Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 657 Employment
The Sanchahekou Trade Office, located near the confluence of three rivers, was a very famous place in Tianjin. This was because Li Zhongtang, the Governor-General of Zhili, who was the highest-ranking governor-general in the country, worked here.

Since it was the Governor-General's office, it was bound to be bustling with activity, especially since the Governor-General of Zhili also handled diplomatic affairs. Moreover, it had the most Western-style exhibits in Tianjin, and many daring and avid spectators liked to stay there.

Li Zhongtang was recently in a state of distress. After serving as the Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Trade for the Northern Ports for two years, he encountered harsh conditions from France.

"The French... they're trying to drive our Great Qing to its doom." He put down the official documents, rubbed his furrowed brow, and sighed softly. On his desk lay a copy of the translated note submitted by the French minister, demanding huge indemnities, the punishment of officials for execution, and even the cession of Hainan Island. His intuition told him that he could not agree.

The Qingliu faction within the court launched an attack, criticizing diplomatic compromises as "traitors to the nation," shouting that the people's hearts could be won, advocating for war even if it meant fighting, and even subtly mocking the Westernization Movement for being cowardly and relying on foreign powers.

He knew better than anyone the weakness of the Qing Dynasty. The Huai Army, which he had painstakingly built up, was capable of suppressing the Taiping Rebellion, but it was ill-equipped to deal with the modernized French army. Although the Jiangnan Arsenal, Jinling Machinery Bureau, and other Western-style enterprises could imitate some guns and ammunition, their output and quality were far from sufficient to support a large-scale foreign war.

Just then, his trusted advisor and confidential secretary, Zhou Fu, tiptoed in and whispered, "Your Excellency, Iranian Ambassador Nasser requests an audience, saying he has urgent matters to discuss."

"Iran?" Li Hongzhang paused slightly, turning around. His impression of this country was quite complex. Though thousands of miles away, it had once had some trade relations with the imperial court, and in recent years had risen to prominence. It was said that its reigning monarch, Nasser al-Din, was implementing sweeping reforms, and the country's power was increasing daily. More importantly, according to the information he had received, Iran was now united with the Ottoman Empire and was simultaneously at war with France and Russia in Europe, yet it was holding its own! "Why has he come to see me now?"

Zhou Fu leaned closer, lowering his voice even further: "Your Excellency, I have heard that Iran and France are currently engaged in armed conflict overseas and are mortal enemies. Perhaps this visit at this time... is related to the current predicament of our dynasty?"

A glint flashed in Li Hongzhang's eyes as he said, "Please invite him to Xihua Hall. I'll be there shortly." He needed a moment to gather his thoughts. Contacting a country at war with France was extremely risky; if the French found out, it would give them ammunition against him.

Inside the West Flower Hall, Ambassador Nasser sat quietly, dressed in a well-tailored Western-style suit, but wearing a traditional Persian lambskin hat, a stark contrast to the typical demeanor of European consuls.

As soon as the curtain rustled, Li Hongzhang, dressed in civilian clothes, slowly walked in. Nasser immediately stood up, placed his hand on his chest, and gave a standard Persian bow: "Your Excellency, Governor-General of Zhili and Minister of Beiyang, I apologize for disturbing you, may God grant you good health."

Li Hongzhang returned the greeting with a cupped hand and said in fluent Mandarin, "Consul, there's no need for such formality. Please have a seat." The two took their seats as host and guest, and the servants served tea before being dismissed. Zhou Fu stood behind Li Hongzhang.

After a few pleasantries, Li Hongzhang got straight to the point: "Consul, you are very busy with official duties. I wonder what advice you have for me today?"

Nasser smiled slightly and said in Chinese with a slight accent but very clear, "Your Excellency is straightforward, so I will speak frankly as well. I have heard that your country is currently troubled by the unreasonable demands of France, and my country is deeply concerned about this."

Li Hongzhang's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive: "Oh? France is separated from your country by vast oceans. Why would your country be concerned about this matter?"

“Your Excellency,” Nasser leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming solemn, “the greed and tyranny of France are known throughout the world. If they can impose such harsh conditions on your country today, demanding territorial concessions and reparations, they could do the same to Iran and any other country in the world tomorrow. Moreover, to be frank, Your Excellency, Iran is currently at war with France and its allies. The enemy of my enemy, even if he cannot immediately become a friend, can at least be a partner who shares the same views.”

Nasser had also heard that his country was under attack from France and Russia. As Iran's supreme representative in East Asia, he felt obligated to help his homeland out of its predicament. And since the French had arrived, he decided to use them as his target.

"Speaking of which, Your Excellency, if your country urgently needs to replenish its military equipment to strengthen its coastal defenses and train a new army, we can engage in barter trade using goods such as grain, tea, and silk." This point directly addresses their sore spot: outdated military equipment, tight finances, and extreme dependence on external channels. The strategic value of a non-European source of military production, one hostile to France, is self-evident.

In addition, Nasser made a proposal that they did not expect.

"If your country is determined to resist French aggression, the Iranian Empire is willing to provide military assistance to your country in the form of mercenaries."

"Mercenaries?"

“Exactly.” Nasser explained in detail, “Our country can send a corps of officers to assist your country in training its new army. In addition, if the war requires it, our country can even consider sending a legion, of course your country will need to provide additional subsidies.”

He further offered enticing terms: "Our country can also sell or lease a batch of advanced weapons and equipment to your country at absolutely favorable prices. Furthermore, if the situation requires, our ships in the Far East can also be..."

He pondered for a long time, his mind rapidly weighing the pros and cons. The advantages were obvious: it would greatly enhance the resistance against the French, especially in terms of command and artillery, and might truly be able to hold off the French army. The disadvantages were equally significant: introducing foreign troops would inevitably invite criticism from the upright officials in the court for letting the enemy in; if this matter were to be exposed, it would thoroughly enrage France, leaving no room for maneuver; moreover, the cost of mercenaries would be a considerable expense.

"Your proposal... is quite novel and also demonstrates your country's friendship." Li Hongzhang carefully chose his words. "However, this matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by me alone. It needs to be reported to His Majesty and discussed with the officials of the court. Furthermore, the cost of hiring, the size of the personnel, and the command authority..."

"Your Excellency's concerns are very valid. However, the matter is urgent, so please make a decision as soon as possible."

After Nasser left, Li Hongzhang immediately summoned his confidants to discuss the matter. The consensus among his advisors was that the matter would only benefit Li Hongzhang, with no drawbacks.

After receiving the same result from his staff, Li Zhongtang waited patiently.

As expected, after the Far East rejected the French proposal, the French minister swaggered and delivered a declaration of war.

This declaration of war caused a sensation throughout the court. At this time, Li Hongzhang presented a memorial he had prepared beforehand, proposing to borrow troops from Iran, which was at war with France.

Faced with Li Hongzhang's memorial, the court approved it with astonishing speed. Although the purists still criticized this move as the Tang Dynasty using the Uyghur army to retake Chang'an, they couldn't care less at this point. They knew that France and Britain had forced the court to sign the same agreement twenty years earlier. If it hadn't been for Iran's mediation back then, who knows what harsh terms would have been imposed.

So, if we just listen to Iran, everything will be fine.

(End of this chapter)