On April 28, 1913, the German delegation led by Zimmermann, the Imperial Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, withdrew en masse on the grounds that "France has no sincerity in the Moroccan question" because France once again vetoed Germany's statement demanding that France withdraw its troops from Morocco and compensate Germany for its losses. Subsequently, the Berlin government held a press conference to strongly condemn France's outrageous act of trampling on Moroccan sovereignty and wantonly contempt for German interests there. Early the next morning, Zimmermann delivered a final ultimatum to France, saying that Germany had begun to mobilize France; If France did not have to accept the German terms within 48 hours, the German Reich would be at war with France.

When the German delegation handed over the mobilization order and the ultimatum to the French, there was no screaming or consternation in the room, only the heavy faces of the delegates of various countries. Because Germany has always insisted on its own views and refused to compromise in the negotiations for more than half a month, Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and other countries have gradually smelled a trace of gunpowder in the air. After a short time, the delegates of various countries scattered like birds and beasts, and they rushed to their offices and immediately reported to their own governments what had happened at the negotiation meeting with a solemn heart.

"The Germans have shown their blades to France. The French ambassador hopes that we will be able to fulfil our obligations under the Franco-Russian alliance and resolutely respond to Germany's war actions. The German ambassador also brought a voice from the Berlin side, saying that this was a conflict between Germany and France over a colonial dispute, and that it had nothing to do with our Russia. They hoped that we would be able to exercise calm restraint and maintain a position of strict neutrality in Germany's military operations against France. "In the magnificent hall of the Hermitage, Tsar Nicholas, dressed in military uniform, is standing under a huge map of Europe; He looked at the group of generals and ministers in front of him. He said in a loud voice, "Everyone. We are sitting back and watching the war between Germany and France continue. Or do you fulfill your allied obligations and share the enmity of France? ”

"Your Majesty, we must respond to the French pleas for help. France and Russia are members of a defensive alliance with each other, and France is currently facing the threat of war from Germany, and Russia is absolutely obliged to assist! Kokovtsov, chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Reich, met Nikolai's blue eyes and said, "The current empire is no longer the Russia of 1906, and we have completely restored the splendor of the top power in the world; If we sit idly by and ignore the dangers of our allies, no country in the world will be friends with Russia. Actually, Kokovtsov still has a layer of meaning that he has not said. That is, after more than 20 years of expansion, French capital has now penetrated into every corner of all social strata in Russia, forming an intricately entangled net comparable to corruption at home. At present, almost all the Russian officials and capitalists have been kidnapped by the will of France, and the national economy has also been heavily branded by France.

War Minister Sukhhorinov twisted his short and fat body, and said with the same flattery that had been in place for several years: "Your Majesty, if Russia mobilizes Germany in accordance with the treaty, it will not only help our French allies, but also restore the glory of our great power. Five years ago, we suffered the humiliation of discredited Bosnia in the Balkans. In the face of the shameless looting by Austria-Hungary and the threat of force backed by Germany, Russia had to bitterly agree with the evil act of Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia. Countless Slavic people living in Bosnia have collapsed. Since then, he has fallen into the miserable life of brutal plundering and suppression in Vienna. After more than five years of accumulation, we too can finally put on our shiny armor and let out the roar of a steamroller that will make the whole of Europe tremble! The Germans and Austrians had to pay for their actions, and the Russian Army was the one who carried out this great mission. ”

The Tsar nodded with satisfaction. In fact, from the day he ascended the throne, he knew that the fate of the empire in the war was firmly tied to the reborn France. Moreover, Sukhhorinov's words also hit the most sensitive nerve of the national pride of all Russians. Since the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian steamroller, which dominated the European continent at that time, has been whispering in front of Germany and Austria as a grandson; Now Russia's national strength has improved by leaps and bounds compared with that year, and it is natural to get the field back!

"I have decided to immediately begin the mobilization of Germany and to issue to Germany the most urgent ultimatum ordering it to cease the mobilization of France, otherwise the German side will bear all the consequences." The Tsar gave his final order to Foreign Minister Sazonov, and the crowd erupted in applause and cheers.

