In the annex of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Unjong-ga, working-level officials from the Empire, Ming, and Japan gathered to analyze the situation and prepare for future operations.

“First, let us discuss the powers currently dominating Persia.”

At the Imperial official’s prompt, the officials from Ming and Japan chimed in, eager to show their knowledge.

“As far as our Ming is aware, a ruler from a sect called the Safaviyya currently holds hegemony.”

“Japan is also aware of this.”

“Correct. Then, how much do you know about this Safaviyya?”

“……”

At the subsequent question from the Imperial official, the Ming and Japanese officials found themselves unable to answer.

‘Somehow, we’ve seized the initiative right from the start? Not bad.’

Having effortlessly taken control of the conversation, the Imperial official lightly cleared his throat and continued.

“First, let us learn about this sect called the Safaviyya, and then discuss the ruler of this sect who has seized hegemony in Persia. To begin with this religious group, the Safaviyya…”

• It began as a Sufi order (Islamic mysticism). Later, it transformed into a branch of Shia Islam and settled in Ardabil.
• Subsequently, they were expelled from Ardabil by the Kara Koyunlu (Black Sheep) dynasty. At the time, Sheikh Junayd sought asylum with the Aq Qoyunlu (White Sheep) dynasty.
• Even after this, they attempted to establish their own power base but faced continuous suppression, reaching a state of near disintegration.
• Ismail, the current ruler, was seven years old at the time.
• Ismail, who had been in hiding in Ardabil biding his time, organized the Qizilbash and, taking advantage of the chaotic times in the Persian region, rose up again. He succeeded in seizing power.

Hearing the explanation up to this point, the officials from Japan and Ming wore somewhat peculiar expressions.

“This sounds very familiar, doesn’t it?”

“A founding monarch rising through chaotic times… It’s all too familiar.”

“The Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, the Seven Warring States, the Chu-Han Contention.”

“If we consider the Shogunate as a founding too…”

Observing the reactions of the Ming and Japanese officials, the Imperial officials muttered inwardly.

‘A founding in a reign of peace is treason!’

“Ahem! Khm!“

Drawing attention with a light cough, the Imperial official continued.

“Ismail, the current ruler, has acquired the title ‘Shahanshah’ (King of Kings). And the country he currently rules is steadily expanding its territory. This is the situation so far. What comes next is our business.”

At the Imperial official’s meaningful words, the eyes of the Ming and Japanese officials began to sparkle.

“Indeed! The truly important work begins after the founding!”

“Absolutely!”

The Ming and Japanese officials nodded, making meaningful remarks.

‘A founding monarch appears to possess powerful authority, but in some ways, they wield the weakest power!’ ‘The enemies of a founding monarch are numerous! Internally, there are successors vying for the throne and meritorious retainers demanding their share; externally, there are surviving subjects of the previous dynasty who refuse to give up on restoration, and the populace who are wary of the new founding monarch!’

“Hmm… The outline is gradually becoming clear. Who is the greatest contributor to the current Shahanshah?”

At the question from a Ming official who had grasped the situation, the Imperial official answered immediately.

“The Qizilbash.”

“Qizilbash?”

“Let us discuss this while looking at the Qizilbash section in the report already provided.”

The information the Empire had gathered on the Qizilbash was as follows:

• A Shia mystic group.
• Of Turkic lineage.
• Named Qizilbash (Red Heads) due to the red headgear they wear.
• They boast incredibly strong solidarity and combat capability.
• Cavalry is their main branch of arms.
• They still favor bows over gunpowder weapons like cannons and muskets.

“…To elaborate on this part, gunpowder weapons have not yet spread widely in Persia and the surrounding regions. The biggest problem is the difficulty in obtaining gunpowder, followed by the lack of funds to easily acquire gunpowder weapons. As a result, most of the muskets they possess are still matchlocks. Therefore, they favor the bow as a long-range, rapid-fire weapon.”

At the Imperial official’s explanation, the Ming officials shook their heads lightly and muttered.

“The bows of the Turks have been a headache since ancient times…”

“It wasn’t the bows that were the headache, but the Turks themselves.”

After mentioning the Turks who had plagued the Central Plains since ancient times, the Ming officials refocused on the main topic.

“Strong solidarity and excellent combat power… The issue would be loyalty, I presume?”

At the Ming officials’ question, the Imperial officials answered immediately.

“Loyalty to the monarch is generally not an issue. However, the monarch is ill at ease due to a different problem.”

“A different problem?”

“The sectarian issue.”

“The monarch is Shia and they are Shia, so there shouldn’t be a problem?”

“The problem is that the majority of the populace is Sunni.”

“Aha!”

While the Ming officials immediately understood, the Japanese officials wore bewildered expressions.

“What is the problem with sects?”

Seeing the Japanese officials’ expressions of genuine ignorance regarding the issue, the Ming and Imperial officials muttered inwardly.

‘Ah, Japan is still immature in its ability to view outside affairs.’

“Ahem! Khm!“

Clearing his throat, the Imperial official explained the situation in more detail.

