"Okay! Russia can support Bulgaria's expansion in the Balkans, but only to contain other major powers, we will not send troops directly!" Nikola has calmed down, despite Ferdinand's promising promise, but the success rate is very low, he I don't plan to invest too much.
Although Ferdinand knew Nicolas' intentions, he didn't care. His true goal has been achieved!
For the sake of confidentiality, a secret alliance with Russia must be a secret treaty, and diplomatic influence will not be too great. Bulgaria can obtain sufficient mining and human resources from Russia and complete industrialization in a short time.
In the future changes in the international situation, Mao Xiong suffered a fiasco defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. He has just regained his vitality and caught up with the World War. Mao Xiong had no chance to complete this strategy, the plan will always be the plan!
Bulgaria has been isolated and helpless in the Balkan wars and will no longer exist. Of course, it is not yet clear that although the Serbian pro-Russian faction came to power, they are still the younger brothers of Austro-Hungary. Russia has no room to choose its allies at this time. (Note: Greece was a British territory in 1891, and Romania had signed a treaty with Germany and Austria.)
...
An initial agreement was reached with Nicholas, and Ferdinand was deeply relieved.
The biggest problem of Bulgaria's development has been solved, and the next step is to develop it with all its strength. We must seize the time to quickly get rid of Balkan countries in terms of national strength.
In the following negotiations, Ferdinand did not need to take the initiative. Bulgaria is a luxury version of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consisting of Constantine and Chekov, and Russian representatives are headed by Duke Ukhtomsky.
This may be good news for Bulgaria. Is Duke Ukhtomsky very familiar? He is the "folk diplomat" active in St. Petersburg, Beijing, Shanghai and Vladivostok.
Is a representative of the Russian Easternists, advocates a strategic contraction in Europe, expansion to the Far East, and the establishment of "Yellow Russia".
Since Ferdinand and Nicholas have already shown off, there is no major difference between the two sides on the issue of principle, so the negotiations have progressed smoothly, and some specific details have to be discussed.
Nicholas stayed in Bulgaria for more than a month, and the negotiations were still in sight. Ukhtomsky was also the main figure in the suite, and he could not be left, which seriously affected his eastbound plan.
"Mr. Ukhtomsky, can you speed things up a little more? It's been more than a month before it's half done!" Nicholas routinely urged
"His Royal Highness, we are very fast, but we are stuck on the details!" Ukhtomsky explained
Nicholas heard that his face changed, and he said angrily, "Stuck, is there something wrong with the Bulgarian side, and he wants the lion to open his mouth!"
"Oh, this isn't it! It's just some ordinary business negotiations, normal bargaining?" Ukhtomsky was busy explaining that as a pioneer of the East, he didn't want to change something that affected the Empire's East. Advance strategy.
Nikola's face was a little slower, and he asked a little depressed: "How long will it take to complete?"
Ukhtomsky said enthusiastically: "This is hard to say! Normal business negotiations are cumbersome and there are too many industries involved. You can only talk about each item individually, so it is difficult to say how long it will take. To complete! "
Nicholas was shocked and immediately understood. A bold idea suddenly popped into his mind. "Since it is a general business agreement, we must first sign a draft. The detailed rules will be taken over by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
He said, "Mr. Ukhtomsky, simply sign the peace agreement that has already been negotiated and leave the negotiations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!"
"His Highness, this is not good! If we hand over this way, the work behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be difficult to do, and it will be difficult for them to grasp that degree!" Said Duke Ukhtomsky, who had entered the state of due diligence.
Nicholas said freely: "It doesn't matter, you can explain to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and release some goodwill appropriately. Anyway, as long as a zero-tariff agreement is signed, the Bulgarian market has been fully opened to us, and some details are not important at all!"
"That's okay!" Ukhtomsky thought about it, and it is more important to go eastward. The Balkans' interests are not worth mentioning in this respect.
Nicholas does not yet know how much this hasty decision will bring to Russia in the future, and I don't know if he cares.
Before leaving, Ferdinand sent a great gift, including a huge cheque of 500,000 pounds.
It was to appease Nicholas' injured heart, to get up and down, and to shorten the manpower, so Nicholas accounted for the release of some goodwill and was magnified infinitely.
Then in laughter, Nikola left Bulgaria and set foot on Greece.
Paul Shuvalov, the official in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who came from St. Petersburg, was a little confused. St. Petersburg demanded that he strive for the empire's interests as much as possible, but the order of the Crown Prince was the opposite!
Paul Shuvalov is in a dilemma. He was originally an ambassador to Germany, but he was out of luck. Coincidentally, he caught up with William II's tearing up of the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty, then was dismissed, and is now degraded to Bulgaria.
St. Petersburg's order must be implemented, and the Crown Prince cannot be offended. His position now happens to come across. Just to win Bulgaria, you need someone with sufficient status to serve as ambassador.
At this point, an uninvited guest solved the problem for him, and Nikola's attendant Smith-Wiki came. Before receiving the benefits of Ferdinand's sending, he pretended to be ill and stayed.
...
Paul Shuvalov asked incredulously: "Mr. Smith The Crown Prince really said that?"
"Of course! You can ask by telegram, is this how I dare to lie? Mr. Paul Shuvalov, the first negotiation was made by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince personally with the Grand Duke of Bulgaria. Some of these agreements were dense and these concessions were Contained in the class, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not clear! "Smith-Wikipedia said with certainty
Paul Shuvalov was startled, and cold sweats came out. Why was this unlucky thing encountered by himself again? "Confidentiality" is not even clear to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Can you ask?
As for the truth of the matter, he had no doubt! The telegram given to him by Nicholas explicitly called for the release of goodwill. Isn't that clear? I just didn't expect such a big concession!
After thinking about it, Paul Shuvalov finally decided to follow suit. He was just pitted by the Germans, and now he is afraid. Anyway, it hurts the national interest at most, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can use Nikola's telegram to make a difference.
"Well, I understand what to do, Mr. Smith thank you for your guidance, otherwise it will be troublesome to disrupt the Crown Prince's layout!"