Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 283 St. Petersburg (Part Two)

Naserdin stayed at the Royal Guest House near the Winter Palace. He was deeply impressed by the Winter Palace's splendor, especially its luxurious interior decorations and rich collection of artworks, which gave him a sense of the Russian imperial family's immense wealth and cultural heritage.

Accompanied by Russian officials, Nasser al-Din visited the Winter Palace's art gallery. The walls were covered with oil paintings by European masters, from Leonardo da Vinci of the Renaissance to Rubens of the Baroque era; he lingered over each painting for a long time. He was particularly interested in an oil painting depicting life in the Persian court, the details of which were so lifelike that they seemed to transport him back to the royal palace in Tehran.

In the treasury, Naserdin saw countless precious gems, gold artifacts, and ancient relics. One piece, a crown inlaid with enormous diamonds, caught his eye. Russian officials proudly explained that it was part of Catherine II's collection, a symbol of the glory and power of the Russian imperial family.

Every detail of the Winter Palace reflected the strict etiquette of the Russian imperial family. From the attire of the servants to the arrangement of banquets, everything exuded royal majesty. Naserdin noted that even the most ordinary servants behaved impeccably, demonstrating a very high level of training.

At the banquet in the Winter Palace, Naserdin interacted with many Russian nobles and diplomats.

The Russian nobles showed Naserdin outward respect, but their words frequently revealed a sense of superiority over the Eastern countries. One duke mentioned the "mission of civilization" during a conversation, implying that Russia's expansion in Central Asia was aimed at "civilizing" the local peoples. Naserdin was displeased but did not show it, instead cleverly responding, "Every nation has its unique culture and wisdom, worthy of respect."

Naserdin's response startled the duke slightly, but he quickly gave a forced smile and nodded in agreement, saying, "Of course, every nation has its unique values. We Russians have always been committed to building friendly relations with other countries and jointly promoting the development of civilization."

Naserdin smiled slightly and raised his glass in acknowledgment, but inwardly he felt disdain for the duke's hypocrisy. He knew that the "mission of civilization" touted by the Russian nobles was nothing more than an excuse to mask their expansionist ambitions. But he also understood that this was not the time for argument, but rather a matter requiring wisdom and patience.

A countess approached Naser al-Din and said with a smile, “Your Excellency Shah, I have heard that Persian poetry and music are very beautiful. Would you be willing to demonstrate them for us?” Her tone was slightly sarcastic, as if implying that Persian culture was merely “exotic” rather than a true civilization.

Naser al-Din smiled calmly and replied, “Persian poetry and music do indeed have a long history, but they are not merely entertainment; they are the crystallization of our national wisdom and emotions. If you are interested, I would be happy to invite you to visit Iran and experience our culture firsthand.”

The Countess was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Naserdin to respond so calmly. She forced a smile and nodded, saying, "That's something to look forward to."

As the banquet continued, Naserdin, in conversations with other Russian nobles and diplomats, gradually discerned their attitude toward Iran—seemingly friendly, but in reality full of calculation.

The Shah maintained a composed demeanor throughout the banquet. Although he keenly sensed the arrogance and scheming behind the Russian nobles' words, he showed no displeasure. He knew that, as a monarch, his behavior at this moment was not only a matter of personal dignity but also of the image and interests of the nation.

At a banquet, several Russian diplomats probed Nasser al-Din's views on the situation in Central Asia. They mentioned the internal strife in Qing China, hinting at potential further Russian expansion in Central Asia. Nasser al-Din responded cautiously, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability, and proposing a multilateral solution to the border issue. With a slight smile, Nasser al-Din replied, "The border issue indeed requires wisdom and patience from both sides to resolve. Iran has always been committed to maintaining friendly relations with its neighbors, but we will also firmly safeguard our national sovereignty and dignity." His tone was gentle yet firm, expressing both a willingness to cooperate and clearly defining the bottom line.

Nasser al-Din's response left several Russian diplomats bewildered, clearly not expecting such composure and resolve from the monarch from the East. One of the diplomats attempted to apply further pressure, his tone tinged with provocation: "Your Majesty the Shah, the situation in Central Asia is complex and volatile; peaceful negotiations alone are unlikely to resolve all issues. As a powerful nation in the region, Russia has a responsibility to maintain order. Don't you think Iran should also contribute more to this?"

Nasserdin replied calmly, “Maintaining peace is the responsibility of every country. True order should be built on equality and respect, not on power and interference. Iran is willing to cooperate with all countries, but we will never sacrifice our sovereignty for so-called ‘order’.”

His words were like a sharp sword, aimed directly at the Russian diplomat's probing. The other party was momentarily speechless and could only nod reluctantly.

The atmosphere at the banquet gradually eased thanks to Nasser al-Din's skillful handling, but undercurrents still lingered. An elderly Russian general approached Nasser al-Din and whispered, "Your Majesty the Shah, I fought in Central Asia when I was young and know the complexities of that land well. As a wise monarch, you should understand that sometimes compromise is wiser than confrontation."

Naserdin glanced at him sideways and replied calmly, "General, true wisdom is not about blindly compromising, but about finding a win-win solution while upholding principles. History tells us that only by maintaining independence and dignity can we earn the respect of other countries."

The general remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded and raised his glass in acknowledgment: "Your wisdom is admirable, Your Majesty the Shah."

After the banquet, Nasser al-Din returned to his palace and convened a private meeting with his entourage of officials. He stated solemnly, “Today’s banquet has further convinced me that Russia’s ambitions toward Iran have not diminished. They are attempting to exert pressure through diplomatic means and may even take more aggressive actions in Central Asia. We must simultaneously strengthen ties with other major powers to balance Russia’s influence.”

Abdullah said, "Shah, Russia is determined to destroy us. Are we going to have to fight them in the middle of the river?"

He stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the distant night sky, and continued, "War is only a last resort; what we need is wisdom and strategy. The British have always coveted Central Asia, and they will not stand idly by while Russia becomes the dominant power. We can win over Britain through diplomatic means."

Abdullah nodded in agreement, but still had doubts: "Shah, the British have always been cunning. They may not genuinely help us. What if they are just using us to contain Russia and ultimately reap the benefits? Wouldn't we be at a disadvantage?"

Naserdin smiled slightly and turned around: "You're right, the British can't be trusted entirely. Therefore, we can't rely on them completely. We also need to establish connections with other major powers. Only by forming a multilateral diplomatic network can we deter Russia from making any rash moves."

(End of this chapter)