“After the death of the founder of Islam, the Sunnis and Shias split over who should be the successor. And they have been enemies for nearly a thousand years. Furthermore, those Qizilbash are people who openly go around shouting, ‘All Sunnis must be killed.’ We hear that even now, the Qizilbash are roaming here and there in Persia, committing massacres.”

Hearing the Imperial official’s explanation, the Japanese officials finally showed understanding.

“The ruler of Persia must be having a headache.”

Just as the first King of Japan had done, a newly founding monarch would thoroughly root out his enemies to the point where words like “cruel” came naturally. However, they generally left the ordinary people without power alone. This was because the people were necessary to run the state. Furthermore, people who turned their backs were a more terrifying enemy than anyone else.

“Yet they go around committing massacres just because the sect is different? That ruler named Ismail must be troubled indeed.”

Having grasped the situation, the Japanese officials looked back at the Imperial and Ming officials.

“From Ismail’s perspective, provided his safety and power were guaranteed, he would want to purge the Qizilbash first, wouldn’t he? But since the current situation makes that difficult, he leaves them be… So, are you suggesting we replace the Qizilbash?”

At the Japanese official’s question, the Ming official answered first.

“Replacing the Qizilbash is a poor strategy. We could be discarded after use just like the Qizilbash.”

Following the Ming official, the Imperial official continued.

“The best course of action is to create an entity for Ismail that can fill the void left by the Qizilbash.”

“Fill the void… Are you suggesting we create an army?”

“It will be Ismail’s army, and also our army.”

At the Imperial official’s words, the Japanese official expressed doubt.

“‘Ismail’s army’ I understand, but I do not understand ‘our army.'”

At the Japanese official’s point, the Imperial official answered immediately.

“If it is armed with weapons we made, composed of soldiers we trained, and commanded by officers educated by us, could it not be called ‘our army’? Unless relations between us and Persia completely sour, Ismail’s army will become our army and protect our interests.”

Hearing the Imperial official’s answer, the Ming and Japanese officials immediately understood what the Empire was thinking.

‘An army is the most powerful means to protect power, but it is also the most powerful political weapon to threaten power. If things go as the Empire thinks, Ismail will have no choice but to move with us! Furthermore, Ismail’s army will most actively protect our interests! The truly terrifying part is making the opponent accept this even while knowing it!’

The Ming and Japanese officials, feeling a chill run down their spines at the Empire’s meticulousness, suddenly froze.

‘Then what about us?’ ‘There is no way an Empire with that level of calculation joined hands with us due to a lack of ability! Then? Then!’ ‘We, too, are in the same position as Ismail!’

The Empire could not be unaware that the Ming and Japanese officials would reach this conclusion upon hearing the plan. Nevertheless, they explained it because the Empire’s proposal was an ‘irresistible, attractive offer.’ In other words, as long as Ming and Japan held the hand extended by the Empire, they could share in significant profits.

As long as they held hands with the Empire.

• The moment you let go, the sharing of profits ends. Nay, it is the beginning of conflict.
• Are you confident you can win against the Empire?
• Will you head towards a period of hardship that might lead to catastrophe, or will you head towards a prosperous period, even if you have to walk on eggshells a bit? The choice is yours.

Both Ming, which had already suffered two fatal defeats, and Japan, which had clearly witnessed the Empire’s strength from right next door, had only one choice. In a conference room in Unjong-ga, not on a battlefield, Ming and Japan had no choice but to wave the white flag to the Empire.

Seeing the ever-changing expressions of the Ming and Japanese officials, the Imperial officials smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

‘We broke them.’ ‘We broke them.’

It was an undertaking where three countries moved together. Only by clearly establishing the hierarchy from the very beginning would future tasks proceed smoothly. Therefore, before initiating the project, the Imperial working-level staff had conducted thorough rehearsals. The Minister and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister took on the roles of Imperial officials, while the Imperial working-level staff played the roles of Ming and Japanese officials in these rehearsals.

The staff playing Ming and Japan engaged in fierce debates against the Minister, Vice-Minister, and Prime Minister. In most cases during these rehearsals, the staff were refuted. However, there were a few instances of the opposite, and each time, the staff and the high officials put their heads together to devise countermeasures.

And thus, they had broken the spirits of the Ming and Japanese right from the start.

***

Having successfully dampened the spirits of Ming and Japan from the outset, the Empire began to formulate plans smoothly, according to its own design.

“Then, let us decide that the troops to be deployed to Persia will center on Ming and Japan, with the Empire responsible for logistics and artillery.”

At the Imperial official’s words, the Ming and Japanese officials nodded. The characteristics of the three nations’ armies at this time were as follows:

Ming: Overflowing with people? 

Japan: People are all we have. 

Empire: Cannons, Cannons, Cannons! Or, we have everything except people.

Ming, capable of massive troop mobilization thanks to its overflowing population, was relatively lacking in heavy weaponry.

• It is cheaper to mobilize more soldiers than to possess large quantities of money-guzzling heavy weapons.

This was Ming’s decision.

On the other hand, Japan, still lacking in many areas, had no choice but to substitute manpower for its deficiencies. The Empire was a country that had started with cannons and ended with cannons since ancient times, and thanks to this characteristic, it possessed a supply capability more robust than anyone else.