the way, as well as planting sand-fixing forests. It will not be cheap."

The civil administration official explained the difficulties to the governor, but Yahya immediately retorted: "But these are not reasons not to repair it. If our country cannot make rapid progress at this time, there will be a risk of annexation once Russia reacts."

Moreover, the economic potential of the Transoxiana region remains largely untapped. Samarkand, Tashkent, and Bukhara are all transportation hubs and have been important trading cities since ancient times. If we can eradicate banditry and sign trade agreements with the Qing Dynasty in the east, this land can generate a continuous stream of economic benefits.

Yahya's answer was reasonable and well-founded. He knew that these tribes in Central Asia made their fortunes through trade, and now that the trade routes were about to be cut off, if Iran was willing to invest, the route could surely regain its former glory. The cost of building the railway could also be easily raised.

Now, only Kokand remains to border them with the Qing Dynasty. Of course, they will have to fight Russia if necessary, as intelligence indicates that the Russians have been active in the northwestern region of the Qing Dynasty recently.

As early as the beginning of the 17th century, Russia began to covet the northwestern region of Qing China, repeatedly carrying out illegal invasions under the guise of "exploration" and "survey," and instigating local ethnic minority leaders to betray their country and defect to Russia. In the 18th century, while carrying out large-scale colonial expansion in Central Asia, they also plotted to seize the area east and south of Lake Balkhash.

In 1831, the Russian Commission on Siberian and Asian Questions decided, after discussion, to push Russia's borders to the vicinity of Lake Zaysan. From then on, Russia continued to push its borders eastward and southward.

By this time, Russia had acquired over one million square kilometers of land, finally gaining ice-free ports in the Far East. Next was the Northwest; they wouldn't let any opportunity to expand their territory slip by.

Whether for the sake of Qing China or Iran, Russia must not be allowed to continue occupying each other's territory. Another war is necessary if needed. The governor decided to assemble an "expedition" near Bukhara to survey the geography of the Syr Darya region. Especially the area near Kryzhorda, a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, would likely not be so easy to capture.

(End of this chapter)