Vienna once again became the focus of the world. In order to eliminate the Germans and end the war as quickly as possible, the Entente offered the Austro-Hungarian government new terms in an attempt to win them over to defect.
Of course, these were merely the terms offered by the United Kingdom and France. Bulgaria's terms had never changed; meat that had already gone into its belly was impossible to spit back out.
Ferdinand II had inherited some of the old emperor's diplomatic talent after all, and he decisively seized this opportunity to bargain with the Entente.
Ferdinand II looked at the foreign minister and asked urgently, "Well? Did the Entente agree to our terms?"
Leopold von Berchtold wore a somewhat complicated expression, joy mingled with a touch of helplessness. After a moment of silence, he replied, "Your Majesty, the Entente is not united in its views regarding our demand to preserve national sovereignty.
"The French have already agreed to our demands, and the British have promised to support us as well. However, they cannot guarantee that Bulgaria and Russia will also agree to our demands!
"The Bulgarian government has stated that they can tacitly allow us to take action against Hungary, but we must recognize Bulgaria's sovereignty over the Balkan Peninsula, and they will not yield the Transylvanian Plateau either!
"As for the Russians, they have raised territorial claims over Austrian Poland, Hungary, Bohemia, and other regions. Their price is too high, so the negotiations cannot continue."
So long as the Austro-Hungarian Empire defected, the greatest obstacle preventing the Bulgarian army from attacking German soil would be resolved. Thus, France was the most eager to draw Vienna into the Entente, while Russia was the most resistant!
Ferdinand II said with some disappointment, "It seems the Entente does not value