Out of the conference room, the faces of Hu Tier and the others became gloomy. Obviously, everyone was not interested in the bombastic rhetoric of Lieutenant General Geret.

It didn't show up at the meeting, it was because they were soft-spoken. Others were lieutenant generals, and the highest rank in the Austrian delegation was only lieutenant colonel.

In addition, the top of the rebel army was obviously more trusting of the British, and directly questioning each other in public did nothing but offend people.

Back in the camp, Major Potiorek, who was the most active, couldn't help it: "You say, is it possible that that guy took money from the French and deliberately ......"

Lieutenant Colonel Hurtier interrupted: "Impossible! He is also a lieutenant general of the empire on which the sun never sets, and no matter how he is, he will not commit treason for a little money.

In fact, Lieutenant General Jeret is not completely without merit, at least more reliable than those guys in the upper echelons of the rebel army. ”

Merit?

Unfortunately, Hurtier couldn't find it. Lieutenant General Jerett's military deployment, in theory, was not a problem at all.

Everything is calculated, that is, the execution ability of the rebel army is ignored.

Including the last ambush battle, there was no problem in theory, but it was only because the combat effectiveness of the rebel army was too rubbish that the battle failed.

Good can't be compared, then it can only be compared bad. Although Lieutenant General Geret is a little more rigid and a little more bureaucratic, it is also more reliable than the mixed upper echelons of the rebel army.

Major Potiorek shook his head: "I'm afraid the strong ones are limited. Gerett's combat experience was limited to suppressing colonial rebellions, not instigating them. ”

There is no way, Britain has not fought for many years. The most recent major war was with Austria for South Africa, and it ended in defeat.

After losing the war, naturally there is no future to speak of, and the officers who participated in the battle back then retired and retired.

Now the delegates were also tall men chosen by short men, and Lieutenant General Geret stood out after suppressing the miners' rebellion in Australia.

Falkingham smiled: "Actually, there is nothing wrong with this, having Jerrett in charge of commanding the rebel army, at least it can ensure that the rebels will not surrender easily."

According to the battle plan just announced, isn't our mission to make a feint attack on Ugsur? Just interspersed with the past, into the heart of Egypt. ”

"I won't surrender easily" has become a reason, and this expectation has left people speechless.

Hurtier nodded: "It's settled." Contact our people first and drop a batch of compressed biscuits, no one can guarantee that they will leave the camp and get supplies. ”

The number one taboo for a lone army to go deep is logistics, and it is unknown whether nearly 10,000 troops can be supplied on the spot behind enemy lines, and whether the collected grain can fill their stomachs.

……

Rebel headquarters, Lieutenant General Jeret was staring at the map in worry. Don't look at what he says lightly, but in fact, he doesn't have any bottom in his heart.

Not to mention with this rabble, even if he was to command the British Army and the French to do it, Geret was not sure.

The title of the French "the world's first army" was fought on the battlefield, and the armies of various European countries were the stepping stones for the French army to reach the top.

Mahdi asked in a deep voice: "General Jeret, is it possible to send the Eighth Division to attack Ugsur, and do you want to send the Sixth Division as well?" ”

After a moment of silence, Gerette cautiously reminded: "Your Excellency, it is a feint, not an attack.

The defenders of the French in Ugsur were two regiments, and if they wanted to take it, not to mention an eighth division, even with the addition of the sixth, they would not be able to do it.

We just need to make a gesture that will attract the attention of the French and buy time for the main forces to rest. ”

Deep down, Geret has a strong sense of distrust of the command ability of the rebel army's top brass.

If it weren't for political reasons, he wouldn't mind uniting with the Austrians.

No matter what, Hu Tier and the others are also from regular military schools, which is more reliable than the "high-level of the rebel army" who chased ducks to the shelves.

Otherwise, such an important task would not have been handed over to the Eighth Division.

Regardless of whether their positions are opposite or not, the interests of Britain and Austria are the same on the point of causing trouble in France.

……

The war in Egypt began to burn, and the trouble for the London government came. The enemy did not play his cards at all, did not confront them directly, but went to seek the bad luck of the Persian government.

You must know that the Persian government is willing to sign a traitorous treaty, in addition to military threats + diplomatic blackmail, there is also a commitment by the British government: to solve diplomatic problems.

In other words, the British obtained the diplomatic rights of Persia and took over the foreign affairs of the Persian Empire.

It was time for Britain to deliver on its promises, but there was nothing the British government could do. The reason why a secret covenant is a secret covenant is because it cannot see the light.

Russia and Austria pretended to be stupid, directly ignored the existence of the secret treaty, and asked Persia to sign a free trade agreement, which made the London government embarrassed.

"Free trade" is a banner for Britain, and as the biggest beneficiary of the free trade system, the British government cannot stand out and stand in the way of free trade.

Slapping yourself in the face is only a small problem, and if the free trade system collapses, it will be a big loss.

Gladstone asked, "Haven't the Russians stopped their little moves in Central Asia?" ”

Foreign Secretary George shook his head: "It's still the same, the Russians have no intention of restraining at all, and not long ago the Cossack cavalry ransacked a small tribe of the Bukhara Khanate." ”

Gladstone's brows furrowed even tighter, not only did it have no effect, but it was clearly getting worse.

If the arrogance of the Russians cannot be suppressed, the Central Asian countries will have to start reconsidering the issue of the warring team.

The tsarist government was not a reckless man who could only fight and kill, and although it lacked diplomatic means, it was also diplomatic.

There is no guarantee that the Russians will prop up the pro-Russian faction to power there and annex Central Asia in a more conciliatory manner.

Especially now, when the Russian Empire is in a weakened state and is not suitable for provoking wars, diplomacy is even more important.

This can be seen in the power structure within the Tsarist government in recent years, with the foreign secretary having a growing voice in the government, only the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

After hesitating for a while, Gladstone made a decision: "Directly with the Russians for a showdown, tell the tsarist government:

Either stop small moves in Central Asia and promise not to expand in Central Asia; Or just fight a war in Central Asia!

At the same time, send people to join the tripartite negotiations between Russia, Austria and Poland to sabotage as much as possible. ”

If the Central Asian problem is not solved now, it will be even more difficult to solve it when the Russians have recovered.

In contrast, Persian interests are still a minor issue. In essence, it is a temptation, and it is still too hateful to monopolize Persian interests.

……

The plan never changed quickly, and before the British intervened, the Russian-Austrian-Polish negotiations came to an end.

On April 28, 1885, under diplomatic pressure from Russia and Austria, and a flurry at the negotiating table, the Persian officials in charge of the negotiations signed the "Three Countries Free Trade Agreement" in a daze.

Perhaps it was not the Persian officials involved in the negotiations who were deliberately confused, but the Trilateral Free Trade Agreement was much more harmonious than the Anglo-Polish Treaty, which was full of inequalities.

There are not so many strings attached, and on the face of it, everyone is a fair deal, and there is no direct violation of the sovereignty of the Persian Empire.

The Persian government was not all fools, but there were also quite a few clever people who were able to distinguish between the main enemy and the secondary enemy.

Compared with the fool who signed the Anglo-Persian Secret Treaty, this Persian official who deliberately "confused" is much smarter.

There is no stupidity to be led by the nose by Russia and Austria, and directly copy the agreements of the countries in the "free trade system".

For the precarious Persian Empire, to be able to obtain a treaty that appeared to be equal was already a great diplomatic victory.

……