"If Germany and France are to resume the war, in the event of a French victory, it will be ...... Be...... The day when democracy swept Europe was also the time when the death knell of monarchism sounded,...... So...... So...... "The German Emperor Wilhelm I had to look carefully at a passage written in huge font on a huge piece of paper almost every time he recited a sentence.

This passage is not very long, and was written by German Prime Minister Bismarck himself: "If Germany and France resume the war, in the event of a French victory, it will be the day when democracy will prevail in Europe, and it will also be the time when the death knell of monarchism will be sounded, so this is not only a war between the German and French governments, but a decisive battle between monarchism and democracy on the European continent. ”

The Berlin Conference on the Bulgarian question was about to be convened, and the Russian Tsar was to visit Berlin personally. One of the most important was that Tsar Alexander III was going to visit his uncle, William I. Faced with his grandchildren, Tsar Alexander III, the 88-year-old Wilhelm I needed to use the height of the emperor to explain Germany's attitude towards maintaining the alliance of the three emperors.

For several days, the old man read and recited. The years were so merciless, even though it was only such a few short words, he couldn't remember it. Sometimes with it on his back, William I began to speak incoherently. For ten days, the old man spent all his time on it. However, with the perseverance of a soldier and the pride of being an emperor, Wilhelm I finally conquered the castle.

On October 11, Wilhelm I, in front of his nephew, who was sitting in the Imperial Palace in Berlin, recounted this passage in full and in a very smooth tone, and then clearly and clearly stated the anti-democratic political ideas and the need for the monarchs to unite against democracy from the standpoint of the monarch.

The 40-year-old Alexander III did not know what kind of hardships his uncle had experienced, he just thought that the old man would babble on and on to maintain the alliance of the Three Emperors, and it was even very likely that he would use the old man's stubbornness and willfulness to force his demands. Unexpectedly, the old man didn't give orders or spill, but he came up with a theory. This made Alexander III have to admire.

From the point of view of a Russian emperor, Alexander III had to consider the increasingly bad actions of the German government against Russia. But as an emperor, Alexander III had to admit that the ideas of his uncle William I were indeed fine. There is a fundamentally irreconcilable contradiction between the monarchy and the republic. And Alexander III was indeed very unpleasant to the institutions of the French Third Republic.

The 88-year-old man attended the state banquet, and no one really thought that he should be present from beginning to end. A few minutes after the state banquet began, the 88-year-old emperor symbolically raised his glass to the attendees, and then left the venue accompanied by the 74-year-old empress. Looking at the figures of the two old men, these healthy guys in the palace not only did not feel disappointed, but breathed a sigh of relief. As far as the Germans were concerned, if the old emperor was too tired to fall ill, it would be a responsibility that no one could bear. As for the Russian side, they do not want to bear the responsibility of exhausting the old man from illness.

Looking at the back of his uncle and grandfather, there was admiration in the eyes of Alexander III. Speak appropriately, have something to say, and stop in moderation. It is indeed very rare for these characteristics to appear in an elderly person at the same time. Moments later, however, when Alexander III turned his head to look at the group of people who remained in the court, the admiration was gone. William I was a good soldier and a true gentleman, but his men were real wolves. You have to be careful.

The crown prince and the crown prince were nothing, and it was the 70-year-old Prime Minister Bismarck who cheered up the 40-year-old Alexander III. As Alexander III had expected, the conversation with Bismarck was-for-tat from the outset.

"Your Excellency, there is now a growing call for an alliance with France in Russia, do you know what Your Excellency knows?"

"It is Your Majesty who has the supreme power in Russia, and as long as Your Majesty does not agree, all cries will soon be quelled."

"But Russia now needs money, and you forbid the mortgage of Russian securities in Germany, I think this is a matter for your Excellency to decide."

"This requires an adjustment of the Russian financial system, and Russian securities must be able to be recognized and reappointed by Germany. Isn't this the job of His Majesty to lead the Russian government? ”

"And what about what Germany thinks of Bulgaria? If France attacked Germany, Russia had an obligation to support Germany. Now that Britain has openly attacked Russia, what position is Germany prepared to display? ”

"In order to coordinate this issue, the Berlin conference will discuss it. Isn't it precisely through this meeting that His Majesty needs to express the attitude of Russia towards Britain through this meeting? ”

……

Such a conversation took place between Alexander III and Bismarck, and the imperial grandson, who was listening next to him, already frowned deeply. To the 26-year-old's ears, Bismarck's attitude towards the Russian Tsar had changed too often, and it was too disrespectful.

