Chapter 892: Nashadier's Way Out

When the news of Mashhad's fall arrived, Nadir Shah fell into despair.

Lost?

His lair was lost?

Just a moment ago, he was still secretly rejoicing that the chaos in the Ottoman Empire could allow him to achieve more victories.

At this moment, his whole body was icy cold, and despair washed over him.

His first thought was this.

Where should he go from here?

His army was now in a very awkward position, caught between the borders of the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid Dynasty. The cities he had fought to take back some time ago, relying on his own strength, had long since been taken over one by one by those retainers of Suleiman. In other words, Nashadier had now become an isolated force.

Do you expect those Shia fellows to provide you with supplies at a time like this?

A conspiracy!

What is an isolated force?

Website of first publication:

It means having no logistical support, no reinforcements, and no supply lines.

Where should he go now?

Forward, to the Ottoman Empire? But he knew that although the Ottoman Empire was mired in internal strife, once they recovered, his meager forces would not be enough to withstand them.

This is a conspiracy!

Nashadier realized this now and could not help but tremble all over.

And Mashhad had already fallen into the hands of the Longyan.

For a moment, Nashadier felt dizzy and overwhelmed.

Go back?

But where should he go if he went back? Tabriz? Don't joke; that fellow Suleiman would never give him the chance to come over, and might even shoot him in the back.

"My Lord!"

A group of subordinate generals spoke up one after another.

"General!"

"My Lord!"

The most important thing now is supplies! Everyone knows that before the three armies move, provisions must come first. And at this moment, his supply line was just cut off like this. With over a hundred thousand troops, what to eat and what to drink—this was the most urgent matter. When he was guarding Mashhad, the Shia would naturally support him without hesitation, but what about now?

As a leader of the Sunni, Nadir Shah knew that he was now almost at the end of his road.

Nashadier took a deep breath, struggling to calm his emotions.

Supplies!

He could not do it.

No matter what, the common people are innocent.

But let these hundred thousand brothers become a roving army that slaughters the people?

No.

It was on the third day.

A letter was delivered by someone.

Need to think of a Method.

Need to think of a Method.

But he still held back.

If it were just to show off the posture of a victor, in these chaotic times, sending a letter over was truly unnecessary.

This letter came from the East India of the Longyan.

When Nashadier received the letter, he was so angry he almost tore it to shreds.

Ling Chen pointed out a bright path for him in the letter.

Head south.

He opened the letter.

The content was very simple.

The East India Company would provide Nashadier with sufficient supplies and help on the sea.

"This"

From Ankara, where he was currently located, head south all the way, pass through Konya, take the sea route, and continue south.

Port Said.

Good heavens.

This entire route down was all territory of the Ottoman Empire!

Nashadier was completely stunned.

What exactly does the East India Company want to do?

Soon, Nashadier discovered that for him at this moment, this path was indeed the safest.

First, the internal strife in the Ottoman Empire had not yet subsided, and the pain of the Istanbul Tragedy would likely continue for some time. Precisely because the Ottoman Empire was vast, these territories were even harder to control. And Ankara, where he was currently located, was originally a small city of the Ottoman Empire; he had seized it during the chaos when the Sipahi Cavalry of Ankara went to reinforce Istanbul.

The vastness of the Ottoman Empire goes without saying. At this time, the entire Egypt region was also under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

Of course.

At this moment.

Almost all of the Ottoman military forces were concentrated near Istanbul, as they were preparing to support Hamid to become the new Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Konya, the same is true.

These few small cities themselves did not have much military strength, perhaps only thirty or fifty thousand, and after the Sipahi Cavalry went to reinforce them, they were simply no match for Nashadier's army of one hundred and fifty thousand.

It seemed that it was truly possible to reach Konya safely.

It is just that

Under these circumstances, Nashadier heading south would face almost no significant obstacles.

Relying on his current grain and supplies, plus what he could seize along the way.

Heading south

Heading south

Is this East India Company trustworthy?

But it seemed this "company" had indeed never had any record of severely damaged reputation.

Impossible.

Those Shia fellows had even begun preparing to encircle and annihilate him, or starve them to death.

This was almost the only light and choice for Nashadier in his predicament.

Return to Tabriz.

Of course.

He understood this as well.

More importantly

Now that he was heading south, the distance was even shorter than returning to Tabriz.

Nashadier's hair turned white overnight.

The next day.

Once he decided to head south, he would truly and completely sever ties with the Safavid Dynasty.

Furthermore, this was equivalent to surrendering to the East India Company.

Target: Konya.

He decided to take his hundred-plus thousand brothers and gamble.

A military order was issued.

Head south.

The corpses in Istanbul were processed for a full ten days.

With the support of the fanatical Sipahi Cavalry and the populace, Hamid finally ascended to the position of Sultan as he had wished.

Gamble on their future, their destiny.

Next came the beginning of Hamid's reforms.

Recovering the old mountains and rivers.

By this time, nearly a million Sipahi Cavalry had arrived from all parts of the country to reinforce.

Hamid first made a decision: the Sipahi Cavalry from various cities were to return to their fiefs immediately to await investiture. Because during the recent period of civil strife, the Ottoman Empire had already lost much land. The Sipahi naturally had no objections.

The era of the Koprulu Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire was also officially declared over.

The powerful Ottoman Empire, which once spanned Asia, Africa, and Europe, announced it would no longer actively provoke wars. This behemoth began to enter a period of dormancy. Changing from active to passive, this was a process of self-reflection for the Ottoman Empire. Next, Hamid decided to strengthen defensive fortifications in the border towns of the Balkan to guard against European expansion. At the same time, some preliminary reform measures, such as lowering tax rates, promoting domestic commerce and industrial development, as well as military reforms, also began to proceed in an orderly manner.

He knew the road was long and difficult.

He first restored the duties of the Divan and a new cavalry system. From then on, the Janissary, which had been glorious in the Ottoman Empire for a hundred years, officially exited the historical stage.

The Ottoman Empire was destined to face a long period of adaptation to new things and new systems; Hamid's reign would also become the stage for the Ottoman Empire's transition from military expansion to modern reform.

But at this moment, Hamid.

Looking at that letter from the East.

Fell into a long, deep contemplation.