Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1100

1100. Overture to Disaster (7)

“What’s done is done, but we can’t just sit still!”

The European powers, having acknowledged the outcome, immediately moved on to the next step.

“First, we need to get a clear picture of the situation in Persia!”

Following the leaders’ decision, many more spies infiltrated Persia. The reports they sent back could be summarized as follows:

-The newly established nation in the Persian region is called ‘The Great Iran (در مقابل ایران).’ [In contrast to Iran, implying a new or different entity.]

-They have firmly secured the Mesopotamia and Baku regions.

-Shia Islam is the state religion. They are diligently converting the Sunni population to Shia Islam.

-Initially, there was strong resistance due to the harsh conversions by the Qizilbash [Turkic warriors instrumental in establishing the Safavid dynasty]. However, after the great purge of the Qizilbash, the conversions became more moderate, and various benefits were offered. As a result, the conversion of the people is proceeding very smoothly.

-The main force behind the Qizilbash purge was the armies of the Three Eastern Nations.

-Since the Qizilbash purge, the Three Eastern Nations have been providing significant assistance in arming and training the Great Iran’s army.

-The Great Iran and the Three Eastern Nations have established a joint venture to extract oil. The company is named ‘PedeMini Oil.’

-The shareholding structure has not yet been determined.

Politicians and officials of the European powers, reviewing the reports sent by the spies, focused on the name of the joint venture.

“‘PedeMini’? What does that mean?”

According to the European powers’ understanding, names given to specific facilities, objects, etc., in the East often have special meanings.

“It’s not just the East; everywhere, names often have special meanings. That’s why people put so much thought into naming things.”

Thus, they became focused on figuring out the meaning of the name ‘PedeMini.’

“What does it mean? It’s not Arabic, Persian, Latin, Imperial language, Kitai [archaic term for China], or Zipan [archaic term for Japan] either?”

Later, when they learned the meaning of the name, the officials and politicians of the great powers wore expressions of utter dismay.

The meaning of the name ‘PedeMini’ was simple. It was a combination of ‘Pe’ from Persia, ‘De’ from the Daeyun Federal Empire, ‘Mi’ from Ming, and ‘Ni’ from Nippon (Japan).

“What a lack of sincerity… Who came up with this name!”

As the officials and politicians of the European powers were expressing their dismay, Hyang scratched her ear and grumbled.

“Ugh… Why is my ear so itchy? Is someone talking about me?”

* * *

“Hmm… So, the Persia region and Baku region have fallen into Iran’s hands, and behind that Iran are the Three Eastern Nations. And with the help of those three nations, they are steadily building a foundation.”

The leaders and officials of the European powers, having reviewed the information that the spies risked their lives to bring, sighed.

“Hoo… Things have become difficult.”

“But giving up is hard.”

“I agree. If we simply write off the funds invested so far as losses, the consequences would be too terrible to contemplate.”

“But it’s also difficult to resort to force. The problem is justification, the justification.”

The great powers, especially France, Italy, and Portugal, were deeply troubled as they sought a solution. They had already invested heavily to win the Ottoman succession battle. After fierce competition, they had managed to emerge victorious and were now preparing to reap the rewards.

However, just as they were finishing preparations and about to move, others snatched those rewards away. It was only natural that they couldn’t tolerate this, but the problem was who had taken the rewards first.

The Three Eastern Nations.

Even if Japan was excluded, the Empire and Ming were not opponents to be trifled with. Ming alone had more population, a larger territory, and a stronger economy than France, Italy, and Portugal combined—no, than all of Western Europe combined. If they rashly started a fight, they would certainly be beaten back.

The Empire?

Talking about the Empire was just a waste of breath.

“But we can’t just stand idly by.”

“That’s true…”

Seeing the lukewarm reactions from the representatives of Italy and Portugal, the French representative felt frustrated.

* * *

The three countries had spent roughly the same amount of money. From the initial investment in Selim, the three countries had invested in almost equal shares. However, the burden was different for each country. No, the pressure on France was much greater than on Italy and Portugal.

This was due to the difference in economic power. In terms of territory and population alone, France overwhelmed the other two countries. However, in terms of economic size, the three countries were similar. In other words, Portugal and Italy, with smaller territories and populations, had stronger economies, meaning they were wealthier.

This was possible because of Gloria [likely referring to a resource-rich region or colony] and the Empire. Italy and Portugal, having allied with the Empire early on, were able to obtain superior performance—though outdated by the Empire’s standards, still decent—warships from the Empire, maps with sea routes to Gloria, and ports where they could rest and resupply along the way.

Having already secured considerable economic power in Africa and the Mediterranean, Portugal and Italy used this economic power as seed money to secure even greater results in Gloria. However, France’s situation was not good.

* * *

In the latter half of the Hundred Years’ War, France began to taste money by participating in the Suez Railway, and later, by suppressing the aristocratic forces and supporting the commoner forces—specifically, the merchants and industrialists of the cities—they grew the economy. However, the French domestic market alone had limitations, and trade with other great powers was almost blocked by protectionism.