Bismarck had already seen the expression of the imperial grandson, and an expression of displeasure flashed across his face. Called the secretary over and made a simple gesture. The secretary quickly left, and after another moment, the prince's attendant rushed over and said to the crown prince, "Your Highness, the prince invites you to come over." ”

Although reluctantly, the imperial grandson got up and went to his father's side. Watching the departure of the imperial grandson, the annoyance of the Bismarck center is self-evident, because when the Russian tsar made such a conversation, there were people in Germany who actually wanted to show a different attitude from Bismarck, even if this person was the imperial grandson, Bismarck could not accept such a thing. Alexander III also did not like this arrogant and neurotic cousin, and the departure of the German imperial grandson made Alexander III feel a lot more relaxed. He put it more bluntly: "I think Germany needs to fully support Russia's position in this matter. ”

Chancellor Bismarck replied calmly: "Your Majesty, I know that the British attack on Russia has caused a great shock to Russia, and is it not time for Russia to deal with it together?" If Russia is willing to buy German warships, we will definitely supply the Russian Baltic Fleet with more powerful battleships. ”

"Is it such a powerful battleship as the Chinese Navy?" Tsar Alexander III of Russia finally found an opportunity to mock Bismarck.

Not at all moved by this ridicule, Bismarck replied: "The quality of warships that Germany can supply Russia is definitely better than the battleships that Russia can build now." For Russia, it would be much better to immediately increase the number of battleships than it is now. ”

There are no clever people in Russia, and even if Prime Minister Bismarck is unsurpassed in wisdom, he is a man after all, and he is also a German chancellor who is changing from revolutionary sabotage to realistic and conservative. In terms of interests, the more intense the conflict between Russia and Great Britain, the more Russia had to rely on Germany. Conflicts in other countries are an important basis for Germany's balanced diplomacy. Just as the conflict on the European continent is an important foundation for Britain's balancing diplomacy.

So the help offered by Prime Minister Bismarck not only did not excite the Russian Tsar, but rather saddened him. When Bismarck's answer was in perfect harmony with Bismarck's internal predictions in Russia, the Tsar knew that he was unlikely to have German support on the Bulgarian question.

Now that this was the case, Alexander III no longer had any problems with Prime Minister Bismarck, and he said bluntly: "If Germany cannot support Russia on the Romanian question, then more cooperation between Russia and France is inevitable." We hope that Germany will be very aware of this. ”

After saying this, Alexander III got up and left the table. Leaving Bismarck behind, the Russian tsar walked in the direction of a group of German court women. It was not that Alexander III was lustful, but that Bismarck could not have chased him to this group of court women. At this time, Alexander III himself was full of anger, and he did not know what he could say if Bismarck chased after him with a dead face. At such times, Alexander III, who was accustomed to seeing beautiful women in the Russian court, did not care at all about the stout skills of the German dragoons.

In terms of appearances in the European context, Wang Mingshan, the governor of China's central bank, believes that the Mediterranean-style Italian beauty is very much in line with China's aesthetics. Li Weiren's Ottoman princess wife shook the upper echelons with her appearance, and the son she gave birth to was beautiful. This doll is a real Chinese, at least at this stage, everyone likes his beautiful appearance very much.

So accompanied by a beautiful Italian beauty, Wang Mingshan felt a little better. At this time, the governor of China's central bank was very unhappy, he did not expect the Italian foreign minister to be so unreliable, took him to Florence, introduced Wang Mingshan to the local leading figures, but he went to attend an international conference. If this was placed in China, Wang Mingshan would have been scolded a long time ago. But he is a guest in Italy after all, and he can only make a note of the unreliability of the Italian foreign minister.

However, if it is unreliable, it is just unreliable, so His Excellency the Foreign Minister introduced Wang Mingshan to a local marquise. The young marquise was widowed at this time, her husband in his sixties had died the year before, and the thirty-two-year-old lady had finished dealing with the property issue, and at this time she could completely take off the black veil and appear in public with Wang Mingshan.

Although he is not a lover of literature, Wang Mingshan has also read Alexandre Dumas's "The Count of Monte Cristo", which has a good description of European customs. The depiction of Italian women in the upper echelons is quite graphic. Coincidentally, the marquise's name was also G.

For the upper class women in Italy, their lives have been spent in the social world, so there is nothing to hide. The fact that the Marquise G and the governor of the People's Bank of China are walking together is strange to ordinary Chinese people, and even has all kinds of crimson associations. In fact, the Marquise G herself, and the gang around her, didn't think so.

It is one of the traditions of a beautiful lady to lead a foreign magnate into the Italian social scene. What's more, this big man is also a central bank governor, a figure with huge business opportunities in his hands. The Italian Foreign Minister did not want Wang Mingshan to look good, on the contrary, His Excellency the Foreign Minister found the best way to give Wang Mingshan. As for whether Wang Mingshan can overcome the cultural differences between countries and finally act in the best way of Italy. That's Wang Mingshan's problem. His Excellency the Italian Foreign Minister has fulfilled his obligation, and all that remains is "to judge the rights and wrongs, and to be the good ones".

