Bulgarian Empire

The issue of Italy has come to an end for the time being, and the rest of the issue of compensation is a matter of everyone in private.

Based on the principle of putting the easy before the difficult, everyone turned their attention to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This time, Bulgaria and Russia demanded war reparations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with Britain and France as witnesses.

In this world war, the Vienna government was not completely fruitless. Although it lost more than 100,000 square kilometers of territory, it also weakened the biggest factor of instability in the country.

First, it used the world war to severely damage the Kingdom of Hungary, and then used the Germans to abolish the Hungarian government. After the world war ended, the Kingdom of Hungary was no longer able to maintain its rule.

Like Austria, the Hungarians in the Kingdom of Hungary also accounted for only half of them. After the war, they were unable to suppress the local minorities. The Vienna government took the opportunity to announce the abolition of the dual monarchy.

After the war, the population proportions of various ethnic groups also changed slightly, either increasing or decreasing:

Before and after the war

Germanic 24%, 24.8%

Hungarians 2o%, 16.8%

Czechs 13%, 12.8%

Poles 1o%, 7.9%

Ukrainians 8%, 4.6%

Romanians 6%, 13.6%

Croatian 5%, 4.8%

Slovaks 4%, 3.9%

Serbs 4%, 3.7%

Slovenian 3, %2.9%

Italians 3%, 3.1%

Although the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire has shrunk significantly, the population has not declined too much, and the total population has exceeded 50 million (including the repatriated Romanians). Therefore, ethnic issues are still the biggest problem that plagues this old empire. problem!

As far as Constantine knows, the Vienna government is already preparing to repatriate the Italians after the war. If German Poland becomes independent, they will also repatriate the Poles. There were too many supporters of the Habsburg family among them, and they were rejected by Ferdinand II.

Everyone is good at learning, but Constantine is still not optimistic about a multi-ethnic country like the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If the national integration cannot be completed, something will happen sooner or later!

Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire quit halfway, and the Allied Powers agreed not to pursue their war crimes, Bulgaria and Mao Xiong did not agree not to demand war reparations from them!

On October 28th, Britain, France, Russia, and Austria gathered to discuss the issue of war reparations. In fact, this issue had reached a preliminary agreement with Bulgaria and France long before the Austro-Hungarian Empire defected.

That is: the Austro-Hungarian Empire undertook the debt of 430 million pounds owed by Bulgaria to the French to offset the war reparations, and Bulgaria released all prisoners of war.

What is involved now is only the issue of ransom in the central Danube plain area, but after Ferdinand threw in millions of Romanians, the price will not be raised.

Without much pressure, Constantine naturally relaxed and said: The Austro-Hungarian Empire joined the Allies at the beginning of the war, which seriously endangered world peace. Fortunately, in the end, the Bulgarian government decided not to pursue their war crimes!

Regarding the issue of war reparations, we had a preliminary agreement before, and now as long as the Vienna government pays a land ransom of 30 million pounds, we can withdraw our troops!

This is also a matter of no solution. Once the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapses, Bulgaria will not be able to find the owner even if it wants to pay compensation. The small country after independence will not be able to pay its debts.

And out of national strategic considerations, the existence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire will also contribute to the stability of southern Europe, so that Bulgaria can concentrate on building the Asia Minor peninsula!

Prime Minister Leopold von Berchtold said with reason and evidence: Dear Mr. Constantine, we have no objection to your request, but the issue of the central Danube plain that was agreed before remains to be discussed.

According to our original agreement, as long as Austria-Hungary makes a significant contribution in this world war,

Your country will reduce the ransom.

And in this war, your country has acquired Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Transylvania and other regions, and we have to pay 430 million pounds in war reparations, which is enough to make up for your country's losses.

Therefore, we ask your country to withdraw the newly increased immigrants in the Central Danube Plain and give up the ransom!

The dispute on this issue is only 30 million pounds. Britain and France are watching the show and did not end in person. If Constantine proposed 300 million pounds, it may not be so simple!

Constantine thought for a while and said: Well, in view of the long-term friendly relationship between our two countries, then we can reduce another 10 million pounds, and you only need to pay 20 million pounds!

Leopold von Berchtold cried poorly: Mr. Constantine, you know that the finances of the Austro-Hungarian Empire may collapse at any time, and it is really unable to pay this huge sum of money. Otherwise, it will be better. We don’t want the plain in the middle of the Danube, and we don’t want to pay the war indemnity, do you think it’s okay?”

Constantine was so depressed that he wanted to vomit blood. The plain in the middle of the Danube River is very good, but it is a pity that it is full of Romanians now, and Bulgaria has no experience in a dual empire.

After hesitating again and again, Constantine finally said: Ten million pounds, this is our final bottom line!

Leopold von Berchtold spread his hands and said: Mr. Constantine, as you know, our money will be used to pay off debts, so we have no ability to pay!

Suppressing his anger, Konstantin decided to hand over this question to Megeve. This kind of wrangling question is really not suitable for him.

Megev smiled slightly and said: If your country is unable to pay, can we consider establishing a Romanian kingdom in the middle plain of the Danube River, and let this kingdom pay for it? Of course, they are still a member of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. !

This is complete nonsense. If this is really done, it is estimated that the Austro-Hungarian Empire will collapse in a short time, and Ferdinand will definitely not agree.

Leopold von Berchtold said with a wry smile: Mr. Megev, are you going to dismember the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Then we don't have to pay the war reparations!

Mezev said calmly: Nothing, we are just a proposal. Don't you have many kingdoms in your country, adding another one is not a big deal!

