Chapter 628: Taking advantage of the enemy
From the perspective of the Allied Powers, if the Kingdom of Hungary can be forced to withdraw from the war, even if all the occupied territories are returned to Hungary, it will not matter. After all, Britain, France, and Russia have not suffered losses.
Those who suffered the most were the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Romania.
Romania aside, Polis is George’s eldest son.
As soon as the news of the negotiations came out, Ferdinand came to Constantinople from Bucharest.
"Romania has lost 100,000 people for Transylvania. If Transylvania is returned to Hungary, how do you want me to explain to the people?"
Ferdinand firmly opposed negotiations, The Hungarian Kingdom has always lost at least half of its losses by surrendering. It is a dream for the Kingdom of Hungary to escape unscathed.
It has to be said that the Hungarians chose their timing very well, and their ability to adapt to the wind is as good as the Italians. Withdrawing from the war is the only chance for the Kingdom of Hungary to preserve its territorial integrity.
Ferdinand was filled with resentment. Do the interests of weak countries deserve to be sacrificed?
George really wanted to tell Ferdinand that the law of the jungle is the essence of this world.
"George, the Kingdom of Romania has always been a loyal ally of the Empire. If the Empire asks for mobilization, we will mobilize. If the Empire asks for troops, we will send troops. We should not be treated like this!"
Ferdinand asked with red eyes. George said that if Russia negotiates with Hungary, Romania will cancel its alliance with the Russian Empire.
George could only tell Ferdinand that the negotiations had not begun and the empire had not given up Romania.
Before Ferdinand left, Catherine came again.
Ekaterina's attitude was more intense than Ferdinand's.
"Have you forgotten how they treated our family when your father died?"
For the first time, George saw Ekaterina swearing without grace.
“Those bastards kicked us out, separated us mother and son, and asked you to guard the border for the empire. You won the Russo-Japanese War for the empire and defeated the Ottoman Empire. The empire gave you something, and you gave back to the empire. Of course, I couldn't protect you and left you alone in St. Petersburg. I still feel deeply guilty. I am not a qualified mother-"
Ekaterina burst into tears, feeling unprecedentedly weak.
But in the blink of an eye, Ekaterina suddenly became excited again.
"The empire did not give anything to Polis. It was the Bulgarians who invited Polis to be the king of Bulgaria. You can sacrifice your own interests for the empire. I will not allow anyone to harm Polis!"
< br>Although Annie said nothing, her eyes were also red.
“The negotiations have not begun—”
George comforted Ekaterina in the same way.
“I know it hasn’t started yet, but if you don’t make your attitude clear and unambiguous, negotiations will definitely begin, and Boris and his Bulgarian kingdom will be sacrificed, and those people will definitely do it ”
Although Catherine has left St. Petersburg for a long time, she obviously knows St. Petersburg better than George.
"George, why don't you ask the generals for their opinions?"
Anne knows George better than Catherine.
Brushinov, Vasily, and Andre were not around, so George could only ask Demeter.
"If you want to go back to St. Petersburg, I can only retire."
Demeter was completely disappointed with St. Petersburg.
Vasily took the initiative to send a telegram to George. He did not want to lead his regiment and accept the command of anyone else except George.
Although Vasily did not name him, it was more serious than naming him.
George was speechless. William II still had talents around him. It was just a suggestion. The Balkan Alliance was almost disbanded.
Both Joffre and Haig sent telegrams to George, hoping that George would take the overall situation into consideration and agree to negotiate with the Hungarians.
George didn’t know if Joffre and Haig persuaded Nicholas Jr. to attack in this way last year.
When George saw the words "taking into account the overall situation" now, he could only feel disgusted.
Did the train run over one person or ten people?
If you are that one, how do you choose?
To George's relief, Polis actually agreed to negotiate with the Hungarians.
"Even if Bosnia and Herzegovina is returned to Hungary, would you be willing?"
George is very happy that Polis has great love.
With Hungary withdrawing from the war, George can lead the Balkan Army to Poland to defeat Hindenburg——
Wait a minute, Nicholas did not say that George should return to St. Petersburg to serve as commander-in-chief.
"If the war can be ended as soon as possible, I will."
Polis is so sensible, but George is even more difficult to do.
Montenegro Nikolai reminded George that the so-called negotiations may be just a delaying tactic by the Germans.
Hindenburg is definitely not willing to negotiate. No matter who is the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, with 1 million more people, Hindenburg will be under great pressure.
If George served as the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, even if all the German troops in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were concentrated in Poland, Hindenburg would be difficult to withstand George's attack.
To be honest, if Zhilinsky hadn't killed 300,000 elite Russian troops at the beginning of the war, it would be hard to say what happened on the European battlefield.
No matter how good Nikolai was, Brusinov, Vasily, and Andrei had all experienced the baptism of the Russo-Japanese War. As long as they did not make mistakes, it would be difficult for Hindenburg to defeat the Russian army.
