African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1461: Chapter 213: East Bo Friendship and Mutual Assistance Treaty (2)

Ahmed said with a worried look: ”Now the treasury of Persia is so poor that it can’t even support mice, and dismantling the original railroad to build a new one will undoubtedly put further strain on Persia’s finances.”

General Cabriel comforted: ”Your Majesty, there is no need to worry, after all, we are considering your country’s safety. If we don’t act, Persia’s accumulation will ultimately be nothing more than bridal clothes for the Russians. They have already seized Azerbaijan, and they will only become more aggressive in the future.”

”Look at which country around Russia hasn’t been invaded by them? History proves that Russia’s greed for other countries’ lands is like a dog’s inability to change its habits, and they have no sense of shame whatsoever.”

”No matter how the Russian Labor Party may try to glorify itself, it can’t change the fact that they are Russians. This inherent flaw in human nature isn’t something that can be altered by a few political slogans.”

”We might seek to gain from Persia, but at least East Africa plays by the rules, whereas the Russian Labor Party only needs to incite uninformed crowds to reap everything from Persia, including your life and death.”

From this perspective, Cabriel is not slandering the Russian Labor Party. In fact, the ideals of the Russian Labor Party are great, but even they can’t achieve the worldwide unity they pursue.”

In a previous era, after Vladimir died, Russia immediately turned into a new version of Tsarist Russia, or rather a strengthened Tsarist Russia, and by the seventies, they dispensed with any pretense, becoming straightforward imperialists.”

Of course, at present, these issues within the Russian Labor Party have not yet surfaced, but regardless of whether Russia continues the expansion policies of the Tsarist Russia era, it’s no longer important. Since Russia’s ideological shift, the ruling classes of other countries inwardly can’t permit the existence of such a monster.”

However, given Russia’s powerful strength, most people can only think about it inwardly unless someone truly has the power to defeat the Russian Labor Party.”

Just like imperialist countries, they dare not confront the current Russia directly but instead support countries around Russia to oppose them.”

Naturally, Ahmed the King was fully aware of what Cabriel said. East Africa might be a chronic poison, but Russia is a direct executioner’s block, and they dare to kill even their own Tsar, let alone himself, a small Persian king.”

Of course, no matter how much Cabriel exaggerates, Ahmed can still confidently say, ”Sir, that may be the case, but Persia is poor!”

Cabriel replied, ”Poverty isn’t the issue. Anyway, Persia has vast land and abundant resources. Your mineral resources are plenty. We can assist you in development, economic growth, and then you’ll have the capability to repay.”

During the Tsarist Russia era, the northern part of Persia, including Tehran and the territory surrounding the Caspian Sea, was within Russia’s sphere of influence.”

Within the former Tsarist Russia sphere of influence, Persia’s mineral resources were richly endowed, especially oil and natural gas, ranking among the world’s top; besides, Persia’s copper, zinc, and chromite mines were highly valuable.”

Among these, East Africa places particular importance on zinc mines; as for copper and chromite, those are East Africa’s advantageous resources, with chromite making East Africa the world’s largest reserve and production nation.”

However, East Africa’s zinc resources aren’t abundant, while Persia’s zinc mines mainly exist in lead-zinc formations, widely distributed from its northwest to southeast.”

In summary, even within Persia’s Russian sphere of influence, the mineral resources are significant, especially the oil and gas resources that East Africa values the most.”

Of course, now there’s no longer the concept of a Russian sphere of influence within Persia’s territory, but rather East Africa’s sphere of influence.”

Cabriel persuasively advised: ”I’ll tell you frankly, our East African Government supports the Qajar Royal Family ruling over Persia, and Your Majesty, as the representative of the Qajar Royal Family, you must be well aware that the Qajar Royal Family faces challenges in Persia. Only by cooperating with us in East Africa can the Qajar Royal Family smoothly resolve these issues, otherwise, not only Russia, but even Persia’s own citizens, incited by others, might send you down a miserable path.”

The Qajar Royal Family originates from Turkic tribes, inherently having some separation from Persia’s native populace, and encounters the historically worst periods of Persia, precisely when European colonizers rose, coupled with backward economic foundations. The Qajar Royal Family’s rule in Persia was met with widespread public anger.”

In a previous era, in 1925 the Qajar Royal Family was overthrown, so without East African intervention, the fate of the Qajar Royal Family would likely be no better than in the previous era.”

Cabriel’s words resolved Ahmed’s decision to collaborate with East Africa. After all, Persia’s interests aren’t equivalent to the interests of the royal family, sacrificing Persia’s interests for the royal family’s interests wouldn’t matter.”

Ahmed gritted his teeth: ”In that case, our Qajar Royal Family can support your country’s interests in Persia, but your country should also demonstrate sincerity in supporting the royal family.”

Cabriel beat his chest: ”Of course, the reason the Empire dispatched me to Persia has this consideration, and my subsequent proposals are related to ensuring the safety of the Persian royal family.”

”Regarding our East African and Persian collaboration, aside from railroad construction, the more important aspect is helping your Persian Royal Family to form a military force entirely loyal to the royal family.”

”Besides, our East Africa also plans to station a certain number of troops in Tehran, Machshahr, and other regions, and lease Persian northern ports as an economic cooperation zone between the two countries.”