In August 1882, the Imperial State Council announced that it would hold more than 50% of the shares of the Suez Canal. At the same time, the Empire and the Ottoman Empire's Egyptian Autonomous Province began to discuss the issue of military garrison in the canal area. In fact, although Egypt is still nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, it has been in a state of great success since Napoleon's invasion.

In November, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Bulgarian coalition defeated the main force of the Three Kingdoms Alliance. At the end of the month, Macedonia under Serbia announced **.

Russia issued a tough statement, demanding that the Austrian and the Patriotic coalition not invade the Serbian border, and the Ottoman Turkish Empire stood on the side of the Romania, Serbia and Montenegro three-nation coalition forces this time.

Ye Zhao had long been mentally prepared for this. Just like the Second Balkan War in history, Ottoman Türkiye did not want Bulgaria to restore its former glory in the Balkans.

In fact, the battle for the Balkans, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Turkish Empire and Russia have always been interpreting the three kingdoms' battle for hegemony, and the positions between the three kingdoms have changed with the changes in the Balkan situation.

In January 1883, Italy suddenly launched a war against Turkey. The cause of the war was that Italy had long planned to involve Turkey's North African territory - Tripoli and Cyrenega. Although it was desolate, it had important strategic significance, especially Tripoli was located on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which echoed Sicily, monitoring the narrower sea surface of the Mediterranean Sea. Italy regarded the occupation of Tripoli as an important step in seizing Mediterranean hegemony and expanding to North Africa.

In order to seize this land, Italy made a lot of preparations. Now, while the fierce battle on the Balkan battlefield is in full swing, the Italian army marched into Tripoli, and the Italian-Turkish war broke out.

In March of the same year, just as Turkey asked the great eminents to mediate. The imperial government appointed Hong Jun, the Minister of Constantinople, to fully coordinate on behalf of the imperial government and signed a peace treaty. In Singapore, a Chinese march broke out, which caused by the petition organized by the Singapore Party members.

On March 27, facing the increasingly fierce petition parade that spread to all walks of life. The British colonial authorities in Singapore dispatched military and police to guide the protesters. The military and police gradually evolved from physical contact to bloody conflicts, and many industries in Singapore went on strike. This most prosperous city in Malacca is almost paralyzed.

On March 28, Singapore's British Governor Bi Qilin issued a state of emergency bill, announcing the implementation of military control in Singapore and martial law throughout the city, and issued a wanted order to start arresting the leader of the ** Party. More than 30 ** Party backbones were arrested and imprisoned. At the same time, the crowd demonstrators outside the Governor's Office were driven away by sticks. After a fierce conflict broke out between the two sides, British soldiers shot the demonstration crowd, killing 17 people. The bloody incident of 69 injuries was a "3?28" tragedy in Singapore's history.

...

In the conference room on the top floor of the Empire State Building, heavyweights in the imperial political, military and economic circles gather together. Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, you can overlook the scenery of the capital, just like people on the top of the clouds. Similarly, everyone present today is the one standing on the top of the clouds.

Sitting at the long meeting table, Ye Zhao was convening a meeting of the Privy Council. Now he has convened a minister to discuss matters, and it has gradually evolved into a modern government affairs meeting.

Due to the chaotic situation in Eurasia, Ye Zhao failed to go to Laining to stay in Laining this spring. After the Spring Festival, he was almost submerged in urgent letters flying to the capital like snowflakes.

"What do you think about the dispute between Turkey and Italy?" Ye Zhao inspected the venue. Obviously, the members of the Privy Council were all bigwigs from all sides, but some ministers could not understand the complex political situation in Europe. Logically speaking, Italy was an ally of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so it should naturally be closer to the empire. However, Ottoman Turkey has always had a friendly relationship with the empire. Therefore, many ministers believed that the outbreak of war between the two countries caused the empire to enter a dilemma. They should reconcile their position and end the conflict as soon as possible.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cheng Yi was an old minister who had been following Ye Zhao since the Pingyuan Army. He served as the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple, the Minister of Tibet, and the Governor of Boni. After the imperial election, he was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He looked around and saw that no one was talking, and then said: "This battle between Italy and Turkey is related to the relatives and distant directions of countries on the European continent. I think it is not possible to resolve the situation by mediation, and our country should not be as ambiguous as before, and strive for the understanding of the two countries..." He wanted to speak but stopped.

Ye Zhao smiled and said, "If you continue, what do you mean is that we have to take the team this time and have a position? Then tell me, what should we stand on the position?"

