End of hostilities

"Edel, you are awake," Sophie Marie said, her voice crisp in the quiet morning. Edel smiled warmly at her, his mind still burdened with the affairs of state. "How can I not be? With the current situation in the Balkans, it's hard to find a moment of peace," he replied.

Sophie Marie nodded, her expression understanding. "I know that as a royal heir, you must keep abreast of your own country's affairs. My uncle is in the same position," she said, her tone empathetic.

Feeling comforted by her understanding, Edel leaned in and kissed her gently. "Marrying you was a blessing, Sophie. You truly are a gift from God," he said, his words filled with love.

Blushing slightly at the memory of their passionate night, Sophie Marie gently nudged him. "Alright, Edel, it's time to get up, or the chief guard will be knocking on our door soon."

Heeding her advice, Edel rose and dressed quickly. As he stepped out of the room, he was met by Carust, the captain of the bodyguards, who was indeed just approaching.

"Carust, you're here early," Edel greeted him.

"Yes, Your Highness," Carust replied, then proceeded to update the crown prince on the latest developments in the Balkan War. "We've just received information that Bulgaria has defeated the Ottoman army at Lule Burgas in Western Thrace."

Edel took the telegram that Carust handed him and read it as he walked to his office. The message had been sent by Major General Fereit, head of the Romanian Observer Group, detailing the military engagement between the Bulgarian and Ottoman armies from Lule Burgas to Budahirsar. It discussed the military acumen and tactical deployments of both sides, noting that while the Bulgarian army's morale was commendable, their weaponry and tactical applications were lacking compared to European standards. The Ottoman army, poorly equipped and demoralized, had suffered significantly as a result.

The telegram also compared the Bulgarian and Romanian forces, highlighting that although the differences at the battalion and company levels were minimal—with Romania having a slight edge due to better firepower and professional soldiers—the disparities widened at higher levels of organization. At the brigade level, Romania held a considerable advantage, and at the division level, Bulgaria was significantly outmatched. The analysis concluded that at the army level, Romania could decisively overpower Bulgaria due to its strategic deployment of several independent heavy artillery regiments.

After reading the detailed report, Edel placed the telegram on his desk and discussed the broader implications of the Balkan conflict with Carust. "It appears that the Ottoman presence in Europe is nearly eradicated; their forces are almost completely withdrawn," Edel observed.

"It does seem so," Carust agreed, then added, "The key now is whether the Ottomans can act swiftly to concede defeat and conserve some strength for their nation."

Their discussion stemmed from the fact that following the Serbian victory at Kumanovo, Serbian and Montenegrin forces had pushed into Macedonia and the Adriatic coast. The Bulgarian army, victorious from Lule Burgas to Budahirsar, had naturally occupied other regions of Western Thrace, excluding Istanbul. Meanwhile, the Greek forces had taken the Aegean Islands and Eastern Thrace, leaving the Ottoman army confined to a few strongholds like Adrianople, Ioannina, and Shkodra.

It was clear to any observer that the Ottomans were decisively beaten, and their only remaining hope—defeating the Greek navy to transfer Asian troops by sea—was a near impossibility given the current state of the Ottoman navy. Over the past four decades, the Ottoman Empire had managed to commission only four new battleships, and their naval forces had been largely neglected.

In contrast, the Greek Navy boasted three battleships, a newly acquired armored cruiser donated by a patriotic Greek-American millionaire, seven destroyers, and several torpedo boats. This disparity had already manifested in two significant naval engagements near the islands of Eri and Lemnos, where the Ottoman navy, despite a valiant effort, was ultimately outmatched.

The performance of the Balkan states in this conflict was now a topic of interest across Europe, with the Bulgarian army earning high praise and being dubbed the "Prussia of the Balkans" by many newspapers. This comparison, though flattering to Bulgaria, made Edel somewhat uneasy, as he also recognized the commendable efforts of the Serbian and Greek forces, particularly the latter's navy, which had played a crucial role in the war's dynamics.

"Now, the resolution of this conflict hinges on the decision of King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria," Edel stated, reflecting on the strategic positioning of the Bulgarian forces near Istanbul.

"Why Bulgaria?" Carust asked, puzzled.

Edel smiled, explaining, "Because the Bulgarian army is stationed closest to Istanbul in Western Thrace. We need to see if Ferdinand harbors any ambitions towards the city."

In the days that followed, the Ottoman government sought peace with Ferdinand, the commander-in-chief of the Bulgarian forces, proposing an armistice. However, Ferdinand, eyeing a strategic opportunity to capture Istanbul, rejected the proposal and ordered an assault on the Ottoman positions at Chatalja on the Marmara Sea. The fortifications there, equipped with field and coastal artillery, posed a formidable challenge.

