"Such a request is too much, we can't possibly agree!" Mahmoud exclaimed: "The two provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are the inseparable territory of the Ottoman Empire, and to agree to such a request is a shameless betrayal of the empire!" ”

Of course, the person who answered him was not the emperor of Germany, and it was always bad for the emperor to always come into contact with those guys of the Turkish al-Shabaab, and as a monarch of a country to visit other countries, and then support a certain force to seek state power, although everyone did this, it would be too stupid to put it on the surface.

Therefore, Jochen was not prepared to stay in Istanbul and wait for the reply of the Turkish al-Shabaab, and went to the holy city of Jerusalem to worship, so that Jochen once again set a first, that is, the first Christian monarch in Europe to set foot in the holy city after the Crusades.

Jochen ran away, and the task of bargaining with the Ottomans fell to Foreign Minister Bülo, and when asked by the Turkish youth what he needed to hand over if he wanted to gain German support, Bülo's first request hit the G-spot of Mahmud, who had come to contact him as a representative.

Germany demanded that the two provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina be formally transferred to the Kingdom of Croatia-Slovenia, ending decades of trusteeship between the two provinces.

The Kingdom of Croatia was not Austria-Hungary, and did not have the strength to make waves in the Balkans, although it had the support of Germany, but it was only self-sufficient and insufficient. The trusteeship status of Bosnia and Herzegovina made Croatia's rule here unjustifiable, and Serbia had the courage to go to war during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, not to mention that the current Croatian kingdom is not as strong as Austria-Hungary.

Had it not been for the last war with Austria-Hungary and the deepening of the country's infiltration by Russia, the Russians would have been unable to provide support in the Balkans in the Far East, and Germany would have supported Croatia. Otherwise, the Serbs would have been at odds with the Croatians.

For this reason, in order to solve this unjustifiable trouble, and to give the younger brother a little sweetness as a reward, Jochen promised Ferdinand to help him get the two plots of land, but this naturally made Mahmud angry.

In the face of Mahmud's anger, Bilo had a calm attitude. He replied slowly: "What you said is too exaggerated, and such words as betrayal are too harsh. Since the signing of the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, your country has handed over the administration of the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Croatia and Slovenia has taken over the administration of the two regions, and it has been 30 years since 1878, and the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been completely removed from the jurisdiction of your country.

But in this way, this enclave, which is still nominally part of your country, becomes a factor of instability in the region. You should know that the Serbs have their eye on Bosnia and Herzegovina and want to get an outlet to the sea from here, right? It is foreseeable that as soon as the Kingdom of Croatia-Slovenia ends its administration of the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina and returns it to your country, then Serbia's declaration of war on your country is just around the corner. ”

"The glory of the Ottoman Empire does not have to worry about being tarnished by tiny Serbia, and the Ottoman Empire is capable of protecting its territory." Mahmud replied stiffly.

"I believe that your country's military capabilities can cope with the Serbs, but your country's military capabilities may not be able to cope with the country behind the Serbs, right?" Birloh said neatly: "Any glory will be dimmed without absolute strength. Maybe as a soldier, you can choose to sacrifice for glory, but as a politician who is in charge of the fate of a country, you can't make such a choice. How to make compromises and exchange benefits is the decision they have to make. ”

Seeing that Mahmoud was a little shaken, Bilo decided to add another fire: "Of course, the direct transfer of the two provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Croatian-Serbian Kingdom may damage the reputation of the Association for Progressive Unity in the Ottoman country, and it will also affect the perception of the Ottoman people towards you, so we have taken this into account and proposed a further solution." Rest assured. If we reach an agreement, your association will be our long-term partner in the future, and we will try to avoid things that will affect our long-term relationship. ”

"Then I ask you, what is your country's proposed solution to this problem?" Mahmoud asked, about the Germans, "I'm thinking of you." You don't know how to elevate yourself" Mahmud felt very helpless, because he knew his own affairs, and now the Ottoman Empire did not talk about Russia, even if it really went to war with the Serbs, the situation in the country that had not yet stabilized did not allow it.

