“We’ve been had, but we can’t just sit still!”

Acknowledging the results cleanly, the European powers moved on immediately.

“First, we must grasp the situation in Persia with certainty!”

According to the leaders’ decisions, many spies infiltrated Persia again. And the summary of the reports they sent was as follows:

• The name of the newly founded country in the Persian region is ‘Great Iran’.
• Currently, it has firmly seized the Mesopotamian region and the Baku region.
• Shia Islam is the state religion. It is steadily converting Sunni subjects to Shia.
• Initially, there was severe backlash due to the Qizilbash’s harsh conversion methods. However, after the great purge of the Qizilbash, it shifted to moderate conversion while simultaneously starting to offer various interests. As a result, the conversion of subjects is proceeding very smoothly.
• The main force behind the great purge of the Qizilbash was the armies of the Three Eastern Nations.
• After the purge, the Three Eastern Nations are providing immense help in arming and training the Great Iran army.
• Great Iran and the Three Eastern Nations have established a joint venture company to extract oil. The name of the company is ‘Pe-Dae-Mi-Ni Oil’.
• The shareholding relationship has not yet been grasped.

What the politicians and bureaucrats of the European powers focused on while checking the reports sent by spies was the name of the joint venture company.

“‘Pe-Dae-Mi-Ni’? What does this mean?”

According to the knowledge related to the East possessed by European powers, every name they attached to specific facilities, objects, etc., had a special meaning.

“No, regardless of East or West, every name has a special meaning. That’s why we agonize over naming issues.”

Therefore, they focused on figuring out the meaning of the name ‘Pe-Dae-Mi-Ni.’

“What does this mean? It’s not Arabic, Persian, Latin, Imperial, Cathayan, or Cipangu?”

Later, when time passed and the officials and politicians of the powers learned the meaning of the name, they all wore expressions of despondency.

The meaning of the name ‘Pe-Dae-Mi-Ni’ was simple. It was a combination of ‘Pe’ from Persia, ‘Dae’ from Daehan Yeonbang Jeguk (Great Han Federal Empire), ‘Mi’ from Ming (Ming), and ‘Ni’ from Nippon (Japan).

“What kind of insincere… Who named this!”

When the officials and politicians of the European powers, having learned the circumstances, were feeling despondent like this, Hyang picked his ear and grumbled.

“Ah… Why is my ear so itchy? Is someone cursing me?”

***

“Hmm… Then it means the Persian 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 laying the foundation.”

Checking the information the spies brought back risking their lives, the leaders and bureaucrats of the European powers sighed.

“Phew… Things have become difficult.”

“Still, it is hard to give up.”

“I agree. If we treat the funds invested so far as a loss, it will lead to results so terrible I don’t even want to think about the next step.”

“But it is also difficult to use force. The justification is the problem, the justification.”

The powers, especially France, Italy, and Portugal, agonized repeatedly over a solution. Enormous funds had already been invested to win the Ottoman succession war. After fierce competition, they became the victors, and they were just preparing to reap the fruits.

But the moment they finished preparations and tried to move, other bastards snatched those fruits away. It was natural that this could not be tolerated, but the problem was the bastards who snatched the fruits first.

The Three Eastern Nations.

Even excluding Japan, the Empire and Ming were not opponents to be trifled with. Just Ming alone possessed a larger population, wider territory, and stronger economic power than France, Italy, and Portugal combined—no, than all of Western Europe combined. They were opponents who would certainly beat them up if they picked a fight recklessly.

The Empire? Talking about the Empire was just a waste of breath.

“But we cannot let go.”

“That is true…”

“That is true, but…”

Seeing the lukewarm reactions of the Italian and Portuguese representatives, the French representative felt stifled.

***

The three countries had spent enormous funds equally. Since the initial investment in Selim, the three countries had invested with almost equal shares. However, the burden was different for each of the three countries. No, compared to Italy and Portugal, the pressure France received was much stronger.

It was because of the difference in economic power. In terms of territory and population alone, France overwhelmed the other two countries. However, in terms of economic scale alone, the three countries were similar. In other words, Portugal and Italy, with smaller territories and populations, possessed stronger economic power; put differently, they were richer.

The reason this was possible was because of Gloria and the Empire. Italy and Portugal, having joined hands with the Empire early on, were able to obtain warships of excellent performance—outdated by Empire standards but still decent—from the Empire, maps with charted routes to Gloria, and ports where they could rest and resupply in between.

Portugal and Italy, having already secured significant economic power in Africa and the Mediterranean, 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 afterward, by suppressing aristocratic forces and supporting commoner forces—specifically urban merchants and industrialists—it grew its economy. However, the French domestic market alone had limitations, and trade with other powers was almost blocked by protectionism.

