xymnovel Chapter 265 Ultimatum from Three Countries
Chapter 265 Ultimatum from Three Countries
Athens, British Embassy.
The crystal teacup trembled slightly in Sir Charles Harding's hands.
Ultimately, he lost control.
The teacup slipped from his pale fingers, fell onto the expensive Persian carpet with a dull thud, and then shattered.
The warm black tea left a dark stain on the carpet.
He was manipulated like a fool by that young Greek crown prince, the young man he had always regarded as an impulsive pawn.
There was a knock on the office door, and a military officer strode in, handing over a file folder.
"Sir, an urgent coded telegram from the Foreign Office in London."
Harding tore open the seal and pulled out the telegram.
The wording above was so harsh it bordered on insulting.
"Stop Greece at all costs. Unite all forces. There can be no more miscalculations."
The last sentence was utterly scathing.
Sir Harding's cheek muscles twitched uncontrollably.
He took a deep breath, threw the telegram into the fireplace, and watched it curl, turn black, and turn to ashes in the flames.
"Prepare the carriage," he ordered the attendant outside the door.
"In addition, in my name, I urgently request a meeting with the German ambassador, Baron von Schneider, and the Russian legation's Captain Orlov."
"Let's say that for the sake of peace in the Mediterranean, we must talk."
Inside the German Embassy.
Baron von Schneider was looking at a telegram from Berlin and had a terrible headache.
The Kaiser's secret order was filled with contradictory pressures.
He needed to unite with Britain and Russia to curb Greece's "excessive" expansion and prevent the Ottoman Empire from collapsing immediately.
He was also asked to maintain his "family ties" with the Greek royal family to secure German arms deals and future economic benefits.
This is a task that's like dancing on a knife's edge.
After careful consideration, he decided to first participate in the joint operation initiated by the British.
After all, maintaining the existence of the Ottoman Empire was in the interest of all the major European powers.
However, in terms of specific terms, he must leave enough room for maneuver for both Greece and Germany itself.
He wanted the British to be at the forefront, with the Germans following behind, ready to act as needed.
Russian Legation.
Captain Vasily Orlov was drinking glass after glass of vodka, quenching his anger and fear.
The rebuke telegram from St. Petersburg caused him to lose face and nearly ended his diplomatic career.
Now, he has only one goal.
To salvage everything.
We must never allow Greece to completely control the Aegean Sea, nor should we allow them to have any unrealistic fantasies about the straits.
The strait can only belong to Russia.
He showed unprecedented enthusiasm and positivity toward Sir Harding's joint proposal.
Three vultures, each with their own ulterior motives, circled together under the same sky for the same purpose—to subdue the newly emerging Greek lion.
In Constantinople, inside a dimly lit café located in the backstreet of the Spice Market.
The air was thick with the smoke of hookah, and the aroma of roasted coffee beans mingled with the sour smell of sweat.
A handsome young officer with sharp eyes was speaking to several of his comrades, speaking in a low voice and with great enthusiasm.
He is Enver, the leader of the "Young Türkiye" party and one of its key figures.
"The empire's shame is not defeat at the hands of tiny Greece!" His voice held a fanatical, inflammatory quality, "but defeat at the hands of our own corruption! The Sultan's court, the Pasha's incompetence, and those bloated old nobles—these are our true enemies!"
To him, the news of defeat was not a disaster, but an opportunity.
It is an opportunity to awaken the sleeping Turkish nation and build a new and powerful country.
His words resonated strongly with these young officers who were also dissatisfied with the status quo of the empire.
After the meeting, Lord Enver summoned one of his trusted confidants.
"Find a way to personally deliver this letter to the military attaché at the German embassy."
In the letter, he used the most humble words to express his boundless admiration for German power and his desire to carry out military reforms and establish a "new Turkey" with German assistance.
A dangerous seed quietly sprouted amidst the ruins of the empire, and began to extend its tendrils toward Berlin.
Athens, the study of the British Embassy.
Sir Harding, Baron von Schneider, and Captain Orlov finally sat down together.
This time, Sir Harding abandoned all diplomatic rhetoric and went straight to the point, presenting an extremely tough proposal.
"First, the navies of our three countries shall immediately form a joint fleet, under the command of Britain, to blockade the port of Piraeus."
"Secondly, the banks of our three countries will jointly impose comprehensive economic sanctions on the Kingdom of Greece and freeze all of its overseas assets."
"Third, the ambassadors of our three countries will jointly issue an ultimatum to the Greek royal family, demanding an immediate ceasefire and a peace conference in London. The terms of the conference will be decided through our 'negotiation'."
This plan is tantamount to returning Greece to a semi-colonial state.
Baron Schneider and Orlov exchanged a glance, neither immediately expressing their opinion nor objecting.
Sir Harding knew that they had tacitly approved.
After the meeting, Liaison Officer Major Lionel Harrison reported to Sir Harding a new intelligence he had just obtained from an inside source at the Greek court.
"Sir, news has come from our 'friends' that King George I is extremely alarmed by the possibility of a combined action by the great powers. He and Crown Prince Constantine are engaged in a heated debate over whether to respond forcefully."
Sir Harding finally let out a cold smile.
He found the weakest link in that seemingly impregnable fortress.
King.
"Very good." He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the silhouette of the acropolis in the distance.
"Skip that arrogant brat and go straight to the king."
He turned to Major Harrison and gave him an order.
"I want him to remember the fear of being dominated by the British Empire."