Chapter 1047: From Persia to Central Asia
"Yes, Your Highness."
Talleyrand bowed in acknowledgment, though a flicker of hesitation crossed his face. "But, Your Highness... what if the British mishandle the situation and the Russian army actually pushes through the Khyber Pass?"
His concern was not unfounded.
According to the strategy the Crown Prince had just outlined, France would throw its weight behind Russia's expansion into the Middle East.
At the moment, Afghanistan was in a state of absolute chaos. King Timur had died without naming a clear successor, and his twenty-odd sons were currently embroiled in a bloody civil war, leaving the nation's strength utterly depleted.
If Russia could secure control over the regions east of the Caspian Sea and force Persia into submission, seizing Afghanistan would be a simple task. From there, the gates to the Khyber Pass would stand wide open.
The Khyber Pass was the only viable overland route from the Middle East into the Indian Peninsula.
Given the combat capabilities of the various Indian princely states, there was no way they could withstand a tidal wave of Russian infantry. Once Russia secured the wealthy colonies of South Asia, it would rapidly transform into a terrifying geopolitical monster, plunging the entire European continent into turmoil.
Joseph chuckled and shook his head. "You needn't worry. The Russians will never control Afghanistan."
Satisfied, he said no more and took his leave with a polite bow.
Joseph watched his retreating figure and murmured to himself, 'The "Graveyard of Empires" isn't just an empty title.'
Nicknames were rarely unearned, and Afghanistan's reputation as the "Graveyard of Empires" had been forged through centuries of bloody, consistent results.
Setting aside the Russian Empire of the current era, even the zenith of the red empire in the twentieth century—which flooded Afghanistan's barren mountains and wild ridges with a sea of T-72 tanks and Mi-24 Hind gunships—eventually had to retreat in bitter defeat.
Even Britain, after defeating Napoleon, would one day attempt to control this "Hub of Eurasia" with high spirits. Despite Afghanistan being locked in a fierce civil war at the time, the British expeditionary forces would still be forced into a humiliating retreat, leaving behind more than twenty thousand corpses.
The place was a hellish landscape of jagged mountains and extreme poverty. It was nearly impossible to live off the land, meaning any invader faced a logistical nightmare. Joseph wasn't worried in the slightest.
At the royal banquet that evening, Bezborodko navigated the social waters with practiced diplomatic grace, entertaining Queen Mary and the gathered nobility. He eventually leaned toward Talleyrand, speaking in a casual, offhand manner.
"Archbishop, it seems the Crown Prince takes a keen interest in the affairs of the Middle East."
Talleyrand set down his silverware and dabbed the corners of his mouth with a silk napkin. "In truth," he whispered, "His Highness is interested in the Tsar's 'East Caspian' strategy."
The so-called "East Caspian" region encompassed the lands that would later become Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Currently, the area was dominated by the Sultanates of Khiva and Bukhara. Russia had been infiltrating the region for some time and had already established several small-scale fortifications there.
Bezborodko smiled thinly. "The Crown Prince did not seem to mention those lands."
"That is because your nation has not yet fulfilled the conditions necessary for expansion there."
"Which would be?"
"Occupying Khiva would inevitably threaten the southern Caspian plains of Persia," Talleyrand explained. "That region produces nearly half of Persia's grain. Consequently, His Highness has been waiting for you to decisively defeat the Persians."
Bezborodko pondered this, a look of confusion crossing his features. "What is it about Khiva that attracts the Prince's attention?"
"The cotton, of course..."
Talleyrand immediately offered the justification Joseph had prepared for him, though he quickly feigned a look of regret. "Oh, I shouldn't have mentioned that. According to the plan, this matter was supposed to be raised only after Persia becomes your vassal."
Bezborodko's brow furrowed slightly. "People do grow cotton in Khiva, but the yield hardly seems worth such focused attention."
Talleyrand leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "Fine, I shall be blunt. Our agents have surveyed the area. There are vast tracts of land perfectly suited for cotton cultivation that remain entirely undeveloped. Our agricultural experts believe that if industrial farming is implemented, the output could rival that of the United States."
Talleyrand himself had no idea about the actual state of cotton farming in Central Asia, but since the Crown Prince had said it, he was certain it was true.
And it was true. Joseph knew perfectly well that from the mid-nineteenth century onward, Central Asia would become one of the world's primary cotton-producing hubs.
The soil and climate were ideal for the crop. In another timeline, it would eventually supply seventy percent of the Soviet Union's cotton needs, accounting for more than twenty percent of global production.
At this moment, because the rulers of Khiva and Bukhara placed little importance on the crop, the region's potential remained a secret to the world.
Historically, once Russia occupied Central Asia, they immediately began forcing local farmers to pivot entirely to cotton production.
By the mid-nineteenth century, even the British would look upon these yields with envy. Part of the reason for the British invasion of Afghanistan was an attempt to extend their reach toward the cotton fields of Central Asia.
Joseph was confident that once Bezborodko returned home, Russia would immediately dispatch surveyors to the eastern shores of the Caspian to verify the land's suitability. Their findings would, naturally, confirm everything.
Driven by such immense potential profit, Catherine II would undoubtedly accelerate Russia's southward expansion.
Textiles were the most traded commodity of the era. Nearly half of the United States' national revenue was supported by cotton exports. With Russia's geographical proximity to Europe, their transport costs would be significantly lower than America's, meaning their profit margins would be even higher.
It was a transparent strategy—an open scheme that Russia simply could not resist.
In reality, Russia stood to gain even more from a total victory over Persia.
They could seize ports on the Persian Gulf and open direct trade routes to the Far East—the most lucrative trade route for any European power. Furthermore, they could push into Afghanistan and eye the vast riches of the Indian Peninsula from the Khyber Pass.
However, both of those paths would lead to a direct and immediate conflict with Britain. Therefore, Joseph deliberately avoided mentioning them, focusing instead on the regions east of the Caspian, which had little to do with British interests for the time being.
He trusted that Catherine II was clever enough to realize those other benefits on her own eventually.
"The Crown Prince hopes to secure preferential rights to purchase cotton from your nation," Talleyrand continued.
"As you know, we are in fierce competition with the British across many industries. In the textile sector, the British have always held a slight advantage. The primary reason for this is their control over North American cotton through the bribery of the American government. And, of course, they have the Indian supply."
"We must secure a stable supply of cotton to ensure our textile mills aren't crushed by the British. At present, the only viable source we can envision is the production zone east of the Caspian."
The logic was sound and flawless. Bezborodko immediately raised his wine glass in a toast.
"I shall report this to Her Imperial Majesty as soon as possible. I will personally recommend that France be granted priority purchasing rights for this cotton."
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