The ensuing battle at Chatalja, commanded by Lieutenant General Radiko Dimitriyev of the combined Bulgarian First and Third Armies, was among the fiercest of the First Balkan War. Despite their efforts to penetrate the last line of defense before Constantinople, the high casualties ultimately forced the Bulgarians to retreat, marking the first major setback for the Bulgarian Army since its establishment in 1878 and dashing Ferdinand's ambitions for Istanbul.

Warned by their Russian backers to cease hostilities, Ferdinand finally acquiesced, signing an armistice with Turkey in November. This paved the way for peace talks between the Balkan League and Turkey, which commenced in London shortly thereafter, marking a tentative end to the hostilities that had reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the region.

In the context of the escalating demands of the Balkan League, the Ottoman Empire found itself cornered into a precarious position. The League's insistence on the cession of all European territories west of the Midya-Enez line, along with every island in the Aegean Sea, placed immense pressure on the Ottoman government. The stakes were high: acquiescing to these terms would strip the empire of almost all its European lands, sparing only a diminutive portion around Istanbul. This territory was home to approximately 6.5 million people from various ethnic backgrounds, including 1.5 million Ottomans, making the decision particularly agonizing for the empire, which found itself unable to reach a resolution.

Meanwhile, in Romania, the political dynamics were markedly different. Edel, unconcerned with the Ottoman Empire's indecisiveness, focused solely on safeguarding Romania's economic interests amid the ongoing conflict. The armistice had just been declared, and Edel, eager to understand the broader economic implications, convened a meeting with Prime Minister Bretianu.

"Your Highness, this is the latest report on our import and export trade," Prime Minister Bretianu announced as he presented the document during their meeting in the Crown Prince's office.

Edel scrutinized the report, noting that from October 21 to November 21, during the period of declared war and subsequent armistice, Romania's total import and export volume amounted to 43.1 million lei. The import value stood at 20.67 million lei, only slightly less than September's 21.19 million lei. This minor reduction was primarily because Germany, a major importer of Romanian machinery, predominantly used rail for transportation, and Russia, a key supplier of resources located on the Black Sea, ensured that maritime transport remained unaffected despite the war.

However, the export figures told a different story. The export volume was significantly reduced to 430,000 lei from 29.71 million lei in September, a stark decrease that underscored the severe impact on Romania's economy. The primary reason for this decline was the increased cost of rail transportation, which was 5-7 times more expensive than sea transport. This price hike affected the competitiveness of Romanian exports like automobiles, petrochemicals, and grain across wealthy regions in Western and Southern Europe. For instance, the cost of Romania's Model T cars had risen by approximately 10 pounds in Europe, and the price of Romanian food had escalated from 8 pounds 6 shillings per meal to 9 pounds 1 shilling.

"The economic impact is indeed significant," Edel remarked after reviewing the figures.

Prime Minister Bretianu concurred, adding, "We should be thankful that the war was brief; otherwise, the economic repercussions could have been much worse."

The conversation then shifted to the challenges of rail transportation, a critical component of Romania's export strategy during the war.

"Is there an issue with our rail transportation?" Edel inquired, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Prime Minister Bretianu explained that the initial oversight regarding the personnel required for efficient railway operations had led to significant congestion and inefficiency at the freight yards. Although temporary improvements were made by increasing the number of loaders, the costs escalated, and efficiency eventually plateaued.

Realizing the urgency to address these logistical challenges, Edel pondered the situation. Unlike the port of Constanta, which was equipped with modern gantry cranes and other loading facilities capable of handling large volumes efficiently, the railway system lagged significantly behind, handling only 500 tons of cargo per hour compared to the port's 1,500 tons.

"Have we considered enhancing the loading and unloading capabilities of our railways?" Edel asked, keen on optimizing the rail infrastructure to support Romania's export demands.

Prime Minister Bretianu admitted that such considerations had not been prioritized but promised to instruct the transportation department to develop a feasible plan.

"I hope that our railways can eventually meet the full demands of Romania's exports," Edel expressed his vision, though he was aware of the financial and practical constraints.

"The financial situation might not support such an extensive upgrade at the moment," Prime Minister Bretianu cautioned, suggesting instead that improvements be focused on increasing the efficiency of existing facilities to a more manageable target of handling 1,200 tons per hour.

Acknowledging the limitations, Edel agreed to a more incremental approach. A few days later, the Prime Minister presented a railway expansion plan, which, despite its ambitious scope requiring an investment of 14 million lei, was meticulously calculated to ensure cost-effectiveness.

After careful consideration, Edel signed the agreement, officially initiating the Romanian Railway Freight Expansion Plan. This plan aimed to enhance the freight capacity of railway stations in key cities such as Bucharest, Constanta, Ploiesti, and Iasi over a nine-month construction period, ultimately aiming to support 75% of Romania's export volume via rail.

This strategic move underscored Romania's commitment to overcoming the logistical challenges posed by the war, ensuring the nation's economic resilience in the face of ongoing geopolitical tensions.