Chapter 79: Lie that has saved the Empire
When the war ended, and Usama, together with the Persians captured Mecca, Usama felt like he was not hailed as a hero nor an enemy. People simply accepted what happened. They had enough. The Arab peninsula, now completely under control by the Persian army, was tired. People hid their boys when they saw a soldier, fearing he would be again drafted into a pointless war. They had no trust in Persians, but also no enmity. They only had hope. That maybe, maybe an era of peace will come.
Umar ibn al-Kattab was executed after the capture of Mecca as a deterrent to any potential resistance. Without their leader, they would have a hard time organizing themselves into a proper fighting force. Jalinus objected the execution, suggesting there are other, less violent ways to get rid of him. But Rostam and Yazdegerd thought differently. They didn’t want to merely get rid of him. It was a gesture to show the Arab people that the old regime has fallen, and a new one has come. It wasn’t only about removing inconvenient people, but to send a message. Jalinus understood that. He had to, despite his consciousness battling on. Rostam, on the other hand, readily supported the idea, seeing no other way to control Arabia without future civil division.
Usama took on the burden of rebuilding Arabia onto himself voluntarily. He knew it won’t be easy. Despite the relative passivity of the common people, pockets of fanatics still believing in the now dead Umar ibn al-Khattab, and in the idea of Islamic superiority over the Middle East still existed. They were weak and disorganized, lacking a leader, but they still caused trouble. Reserves of food were low, and so was the morale. Despite the support promised to him by Yazdegerd III., he still had a rough journey ahead of him.
Having to deal with not cooperating aristocracy, clergy and army officials, many of who simply couldn’t accept Persian rule over Arabia, Usama had a hard time consolidating his power, even with Persian troops assisting him in keeping order. But once the dust settled, the scared people realized that Persians truly had no reason to forbid their worship, their religion, they grew more accepting. People started flocking to Usama’s side – people who wanted to improve and rebuild Arabia, with or without Persians, but also people seeking a warm place high up in the newly established hierarchy and government. Over time, living conditions improved, and with newly established trade flowing to Arabia from all corners of Persia, the land began to prosper. Usama established guarded trade routes through the never-ending desert, giving rise to new trading outposts, which eventually turned into towns. He also, with the Persian help, build new ports and began an effort to search for water in the desert, to create reliable sources of food. He paved the roads, began prospecting for iron, gold, silver, salt, copper tin and incense, creating new jobs and bringing more goods to trade with. Despite being a vast desert, with enough investment and time, even a land like this began to prosper. Arab people suddenly found their shops fuller with goods to buy, markets were thriving, and many people forgot the exhaustion of war. While they didn’t and never wanted to become Persian or to give up their religion, they begad to feel respect and gratefulness to Usama and in a way to their Shahanshah too. The anti-Persian sentiment wavered, and Persian garrisons were respect by the people for their protection.
But, ironically enough, these were the signs that said Persian garrison wasn’t needed anymore. And with the formation of Arab militias and guardsmen, controlled by Usama’s government in Mecca, Usama has gained enough legitimacy as a formal Arab ruler, controlling every corner of Arabia. And with clergy, economy and the population firmly in his hands, he consolidated his power to have his rule indisputable. With the transformation of Arabia into an autonomous Persian satrapy, Persian empire grew larger and stronger.
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Meanwhile, in Persia, Bashir has taken on a role of a guide and guardian of the reincarnate, who became a head of the Zoroastrian religion in an attempt to centralize the religion under Shahanshah’s authority. Bashir was leading the prayers in the largest Fire Temple in Ctesiphon, with reincarnate at his side. Masses flooded the temple each worship so the temple was always full. Corrupt magis were either disposed of or turned on Shahanshah’s side and the church was loyal to the Shahanshah, officially recognizing his divine descent.
But Bashir was fearful. He became doubtful of what he created. His conscience weighted heavy on him, feeling that lying to the whole Empire this way was wrong.
"My Shahanshah, may he be immortal, magi Bashir sends his regards, together with his report," said a servant, bringing Yazdegerd a rolled scroll. Yazdegerd took it as a routine by now. But the contents were nothing like what he was used to.
"Servants, prepare a carriage to the Adur I Shahryan, the Fire of Kings. I have some duties to do."
Bashir was fully unsurprised by Shahanshah’s visit, as if he had expected him to come one day. He invited him to a glass of wine, so they could talk in private.
"What is the meaning of that?" asked Yazdegerd immediately as he knew they had privacy. Bashir knelt before him.
"My Shahanshah, may he be immortal, I want to let you know that I am and will remain your loyal subject. Please, remember that," said Bashir, still kneeling. Yazdegerd frowned.
"Get up. Explain yourself. And what does it mean for our relationship."
"My Shahanshah, it doesn’t mean anything. I wish to continue our relationship as it is, with no changes. These were just my personal notes, forgive me. Sometimes, I just feel guilty for misusing the young boy, when he doesn’t understand anything that is happening around him. And for lying to people, this whole time. I didn’t know it would be such a heavy burden to bear."
Yazdegerd appreciated his honesty. He himself knew how scared he must’ve been. He felt empathy. That’s not a bad thing. But Yazdegerd also saw the other side. He knew he needed to use the boy for his political purposes. He knew he had to lie to the people, in order to unite the Empire and to deal with the corrupt clergymen. And he also knew that comforting Bashir was the thing he didn’t have to do. He had to encourage him, bolster him. Make him believe what he was doing was right and that he didn’t have to feel guilty about it.
"The boy doesn’t understand anything. And what of it. He doesn’t need to. The only one who needs to understand it are me and you. No one else. And don’t forget, if we didn’t "misuse" him, he would probably be already dead, even without Arabs. What family would want a mute kid? But now, he has his needs and safety ensured, lives a peaceful life and is a symbol of Persian religion and unity.
And lying to people is wrong. I agree. But necessary. It was this lie that have helped us achieve victory. It was this lie that consolidated our power over clergy and united our people. Bashir, you do not need to feel guilty, for a lie that saved the Empire is truer than a truth, that would have destroyed it."
After Yazdegerd left, Bashir sat there, in silence, thinking deeply. Even though he didn’t agree with Yazdegerd on everything, there was a merit in looking on the issue pragmatically. Then, with a sigh, he accepted the reality he was now living. Guilty or not, it was too late to turn back, not that he wanted to.