On July 17, 1918, Archduke Ferdinand ascended the throne and became Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, known as Ferdinand I! Even before he ascended the throne, Archduke Ferdinand had been handling state affairs for many years on behalf of Franz Joseph I, who was in poor health.
Therefore, he has a very high reputation throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His accession to the throne can be said to be
It came naturally without any problems! All the states under the Austro-Hungarian Empire agreed with the rule of Ferdinand I! This made Ferdinand I finally get his wish and become the emperor of the third most powerful country in the world.
!Became a figure comparable to Chinese Emperor Wang Yuze and German Emperor Wilhelm II!
The first thing Ferdinand I did after he came to the throne was to order the commander-in-chief of the Austro-Hungarian Army, Navy, and Air Force to negotiate with China and order a batch of advanced weapons from China to enhance the military strength of the Austro-Hungarian Empire!
After half a month of negotiations, China agreed to sell 600 T6 tanks to the Austro-Hungarian Empire! The T6 tank was originally the main battle tank that the Chinese Army prepared to replace the T5 'Cheetah' medium tank! However, the Emperor of the Empire is proud of me
Not satisfied with the performance of the T6 tank, the Army is required to fully develop an updated 'Leopard' tank! Therefore, only a small number of T6 tanks have been installed in the army!
For the T5 'Cheetah' tanks, the T6 tanks are already much more advanced! The Austro-Hungarian Army was very satisfied with this and stated that it would once again form three armored brigades with these 600 T6 tanks as the core
, plus the T5' Cheetah previously purchased from China
With three tank brigades composed of tanks and armored vehicles, and four brigades established by the Austro-Hungarian Empire's own imitation of China's T5 'Cheetah' tanks, the Austro-Hungarian Empire already has 10 armored brigades, with a total of more than 2,000 tanks and
Armored vehicles! This also allowed the Austro-Hungarian Empire to possess
With a powerful armored assault force second only to Germany in Europe! In addition, the Austro-Hungarian Navy and Air Force also purchased a large amount of equipment from China, but it is not the most advanced equipment of the Chinese Navy and Air Force that the Austro-Hungarian Empire hopes to obtain!
Such as long-range bombers and aviation
Motherships, etc., China has not let go, which makes the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s navy and air force very regretful! Even so, the total amount of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s arms purchases this time has reached 200 million yuan! Moreover, this arms purchase
The cost was China’s low-interest loan to the Austro-Hungarian Empire!
China's blatant arming of the Austro-Hungarian Empire has aroused strong dissatisfaction among European countries led by Germany! Especially the Kingdom of Serbia, the southern neighbor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, has felt the pressure! After the Austro-Hungarian Empire built three new armored brigades,
The armor has been assembled from the four Austro-Hungarian Empire's own T5 'list' tanks originally stationed in the north.
The brigade was transferred to the southern border, which frightened the Kingdom of Serbia for fear that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would use force against the Kingdom of Serbia! Although the Kingdom of Serbia is a powerful country in the Balkans, it is much weaker than the Austro-Hungarian Empire, let alone
Armored troops, they didn't even mention heavy artillery. It would be even more difficult to defeat the invasion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire!
Germany was also very dissatisfied with China's arming of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and made repeated protests to China. However, it had no effect! Does China still need Germany's consent to export weapons and equipment abroad?
However, in the face of strong pressure from China, Germany also fought back! On September 2, 1918, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Portugal, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Romania, the Kingdom of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Greece,
The foreign ministers of the Kingdom of Serbia, the Ottoman Turkish Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire gathered in Berlin to participate in the European Defense Conference proposed by Germany!
Chinese Ambassador to Germany Liang Cheng also participated in this meeting as a representative of China! After all, China also has some territory in the Mediterranean. However, this defense meeting hosted by Germany is fundamentally aimed at China.
!
At the meeting that morning, Kaiser Wilhelm II gave a speech! Claiming that Europe's security was seriously threatened, and that the entire Europe should unite to jointly deal with possible threats! And the threats referred to here simply refer to
China! William II called on European countries to form an alliance to jointly deal with the threat of an imminent war! William II's speech received responses from the United Kingdom, Russia, the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal, but other countries were forced to
Due to the pressure from China, I didn’t even dare to take a stand for a while!
