27) Russian Ambition

Although he speculated, Ferdinand had to confirm the attitudes of the French and Russians before he could rest assured. So he asked, "Mr. Metev, what are the conditions of the Russians?"

Metev said nervously, "The Russians want to preserve the Russian and Bulgarian navies and can share all military ports!"

It can not help him not to be nervous. Bulgaria and then the Black Sea ports, for the Russian Imperial Navy, are completely dispensable existence.

There is only one possibility for this condition to be made now: Bulgaria's strategy has been exposed! Only the access to the Mediterranean Sea is worth the attention of the Russians!

As for the navy's shared military port, they were simply stashed away, but it was just a nice thing to say! It is hard to believe that the Bulgarian navy, which exists in theory, can really use Russian military ports?

A few moments later, Minister of Foreign Affairs Metev added, saying, "And that is, I hope our two countries can have more in-depth cultural exchanges!"

Ferdinand's mind was stunned. Sharing a military port earlier is okay, while the Russian already knows the strategic intentions of Bulgaria, but it also implies the intention to support the expansion of Bulgaria!

As for the Bosphorus, Ferdinand had not dared to think about it. To master the Bosphorus, you can not escape a core issue - Constantinople!

And there must also be a navy, so good as it is, Constantinople is still a piece of gold for Bulgaria now!

It's easy to get, but it's hard to keep! The Turks will certainly not give up easily. Without the control of the sea, the Ottoman navy will attack every day, and Ferdinand does not want to live!

As for the desire for deeper cultural exchange, later on, the ambition is clear! Aren't the cultural exchanges between Russia and Bulgaria deep enough? It is obvious that they are to spread 'Pan-Slavism'!

Ferdinand sneered. Now Bulgaria's nationalism has risen, 'Pan-Slavism' is trying to gain recognition, but it is impossible to do so in a short time!

In a decade or two, Bulgaria will not be the Bulgaria of today! By then, even if Ferdinand agreed to establish the 'Great Slavic Empire', would the European Great Powers be able to agree?

And 'Pan-Slavism' is not entirely bad for Bulgaria! At least it will increase the approval of the immigrants from Russia to Bulgaria!

In the end, who can get the most benefit, depends on the means! In this case, Ferdinand decided to simply push one more time, not to promote 'Pan-Slavism'?

All right then! To the Russian Empire, too. Ferdinand has decided to send someone to the Ukrainian region to promote a good wave of 'Pan-Slavism' for the Russian government. Of course, he can remove Russia as the core of this article!

If the Russian Empire can resist a war against the odds, there's nothing to say! Ferdinand can simply bow down, admit defeat, and become a king in the federal empire.

What about history remains the same, though? It's not his fault that he inherited part of the Russian Empire! Anyway, we are all Slavic peoples, and under the influence of 'Pan-Slavism', everyone must not be so resistant to joining the Bulgarian family!

One can say that Ferdinand is playing a big gamble. If you win, Bulgaria will step on the corpse of the Russian Empire and establish the 'Third Bulgarian Empire'; if you lose it for Bulgaria, everything will be over.

For Ferdinand personally, the big deal is to become the king of the 'Great Slavic Empire', no matter how you look at it, is to make a gain. It is only a question of how much gain!

Ferdinand said firmly: "Tell the Russians that their conditions, we agree! But we have to get the Russian Empire, full support! Whether in diplomacy or military technology, I hope to start an all-round cooperation!"

On this issue, Ferdinand did not ask the opinion of the cabinet. He knew that if they let them resolve, it would likely not pass!

Without foresight, who would not have thought that a 'Russo-Japanese War' would break out in the Far East more than ten years later, and then the internal conflicts in Russia would intensify, and a revolution would break out, pulling the Russian Empire down from the throne!

More than twenty years later, a World War would break out and directly bring down the Russian Empire!

...

After a few moments of silence, Prime Minister Konstantin hesitantly advised, "Your Highness, the scheming of the Russian has been exposed, and I am afraid that if we agree to their terms, we might be in big trouble in the future?"

Ferdinand said coldly: "It's not that simple. Even if we reject the terms this time, the Russians will not stop! We don't know how many tricks they will use to force us to compromise!

If that's the case, we might as well just trade it for some benefits! As long as our strategic goals are achieved, Bulgaria will be a medium-sized country with a population of over 10 million.

At that time, even if the Russians wanted to establish the 'Great Slavic Empire', we would have enough strength to negotiate the terms!

Besides, the Great Powers would not tolerate the annexation of the Balkans by the Russians, at least not by Austria-Hungary! And the British would not let Russia run to the Mediterranean and fight them for supremacy!"

All the people now had an angry look on their faces. The Russians actually wanted to annex Bulgaria, which was totally intolerable to the people!

The Great Slavic Empire sounds great. If the Russian Empire is weaker, or Bulgaria is stronger by about ten times or eight times, maybe it's really possible to achieve!

But now there is no need to think about it, the gap between the two sides is too big! The so-called Union is not yet a one-way street for the Russians!

Seeing the crowd's reaction, Ferdinand reassured: "You don't have to worry too much. We still have enough time. At least now we are separated from the Russians by Romania!

To build the Great Slavic Empire was not so simple. Even if we cooperate with our hearts, the Great Powers will intervene! There is only one chance, and Nikolai II will not take the plunge without sufficient certainty.

Now the strategic focus of the Russians is still the Far East, a large number of human and material resources are invested in the Siberian Railway, at least ten years there is no chance for Russia to pull out!"

Hearing Ferdinand's words, the crowd looked a little more relaxed. Even if Pan-Slavism is powerful, it is impossible to achieve results in the short term. Moreover, 'Pan-Slavism' and Ferdinand's Greater Bulgarians have similarities, which will promote the integration of ethnic groups in Bulgaria!

Besides, in the absence of a border, even if Nikolai II were confident, he would not set up a federal empire in advance. If not, being separated in two places, the Great Powers will easily cause another split when they intervene!

The Russians have to play their cards right, so let's take care of Romania first! Along with this, they must take care of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German Empire behind Romania.

To do this, let's win a World War first!