Just as Shen Fu said, Zayadin conveyed Shen Fu's reasons to representatives from various countries in Europe and the West, which immediately aroused a burst of annoyance and complaints.
But representatives from most countries basically complained for a while and then left it alone.
At most, they can just turn around and instruct their own country's media to try to exaggerate Ming's cunning and threats.
But Lucia's representatives once again sensed danger.
The chairman of the Lucia Empire Cabinet Ministers' Committee, Yinvan Andreevich Wedemeyer, and the representative of the royal family, Prince Nicholas, felt that Ming's behavior not only threatened Osman, but also threatened Lucia.
The two said goodbye to the other delegates with deep concern.
After returning to the residence of the Lucia delegation, immediately go find Kutuzov, the representative of the Lucia unit.
Explain the news received to Kutuzov and let Kutuzov analyze the current situation.
Kutuzov's mood has never gotten better since the peace talks began.
When I heard that the Ming Dynasty troops had officially entered Persia, they even found a reasonable but very perfunctory reason, and their face was so gloomy that they were about to cry.
After Wedemeyer finished telling the news, Kutuzov came to his desk, with several maps spread out on it.
First open the full map of the Lucia Empire, then point to the eastern and southern areas of the map and say:
"There are three buffer states between Lucia and the Ming Dynasty, the Kingdom of Persia, the Khiva Khanate, and the Kazakh Khanate.
“Although these three countries are all potential vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, they are buffer countries that were actively set up by the Ming Dynasty to favor the Ming Dynasty.
“But objectively, they are also Lucia’s buffer country against the Ming Dynasty.
“The existence of these three countries separates Lucia and Ming Dynasty, so there is no particularly long or sensitive border between the two sides.
“The Ming Dynasty’s troops will not directly enter the Anxi Three Kingdoms, and Lucia does not need to set up heavy troops in these areas.
"Now that Persia has been adopted as a vassal state by the Ming Dynasty, and the troops directly enter the territory of the vassal state, the previous situation has completely changed."
Prince Nicholas subconsciously asked:
"Can the Ming Dynasty attack our southern hinterland through the narrow passage along the Caspian Sea?"
Upon hearing this, Kutuzov took out a map of the Caucasus region.
There is a narrow northwest-southeast corridor between the eastern foothills of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea.
This corridor connects Taixi to the Dashi region.
As long as you pass through this corridor, you are equivalent to crossing the Caucasus Mountains. You can go from Taixi to Dashi, and from Dashi to Taixi.
The northwest region of Persia to which Baku belongs, later known as Azerbaijan, includes the southern half of this corridor.
This is a thousand kilometers away from Tsaritsyn (Stalingrad). After passing through the corridor, there is the Great Plains all the way, which is the southern breadbasket of Lucia.
The Ming Army directly stationed in this area, causing Lucia's sense of crisis to skyrocket.
Even if you are not a professional military personnel, you can still realize the danger, so Prince Nicholas asked this question.
Kutuzov looked at the map and sighed:
"Of course the Ming Dynasty can do this, but luckily, we Lucia also controls the northern section of the Caspian Sea coastal corridor.
“In order to guard against the threat of the Ming Dynasty, we have long built three lines of defense and fortress cities in the three narrowest places in the corridor: Derbent, Inzberbash, and Petrovsk.
“In this era where defense is greater than offense, these fortresses cannot be forcibly breached by the Ming Dynasty.
“We just need to immediately deploy more troops and strengthen defense and alert.
"The most dangerous situation is that the Ming Dynasty followed suit and accepted the Kazakh Khanate as a vassal state."
Prince Nicholas seemed to have thought of something, and his expression suddenly became particularly ugly.
Wedemeyer had already expected it, so there are no changes now. He just wants to hear Kutuzov's analysis.
Watching the prince's reaction, Kutuzov also took out a map of the Kazakh region and traced his finger across the border between the two countries:
“The border between Lucia and the Kazakh Khanate is nearly three thousand kilometers long.
"The northernmost territory of Kazakhstan, (this chapter is not finished!)
Chapter 114: Osman’s countdown, but Lucia is the one who feels uncomfortable
The shortest distance to the Arctic Ocean is only 1,200 kilometers, and this is a large plain.
“Moreover, the railway connecting Lucia to the East was built almost along the Kazakh border.
“If the Ming Dynasty took Persia as a reference, it would directly accept Kazakhstan as a vassal state and let its troops directly enter the northwest region of Kazakhstan.
"Attack from northwest Kazakhstan to the north and cut off Lucia's railway to the east. Then the entire eastern part of the empire will become a huge 'dumpling'."
Wedemeyer closed his eyes and shook his head vigorously:
“In the past hundred years or so, the Ming Dynasty has never taken the initiative to launch an attack on Lucia.
"So much so that we all let our guard down, and when the real threat resurfaced, it made people feel cold all over."