Nikolai turned away and gazed solemnly at the statue of the Virgin Mary in the hall; He drew a cross on his chest with his finger and whispered reverently, "Commander of Victory, Goddess of Birth, I send my soul to you, please deliver us from all dangers, so that I can cheer you." ”

"Thy name be holy, and thy love glorified; Let thy will be done on earth as it shines in thy kingdom. A moment later, a solemn prayer sounded like a Sanskrit chant in the beautiful Hall of Mirrors of the Winter Palace.

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The will of the tsar has been announced, and the voice of London has echoed it. Because the number of German dreadnoughts in this plane was once superior to that of the Royal Navy, the British people feared and hated Germany far more than in history, and the government of London, which felt relieved, immediately issued a strong cry after the Russian giant's clear statement. In this statement, the British government said that the colonial problem of Morocco could be resolved through negotiations, and that the mobilization of France for war was a criminal act by Berlin that deliberately provoked war. Britain demanded that Germany immediately cease its mobilization for war against France, otherwise it would trigger "immeasurable grave consequences".

In the official office at No. 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Asquith had a solemn face; At the Foreign Minister's Mansion across the street, Edward Gray looked at the early lights and was worried. Although they had foreseen the inevitability of Anglo-German conflict many years ago, when it came, they could not help but be terrified and worried, like a toddler old woman who had lost her crutches. After several years of all-out pursuit, the Royal Navy did surpass the German High Seas Fleet in terms of the size of its capital ships, the number of super-dreadnoughts, and the firepower of the attack, but the consequence was the extreme weakness of the army force: even if the wartime expansion was counted, the entire Britain could only transport 120,000 troops with satisfactory combat quality and weapons across the channel to support France, and this number was only a fraction of their in front of the mobilized German and French armies! At present, London can only count on the Russian giants to play a decisive role on the Eastern Front, and the British Army cannot be expected to help the French in a short time!

In contrast to the vast majority of worried officer politicians, Churchill, who was at the helm of the Royal Navy, was in high spirits and full of energy. At present, he has a quarter more capital ships than the Germans, and almost twice as many super-dreadnoughts as his opponents; After several years of working with Fisher, the fat white man, who was not yet 40 years old at the time, was confident in his political path and the glorious future of the Royal Navy. What excites him the most is that he had just picked up a new battleship equipped with 8 356mm guns for the Royal Navy a few days ago, and the sick men and bad horses who dared to force their way on board the ship under the nose of the British Army had been packed up and driven back to the country by themselves, so that they would no longer pollute the beautiful Britain with that filthy feces. In addition, another super-dreadnought ordered by Chile in the UK will also be paid by its own Zhengda because it has not yet been completed; It is also equipped with 10 356mm heavy guns, and its strike power is not inferior to that of the Iron Duke class!

"Winston, the Sultan Selim has entered the Mediterranean Sea via Gibraltar and is currently heading towards the Italian port of Taranto. Are we going to let General Milne's Mediterranean fleet stop it halfway? Douglas, commander-in-chief of the fleet at Portsmouth, walked into the office of the Lord of the Admiralty and placed a report in front of Churchill.

Churchill took the half-lit cigar in his mouth with his fat fingers, waved his hand slightly, and said, "No." At present, Britain and Germany have not yet declared war, and the ship is flying the flag of the Turkish Navy, and a rash interception will only condemn us internationally, which will greatly damage the prestige of Britain. If I had ever tried to intercept it, I would have ordered it to do so when it passed through Gibraltar! You send orders to Milne to keep an eye on the ship and sink it as soon as war breaks out or if it makes an attack on a French ship. ”

Douglas nodded, "I'm going to have someone send a report to General Milne." ”

Churchill took a puff of a fat cigar about his size, and allowed the pale blue and gray gas to poison his lungs. In the midst of the mist, only his voice muttered, "Now the evidence is obvious." The German Vipers and these Turkish thugs are indeed in collusion, and they are on good enough to wear the same pair of underwear. If it were not for the certainty that the Turks would join the Allies in the war, how could the Germans have used their own officers and men to send warships thousands of miles for them when their own navy was at a great disadvantage? Fortunately, I had anticipated this for a long time, and decisively ordered the Sultan Suleiman of the Turks to be suppressed; Otherwise, the situation in the Mediterranean will be even more difficult to control! (To be continued......)