On July 12, 1887, a memorable day, Ferdinand Maximilian Carl Leopold Maria was crowned Grand Duke of Bulgaria at the Flana Palace.

Thanks to Ferdinand's painstaking management, the ceremony is much more beautiful than in history, and at least the guests who participate are more weighty.

Edward, Crown Prince of the British Empire, Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, and the King of Greece all attended the ceremony in person, showing the support of the great powers.

Ferdinand's goal was achieved, and with the help of external forces, the occupation of the time shocked all factions in Bulgaria and laid the foundation for subsequent reforms.

Bulgaria has excellent natural conditions, with mountains, hills, plains and other terrains, lakes and rivers, the main rivers are the Danube and Maricha River.

At the same time, it is also poor in natural resources, and the main mineral deposits are coal, lead, zinc, copper, iron, uranium, manganese, chromium, mineral salt and a small amount of oil.

"In general, it is suitable for the novice period, it has been ruled by the Ottomans for a long time, it has just gained independence, there are no big nobles and big capitalists in the country, and the initial development is very good, but the potential is not great!" Although Ferdinand had been prepared for a long time, he couldn't help but comment.

"Stambolov, what good advice do you have regarding personnel appointments and dismissals?" Ferdinand asked calmly

Stambolov, a Bulgarian statesman and powerful prime minister (1887-1894), was regarded as the Bismarck of Bulgaria.

In 1870-1872 he studied at the seminary in Odessa, and in his early years he participated in the underground revolutionary movement in Bulgaria against Turkish rule.

Led small anti-Turkish uprisings in 1875 and 1876. In 1878 Bulgaria gained autonomy, he was elected to the newly formed parliament, and in 1884 he became speaker.

After the abdication of Archduke Alexander I in 1886, he crushed Russian intervention and installed Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as Grand Duke of Bulgaria.

After the new Grand Duke ascended the throne, he organized a cabinet and continued to oppose Russia during his reign, maintaining friendly relations with Turkey and expanding Bulgaria's sphere of influence in Macedonia.

He used terror to deal with one after another anti-court conspiracies and mutinies. Archduke Ferdinand I regained power and he was forced to resign as Prime Minister (31 May 1894).

Ferdinand has no plans to change people now, he has only just ascended to the throne, the most important thing now is to stabilize the situation, and there is no suitable candidate.

"Grand Duke, after careful consideration, this is a list of cabinet members and key government officials, please take a look." Stambolov said as he handed over the papers.

"Well, well, that's it! Let them get to work as soon as possible! Next week's Cabinet meeting, you will come up with a platform. Now that you can leave, I need a break. Ferdinand was dissatisfied, and ordered the eviction.

"I want to be a minister now, I'm too anxious! At least you have to be able to get by and provide a few more candidates! It's all set, and I treat Lao Tzu as a rubber stamp! Ferdinand thought to himself

……

"Bulgaria still has advantages in development, first: there are no strong industrial competitors, the industrial base is relatively poor, it can be monopolized, and there are almost no troubles in the government. Second: I am very rich, and now there is no talk of technology blockade, you can get the technology you want! ”

"The government should let them vigorously develop agriculture! What kind of industry to play, and now you are still waiting for the loan to pay your salary! By the way, we also need to develop education, but now it is better to use literacy classes, and the spirit encourages patriotic young people to spread cultural knowledge, and it is good to give out some rewards, and you can save a lot of ......money," Ferdinand was busy planning

"Grand Duke, the cabinet ministers have arrived, and they are waiting in the main hall, is the meeting begin?" The squire reminded

"Okay, I'll be right there."

……

"Excuse me, Mr. Stambolov," Ferdinand began

"Okay, Grand Duke, you can say it!" Stambolov said with some dissatisfaction

"Mr. Stambolov, how did this plan come about? What is the population of Bulgaria now? How many of them are agricultural, and how many are industrial? What about education? What is the distribution of resources in the country? Ferdinand unceremoniously exposed the problem, gave Stam a dismissal, and vetoed the empty plan.

"This~~ Dear Grand Duke, Bulgaria now has a population of 3,104,500, most of which are agricultural population, education, and distribution of domestic resources, which have not been counted. Well, I'll admit that the plan was a bit rushed. Stamborov paused and said

"It seems that there are few simple historical figures who reacted so quickly," Ferdinand thought to himself. He said: "Mr. Prime Minister, we are responsible to the Bulgarian people, we must understand the actual situation, and we must formulate a policy program!"

"On the matter of personnel salaries, I approve! The others hit back and redo, big industrial plans, hell, I haven't heard of any industry in Bulgaria, do you understand specifically! ”

"From a demographic point of view, I suggest that you focus on agriculture first, and we must consider the interests of the majority! There is also the reform of education, which should focus on the direction of science, and it is also possible to establish literacy classes first. Industrial development, first find out the distribution of resources, in the development of plans according to local conditions, like this kind of nothing big industrial planning, I don't want to see again! ”

"I'm sorry, honorable Grand Duke, we'll go back and redo it right away!" Stambolov said with his head bowed

Stambolov, dizzy from being beaten by Ferdinand, and the carefully prepared plan was said to be worthless, and there was no way to refute it.

In Ferdinand's view, the current Bulgarian government is similar to the League in the Xinghai period, a group of idealists, who can talk rhetorically, and the specific policy is completely in the stage of novice.

"Go, gentlemen, for the sake of the future of Bulgaria!" Seeing that the cabinet headed by Stam bowed their heads, Ferdinand certainly knew that he would accept it when he saw it.

"For Bulgaria!" A few people who were still depressed just now immediately became energetic.

"Fight for Bulgaria!"

……

"Well, yes, patriotic young people are just good fools!" Looking at this group of cabinet members, whose average age was no more than thirty-five, Ferdinand said in his heart.

The Stambolov government, later described as a regime of police terror, gained the support of a section of the emerging bourgeoisie, completely sided with the bourgeoisie, and vigorously promoted factories and trade.

The peasants and workers, who made up the vast majority, were excluded and had a weak basis for rule.

Most of the missionaries, and some intellectuals, including a section of the petty bourgeoisie, opposed the government's radical anti-Russian policy.