Chapter 288： Declare war

The sun shines on the ground in early winter. In Vienna, which has been wrapped in silver, people wearing thick winter clothes are also busy with their own affairs. Pedestrians hurrying up and down from the street can tell that they are not doing well. Most of the pedestrians are wearing old clothes and they are still pretty.

Yes, the food supply in Vienna is very tight. According to the survey, the residents in Vienna can get 380 grams of coarse grains per person per day. Yes, as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna, the world-famous music capital, cultural city, and political center, is now short of food, and it is not generally lacking.

In the peaceful era, except for the poor in Vienna, anyone who still eats coarse grains will be looked down upon, but now ordinary people can't do it even if they want to eat coarse grains. This is what happened in the capital, Vienna. People who are hungry in other parts of Austria and Hungary even need to rely on alfalfa to feed their hunger.

Hunger has caused turmoil within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and even many areas have appeared in the phenomenon of thieves. This is still after the defeat of Russia and the supply of Russian materials has been alleviated. If there is no Russian material, then what will be caused in Austria-Hungary is not a security issue, but a political issue. It can also be seen that the current Austro-Hungarian Empire is incapable of this war, and this war is too expensive to bear.

In fact, the four Allied countries are almost overwhelmed now. Bulgaria’s economy has completely collapsed, and the domestic famine is worse than that of Austria-Hungary. However, it can be supported by the spirit of suffering more than the Austro-Hungarian people. The same goes for the Ottoman Empire. Now the only hope of the Allies is that the strong German army, after defeating the Russian troops on the Eastern Front, can turn back to defeat France and withdraw from the war and then negotiate with the Allies to preserve their results. This is also the view within the Allies.

is about to face Germany's most life-threatening blow. It is not difficult to say why Britain and France gave such generous conditions to Romania, which participated in the fourth year of the war. Now it’s time for Romania to play.

The Romanian ambassador to Austria-Hungary Olga sitting in the car was looking at everything familiar to Vienna and said with emotion. "Beautiful Vienna, the jewel on the Danube River. I don't know when I will see you next time."

It is nothing more than Envoy Olga lamented that he spent most of his diplomatic career in Vienna. From the very beginning as the second secretary of the embassy, ​​he has forged a rare relationship with Vienna. The second secretary, the first secretary, the counsellor, and the ambassador all spent time in Vienna, so he has a very deep knowledge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The relationship between Romania and Austro-Hungary has also been relied heavily on from the very beginning to plain, then Romania married Queen Mary of Austro-Hungary, and now the relationship between Romania and Austro-Hungary has reached a new level.

Three days ago, Olga sent a secret telegram from Bucharest. After he took out his own cipher book and translated it alone, he got an amazing news. The message from Bucharest told him that he should be in November. Submitted to the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 6 pm on the 5th. Because the matter was important, he called back to Bucharest to verify, and the result was confirmed, and today is November 5th.

Early this morning, Envoy Olga requested the burning of confidential documents inside the embassy, ​​which also caused the embassy staff to be upset. What this move represents is almost obvious to diplomats. The diplomatic relations between Romania and the Austro-Hungarian Empire have undergone major changes, and they are on the bad side.

And the Envoy Olga had been destroying confidential documents at the embassy until three o'clock in the afternoon, because he contacted the Austrian-Hungarian Foreign Minister Count Otokar Chernin the day before and will meet him at six o'clock this evening.

Earl Ottokar Chernin also knew about the Envoy Orga. The new Austro-Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs had only presided over the work of the Industry and Trade Commission (a department responsible for the import and export of industrial products). However, relying on the relationship with a close friend of the new Austro-Hungarian emperor Karl I, he succeeded Berthold who planned to declare war on Serbia.

There is no bright spot in the diplomatic work of Count Ottokar Chernin. The only advantage is that he is obedient, what Carl I said. What he does.

The Envoy of Olga came to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at 5:45, and was led by the staff to the Foreign Minister Count Chernin. Because Romania was one of the few import sources and marriage countries of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Karl I was Edel's brother-in-law), there were many economic, trade and diplomatic contacts, so Count Chernin and Envoy Olga were very familiar with it.

Count Chernin looked at Envoy Olga with a serious face a little strangely. "Your Excellency, are you not feeling well today, do you need a glass of red wine to ease it?"

Olga almost flashed his waist when he heard Chernin's words, but he quickly adjusted and said. "I'm fine, Mr. Earl, I came here today to submit a letter of credential."

