The cold wind is howling, the dead branches and leaves are gone with the wind, the snow is floating in the sky, and it is another winter.

Ferdinand was waiting for a few little ones to play in the snow, and even Queen Xenia, who had always been inward-looking, put aside her former modesty and joined in the game, and the family was happy.

The past 1915 was a war-torn year for the European continent, with more than five million people killed in just one year.

But this was just the beginning, Ferdinand knew that the world war would become even more brutal in the coming year, and now everyone had no way back, either victory or destruction!

A quick victory is no longer possible, and it has now become a contest of comprehensive national strength.

Coming to this time and space, Ferdinand has become more and more hard-hearted, accustomed to seeing swords and swords, deceit, and becoming a qualified politician. Even if there is a river of blood on the front line, he can still be safe and secure in the rear.

Of course, this is based on the premise of Bulgaria's constant victories. In just one year, Ferdinand had swept the kingdoms of Romania and Montenegro into the dust of history.

No, the government-in-exile still exists, and there are even a few small forces that continue to resist. In the event that the Allies suddenly broke out one day and won the war, they would still have a chance to recover.

……

Foreign Minister Metev said solemnly: "Your Majesty, just now the French ambassador has asked us for reinforcement again, judging from the intelligence coming from the front, they are already crumbling on the Verdun line, and the Germans have broken through their first line of defense two days ago!" ”

Ferdinand's face changed slightly, he didn't expect the French to lose the first line of defense so quickly with the help of the British. Historically, Verdun was known as a meat grinder, and nearly a million casualties were killed and wounded on both sides of the war.

He didn't want to throw his precious army into the pit, but now Bulgaria had to hold on to the French.

Ferdinand was quietly pondering why the historically impregnable Verdun Line was now crumbling.

That's right, it's Italians! Although the combat effectiveness of the Italian army was not very good, the addition of millions of Italian troops still restrained a large number of French troops, resulting in a shortage of French troops.

You must know that in order to help the French hold the defensive line, John Niu also made great efforts this time, and the number of expeditionary forces increased to 700,000, which was able to help the French block the German attack.

"Tell the French that in order to relieve their military pressure, we will launch an attack on the Italian mainland and contain their forces!" Ferdinand finally decided to find a persimmon to be soft and pinched

The current battlefield on the Western Front is not a good place to go, both sides have fired real fires, planes, tanks and artillery are blooming everywhere, and bombs are littered without money.

Ferdinand had even prepared for the worst, and as soon as the Verdun line was lost, he would launch a landing battle against Rome and force the Italians to withdraw from the war.

At the same time, they united with the Russians to kill the Austro-Hungarian Empire as soon as possible, and compared with the Germans to see if they occupied Paris first, or whether Italy and Austria-Hungary could not hold out first!

Anyway, once there were no two allies, even if the Germans occupied France, they would not be able to change their fate.

……

Time passed quickly, and on Ferdinand's orders, Bulgaria launched another landing on Italy, this time targeting Sicily.

Geographically, Sicily is strategically located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. At present, most of the submarines of the Central Powers are based in Sicily, and the Strait of Tunis is about to become a death route.

In this respect, the occupation of Sicily had a significant impact on the Entente. What's more, Ferdinand could split the Mediterranean Sea in two at any time with a few hundred planes in Sicily!

Clearly, Ferdinand underestimated the importance of the Verdun line in the eyes of the British and French.

Due to the sudden outbreak of the Germans, the forces attacking Verdun increased to 62 divisions, and the Italians pinned down the French forces, and now the Entente defenders of the Verdun Line were greatly insufficient.

As for the formation of colonial cannon fodder units by Britain and France, the combat effectiveness is really not reassuring.

There was even a record of the German army defeating an Indian army with a regiment, and since then the French have never dared to hand over important defensive lines to colonial troops.

So they turned their attention to Bulgaria. With the end of Romania and Montenegro, the war in the Balkans has gradually stabilized.

The war between Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary has now also become a big eye. Both sides are relying on the mountains to build defensive lines, and it is obvious that whoever attacks will suffer, and the intensity of the war is naturally not high.

This was also done by Ferdinand on purpose, otherwise the Austro-Lunar Empire would have almost played with it now. Against the two powers at the same time, Austria-Hungary is not Germany, not so strong!

Against this background, Ferdinand was naturally about to launch a strategy for Asia Minor. Ferdinand has always been very active in grabbing territory, and of course the Bulgarian military is even more active!

……

The maid's crisp voice sounded: "Your Majesty, the British Ambassador, the Marquis Winston, and the French Ambassador, Mr. Cleto, are visiting together. ”

"Got it, take them to the reception room and wait, I'll be there in a moment." Ferdinand said calmly

He knew the purpose of the British and French ambassadors' visit, could they not convince the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they still tried to persuade him? Forget it, if you don't know when you meet, why do you want to do so much!

……

Ferdinand always didn't like to beat around the bush, so he asked directly, "What are you two doing here today?" ”

The British ambassador, the Marquis Winston, replied: "Your Majesty, now that the line of Verdun is in urgent place, it is in the common interest of the Entente that we hope that your country will send half a million reinforcements to France. ”

Ferdinand smiled and said, "According to our previous agreement, Bulgaria has exceeded its task.

We pinned down both Austria-Hungary and the Italians, also dealt with Romania and the Kingdom of Montenegro, and are now preparing to land in the Ottoman Empire!

