Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 74 Planning
"That's right. The Russians only managed to conquer so much land by sending a large number of people to their deaths. As long as we can develop, we will definitely succeed."

The federation has established branches throughout Iran, recruiting members and providing a range of assistance to those who want to set up factories. Their hope is that one day Iran's industry will flourish.

"By the way, I heard that a new form of communication has emerged in Europe called the telegraph. It can send messages from very far away. If we had this, communication would be much more convenient."

In fact, Zakani was not confident either, because the technology was just starting in Europe, and the telegraph was developing faster only in the United States.

However, they could try it out to see how it really works. But with Europe developing so slowly, the US is developing quite rapidly. Should they go to the US and take a look?
Amir can finally relax, as government revenue has seen a significant boost. This includes new taxes on juice, tobacco, salt, and sugar, which are expected to generate 600 million riyals – two-thirds of last year's tax revenue.

With this money, Iran's financial situation improved significantly, and Amir began to use it to stabilize the value of the rial. On September 10, the rial exchange rate returned to 1 to 10.

Amir also built a large trading post in Tehran for merchants to rest and exchange ideas on production and business. He also had Lister lecture him to help him understand the economic management models of European countries.

Europe boasts a diverse array of economic models, ranging from laissez-faire to customs unions, feudal serfdom, and indecisiveness. Even after thoroughly understanding the situation in Iran, Lister still submitted a thick report to Amir.

Lister suggested that Iran should encourage the textile industry as its main industry, while the government should control heavy industry and the financial sector to create a stable environment for Iran's industrial development.

Moreover, it's not just about producing products; you also need markets to absorb them. Therefore, you need to sign treaties with other countries to allow your goods to enter the market.

The situation in Iran is also somewhat unfavorable, as it only needs to pay a 5% tariff to Britain and Russia, which has severely damaged Iranian industry. To mitigate this damage, it will need to put in even more effort to rebuild its industrial base.

These are all difficulties that Iran needs to overcome. Amir knows that industrial development is not something that can be achieved overnight; it is a long process. He needs to clear as many obstacles as possible for industrial development.

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The coffee shops along the Thames have always been important gathering places for intellectuals, whether they are university students or politicians.

“Look how powerful the oath the Shah made is. Iran can catch up immediately and develop into a powerful nation.”

Sadiq waved his newspaper excitedly to his classmates. After arriving in England, they had explored various parts of London. Once the novelty wore off, they felt that, well, they had learned a lot of theoretical knowledge here, but their personal morality was probably not as good as that of the tribes.

Moreover, Britain is a Protestant country, and they are all Shia Muslims. In order to provide a place for international students to worship, Abdullah paid for a house in the east of London to use for worship. This should be the first mosque in Britain.

“Yes, Iran is finally starting to catch up. We should also do our part for our country,” Farzad, who was studying mining, immediately said. They had actually already begun to help Iran, because most British people looked down on Shiites and Sunnis, so they could only band together for mutual support and formed an association to promote Iranian traditional culture, hoping to change the British public’s perception of Iran through propaganda.

However, while the British didn't like their faith, they did appreciate the carpets. The exquisite patterns made them a good choice for citizens and merchants to hang in their homes, leading to large-scale orders from Iran and a contribution to the Iranian economy.

"Right now, we should focus on our studies so that we can live up to Shah's expectations. After graduating in a few years, we will be able to return home."

The international students were eager to complete their studies and return home, while others felt that Iranian politics needed change. They observed that the British parliamentary system was a crucial tool for maintaining a nation's healthy development; even when the king was incompetent, parliament could ensure the country's smooth operation. Therefore, to become powerful, a parliament was essential.

They had heard about the establishment of the Iranian Conference of Experts, but they felt it was merely a government-backed parliament, not one elected by the "people." What they wanted was a parliament like the British one, so they could escape poverty and enter the civilized world.

"Just wait, we'll give the whole country a shock."

Everyone laughed; the knowledge they were learning was something Iran didn't have. Life in London was very pleasant, but the exchange students in Berlin were having a tough time.

They studied at the Berlin Military Academy, founded in 1810 by General Scharnhorst after the Battle of Jena, from which many Prussian generals graduated.

They adopted a military-style management system, where these international students learned theoretical knowledge while also undergoing physical training and other skills development. They hadn't expected to go through so much training to become qualified officers, but they persevered.

This marks the first time the Middle East has sent students abroad on such a large scale, leading Britain and Putin to view Iran as a promising partner. If it serves their interests, they are willing to seek changes from Iran.

Both the newly appointed British Prime Minister Lord Russell and Prussian Prime Minister Caliović benefited from trade with Iran.

Not only these two countries, but Austrian nobles also imported large quantities of Iranian carpets and other goods. However, due to their geographical location, they needed to be transshipped through the Ottoman Empire before they could be sold in Europe. Trabisson prospered again, and Iranian merchants once again dominated the area.

Iranian businessmen have learned their lesson and are banding together this time. They're hiring locals to work for them, reducing unemployment in the city—you have nothing to say now, right?

Besides, it's just money; once you've bribed the officials, he can continue working. If Shah had been more proactive earlier, maybe the treaty wouldn't have needed to be signed.

It's too late to say anything now, but it's not too late to start. Muhammad Ali's fate serves as a stark reminder: never be complacent, or you will suffer the most intense malice in the world.

(End of this chapter)