Located at the eastern end of the Balkan Peninsula and on the west shore of the southern mouth of the Bosphorus, Istanbul is Turkey's political, economic, cultural, financial, news, trade, transportation center, a world-famous tourist destination, and one of the bustling international metropolises.

On the evening of May 10, in the InterContinental Hotel in Taksim Square in the center of Istanbul, Chen Dao walked out of his presidential suite with a drowsiness after taking (sleeping pills) and found Goering, who lived next door.

In Goering's room, in addition to Italian Foreign Minister Ziano, Chen Dao also saw a tall and thin German man with a treacherous mustache, who was none other than Philippe Remtzma, the general manager of the Solon Group.

After greeting Remcma and Ziano, Chen Daoyi sat down next to Goering, took the cigar handed by Remtzma and bit it in his mouth.

"I don't like to deal with the Turks, but who made their ancestors too, conquered Constantinople for their children and grandchildren, and controlled the Turkish Straits as a major communication route. In this negotiation, we will have to cede our interests to them. ”

"The Montreux Convention stipulates that warships of belligerents may not pass through the Turkish Straits if Turkey remains neutral in time of war. If we want to allow the fleet to pass through the straits, we must negotiate with the Turks to open up the passage of the straits. Goering said.

Chen Dao turned his head to look out the window at the night falling, exhaled a puff of white smoke, and said boredly: "The night gave me black eyes, but I can only use him to roll my eyes at the Turks." Hopefully, in tomorrow's negotiations, the Turks will not mess with the conditions, and if they dare to make any excessive demands, hum ······"

The four of them conspired for a while, unified the content of tomorrow's negotiation, and then got up and walked to the restaurant.

The night flew by at nine o'clock in the morning of the next day, in the conference room of the hotel.

Chen Dao, Goering and Ziano met with Turkish President Mustafa Ismail Inonu, who had arrived from Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

Inonu was thin, with a mustache slightly thicker than Hitler's, and a straight waist, with a military spirit.

Accompanying Inonu was Turkish Foreign Minister Sarajolu.

After a few pleasantries, Goering first said: "First of all, with regard to Turkey's request to join the Axis bloc, our Führer Hitler and Mr. Mussolini of Italy attach great importance to it and are sincerely pleased. That is why I was specially sent to negotiate with General Rosen and Mr. Ziano on the details of Turkey's accession to the Axis group, and to reach a consensus in the shortest possible time.

In previous negotiations, you proposed that Turkey would not consider entering the war until the Axis powers provided economic aid and if the army moved south to the Russian-Turkish border. After discussion, we can only agree to one request, and that is to provide economic assistance, but our troops will not march south, and in response to this, we will not ask your country to declare war on Russia, we will only ask you to remain neutral in the war and open the Turkish straits for our warships to pass. ”

Inonu and Sararolu's faces changed, and Sarajolu asked, "Do you mean to refuse our country's entry into the Axis bloc?" ”

"No, we would very much welcome Turkey to join," Goering said, "but now we need you to remain neutral and wait until the war against Russia is over before joining the Axis powers." Because from an economic point of view, a neutral Turkey is more in line with the current interests of the Axis powers. ”

"Can you, Mr. Marshal, tell me concretely why a neutral Turkey is more in the interests of the Axis powers?" ”

"We agree to your country's previous requests for us to provide financial and technical support to help Turkey expand its ports, build roads and railways, and provide loans, because Turkey is already a potential ally of ours," Goering said. Moreover, the Polish governor-general, General Rosen, had some personal proposals about plans to help Turkey develop its economy. ”

After Goering finished speaking, he looked at Chen Dao, and Chen Dao continued: "Your country had planned to borrow 50 million Reichsmarks from Germany, and after discussion, the German government decided to increase the loan amount and lend 30 million US dollars to your country······

"Italy will also provide a loan of 10 million dollars." Ziano followed.

"The total is 40 million dollars, and according to the exchange rate, 40 million dollars is equivalent to 100 million Reichsmarks, and the loan amount has doubled." Chen Dao said.

"Why is that?" Sarajolu asked.

"The extra part of the loan is to do four big business with your country, which can quickly increase Turkey's economic strength and provide a lot of jobs at the same time.