"His Majesty the Kaiser, is Germany going to form an alliance against China?" At the meeting, Liang Cheng, the Chinese Ambassador to Germany, asked directly! His unabashed questioning made all the foreign ministers participating in this meeting
Everyone looked sideways! Kaiser Wilhelm II was one of the most powerful people in the world!
"Germany has no intention of targeting any country! The possible enemy mentioned by Germany is not China!" Kaiser Wilhelm II said with a cold face. He was questioned on the spot by the Chinese Ambassador to China Liang Cheng, which made him a little embarrassed. However,
, now is not the time to completely break up with China, so he suppressed the anger in his heart!
"Well, His Majesty the Kaiser! China does not want such an alliance to appear! The world is now in a period of peace, and the emergence of a military alliance will aggravate the turmoil of the international situation! Therefore, China hopes that Germany will give up almost any intention of establishing this military alliance.
!" Liang Cheng continued!
"Oh God! That ambassador is so courageous! Is he blatantly challenging the German emperor?" some foreign ministers participating in the meeting exclaimed! Although Liang Cheng is the Chinese ambassador to Germany, he has a very high status and influence
However, it still seems a bit arrogant to directly make demands to Kaiser Wilhelm II!
Sure enough, William II's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot! From his undulating chest, you can see how angry he was deep in his heart! If it were not for considering China's current status as the world's most powerful country
If so, maybe he would have ordered Liang Cheng to be dragged out and shot!
"The establishment of a military alliance is Germany's own right and does not allow interference from other countries! Ambassador Liang, if you are making arrogant remarks, then we have no choice but to ask you out!" Crown Prince William said with an angry look!
"Okay! However, I want to warn everyone! Any alliance that is hostile to China will be attacked by China with all its strength! Therefore, China hopes that all countries will think twice before deciding whether to join the alliance!"
After Liang Cheng dropped these words, he left the venue! However, his words caused great pressure on the foreign ministers of European countries!
"Damn yellow-skinned monkeys, one day I will kill you all!" Crown Prince William said through gritted teeth when he saw Ambassador Liang Cheng leaving.
"Everyone! Don't heed China's warning! After all, the key to our establishment of such an alliance is to maintain peace in Europe and the world! It is not aimed at China! In addition, please believe that Germany has enough strength to safeguard the entire
The security of all member states of the alliance! As long as we unite, we are invincible! Even China cannot make us bow!" William II said!
Next, German Prime Minister Holweg took the stage and elaborated on the various terms of the alliance, especially the rights and obligations enjoyed by the various member states of the alliance, etc. To put it bluntly, this is a military alliance. Once
If a member country of the alliance is attacked by other countries, it will be regarded as a war against the entire alliance. Other countries in the alliance will declare war on the enemy country as soon as possible and fully reinforce the country being attacked! However, if the country in the alliance
If a member country takes the initiative to attack other countries, then other members of the alliance can consider whether to join the fight depending on the situation!
At the meeting, Germany did not ask the foreign ministers of various countries to express their opinions immediately, but gave them time to consider. After all, except for those die-hard supporters of Germany, other countries have to report to the country and seek domestic opinions.
OK! The warning given by Liang Cheng, the Chinese ambassador to Germany, when he left caused great pressure on them!
That evening, German Foreign Minister Stresemann reported to Kaiser Wilhelm II the information he had obtained from secret contacts with various countries.
"Your Majesty, so far, Britain, Russia, Italy, Spain and Portugal have made it clear that they will join our alliance. Other countries are hesitant! But Austria-Hungary has refused very directly!" Stresemann said.
.
"Humph! The Austro-Hungarian Empire has colluded with the Chinese, and it is impossible for them to join our alliance!" Crown Prince William said bitterly!
"However, our alliance will be incomplete without Austria-Hungary joining the alliance!" German Prime Minister Holweg said with some regret! Germany and Austria-Hungary are the most powerful countries in Europe, and the two countries unite
, can challenge China. And if the two countries are enemies, the fate of the entire Western world will be worrying!
"Ignore the Austro-Hungarian Empire! Ferdinand I will not join us!" Kaiser Wilhelm II said coldly!
Germany's top leaders all regretted this. In the past, Austria-Hungary was a die-hard ally of Germany! But now, the two countries have parted ways and have become mutually hostile countries! It can only be said that interests determine a country.
The foundation of foreign policy!
At 10 a.m. on September 3, 1918, the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Portugal signed the alliance treaty, and the six countries formally formed a military alliance, which was called the Holy Alliance by the six countries! (Unfinished)
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