Chapter 192： The battle for oil (middle)

After sending off the two ambassadors, Edel called a guard to talk to him. "To the Prime Minister, it is said that the German and Austrian ambassadors have only come to visit and raise the price of Romanian oil to 9 pounds."

The guard also knew what to do, so he nodded and said. "Your Highness, I'll go right away."

After the two ambassadors left the palace, Ambassador Baslob spoke. "Ambassador Belle, don't want to sit down with me."

Ambassador Belle knew that this was Ambassador Baslobb who had something to say to himself, so he said heartily. "Alright. It's been a long time since I had German sausages and dark beer."

So the two ambassadors took a carriage to the German embassy on Providellie Street.

served sausage and dark beer to the servant and closed the door, leaving only the two ambassadors to taste the food. After seeing that there were only two people, Ambassador Baslob was the first to speak. "Ambassador Bellli, your country is not very good in Serbia."

Facing the topic of Ambassador Baslobb, Ambassador Bailey knew that it was not too good and it was just a euphemism. It was a complete failure to describe it. Under the command of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s military governor Potiorek, who failed to protect Grand Duke Ferdinand, he brought a 500,000 Austro-Hungarian army to Serbia. They only faced Serbia’s 400,000 army mobilizing the whole country. Ten thousand people retreated after defeat.

In the face of such a topic, Ambassador Bailey can only bite the bullet and talk about it. "This is the Russian frontline needs troops, so it was halfway. But now General Potiorek is ready this time. He will once again lead the army to occupy Serbia and let the country that murdered the crown prince know the anger of Austria-Hungary."

For the German ambassador, these are all ambassador Bailey's words. Whether it is really that powerful depends on the level of General Portiorek. But he didn't want to say this, but made a point.

"Mr. Ambassador, you know that the government's requirement this time is to ensure that Romanian oil can supply us adequately. You can see the situation now. We can only compete with Britain and France." Ambassador Baslob said My purpose this time. "So the Austro-Hungarian Empire gave you a large amount of oil purchases."

Facing the enquiry of the German ambassador, Ambassador Bailey knew that there was nothing to hide, so he said generously. "The country gave me a price of 260 crowns per ton."

Ambassador Baslob calculated the upper limit of £11 in his mind, so he also stated the price the government gave him. "I have given a price of 260 marks per ton. If it is higher, I have to ask the government."

As for why Germany is so much higher, Ambassador Baslob did not say, and Ambassador Bailey did not ask. However, he also guessed that the German army is now equipped with more vehicles, so the demand for oil is not comparable to Austria-Hungary.

In fact, as he thought, many recent battles have reduced German stocks of oil to alert level. Now the refined oil for civilian cars in Germany is no longer supplied. Only agricultural and production units can get the fuel supply. In addition, the government and the royal family can have a small amount of supply. So for Romania, which is still the only one able to provide oil, they must purchase. If there is no supply of Romanian oil, Germany will have no oil available in three months. This is not only a military problem, but also a major problem in domestic production.

Now that the two understand each other's low price, all they need to do is to wait for the response from Britain and France. In fact, the response was quick. While they were sitting together, the British ambassador was receiving the French and Russian ambassadors.

In the private room of the British ambassador, the visiting French ambassador Jean Bard hurriedly talked about it. "The German and Austrian ambassadors went to the palace. We found out that they offered the Romanians a price of 9 pounds per ton. Our strategy succeeded."

Seeing the happy ambassadors Jean Bard and Feralowski, as the veteran gentleman ambassador Richardman, they also talked about it with a smile. "Now the good show has just begun. Now we need to let the Germans lose a lot of economically, but it is destined that this cheap can only be made by the Romanians."

Russian ambassador Ferralovsky said enviously. "This is really an enviable wealth. They don't have to do anything, and someone helps them raise the price. You know that our country's oil now only sells for 2.5 pounds a ton, and even refined oil only sells for 4.5 pounds a ton. They can easily sell for twice the price."

This "they" has no one else except Romania. As for the "someone", it will obviously be the two in front of him.

Hearing the words of the Russian ambassador full of envy, the French ambassador asked Bud to persuade him. "It's nothing. As long as we defeat Germany and Austria, we will have enough benefits. Compared with the money, territories and influence are the most important."

Obviously, compared to money, territory meets the appetite of the Russian ambassador. After hearing the persuasion of the French ambassador, he stopped speaking. And Russia does not need to import oil, nor does it have the economic power to participate in this money game.

But the three ambassadors got together not to discuss the lucky country of Romania, but to talk about other things.

"Let's Ambassador Bard, how high is your government's purchase price."

After the three of them were seated, Ambassador Richardman began to ask the French Ambassador about his own concerns.

Facing the enquiry of the British ambassador, he asked Ambassador Bard to tell him the price domestically. "450 francs per ton, but limited to the current pressure on our country, we can only purchase 40% of the export volume."

Regarding the price that Ambassador Bard said, Ambassador Richardman is still not too satisfied but the price given by his government is similar. "My government's price is 15 pounds per ton, and the purchase amount is 50% of the export quota."

He went on to talk about it. "It seems that we have a 10% gap, but this problem is not big. I believe that our two governments will coordinate our work in this area. Now we are basically at a price of 14.5 pounds, so it seems that we and Germany and Austria are both China still has competition."

In fact, Richardman is still not satisfied with the domestic price. He thinks that Romanian oil can compete to the price of 20 pounds per ton. This will be a big expense for Germany, and it can be used as their navy expenditure in peacetime. It's just that senior government officials are afraid that if Germany is no longer used, they accept that it will become a hot potato. And there is no way to tell the people that the purchase of a large amount of oil at four times the market price is to fight the enemy and strengthen oneself.

So the government can only offer three times the price now, and either purchase all of it, or it will be bleeding. Regarding the government's order, Richardman has no choice. After all, he is just an ambassador, not living at No.10 Downing Street.

Then Ambassador Richardman discussed with the ambassadors of France and Russia on how the three countries should let Germany and Austria fall into the trap of blood loss. Among them, the Russian ambassador watched the whole process without a word. The government negotiated very quickly, and the results of the negotiation were sent that evening. Among them, France still has a 40% share of imported high-priced oil, but the price has been increased to 15 pounds, and the British government will purchase the remaining 60% of the share of the price increase for France.

After the two countries negotiated, the two ambassadors of Britain and France were confident enough to let Germany and Austria dance with their batons.