Almost all the bigwigs with more qualifications than him were. With Ye Zhao's encouragement, Cheng Yi was revived and then continued: "Although the Italian country has formed an alliance with Germany and Austria, its government behavior is unstable. Before going to war with Turkey, it has obtained the law and Russia's understanding. On the other hand, Turkey, although it is in a bad relationship with Austria and Hungary in the Balkans, is because Russia is lonely in the Balkans. If the Russians return to the Balkans, Turkey will inevitably reconcile."

Ye Zhao nodded slightly and said, "Well, you mean we support Türkiye."

Cheng Yi hesitated for a moment and said, "I mean to use the battle between Italy and Turkey and the Balkans to convince Germany and Austria to consolidate their ally relations with the Italians. Italy is a new powerful country. Its navy is second only to France among the Mediterranean countries. Turkey, the unity of politics and religion, brutal suppression of foreign races, is already in a shaky situation. It seems powerful, but is actually a sick man who is strong on the outside and the middle. If our country makes every effort to maintain its rule, it will make all the nations under Europe feel heartbroken, and it is inconsistent with our country's policies, and it is not driven by interests."

Ye Zhao nodded slightly. In fact, what Cheng Yi said was quite consistent with his thoughts. Although Italy finally turned to the Allied Kingdoms for various reasons in history, various factors that prompted Italy to turn against each other have not yet occurred. King Umberto, who is close to Germany and Austria-Hungary, was not assassinated by anarchists. In addition, China's joining has made the German-Austrian group strong enough to resist the Allied countries. The Italians will definitely think carefully this time.

In fact, Ye Zhao had already written a long letter to the Italian king Umberto last year. Others thought it was a polite greeting, but in fact the content was far more than that.

After tasting the tea, Ye Zhao said: "Agree with the alliance between Italy and support the nations in Turkey... Well, your Ministry of Foreign Affairs seems to have done enough homework." The words are simple, but foreign policy is determined by this.

Cheng Yi felt at ease. He was very nervous when he said this just now. He said, "Yes, my subordinates understand."

Ye Zhao's smile gradually disappeared at this time, and he said, "Okay. Let's discuss Singapore's affairs. Our expatriates were killed..." He turned to look at Li Hongzhang and said, "Shaoquan. Tell me."

During the Privy Council meeting, although Harric, Han Jinchun and others had already removed their military positions, including Zhou Jingshan and other former political ministers, they were still members of the Privy Council. The Privy Council was like the advisory committee.

For example, Wu Fenghao and several other business talents were also members of the Privy Council and "the emperor's close friends", but they were just listeners at the Privy Council meeting.

Wu Fenghao is the son of Wu Chongyao. After his father died of illness, he became the third generation leader of the Wu family.

Most of the business leaders did not speak at the meeting of the Privy Council. What they are discussing now are military and national affairs, including Haric, Han Jinchun, Zhao Sanbao, etc., and only Ye Zhao is the leader. Often, those who discuss political affairs are Li Hongzhang and others.

Li Hongzhang said solemnly: "Everyone obeys the emperor's decree."

Ye Zhao nodded slightly. In fact, no matter what, Li Hongzhang still has his own weaknesses in character. When faced with such a choice that concerns the fate of the country, his courage was slightly insufficient.

When inspecting the left and right, his eyes swept across the faces of ministers. Ye Zhao sighed softly in his heart. The historical trend is inevitable. If he does not draw his sword and wait until the agreement is properly deployed and the empire's strategic space is slightly compressed, his decades of operations will eventually turn into a flow.

But how tragic will this war be likely to evolve into the largest war in human history?

Looking through the information in my hand, European powers have been expanding their troops over the years, especially the French. Although Napoleon III's arrogance and nonsense failed in the French-Prussian War, the army's mighty style has remained unabashed and has always been Germany's biggest enemy. Since the death of Napoleon III, his son Crown Prince Eugen ascended the throne for Napoleon IV. At the same time, the government and parliament controlled the political situation. This orderly excessive ensured the stability of the empire and made France enter the ranks of modern countries. In the more than ten years after the French-Prussian War, France's economy grew rapidly.

Although Russia was dismembered by itself, the centipede died without being stiff. Although its economy was stagnant, the national living standards plummeted, and even worse than in the 1960s, many poor Russians believed that all this was caused by the Chinese, because the loss of the Urals. Most Russians supported the invasion of the Urals by force, as if the recapture of the Urals could restore the glory of the past. According to intelligence, the country with poor soldiers and deposed military forces reached two million, which did not include the armed forces of some local warlords. Because the Baath Party government allowed private guns, almost all the people could be soldiers.

The British Empire, not to mention, the navy has an overwhelming advantage and is now integrated into five major fleets, the Strait Fleet (station in the English Channel), the Mediterranean Fleet, the Indian Ocean Fleet (station in India, Singapore), the Pacific Fleet (station in Australia and the West Coast of the Americas), and the Atlantic Fleet (station in South Africa and the East Coast of the Americas).

