Mediterranean Hegemony Road

Okay! Russia can support Bulgaria's expansion in the Balkans, but only to contain other major powers. We will not send troops directly! Nikolai has calmed down. Although Ferdinand's promise is tempting, the success rate is very low. Don't plan to invest too much.

Although Ferdinand knew about Nikolai's plan, he didn't care, his real goal had been achieved!

For the sake of secrecy, a secret alliance with Russia must be a secret treaty, and the diplomatic impact will not be too great. Bulgaria can obtain sufficient mining resources and human resources from Russia and complete industrialization in a short period of time.

In the future, the international situation will change. Mao Xiong was defeated in the Russo-Japanese War. It has just recovered and caught up with the world war. There is no chance for Mao Xiong to complete this strategy, and plans will always be plans!

Historically isolated and helpless in the Balkan wars, Bulgaria will cease to exist. Of course, it is not obvious now that although the Serbian pro-Russian faction has come to power, they are still the younger brothers of Austria-Hungary. Russia has no choice at all at this moment. (Note: In 1891, Greece was the territory of the British, and Romania had signed a treaty with Germany.)

...

Having reached a preliminary agreement with Nicholas, Ferdinand breathed a sigh of relief.

The biggest problem of Bulgaria's development has been solved, and the next step is to develop it fully. We must hurry up and quickly get rid of the Balkan countries in terms of national strength.

In the next negotiation, Ferdinand did not need to go out in person. Bulgaria is a luxurious version of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consisting of Konstantin and Chekov, among others, and the Russian representative is headed by Duke Ukhtomsky.

This may be good news for Bulgaria. Is Duke Ukhtomsky familiar? He is the civilian diplomat who is active in St. Petersburg, Beijing, Shanghai and Vladivostok.

He is a representative of the Russian Eastern faction, who advocates strategic contraction in Europe, expansion to the Far East, and the establishment of Yellow Russia.

Since Ferdinand and Nicholas had already had a showdown, the two sides did not have major differences on the issue of principle, so the negotiation proceeded smoothly, and there were still some specific details to be discussed.

Nikolai stayed in Bulgaria for more than a month, and the negotiations are still far away. Ukhtomsky was again the main figure in the entourage, and he could not be kept, which seriously affected his eastward plan.

Mr. Ukhtomsky, can you speed up the progress? It's been more than a month, and it's only halfway done! Nikolai often urged

His Royal Highness, we are already progressing very fast, but we are stuck on the details! Ukhtomsky explained.

Nicola heard the words,

His face changed, and he said angrily, I'm stuck. Could it be that something happened to the Bulgarian side and wanted the lion to speak up!

Oh, that's not it! It's just some ordinary business negotiations, normal bargaining? Ukhtomsky hurriedly explained that as the vanguard of the Eastern Advancement faction, he didn't want to have any accident that would affect the east of the empire. into strategy.

Nikolai's expression softened slightly, and he asked a little dejectedly: How long will it take to complete it?

Ukhtomsky hesitantly said: It's hard to say! Normal business negotiations are very troublesome, involving too many industries, so we can only talk one by one, and we need to find all kinds of information, so it's hard to say how long it will take. to be completed!

Nikolai was startled and suddenly understood, and a bold idea suddenly popped up in his mind, Since it is an ordinary commercial and trade agreement, why don't we just sign a draft first, and the specific details will be taken over by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

He opened his mouth and said, Mr. Ukhtomsky, simply sign the peace agreement that has been negotiated first, and hand over the subsequent negotiations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!

His Royal Highness, this is not good! If we hand over like this, the work behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be difficult to do, and it will be difficult for them to grasp that degree! Duke Ukhtomsky said dutifully after entering the state.

Nikolai said casually: It doesn't matter, you can explain to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and release some goodwill appropriately. Anyway, as long as the zero-tariff agreement is signed, the Bulgarian market has been fully opened to us, and some details are not important at all!

Okay then! Ukhtomsky thought for a while and this is the same reason, or the eastward strategy is more important. Compared with this aspect, the Balkans' little interests are not worth mentioning.

Nikolai still doesn't know how much loss this hasty decision will bring to Russia in the future. It is estimated that he knows or doesn't care.

Before leaving, Ferdinand sent a huge gift, including a huge cheque for half a million pounds.

It can be regarded as to appease Nikolai's injured heart, and he manages up and down one by one, and he is short-handed, so the release of some kindness that Nikolai explained is infinitely magnified.

Then, amid laughter, Nikolai left Bulgaria for the next stop, Greece.

The foreign ministry official who was in charge of taking over from St. Petersburg, Paul Shuvalov, was a little confused. St. Petersburg’s request was to strive for the interests of the empire as much as possible, but the crown prince’s order was just the opposite!

Paul Shuvalov is now in a difficult position. He was originally the ambassador to Germany, but he was unlucky. It happened to catch up with Wilhelm II to tear up the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty, then he was dismissed, and now he was demoted to Bulgaria.

St. Petersburg's order must be executed, and the crown prince must not be offended. His current position is still a coincidence. Just to win over Bulgaria, a person with enough identity is needed to serve as an ambassador.

At this time, an uninvited guest solved the problem for him, and Nikolai's valet Smith-Vicki came. After receiving the benefits sent by Ferdinand, he pretended to be sick and stayed.

...

Paul Shuvalov asked in disbelief: Mr. Smith, did the Crown Prince really say that?

Of course! You can send a telegram to ask, is this what I dare to lie? Mr. Paul Shuvalov, the initial negotiation was between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Archduke of Bulgaria. Some of these agreements were secret, and these concessions were Included in the class, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not know! Smith-Wiki said with certainty

Paul Shuvalov was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat. Why did this unfortunate thing happen to him again? Even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not know about secrecy, so how can you ask?

As for the truth of the matter, he has no doubts! In the telegram that Nikolai sent him, he clearly asked for the release of goodwill. Isn't this understandable, but I didn't expect such a big concession!

After thinking about it, Paul Shuvalov finally decided to do the same. He was just cheated by the Germans, and now he is afraid. Anyway, the most damage to the national interests, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can use Nikolai's telegrams to communicate.

Well, I understand what to do, Mr. Smith, thank you for your advice, otherwise it will be troublesome to disrupt the crown prince's layout!