Mediterranean Hegemony Road

On the other side, Nicholas II, on behalf of the Russian Foreign Minister Sassonov, also arrived in Sofia. He came by plane, and it took just over a day from St. Petersburg to Sofia.

In addition to Russian Foreign Minister Satsunov, there is also a group of Russian economic experts. It seems that Nicholas II is also afraid, and has prepared professionals in advance to bargain.

As soon as he got off the plane and before he had time to rest, Sassonov hurriedly put forward a negotiation request to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, and the Bulgarian-Russian negotiation officially started.

Going back in time to a day ago, in the Sofia Royal Palace, Foreign Minister Metev asked, "Your Majesty, where is our bottom line when negotiating with the Russians this time?"

Ferdinand smiled slightly and asked, "What do you think of the Foreign Ministry?"

Metev was dumbfounded. This kind of negotiation has always been decided by the government, and no country has let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decide such a major event!

After thinking about it, Metev said bravely, "Your Majesty, this question has exceeded the authority of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It depends on what the government wants from the Russian Empire?"

Ferdinand asked casually, "Sir, what does the government want from Russia this time?"

Constantine thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, if possible, we intend to buy the Crimean Peninsula from the Russians!"

Sure enough, Ferdinand thought to himself. The Crimean Peninsula covers an area of ​​only 2.55 million square kilometers. The southeast is low hill forest, but it is rich in iron ore, while the middle and north are plain areas, suitable for agricultural production.

These resources alone are definitely not worth much. The problem is the strategic value. After winning the Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea will become the inland sea of ​​Bulgaria. Even if the Russians want to develop their navy in the future, they will not be able to find a more suitable port. .

If Nicholas II is willing to sell, Ferdinand does not mind paying a high price. Of course, if Nicholas II is more generous, it will be better if he is willing to sell more land.

Ferdinand thought for a while and said, "Let's talk about it. The Crimean Peninsula is not worth 10 billion yuan. Now we only talk about economic value!"

Metev said hesitantly, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid the government has no money to buy land! This loan must only be provided by the three major domestic banks. We can't let the bank pay for us to buy land for us, right?"

Ferdinand smiled slightly and said, "Of course, I didn't ask you to buy land with 10 billion levas. This loan is still the business of the bank. In order for the bank to provide the loan, the Russians must provide enough collateral, otherwise Who dares to lend them a loan?"

Constantine became embarrassed. He originally wanted to take advantage of the fire, but the government didn't have such money. As he thought about the debt, the issue of selling the debt of Italy and Germany had almost been discussed with the British.

As long as these debts are sold, are you afraid that you can't buy them? Although it was sold like this, Bulgaria suffered a bit, but now I can't care about that much!

"Your Majesty, we have already negotiated with the British consortium about the sale of German and Italian creditors. Are we going to sell it now?" Constantine said hesitantly.

Ferdinand sighed and said, "Sell it! What is the price negotiated now?"

Now there are only a few British consortiums left, which have the strength to buy this huge debt. Bulgaria already owes them 680 million pounds. They can directly deduct this part from it. In fact, the funds that need to be paid are greatly reduced. .

Foreign Minister Metev thought about it and replied, "The British consortium only agreed to calculate at a 40% discount. Over the past few years, Germany and Italy have repaid some of our loans, plus the debts that were offset in kind, and now the two countries owe us a total of 2,812 Billion levs, a 40% discount is 1,687.2 billion pounds.

After subtracting the debts we owe to the British and other international financial groups, we end up with £8.6 billion.

They also asked to pay in three installments to be settled within a year! At the same time, we must ensure that Germany and Italy will not default on their debts! "

It has to be said that the consortium is capable of doing business. If it is not considering the economic expansion of the whole society in the future, he will do this business by himself.

With the development of science and technology, more and more gold is mined, and more and more wealth is produced by society. In essence, this huge sum of money has been in a state of depreciation!

Ferdinand said without hesitation, "Promise them, but we only guarantee that Germany and Italy will not default on their debts, and we cannot guarantee when they will pay them off, and these debts have nothing to do with us!"

According to the current interest calculation, in 40 to 50 years, when Germany and Italy repaid the loan, the total amount of principal and interest received by these consortiums has exceeded 10 billion pounds!

And now they only took out 8.6 billion pounds in cash, and the other funds were offsets between the consortiums.