We have done enough on the side of our allies. If we are asked to take more responsibility, then shouldn't we also share the corresponding benefits? ”

The Marquis Winston said heartily, "Your Majesty, please rest assured that we are here with sincerity!" If your country is willing to send troops to France, we will support your country's actions in the Near East, including the annexation of the unified Balkans and the annexation of Asia Minor! ”

Ferdinand shook his head without changing his face, Britain and France thought too well, didn't they, write a blank check, and just want to fool Bulgaria into sending troops?

The Balkans want Bulgaria to send troops to unify it, and the Asia Minor Peninsula also needs Bulgaria to send troops to take it, and their recognition is not worth much!

Britain and France after the world war did not have the prestige they had before the war, as long as Bulgaria took these places into its hands, would it still spit out because Britain and France did not recognize them?

"Your Majesty, if Bulgaria can send reinforcements to France, we can forgive part of the loan." French Ambassador Cletto added

Ferdinand still shook his head, the franc will depreciate greatly after the war, and even a tenth of the current value of the currency will not be saved, does he still care about the little loan after the shrinkage?

Ferdinand said solemnly: "I'm sorry that I don't have so much time to bargain with you, if you need to test slowly, you can go to the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

If you want to continue talking, just show your hole cards, I don't like to beat around the bush!

I think that now on the Verdun front, the battle situation is also very urgent, you have such a low work efficiency, aren't you afraid of changes on the front line?

Or do you think that those colonial troops can stop the German attack without any reinforcements! ”

Obviously, his words were very impolite, but where his position was placed, even if he taught them a few words, it would not be a big deal.

Anyway, in the European continent here, people are used to the appearance of the king on the top, and Ferdinand's current behavior is also very normal.

Of course, if you leave Europe elsewhere, it's a different story. The British and French ambassadors did not pay attention to the kings of Asia and Africa.

Although the atmosphere was a little awkward, they quickly recovered, whose king didn't have a temper?

"Your Majesty, if Bulgaria can immediately send troops to France, in the distribution of benefits after the war, your country can get an extra share on the current basis!" Creto said crisply

When he said this, he was obviously not in a good mood, and someone must have taken more and someone took less. Obviously, most of this part of the benefits will be deducted from their share, who calls the French army insufficient now?

Ferdinand said happily: "Well, since this is the case, then it is easy to discuss!"

Don't worry, I don't have a big appetite, and I won't let the interests of your country be harmed!

How about Rome as a boundary, half of the Apennine Peninsula plus Sicily and Sardinia? Your country can divide the other half of the Apennine Peninsula, and we can take what we need! ”

"No way!" Marquis Winster objected

Obviously, Ferdinand's proposal was still very tempting for France, and the industrial essence of Italy was in the north, and according to Ferdinand's proposed partition, the French would undoubtedly take advantage of it.

But for the British, it was completely unbearable, and if the French were to swallow up the industrial essence of Italy, who would have the final say on the European continent?

Of course, everyone is still an ally now, and under the premise that the great enemy of the Germans still exists, everyone will not fall out for the distribution of interests after the war, but the nail Ferdinand has been buried.

Probably realizing that he had lost his word, the Marquis of Winster explained: "Now that the war is still going on, it is too early to talk about the distribution of Italy, it is better to discuss it after the war." ”

Ferdinand nodded and said, "Yes, it's really too early to talk about the handling of Italy, so let's deal with it later!"

But after the war, the disposition of the Ottoman Empire will be handed over to us and the Russians, and how to distribute it, how will you intervene? ”

The Marquis Winston thought for a moment and said, "Yes, but the interests of the British Empire must be guaranteed!" ”

Ferdinand nodded and said very calmly: "Of course, the current sphere of influence of Britain and France will be at your disposal!" ”

Creto nodded as well, they had little interest in the Ottoman Empire anyway.

The Ottoman Empire had long been divided up more or less substantially, and now the most valuable areas were undoubtedly parts of Asia Minor and the Caucasus, which were already in the pockets of Bulgaria and Russia.

The rest of the area, all that's left is sand! In this era, oil in the Arab region has not yet been discovered and is not worth anything at all.

Ferdinand's sphere of influence includes Yemen, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, and other regions have long been drawn into their own bowls by the British.

Like Kuwait, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are all spheres of influence of the British, and the conflict of interests is not large.

As for the distribution of interests between Bulgaria and the Russians, they just don't care? For the British, as long as there is a distribution of interests, there will be contradictions, and will the future anti-Russian alliance still be so harmonious?

With Bulgaria as a buffer, the British Empire does not need to directly clash with the Russians in the Near East, and the new international order will still be under the control of the British Empire!

Ferdinand added another request: "By the way, if Bulgaria sends troops to France, it will inevitably cause a shortage of troops at home, and I hope that the British Empire can provide us with 50 Indian divisions to use on the battlefield in Asia Minor."

Although their combat effectiveness is not very good, it is still feasible to use them to fight miscellaneous tasks and maintain order! ”

Seeing that the Marquis of Winster was hesitating, Ferdinand smiled and said, "The Indian colonies of your country have a population of more than 300 million, and we only need a few hundred thousand people, isn't that a problem?"

Don't worry, I don't need your country to provide officers, I just need your country to provide a group of translators, and we will take care of the rest by ourselves! ”

"No problem!" Hearing that there was no need for officers, Marquis Winster readily agreed.

Anyway, the last thing India lacks is people, as for what Ferdinand will do with these Indians, he doesn't bother to care, anyway, Ah San is worth a lot!