After seeing off the two ambassadors, Eder summoned one of the guards to speak to him. "Send the news to the Prime Minister that the German and Austrian ambassadors have just come to visit and raise the price of Romanian oil to 9 pounds."

The guard also knew what to do, so he nodded. "Your Highness, I'll go right away."

After the two ambassadors left the palace, Ambassador Baslober spoke. "Ambassador Belley, you don't want to sit down with me."

Ambassador Belley knew that this was what Ambassador Baslober had something to say to himself, so he said it heartily. "It's fine. It's been a long time since I've eaten German sausages or drank dark beer. ”

So the two ambassadors rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the German embassy on Provisley Street.

The servants served sausages and stout beer and closed the door, leaving only the two ambassadors to taste the food. Seeing that there were only two of them, Ambassador Baslober was the first to speak. "Ambassador Belley, your country is not playing very well in Serbia."

In the face of Ambassador Baslober's topic, Ambassador Belley knew that it was not too good, but it was just a euphemism, and it was a complete failure. Led by the military governor of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Potiorek, who failed to protect Archduke Ferdinand, he attacked Serbia with an Austro-Hungarian army of 500,000, but in the face of the 400,000 troops mobilized by Serbia, they retreated after losing 50,000 men.

In the face of such a topic, Ambassador Belley can only bite the bullet. "This is because the Russian front needs troops, so it is halfway. But now General Potiorek is ready this time, and he will once again lead a large army to capture Serbia, and make the country that plotted to kill the crown prince aware of the wrath of Austria-Hungary. ”

For the German ambassador, these are all the words of Ambassador Belley, and whether it is really so powerful depends on the level of this General Portiorek. But he didn't mean to say this, but to make a point.

"Mr. Ambassador, you know that the request given to me by the Government this time is that we must be guaranteed sufficient supply of Romanian oil. As you can see now, we can only compete with England and France. "Ambassador Baslober stated his purpose this time." So what kind of quota did Austria-Hungary give you to buy oil. ”

In the face of the German ambassador's inquiry, Ambassador Belley knew that there was nothing to hide, so he said generously. "China gave me a price of 260 crowns per tonne."

Ambassador Baslober mentally calculated that it was a ceiling of £11, and he also said the price that the government had offered him. "I gave 260 marks (£13) a tonne, and if it was any higher, I would have to ask the government."

As to why Germany is much higher, Ambassador Baslober did not say, and Ambassador Belley did not ask. However, he also guessed that the German army was now equipped with more vehicles, so the demand for oil was not comparable to that of Austria-Hungary.

In fact, as he thought, a lot of recent battles have reduced Germany's oil stockpiles to a warning level. At present, the refined oil supply of German civilian cars is completely lost, and only agricultural and production units can get the supply of fuel, except for a small amount of supply from the government and the royal family. So for Romania, which is now the only one that can supply oil, they have to buy it. Without the supply of Romanian oil, Germany will be left without oil in three months, which is not only a military problem, but also a big problem for domestic production.

Now that the two know each other's low prices, all they need to do is wait for a response from Britain and France. The response was swift, and while they were sitting together, the British ambassador was receiving the French and Russian ambassadors.

In the British ambassador's private room, the visiting French ambassador Jean Bard spoke in a hurry. The German and Austrian ambassadors went to the palace. We found out that they offered the Romanians £9 per tonne. Our plan worked. ”

Seeing the happy faces of Ambassador Jean Bard and Ambassador Feralowski, Ambassador Richardman, as a veteran gentleman, also said with a smile on his face. "Now the show is just beginning. Now it is necessary to let the Germans lose a lot of money economically, but it is destined that this bargain can only be earned by the Romanians. ”

Russian Ambassador Feralovsky said enviously. "It's an enviable asset. They don't have to do anything, they have someone to raise the price for them. You must know that China's oil is now only sold for 2.5 pounds a ton, even if it is refined oil, it is only sold for 4.5 pounds a ton, and they can easily sell it at twice the price. ”

There is no one else but Romania for this "they", and as for the "people", it will obviously be the two in front of him.

Hearing the words of the Russian ambassador full of envy, the French ambassador asked Bard to persuade him. "It's nothing, as long as we defeat Germany and Austria, we have enough interests, and the most important thing is territory and influence compared to this money."

It is clear that territory is more to the Russian ambassador's appetite than money. After hearing the persuasion of the French ambassador, he stopped speaking. And Russia does not need to import oil, nor does it have the economic strength to participate in this money game.

But the three ambassadors did not come together to discuss Romania, a fortunate country, but to talk about other things.

"Let Ambassador Bard, what a high purchase price your government has given."

After the three of them were seated, Ambassador Richardman began to ask the French Ambassador about his concerns.

In the face of the British ambassador's inquiry, the Bard ambassador was asked to tell the price that the country gave itself. "450 francs (£14) a tonne, but the pressure on our country is too great to buy 40 per cent of it."

Ambassador Richardman was not too satisfied with the price that Ambassador Bard had said, but the price offered by his own government was about the same. "The price given by the government on my side is £15 per tonne, and the purchase volume is 50% of the export quota."

He continued. "Now it seems that we have a 10% gap, but this is not a big problem, and I believe that our two governments will coordinate this work. Now that we neutralize it at a price of £14.5, it seems that we still have competition with Germany and Austria. ”

In fact, Richardman was not satisfied with the price offered at home, and he thought that Romanian oil could compete to 20 pounds a tonne. This would be a significant expense for the Germans, which could be used as their naval military expenses in peacetime. It's just that the senior government officials are afraid that if Germany doesn't use it, they will accept it and it will become a hot potato. And there is no way to tell the people that spending four times more than the market price to buy a large amount of oil is to fight the enemy and strengthen themselves.

So the government can only give three times the price now, and either buy it all, or it will become its own hemorrhage. Richardman also had no way to deal with the government's order, after all, he was just an ambassador and not lived at 10 Downing Street.

Then Ambassador Richardman consulted with the French and Russian ambassadors on how to let Germany and Austria fall into a trap and fall into the bloodshed, and the Russian ambassador watched the whole time without saying a word. The government also negotiated quickly, and the results of the consultation were sent in the evening of the same day. France still has a 40% share of imported high-priced oil, but the price has been raised to £15, while the British government will purchase the remaining 60% of the price concession for France.

After the two countries reached a consultation, the British and French ambassadors were confident enough to let Germany and Austria dance with their batons.