The Road to Mediterranean Supremacy #1-50
Author: 新海月1
Date: 2025-12-26T11:47:53+00:00

Chapter 1: Transmigration

In 1881, within St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Ferdinand admired the reliefs and oil paintings hanging on the walls. Once again, he felt a sense of disorientation as he repeatedly compared the current St. Stephen’s Cathedral with how it would look a century later.

Just three months prior, the original Ferdinand had suddenly collapsed inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and Ferdinand had taken over his body.

Ferdinand was born on February 26, 1861, into the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry family. His full name was Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria.

His father was Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and his mother was Princess Clémentine of Orléans.

His godparents were Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico and his wife, Princess Charlotte of Belgium.

Ferdinand was the great-nephew of Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the first King of Belgium, Leopold I.

His mother, Princess Clémentine, was the daughter of King Louis Philippe of France.

His father, Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was the brother of King Fernando II of Portugal and a first cousin to Prince Albert, Empress Charlotte of Mexico, Princess Charlotte of Belgium, King Leopold II of Belgium, and a first cousin once removed to Queen Victoria of England.

Among them, since Princess Louise, the mother of Charlotte and Leopold II, was the sister of Ferdinand’s mother, the three of them were not only uncle and niece but also first cousins once removed.

Honestly, Ferdinand was quite satisfied with this transmigration. His noble birth was more than sufficient. If nothing went wrong, he would become the future King of Bulgaria.

As someone who ran a Taobao online store, barely qualifying as a businessman, and a part-time military and history enthusiast, thinking about the original Ferdinand’s historical deeds made Ferdinand feel immense pressure.

Ferdinand’s first twenty years of rule in Bulgaria were highly successful, but after the failure of the Second Balkan War, he was forced into the World War, and everything fell apart.

As a transmigrator, one might think of defying the heavens, conquering the world, and dominating the universe.

Ferdinand, however, didn’t think that far. Anyone with a basic understanding of Bulgaria knew that this small Balkan country was, at best, good at war. It had no industry, no resources, and no population—a typical “three-nothing country.”

If he had transmigrated into Wilhelm II, perhaps he could have defied the heavens and conquered the world.

Initially, Ferdinand set a modest goal for himself: to become a wealthy noble. But he found this too passive.

Now, he had slightly raised his ambitions: to secure the throne. It seemed that as long as he didn’t choose the wrong side, it wouldn’t be too difficult.

However, anyone familiar with the Balkans knew that unless they won both Balkan Wars, the rising nationalism within the country would push Bulgaria into the abyss.

“In poverty, cultivate oneself; in prosperity, help the world!”

Currently, Ferdinand was not yet the King of Bulgaria but a minor officer in the local defense forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a noble, he only needed to report for duty daily—or not at all, which was also fine.

This showed how corrupt the Austro-Hungarian Empire had become, but it also made things easier for Ferdinand.

After more than three months of investigation, Ferdinand had a preliminary understanding of the situation. The Koháry family was still very wealthy, with many illustrious relatives.

But the greatest wealth was their land, including large territories in Abra and Sitno within Slovakia.

At present, this seemed excellent, but Ferdinand knew that after the First World War, these properties would significantly depreciate and be confiscated by the Soviet Republic.

It seemed he should do something to secure another path. As long as he had plenty of money, he could live comfortably in the future.

What exactly should he do? The first thing that came to mind was “arms,” but he quickly dismissed it. Arms trading was heavily intertwined with politics, and there were only so many powerful buyers in the international market. Large-scale arms trading had already been monopolized.

Was he supposed to deal in small batches of a hundred or two hundred guns? That would be too embarrassing for a noble, and the profits wouldn’t even match his allowance.

“Drugs” was the next thought, but he immediately dismissed it. He was meant to be a king; if he got involved with drug dealers, he might end up as the “Drug King,” which was a terrifying thought.

Walking the streets of Vienna, Ferdinand dismissed one money-making scheme after another until a sudden inspiration struck: “department stores and supermarkets.”

In fact, department stores had already emerged in Paris, France, in 1852 and quickly spread worldwide. Vienna also had department stores, but they weren’t as convenient as future supermarkets.

It wasn’t until 1930 that a store opened in New York where customers could freely take items from the shelves and pay all at once at the exit—the world’s first supermarket.

History had proven the superiority of supermarkets, and their competition with department stores wasn’t fierce.

1. Different positioning: Department stores mainly sold durable goods, focusing on mid-to-high-end products. Supermarkets mainly sold fast-moving consumer goods and daily necessities, focusing on mid-to-low-end products.

