Mediterranean Hegemony Road

There is no doubt that after reaching a political agreement, the remaining details of negotiation and wrangling no longer need Ferdinand's intervention.

Although the loan is mainly from France, it does not mean that the Bulgarian government does not need to borrow from other countries!

The end of the 19th century was the golden age of capitalist development. Even if negotiations at the government level failed, as long as the capitalists thought it was profitable, the business would still be done.

After the Bulgarian War, Bulgaria fully attracted the attention of the international community. Everyone suddenly discovered that in the Balkans, a small country has begun to rise.

Politicians are concerned about the impact on the international situation, and capitalists are naturally concerned about interests! As long as you are interested, it is easy to find that the Bulgarian economy has grown rapidly in recent years!

Rapid economic growth is naturally a golden period for capitalists to make money. It is a pity that this discovery is too late. The Bulgarian domestic market is limited and saturated, and there is no chance for latecomers to enter!

However, this is only for small capitalists. For large consortiums, making money financially is much faster than the real economy!

After evaluating the risks, you will find that the repayment ability of the Bulgarian government is still very strong.

You must know that in order to stimulate economic development in Bulgaria, many industries are reducing or even exempting taxes. Once the tax returns to normal levels, the fiscal revenue will be greatly increased!

"Once there is a proper profit, the capitalists will be emboldened! If there is a 10% profit, it is guaranteed to be used everywhere; with a 20% profit, it will be active; with a 50% profit, it will be Take the risk; with 100% profit, it dares to trample all human laws; with 300% profit, it dares to commit any crime!" -Marx-Das Kapital

For ordinary people, the profit from issuing loans and buying bonds may only be a few points. But for the consortium, if there are not many banks in their hands, they are too embarrassed to come out and mix?

Using other people's money to make money is the most commonly used method for them! Essentially, apart from the risk, the cost of lending is surprisingly low, which is why capitalists are keen to engage in finance!

Otherwise, if you simply use your own money to lend, how much interest can you get?

In the face of high profits, capital has never been able to resist!

Even if everything was not obtained diplomatically, the loan negotiations continued, albeit at a much lower amount!

In the light of the fact that no matter how small a mosquito is, the Bulgarian government is still very enthusiastic about contacting representatives of all parties and working hard to obtain every loan.

...

Time passed by in a hurry. By the end of 1895, through the unremitting efforts of the Bulgarian government, a total of 15 loans of varying amounts had been obtained, involving a total of 987 million leva.

What is high debt? The Bulgarian government is now in high debt, paying more than 80 million levs every year just to pay the interest on the funds! If the previous loan interest is added, this figure has exceeded 100 million leva!

The French alone have provided 800 million leva (equivalent to francs) at one time, and the other dozen or so loans are less than 200 million. It can only be said that international loans in this era are still dominated by the government. !

Small loans are okay, but the interest is a little higher, there are not many additional conditions, and most of them are issued at one time.

However, the huge sums of money from the French, or the loans jointly issued by "France and Russia", are not so easy to get!

First, the loan is not issued in one lump sum, but divided into three grants. The first distribution of 300 million leva, the rest are distributed twice!

Second, it is necessary to monitor the direction of use of the loan. According to the agreement, of the 300 million levs, Bulgaria must invest in the navy. As for how to use it, Ferdinand does not need to worry about it. The Russians will help formulate a "reasonable" naval development plan!

The remaining six hundred million levas,

Or francs, of which there must be half of the funds, which must be used to buy French goods!

And the Bulgarian government must also ensure that no less than 100 million levs are invested in the military industry!

Whether Ferdinand has tried his best to imagine the shamelessness of the powers, or underestimated the low morale of the powers!

To monitor loan usage, don't complain. But even the specific usage conditions are clearly stipulated, and there is no need to say!

If it weren't for the "Navy Development Plan" of 300 million levs, which were all 20-year interest-free loans, he would never have asked for it!

That's right, France and Russia have already planned to support Bulgaria's acquisition of the Black Sea Strait. Of course, this is only a nominal acquisition, and the actual control is still in the hands of the Russians!

What the French get is the right to travel freely without paying customs duties.

The Russian Empire is the largest foreign investor in France and the largest overseas market for French goods, so the Turks’ tariffs are very unsightly.

It can be seen that the annual payment of tens of millions of francs to the Turks has greatly dissatisfied the French capitalists. They're ready to kick this stumbling block away whenever they get a chance!

The senior officials of the Bulgarian government were furious when they got the final treaty.

Isn't this Bulgaria fighting for the Russians, the French? Moreover, they are still the kind of mercenaries who bring their own dry food and do not need to pay army salaries. All harvests can only be robbed by themselves!

Fortunately, the Bulgarian navy has no sense of existence, otherwise there is no possibility of passing! As soon as this treaty is signed, the Bulgarian Navy will be reduced to a fleet in the hands of the Russian Empire!

However, Ferdinand was tempted. He had to rely on Bulgaria's own strength to establish a navy, and he would not even think about forming a combat power without a twenty or thirty years.

If you can use the power of the Russians, it may only take a few years to build a fleet. The Russians can send officers, but not all soldiers! No matter how bad it is, Bulgaria can also get a group of naval soldiers and a set of naval logistics system!

Ferdinand said earnestly: "Okay, gentlemen, put away the anger in your hearts! Anger can only burn your reason, and calmness can solve the problem!

It is now clear that our strategy has been exposed, at least the Russians have speculated!

Either we agree to their terms and become a mercenary with the support of the Franco-Russian alliance. Defeat the Turks and we will gain a large territory in the Balkans of the Ottoman Empire.

Of course we have to pay a heavy economic price, and even our navy will become a fleet in the hands of the Russians!

Either we reject the conditions of the Russians, and we part ways with the Russian Empire. Not only will we not be able to get support, but we will face a series of suppression from the Russians!

Everyone is Bulgarian elite. Now everyone needs to make a choice for the fate of Bulgaria. Think calmly and tell me the answer! "