This is similar to a bank loan. If you borrow 100 million yuan from this bank, you can't withdraw all of it, right? Usually only a number is added to the account number, and most of the business transactions are made by transfer, and the money is still in the bank.

Therefore, originally a bank's assets were only a few hundred million yuan, and its deposits were only two or three billion yuan. Perhaps the loans they gave out exceeded one hundred billion yuan.

As long as the credit is not bankrupt, they can continue to play together and use financial means to grab high profits, so even in some countries in later generations, the loan interest is lower than the deposit interest!

It's not that the bank is stupid, but people are still making money, and there is no so-called loss! Loaning a sum of money once is a loss, lending it twice is a profit, and lending it three or five times is a bloody profit!

Ferdinand guessed that perhaps the consortium could make profits without spending a lot of money. The method is very simple. Just turn these debts into bonds and sell them to the British people. This interest figure is displayed here. no one buy it?

"Yes!" Metev replied without hesitation

Constantine was hesitant to say anything. Many people in the Bulgarian government were also very excited about this generous interest. Unfortunately, neither Germany nor Italy could pay the debts in cash, and people used industrial products to pay off the debts.

However, Bulgaria has no effect at all in holding these industrial products. Domestic sales are prohibited, and they do not have such a strong sales network when they are sold abroad.

Therefore, it is appropriate to let the British consortium do this business, and by the way, they can also attack the industrial exhibition of the British Empire. When a large number of cheap goods hit their market, their good days will be over, Constantine thought maliciously.

...

As soon as the negotiations began, Russian Foreign Minister Sassonov was at a disadvantage. There was no way who would let him borrow money? And in the world, now only Bulgaria dares to lend them money!

Not every country can resist the pressure of Britain and France, and not every consortium has the strength to provide them with this huge sum of money.

There are no more than ten international consortiums in the world that can take out 10 billion levs at one time, and most of them are in Britain and France, and the rest are Ferdinand's royal consortium.

The Americans used to have this strength before, but after the war it was no longer possible. Whether it was Morgan, Locke, or Citi, these consortia were hit hard by the war.

Their appeal has been greatly reduced, and they can't do it before the war to spend so much money on their own strength? After all, the World War has not been fought for four years, and the United States has not participated in it, and their assets have also lost the opportunity for high expansion!

Metev said calmly, "Mr. Sassnov, we are in business, what price can your country pay?

You must know that the risk of this loan is as high as 98%. If there is not enough interest, it is impossible for our domestic banks to undertake it!

It is impossible for the Bulgarian government to guarantee you free of charge. Although the relationship between our two countries is very good, the number of 10 billion is too large. We are really helpless! "

Seeing that Metev had already begun a showdown, Russian Foreign Minister Satsunov thought for a while and said, "Mr. Metev, please believe in our sincerity, the Russian Empire can sell the province of Bessarabia to your country!"

Metev was overjoyed in his heart, but still said without changing his face, "Not enough! The province of Sarabia is not worth the price, at most it is worth 600 million leva, which is too far from the loan of 10 billion leva. Far.

Mr. Sassonov, as long as you are willing to sell half of Ukraine, you will be able to sell almost ten billion levs! "

Russian Foreign Minister Satsunov's face sank, and he sold half of Ukraine as a joke. If he really sold it, it is estimated that when he went back, Nicholas II would have his skin peeled off!

"Mr. Metev, the account can't be calculated like this. The strategic significance of the province of Bessarabia to your country is not small. This is related to the security of the Romanian region in the east of your country. How can this price only be calculated for economic value?"

Metev laughed and said, "It also depends on whose hands it is placed. If it is placed in the hands of the enemy, Bessarabia is indeed a threat to us, but in the hands of your country, we can rest assured!

The long-term friendly relations between Bulgaria and Russia are unlikely to be a threat in your country's hands. Does Mr. Sassonov think that war will break out between our two countries? "

Satsunov was dumbfounded. He was so shameless when he realized that he was so shameless. Metev was obviously pretending to be stupid on purpose. How could he answer that?

Can it be said that Bulgaria and Russia are likely to have a war in the future, so that Bulgaria can take precautions and buy Bessarabia back at a high price?

If you really say that, you probably don't need to talk about the loan. This is simply another provocation. Maybe the Bulgarian government will use it as an excuse to attack them first and get rid of them directly!

