Chapter 15, Enthroned

On July 12, 1887, a day to remember, Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria was crowned at the Frana Palace as Grand Duke of Bulgaria.

Thanks to Ferdinand's painstaking management, the ceremony is much more beautiful than in history, and at least the guests who participate should have a lot of weight.

Crown Prince Edward of the British Empire, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary, the King of Greece, etc. all came to attend the ceremony in person, showing the support of the foreign powers.

Ferdinand's goal was achieved. With the help of external forces, Zhan Shi shocked and deterred various factions in Bulgaria, laying the foundation for subsequent reforms.

Bulgaria has superior natural conditions, with mountains, hills, plains and other terrains, lakes and rivers, the main rivers are the Danube and the Maricha.

At the same time, it is also poor in natural resources. The main minerals are coal, lead, zinc, copper, iron, uranium, manganese, chromium, mineral salt and a small amount of oil.

In general, it is suitable for the novice stage. It has been ruled by the Ottomans for a long time, and has just gained independence. There are no big aristocrats or big capitalists in the country. The development is very good at the beginning, but the potential is not large! Although Ferdinand had been prepared for a long time, still Couldn't resist commenting.

Stambolov, do you have any good suggestions for personnel appointments and removals? Ferdinand asked calmly

Stambolov, Bulgarian statesman, powerful prime minister (1887-1894), regarded as Bulgaria's Bismarck.

He studied at the seminary in Odessa from 1870 to 1872, and in his early years participated in Bulgarian underground revolutionary movements against Turkish rule.

Led small anti-Turkish revolts in 1875 and 1876. Bulgaria gained self-government in 1878, and he was elected to the newly established Parliament, where he was appointed Speaker in 1884.

After the abdication of Archduke Alexander I in 1886, he smashed Russian interference and embraced Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as Archduke of Bulgaria.

After the new grand duke ascended the throne, he organized the cabinet. During his reign, he continued to oppose Russia, established diplomatic relations with Turkey, and expanded the sphere of influence of Bulgaria in Macedonia.

He used terrorist means to deal with one after another anti-court conspiracy and mutiny. Archduke Ferdinand I regained his monarchy, and he was forced to resign as Prime Minister (31 May 1894).

Ferdinand has no plans to replace him now. He has just ascended the throne. The most important thing now is to stabilize the situation, and there is no suitable candidate.

Grand Duke, after careful consideration, this is the list of cabinet members and major government officials, please take a look at it. Stambolov said while handing over the documents.

Well, okay, that's it! Let them take office as soon as possible! There will be a cabinet meeting next week, and you have to come up with a policy plan. Now you can leave, I need to rest. Ferdinand was dissatisfied and issued an expulsion order.

Co-author wants to be a powerful minister now, and I'm too impatient! At least I have to save face and provide more candidates! Everything is settled, treat Lao Tzu as a rubber stamp! Ferdinand thought to himself

...

Bulgaria's development also has advantages. First: there are no strong industrial competitors, the industrial base is relatively poor, and it can be monopolized. There is almost no trouble with the government. Second: I am very rich, and there is no technical blockade now. Say, you can get the technology you want!

The government should let them vigorously develop agriculture! What kind of industry are they playing, they are still waiting for loans to pay wages! By the way, education needs to be developed, but for now, let's just use literacy classes to encourage patriotic youth to disseminate cultural knowledge and send Just a little reward, and you can save a fortune... Ferdinand was busy planning

Grand Duke, the cabinet ministers have already arrived. After waiting in the main hall, has the meeting started? the attendant reminded.

Okay, I'll be there soon.

...

Interrupt, Mr. Stamboroff, Ferdinand said.

OK,

Your Highness, say it! Stambolov said with some dissatisfaction.

Mr. Stambolov, how did this plan come about? How many people are there in Bulgaria now? How many agricultural people, how many industrial people? How about education? What is the distribution of resources in the country? Nan rudely exposed the problem, gave Stam a disgrace, and rejected this empty plan.

This~~ Dear Grand Duke, Bulgaria now has a population of 3,104,500, most of which are agricultural populations, education, and distribution of domestic resources. These have not been counted. Well, I admit that this plan is a bit rushed. Stambolov paused and said

It seems that there are not many simple historical figures who reacted so quickly, Ferdinand thought to himself. He literally said: Mr. Prime Minister, we are responsible to the Bulgarian people, we must understand the actual situation and formulate a policy program!

I approved the matter of personnel wages! The others are called back and redo, big industrial plans, hell, I have never heard of any industry in Bulgaria, do you understand!

From the perspective of population structure, I suggest that you focus on developing agriculture first. We must consider the interests of the majority of people! There is also education reform, which should focus on the direction of science, and literacy classes can be established first. Industrial development, first find out Resource distribution, making plans according to local conditions, there is no big industrial plan like this, I don’t want to see it again!”

Sorry, respect the Grand Duke, we'll go back and redo it right away! Stamboroff said with his head down

Stambolov, dazed by Ferdinand's beating, the carefully prepared plan was said to be worthless, and there was no way to refute it.

From Ferdinand's point of view, the current Bulgarian government is similar to the Tongmenghui in the Xinghai period. It is a group of idealists who can talk rhetorically. The specific policy strategy is completely in the stage of novices.

Go, gentlemen, for the future of Bulgaria, you have worked hard for you! Seeing that the cabinet headed by Stam bowed his head, Ferdinand of course knew that he would accept it as soon as he saw it.

For Bulgaria! The few people who were still downcast just now became more energetic.

Fight for Bulgaria!

...

Well, yes, patriotic youths are so foolish! Ferdinand said in his heart, looking at this group of cabinet members whose average age was no more than thirty-five years old.

The Stambolov government, which was appraised by later generations as a police terror regime, won the support of a part of the emerging bourgeoisie, completely sided with the bourgeoisie, and vigorously promoted factories and trade.

The peasants and workers, who occupy the vast majority, are excluded, and the ruling foundation is extremely weak.

Most missionaries, and some intellectuals, including part of the petty bourgeoisie, opposed the government's radical anti-Russian policy.