Eventually, France also had to advance into Africa. However, Africa was already preempted by Spain and Portugal. While feeling the sorrow of a latecomer, rumors about the new continent ‘Terra’ in the south were heard.

“We cannot fall behind this time!”

With the efforts of explorers, shipowners, and merchants backed by the French government, France was able to secure significant colonies in Terra and secure several nearby islands. However, this alone was still insufficient, and France had no choice but to turn its eyes to the surroundings.

And the result was failure in Italy and success in the Alsace and Lorraine regions. Securing Alsace and Lorraine in an era where steam engines were becoming common was a great blessing for France. Having secured stable sources of coal and iron, France turned its eyes outward once again and jumped into the development of Gloria. However, most of the good fruits of Gloria had already been taken by Portugal and Italy first.

And although Europe did not know, the best places in Gloria had been taken by the Empire first. In this situation, if the strategy for Persia failed, there was a very high possibility that the French economy would collapse.

***

While France was anxious about the Persian issue and looking for a sturdy rope, Selim appeared as that rope.

“Selim is expanding armaments? Ground forces this time?”

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

“It seems premature yet?”

Portugal and Italy, receiving the information, shook their heads slightly, but France’s face brightened. While the Ottoman Navy’s warships were a mix of French, Portuguese, and Italian makes, ground warfare weapons were almost entirely French-made.

There was an independent arsenal near Konstantiniyye in the Ottoman Empire as well, but during the last succession war, the gunpowder magazine exploded, turning it into ashes. The problem was that no one knew whose doing it was. Therefore, Selim strengthening ground forces meant he would buy a lot of weapons from France.

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

“Persia?”

***

Great Iran in Persia had Shia Islam as its state religion. On the other hand, the Ottoman Empire and nearby regions were Sunni. Shia and Sunni growled at each other, calling each other heretics. Ottoman Sultans were devout Sunnis, but they showed considerable tolerance towards Christians or Orthodox believers. However, they were hostile enough to deal harshly and resolutely with Shias.

Against this historical background, the establishment of a Shia state in the Persian region and the conversion of Sunni subjects to Shia could not be overlooked. Besides this religious background, there were also political problems.

Many Shia tribes lived in the eastern region of Anatolia, Ottoman territory. And to suppress the backlash of these Shia tribes, the Ottoman Empire had to pour in considerable effort.

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

Conversely, it was certain that Iran would also reach out to the Shia tribes residing in Anatolia once it built up more power. If eastern Anatolia fell into Shia hands like this, Selim’s plan would turn into bubbles. Seizing the Caspian Sea would become a lost cause, and even seizing control of the Black Sea would not be easy. If that happened, the dream of seizing the Baku oil fields and monopolizing oil would end as a daydream.

***

Grasping the situation, France 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 sit still?”

“Even if not the entire Three Eastern Nations, if just the Empire moves, victory or defeat is certain! ‘War is supply,’ have you forgotten the Empire’s supply capability?”

However, France did not back down easily. No, they couldn’t back down.

“The justification is insufficient for the Empire to intervene openly. Persia and the Three Eastern Nations joined hands in oil development, but they didn’t form an alliance, did they?”

“That is true, but…”

As the French representative said, the Three Eastern Nations were only expanding military exchanges and joint oil ventures with Persia. They did not form a mutual defense treaty, because the Three Eastern Nations also knew the relationship between Shia and Sunni well.

“Knowing well that fights between the two never end, not making a mutual defense treaty is the best policy.”

“Correct.”

“Naturally.”

Thus, while they conducted military exchanges and guidance with Persia, they did not sign a mutual defense treaty. However, everyone who should know knew. If a problem arose with the interests secured by the Three Eastern Nations in Persia, the Three Eastern Nations would intervene immediately.

***

While France, advocating active expansion of support for the Ottomans, and Italy and Portugal, advocating observing the situation a bit more, were arguing, an envoy came from the Empire.

What was delivered to the leaders of each country through the Empire’s embassies in France, Italy, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire was ‘The Empire’s Stance on the Construction of the Suez Canal.’

• The Empire judges the construction of a canal in Suez positively.
• To increase the value of the canal further, the Empire proposes the following.
• (Omitted)
• Also, the Empire recommends the expansion of investing countries for smooth canal construction, and recommends Ming and Japan as investing countries.
• (Omitted)

Checking the statement sent by the Empire, the monarchs and leaders of France, Portugal, and Italy, without exception, placed hands on their foreheads.

“The Empire’s bad habit has popped out again. Raising the stakes by piling on chips.”