Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 37 Istanbul

"What Said said actually addresses the most critical issue in Iran: clerics control vast amounts of land and, together with tribes, oppress tenant farmers. Landlords are often described as cruel, but they are the largest landowners in Iran."

That's not wrong, although clergy properties only account for about 15% of the country's land, they are all in fertile areas. Senior clergy even own a large number of shops, which increases their power, and sometimes they even disobey the Shah's orders.

"this…"

"Sometimes, a good tap can be beneficial."

Although the Azerbaijani clerics tacitly approved of the governor's actions, the majority of clerics across the country continued to resist Qajar rule. This incident with the Báb served as a good opportunity to give them a warning and see if it could bring them to their senses.

"By the way, how's the steel mill doing?"

"Your Highness, the facilities are in place, using local coal and iron ore, and are expected to produce 20,000 tons of steel per year. This will not only meet our country's construction needs but also allow for export."

As a representative of heavy industry, steel naturally needs all-out support. If there's a lack of funds, banks will provide loans; if there's no demand, demand will be created. Railways, military industry, and any other available sector will be utilized. After the completion of the Tabriz-Ardabil railway, plans are underway to extend the line to Mazandran, and a proposal will be made to the Shah to build a railway from Tabriz through Tehran to Mashhad, thus shortening the pilgrimage time.

“This kind of factory is not like a textile factory. It takes a long time for it to make money. Before that, the government must bear all the losses.”

Besides the steel mills, the coal and iron mines were also government-owned. All pumping operations were carried out using steam engines, which would significantly increase ore production in the future. However, steel production would also increase simultaneously, and domestic output couldn't keep up, necessitating imports from Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

On the way back, Amir reported the next steps of the plan to Nasser al-Din.

"The Confederation of Industries has sent a delegation to Britain to study the technology, and orders to promote potatoes have been issued to various places."

"very good"

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In Istanbul, the Ottoman capital, Sultan Abdul-Majid is discussing matters with his ministers. He has been the ruler of this empire of nearly 20 million people for seven years since the death of his father, Mahmud II.

As news of his father's death reached Istanbul, the Ottoman army was defeated at Nizip by the traitorous Egyptian governor, Muhammad Ali. Simultaneously, Muhammad Ali falsely claimed that Alexandria had been sold to Russia by the Sultan's advisors, persuading Ahmed Fefzi Pasha to hand over the port. The Ottoman fleet was en route to Alexandria. With the intervention of European powers, Muhammad Ali was forced to compromise, signing the Treaty of the Levant. This saved the Ottomans from further attacks and allowed them to reoccupy Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.

To fulfill his father's dying wish, Abdul-Majid immediately set about implementing reforms. First, he announced the Edict of the Garden of Flowers, then promoted military buildup, the circulation of paper currency, and decided to adopt the crescent and star flag as the Ottoman national flag. In Europe's eyes, this Sultan would inherit the legacy of his predecessor and revitalize the Ottoman Empire. "Now the Empire must accelerate reforms," ​​he declared. "Russia's ambitions are obvious, and Wallachia and Moldova are becoming increasingly unstable. We must have an army of 400,000 to deal with what may come next."

Four hundred thousand pounds, if calculated based on an average annual salary of seven pounds per person, would amount to 2.8 million pounds. The Ottoman Empire's annual revenue was only slightly over four million pounds, meaning this would directly consume the majority of their income, and other aspects would also be affected.

"Your Majesty the Sultan, the Empire's current fiscal revenue does not allow for such a large army; 25 is the limit."

Mustafa Rehid Pasha, who had become the Grand Vizier, explained the situation from the perspective of national finances. He had not expected that the Ottoman Empire's finances had declined to this extent.

Ottoman revenue primarily consisted of tolls levied on merchants traveling between East and West, poll taxes collected from millet, and other taxes. Affected by the Price Revolution, the Ottoman Empire, which could collect 600 million gold coins at the end of the 16th century, was reduced to only 200 million a century later. Moreover, the Ottoman Empire's financial problems manifested in many ways, with several points being particularly prominent:

First, the public and private accounts of the national treasury were not separated. The empire's treasury was divided into a public treasury and a royal private treasury, but in practice, income that should have gone to the public treasury often ended up in the royal private treasury, while the royal harem's expenses were paid by the public treasury.

Secondly, the national army was too weak. Although the army's combat effectiveness appeared to have increased at this time, it was extremely corrupt internally. Paying the army's salaries consumed a large portion of the Ottoman Empire's fiscal revenue, but the army was always losing battles, especially against Russia and Austria-Hungary, where it suffered repeated defeats.

Furthermore, the Ottoman frontiers were too unstable. Ethnic uprisings broke out among various ethnic groups, including the Greeks and Bosniaks in the Balkans, the Armenians in the northeast, and the Arabs in the south, requiring substantial financial expenditures to suppress rebellions in the frontier regions.

“Grand Vizier, you have been back from Persia for some time now. I recently heard that their king has issued some decree saying that he wants to change the status quo.”

Mejid asked Reshid Pasha, who, like Muhammad, considered England and France friends and Russia and Persia enemies, because both countries wanted land, and the Shia Muslims of Persia and the Sunni Muslims of the Ottomans were mortal enemies, which was also irreconcilable in terms of doctrine.

Therefore, whenever there was any disturbance in Persia, the Ottomans would become nervous, fearing that another Nadir Shah might emerge.

"Sultan, do not worry. From what I understand, the Persians are just putting on a show. They want to swindle funds from Britain. Their system is already unsustainable, and seeing our strength, they are in such a hurry to bring this up."

But even if they try to imitate us, they won't succeed. They only see the surface; they haven't grasped the essence. We have liberated millions of Armenians, Greeks, and Jews, granting them equal rights with ordinary subjects. This will inspire their patriotism and motivate them to help the Empire with their utmost.

The Sultan agreed with Reshid's words; he had put a great deal of effort into issuing this edict, consulting numerous experts. He believed that bringing the most advanced and closest French investment and technological ideas into the country—Germany and Austria-France had a centuries-long relationship—would be just as effective in the Ottoman Empire, and would certainly restore the glory of Suleiman the Magnificent's era.

(End of this chapter)