Meanwhile, Nicholas II's representative, Russian Foreign Minister Sazonov, also arrived in Sofia. He had come by plane, and the journey from Saint Petersburg to Sofia had taken just over a day.
Besides Russian Foreign Minister Sazonov, there was also a group of Russian economic experts. It seemed Nicholas II was scared as well, having prepared professionals in advance for the haggling.
The moment he got off the plane, before he even had time to rest, Sazonov hurriedly submitted a request for negotiations to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry. Bulgaria-Russia negotiations officially began.
Let us turn back the clock to the day before. Inside Sofia Royal Palace, Foreign Minister Metev asked, "Your Majesty, where is our bottom line in these negotiations with the Russians?"
Ferdinand smiled faintly and countered, "What does your Foreign Ministry have in mind?"
Metev was dumbfounded. In negotiations like this, it had always been the government that called the shots; no country had ever let its Foreign Ministry decide such a major matter!
After thinking it over, Metev forced himself to say, "Your Majesty, this question exceeds the authority of our Foreign Ministry. It depends on what the government wishes to obtain from the Russian Empire."
Ferdinand then asked, "Then, Prime Minister, what does the government wish to obtain from Russia this time?"
Konstantin thought for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, if possible, we intend to purchase the Crimean Peninsula from the Russians!"
Just as I thought, Ferdinand mused. The Crimean Peninsula covered only 25,500 square kilometers. Its southeast was made up of low hills and forests, though it possessed rich iron ore deposits, while its central and northern regions were plains suitable for agriculture.
Those resources alone certainly were not worth much. The issue was its strategic value. Once the Crimean Peninsula was taken, the Black