Chapter 397： Istanbul?

"Horty?"

Facing the latest situation in Hungary, Edel also got the results of the investigation by the intelligence agency.

The name made Edel feel familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it.

"Tell me about Horty's information."

If Edel doesn't understand, then start with the data, this should always be somewhat reflective.

Later, in the explanation by the head of guard Carust, Edel learned about the life story of this Horti. This Admiral Horti was born in 1868 in a noble family in Austria-Hungary. He entered the Austro-Hungarian Naval Academy at the age of 14 and later became a naval officer. He performed well in World War I, but his dazzling deed was the suppression of the Cataló naval uprising in 1918. With this credit, he became the last naval commander of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

After the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, Horti returned to Hungary. Only the outbreak of the revolution gave him another opportunity. He used his identity to gather a large number of demobilized former Hungarian officers and soldiers to form a new army of the Republican government. Judging from his past experience, Horti is quite good at seizing opportunities.

And this time, it seems that this is a kind of temptation for the Romanian army.

For such a general who is good at seizing opportunities, Edel's view is to continue to observe. As long as he doesn't act against Romania, let him go. And if the admiral has any thoughts that he shouldn't have, Edel will let him know the consequences.

"Let Salamik pay attention to this Republican army, as long as they don't stop us from doing things, don't care about him. In addition, let the army pay attention to the issue of military discipline and don't arouse the emotions of these Hungarian people."

Following Edel's instructions, the policy for the Republican Army was formulated in this way. Anyway, no matter who comes to power, the new Hungarian government in the future must agree to Romania’s terms.

In addition to paying attention to the situation in Hungary, Edel is currently focusing on another country that is vital to Romania, that is Turkey. As a member of the Allied Powers, the Ottoman Turkey had already announced its withdrawal from the war before Germany announced its surrender. However, even if Turkey announced its withdrawal from the war, the Allied Powers did not give up their military coercion against Turkey.

After the signing of the "Mudlos Armistice Agreement", the Allies began to invade and occupy Turkish territory. Greece landed in Izmit from the west and advanced inland, while France and Armenia also entered Turkey from the south and east respectively. The three countries, Britain, France and Italy, are discussing the division of their respective interests in Turkey.

Among them, Edel is most concerned about the ownership of the Black Sea Strait. According to the message sent by the Prime Minister from Paris, the current countries intend to turn Turkey into an Asian country. In view of the importance of Istanbul’s Black Sea Strait, the region will be established as International condominium.

After deducting the "strait areas" on both sides of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, Turkey's remaining European territory will be handed over to Greece. In addition, the Allies also supported Greece's territorial claim to Anatolia (Homer's Battle of Chloe took place here).

Therefore, Greece is very excited about the benefits given by the Allies. To completely own the Aegean Sea is an irresistible temptation for the Greeks.

And Edel felt helpless. Because from the map of later generations (Edel still has an impression), Turkey completely occupies the Asia Minor Peninsula. Once the war between the two countries will affect the use of the Black Sea Strait, this is not good news for Romania at present.

With the outbreak of World War I, Edel was fed up with the days of being locked up in the Black Sea, which was a big blow to Romania’s export-oriented economy. Had it not been for Romania to have the oil and food that the Allies urgently needed, the Romanian economy would suffer a huge impact.

Shipping is also the cheapest transportation in later generations, as Edel knows this too. So he didn't want to see the Turkish-Greek war that threatened his shipping safety at all.

Only in accordance with the development of the current situation, this war currently seems somewhat unavoidable. The Allied powers continued their unremitting efforts to support Greece, and Turkey's internal preparations for possible situations of defeat in the war were also insufficient.

Once the final plan comes down, on the one hand, the Turkish people burst into dissatisfaction, and on the other hand, it is Greece, which was supported by the Allied Powers and triggered greed. And this kind of war that affects Romania's economic development, but he can do nothing, Edel is also a headache.

Edel didn't like the feeling of being close at hand but powerless. But even if he didn't like it, he could only endure it.

Because Edel knew that as long as he showed a slight interest in Istanbul. Countries such as Britain and France will all be more vigilant towards themselves. Moreover, the attitudes of Greece and Bulgaria towards themselves will also change drastically. The reason is simple, Istanbul is too important, not only its geographical location, but also its position in the long history.

Ever since Constantine I moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and changed its name to Constantinople, it has always been the capital of a country. Goods from the Black Sea and the Mediterranean gather here, and specialties from Europe and Asia can be seen everywhere. A huge amount of wealth was produced here, and here was the birth of the only one-thousand-year empire in the history of the world, the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).

As the source of the legal system of European countries, the Roman Empire provided the ritual and legal basis for the kings of various countries. Look at which countries in European history have appeared under the banner of Rome; the Roman Empire, the Western Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Third Roman Empire (Russia), and then there are the pearls known as the guardians Lighthouse country.

Think about what happened to the later Jerusalem, a city that relies entirely on history, and you know the difficulty of this city with a huge historical heritage. Of course, the difference from Jerusalem is that Istanbul’s geographical location is so good that Edel dare not show any thoughts before he can absolutely maintain its strength.

So what can be done about the Black Sea Strait, which is the main way to pinch Romania's throat, who is incapable of strength.

However, for the current domestic and foreign difficulties in Turkey, Edel feels that he can try to contact him in secret. For nothing else, it would be good to improve the relationship with it. After all, the Black Sea Strait will still be managed by it in the future.

Who should go? We must let Turkey feel Romania’s goodwill without leaving any handles. At this time, a name that had been active in the war came to his mind.

Hawke Selder, a smuggler who was very active in the war, can let him come forward. This person can neither represent the Romanian government, and no one in the countries around the Black Sea knows the figure standing behind him.

After thinking of a way, Edel quickly called Carust to inform him of his decision.

"Okay Your Majesty, I will do it now."

After receiving Edel's instructions, Carust came out of his office with an idea that this Romanian smuggler is really a good life.

(=)