In this way, the so-called negotiations may really be a delaying tactic.
After all, without the consent of the Germans, the Kingdom of Hungary would have no chance to negotiate.
George called Nicholas back and said that if the Kingdom of Hungary agreed to withdraw from the war, the Balkan Alliance could withdraw its troops from the occupied areas.
This is really not perfunctory.
It was actually easy to appease Ferdinand.
Ferdinand's request was to get Transylvania. This is easy to handle. First return Transylvania to Hungary. After defeating Germany, you can find any reason. As long as the Kingdom of Romania still has strength, you can take Transylvania back at any time.
After losing the asylum of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Kingdom of Romania does not need George's help and can rub the Kingdom of Hungary under its body.
Similarly, there is no problem in returning Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of Hungary.
Stamboliski is dividing his land among local tycoons in the two places mentioned above.
Even if these two lands were returned to the Kingdom of Hungary, it would not be easy for the Kingdom of Hungary to deal with them.
As for whether to let George serve as commander-in-chief, to be honest, George doesn't care.
George has received enough honors.
Even if Nicholas wanted to defeat his cousin in Berlin with his own hands, he would not ignore George's influence in the military. At the very least, he would appoint George as deputy commander-in-chief, and Nicholas would only be in name. , In fact, I will listen to George no matter how I fight.
Isn't this the same pattern as when he served in the Guards?
Withdrawal does not mean withdrawing now. The Kingdom of Hungary must withdraw from the war only after the negotiations are completed and the German and Russian troops withdraw at the same time.
If the Germans withdraw, George will withdraw.
Ekaterina was easy to handle, George hosted a banquet for Ferdinand and personally convinced Ferdinand.
This time it was a private banquet. Except for Ferdinand, George did not invite other guests. It was held at George's house.
"So, no matter what, you will help me get Transylvania back."
Ferdinand was in a difficult situation, and no one wanted to vomit the meat in his mouth.
“Yes, this is my promise.”
George asked Ferdinand to rest assured that his promise never failed.
“Yes, you know, we are friends, and the Kingdom of Romania will always be your most loyal ally.”
Ferdinand just said this to George a few days ago. The difference is that "empire" is replaced by "you".
On August 19, a delegation led by Hungarian Prime Minister Tisza Istvan arrived in St. Petersburg via Berlin to start negotiations with the Russian Empire.
When George knew the news, his mood was extremely absurd.
Going to Berlin must be to visit Wilhelm II.
Will Wilhelm II allow the Hungarians to withdraw from the war?
Impossible.
One thing happened before this.
War Secretary Kitchener, who came to St. Petersburg to negotiate on behalf of Britain, was killed when the warship he was traveling on was attacked by a German submarine in the North Sea.
George did not participate in the negotiations and was always paying attention in Constantinople.
The Hungarians made many demands, not only asking the Russian army to withdraw, but also asking the Russian army to return the plundered property.
This probably means withdrawing troops and paying compensation.
Nicola asked George for his opinion.
George agreed, but this time George was no longer responsible for being a lobbyist for the empire.
George could convince Ferdinand and Polis because Ferdinand and Polis understood justice and were reasonable.
The Cossacks fought bloody battles and paid the price for their lives. Will the Hungarians return the spoils they say they want?
Anyone who wants the Cossacks to pay back the money should go and ask for it themselves.
George wanted to see how many unreasonable demands Nicholas could agree to in order to get Hungary out of the war.
"If we agree to this request, will the Hungarians ask for compensation next?"
Demeter almost laughed crazy, he had never seen such a ridiculous thing.
Don’t say I’ve seen it, I’ve never heard of it——
That's not right. The Qing-French War also involved the victorious country ceding territory and paying indemnity.
But the Russian Empire was not the Qing Empire.
"Just wait and see, the more the Hungarians ask for, the more miserable they will die."
George knew Nikolai very well.
Although Nikolai's character is a bit weak, if anyone offends Nikolai, Nikolai will remember it for a lifetime.
After Nicholas was assassinated in Japan, whenever Japan was mentioned, it was replaced by "yellow monkey". This was well known in St. Petersburg.
The relationship between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire is so bad. Even if Nicholas is forced to agree to the Hungarians' request now, Nicholas will take revenge on the Hungarians after defeating Germany.
If Nicholas is still the Tsar by then.
Tisza Istvan was still self-aware. He did not ask for compensation from Russia, but asked the Russian army to withdraw from the territory of the Kingdom of Hungary first.
Nicholas still has a bottom line and has not been fooled by the Hungarians.
If the Russian army withdraws first, what will happen if the German army does not?
Call again?
The Russian army can break through the Carpathian Mountains defense line defended by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
If it were the German defense, would the Russian army still be able to break through so easily?
At least it is impossible for the airborne troops to capture Victoria easily.
(End of this chapter)