In the end, France had no choice but to advance into Africa as well. However, Africa had already been preempted by Spain and Portugal. As they were keenly aware of the disadvantages of being a latecomer, rumors of a new continent in the south, ‘Terra,’ began to circulate.

“This time, we absolutely cannot fall behind!”

Thanks to the efforts of explorers, shipowners, and merchants backed by the French government, France was able to secure considerable colonies in Terra and several nearby islands. However, this was still not enough, and France had no choice but to turn its eyes to the surrounding areas.

The results were failure in Italy and success in Alsace-Lorraine. In an era when steam engines were becoming commonplace, acquiring Alsace-Lorraine was a great blessing for France. Having secured a stable supply of coal and iron, France once again turned its eyes outward and jumped into the development of Gloria. However, Portugal and Italy had already taken most of the good fruits of Gloria.

And Europe did not know, but the best place in Gloria was already taken by the Empire in the first place. In this situation, if the conquest of Persia failed, the French economy was very likely to collapse.

* * *

While France was anxiously searching for a reliable lifeline due to the Persian problem, Selim appeared as that lifeline.

“Selim is expanding his military? This time, the ground forces?”

“Is he finally trying to eliminate Korkut and Ahmed?”

“Isn’t it too early yet?”

Portugal and Italy, upon receiving the information, shook their heads slightly, but France’s face brightened. The Ottoman navy’s warships were a mix of French, Portuguese, and Italian vessels, but almost all of the ground warfare weapons were French-made.

The Ottomans also had their own arsenal near Constantinople, but it had been reduced to ashes when the gunpowder depot exploded during the last succession battle. The problem was that no one knew who was responsible for that incident. Therefore, the news that Selim was strengthening his ground forces meant that he would be buying a lot of weapons from France.

However, Italy and Portugal, judging that it was still too early, investigated the background of Selim’s decision. The result of that investigation was

“Persia?”

* * *

The Great Iran of Persia had Shia Islam as its state religion. On the other hand, the Ottoman Empire and the surrounding areas were Sunni. Shia and Sunni Muslims called each other heretics and snarled at each other. The Ottoman sultans were devout Sunnis, but they were also quite tolerant of Christians and Orthodox Christians. However, they were harsh and resolute in dealing with Shia Muslims, being so hostile to them.

Against this historical backdrop, the establishment of a Shia state in the Persian region and the conversion of Sunni people to Shia Islam was something that could not be overlooked. In addition to these religious issues, there were also political problems.

Many Shia tribes lived in the eastern regions of Anatolia, which was Ottoman territory. And the Ottomans had to expend considerable effort to suppress the resistance of these Shia tribes.

Selim and his rivals had even waged wars to suppress Shia rebellions during their time as governors. But now, a Shia state had opened right next door? It was certain that the Shia tribes in eastern Anatolia would immediately rise up and try to merge with Iran. Not just people, but territory as well.

Conversely, it was certain that Iran would reach out to the Shia tribes living in Anatolia once it had built up more strength. If eastern Anatolia fell into the hands of the Shia in this way, Selim’s plans would be ruined. The control of the Caspian Sea would be out of the question, and even securing control of the Black Sea would not be easy. If that happened, the dream of controlling the Baku oil fields and monopolizing oil would end as a fleeting dream.

* * *

France, having grasped the situation, persuaded Portugal and Italy.

“If Selim wins, our plan will succeed!”

“Have you forgotten who is behind Persia? Do you think those Three Eastern Nations will stand idly by?”

“Even if only the Empire moves, the victory or defeat is certain! ‘War is logistics,’ have you forgotten the Empire’s logistical capabilities?”

However, France did not back down easily. No, it could not back down.

“The Empire lacks justification to openly intervene. Persia and the Three Eastern Nations have joined hands in oil development, but they have not formed an alliance!”

“That’s true, but…”

As the French representative said, the Three Eastern Nations were only expanding military exchanges and cooperating on oil projects with Persia. They had not formed a mutual defense alliance, because the Three Eastern Nations were well aware of the relationship between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

“They know very well that there is constant fighting between the two, so it is best not to have a mutual defense alliance.”

“That’s right.”

“Of course.”

Thus, they were conducting military exchanges and providing guidance to Persia, but they did not conclude a mutual defense alliance. However, those in the know were well aware that if there were problems with the interests secured by the Three Eastern Nations in Persia, the Three Eastern Nations would intervene immediately.

* * *

While France was arguing for a more active expansion of support for the Ottoman Empire, and Italy and Portugal were arguing for observing the situation further, an envoy from the Empire arrived.

What was delivered to the leaders of each country through the French, Italian, Portuguese, and Ottoman embassies of the Empire was ‘the Empire’s position on the construction of the Suez Canal.’

-The Empire views the construction of a canal in Suez positively.

-To further enhance the value of the canal, the Empire proposes the following.

(Omitted)

-In addition, the Empire recommends expanding the number of investing countries for the smooth construction of the canal and recommends Ming and Japan as investing countries.

The monarchs and leaders of France, Portugal, and Italy, upon confirming the position statement sent by the Empire, all placed their hands on their foreheads without exception.

“The Empire’s bad habit has surfaced again. Piling on the stakes to increase the game.”