Time flew by, and in a flash it was February 1928.

Portugal is back to a constitutional monarchy again, Manuel II has returned to Lisbon, and it is clear that the terms have been negotiated.

Ferdinand didn't care what deal they struck, it was the Portuguese's own business anyway.

Manuel II's new enthronement ceremony was held in March, and it seems that he can't wait for it, and if it weren't for the fact that he was coming to attend the wedding of little Ferdinand, it is estimated that he would have re-ascended the throne in February.

For this cheap nephew, although Ferdinand didn't look down on his ability, he had to admit that Manuel had a good temper and no scheming, and it was still very good to be friends with him.

Such a person is not suitable to be born into the royal family, and even less suitable to be a king. But it's still good to get along with this kind of person, at least there aren't so many intrigues.

The Indonesian rebellion has almost come to an end, and in addition to Borneo, the rebels on the main islands of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi have been routed.

Sure enough, the military still has to serve politics, and in order to hand over a satisfactory answer sheet before the wedding of the two crown princes, the generals on the front line did not hesitate to speed up the pace of the war.

Although the torrent of steel did not appear, it was only a short tank corps, many modern weapons came in handy, and bombs were thrown out without money.

For this war, the soldiers on the front line knocked out nearly 200,000 tons of ammunition, which was worth the total ammunition consumption of the national army during the eight-year war of resistance.

Among them, the ammunition consumption was only more than 80 million rounds, and the naval guns also knocked out more than 20,000 tons of shells, but the air force dropped 150,000 tons of bombs.

For the sake of this short few months of war, the General Staff dispatched more than 300 bombers to participate in the war, and the Air Force conducted a large-scale combat exercise.

Many cities are in ruins, and this mercenary battle has no tactical content to speak of, it is completely a dumb battle. In order to speed things up, it is usually the Air Force that bombs first, and the bombing is almost as good as the Army.

The rebels were directly bombed, and many people died before they could react.

In the end, the rebel army is inferior to the regular army, the air defense capability is almost zero, the reaction capability is not up to the mark, and the counterinsurgency war is almost a flat push.

The speed shown by the mercenaries directly shook the world. There is no harm without contrast, and the Southeast Asian uprisings that plagued the British and Dutch countries were brought to an end by the Indonesian rebels as soon as Bulgaria entered the war.

Politicians all over the world are thinking about the strength that Bulgaria has shown in this war. The Japanese government, which is the mastermind behind the scenes, is also dumbfounded, this is the combat effectiveness of the world's top army power?

There is no technical content, there is no tactics to speak of, and it is completely dependent on the strength of the impartial pressure to pass.

However, it was very effective, and it was difficult for any army to raise the courage to fight under such intensity of bombardment.

This kind of play can be used by the Bulgarians, the British can also use it, and even the French can barely use it, but the Japanese can't use it.

200,000 tons of ammunition can be produced in just over a month in Bulgaria. If we leave it in Japan and do not carry out national mobilization, it will be a big question mark whether it can be produced in a year!

Ferdinand didn't know that a military operation in Southeast Asia was actually the most shocking to the Japanese, which caused a series of changes.

Sure enough, the success of a nation is not accidental, and it is precisely because of the ability to identify problems and constantly reflect on them that the rise of Japan has been created.

However, this period was also the most chaotic time for the Japanese government, and the upper echelons knew what this meant, but the junior officers below were not necessarily.

Perhaps in their opinion, this is still a sign of the Bulgarian army's fear of death, after all, such a waste of ammunition is also very expensive.

Although Ferdinand gas bombs and incendiary bombs were very simple to make and very cheap to build, the Americans fought one back then, but in their opinion, these weapons were high-tech and very expensive.

After this battle, Bulgaria is cool, and some people are uncomfortable.

You don't have to think about it to know that the rebels in Indonesia have not been cleared, the cities have been recovered, and the jungle is still the territory of the rebellion.

The Dutch government, which is responsible for receiving the city, has to face two embarrassing problems next, the city is in ruins, and the chaotic party has not been eliminated.

Sure enough, all the political showmen have sequelae, anyway, after recovering the city and crushing the main rebel army, the Bulgarian army can pat its ass and leave.

As for the aftermath, this has nothing to do with them. It is the most correct operation to finish the war early and give a congratulatory gift to the two crown princes who are about to get married.