Leopold von Berchtold really wanted to give him some science, and there are differences between kingdoms, but he still suppressed his anger and said: Three million pounds, this is our bottom line , of course, if your country can get the local Romanians away, the price can still be negotiated!

Megev shook his head and said, Five million pounds, nothing less. If it is less, we will take care of this area for you and use the local tax money to repay the debt!

Leopold von Bechtol nodded helplessly on the surface, but he was already happy in his heart. Bulgaria's appetite was much smaller than they imagined!

After seeing the war indemnity paid by the Italians, the Vienna government was ready to sell their iron. I didn’t expect Bulgaria to let them go so lightly. Apart from the previous agreement, there was no mention of war indemnity. Yes, this surprised him very much!

In fact, Bulgaria has to make concessions now. Britain and France will not tolerate Bulgaria's excessive weakening of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Even Ferdinand does not want the Austro-Hungarian Empire to collapse, so they have to let them go.

The problem in Bulgaria was easily resolved, and Sassonov, the head of the Russian delegation, was in a bad mood for an instant. The Bulgarians let go of the Austro-Hungarian Empire so easily, which is also very unfavorable to his subsequent negotiations. The most important thing is that Russia Now there is no threat to the strength of Austria-Hungary, and the only reliance is the support of allies!

Russian Foreign Minister Sassonov said: The Russian Empire can also give up pursuing your country's war crimes, but your country must pay the price for the economic losses caused to the Russian Empire!

According to our statistics, during the war of more than two years, the Austro-Hungarian Empire caused more than 3 million casualties to the Russian Empire, and displaced millions of civilians. The direct economic loss exceeded 3 billion pounds, and the indirect economic loss was even more Over 5 billion pounds!

Therefore, we ask your country to pay us 8 billion pounds of war reparations to pay for our war losses and restore the economy!

Everyone's face changed drastically. The Russians pointed out that the casualties were real, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was not given for nothing. It is normal to cause such a large number of casualties to Mao Xiong.

But no one knows about this economic loss. After all, the Russian Empire is in a mess now. Let alone outsiders, even the tsarist government has estimated data, and there is no way to verify it.

In terms of war and military expenditures, it is estimated that the Russian Empire really spent six to seven billion pounds in the past two and a half years, but at least half of the funds went into individual pockets.

Leopold von Bechtol's complexion changed drastically. This is really a lion's mouth. Now he has to be thankful that Mao Xiong has a civil war and doesn't have much right to speak, otherwise they will be miserable.

Mr. Sassonov, let alone 8 billion pounds, we can't even afford 100 million pounds. There are still millions of poor people in our country who need assistance, and the government has no money at all!

Even if I think the economy had returned to its pre-war peak, our GNI was only £600m in 1914, do you think we could afford it?

As soon as Leopold von Bechtol finished speaking, he received the support of Britain and France. The British Prime Minister Lloyd-George said: Yes, Mr. Sassonov, your demands are too high. The actual situation!

I suggest that you still refer to the previous Bulgarian standards, and your country come up with a reasonable compensation figure!

French President Poincaré also stabbed the Russian at this time, and he said with a smile: Mr. Sassonov, I personally suggest that your country limit the amount of war reparations to less than 200 million pounds, which is more sincere!

Seeing the joint attack of Britain and France, Sassonov had to ask for help from Bulgaria. Now the tsarist government is still waiting to use the war reparations to fight the civil war!

After hesitating for a while, Megev spoke first: Given the contribution made by the Russian Empire in this world war and the price they paid, I think it must be taken care of when paying war reparations.

Of course, the war compensation of 8 billion pounds is indeed too high, but the compensation amount of 200 million pounds is indeed too low. It is better for everyone to calm down and think about it, and Mr. Sassonov will propose a new compensation amount!

Sassonov was relieved by Megev's proposal. He was really worried that he would be betrayed by the Allied Powers. Now it seems that Bulgaria still supports them, so we have to talk about it later.

After a moment of silence, Sassonov said slowly, Okay, everyone, wait a moment, I need to send a telegram back to the country to re-authorize!

Everyone nodded. Although everyone is a plenipotentiary, once the bottom line is crossed, they still need to be authorized again.

In order to buy time for Sassonov, Constantine suggested: It's getting late, why don't we adjourn the meeting today and continue tomorrow?

...

The remaining bullet marks in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg are still telling the story of the war that just passed.

When Nicholas II received a call from Sassonov, he was in a bad mood instantly. The negotiations in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were not progressing very smoothly. The attitudes of Britain and France directly told him that it was impossible to make a lot of money.

But now the Russian Empire urgently needs war reparations to quell the rebellion. Even if it knows it is a loss, it can only swallow this bitter fruit.

Nicholas II asked with concern: Has the gold from Galisinov been shipped back?

That's right, it was the batch of gold in Kazan in history. Now that the world war is over, St. Petersburg is out of danger. On the contrary, there is a possibility of war in Kazan, so Nicholas II asked to transport it back to St. Petersburg again.

Chief of the General Staff Galisinov said confidently: Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will arrive in St. Petersburg at noon tomorrow!

After hearing this, Nicholas II's mood improved a lot. As long as he has these family backgrounds, he has the confidence to suppress the rebellion.

Nicholas II nodded and said with a wry smile: Well, call Sassonov and activate our No. 1 alternative!

Naturally, the Russian Empire will not have only one set of plans for participating in this peace conference. They have also formulated different response plans according to different situations.

The current situation is obviously very bad, but it is not the worst situation. At least one Bulgaria is supporting them, and there is still talk!

...

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