Besides, in the present world, where whoever has the big fist has the final say, the Germans are really unreasonable, and the Ottomans have no room to refuse, not to mention the fact that the Association for Progressive Unification has basically reached an opinion in principle to agree to cooperate with Germany. Even if the pro-British and French forces within the association were strong, they had to give in in to reality.

"If Bosnia and Herzegovia were to be ceded, it would be detrimental to the glory of your country, so the result of our negotiations with the Kingdom of Croatia is to buy and sell an enclave that is practically uncontrollable for a good price, which is a good thing for your country. I think even if these two lands are recovered, it will be difficult for your country to receive any taxes there, right? Why not make an extra contribution to the situation that has just ended the revolution and is preparing to carry out reforms and develop industry and commerce? Billo said with a smile: "In addition, our country will deepen cooperation with your country in various fields, expand investment, help your country develop its economy, and assist your country in achieving military strength. ”

Although it is emotionally difficult to accept, but it is probably the best way to tell yourself rationally, not to mention that the Germans are forced to buy, or to rob, and the Ottomans don't have the courage to turn against Germany, right? After all, buying still gave the Ottomans a step down, and deepening cooperation in the economic and military fields was indeed what the Ottomans urgently needed now.

In particular, this qiē is premised on something that has not been mentioned by both sides until now - that Germany will support the Association for Progressive Unification to take power in the Ottoman Empire!

If the Association for Progressive Unification was in power, German economic and military support would greatly increase the prestige of the Association, consolidate its control over the country, and further achieve the great goal of promoting the revival of the Ottoman Empire.

Of course, in the eyes of Mahmud, how much money can the Kingdom of Croatia come up with to buy land? Even if the Germans pay for it, it will definitely not be too much, and this income is just better than nothing, and the important thing is the benefits that the next German-Turkish cooperation can bring.

As a semi-colonial country under the pressure of Britain and France and threatened by Russia, many of the policies of the Ottoman Empire had to look at the eyes of Britain and France, and if it cooperated with Germany, then many policies that were originally opposed by Britain and France could be implemented with the support of Germany, so as to help the Ottomans get rid of the control of Britain and France, which was also a necessary thing for the revival of the empire.

In particular, the German Emperor's phrase "Will Russia accept you?" The question ignited anxiety in the minds of the Association for Progressive Unification, and for the Ottoman Empire, Britain's proximity to its long-cherished rival Russia was undoubtedly a disaster. The 300-year Russo-Turkish War was a nightmare for the Ottoman Empire, especially as the Ottoman Empire was declining and Russia was growing stronger.

Even if the Russians lost nearly two-thirds of their navy, hundreds of thousands of land forces, and hundreds of millions of military expenditures on the battlefields in the Far East, Russia is recovering under the reforms presided over by the current Prime Minister Stolypin, while the lifeless Ottoman Empire is weakening day by day.

Mahmud pondered for a long time and could only nod helplessly: "Thank you for considering it from the standpoint of our country, this plan does take care of the feelings of our people very much, and I think it is acceptable in principle, of course, the specific redemption method and purchase price, we need to discuss it again, and then further negotiate with the Kingdom of Croatia-Slovenia." ”

"It's great that you're so sensible, Pasha." The smile on Billo's face immediately became kind: "Your country needs a figure like you to achieve a great revival, so Your Majesty has made me make a promise to you." ”

The promise that the German emperor made to himself? Mahmud was a little strange and asked, "What does His Majesty Joachim command, I am here to listen?" ”

A strange smile appeared on Bilo's face, and then he lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "If Pasha can get the Association for Progressive Unification to cooperate with our country and bring about the settlement of the problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then Germany will help you expand your influence in the army, and eventually help you become the Great Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, which you deserve, and we prefer to deal with familiar people." ”

Mahmud was stunned, Germany will help him to reach the pinnacle of power in the Ottoman Empire?! At this moment, a love called ambition swelled in Mahmud's heart. (To be continued......)