2. Different profit models: Department stores relied on management for profits, primarily through renting space. Supermarkets relied on procurement for profits, expanding sales volume.

3. Different sales methods: Department stores emphasized guided sales, with professional staff assisting customers, and separate checkouts. Supermarkets focused on customer self-selection, generally adopting a “no-disturbance service,” with centralized one-time payments at checkout.

After a calm analysis, Ferdinand believed that Vienna’s economic situation at the time was sufficient to make a supermarket profitable.

Without hesitation, Ferdinand immediately began market research. After all, the times were different then; there weren’t as many product varieties, and there was no such thing as home delivery. He had to decide which products were suitable for a supermarket.

No matter what, in that era, he was the most professional talent in this field. At least he had seen a supermarket; others didn’t even have an impression. Many things had to be done personally.

Day after day, busy from morning till night, after more than a month, Ferdinand finally figured out the basic situation of Vienna, this international metropolis, and compiled a thick notebook.

“This could be considered historical material! In the future, if people want to study Vienna during this period, this will be the best evidence, covering all aspects of life, and most importantly, with annotations! It could be placed in a museum for future generations to admire!” Ferdinand thought happily as he lay in bed.

Bang! The door was kicked open.

“Ferdinand, what the hell have you been up to lately? You’re never seen at noble banquets, and you don’t even report to the city guard!” The person who entered was none other than Ferdinand’s mother, Princess Clémentine.

“No, Clémentine, my dear mother, noble etiquette dictates that you shouldn’t barge in without knocking. It’s immoral and will affect your reputation!”

“Damn noble etiquette! Don’t try to change the subject. You know no one will find out about this. Do you think you’ll tell anyone?” Princess Clémentine retorted.

Chapter 2: The Supermarket Opens

Ferdinand had finally managed to send Princess Clémentine away after much persuasion. To be honest, he was still somewhat afraid of her. After all, he had taken over her life, and he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

Ferdinand resumed working on his supermarket plan. The most important and difficult part was staff training.

He planned to recruit one hundred people, all with at least a middle school education, for preliminary training. As for the trainers, he would have to take on the role himself for now!

He could also ask the old steward to help out. The steward managed hundreds of people inside and outside the castle with ease, so his management skills were quite good.

Vienna in 1881 was still different from the future. He couldn’t simply copy everything. After all, it was still a world of nobles, and the staff had to be trained in the most basic noble etiquette.

Commoners and nobles would definitely have to shop separately. Otherwise, if the noble lords saw the commoner ladies rushing in to grab vegetables, they would probably never set foot in the place again!

The second step was the location, which was the easiest to solve. There were plenty of suitable places in Vienna, and he could either rent or buy them. A simple renovation would suffice.

He couldn’t open a large multi-story supermarket yet. He didn’t have enough goods. Many of the snacks and branded daily necessities from the future didn’t exist yet.

He had discovered another potential business opportunity: developing low-tech snacks seemed to have good prospects. But for now, he decided to focus on opening the supermarket.

The third step was procurement, which would be a bit troublesome initially. He could start by getting goods from the wholesale market. Once the supermarket grew, he could deal directly with manufacturers.

The fourth step was handling the relevant procedures, which was not a problem at all. He was a noble, after all, and had some influence.

Finally, there was the matter of money. The costs of staff training, location, procurement, and other miscellaneous expenses added up. Ferdinand roughly estimated that a five-hundred-square-meter supermarket would cost about one thousand pounds.

Considering his actual situation, Ferdinand decided to open five department stores in Vienna first, two of which would be exclusively for nobles, with commoners not allowed to enter!

Therefore, the training of the staff for these stores was particularly important. Otherwise, if any trouble arose, Ferdinand would have to clean up the mess.

Ferdinand didn’t open more than five stores at once because of financial issues. In fact, a few thousand pounds were nothing to him!

The problem was that staff training couldn’t keep up, especially for the two stores catering to nobles. After opening, to ensure no mistakes, Ferdinand even sent his own attendants to help out for a while!

Apart from staff training, the other tasks were not difficult for Ferdinand.

From market research to staff training, location selection, renovation, and procurement, it took over three months to prepare his department store.

After transmigrating for more than half a year, looking at the supermarket he had built with his own hands, a sense of pride welled up inside him. It carried his dreams from his past life!

