Chapter 1054: Legend of South Africa
Chapter 1054: Legend of South Africa
The Russian envoy was obviously prepared and immediately smiled:
"His Majesty the Tsar believes that a hero like you, moreover a wise man, deserves to ascend to the khanate."
Murad had the deepest sting in his heart pulled, his brows furrowed instantly, and he said bluntly:
"I do not need the Tsar to invest me."
Murad had once been the vizier of the Astrakhan dynasty of Bukhara, and after marrying the princess of Khan Abu al-Ghazi, he launched a coup and seized power.
However, because his accession was illegitimate, he could not call himself khan in the face of unanimous opposition from the nation's nobility, and could only become the "emir," which roughly means commander or governor.
Yet Murad also looked down on the khan appointed by the Russian Tsar.
Just like Nurali Khan of the Lesser Jade Kazakhs, who had accepted the Tsar's investiture but was called a "Russian slave" by the Tore inside the country. Ten years ago, Srym Datov of the Lesser Jade raised the banner of expelling the Russians and rebelled, which was actually aimed at overthrowing Nurali Khan.
A light flashed in Murad's eyes. Abu al-Ghazi was the khan of Khiva and also possessed the blood of the Golden Family. If, as the Russian envoy said, he could become Abu al-Ghazi's adopted son, then within Bukhara no one would be able to question his right to call himself khan!
However, he quickly regained his composure and said calmly:
"How can you guarantee he will listen to you?"
Count Kozlovskiy said confidently:
"You should know that Abu al-Ghazi Khan wishes to eradicate the Kongger tribe, and our people have already been in contact with him. When our coalition forces enter Khiva city, he will announce that you are his descendant."
The Kongger tribe is the great nobility of Khiva, controlling all important offices and the army, while Abu al-Ghazi Khan has long been a puppet, bearing a grudge against them.
At the same time, Murad's coup also alarmed Abu al-Ghazi Khan, who feared that the Kongger tribe might follow his example and depose him.
Thus, if he could use Russian help to regain his authority, he would even be willing to make Khiva a Russian protectorate, let alone accepting Murad as an adopted son—a trivial matter.
Murad remained doubtful: "Your forces are tied down by Srym Datov of the Kazakhs; you surely cannot spare troops to march south to Khiva. With only your foothold on the Caspian coast, you hardly count as a coalition."
"Srym Datov's rebellion will end within six months." The Russian envoy said, "General Nikolai Bakhov has already led twenty thousand troops away from Orenburg, heading for the Kazakhs."
Murad was about to say "That also cannot defeat Datov within half a year," when he heard the Russians continue: "Furthermore, His Majesty the Tsar has decided to recognize the status of the Middle Jade, in exchange for their ceasing support for Datov's rebels."
In this era, the Kazakhs from west to east are divided into the Lesser Jade, Middle Jade, and Greater Jade. Theoretically all belong to the Kazakhs, but in practice they are three separate nations, each with its own khan.
Previously, in order to control Kazakh territory, Russia refused to recognize any of their khans unless they accepted Russian investiture.
This led to mutual support among the three Jades, especially between the Middle Jade, which borders the Lesser Jade.
Murad fell into silence. Srym Datov and his own Nurali Khan are opposed, so he must rely on Middle Jade's support to maintain his army. Once the Middle Jade turns to Russia, Datov may not even last three months.
Soon he confirmed that the likelihood of success in this cooperation with Russia was very high.
He felt excited, yet also surprised that the Russians, who usually solve problems with their fists, could devise such a meticulous plan.
A few days later, Count Kozlovskiy strode out of the Ark Palace with his head held high.
After mounting his carriage, he unconsciously squeezed the Franco-Bukharan treaty in his pocket and thought: 'Still, the French have more ideas! The empire has operated on the eastern Caspian shore for years without breaking through, yet in these few short days it has made tremendous progress.'
Yes, this series of diplomatic maneuvers by him were planned by Archbishop Talleyrand, who had come to Saint Petersburg earlier.
Once Russia begins planting cotton in Khiva and Bukhara, it will inevitably increase its investment in conquering Iran. Let's see whether the British can still sit still.
...
South Africa.
More than 500 kilometers east of Cape Port, on the north bank of the Salt River.
Six or seven Xhosa people with animal-skin skirts around their waists, faces painted with colorful geometric patterns, and shiny dark skin, carried a stretcher made of branches and rushed to the outside of the fenced yard.
A group of black men armed with spears stopped them, switched to the local two dialects, asked a few questions, and carefully examined the unconscious middle-aged woman on the stretcher.
The leading "guard" gestured for the two stretcher-bearers to take her inside, while the others waited outside.
The Xhosa did not dare to defy, so the two strongest tribesmen and the patient headed for the European-style wooden house in the middle of the courtyard.
Upon entering the house, they saw a room of about 200 square meters already crowded with people, and at times spear-wielding guards shouted to maintain order.
After a while, a young black woman in a white nurse's uniform came over, ascertained the situation, gave them a small wooden plaque, and then brought the patient to the eastern side of a huge grass shed holding about twenty wooden beds.
After waiting another ten or so minutes, a French doctor wearing a mask and a white coat arrived at the patient's bedside and asked:
"What's wrong with her?"
With the help of the black interpreter beside him, the doctor quickly understood the situation.
The patient lying on the bed was a priest of the Okwu tribe, suffering severe diarrhea for three days and now nearly unconscious.
The doctor examined the patient's eyes and mouth, then turned to his assistant and asked: "Are there any ongoing cholera drug trials?"
"Not for now, Doctor Darès."
"Give her clean water. And keep monitoring her."
The so-called "clean water" refers to water that has been boiled and then sealed for storage as drinking water.
France's "drug testing team," after arriving in South Africa, managed to save the lives of two or three hundred Xhosa people with just this measure.
Yes, as required by the Crown Prince, while conducting drug trials they also provided simple medical services to the locals and even trained some nimble natives to work as assistants or nurses.
The tribesman of the priest grabbed the interpreter and exclaimed excitedly.
The interpreter hurriedly told the doctor: "Doctor Darès, Mr. Karulu says that if you can cure the priest, his tribe is willing to send ten warriors to fight for the Boers for three months, bringing their own weapons and food."
Doctor Darès nodded, gestured to his assistant, and said: "Immediately inject this woman with physiological saline and glucose. Two BDP tablets per day."
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