What, the Austrians wanted to annex the Ottomans? ”

Alexander III, who had just been crowned emperor, had not had time to celebrate when he ushered in this bad news.

Foreign Secretary Ossiel Rivera replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Not long ago, we applied for a loan from the Vienna government, and they asked for it. ”

Alexander III shook his head and replied affirmatively: "No, this is absolutely not possible!"

Once the Austrians annexed the Ottomans, their influence penetrated deep into Central Asia, and no one could guarantee that they would not become our competitors.

Central Asia fell into the hands of the indigenous khanates, and we can take it back; If it falls into Austrian hands, it will be almost impossible to get it.

Now we are so demoralized that we simply don't have the ability to compete with them.

The Austrians wanted to control our lifeblood, and by taking Central Asia, they had the ability to divide the Russian Empire in two.

Coupled with the Dardanelles, which he already controlled, the future Russian Empire will have to act according to their faces. ”

The reason is good, but Ossière Rivera does not approve of it. Subject to people, the topic is too big.

It was not just a question of the Dardanelles, the Russian Empire was in many ways subject to Austria. Armaments, finance, and economics are the three core lifelines of Austria.

After hesitating for a moment, Ossière Rivera reminded: "Your Majesty, it is not difficult to solve the problem of the Dardanelles.

We had contact with the Austrians many years ago, and the Vienna government agreed that we would pay for a ransom or a territorial exchange.

For some special reason, the deal was not finalized. It can also be seen that the Viennese government does not attach importance to the Dardanelles, and it is not difficult to get here. ”

Alexander III had just succeeded to the throne, and before everyone could figure out his temper, the cautious Ossière Rivera chose to attack from the side.

The Austrian threat did exist, but now was not the time to think about it, the tsarist government needed money most at this time, and everything else could be put on the back burner.

The tsarist government was confident in this regard, and the size of the Russian Empire was here, and there was no need to worry about foreign invasion.

The Austrian threat, which is based on the premise that the two countries have not turned their faces, can be overcome if they really part ways.

After hesitating for a while, Alexander III nodded helplessly: "Then talk to the Austrians first, no matter what, you can't let the Ottomans be swallowed alone." ”

Alexander III, who was far more talented in diplomacy than his ancestors, soon discovered the crux of the matter: once Austria had made up its mind to attack the Ottomans, they could not stop it.

Having the support of the Russian Empire would make things much easier; Without their support, Austria could still start a war.

The aftermath of the Russo-Prussian War had not yet dissipated, the European world was still immersed in an anti-war wave, and it was impossible for Britain and France to go to war for the Ottoman Empire and Austria.

Russia seems to have a lot of power, but they are still licking their wounds, the government has no money in their pockets, and coupled with the Russian-Turkish feud, Alexander III really can't find a reason to save the Ottomans.

Alexander III was sane and called for a halt to the Great Purge in the country. found that Austria could not be stopped, so he decisively chose to exchange for benefits.

……

Foreign Secretary Ossière Rivera added: "Your Majesty, in addition to this issue, we must also consider the question of Finland.

Before the war, in order to stabilize the Nordic Federation and raise funds for the war, there was a secret agreement between us and the Swedes on the mortgages.

It was clearly agreed that if Finland was to be sold to the Nordic Confederation after the war, in case of default, we would have to pay a liquidated damages in addition to repaying the debt, and the Vienna government would be the guarantor. ”

This is another huge pit, and before the outbreak of the Russo-Prussian War, in order to reduce one enemy, the tsarist government had to sign such a treaty.

Now, this has become another problem, and it can be regarded as a happy trouble, a worry that can only come after winning a war.

During the reign of Alexander II, the plan of response was to take the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein and hand it over to the Nordic Confederation to pay off the debt.

Unfortunately, halfway through the plan, Alexander II met with God. Alexander III was not as strong as his father, and his own prestige was not enough.

In addition, the domestic situation did not allow him to continue the war, and after being strongly opposed by European countries, he quickly chose to compromise.

Alexander III frowned and shook his head: "The Finnish region is strategically important and cannot be handed over, at least not in its entirety.

The Foreign Office first approached the Nordic Confederation to see if they could accept the sale of part of Finland.

After all, this debt was guaranteed by Austria, and the threat of force should not be used unless absolutely necessary. ”

Weak countries have no diplomacy, and hairy bears have never been rules masters. They are better at using artillery than at the negotiating table.

Alexander III was considered a pacifist among the tsars, and he was able to take out part of Finland to fulfill the treaty, but if he had changed his father, Alexander II, he would not be so easy to speak.

Of course, Austrian guarantees also play an important role. The "Debt Guarantee Contract" is not just as simple as providing a security guarantee, and there are clear penalty clauses on it.

Rather than bribing Austria with benefits and silencing the Vienna government, Alexander III felt that it would be easier to achieve his goal by negotiating with the Nordic Confederation.

Foreign Secretary Ossière Rivera smiled: "Your Majesty can rest assured that as long as we can come up with some Finnish territory to fulfill the treaty, the Nordic Confederation will not refuse our goodwill." ”

……

Berlin, since the end of the Russo-Prussian War, this bustling metropolis has suddenly become silent.

Despite the fact that some of the funds were recovered by selling the territory, the Berlin government was still having a hard time.

Heavy debts increased the burden on the shoulders of the Prussian people. More importantly, the despair brought about by the defeat of the war has caused many people to lose faith in the future.

In order to give an account to the people at home, Wilhelm I had already announced his abdication, and Prussia entered the era of Frederick III.

This is an unlucky egg, just a few days after the original time and space succeeded to the throne, he saw God, and he had the nickname of "Emperor of the Hundred Days", and he actually reigned for 99 days.

barely survived his father, and after an emperor's addiction, he hurriedly left.

Under the butterfly effect, Frederick III, who now ascended the throne early, also did not please and took over a mess.

The only good thing is probably that William I abdicated, forcing a group of Junker nobles to resign, and there were not so many nasty ghosts.

Perhaps Frederick III would have preferred to accept a bunch of Junker aristocrats than the current mess.

On the throne, the king is the biggest Junker, and everyone's class interests are still the same, and what they are fighting for is only power.

Looking at the map hanging on the wall, Frederick III sighed deeply.

He had not done anything, and the kingdom of Prussia had lost most of its territory. If a country wants to rejuvenate, it cannot do without its population and resources.

With the defeat of the Russo-Prussian War, the Kingdom of Prussia lost a large amount of territory, as well as a large number of people and resources.

Whether recognized or not, the Kingdom of Prussia became a small state.