The first update

1876 was one of the most turbulent years in Europe.

Revolts against Turkish rule broke out in Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, and soon spread to Serbia and Montenegro, two Turkish vassal states. Although the Sudan brutally suppressed the uprising, it failed to control the situation, and its rule in the Balkans began to waver.

Faced with this situation, Russia, Austria, and Britain, among the European powers, expressed their special concern. Russia, in particular, believes that the Crimean War of the 50s has both lost face and prestige and influence in the Balkans, and it needs to find an opportunity to return to the Balkans and restore everything that was before.

Benjamin Disraeli began looking for a suitable ally to fight against the ambitious Russians.

He could not count on the alliance of the Three Emperors, Germany's goal had always been on the border areas of France, Austria-Hungary and Russia coveted the Balkans, and Germany naturally could not offend its friendly allies for the sake of Britain.

So after thinking about it, the only thing to count on was the French, after all, there was nothing to do with him in the Balkans, and the only thing at stake in the Turkish Straits was the British fleet.

And Disraeli thought very clearly, before St. Petersburg openly made remarks in support of the Franco-German conflict, Paris did not open a protest, at least it proves that France no longer has the original desire to compete for hegemony, otherwise it would have been to freeze billions of francs as a means to blackmail Gochakov, where would it be their turn to be arrogant and domineering.

How can the only neutral power become so unmotivated?

The French are weak, the Franco-Prussian war was nothing more than a bluff, and once it touched on the major events of international politics, the whole country became a turtle with a shrunken head, and even the shameless betrayal of the Russian allies who were aided by arms did not dare to issue a statement of protest and condemnation.

Watching the Gallic chicken turn into an ostrich with its head buried in the desert, Disraeli felt very helpless. Yet he still held on to the last hope,

He called the French Foreign Secretary Russell, hoping that he could go to communicate with Paris, and Britain was desperate to draw the Germans over and form an Anglo-French alliance again.

He told Foreign Secretary Russell, "In any case, we must persuade Paris to join in the fight against Russia, and we are even willing to withdraw from the competition for the Suez Canal." These guys, who are also focused on the Balkans, simply do not see the European threat that Russia is coming. Russia wants to control the Bosphorus, the choke point from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, by controlling the Balkans, in order to open up its long-sought only outlet to the sea in the southwest. Therefore, it gloated over the deterioration of the situation in Turkey and actively intervened in it. This is an absolute nightmare for the British who maintain stability in the Mediterranean. ”

Russell saw it more clearly that the tsarist government at this time, under the banner of "saving the Christians under the oppression of the Turkish Empire" and "protecting the Slavic brothers", first exerted pressure on the Turkish government through diplomatic channels, but the British support behind it did not have a significant effect. Its proposal for the collective protection of the Slavs was opposed by Turkey, which was supported by the British. This was followed by an initiative to establish autonomy in Bosnia, Herzegovina and Bulgaria, which was also rejected by Turkey.

There was no way, now Gochakov was active in various European countries, trying to get the neutral consent of the countries before the war against Turkey, so that his opponent would be left with only one British.

It is more than enough to fight one Ottoman Turk, but as long as the British Army does not go ashore and the British Navy does not go to sea, the Slavic gray cattle will dare to tear these noble British guys to pieces!

"I just think that the attitude of France is very strange, and it is a shame that its allies openly support the enemies of France, so why did Paris choose not to say a word? Isn't this a state of affairs to be questioned? ”

Chancellor Russell analyzed, "Of course, no matter how we deduce, we can never imagine what benefits the French can gain by coercion, and the concession has stimulated Bismarck's ambition to conquer France." If that happens, I hope London will be ready to deal with a two-sided conflict. ”

Prime Minister Disraeli asked curiously, "What kind of two-sided conflict should we deal with?" ”

According to the information that Minister Ross has received from the embassies of various countries these days, he has made a series of predictions about the situation.

"Because we are going to be fighting in two places, one in Ottoman Turkey and the other on the Franco-German border. The former could send troops through the British colonies in India to approach Asia Minor and the Balkans to warn Tsar Alexander II of his troops. As for the Germans, we can only force them to withdraw by means of an alliance with France, because once Germany has acquired those lands, they will certainly further claim colonies from France, thus breaking our policy of balancing the European continent, and the insatiable Germans and weak France are simply waving their hands and waiting for the other side to invade. Isn't France the same as Ottoman Turkey today? Weak enough to need the protection of other countries, it has completely lost the ambitions of the expansion of the previous First Empire. ”

Russell shook his head, sighed and said, "No one would have expected that a war would turn France into this. Russia was incapable of stopping German expansion, Vienna and Berlin were close to each other, and now even the French were not able to do so, and if they were left unchecked, Bismarck, with his inflated ambitions, would sooner or later turn him into an empire across the continent. This is a challenge to the order established by our British, which will never be allowed to arise. ”

"I see, Lord Russell."

After some analysis by the other side, Prime Minister Disraeli finally had a general understanding of France's moves, and they needed the British to pull them along, otherwise, with the current strength of France, sooner or later the Germans would cede territory and colonies. Although Britain was wary of the Third Reich for a while, it now appears that London has completely overestimated France's capabilities. Even the man who claimed to be the reincarnation of Napoleon, after leading the French army to victory over the invaders, was unable to change the decline.

Paris without ambition and Berlin with inflated ambitions, Prime Minister Disraeli knew very well which one he should help.

"Your Excellency Russell, please leave for France at once. I hope to be able to win France over to the side of Britain, as long as we can form an alliance, Britain is willing to help France solve the problem of the border conflict, and even Britain will not intervene in the Suez dispute. The precondition, of course, is that France must help Britain to attack Russia together! ”

"Of course, Prime Minister Disraeli."

Russell sarcastically said, "I think the French would be more than happy to accept this condition." After all, now they are just a flock of poor and helpless ostriches. ”

The empty-eyed British did not realize that the whole situation was slowly developing in the direction he had predicted, under Napoleon's manipulation.

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