Persia-Kebabistan wrote:He sends another telegram to Emperor Shikai. It says this:Greetings Emperor Shikai of China,
I am Kourosh Kebabi, the Shah of Persia and Caliph of the Islamic World. I have a proposal that will benefit both of our countries.
I would like to form a trade alliance with China. As long as history can remember, China and Persia have been lands of prosperity and rich cultures. An alliance will strengthen both of our economies and build a new friendship between our countries.
For our trade alliance, I propose that Persian goods in China are taxed less and Chinese goods in Persia are taxed less. We can also encourage commerce between our two countries. It will be rather loose so our countries can go their own ways, yet both of our countries will improve from this. I implore you to accept this offer of a trade alliance between two of Earth's grandest and most ancient civilizations.
I would also like to buy two plots of land in your country: a plot of land on the coast of Lüshunkou District and a plot of land North of Shanghai to build Persian ports on. Though they will be Persian territory, 15% of tax proceeds will go to the Chinese government. If you accept, you may purchase land in Persia for Chinese ports if you would like.
If you would like to discuss this further, I can send a Persian diplomat to China.
Despite our nations' grandness, they have not interacted much as of yet. However, I want our first major interactions to be of brotherhood, of a mutual bond between our cultures.
Sincerely,
Shahanshah-Khalifah Kourosh Kebabi of the Eranshahr of Persia-Kebabistan and Dar al-Islam
After receiving the message, a debate occurred in the imperial court to see how to respond. Yuan Shikai once again listened to Cao Gao, who supports the alliance, meanwhile a faction of senators lead by Sima Hong sees the alliance as "useless and waste of time".
The response was sent a few days after:
Greetings, fellow royalty Kourosh Kebabi,
According to history, as far as we know, the nations of China and Persia did indeed have good trade relations with each other. We tolerated your religions, while you tolerated ours. Our two nations also share a few similarities. We were both oppressed by western forces, and both suffered greatly from the Mongols in the 1200s.
We agree to your offer for a trade alliance, and as for the plot of land, we would accept if in return we gain the coasts around the Persian gulf and Red Sea for Chinese ports. The tax is the same for you just as for us.
Though we would also like to establish treaties with the Italians, we will stay neutral in conflicts between you two. However, if you are ever attacked by any other power, we would gladly support you, in return we ask for support against the Russians and Japanese.
We will gladly accept your diplomat to disscuss further treaties and whatnot, and since we are no longer the Imperial China of before, we do not ask you to become our tributary, but as a ally. Also, we would like to send Jin Feng Quan, a favoured Chinese diplomat to your capital to help with relations.
Sincerely,
The Heavenly Master, Emperor Yuan Shikai of China