Risk

On October 28, the British ambassador to Greece saw that Greek troops were still gathering and mobilizing towards the northern border, ignoring the warnings of the British Empire.

The geopolitical turmoil in Greece reached a boiling point as the British Mediterranean Fleet, in a show of force, blockaded the waters adjacent to Athens. The defiant Greek troops, continuing their mobilization towards the northern border despite British warnings, now faced the ominous muzzles of the cannons on the British warships, directed at Athens, the capital of Greece.

In a high-stakes diplomatic standoff, the British Ambassador, William Walter, delivered a stern ultimatum to Prime Minister Andreas. The British Mediterranean Fleet, stationed off the coast of Greece, threatened to open fire on Athens if the Greek army did not immediately cease its mobilization. The city, thrown into chaos, witnessed panicked citizens attempting to flee, creating gridlock on the roads.

The news of the British threat sent shockwaves through the Tatoi Palace, where both King George and Constantine grappled with the unprecedented turn of events. The British Empire, once considered a staunch ally in Greece's struggle for independence, now posed a formidable challenge to the nation's sovereignty.

The historical ties between Greece and Britain, rooted in the fight against Ottoman rule, seemed frayed. The Greeks, who had looked to Britain with admiration and gratitude, felt a deep sense of betrayal. The British action, perceived as an assault on Greek national dignity, stirred anger and resentment among the populace.

You must know that since Greece became independent in 1830, the relationship between Greece and the United Kingdom has been very close, and it was the active support of the United Kingdom that allowed Greece to get rid of the Ottoman Turks.

In the 1828s, when the news of the Greeks' struggle for independence reached Europe, it gained widespread sympathy from the European people.

Greece is regarded by European intellectuals as the birthplace of European civilization and the birthplace of democracy, among the European elites, a special feeling is generally cherished for it.

When people talk about European civilization, they usually refer to ancient Greece and Rome.

For example, the famous British poet Byron, he regarded it as his mission to help the Greek people gain independence. After learning the news of the Greek people's independence movement, he resolutely went there and invested in organizing a small army to help fight against the Turks.

Therefore, the Greek people generally have a favorable impression of the British.

In a decisive move, King George I, as the constitutional monarch and commander-in-chief of the Greek army, ordered an immediate halt to the mobilization. The British threat had forced Greece to recalibrate its position in the escalating conflict between Serbia and Bulgaria.

In the delicate dance of international relations, King George I acknowledged the pragmatism of navigating the shifting currents of power. The political landscape, already fraught with internal divisions, now bore the scars of external interference. The king's decision, however, came at the cost of strained relations with Britain.

As the news of the king's order spread, a sense of disappointment and frustration gripped the Greek people. The fervor for war, fueled by nationalistic sentiments, clashed with the pragmatic decision to avert a confrontation with the British Empire.

The political repercussions were swift. The main war advocate, Delianes, found himself ousted by the members of the National Assembly, and former Prime Minister Trikupis returned to power. The political turmoil reflected the deep divisions within Greek society, torn between aspirations for regional dominance and the pragmatic realities of international relations.

Back in the Prime Minister's residence, Constantine and Trikupis engaged in discussions about the future of Greece. The limitations of military expansion became evident, prompting a shift towards exploring avenues in industry and commerce. However, the challenges facing Greece in these realms were significant, with limited resources and a lack of competitive commodities.

Trikupis expressed the difficulties of developing industry and commerce without access to vital resources like coal and iron. The economic woes of Greece seemed insurmountable without a breakthrough solution. Constantine, however, hinted at a potential lifeline – a special medicine for malaria unique to Greece.

Originally, Constantine just wanted to use the medicine as an emergency product because In addition to secretly providing it to the Athens City Hospital, the only other time other people new about it was when he provided it to the Congo Committee as a regular supply to deal with the nefarious diseases in the Congo River Basin. surroundings.

This kind of medicine for a single disease has the potential for huge profits because behind every medicine discovered is a carnival of capital.

Once the news of this medicine spreads, countless powerful people will start to pay attention.

But with what Greece strength is, it is doubtful whether such a large gold mine can be kept for the benefit of Greece.

But now, the plight of Greece's economic development has forced Constantine to take some risks.

The mention of this medicinal discovery opened a new avenue for economic development. Constantine, leveraging the knowledge of artemisinin, contemplated the potential economic boon it could bring to Greece. This risky endeavor, driven by the necessity of economic survival, underscored the lengths to which Constantine is willing to go to secure their future in a world dominated by geopolitical complexities. The fate of Greece, caught in the crossfire of conflicting interests, hung in the balance, with both internal and external forces shaping its destiny.