No one asked why the railway should be built at the border of Kazakhstan or even the border of Ming Dynasty.
Because the Xianbei region is too bitter and cold, Lucia's valuable lands in the Xianbei region are all near the borders with the Ming Dynasty and Kazakhstan.
Prince Nicholas recognized the reality and asked Kutuzov with a sad face:
"General, what should we do now? To preserve the empire's eastern lands?"
Kutuzov said with a straight face:
“There is no good way but to send more troops to the Kazakh border and be ready to take the initiative.
“If the Ming Dynasty sets Kazakhstan as a vassal state and lets troops enter Kazakhstan again, we must enter immediately and at the same time.
"Setting up defenses in Kazakhstan to protect our Eastern Railway, otherwise it is equivalent to giving up the East."
Wedemeyer subconsciously asked:
"That could mean a new war!"
Kutuzov said in an extremely serious tone:
"Even if it is a war, we must do this. Kazakhstan must not be allowed to become a Ming vassal state unless northern Kazakhstan is ceded to us."
Wedemeyer retorted directly:
"That is impossible. If we provoke a war unilaterally, the European and Western countries may sit back and ignore it, just like they are doing to the Ottomans now."
Kutuzov stood up and said loudly:
“Then let His Majesty the Emperor abandon the east of the Urals.
"I can basically predict that the permanent peace condition given to us by the Ming Dynasty is to abandon the east of the Urals.
"It would be a huge mistake to challenge the Ming Dynasty for the sake of so-called national self-esteem."
Wedemeyer was speechless because he understood that what Kutuzov said was correct.
Prince Nicholas next to him also had a sad face, because he was the natural leader of the Greater Lucia nationalist group.
In the end, Kutuzov and Wedemeyer wrote reports respectively and sent them to Emperor Paul of Lucia in the rear.
Paul took the two people's reports and looked at the maps around him, feeling extremely anxious.
Paul could not make an immediate decision and could only follow Kutuzov's suggestion to increase troops to the Persian border and the Kazakh border.
Send the previously withdrawn troops up again, and at the same time dispatch more troops from the country to the border.
As for whether we should actually take action in the end, let's wait until the time comes.
During the withdrawal of troops from various countries in Europe and the West, people from the Ming Dynasty were also following and supervising. Of course, the troops would be discovered immediately if they gathered again.
The number of Lucia border troops increased again, and of course they could not escape the reconnaissance of the Ming Dynasty.
Relevant news was quickly sent to the Ming court and negotiation team.
Shen Fu and the main members of the negotiating team gathered again for a meeting.
As the plenipotentiary representative, Zhu Jingyuan will of course also come to participate.
Shen Fu explained all aspects of the situation, and Zhu Jingyuan asked directly:
"When an opponent sends more troops to our border or violates an agreement, what should we usually do? Do we want to protest?"
Shen Fu shook his head and said:
"According to the tradition left by Emperor Shizu, we usually ignore them verbally, but we must act tit-for-tat. If the other party increases its troops, we will also increase our troops, and we must increase more."
Zhu Jingyuan was speechless for a moment:
"Then what are we talking about? Let's just increase our troops."
Dai Quheng, the accompanying military and aircraft minister representative, explained:
(This chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 114: Osman’s countdown, but Lucia is the one who feels uncomfortable
"Your Highness, Lucia is increasing troops on the Kazakh border, not on the Ming border. Kazakhstan is not yet our vassal state."
Zhu Jingyuan reacted:
"Yes, we can't increase our troops in vain, so the issue we want to discuss now is actually whether to turn Kazakhstan into a vassal state.
“If we turn Kazakhstan into a vassal state, Lucia’s reaction may be even more violent.
"With the Lucian people's character, they might invade Kazakhstan again."
Shen Fu nodded slightly and said:
"Yes, this is what we and the capital need to determine."
Zhu Jingyuan held his chin and thought for a while:
"Maozi is different from Osman. If we engage in a tit-for-tat confrontation, the other party may become angry and fire regardless of the consequences.
“So we have to cut five cities today and ten cities tomorrow, apply gradual pressure, and cannot directly establish the Kazakh vassal state.
“We can send military advisers to Kazakhstan, we can lease weapons and equipment to Kazakhstan, and let Kazakhstan increase its own troops.
"Let Kazakhs withstand the threat of Maozi, and then we will establish the Khiva vassal state ourselves and send the troops through the Khiva vassal state to the Ural River."
The Khiva Khanate is located in the southern part of the Kazakh Khanate. The border with Lucia is very short, but it is the very critical lower reaches of the Ural River.
Zhu Jingyuan's plan was to take Lucia's retreat through the Khiva Khanate behind Kazakhstan.
Dai Quheng felt his eyes light up after hearing this:
"His Highness's plan is feasible. The Military Aircraft Department has made a similar plan before, letting Kazakhs cover our direct attack on the Ural River."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded slightly and said:
"Since there is a similar plan, let's prepare it, but the time should be extended a little longer, and the time to establish a vassal in Khiva will be postponed a little later.
