Chapter 72: , "Russian League" 2

After reading the content of the covenant, Alexander III looked at Paul Shuvalov and was pleasing to his eye a lot. He smiled and said: "Earl Paul, you did a good job of negotiating with Bulgaria this time! We only paid a small price. Bulgaria is firmly tied to the Russian carriage, and has a nail in the Balkans!"
　　 Obviously, Alexander III’s aura is very strong, at least Paul Shuvalov is fighting against him, especially after Germany tore up the reinsurance treaty.
　　 Don't think that being afraid of flattery is the patent of Big Apple, and Westerners are also unwilling to let go. Paul Shuvalov hurriedly said: "These are all your wise martial arts, your Majesty, leading Russia to flourish, and making Bulgarians aspire to it; and Crown Prince Nicholas's shrewdness and ability, I just do my part. , Not worth mentioning!"
　　 Alexander III seems to be accustomed to these things, but smiled and did not refute.
　　After Earl Paul finished speaking, he said, "Well, don't talk about these flattering words! There will be a conference on Bulgaria later, you can stay and join it too!"
　　Earl Paul immediately made a grateful expression, this time sincerely. Since the breakdown of German-Russian relations, he has been marginalized and never participated in high-level meetings again.
　　 This time the czar left him to participate in the meeting, which is obviously a good signal, which means that he has a chance to return to the center of power.
　　……
　　 In the palace Gatchina on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, a meeting concerning the fate of Bulgaria was held.
Without cumbersome etiquette, Alexander III went straight into the subject, saying: "I want to conclude the treaty with Bulgaria, you all know it! Calling you today is to determine the future for a long time. Bulgaria’s foreign policy!"
(Note: Not all the main characters are called official positions in the following. If foreigners have too many duplicate names, the author will be dizzy. For example, the then Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs: Nikolai Giles, has the same name as Nicholas II. There are a lot more!)
　　As soon as Alexander III finished speaking, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said: "Your Majesty, since we have decided to shift our strategic focus to the east, it is enough to maintain sufficient influence in the Balkans. There is no need to invest too much energy!"
　　 "But this is only time-consuming. Europe is the center of the world. We will return in the future. We cannot relax our penetration of the Balkans!" The Secretary of the Army immediately objected.
　　 The Chancellor of Finance shook his head, and then asked: "But isn't our energy limitless, right? The imperial finances cannot support our two-line operations at the same time. The construction of the Siberian Railway has just started, which has already taken up a lot of our funds!"
　　 "The short-term contraction in Europe is to focus more energy on the east. After the imperial Russia plan is completed, it will not be too late to return to Europe. At that time, our national power will be stronger, and the Balkans cannot stop the empire!"
　　……
　　Then the main dignitaries of the Russian Empire all joined in and started a verbal battle. Count Paul stood aside and said nothing.
　　 The fire at the city gate hit the pond fish. Seeing the noise below, Alexander III noticed Paul Shuvalov who was watching.
　　 Now that Alexander III has begun to be less interested in politics, he has already deviated from the topic of today when he hears the people's pulling away. "Cough" coughed, and then said: "Okay, you are quiet! Earl Paul has just returned from Sofia and is very familiar with the situation there. Let's listen to his opinion first!"
　　Paul Shuvalov was shocked and yelled badly. Now he speaks at this time. Isn't this standing in line?
　　 The Russian Empire is now mainly divided into: the East Movement and the European faction, and the neutral faction. Oh, this is not over yet.
　　 The Eastern Movement is divided into: the Far Eastern faction who advocates expansion to the Far East; the Indian faction who advocates entering Afghanistan and then expanding to India; and the Central Asian faction who advocates the Ottoman expansion in Central Asia.
　　 The European faction also has factions, the Balkans who advocate expansion in the Balkans; the Nordics who advocate expansion in Northern Europe; and there are even radicals who advocate expansion in Austria-Hungary.
　　 It's messy and varied. Of course, there is not so much chaos in the high-level government, mainly Far East and Balkans, and there are not so many brain-dead ideas.
　　 Due to the frustration of expansion in Europe, the Russian Empire now has the upper hand of the Far East, and they have the support of Prince Nicholas.
　　 Hearing Alexander III’s question, Paul Shuvalov immediately said: "Your Majesty, from what I have seen, most Bulgarians are pro-Russian, which shows that our long-term infiltration in the Balkans has been successful!"
"Moreover, Bulgaria’s economy has developed rapidly in recent years, but its resources are poor and labor is lacking. Bulgaria is now moving closer to the empire. This is the main factor. If we continue to export resources and labor to them, decades later We can control Bulgaria economically."
　　Paul Shuvalov was still very cautious, but returned to the problem of Alexander III, which was limited to Bulgaria, did not make a clear statement on the Balkan issue, and at the same time showed a preference for Far Easternism.
　　 As soon as Earl Paul's voice fell, Alexander III showed a strong interest. He doesn't like war very much, and economic control of cultural influence is just in line with Alexander III's appetite.
　　 Seeing the performance of Alexander III, everyone knew the current affairs and chose to shut up. No one chose to challenge the czar's authority. UU reading www. uukanshu.com
　　 "So how long do you think it will take us to take control of Bulgaria?" Alexander III looked at Paul Shuvalov and asked
Paul Shuvalov thought for a while, and then said: "Your Majesty, if all goes well, Bulgaria will be fully pro-Russian in 20 years. After 30 years, we can even turn it into an imperial A grand duchy!"
　　Sure enough, after listening to Paul Shuvalov’s words, Alexander III smiled with satisfaction.
　　 20 years long? Of course, that is enough time for the new generation to grow up! If it takes a generation to integrate a country, it would be too short.
　　 Why did the Russian Empire export Slavic culture to the Balkans? Isn't it to assimilate the Balkan countries in culture?
　　Isn't it just right that Bulgaria is asking for immigration? Those sitting here have ignored that the Russian Empire is not a nation, and even less than half of the dominant nation. Foreign immigrants are also in the majority of other ethnic groups. How much will the long-term oppressed ethnic minorities feel towards the Russian Empire?
　　 "Well, if you have no other opinions, then I will approve this treaty! The future strategy of the empire against Bulgaria is to attract politically and economically and culturally!" Alexander III asked in a positive tone
Of course no one would object to this issue. The Eastern Movement naturally supported it. The "Russian League" was promoted by Prince Nicholas, which was in line with their priority Eastern strategy. The Europeans had no reason to oppose it, and this did not affect them Strategy; the neutrals continue to make soy sauce.
　　 After Alexander III approved the "Russian-Russian Alliance", the Russian government was rarely effective. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bulgarian ambassador to Russia announced the news on Christmas Eve.