Chapter 57: Negotiation
Ferdinand was pondering when Alisa's crisp voice came: "Your Highness, the Russian Empire's diplomatic envoy - Count Pavel Shuvalov - is here."
Ferdinand withdrew his thoughts and said, "Alright, I see! First, have him rest in the parlor, and I'll see him at that side later!"
After a deep breath, Ferdinand suddenly felt his energy multiply. The time had come to decide the future fate of Bulgaria. All that had to be done had been done.
Ferdinand calls out, "Men!"
"What is your order, Your Highness?" The attendant came over at once.
"You inform the ministers and officials in Sofia to come to the royal palace for a meeting this evening!" Ferdinand commanded.
The attendant replied, "Yes, Your Highness, I'll get right on it!"
After a bit of dressing up, Ferdinand decided to meet Count Pavel Shuvalov first. In any case, Bulgaria is still at Russia's mercy, and he cannot neglect courtesy.
Pavel Shuvalov, who saw Ferdinand coming, at once held his right hand on his chest with his left hand, took off his hat with his right hand. His body bowed slightly forward while nodding his head in salute.
"Your Highness. Count Pavel Shuvalov, Count of the Russian Empire, greets you!"
Ferdinand also gave a courtesy nod, which indicated his approval of Pavel Shuvalov's greeting.
"Count Pavel Shuvalov, welcome to Bulgaria!"
...
There was a lot of courtesy bullshit, and Ferdinand was busy for most of the day. No, it should be the lack of fruitful talk for most of the day before getting to the point.
Ferdinand, who learned the diplomatic phrases of later times, began to boast about the relations between the two countries: "Count Pavel, the Russian Empire and Bulgaria are the same. The relations between the two countries have a long history. Despite some misunderstandings, this does not affect the friendly relations between us!"
"The ties between Sofia and St. Petersburg, we can trace back hundreds of years ago. The people of the two countries have so much in common in terms of religion, culture, language, and customs. Once, they fought together against a common enemy, the Ottomans. I am optimistic about the future of relations between the two countries!"
…
Pavel Shuvalov, somewhat baffled, looked at Ferdinand and talked about the friendly relations between the two countries: from history to the present, from religion and culture to language and customs, from politics to economy.
In short, it means that the two countries must have good relations. Whoever destroys the diplomatic ties between the two countries is a sinner in history and is scorned by both peoples.
Count Pavel Shuvalov, after all, has not lived through it. The great age of the Internet is still about the face. Ferdinand began to play with his mouth. He simply did not know how to retort.
At first listening, Ferdinand said all very logically. He came this time initially with good faith. When Pavel thought about it, he knew that there was trouble. If there were no result from the talks, Pavel Shuvalov would have become a historical sinner, the culprit in the ruin of relations between the two countries.
After all, Ferdinand was prepared. In a previous life full of the network of the great era of the culture, modesty, or whatever has long been tossed to Java.
The script was prepared in advance, together with the presence of the stage and big spittle. Under his status again, Ferdinand bombarded Count Pavel Shuvalov with a frenzy that lasted for more than two hours.
Pavel Shuvalov finally left the palace, dazed with all his earlier thoughts disrupted. Together with the pressure of Nikolai's telegram, he was now thinking full of the urgency of friendly relations between Russia and Bulgaria.
Anyone who has seen the real-life MLM brainwashing knows what Ferdinand is doing!
Well, you didn't guess right. It is brainwashing! Had it been in later times, he would have spewed it out, but in the nineteenth century, it was relevant.
In this era where the aristocracy has not fallen, the influence of the great aristocrats is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. With Ferdinand's status, the words spoken are still easily accepted.
Pavel Shuvalov naturally thought that Ferdinand was a pro-Russian. Otherwise, when it comes to relations between the two countries, he could withdraw with so much reason.
It was improving Russian-Bulgarian relations now, even to the point of alliance. For Russia, it is all a diplomatic victory.
Since Germany tore up the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty, the Russian Empire had been isolated in diplomatic terms and no longer had an important ally on the European continent.
In the Balkans region, Russia and Austria-Hungary were rivals, and there were conflicts in the Poland region.
In economic trade, the German-Russian conflict has a long history. As long as the Junker aristocrats are there, it is estimated that there is no chance to resolve it. Well, he can ignore this. After all, it is not a core issue. It is just a tariff.
Not to mention the Ottoman Empire, it is an entirely immortal enemy in the world. Just look at the long borderline. It is all a source of conflict.
Next, there is the British Empire. They did it thirty years ago in the Crimea, but they are European spoilers bulls!
Change a single fight to a group fight, Nikolai I think, indicated that the ability of the British to come to a single battle to make it a team, but do not want them to be idiots!
How did they do with Victoria? They don't want to talk to you, a bad man! We are civilized people with brains. If you're going to fight alone, right, come on, let's have a battle on the sea, whoever is weak is a fool!
Of course, this is not enough. Bullying the Russian navy is nothing. We are a land power. See you on land if you can. Nikolai I has launched to expand to the Ottomans. If you are weak, I will enter the Mediterranean!
Oh, Victoria is angry, you are bull, right, nor do you think about who is John Bull1)! The moment you find your old enemy France, you have to take revenge, don't you? Here's your chance, let's take down that Russian barbarian and help you avenge Waterloo! Interest, rest assured, you have a share of the Mediterranean decision. I ate meat and share a bowl of soup with you!
And then, the British and French groups also brought Ottoman minions to beat Russia. Nikolai, I said that the last thing they need is heavy cargo! Come on, hurt each other! Let's see who can outlast who!
When Victoria looked at it, it wouldn't work! Russia is not easy to deal with it. John Bull could not fight with him! He then continued to play as the European spoiler, using the best trick - pull allies!
First, Prussia and Austria declared neutrality. Russia was furious. Well, we will settle the score later, you Austrian bastard!
Oh, Victoria said, junior, you're too young. It's just getting there. Wait till you get to the back!
Look at it. The Kingdom of Sardinia has joined again. Don't underestimate our European spoiler's ability to pull people in! Next, we will not mention the small countries. Anyway, they are waving the flag. There are more than enough all over Europe!
By the way, insert a few revolutionary parties in you. I was hoping you could give it to me, no need to thank me, we John Bull is so selfless for the cause of human liberation!
What? Österreich2) has turned the tables! What the hell? The promised allies, you are neutral even, but now actually turned against us, you are cruel, we have formed a good relationship, we are not done!
Nikolai I panicked. What should we do? The tiger could not stand up to the wolves. The war could not be fought, and there was a rebellion in the country. It was over!
Okay, I admit defeat! Nikolai I is also a lonely man. He simply refused all the blame and drank a glass of melamine3) and went to see God.
When the emperor died, the Russians stopped doing what they had to do! Alexander II succeeded to the throne and started to improve his rule!
Recovered Russia said I do not want to submit! Britain and Russia continue to fight, but we will skip a small conflict. Not long ago, before the conflict in Afghanistan, Russia has a "League of the Three Emperors", a small victory!
John Bull expressed his disdain, the "League of the Three Emperors" is nothing. Who are we?
European spoilers!
How can you be so vain as to sow the collapse of the "League of the Three Emperors"! What? And the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty, easy! We'll get Wilhelm II and break up the German-Russian alliance!
Translator:
1) John Bull is a national personification of the United Kingdom in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works.
2) Österreich is the german name of Austria.
3) The actual one in Chinese is that 'he drinks milk formula from Sanlu'. Sanlu is famous for the milk scandal in 2008. The milk they produce has melamine that kills six infants and affects 294.000 others. The company is bankrupt, and top managers were sentenced to long prison terms.