Time flew by, and at the end of 1891, the long-standing Russian-Bulgarian negotiations were finally coming to an end.

The negotiations lasted for more than a year, involving more than 500 articles, including all aspects of political, economic, military, and even cultural exchanges.

On December 15, 1891, the two sides finally reached an agreement and signed the Treaty of Political, Economic, Military, and Cultural Friendly Exchanges between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Bulgaria, referred to as the Russo-Bulgarian Treaty, also known as the Russo-Bulgarian Alliance.

On the day of the signing of the Russo-Bulgarian Alliance, Ferdinand ratified it. Just to be sent to St. Petersburg, it can be officially established with the approval of Alexander III.

The Russian delegation, which had been in Bulgaria for more than half a year, was now busy rushing back for Christmas and declined Ferdinand's offer.

Ferdinand, who was in a good mood, also personally participated in the farewell banquet and practiced it for the Russian delegation.

To be honest, Ferdinand did not expect that this negotiation would go so smoothly.

On the whole, the "Russian-Bulgarian Alliance" is an equal treaty for both sides. At the end of the 19th century, small countries signed a treaty of equality with the great powers, which was unimaginable for later generations.

That is, Ferdinand came from later generations and knew that Russia's diplomatic predicament was timely. The Franco-Russian alliance is already underway in secret. At that time, the diplomatic risks associated with an alliance with Russia were also enormous.

Historically, Bulgaria leaned towards Russia, and it was already 1894. At that time, the Franco-Russian alliance had been established, and it was already dispensable for Bulgaria, so naturally it would not cost a lot of money to win it over.

In Ferdinand's view, the establishment of the Russo-Bulgarian Alliance, Bulgaria received from Russia the raw materials for industrial development, as well as a vast market. It is an indispensable part of the industrialization process of Bulgaria.

At that time, Bulgaria was able to provide both of these things with no other country except the Russian Empire.

At the end of the 19th century, resource-rich countries had large colonies in addition to Russia and Britain and France. However, Britain and France have developed industries and are basically self-sufficient, and there is no need to import industrial products at all.

But what about other countries?

Germany's typical industry is developed, and he has to import resources and find markets!

Austria-Hungary industry was not bad, and industry and commerce were very closely linked with Germany, so it could not be Bulgaria's turn!

Italy doesn't need to think about it, he is still a dick, poor in resources and backward in industry, and he has not yet had the confidence to reach out to the Balkans.

The United States is not yet the world's policeman in the future, and its hand cannot reach the Mediterranean. Even if the two sides trade, the freight alone is higher than the price of the raw materials themselves.

Then Russia is the only option for Bulgaria. Russia is rich in resources, and it is close to Bulgaria, connected by the Black Sea, which can be used in the morning and evening; Moreover, the industry is not good, and a large number of industrial products are imported every year.

Not only did Ferdinand think that "Russo-Bulgarian Alliance" was good, but Alexander III, who was far away in St. Petersburg, was also in a good mood now.

Alexander III, the thirteenth emperor of the Russian Empire, reigned from 1881~1894.

Alexander III's reign began in the midst of the prosperity created by Alexander II, who had no intention of establishing a new policy or interfering too much in the actual affairs of the government.

He adopted a chairman-like method of governing the country: the organization appointed a group of capable people, formed a circle of think tanks, and asked these people to first study the state affairs, come up with several handling plans, and then report to the emperor himself before making a final decision.

During the reign of Alexander III, Russia's economic development reached a peak, becoming the world's leading power, not only militarily, but also economically.

However, due to the reverse reform measures carried out by the ruling circles in Russia, the development of ideology was suppressed, the popularization of education was seriously hindered, the general improvement of the quality of the people was affected, and the antagonism between social classes was accelerated, thus laying the groundwork for the historical process of promoting social development through violent revolutionary means and civil war.

On the diplomatic front, Alexander III actively pursued Pan-Slavism, which was of course related to the significant increase in Russia's national power and rising international status.

Russia's Pan-Slavism has a strong diplomatic focus, primarily directed at the Balkans and the Black Sea coast, apparently to expand Russian influence in these regions and consolidate Russia's dominance in the Slavic populated areas.

On the one hand, Russia's policy in the Balkans has played a positive role in enhancing its international status and promoting the development of local national liberation movements.

But the negative factors were also obvious, and activities in the Balkans provided the trigger for the First World War and laid the foundation for the fall of the Russian Empire.

In addition to Austria-Hungary, the German Empire was also competing with Russia in the Balkans.

Germany has always wanted to obtain a warm harbor in the Mediterranean, opening up the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and cutting off Europe from the waist, so it has accelerated its expansion in the Balkans. This is one of the reasons for the breakdown of German-Russian relations.

On the whole, Russia under Alexander III was the closest cultural and economic period to Europe, there was a sense of mutual identity between Europe and Russia, and Russia at this time was able to achieve its political intentions without force and through diplomatic efforts alone.

Alexander III's most famous and confident sentence in foreign affairs is: the Russian tsar is still fishing, and Europe can wait for the time being (once Alexander III went fishing while on vacation, and the vassal in charge of European affairs came to report to Alexander III on urgent business, and Alexander III said this).

Arguably, Alexander III was the most powerful ruler in the history of Russia in the XIX century.

During the reign of Alexander III, Russia waged only one foreign war: the small-scale Battle of Merv Oasis under the command of Skobelev.

Merv is an oasis city located in Turkmenistan in Central Asia, known as Malei in the Han Dynasty texts of China, the last kingdom in the documents of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the Mali or Malan in the documents of the Yuan Dynasty.

After Merv was incorporated into the Russian territory, Turkmenistan officially became part of the Russian Empire.

1 Affected by the assassination of Alexander II, Alexander III feared assassination, and often lived in the palace of Gatchina on the outskirts of the capital.

Known as the hermit of Gatchina, and because he rarely waged wars, Alexander III was also known as a peacemaker.