Sunday, June 2, 1914.

It's a sunny summer day, no different from previous years.

In accordance with the mayor's decree, the streets and alleys of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, were filled with colorful flags. Portraits of Archduke Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, were displayed in many windows. The streets were bustling with pedestrians and crowded with onlookers.

.This seems to be an unusual day, because Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie will arrive in Sarajevo from Ilitz today.

The Grand Duke and his wife chose this day to visit Sarajevo for a certain purpose. For example, this day was the 14th anniversary of their wedding. The Grand Duke wanted his wife to enjoy the courtesy here that she could not enjoy in Vienna in the past, as a wedding anniversary.

commemoration of the 14th anniversary. Secondly, this day happens to be a day of national mourning for the Serbs who were killed by foreigners and the fallen Serbian land. It is also a day when the Austrian army held exercises near the Serbian border. Therefore, this day was chosen.

, is undoubtedly a strong stimulus to the Serbian people.

At 10 o'clock in the afternoon, Archduke Ferdinand and his entourage arrived in Sarajevo. After reviewing the local army, they took a car to the city hall as scheduled and attended a formal welcome meeting. Archduke Ferdinand and his wife met with the Mayor of Sarajevo, Bosnia

Accompanied by military government officials and other dignitaries, they took the second of six open-top cars to tour the city.

Sarajevo has been the capital of Bosnia for 500 years. The city is located in a narrow valley at the foot of the mountains. A small river called Mirjaka River runs through the city center, but the river is always dry in summer. There is a spacious road beside the river.

The main road leads directly to the city hall, and there are several small bridges over the river leading directly to the governor's residence.

Archduke Ferdinand was wearing a formal dress, with a full set of medals on his chest. His wife was wearing a pure white gown and a beautiful big hat, sitting next to the archduke. Facing them, sitting with them was the Governor of Bosnia, Botierre.

General Croix, in a car ahead of them, the mayor and the police commissioner opened the way, and behind them were two cars carrying the entourage of the Grand Duke and the governor's men.

Archduke Ferdinand was in a good mood today, smiling and waving to the welcoming crowd. This was a newly occupied territory that had just been incorporated into the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but the people here seemed to treat him well.

The scenery of Sarajevo is indeed good, especially the newly built houses, which add a bit of color to the city's appearance. The welcoming crowd showed the enthusiasm and boldness unique to the people of the mountain city. They cheered and waved to the Grand Duke and his entourage.

and dance with joy.

The Grand Duke and his wife, the Governor, were completely attracted by the beautiful scenery of this mountain city. At the same time, they were also moved by the enthusiasm of Sarajevo. They kept asking the Governor this and that. The Governor was very happy to see the Grand Duke and his wife in high spirits, and kept asking the Grand Duke and his wife.

The lady introduced the scenery along the way. The car was driving steadily at a medium speed. When the convoy approached the Kemeiya Bridge, a man suddenly jumped out from the roadside. The man threw something towards the Grand Duke's car, then turned around and ran away.

The driver of the big bus was in a hurry and stepped on the accelerator. The thrown object landed on the folded hood of the car, and then bounced to the road behind. There was only a "boom" sound. Although the big bus's car was safe, the car behind it was unharmed.

However, it was damaged and seriously injured Lieutenant Colonel Merizzi and several onlookers.

The Grand Duke asked all the cars to stop to check for any injuries. When the injured people were taken to the hospital, he said with a calm and courageous smile.

"Come on, they're just a bunch of lunatics. Everyone, please, we'll proceed as planned."

So the motorcade continued to drive towards the city hall.

At the city hall, the Governor held a grand welcome ceremony. The welcome ceremony and the mayor's warm welcome speech fully expressed the loyalty of the Bosnian people and the joy of welcoming you to visit.

This welcome speech seemed a bit out of place, causing the impatient and forthright Ferdinand to rudely interrupt the mayor's speech and say: "Enough, enough. Why do I come to visit, and you receive me with bombs."

After the welcoming ceremony, the Grand Duke insisted on going to the hospital to visit the officer who was injured in the bombing. Both General Potyrek and the Police Commissioner believed that it was impossible for two assassinations to occur in succession on the same day. However, for the sake of safety, they decided not to go to the original hospital.

road, but quickly via Yapal Jetty to the hospital and museum.

The Grand Duke and his wife continued to drive in the same order, but Count Halaki stood on the left side of the Grand Duke's car to guard against any attack from the Mirgaka River.

When the motorcade reached Franz Josef Street, the mayor's car turned right into the street as originally planned. The Archduke's driver was also about to follow, but Botierk shouted.

“If you take the wrong turn, go directly along Yapal Pier”

The driver stopped the car and was about to retreat. At this moment, another man ran out from the side of the road, and he calmly raised the pistol in his hand.

