Chapter 472: Harvesting the Fruits of the European War

Chapter 472: Harvesting the Fruits of the European War

Chapter 472: Harvesting the Fruits of the European War
On the afternoon of February 2, the Zeppelin airship arrived at the Hailing East Suburb Airport, completing the last operation of the temporary wartime special line from Hailing to Berlin. After that, it was changed to civilian use.

Shao Quanzhong, who had just picked up Princess Sissi at Qiao Garden, immediately returned to the airport to greet the two important figures.

Bismarck and Moltke went into exile in Hailing.

Because of the bombing of London, William I, Moltke and Bismarck were all on Queen Victoria's wanted list. Now that Germany has been defeated, the two will be tried as war criminals.

But they were in the rear and had ample opportunity to leave Germany and escape trial.

Shao Quanzhong hugged his two old friends in turn, "We have arrived home now. You two great men of our time, don't worry about your ups and downs. Just cultivate yourself well in Hailing, and you will eventually make a comeback."

Shao Quanzhong was just comforting his two old friends. He didn't know whether Germany could rise again or whether the two of them would have a chance to revive.

Moltke laughed and said, "Bismarck may have a chance, but I am already 78 years old. I am afraid I have no chance."

Shao Quanzhong patted Mao Qi on the back and said, "I calculated with my fingers and I think you can live to be a hundred years old, Marshal. At least you can live to be over ninety. There is still a lot of time to come."

The three of them laughed together. The two Germans didn't know that Shao Quanzhong's calculations with his fingers were not in vain.

The scenery of Hailing could not keep Moltke, as he was a man who could not sit still.

While sitting in the back seat of the Maybach, he decided to teach at the Baoding Military Academy. Shao Quanzhong immediately hired him as the honorary president of the Baoding Army Officers School.

Bismarck decided to stay in Hailing. "Shao, I want to learn Chinese and read more books by Daxia's predecessors. I want to reflect on my administration and national policy in Germany and find out why Germany failed in the war but Daxia thrived. Can you recommend some books?"

This really stumped Shao Quanzhong, "Old Bi, I am not educated. Fortunately, there are many educated people in Hailing."

"How about this? I'll leave you a villa on the Hailing University campus. The newly built Chinese department there has hired several former imperial scholars. You can communicate with them."

"As for reading, I have only read stories. I have heard stories about Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Thirty-Six Stratagems, and I have also asked for advice on The Art of War. You can take a look, but I am far from knowledgeable in this area."

Bismarck then became the honorary president of Hailing University. The previous honorary president was the late Master Qiao.

…………

When Princess Sissi arrived at Qiao Garden, she did not stay in the guest room. Instead, she was invited by Ping'er to stay in her own separate courtyard in the east yard.

She dressed up carefully, hoping to leave a good impression on Shao Quanzhong, but Shao Quanzhong was busy receiving Bismarck and Moltke and didn't see her at all. She lost confidence in her charm. The next morning, Zhang Siwen asked to see her.

"Your Majesty, my brother is well aware of your anxiety and has sent me here to discuss the future of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with you."

If I had known that it was Daxia's Privy Councilor who was talking to me, I should have sent Count Andrassy. Princess Sissi actually doesn't know much about government affairs...

Zhang Siwen did not discuss government affairs with Princess Sissi. "Excuse me, what are your wishes for the future of the Austro-Hungarian Empire?"

Princess Sissi thought for a while, "Britain and France want to dismember the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia cannot be retained. The outlet to the Adriatic Sea must be ceded to Italy, and Hungary will lose 70% of its territory."

"We have the consciousness of a loser after our defeat, but I don't want Rudolf to lose the Austrian crown, and I don't want Hungary to become a small landlocked country..."

Zhang Siwen nodded. "I can meet both of your requests and even exceed your expectations, but we also have demands..."

Zhang Siwen's plan far exceeded Princess Sissi's expectations. Princess Sissi nodded in agreement and the terms were quickly negotiated.

Princess Sissi suddenly felt a little disappointed. Shao was indeed willing to help me, but he didn't mention any other conditions. Alas, am I so unpopular with him? Zhang Siwen did not say goodbye after the conversation. "Your Majesty, even if Daxia helped the Austro-Hungarian Empire avoid collapse, the Austro-Hungarian Empire actually had a problem. The ethnic groups within the territory were too complex, and no main ethnic group exceeded 50% of the population. This was destined to be unsustainable."

"then what should we do?"

"The cohesion of a country can be achieved through ethnic blood as well as common ideals. If His Majesty Rudolf wants to secure his throne, the various ethnic groups in the Austro-Hungarian Empire can be united through common ideals."

"For this reason, we believe that you should hold the absolute power of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, rather than the regent Empress Dowager and Count Andrassy..."

There was a reason why Shao Quanzhong sent Zhang Siwen to talk to Princess Sissi, because Zhang Siwen's influence in solving the problems of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was greater than Shao Quanzhong's.

After the plan was finalized, Princess Sissi, Zhang Siwen, Count Andrassy and Rudolf held a four-person remote telephone conference.

Now Zhang Siwen's German is quite good. The meeting was actually a discussion between him and Count Andrassy, ​​who currently holds actual power in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and they quickly reached a consensus.

An hour after the conference call, Russia announced that it would rejoin the Allied Powers, abolish the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, and recover the three Baltic countries and Ukraine.

He sent 300,000 troops, all of which were fast mechanized and cavalry troops, through Ukraine, marching more than 100 miles a day, attacking the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with the target being the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Bulgaria and Romania simultaneously announced their intention to join the Allied Powers.

Bulgaria sent 700,000 troops across the border and invaded Serbia, with the goal of occupying Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, and Slovenia, and taking over all the southern Slavic territories.

Romania sent 400,000 troops to occupy Hungary and Austria.

On the Austro-Hungarian side, the army surrendered to the three countries in an organized manner under the instruction of Count Andrassy. The 1.4 million-strong army will complete the occupation of the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire within a month at the latest without bloodshed.

Within a month, Britain, France and the United States would have no chance to transfer troops from the Western Front. The Austro-Hungarian Empire would surrender to Bulgaria, Romania and Russia. Zhang Siwen promised them surrender conditions that were much better than those of Britain and France.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire could only trust the secret verbal agreement between Zhang Siwen and Count Andrassy over the phone, because the conditions of Britain and France were unacceptable to them.

Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia are all members of the Fenian system, and they are the vanguards of the king, actually seizing the fruits of the European war for Daxia.

When Franz I visited the Qing Dynasty with Princess Sissi, they met Shao Quanzhong, which led to the current situation in which both sides benefit.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was not dismembered and was able to retain most of its territory and even have access to the sea. The Habsburg family was able to rule the Austro-Hungarian Empire more firmly, and Bactria extended its tentacles of influence westward all the way to Vienna.

Both parties benefited, so who suffered the loss?

…………

Princess Sissi stayed in Qiao Garden and had her own plans for the next step, which would be carried out after Bulgaria, Romania and Romania completed their occupation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

She hoped to meet Shao Quanzhong to repay his kindness to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and it would be best if she could find something to hold against him so that Shao Quanzhong could fulfill his promise to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

However, she was disappointed. The next day, Shao Quanzhong broke his promise and did not meet her as promised. He was interrupted by bigger things when discussing his children's engagement ceremony.

The situation in Daxia changed suddenly.

(End of this chapter)