Chapter 59 Risks

On October 28, the British ambassador to Greece saw that the Greek army was still gathering and mobilizing toward the northern border, ignoring the warnings of the British Empire.

After communicating with the British Mediterranean Fleet, the British Mediterranean Fleet went to the Greek coast in a mighty manner and blocked the waters near Athens, Greece. Foreign ships were not allowed to enter the port of Piraeus in Athens, and Greek ships were not allowed to enter the Mediterranean.

The muzzles of the cannons on dozens of warships were raised, aiming at the Greek capital of Athens!

Greek Ambassador William Walter came to the Prime Minister's residence again and said to Delianes arrogantly; "If the Greek army does not stop mobilization immediately, then the Mediterranean Fleet will fire at the city of Athens."

The news spread, and the city of Athens was in chaos. The panicked people were boiling. On the way out of the city, carriages carrying luggage blocked the road.

As for the Greek navy, it only had a few small boats of about 5 tons, which was not up to the standard at all.

In the Tatoi Palace, Constantine and King George were shocked when they heard the news.

You know, since Greece gained independence in 1823, the relationship between Greece and Britain has always been very close. It was Britain's active support that allowed Greece to get rid of the rule of the Ottoman Turks.

In the 1830s, when the news of the Greeks' struggle for independence reached Europe, it received widespread sympathy from the European people.

Greece is regarded by European intellectuals as the birthplace of European civilization and the birthplace of democracy (in fact, the democracy of ancient Greece was a slave-owner democracy, similar to the democracy between slave plantation owners in the South before the American Civil War). Among the European elite, there is a special feeling.

When people talk about European civilization, they usually involve ancient Greece and Rome.

For example, the famous British poet Byron, he regarded helping the Greek people gain independence as his mission. After learning about the Greek people's independence movement, he resolutely went there and funded a small army to fight the Turks.

So the Greek people generally have a good impression of the British.

But now, Greece has been threatened by the British Mediterranean Fleet. This "betrayal" of the British is difficult for the Greek people to accept.

There is no doubt that the national dignity of Greece was trampled under the feet of the British.

"Mr. Chief of Staff, as the King of Greece, I order you to stop mobilization immediately. The mission of the Greek army has ended," King George made a decisive decision.

In Tatoi Palace, after hearing the news, George I immediately summoned Chief of Staff Emmanuil.

The next day, news came that the war advocate Paedrianis was driven out of office by the parliamentarians in the National Assembly Building, and the former Prime Minister Trikoupis was welcomed back.

King George, who did not want Greece to participate in this war, took advantage of the situation and stopped the Greek army's actions on the grounds of British threats.

But it was not good for his face.

"The people enthusiastically support the war against Bulgaria. Although the British threat of force will definitely cause the people to be disgusted with Britain, Constantine, you must know that the relationship between countries has never been maintained by emotions," George I said to Constantine.

"I understand, but the relationship between Britain and Greece will never go back to the past. In the future, the relationship between Britain and Greece will be a pure reliance of a small country on a powerful country, and a close approach to the need for a powerful country to control the situation," Constantine responded.

Perhaps the British authorities did not take Greece too seriously.

No matter what the outcome of this war between the Slavs is, it has nothing to do with Greece.

On November 14, 1885, Serbia declared war on Bulgaria, and the war for hegemony between the two small Balkan countries composed of Slavs officially broke out.

The winner will become the regional hegemon of the Balkans.

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In the reception room of the Prime Minister's residence.

"Prime Minister Trikupis, congratulations on becoming prime minister again"

Constantine came here again to discuss the future development of Greece.

"Your Highness, after Delianis's tossing, Greece was once in chaos," Trikupis said tiredly.

Trikoupis has been busy like a spinning top these days, all to clean up the aftereffects of Delianes' war mobilization order.

"Prime Minister, it is impossible for Greece to open up the situation militarily, at least for now. We still have to find ways in industry and commerce," Constantine said.

For a country to grow and develop, there are only two ways: military conquest and self-development.

The so-called military conquest is easy to understand. It is to expand to resource-rich areas through military means, such as establishing colonies and expanding territory, to solve the mineral resources and food shortages needed in the process of economic development.

To put it bluntly, it is to develop itself through plunder.

The so-called self-development is to develop the economy based on existing conditions and find ways to develop existing resources.

These two routes are certainly not an either-or relationship. In fact, almost all major countries now walk on two legs, combining military conquest and economic development, which is the so-called sword-wielding business.

By using force to find markets and sources of raw materials for their own goods, economic development in turn stimulated the growth of the military, and the two stimulated each other.

But for Greece, the failure of Dryanis proved the failure of the military expansion route, which was not feasible.

Then we can only rely on our existing resources temporarily.

"In terms of industry and commerce, Duke, Greece can only make a little money by exporting more raisins and olives. Apart from these agricultural products, Greece has no other competitive products," Trikoupis said with a wry smile.

"Without coal and iron mines, developing industry and commerce is like fishing for the moon in the water. It is too wishful thinking. To be honest, I have also exchanged opinions with some knowledgeable elites. After discussing it, I have not found any good solutions."

"Although I do not agree with military adventures without the support of major powers, I can actually understand Delianis's feelings. With resources like Greece, it has nothing to ask for. Economic development is half the result with twice the effort. There is really no way out for peaceful development."

Speaking of Greece's development problems, Trikoupis was helpless.

"Mr. Prime Minister, have you heard of a special medicine for treating malaria that is unique to Greece?" Constantine asked.

Originally, Constantine only wanted to use artemisinin as an emergency product. In addition to secretly providing a batch to the Athens City Hospital, he only provided it to the Congo Commission as a regular supply to cope with the harsh environment of the Congo River Basin.

This special medicine for a certain disease has huge profits. Behind the discovery of each special medicine is a carnival of capital.

Once the news of this special medicine spreads, countless people will pay attention to it.

With Greece's strength, it is doubtful whether it can keep such a big gold mine.

But now, the difficulties in Greece's economic development have forced Constantine to take some risks.

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