Wang Mingshan sent a telegram to his friend Shen Xin at the beginning, and Shen Xin was really a brother. He immediately contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Central Committee, and the intelligence department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came up with a piece of information. Weeser, who is undoubtedly the most sensible in China, finally made the decision, and no one was allowed to discuss this issue. So Wang Mingshan probably knew the meaning of China.

Moreover, the Marquise G herself did not have any ill intentions, and she soon helped the Chinese to contact the local leaders of Florence, bankers, parliamentarians, and aristocrats. A group of local celebrities in Florence held several drinking parties one after another. After not appearing in public for too long, holding Wang Mingshan's arm and returning to the diplomatic circle, Marquise G was in a good mood.

Men talk about men, and women start talking about women. Because of the family property problems after her husband's death, the situation of the Marquise G was very bad for a while. She was the second wife of her husband, who left behind three sons and two daughters. The previous lady's family status was very high, and the lawsuit over the inheritance was very unfavorable to the Marquise G. In fact, apart from her husband's house and a small deposit, the Marquise de G's life was already hard.

"I've heard that this Chinese central bank governor can bring in a lot of money." Her little sisters, who were still on good terms, whispered a discussion in the corner of the female guest.

"Do you want to help him do business in Italy?" There are also people who are quite optimistic about this business opportunity.

No one thinks that the Marquise G wants to have a physical relationship with Wang Mingshan, and that kind of relationship is not a matter at all in the upper echelons of Italy. The Marquise is widowed, and it is not a problem for her to do anything with Wang Mingshan. The question is simply whether she still has money, and if she is destitute, then she will honestly disappear from the social world forever. The social community values the lady's purse bag and how much money she can bring to the upper echelons of the social world. As long as she is going to be very rich, at least let some people become very rich. Even if her husband had not died, and had accompanied the central bankers of the great empires of the Far East to the upper echelons of Italy, no one would have made any negative comments.

Wang Mingshan is not a small-bellied person, and in the current Chinese political arena, the sun is undoubtedly His Majesty Comrade Wei Ze, chairman of the Liberation Party. In addition, the moon is probably the traditional military and Hui merchant group. Wang Mingshan, like Shen Xin, is a good student of Wei Zedu, one is in the military, and the other is from Anhui. In 1853, when the Governor of Wei Ze was in Anqing, he defected to the school under the Governor's banner, and in 1855, when he went south, he went south with the Liberation Army. This qualification is beyond the reach of others except for a few old fathers.

He talked to a group of high-ranking officials and dignitaries in Florence about the establishment of the Bank of China in Florence in the social circles, and he soon discovered one thing: the Italian foreign minister was really helping.

In the social world, Wang Mingshan asked several silly questions. He asked the local people in Florence "how the Italian central government will view the issue of banks", "what influence will the Italian central government have on the banks", and "will the Italian central government approve of the establishment of a branch of a diplomatic bank in Florence that will have great influence in the future".

After all, the Italian upper class is the accumulation of hundreds of years, and they did not laugh at such a strange problem, but tried to discuss it with President Wang Mingshan. After all, the governor of the Central Bank of China is not Italian, and as the host, he has the obligation to answer the questions of the guests.

After three days of banquets, Wang Mingshan had a discussion with a number of highly respected or powerful Italian bigwigs. Wang Mingshan, who is still smart, came to several conclusions. 1. These people are all bragging.

If these people did not brag and talk nonsense, Wang Mingshan's conclusion is that, second, the Italian central government has no impression of local affairs. Third, the Italian central government has little say in local affairs. Fourth, as long as the local tax from Florence to the central government can be slightly higher, the central gang will be eager to pounce and kiss the butts of these big taxpayers.

This kind of recognition really opened the eyes of Wang Mingshan, who was born in China. In China's Liberation Party, there are also some training that is system-oriented, and the proportion is not even very low. No matter how smoothly these guys write "the state is an instrument of class rule, and the ruling class realizes the will of the ruling class through the tool of the state".

But the feeling is that everyone is still united around the Central Committee with Governor Wei Zedu as the core, so as to realize the resolutions passed by the Central Committee. Everyone knows that they are the ruling class, but this feeling is not strong. These people are the ones who are left after many times of scouring, and anyone who fails to pass the exam paper has to stand aside. And those who can pass the exam paper know what Wei Zedu wants to do. These people are not short of money, they are not short of status, and they know that Wei Zedu does not like to promise the prospect that a pig will become a monkey. Wei Zedu's hobby is to teach by himself, if he can't learn, the governor will directly open a pig feast.

The reality of Italy made Wang Mingshan give birth to the ruling class for the first time is to realize the will of the class through the system of the state, because of the strong feudal atmosphere, the Italian ruling class does not even pay attention to the government.