"Bang, bang" two gunshots were fired. One shot hit the archduke on the top of his neck, and blood flowed from his mouth. The other shot may have been aimed at Potyrek, but it hit Sophie's abdomen.

It happened so suddenly that not only the driver and attendants were stunned, but even the Grand Duke and his wife who had been shot sat upright in shock and stared blankly ahead for several minutes. Until the guards discovered blood coming from the Archduke's neck and Sophie's neck.

There was gushing gushing from the abdomen, and when rescuers rushed to the rescue, the Grand Duke and his wife collapsed.

Seeing that the assassination was successful, the assassin committed suicide with a gun, but was snatched away by the police who woke up from the shock. The man tried to take poison again, but still failed, and was eventually captured and returned to the police station.

The car turned around and quickly crossed the Latin Bridge and drove towards the Governor's Palace. The Archduke said finally to his wife.

"Sophie, Sophie, don't die, live for our children."

However, a few minutes later, both of them were taken away by death.

The time is about 11:30 noon.

At this time, the sky in Europe is full of dark clouds, waiting for a bolt of lightning to trigger deafening thunder; the land of Europe is covered with dry firewood, waiting for a spark to ignite all over Europe. And this lightning, this little spark, who will

I didn’t expect that it would start from the Balkans, which is known as the powder keg.

"Be good..."

Almost as soon as he received the telegram, after the initial surprise, Xu Shuzheng said this sentence almost subconsciously.

At the bottom of the telegram, there is also a copy of "The Evolution of the Current Situation in Europe" written by him. He has been studying the current situation in Europe since he began to care about the situation in Europe at the beginning of the year.

"In Europe at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the struggle for colonies and the conflict of commercial interests made the relations between European countries tense. There were so many open and secret treaties, agreements, etc. between countries that it only took a little touch.

In a certain powerful country, a single spark will ignite into a raging flame."

This is a line from "The Evolution of the Current Situation in Europa". For Xu Shuzheng, although he had paid considerable attention to the Balkans, he was more concerned about where the spark would ignite.

Although it was confirmed from Zhang Jizhi that his speculation that "Europa will be a war" came from Li Zhiyuan, even though Li Zhiyuan asserted that a spark would be ignited in the Balkans, Xu Shuzheng also quite agreed with it at first, but in the end, as he became more and more concerned about Europe,

The bureau's concern, but he didn't take it seriously.

Because although the interests of all countries are involved in the Balkans, there is no big wave there, just because it involves the interests of too many countries, but now...

"This is Li Zhiyuan!"

After repeatedly reading the telegram sent from the embassy in Vienna, Xu Shuzheng was shocked, and more interested in Li Zhiyuan, whom he had only met once but had no chance to talk to. This man was too mysterious.

.

As early as half a year ago, it was asserted that the Balkan crisis would lead to the European powers falling into war. This... Sighing, Xu Shuzheng frowned. He looked at the "Evolution of the Current Situation in Europe" he had just finished writing, frowned, and began to think in his mind.

It speculates on the evolution of the current situation in Europe after the crown prince was assassinated.

Serbia!

Austro-Hungarian Empire!

Russia!

France!

Germany!

U.K……

The powerful European countries formed a clue in Xu Shuzheng's mind. When this clue was formed, Xu Shuzheng didn't even notice that his face had changed. His face became pale and his lips trembled slightly.

"is it possible?"

impossible?

Maybe……

Various thoughts echoed in his mind. In his opinion, is it possible that such a small incident could trigger a European war? Is it possible that those countries will be involved in the war one after another?

Many questions troubled Xu Shuzheng, and some sweat began to ooze from his forehead. I don't know if it was because of the heat, or for some other reason. While he frowned, some regret and annoyance welled up in his heart. Why,

Why couldn't I prepare earlier?

If the government had prepared early, maybe, maybe it could seize this favorable opportunity to change... What should be changed?

"If a war breaks out in Europe, it will not only be beneficial to the development of our country's industry, but will also be beneficial to the improvement of our international status. If we plan carefully, it may even be possible to recover some of our rights and interests..."

Strategy! Strategy!

Every strategy should be prepared for a rainy day, but he missed the opportunity and missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is really hateful!

He smacked the table with anger, the pain in his palm made Xu Shuzheng frown, and suddenly, he seemed to remember something.

"Li Zhiyuan!"

Yes, Li Zhiyuan, since he has calculated everything today, naturally... Thinking of this, Xu Shuzheng seemed to have remembered something, and hurriedly opened an official document from the Jiangsu Army General Staff to the Central Committee a few months ago.

"...Jiangsu Army invites you to Mongolia!"

Mongolia!
Chapter completed!