In fact, just its local strait fleet can completely suppress the just-in-coming German navy. Among the five major fleets, the largest one is the Indian Ocean Fleet, and the second is the Pacific Fleet. It goes without saying that its strategic adjustment is aimed at China.

In this way, the three countries with different policies formed an alliance for various historical reasons. To a certain extent, the Three-Country Alliance Group, which can complement each other's disadvantages, is really an indestructible military alliance.

Can China, which has just gotten rid of the weak, really challenge this military group and write its own chapter in the new world order?

He has always been like Ye Zhao's decisive decision, but now he can't help but think about the pros and cons.

In the letter on the table, there is still an analysis of the economic and military development of the United States. Because of the revival of Eastern civilization, the prosperity of science and technology, and the active thinking, Europe's scientific and technological talents' immigration is the first choice for China, followed by America. In addition, its steel and oil industry have suffered considerable losses in speculative capital transactions in recent years. Overall, its development trend is far from the United States that Ye Zhao knew.

Finally, Ye Zhao slowly raised his head, "You guys, the empire is emerging, and we should have worked hard to govern and develop, which has brought our three industries of industry, agriculture and commerce into a prosperous road. Our country is not strong. We have relied on small profits in technology for many years to take over the Eastern Niu Er. Compared with the century-long changes of the countries in Thailand, the empire has a long way to go. This is an estimate of loyalty to the national power, and it is not to underestimate ourselves."

All the ministers sat upright and listened. Ye Zhao rarely made a long speech, nor did he speak the truth to them in his heart in this way.

"However, today's situation is urgent. At this time when the East and West civilizations meet, perhaps because of the weak Qing Dynasty, our goods are good and cheap, but they are picked by many parties in the European market. Britain is just three islands, but it regards our country as nothing, and strives to maintain its hegemony in the East, trying its best to make our country trapped inland like the Qing Dynasty and become an abandoned child in the civilized world at his mercy."

"But how can I suppress the vigorous public opinion of the Chinese and the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement? If we surrender, Turkey will be the lesson of the past. Our China will sooner or later fall apart, and civil strife will continue to stop, and we have lost the opportunity for the final development of this industrial era. A hundred years later, our Chinese people will definitely be lost in the complex of a thousand-year glory and second-rate national status. In this way, I, Ye Zhao, are the sinners of history!"

"The British used their swords in Singapore, and they massacred our expatriates, but they separated the connection between Nanyang and China. This is their first step. Simply relying on mediation is tolerate and appease, which will only make the British go further and further, extinguish the fire of freedom of the Nanyang tribes, and gradually step on the track expected by the British, and from then on, the influence of our dynasty on Nanyang will be completely destroyed. At that time, I will say that I, Ye Zhaohe, are the sinners of history!"

"I don't agree with every inch of mountain and river, every inch of blood. I am not a war dealer. If the people can be safe, what's the point of being a sinner? But you can think about it. In the world of free trade, we have given up the market that has been blessed for thousands of years in the future because of fear of war, and pushed the Eastern countries with the same roots and veins as the empire into the embrace of the West. We are not only sinners of history, but also sinners of civilization inheritance!"

"Even if we give up the vast overseas market, will the British stop? You guys, your lips are gone, and the traces of British and Indian support for the splitting empire in the past are still there! Next, they will definitely dismember our country step by step."

"Why? Because they are afraid of us! Are our Zhili provinces in the British Isles large? So, facing a huge country that they could not imagine, they are afraid! They are afraid! Each of our 50 million people can make an iron nail, which can even sink his five fleets!"

"So no matter how we make our stand, the British who want to dominate the world are still afraid, and they are afraid to die! Sometimes, fear is the source of war."

"In that case, I think that only through war can the British understand that the world is diverse, civilization is diverse, and they need to learn to respect different countries and different nations from them."

"What I want to say in the end is that I will stand with you and the fifty millions of nations, and let the British, in the war, taste what is true fear!"

"Wow", a warm applause suddenly broke out in the conference room. This was the first time that Ye Zhao had dared to make trouble, although it was an applause.

But at this moment, these subordinates who followed him through life and death really didn't know how to express their respect and excitement to him, so they could only applaud and applaud desperately!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I don’t believe in the new book "Absolute Power" in the sky. I just received a text message from Pie and took a look. I was so sweaty that I returned to the officialdom of the 1980s like my new book. There were a few thousand words in the new book I was planning. I just wrote a few days ago. I wanted to write some new books every day to change my mind, but I stopped recently and started writing when it was easier to write this book.

Ahem, I won’t talk about my new book anymore. After all, I don’t know when it will be published. If you want to read official scripts, you can collect Pie’s books.
Chapter completed!