Satsunov smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Metev is joking. With the relationship between our two countries, even if the government wants to break out a war, the people will not agree to it, right?"

Of course, he will not agree. There are so many Russian immigrants in Bulgaria. If the two governments can fight, then will there be a problem?

Now, the two countries that protect Russia are truly brotherly countries. Blood is thicker than water, and there is not enough conflict of interest. No politician will choose to turn his face?

Even if the Russian Empire is so weak now, Bulgaria has not fallen into the trap, and even there is no voice in the government to take advantage of the fire. It is not that the relationship between the two sides is too deep, and it is impossible to turn against it!

If there is no such deep relationship, Ukraine has not changed hands. Is this Ferdinand's style?

Metev nodded and said, "Of course, the Russian Empire has always been Bulgaria's most important ally, no one!"

Sassonov didn't know whether to cry or laugh. Back then, the tsarist government supported Bulgaria because it wanted to infiltrate Bulgaria through immigration and finally take control of Bulgaria.

Facts have proved that their plan went very smoothly. Now that the Russian immigrants have completed the infiltration of Bulgaria, it is a pity that Bulgaria has also risen because of this.

On the contrary, the Russian Empire is in trouble. The original infiltration plan has now become the link of friendly relations between the two countries!

Sassonov thought about it and said, "Of course, Bulgaria is also the most important ally of the Russian Empire, no one!

Mr. Metev, what do you want? Now the Russian Empire really needs this loan, as long as it is not too much, we can discuss it! "

Metev wanted to add to him, it seems that now the Russian Empire only needs Bulgaria as an ally!

After thinking about it, Metev said, "Mr. Sassonov, please rest assured, we have no intention of opening a lion's mouth. In addition to the province of Bessarabia, we also plan to go to the Crimea Peninsula behind your country. Rest assured. In terms of price, we will not make your country suffer!"

Satsunov's face changed, and he said in a panic, "No, the Crimean Peninsula is the most important port of the Russian Empire in the Black Sea. This is too important to the Russian Empire. We cannot lose the most important commercial ports and military bases. !"

Metev smiled slightly and said, "It's not lost, even if you sell it to us, wouldn't it still be able to be used normally in your country?

We have a covenant, the two countries can share the port, your merchant ships and warships can still navigate freely without any restrictions, and there will be no tariffs! "

Satsunov rubbed his forehead. If it was just a commercial port, he really wouldn't mind selling it directly. Metev was right. The tariffs between Bulgaria and Russia are about zero.

All commercial trades are symbolic tariffs charged. For each trade, regardless of the size of the amount, both parties take a dollar each. The Russian Empire charged one ruble, while Bulgaria charged one lev, almost nothing!

Although the Black Sea Fleet has been abolished and Bulgaria has risen strongly again, there are still many people in the country who want to rebuild the Black Sea Fleet, but the Baltic Sea is more important, and this voice has been suppressed.

Of course, it doesn't exist anymore. Everyone is busy with the civil war. Nicholas II has not abolished the navy, but it is already very good. He has to expand the navy. What are you kidding?

Sassonov thought for a while and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Metev, I have to ask the country for instructions. The Crimean Peninsula is the most important port of the Russian Empire in the Black Sea, which is no longer within the scope of my authority. Inside!"

Metev replied in a very gentlemanly manner, "That's what it should be! If that's the case, why don't we talk about Satsunov tomorrow?"

Sassonoff said with a sigh of relief, "Okay!"

This issue is not something he can decide anymore. Let’s leave it to the tsar to deal with the headache. Anyway, it is not the first time that the Russian Empire has sold land. The Crimean Peninsula was also seized by Russia from the Ottoman Empire and does not belong to the core of the Russian Empire. territory.

This is the difference between western culture and eastern culture. In the eastern world, if the government sells land because of lack of money. The hat of a traitor cannot be taken off; but in the Western world, are there still few land transactions in modern times?

Originally, the land was regarded as a part of their property, and it was not unacceptable to sell the land for money, provided that the government did not sell the land!

Although the Russian Empire has no colonies and all lands are directly governed by the government, in fact, the Crimea Peninsula, Bessarabia Province, and even Ukraine are not considered the territory of the Russian Empire. Many Russians Treat them as colonies!

This is also one of the reasons why, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in later generations, even such an important place as Ukraine allowed them to become independent!

.

Genius website address: . Mobile version reading website: