I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 839 Loyalty
The situation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was very complicated, including the former Kingdom of Bulgaria, the former Kingdom of Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia obtained from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia obtained from the Ottoman Empire.

With so many regions integrated together, with different beliefs, races, habits, backgrounds, and even different languages, this can be considered a disaster for a country.

The good news is that the majority ethnic group in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia is still Slavs, and the population of other ethnic groups is not large, which brings a turning point for the forced Slavization of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia, like Russia, has Eastern Orthodoxy as its state religion. Those who disagree with this can leave freely. Governments at all levels not only do not impose restrictions, but also provide all kinds of conveniences and escort them out of the country.

This is extremely rare at a time when all countries regard population as their most important resource.

Many people who did not recognize the Orthodox Church left in anger after this rule was established.

Those who stayed did not completely convert to Orthodoxy. Many of them were reluctant to leave their homeland and said one thing and did another.

After ten years of efforts, the situation in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia gradually stabilized, but along with economic development, some new problems also arose, especially in Croatia and Slovenia, where calls for more rights became increasingly louder.

Adrianople was very alert to these sounds.

Now it's just a matter of asking for more rights.

When power becomes great enough, it is necessary to fight for autonomy.

Then what--

Independence?

The struggle for power between localities and kingdoms has a long history and will not disappear in the future. Compared with local councilors who strive for rights, Adrianople is more concerned about whether it is affected by external forces.

It is normal for local councillors to safeguard local interests and fight for their rights, and there is nothing wrong with it.

But if there is connection with external forces, then the purpose is no longer simple.

Especially the transfer of benefits.

The two countries that Adrianople was most wary of were the Kingdom of Italy and Britain.

The hatred between Italy and Yugoslavia can no longer be resolved peacefully, and there will eventually be a war between the two countries.

Britain, because of Russia, does not want to see a Balkan country with peaceful coexistence.

When Yugoslavia was first established, the British took the initiative to approach it, hoping to invest in Yugoslavia.

If it were other countries, they would not be overjoyed, but at least they would not turn it away.

Yugoslavia refused to accept British investment and even refused donations, including humanitarian ones, and simply refused to deal with the British.

Unlike Yugoslavia, the Kingdom of Greece not only did not reject Britain's so-called "donation", but also opened up its domestic resources to Britain and welcomed British capital to invest in the Kingdom of Greece.

In the tourism industry that George had mentioned to Georgi, British investment accounted for 30 percent.

The reason why Russia does not interfere is that more than fifty percent of the investment comes from Russia.

The UK's key investment area is the Aegean Sea. Although the British are also interested in the Adriatic Sea on the other side of the Kingdom of Greece, they have no access to it.

After the end of World War II, the Kingdom of Greece leased the island of Corfu, located at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, to the Russian Navy for 99 years.

The Russian Navy not only built a port and naval base on Corfu, but also built an airport and complete supporting facilities.

What makes the British uncomfortable is that the resorts and sanatoriums on Corfu are only open to Russian navy personnel and their families, and even the Greeks refuse to receive them.

Therefore, in the past two years, there have been constant calls in Greece to take back Corfu Island. The Kingdom of Greece followed public opinion and took the initiative to contact the Russian Navy Ministry on this issue.

From Peter to Kolchak, the two navy ministers had an extremely firm attitude towards Corfu. Not only did they not agree to terminate the lease contract early, but they also repeatedly emphasized that Russia would take the initiative to renew the contract after the expiration of the lease contract.

There has already been an agreement in this regard. As long as the Russian Navy is willing to continue the lease, the Kingdom of Greece cannot refuse.

While Mannerheim was urgently mediating, Georgy flew to Alexandria and took the initiative to visit George.

Georgy is not visiting Russia as a king, but as a private person to visit old friends.

George would certainly not turn away old friends. Although the relationship between the Kingdom of Greece and Russia is not as close as that between Yugoslavia and Romania, it is still an important part of the Balkan Alliance. The personal relationship between Georgi and George has always been very good.

Georgy is open-minded and hopes that Russia can give more help to the Kingdom of Greece.

Against the backdrop of the economic crisis, although the number of Russian tourists traveling to Greece has not decreased, the number of tourists from Western Europe has dropped drastically, which inevitably has an impact on the Greek economy.

Russian tourists' enthusiasm for consumption has also declined significantly after the outbreak of the economic crisis.

"You want to help, but you don't want to pay the price. How can it be possible?"

George was very angry. Last year, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia proposed to build a railway from Adrianople to Athens, but it was shelved due to the economic situation of the Kingdom of Greece.

Greece did not refuse, but hoped that the cost of building the railway would be borne by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, or by loans from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia or Russia.

