After 15 days of fierce confrontation, the 5th Olympiad held in Beijing, the capital of the Chinese Empire, came to an end, and the Chinese Imperial Sports Delegation ranked first in the gold medal and medal table with 99 gold medals, 86 silver medals and 82 bronze medals. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

The amazing results achieved by the Chinese Imperial Sports Delegation in the Beijing Olympic Games plunged the entire Chinese Empire into a sea of joy, and the Sports Department of the Chinese Empire also took this opportunity to start the activity of national fitness.

At the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, a wonderful theatrical performance that was not inferior to the opening ceremony did not attract the attention of the whole world like the opening ceremony, and the eyes of the whole world at this time were focused on the increasingly tense Russian-Austrian relations.

Because of a semi-final of the Olympic football match, the smell of gunpowder between Russia and Austria-Hungary became stronger and stronger, especially the two emperors of the two countries, just like eating gunpowder, clamoring to declare war with each other every day, but the Entente and the other countries of the Allied Powers still did not want a big war between the Entente and the Allied Powers to break out now, so they sent high-level officials of various countries into Russia and Austria-Hungary, hoping to mediate the contradiction between Russia and Austria-Hungary.

In fact, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Emperor Franz of Austria-Hungary? Ferdinand I knew very well in his heart that in the existence of a Chinese Empire, if a war broke out between the two countries, the Entente and the Central Powers would definitely be pulled in, and the last one to pick up the bargain must be the Chinese Empire, so the two emperors shouted very arrogantly, and continued to increase the number of troops on the border of the two countries, but they required all troops on the border line to strictly prohibit active fire.

But things have come to this point, both Russia and Austria-Hungary have been put on the fire, and there is a dilemma, and now both sides need a step to get down, and the other countries of the Entente and the Central Powers are trying to help both sides find this step.

On August 27, 1912, three days after the end of the Beijing Olympics, a border conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia added fuel to the fire, making Russia and Austria-Hungary suddenly enter the countdown to the war.

From the end of the 15th century, Serbia was ruled by the then powerful Ottoman Turkish Empire, and ruled for five centuries, Serbia until 1804 and 1815, after two revolutions, to achieve a high degree of autonomy, and in 1878, Serbia gained full independence with the assistance of Russia, and in 1882 the Kingdom of Serbia was formed.

During the First Balkan War and the Second Balkan War, Serbia expanded southward and annexed Kosovo and other regions, becoming the largest country in the Balkan Peninsula, and at the same time making the Kingdom of Serbia the greatest enemy of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans.

Austria-Hungary did not want to annex the Kingdom of Serbia all the time in order to complete the most important step of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's annexation of the Balkan Peninsula, and the Kingdom of Serbia has always wanted to take back the region of Vojvodina, which has long been the inherent territory of the Kingdom of Serbia, and most of the people living in this region are Serbs.

The Kingdom of Serbia and Austria-Hungary are very different in terms of strength in all aspects, but the Kingdom of Serbia has the support of the Russians behind it, so it has always maintained a little toughness on the issue of Austria-Hungary.

King Peter I of the Kingdom of Serbia learned that Russia and Austria-Hungary were in a situation because of a football semi-final at the Olympic Games, and immediately ordered the army of the Kingdom of Serbia to increase the number of troops near the border with Austria-Hungary.

As a result, a border patrol unit of the Kingdom of Serbia, when it found that a border patrol unit of Austria-Hungary was suspected of crossing the border, decisively opened fire on the officers and soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian border patrol team, thus triggering a brief border conflict.

The border clash resulted in four deaths and two wounds in Austria-Hungary and three and one wounded in the Kingdom of Serbia.

In the royal palace in Vienna, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz? Ferdinand I looked angry at Prime Minister Franchi? Coman and the Minister of War, Zoltan? Sile said: "I didn't expect that even Serbia, a small country supported by Russia, would dare to pop out at this time, is it really that our Austro-Hungarian Empire is a soft persimmon?" ”

Prime Minister Franky? Koman said with a wry smile: "Now the attitude of the Kingdom of Serbia is very tough, claiming that this border conflict was provoked by our Austro-Hungarian army. ”

The Minister of War Zoltan, who was standing next to him? Silaidden shouted angrily: "The Serbs are simply reversing black and white, our Ministry of Defense has found out that it was the Serb army that fired first, and our border patrol team was forced to fight back, and our border patrol team did not enter Serbian territory from beginning to end!" ”

Emperor Franz of the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Ferdinand I waved his fist fiercely and said: "It is already obvious that the reason why the Kingdom of Serbia has the courage is entirely because of the support of the Russians behind it, I have decided to immediately declare war on the Kingdom of Serbia and prepare for a full-scale attack on the Kingdom of Serbia, and this time it is just the opportunity to expand the territory of our Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Balkans." ”

Prime Minister Franky? Koman said worriedly: "Your Majesty, Russia is a supporter of the Kingdom of Serbia, once our Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on the Kingdom of Serbia, then Russia is likely to declare war on our Austro-Crènate Empire in order to continue to support the Kingdom of Serbia!" ”

Emperor Franz? Ferdinand I sneered and said: "Then it just so happens that the Russians occupy vast areas of Europe, and it's time to spit it out and give us some of it in Austria-Hungary." ”

At 8 o'clock in the morning of August 28, 1912, Austria-Hungary officially declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia, and just three hours after Austria-Hungary declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia, the Kingdom of Serbia also declared a state of war with Austria-Hungary. Help the Kingdom of Serbia resist the armies of Austria-Hungary.

At the same time that the Kingdom of Serbia declared war on Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Montenegro, which had already signed a military alliance with the Kingdom of Serbia, also declared war on Austria-Hungary.

