Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 71 Baku
The rial began to stabilize, and the effects of unified local tariffs became apparent. Domestic trade flourished, merchants could trade freely, and the elimination of local tariffs reduced their costs.

Prices haven't continued to rise recently, so people can be patient for now. Moreover, agricultural exports have increased, and rising profits have made farmers feel they've missed out on a fortune, leading them to decide to plant more cash crops next year.

The Ardabil-Tabriz railway has been thriving since its opening. What used to be a one- or two-day journey has now been shortened to half a day, and goods can be delivered much faster. All of this comes at a cost.

The businessmen went even crazier; when they heard about the construction of the Tabriz-Tehran railway, they wished it would open tomorrow. Of course, while they thought that way, they continued to do business and make money.

However, with the development of Tabriz's economy, trade with Russia increased significantly. Iranian merchants began to appear in Baku, Yerevan, Tbilisi, and other places, and their goods were very popular, being of much better quality than Russian goods.

Baku was an important city in the South Caucasus of the Russian Empire. Historical records indicate that oil wells were dug in Baku as early as the 10th century AD. The oil deposits here are shallow, and oil can be found only 10 to 12 meters underground.

However, large-scale oil extraction was not yet underway in the area because people didn't know how to use it. At that time, oil had few uses, and the blubber obtained from whaling was sufficient.

In a house in downtown Baku, a group of people are gathered together discussing something, and if you were one of them, you would hear all sorts of things like "Go to hell, Russian Tsar!"

After the Russian Empire's government entered the South Caucasus, it implemented a policy of extermination against local infidels. Armenians regained their majority in Yerevan, while Cossacks and Russians continued to be infiltrated into Baku. The Orthodox Church also continued its missionary work, and at this rate, they would soon be forced to leave their homes.

“Lord Hatami, please go back and tell the Shah that we are His people forever, and that infidels cannot defeat the believers of Allah,” said Asadov, a merchant from Baku.

Despite financial constraints, Naserdin still allocated a portion of his funds to establish an intelligence network against Russia. They primarily used trading posts as intelligence points, responsible for gathering intelligence, liaising with personnel, and transporting weapons. The Horod Trading Company served as the main communication channel; they typically posed as outsiders, engaging in discussions with local people to gain a deep understanding of local conditions, including the terrain, climate, transportation, politics, military, industries, customs, local product prices, and trade.

“I have heard of your request. The Shah sent me to tell you that in a few more years, this place can return to Iran. Please be patient a little longer.”

After Hatami finished speaking, everyone nodded and explained the situation in the Caucasus to him.

Divided by the Caucasus Mountains, this region is divided into the North and South Caucasus. The South Caucasus is designated as the Caucasus Governorate, with an official troop presence of over 15, but the actual number is estimated to be much smaller, as many high-ranking Russian military officials are receiving salaries without working.

"My lord, you don't know, I took the opportunity to go and see their army. At least a third of them are old and weak, and the rest don't know how to train. They don't even have muskets normally, and they only take them out when necessary."

Moreover, corruption permeated the Russian army and among its officials from top to bottom. Bribes were required to get anything done, and many people harbored resentment, but they endured it because they lacked powerful backers.

Asadov's words made Khatami think that the Russian army was so vulnerable. In fact, the Russian army at that time was known as the number one army in Europe, with a million soldiers.

However, most Russian soldiers were conscripted from serfs; they were apathetic but loyal, making them excellent cannon fodder in the era of line infantry. But now, the world's armies have been updated and iterated.

With the modernization of rifles, such an army could only serve as cannon fodder. Furthermore, Russia's transportation system meant that transporting soldiers from other areas to the front lines took a long time, directly impacting agricultural production. Even when some noble citizens joined the army, they would pay others to enlist in their place. This resulted in over a third of the soldiers not meeting the minimum height requirement (1.6 meters), and half suffering from various diseases. Solving these problems would require conscription, but this would end serfdom, which would shake the foundations of the Tsar's rule; therefore, unless absolutely necessary, they would not move.

“We have now established intelligence stations in Baku, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Sukhumi, Batumi and other places, and we have used money to build relationships with them. They think we are businessmen doing business in the area.”

This development pleased Khatami, who quickly said, "Now you all need to continue the mission, be careful of any trouble, and don't let the Russians notice our movements..."

Before Hatami could finish speaking, someone next to him spoke up: "Sir, I would like to ask if the Shah will really grant our request?"

Hatami glanced over and saw it was Maskhadov from the North Caucasus. Dermrezov, standing nearby, also remarked that whether Iran could help them was questionable, as they dared not trust anyone.

It's no wonder they're so suspicious; one is a Chechen, the other a Circassian. They've fought Russia for over a century, especially the Circassians, who suffered heavy losses because of the Russians' inhumane behavior. Now, the population under their control is less than 30.

During the war, the Russian army employed scorched-earth tactics. They destroyed villages, burned crops, and stole livestock, attempting to force the Kirk people to leave the mountains and move to the plains. Due to lack of shelter and food, large numbers of migrants died from famine, as well as from outbreaks of typhus and smallpox.

The Chechens fared slightly better; they united with other tribes to form an Imam state and waged resistance against the Russian army. Since 1817, the North Caucasus had been plagued by constant warfare. However, Russia, with its sheer size, could wear them down. They had no choice but to see if there was an opportunity to win over Iran and defeat Russia.

Although they belong to a different religious sect than Iran, Russia is now directly pressuring them, disregarding any heresy, and is willing to convert to any religion as long as the issue can be resolved.

"Don't worry about that. The Crown Prince has already guaranteed your promise. Russia is slaughtering our brothers, and we can't just stand by and watch these self-proclaimed civilized barbarians slaughter them too."

These words reassured them considerably. The Russian blockade was becoming increasingly tight; if it weren't for bribing Russian soldiers to smuggle supplies from outside, they would likely have starved to death long ago.

If you finally find a lifeline, even if it's just an illusion, you have to grab onto it first.

"Alright, everyone, go ahead and get busy. Otherwise, if we take too long, the Russian army will become suspicious."

The members dispersed, and the intelligence meeting ended. Hatami had gained a lot of useful information. But was the Russian army really that bad? If there were Russian spies among them, it would be troublesome. He still needed to investigate to be at ease.

In addition to this, he also rushed to Tehran with reports on the situation in the South Caucasus region. He continued his own investigations in the area as a businessman, as he needed more detailed information.

(End of this chapter)