For this, even if it consumes some more weapons and ammunition, it is well worth it. You must know that 70 percent of the ammunition consumed this time was taken out by the Bulgarian government.

Some of them were purchased by the Bulgarian government at a low price because the Russian Civil War ended abruptly and there were no buyers for these weapons and ammunition.

No way, who said that most of Bulgaria's arsenals are state-owned enterprises? smashed in the hands, it was also the government that paid for it, and Ferdinand was not at ease to hand over all these important industries to the capitalists!

As for how many people died in this war, no one cares about this, anyway, the casualties of the Bulgarian army are not large, and the casualties of the Dutch army are not large.

No one cares about civilian casualties, let alone rebel casualties. Anyway, there are enough people in Indonesia, even if there are more deaths, the Dutch will not feel distressed.

The rebellion was initially quelled, but its effects were not over. The Kingdom of the Netherlands' century-old operation in Indonesia was almost abandoned, and if it weren't for the poison gas bombs, it is estimated that the city would have been in ruins.

Even so, Dutch rule in Indonesia is still in trouble, with a lot of infrastructure to be rebuilt and a lot of economic losses.

A large number of local industries have now been destroyed by the war, for example: many rubber plantations have been destroyed by the rebels; Many of the mines were also blown up by the rebels......

At this moment, I don't know how many capitalists are going to be so angry that they vomit blood!

However, the troubles of the Dutch government are all minor troubles. In any case, they have successfully exterminated the rebels, although the cost is a little larger, but there are no British to compare?

The British spent at least three times as much on the war, and they had basically suppressed the rebellion, and they could rely on the colonies to recover their blood later, so what about John Bull now fighting hard against the rebels?

London

Since the Kingdom of the Netherlands crushed the rebellion in Indonesia, Stanley Baldwin has had a hard time, with opposition parties slamming the government for inaction and losing patience with the government.

But the British army performed well this time, and the one-eyed dragon general fought steadily, although he did not achieve a big victory, but at least he did not lose the battle again?

After successive defeats, the Cabinet lowered its expectations of the Army, not to compare with other Army powers, as long as it could suppress colonial rebellions.

Now even if it is developing benignly, the British army has successively recovered dozens of islands, although they are all small islands, this is also good news?

……

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, you can't go any faster, the troops on the front line are already working hard, if you increase the combat intensity again, the soldiers will mutiny!" The Minister of War said with a wry smile

"But this is war, which country in the world does the soldier still have a holiday in the war? Isn't that a joke? Can't they just take care of it? You know, we've been paid overtime? Stanley Baldwin said angrily

"But Your Excellency, in the eyes of the soldiers, this war has nothing to do with them, it is fighting for the capitalists, and it cannot arouse their patriotic feelings!" Chancellor of the Exchequer Chamberlain thought about it and said

"Patriotic feelings? I've got it! Stanley Baldwin was pleasantly surprised

"As long as we increase our propaganda efforts to make the soldiers think that they are fighting for the country, that all their efforts are for the country, not for the capitalists, right?" Stanley Baldwin said with a smile

The biggest problem of the British Army is not that it has no combat effectiveness, nor that it is not trained properly, nor is it that its weapons and equipment are not good enough, but that it has no morale. The soldiers' desire to fight is the main factor restricting the combat effectiveness of this army!

As long as this problem is solved, even if the British Army is not a strong army, it is still more than sixty points, and it is impossible to even fight the rebels with a combat strength equal to 5.

That's right, the combat effectiveness of the Southeast Asian rebels in the jungle may be forty or fifty points, but when they enter the city, they are scum with only five combat effectiveness.

The rebels' weapons and ammunition were missing one grain and one grain less, and there was no material replenishment at all. In the face of such an opponent, how could they not handle it?

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, if you start promoting it now, I'm afraid it's a little too late. Why don't we learn from the Dutch and recruit a mercenary! Chancellor of the Exchequer Neville Chamberlain proposed

The reason is very realistic, the salaries of British soldiers during the war were already very high, there were many requirements, and the combat effectiveness was not very good.

On the contrary, the combat effectiveness of mercenaries is good, and military spending mainly depends on looting on the battlefield, and the recruitment of mercenaries can save a lot of money by the London government.