The Kingdom of Montenegro with an area of only 14,000 square kilometers, more than 90% of the country's population of 420,000 are Serbs, so don't look at the Kingdom of Serbia as the younger brother of Russia, but the Kingdom of Serbia itself also has a loyal younger brother, in the face of the powerful Austro-Hungarian Empire, as the loyal younger brother of the Kingdom of Serbia, the Kingdom of Montenegro chose to fight side by side with the eldest brother without hesitation.

Austria-Hungary was not surprised to learn of the declaration of war by the Kingdom of Montenegro, after all, the relationship between the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Montenegro was well known in Europe, and Austria-Hungary soon declared war on the Kingdom of Montenegro.

In the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the capital of Russia, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia learned that Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Serbia had declared war on each other, and immediately summoned several confidants, and soon the Russian monarchs and ministers reached an agreement to declare war on Austria-Hungary in order to safeguard Russia's interests in the Balkans, and to send troops into the territory of the Kingdom of Serbia to help the Kingdom of Serbia resist the invasion of Austria-Hungary.

Soon at 9 o'clock in the morning of August 29, 1912, Russia officially declared war on Austria-Hungary, and immediately prepared to transport the army units of one army group to the territory of the Kingdom of Serbia and Montenegro by sea.

On the afternoon of the 29th, Austria-Hungary did not hesitate to formally declare war on Russia, so that the war between Austria-Hungary and Russia was inevitable, and the other countries of the Entente and the Central Powers also made their own choices.

In the Imperial Palace in Berlin, the German Emperor Wilhelm II asked German Chancellor Hohenlohe in a deep voice: "Now that Austria-Hungary has declared war on Russia, I am ready to declare war on Russia immediately in accordance with the agreement of the Central Powers, what does the Prime Minister think?" ”

Prime Minister Hohenlohe said with a wry smile: "Our allies and the Entente have been working hard to develop their armaments in the past two years, originally wanting to seek revenge on the Chinese Empire, but we didn't expect that now our allies and the Entente will fight first!" Your Majesty, there is no choice in the present situation for us, the German Empire, and the minister agreed to declare war on Russia. ”

German Emperor Wilhelm II nodded, and said with a heavy expression on his face: "I believe that the British and the French will not sit idly by and watch Russia, and after our Germany declares war on Russia, the entire Entente will definitely become our Germany's opponent!" ”

Prime Minister Hohenlohe thought for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that we Germany should first contact the other three countries of the Allied Powers, and let the other three countries work with us Germany to fulfill the obligations of all members of the Allied Powers, and declare war on Russia together, and even on the entire Entente together!" ”

Wilhelm II said approvingly: "Since war is inevitable, then we must fight for more forces to defeat the Entente as soon as possible, Prime Minister, you immediately contact the Ottoman Turkish Empire, the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Spain, believe that they 3 countries, this critical moment, should not back down!" ”

After a pause, Wilhelm II said: "Maybe this war will solve the problem that we have too few colonies in the German Empire, and the problem of insufficient raw material production areas and commodity markets!" ”

At present, among the Allies, Germany is undoubtedly in the position of the boss, and Austria-Hungary belongs to the second, and now the boss and the second are going to go into battle shirtless, as the three younger brothers, Ottoman Turkey, Italy and Spain, even if they are unwilling and have no way, who has made them all join the big ship of the Allies.

On September 1, 1912, the other four Allied powers, Germany, Ottoman Turkey, Italy, and Spain, declared war on Russia, Serbia, and Montenegro, marking the beginning of all five Allied powers.

At the British Prime Minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street in London, England, British Prime Minister Herbert? Henry? Asquith shouted angrily: "Nicholas II, bastard, doesn't he know that the Chinese Empire is the greatest enemy of our Entente? Why did he make a series of stupid decisions? Well, now the entire Confederate powers have declared war on Russia! ”

British Admiral Fisher sighed and said: "The point is that Russia is now tantamount to putting our British Empire and France on fire, and according to the Entente treaty, our British Empire and France must declare war on the Central Powers." ”

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Robert? Peel also sighed at this time and said: "There has been news from France, the French are ready to fulfill the treaty, and they will declare war on the five countries of the Central Powers in the near future. ”

You must know that after the defeat of the Franco-Prussian War, France was forced to sign a very harsh peace treaty, paid 5 billion francs to Germany, ceded all of Alsace Province and part of Lorraine Province, and the Prussian army could be stationed in France before collecting all the indemnities, in addition, the enthronement ceremony of the German Emperor Wilhelm I was held in Versailles in France, which was tantamount to greatly humiliating France, and since the end of the Franco-Prussian War, revanchism has been prevalent in France.

Now that the Allies, led by Germany, have declared war on France's ally Russia, French President Armand? Falière, as well as the French military and political leaders, soon reached an agreement and decided to declare war on the Central Powers led by Germany in revenge for the Franco-Prussian War.

British Prime Minister Herbert? Henry? Asquith shook his head helplessly, he knew that the French had always been obsessed with the Franco-Prussian War back then, and now that they have the opportunity to take revenge, the French will not take care of the Chinese Empire, but Britain has been desperately developing armaments over the years, just to compete with the Chinese Empire, but the current situation has forced Britain to temporarily leave the Chinese Empire behind.

Prime Minister Herbert? Henry? Asquith said gloomily: "At this time, our British Empire has no other choice, can we watch the Allies dominate Europe?" ”

On the morning of September 3, 1912, Britain and France declared war on the five countries of the Central Powers almost simultaneously, and on the afternoon of September 3, the five countries of the Central Powers also immediately declared war on the two countries of Britain and France, thus beginning a war that swept Europe. (To be continued.) )