The first business was the re-establishment of the Asia Minor Company by the government of your country and the Solon Group of our country. Then this company will step in, hire workers from Turkey, and Germany will provide engineers to Iraq to build the rest of the Baghdad railway, which should be completed by the end of next year if we move quickly. ”

Sure enough, the Germans still have their minds on the Baghdad Railway! Inonu's mind quickly recalled the details of the Baghdad railway.

At the end of the 80s of the 19th century, Germany pursued a policy of eastward expansion in order to dominate the world.

In order to extend its influence into the Near East, Germany sought to build a railway that would connect it with the European Continental Railway.

The railway runs from Hamburg to Kuwait on the Persian Gulf via Berlin, Istanbul and Baghdad.

This railway not only enabled German power to control Turkey, but also seriously threatened regions such as the Caucasus, Persia, and British India. Therefore, it has been opposed and obstructed by Russia, France, and especially Britain.

In 1888, Germany obtained the right to build a railway from the Bosphorus to Ankara from the Ottoman Turkish Empire, and established the German Asia Minor Company to build it.

In January 1889, on the instructions of the Kaiser, the Asia Minor Company obtained from the Ottoman Empire the right to extend the railway to Konya. Britain strongly objected, and Germany threatened to oppose British interests in Egypt, and the British government was forced to make concessions.

In 1896, the section of the Baghdad Railway to Konya was completed.

In 1903, Germany was granted a concession to build a railway from Konya to the Persian Gulf through Baghdad. Britain and France strongly opposed this, and after a series of complicated negotiations, Britain still resolutely did not agree to Kuwait as the terminus of the line.

On June 15, 1914, Britain and Germany initialed the Gray-Richnowski Agreement, Britain no longer obstructed the construction of the road, and Germany promised that the railway would end in Basra and not extend to the Persian Gulf. Soon after, the First World War broke out, and the construction of the railway could not continue, and the Asia Minor Company formed for the construction of the railway was dissolved.

Inonu nodded, but didn't say whether he agreed or not, just asked, "What are the remaining three businesses?" ”

Chen Dao said: "The real role of the railway is after it is built. Germany and Italy have oil fields in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and the oil produced from these fields will be shipped back to Germany and Italy by sea, and the other will be transported to Turkey via the Baghdad railway, where it will be smelted at the refineries of Asia Minor. We know that the same oil, refined refined oil, such as aviation fuel, diesel, motor gasoline, etc., is definitely more valuable than selling crude oil directly, and with oil, you can also produce fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals through chemical plants.

In the same way as production, the Baghdad railway to Turkey can save the next Balkan Peninsula than the direct transportation to Germany, which can save a lot of freight, and can also provide Turkey with a lot of jobs. ”

Inonu and Sarajolu's eyes lit up at the same time, and this was a good plan to revitalize the economy, with both German funding and technology and jobs.

Sarajolu smiled and said, "General Rosen said in detail, I am very interested in this plan, please continue." ”

Chen Dao said: "I came with 120,000 sincerity, and the following two plans can make you feel my sincerity." The oil and Baghdad railway projects take a long time from investment to production, so the remaining two businesses are projects that can quickly see profits.

Germany is currently fighting wars all over the world, and after mobilization, Germany now has more than 10 million troops, which consume a huge amount of military uniforms every day. The Soren Group owns two clothing brands, Adidas and Puma, which can divide the orders to garment factories, tanneries and shoe factories in your country.

Orders include military boots, belts, uniforms, underwear, etc., and with these orders, your country can immediately obtain a large number of jobs and foreign trade benefits. Compared to an oil refinery, this is a business that can make quick money. ”

"General Rosen has a point, this is indeed a business that can make quick money, and you have thought it through. What was the last business? Is it also a business that makes quick money? Sarajolu asked.

"Of course, I'm sincere." Chen Dao patted his chest and said: "The last business is a weapon order, as small as a bullet, as medium as an aircraft and tank, as large as a warship, as long as you are willing to take it, we can give you a batch of orders." Once the weapons are ready, they can be shipped directly from your country's ports, to our controlled ports on the Black Sea coast, such as Odessa or Crimea, and then to the German soldiers fighting on the front lines. Some weapons are relatively high-tech, and we will send engineers to guide them, so that your country can increase your country's military production capacity in this business. ”

Inonu and Sara Ruolu were overjoyed, and every business that Chen Dao said was practical and feasible, without any false elements.