It is not impossible for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia to undertake the construction alone, but it is required that the Kingdom of Yugoslavia be responsible for its operation after the construction is completed.

This proposal was again rejected by the Kingdom of Greece.

Greece's bottom line is joint venture, citing national security as the reason.

"What can I do? I can't let another country control the railway that goes directly to the capital, even if that country is an ally."

Georgi did not think the Kingdom of Greece's demands were excessive.

"What a strange sense of self-esteem. If Russia wants to attack Greece, does it have to go through the railway?"

George hopes that the Balkan Alliance will work more closely together.

"I won't bother you, why don't we merge our two countries?"

Georgy made a shocking statement. "Why do you say that? Russia has never intended to annex the Kingdom of Greece."

George was curious, did this mean he didn't want to be king anymore?

"Oh! The island of Corfu has been accused of being a humiliation of our country. It's so hard for me!"

Georgi sighed to the sky, he was under a lot of pressure.

"The Navy didn't pay the rent?"

George does not think that the Russian Navy's lease of Corfu is a harm to the Kingdom of Greece.

On the contrary, George believed that the Russian naval base on Corfu was a protection for the Kingdom of Greece.

For the same reason, Russia's base on Crete is also a protection for the Kingdom of Greece.

Crete was leased only in part.

"Some people don't think so—"

Georgi was also upset.

Although leasing Corfu to the Russian Navy may seem like a humiliating act, Greece, under Russian protection, can actually devote more resources to economic development rather than militarism.

Greece is mountainous and resource-poor, and it cannot even be self-sufficient in food. The so-called "million armored troops" are all nonsense.

The reason why Greece was able to gain independence was not because the Greeks were good at fighting, but because Britain, France and Russia joined forces to defeat the Ottoman Empire, which enabled Greece to gain independence.

Without the help of Britain, France and Russia, Greece would have been completely defeated, just as it was in the Greco-Turkish War.

“You have to be wary of infiltration by certain countries. Not everyone wants peaceful coexistence in the Balkans.”

George reminded Georgi to be wary of the sugar-coated bullets of some countries.

The British are best at stirring up trouble and never forget to stir up confrontation, especially in the situation in the Balkans. If you are not careful, the British will succeed.

A chaotic Balkans can effectively distract Russia's attention, so even if this situation does not bring direct benefits to the UK, or even damages the investment of British companies, the British government will suffer losses.

The British do this a lot.

"George, Greece is not Russia. There are many things I can't do anything about."

Georgi also knew that the British had bad intentions, but Greece also had its own national conditions.

A small country with few people has no right to talk about rising. It can only become a vassal and pursue a little happiness at most.

Even if it clings to Russia, it must be careful about being annexed, otherwise it may lead to the destruction of the country and the extinction of the race. Therefore, Greece cannot put all its eggs in the Russian basket.

Well, George just promised that Russia has no intention of annexing Greece.

But what about Yugoslavia?

George had no intention, but what about Guchkov? What about Vasily? What about George's successor?

The tragedy of Greece is that it has no ability to resist, so it can only bet on both sides.

At least compared to Russia, which is so close, Britain is less likely to annex Greece.

"So what are you complaining about?"

George spread his hands and could only say that cognition was worthy of suffering.

Greece's choice was not wrong.

But Greece also has another choice, which is to work hard, be self-reliant, mobilize all citizens, and not rely on any country. If anyone wants to annex me, I would rather die than break his teeth and become a copper pea that cannot be steamed, boiled, pounded, or fried, but only makes a clanging sound.

Without this determination, there is no need to talk about independence.

The third brother was overjoyed. Is this a compliment to me?

Slippers: It’s me!
"—"

The corners of Georgi's mouth twitched, but he didn't say anything in the end.

A gentleman would rather starve to death than eat food given out of pity; the king also has dignity.

George does not have high requirements for his allies. It is good to work hard like Phyllis, but it is also an attitude to just eat and wait for death like Georgi.

Even someone as arrogant as Carol could be tolerated by George as long as it did not endanger Russia's interests.

After all, everyone has their own ambitions.

Like Carol, if the Romanians can no longer tolerate it and ask Russia to uphold justice, Russia will naturally not ignore the call for justice.

The Romanians themselves do not resist, and it is even less likely that Russia will interfere in Romania’s internal affairs.

George glanced at Georgi and then returned his gaze to the fishing rod.

Russia did not sit idly by. Vasily once suggested that Russia should help Georgi establish a force loyal to him and strengthen its control over the country.

After much deliberation, Georgy politely declined Vasily's proposal.

It is hard to say to whom the army formed with the help of Russia will be loyal. If Russia takes the opportunity to interfere, the consequences will be disastrous.

(End of this chapter)