"Is this going to work? The mercenaries of the Dutch are actually the Bulgarian army, and the officers, from top to bottom, are all retired from the Bulgarian army, and most of the soldiers are retired veterans of Bulgaria, can I do this? The War Minister said with a frown

If Britain adds another mercenary, then the status of the British Army will probably continue to decrease, and his life as the Minister of War will not be easy at that time.

"Just give it a try, we can use an infantry division to do the test without recruiting so much.

We don't have to come forward directly, set up a security company, recruit a mercenary in the name of the company, and put it on the battlefield to try.

If the effect is good, continue to expand the recruitment, and if it doesn't work, just give up! Chamberlain said calmly

"Well, that's a good note, try it first, it doesn't hurt to make or break!

We can use a two-pronged approach, on the one hand, to carry out public opinion propaganda among soldiers at home and on the front line, exaggerate the after-effects of the defeat in Southeast Asia, and arouse everyone's patriotic enthusiasm.

At the same time, send people to the European continent to recruit mercenaries, recruit an army as quickly as possible, and send it to the front! Stanley Baldwin thought for a moment and said

People are good learners, and John Bull is no exception.

The biggest advantage of recruiting mercenaries is not to save money, but to reduce the casualties of British soldiers and reduce the political pressure on the government.

Originally, the colonial troops also had this role, but their combat effectiveness was a hard wound. At the same time, the London government was also worried about whether the loyalty could be guaranteed because there were too many colonial troops.

In case these colonial troops, when they came into contact with revolutionary ideas, wanted to go home and make a revolution, wouldn't they shoot themselves in the foot?

……

In this troubled February, Ferdinand watched his two sons enter the palace of marriage separately, and instantly felt that he was much older.

However, he soon recovered, and after all the things he had experienced, Ferdinand's heart had already become extremely strong, and he was not so easily infected by emotions.

Sure enough, it was not so easy to get married, and even he was as busy as a king, and guests from all over the world came to visit him, a respected king, without exception.

Throughout the month of February, Ferdinand had to receive different guests every day, which made me understand how difficult it is to maintain a good image!

"Father, I'm going to Finland, do you have anything else to explain?" Boris asked

"I've already explained everything I should have told you. How to govern the Grand Duchy of Finland is your own business, and I hope you will be able to deal with this matter yourself.

You know, I came to Bulgaria at the same age as you.

You are my son, inherited my talent, what I can do, I believe you can do it too, or even better!

Today I still have to emphasize again, don't forget your original intention, don't be proud, don't underestimate anyone, as long as you do this, then it is not a problem to be a good duke! Ferdinand said earnestly

"Yes, Father! I remembered, and trust me not to disappoint you!

But the 10,000 Praetorian Guards you promised me, can I take over now? Boris asked with concern

"Of course, you can contact General James, they will serve you for the next five years, and how many people you can keep in five years depends on your own ability!

Remember, be kind to each and every one of them!

They are willing to leave their homeland and follow you to Finland, not only because of the military salary, but also because of their loyalty to the royal family!

These are the fruits of my hard work over the years, they can work for me, but they may not be willing to work for you!

Now they are willing to follow you, it is because of my orders, but this is not enough, you need to appease them personally, they need not only money, but more importantly, dignity, and we value them!

The Praetorian Guard is always a king's last card and the most powerful arm of a king, and you must also build a loyal Praetorian Guard! Ferdinand said solemnly

Ferdinand had long said to them that if the king could not control an army that was completely subordinate to him, then his life would no longer be secured.

Without the backing of the army, would Boris dare to delay for so long not to succeed to Finland? You must know that several other kings have already ascended the throne, but he is the only one who has dragged it to the end.

Ferdinand also succeeded to the throne quickly, mainly because he was afraid that it would be too late, the distribution of power in the government had been completed, and the king would become an empty shelf.

Boris can drag on for half a year, and that's simply with a strong army to work out any problems that may arise.

"Yes, Father! You allowed me to dig into the wall, and if I left them all behind and abducted their families to immigrate to Finland, wouldn't you regret it? Boris thought for a moment and said

"If you're that capable, I'll only be proud of you.

Go for it, kid!

Don't end up with even a tenth of the people you don't dig up, then you can reflect on it! Ferdinand said with a smile

"Father, then you can see, I will not disappoint you!" Boris said confidently

……