"Put it off until the negotiations with Lucia begin, until we are more fully prepared."
Dai Quheng immediately nodded in agreement.
In this way, the direction of action was basically determined, and more details were discussed.
Finally, the minutes of the meeting and the final rough plan were sent to the Military Aircraft Department of the Capital for further refinement and implementation.
In the next few days, the Kazakh Khanate, prompted by the Ming Dynasty, immediately sent more troops to the border and began to recruit more troops at home.
The Ming Dynasty's trains entering Kazakhstan became busier and began to transport large amounts of military equipment and military staff.
The Ming Dynasty did not send troops directly, and the Lucians, who were already hesitant, were even less likely to make a decision directly.
The Lucians could only continue to confront the Kazakhs on the Kazakh border.
In the next half month, Osman was nominally waiting for the deadline, but in fact it was the Lucians who suffered the most and were anxious.
Other Thai and Western countries also feel that they are living under the cloud of war, and they don't know when the war will break out again.
It was not until April 2, the thirty-fourth year of Taiping in the Ming Dynasty, that relief news finally came out.
The Ottoman Sultan accepted the Ming Dynasty's request, gave up all the land south of the Anatolian Plateau, and signed a permanent armistice agreement with the Ming Dynasty.
Talks that had been stalled for a month were finally resumed.
On the morning of April 3, representatives from the Ming Dynasty and European and American countries once again gathered at the Wenhua Hall of the Imperial Palace in Haijiao.
Compared with the last meeting, there was one more representative of the Ming Dynasty, Prince Suleiman of Persia, who was the original Prince Suleiman.
The king of Persia became a prince, and the prince became a prince.
The level of the honorary title was lowered, but Suleiman did not have any resistance, but was particularly happy.
It turns out that the so-called kings and princes are just wild people. They are the so-called kings and princes they call themselves when no one is looking after them.
There is no comparison at all with the prince's son who was canonized by the Ming Dynasty.
Although Su Laiman was not the main representative, he could only sit behind the representatives of the Ming Dynasty, and was not particularly conspicuous at the scene.
But Su Laiman is very excited now, he is finally a member of the Ming camp.
Even if he can't do anything but simply sit here, Suleiman feels particularly honored.
(This chapter is not finished yet!)
Chapter 114: Osman’s countdown, but Lucia is the one who feels uncomfortable
After the new round of talks officially began, Ottoman Grand Vizier Zayadin spoke first, announcing the Sultan's formal response and accepting Ming's conditions.
Everyone has received the news report, and now they are listening patiently, and then waiting for Daming's response.
Shen Fu raised his head and looked upward. Zhu Jingyuan considered his words and said:
“Since the Ottoman Empire can accept the Ming Dynasty’s request, the Ming Dynasty is willing to conclude a peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire.
“And provide the Ottomans with all the help they can from the date of conclusion of the treaty.
“But now there’s a problem.
“Has the Ottoman side considered signing a contract with the Ming Dynasty as a member of the anti-Ming alliance after all negotiations with other countries are completed?
“It’s better to sign a separate peace treaty with Ming now.
"I would like to remind you that I believe that other countries may not be able to come up with conditions that would make Ming Dynasty willing to sign an indefinite peace treaty."
When Zhu Jingyuan asked this question, the Ottoman representatives had no reaction, but the representatives from the Thai and Western countries were stunned.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of these two signing methods?
If the alliance as a whole signs a contract with Ming, then Ming will tear up the peace treaty. This is a collective breach of contract for all members of the original anti-Ming alliance.
If signed separately, Ming Dynasty might tear up the peace treaty with Ottoman alone.
But the premise is Zhu Jingyuan’s last words.
Now the Ottomans have an indefinite peace treaty, but other countries may not be able to get it.
If the Ottomans pursue a collective indefinite peace treaty with the Anti-Ming Alliance, subsequent negotiations will definitely become very difficult.
If the Ottomans had not pursued a collective indefinite peace treaty, the quality of the individual indefinite commitments now obtained would have declined, and the price paid now would have become even less worthwhile.
Zhu Jingyuan's question had actually been hinted to Osman privately.
Grand Vizier Zayadin also considered it carefully.
Ottoman had lost confidence in the countries of Europe and the West, and could not resist the temptation to deal with Lucia and Austria together.
So now Zayadin gave the answer directly without much pause:
"Ottoman is willing to sign a separate contract with Ming Dynasty, sign a peace treaty as soon as possible, and end all conflicts as soon as possible."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded with great satisfaction:
"Okay, then let the relevant personnel formally draft the peace treaty document. At the same time, the Ottomans withdraw from the anti-Ming alliance."
Chapter 114: Osman’s countdown, but Lucia is the one who feels uncomfortable
