Yunus Oghuz - Nader Shah. Historical novel

– I shall give you gifts, herald! Tell me about your news! Stand up!

The herald stood up and stood near the Shah:

– I have brought good news, my Shah! At last, Isfahan has been cleaned of enemies. Now in the city there are no Afghans.

Tahmasb Shah said anxiously:

– Then… herald, what happens now?

– What must happen now, Your Majesty?! Nader khan prepares the population of the city to welcome you and ask humbly you to come to Isfahan soon.

– But why so soon?

– Why not soon, Your Majesty! Nader khan sent information that it would be useful for our Shah if the crowning was held sooner.

After hearing his words, Tahmasb Shah felt a bit better, as if the stone hung in his heart fell. He felt a sense of relief. He clapped his hands and called the head of the guardsmen and asked him to give the herald a sack of gold.

Then he turned to the herald:

– Bring to Nader khan’s notice that tomorrow early in the morning I am leaving for Isfahan.

– All right, Your Majesty! Allow me to return to Isfahan today, and bring this news to Nader khan’s notice.

Tahmasb Shah:

– Go, – he said. -When the herald went out of the room he clapped his hands and didn’t wait for the coming in of the head of the guardsmen before setting his task: We shall entertain tonight and early in the morning we are leaving for Isfahan…

“…I welcomed Tahmasb Shah at the doors of the city enthusiastically. In spite of the destruction of the city during the seven years, the Shah was very glad, his delight was endless. He was glad because he was entering the city like the Shah, the city which he was obliged to run from. The Qizilbashs were glad about the coming of the Shah most of all. The people were also welcoming the Shah. Occupation of Isfahan stiffened the courage of the Qizilbashs. Now at any corner of the city that excitement could be felt. I was accompanylng the Shah when he enlered the palace. At times, he touched his hands to the walls and doors of the palace. I spoke to him about Fatime Sultan Beyim and Rize Beyim. His eyes goggled because of not believing his ears. In the palace, the Shah firstly enlered the harem. I pre ı ferred to wait outside. Firstly, there was heard the sobbing of the women, then the sobbing of the Shah. I understood that the Shah was weeping seeing Fatime Sultan Beyim and Rize Beyim safe and sound.

Now the main probl em was to spread that enthusiasm all over the country. Also it was important to test how much the Shah needed me though he was afraid of me. For that purpose, one day I vislted the Shah. He greeted me in a friendly manner. I told him:

– Your Majesty, if you allow me, I should go to Khorasan after your crowning, because I want to introduce proper order there.

Tahmasb Shah was embarrassed a bit; even I felt his grieving. He understood that if I went to Khorasan together with my troops he would be deprived of the forces. That was why he asked me:

– Is your leaving for Khorasan important?

– Yes, my Shah! Remember, you have given me the as- cendancy over three provinces. After your order, I haven’t found time to visit those provinces.

– No, I don’t want you to go to Khorasan. I insist on your re maining in Isfahan.

I could understand why the Shah was worried. I insisted on leaving for Khorasan:

– Your Majesty, if you remember, I had promi sed you that I should set up spare forces in those three provinces.

Tahmasb Shah said:

– I remember.

– My Shah! I have already begun to set up spare forces. That is why I insist on going there to be aware how the process is going..

– I know that your companions are able to cope with that task. Otherwise, they know what their future will be. That is why you may go to Khorasan at another suitable time.

I didn’t want to enlarge the problem:

– Your Majesty, let it be how you advise!

My words made him glad. I had to carry out my main idea:

– Your Majesty, do you want our union strengthened and for me to serve you always, as now?

The Shah screwed up his eyes, not expecting such kind of a question:

– Of course, I want it! What do you offer?

– Your Majesty, I want to be a close relative to you. Let’s be relatives and let all doubts be removed.

Such kind of offer was useful for the Shah. He asked me:

– It would be better to be relatives to remove all doubts. How shall we be relatives?

– Let my son Rzaqulu marry your aunt Fatime Sult an Beyim and me marry the daughter of Sultan Husain, your sister Rize Beyim.

Tahmasb Mirza was so glad that he said without think-

ing:

– I agree with you! God bless you!

I said:

– God bless us!

By such kind of relationship, the Shah gained a strong ally like me, and I would be far from the conflicts of the palace thanks to the Shah. We decided to hold an engagement after the crowning ceremony.

We organized the crowning ceremony of Tahmasb Shah enthusiastically.

The next days after the crowning ceremony, I gained time to rest. But I never liked to be out of work. In my free hours, I held gatherings with the European messengers and companies and wanted to learn some points from them, because a severe war against the Ottomans would come in future. Nevertheless, I didn’t want that war. What could we do, they had invaded our lands…”

After the finish of the horse-race of the stock of Qajars some secret events happened. Of course, it happened before Fatali khan was punished. After the horse-race Fatali khan, who returned to Tabriz with Tahmasb Shah, was very worried: “How can it be? Not the head of the stock of Qajars but a bondman approaches the Shah and makes a request…” He was tired of thinki ng. After that horse-race Fatali khan couldn’t forgive himself for three problems. Firstly, as if it would spoil his name, the Shah could send him away. It would be the best case. In the worst case, the Shah could give an order to chop off his head. The Shah could give any order. After gaining might he could do anything in order to show his power. He could fall a prey to him. His teacher always used to say to him that in politics there are not eternal friends but eternal interests. The deceased teacher was right. Thanks to God, he had done nothing that the Shah didn’t like. The second problem didn’t arouse on him pleasant feelings; he was grieving when thinking about it. Because he had missed getting the girl who was worihy to Shahs; she fell to the lot of “a bondman” named Murad. The face, looks, figure of Qelemnaz were still before his eyes. When he remembered about her he grieved: “How did it happen that I could miss such a beautiful girl?”

The third problem arousing nervousness was connected with Murad. Until him everyt hing was okay. He had made the girl’s father agree with him. From one side he had missed the girl, from other side he almost fell as a prey. Murad was at the bottom of all his problems. Murad was his subject, and without his permission he had made a request to the Shah. Such kind of behavior by Murad seemed to the khan a bit strange. Fatali khan thought that either his power in the stock of Qajars had been weakened, that was to say he couldn’t rule the stock like before, or the brave boys of the stock had become so self-satisfied that they dared to make a request to the Shah without consulting with the head of the stock. Because of the above mentioned reasons Fatali khan was nervous and worried, and he wanted to punish Murad. Fatali khan came to conclusion that Jafar kishi would tell Murad their talk without fail. At that time, Murad’s attitude towards him would also change. In this way, Murad who was going to come to the palace would tell the Shah the problem and try to dishonor him. At that time Fatali khan would be seen as an undesirable person by the Shah. That was why he wanted to punish Murad and to lay obstacles in the way of his coming to the palace. Fatali khan who was floundering in anxtety was walking up and down in the room. He had sent for his nephew Jalal bey who was the beylerbeyi in Tabriz. Fatali khan was waiting for his nephew. Fatali khan had to take great care with anybody, because except Jalal bey nobody was closer to him.