"I feel the sincerity of General Rosen, General Goering said, these are all financial assistance programs that you have come up with alone in addition to our request?" Inonu asked.

"Yes, although I have the status of the governor of Poland and you have the status of the president, I think we should still maintain our style as soldiers and solve the problem cleanly in the shortest possible time. The trivial details are left to businessmen and diplomats by profession to discuss. By the way, there is one more thing that I can also make clear to your country on behalf of the Führer that Turkey is about to become a member of the Axis bloc, and that the rebels in Turkey who are trying to become independent are called Kurds, right? We will not support them, and you can rest assured that you will be bold and bold in fighting the rebels. ”

Inonu and Sarajolu's hearts beat a few times, and the young German was really not a pure good man. As soon as his right hand gave him some sweetness, his left hand brandished a leather whip.

Sarajolu quickly calmed down and drove away the discomfort caused by the sensitive word "Kurds".

"Mr. Marshal, General Rosen, Mr. Ziano, I have understood your intentions, but according to the Montreux Convention signed in 1936, when Turkey remains neutral, it cannot allow warships of both belligerents to pass, merchant ships can."

"Mr. Sarajolu, Mr. President, please note that there are nine countries involved in the signing of that convention, and that Germany and Italy are not among those nine countries. Moreover, since all the Axis members were involved in the war against Russia and Japan, you, as a candidate member, must always contribute to the Axis family. ”

Goering continued: "We are very sincere and very understanding, and we have come to Turkey this time to solve problems, not to add to them. I have come up with a way for you to propose a principle of reciprocity as a neutral nation if the Russians protest against the passage of Axis warships through the Turkish Straits . That is, the same allowed the fleet of the Russians to pass through the Turkish straits, so that the Russians could not say anything.

At the same time, you can also draw a safe zone in the strait, in which if our warships meet, whoever fires first will revoke the right of way of the firing party. As for the meeting of warships of both of our sides outside the safe zone, it is up to us to solve it. ”

Inonu and Sarajolu looked at each other.

The Germans even found a way out for Turkey, and they came prepared.

After hesitating for a while, Inonu said: "Personally, I am interested in your proposal, but I need to go back and convince the Cabinet, please give me some time, and we will go back and discuss, I think we should be able to give you an answer that is satisfactory to both of us." ”

Chen Dao nodded, smiled and said to Inonu: "Mr. President, I need to remind you that I flew from Crimea to Rome and from Rome to Istanbul. You are also a soldier, and you should know what kind of bad impact it will have on the war situation if a unit should arrive on the battlefield today, but for some reason it is two days, three days, or even a week late. So I hope that your Government will give me an answer as soon as possible and not let my troops be late. Today is the 9th, before the 15th, can you give us an answer? ”

Inonu thought for a moment and said, "Yes." ”

······

After the meeting, seeing Remtsma, who was waiting for news, Chen Dao briefly finished the process of the meeting.

"We are already very sincere, and as long as the Turks are not stupid, they should not refuse our offer," Goering said. ”

"However, I still think that the terms we have given them are too favorable." Remtsma said.

Chen Dao said: "You don't understand, I still didn't hold back, and took the initiative to pit the Turks." ”

The three Goering were inexplicable.

Ziano asked, "Are there any conspiracies in those conditions of yours?" ”

"Have you ever been to London? What about the Ruhr area in Germany? What is the air quality like there? What color is the water of the Thames and the Rhine? What is the smell? Chen Dao threw out a series of questions.

"Air quality? It was just too bad, it smelled of medicine. As for the river, I'm sure I won't swim in it, I'm not going to go fishing, why do you ask this? Ziano said.

Chen Dao explained: "You don't understand this, whether it is oil refining or clothing printing and dyeing, all of them are heavily polluting industries. The rivers and air in the Ruhr area and London are polluted by these industries. So, you should understand by now how I tricked them, right?

On the surface, we are trying our best to think about the Turks, but in fact we are trying to save a green land for the children of Germany. In the future, when the Turks find out that the pollution is serious and want to clean it up, we will develop some pollution control technologies, sell them again, and make money back. Well? Why are you looking at me with such a look at profiteers, am I wrong about something? ”