After speaking, he handed over the credential in his hand. Count Chernin felt that the Romanian ambassador today was a bit strange, but he did not delay reading the Romanian credential in his hand. Turning over the 4a paper size of the credential, the first letter that came into view caused a dizziness in Count Chernin's head.

The words ‘Declaration of War’ made Count Chernin horrified, but he quickly reacted. "Mr. Olga, are you sure this was handed to us by your country?"

When Count Chernin raised his hand to ask about the declaration of war, Envoy Olga replied with certainty. "Yes, sir, this is what my government requires me to submit."

Count Chernin heard Envoy Olga’s answer and began to read his declaration of war. This was prepared after a long discussion between Prime Minister Bretianu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Barnosk. The main content of this declaration of war is. Because the Romanians in the Cransilvania and Sarabia regions were insulted by the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its servant Ukraine, the King of Romania, Edel Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, represented the Kingdom of Romania to the Austro-Hungarian Empire Declaring war, I hope that the Emperor of Austria and the King of Hungary Karl Franz Josef Ludwig Hubert Georg Maria von Habsburg-Lorraine can seriously consider Romania’s proposal.

Count Chernin, who had finished reading the contents of the declaration of war, yelled at Olga with an angry look. "This is shameless blackmail. You won't get what you want, it's impossible."

Faced with the Count's fierce reaction, Olga said calmly. "I'm sorry, but now my country hopes to take back these two lands where Romanians live."

Count Chernin looked at Ambassador Olga with a cold expression, and spoke with a cold tone. "So if you want to take these two territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then try the Austro-Hungarian anger. Now you can go, the ambassador. We will give you 24 hours to evacuate.

Looking at Envoy Olga who was leaving, Count Chernin was very nervous. Because he still remembered that a month ago, according to the information provided by the Romanian Embassy, ​​the military estimated that its military preparations would take at least three months. He didn't expect to get Romania's declaration of war after only one month. Although he doesn't know much about the military, the military's prediction error will be a big price. I just hope that the price will not be too great.

"I hope it's not too late."

Count Chernin secretly said anxiously, and immediately called his secretary. "Leaving the arranged vehicle, I need to go to the palace in five minutes and go to prepare."

In Vienna, when the Austrian declared war on Romania, he was caught off guard. There was also a person in Bucharest who was shocked by the news. She was Queen Sophie Marie of Romania. As a member of the Habsburg family before, the Romanian queen who is still closely connected with it, she naturally cares about the family and country where she was born, not to mention that the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Carl I is still her younger brother. So when he learned that Romania was about to declare war on Austria-Hungary, he immediately called her husband Edel.

"Edel, why are you fighting with my brother?"

In Sophie Marie's eyes, this is not a war between Romania and Austro-Hungary, but a battle between her husband and her brother, which makes her feel very distressed to be caught in the middle.

Edel looked anxious and looked at his wife, organizing the language to speak. "Mary, listen to me, this war is not what I want to see. In the previous two months, Austria-Hungary and Germany asked us Romania to join their alliance, which is unwilling to all Romania. I It’s just the king of Romania, but he can’t reverse their will, so he can only obey them. I believe the Habsburg family will do the same on this point.”

Edel didn't want a fire in the backyard, so he used other places to explain it instead of Romania, because his wife, Queen Mary, did not have a deep understanding of Romanian politics and thought it was the same as Habsburg. Need to discuss and decide with the people and nobles.

"You should dissuade it. This will cause a war between Romania and Austria-Hungary. I don't want to see you and Karl go to the battlefield, and I don't want you two to die."

Queen Mary cried as she said, her husband and her brother on one side, she didn't know what to do.

Looking at his crying wife, Edel stepped forward and hugged her, while comforting. "You can rest assured that I will not go to the battlefield. At the same time, I will order no Romanian soldier to shoot at Karl. I can guarantee that."

After hearing Edel's words, Queen Mary felt much better in her heart. Seeing his wife who was gradually calming down, Edel was also relieved.

At this time, a baby's cry came from the next room, and Edel immediately turned his wife's idea away. "Mary, Miria is awake. Go and see her."

The Miria in Edel’s mouth was the second child of him and Queen Mary. He was named Miria von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. As a girl, she was of course loved by Edel, and he planned to be in her When she is 5 years old, she will be named the Grand Duke, and she will be given a lot of rewards. And now that my daughter has solved such a big siege for dad, the reward will be even worse.

After solving the crisis from his home, Edel immediately came to the General Staff Headquarters and he will be here to wait for news from the front lines. As for going to the battlefield, don't joke. As a king, he doesn't have a hobby of going to the front line. I believe his wife and brother Karl is the same.

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