If he had been in his previous life, even if he struggled his whole life, he might not have been able to own such a small supermarket in Vienna. But now, it seemed so insignificant!

June 18, 1881, was the auspicious day Ferdinand had chosen. His first department store opened, and he directly copied the name “Volvo.”

Of course, this one was clearly a commoner’s supermarket. After all, the stores for noble lords wouldn’t be ready for renovation so quickly!

As a transmigrator, he naturally didn’t forget about promotion. Two days earlier, he had sent out all his employees with banners to the streets of Vienna to announce the opening of Volvo.

1881 was a memorable year, both in the East and the West. On February 24, Zeng Jize and the Russian representative signed the “Sino-Russian Ili Treaty” and the “Land Trade Regulations.”

Russia returned Ili but took a large piece of territory west of the Khorgos River and north of the Ili River. China compensated Russia with nine million rubles for military expenses.

The Qing nobles were still living in a dream, while the country was sliding into the abyss.

Bismarck, to prevent a Russo-French alliance that would put him in a two-front war, and Russia, wanting to ally with Germany to counter Britain in the Near East and the two straits, signed a three-nation agreement in Berlin on June 18, 1881, for three years.

On the same day, the world’s first supermarket, Volvo, was born. Ferdinand firmly believed that June 18 was an auspicious day and would never admit that he chose it to ride the trend.

However, it was an undeniable fact that when the citizens of Vienna mentioned the Triple Alliance, they would think of Volvo.

Volvo did not disappoint Ferdinand. On opening day, two long lines formed on the street. Due to the large number of people, entry had to be restricted.

Like the Chinese, many foreigners also enjoyed the spectacle. Some came purely to shop and buy cheap goods; others were simply curious. People are blind followers, and seeing others buying in bulk, they couldn’t help but follow suit. (Those born in the 80s can recall the shopping frenzy in county town supermarkets in the early 90s.)

The excitement lasted until evening, with three rounds of restocking. The spectacular scene shocked Vienna, and Ferdinand believed the newspapers would surely report it tomorrow.

The profits from the department store did not disappoint Ferdinand; in fact, they exceeded his expectations. On the first day alone, sales reached one thousand five hundred pounds, with a gross profit of thirty percent.

But it made sense. The department store was a novelty, and on the first day, many people entered out of curiosity and ended up buying a lot of things.

This wouldn’t last long. Soon, business would return to normal, and sales would drop significantly.

The retail industry had always been highly profitable. Even in the fiercely competitive twenty-first century, many well-located small supermarkets did quite well.

Striking while the iron was hot, in the following month, the other four department stores opened one by one. Business was still booming, and the store managers were selected from the trained employees.

In fact, such small supermarkets didn’t require extraordinary management skills. As long as they followed the systems Ferdinand had established, they could operate smoothly.

Competitors hadn’t appeared yet, probably still observing and learning. But it wouldn’t be long. In a few months, department stores in Vienna would spring up like mushrooms.

The current priority was to recruit and expand, capturing the market. No matter how fierce the competition in the future, having the first-mover advantage would always be beneficial.

The initial success made Ferdinand more aggressive. He planned to add thirty chain supermarkets within six months, including five for nobles. This would involve a large number of new hires.

Each supermarket needed at least ten to twenty employees, plus logistics and administrative staff, totaling no less than one thousand people.

This was a huge challenge for Ferdinand. Even the steward, Karl, was now fully occupied, busy from morning till night, with no time to manage the castle.

This displeased Princess Clémentine. As soon as Ferdinand returned home, she caught him.

“Ferdinand, where are you running off to? I won’t eat you!” Princess Clémentine said displeasedly.

“Oh, my dear mother, what do you need me for?” Ferdinand asked with a grin.

“Are you that busy? It’s just a small department store, is it that serious? Don’t you know how to ask for help? If you were to manage the Koháry family, you’d work yourself to death!” Princess Clémentine said displeasedly.

Chapter 3: Trivial Matters

When it came to his mother, Princess Clémentine, Ferdinand knew better than to argue. He understood that trying to reason with her would only lead to an endless lecture that could last all day.

As a result, Ferdinand was thoroughly scolded and then forcibly dragged to several boring noble banquets before the matter was finally settled.

However, it wasn’t all for nothing. At the very least, he gained a talented individual from his mother—Franz Kafka. The name might sound familiar, sharing the same name as an Austrian Jewish novelist.

Of course, this was not the same person. This Franz Kafka was a Hungarian in his forties who had been managing Princess Clémentine’s personal assets. He was quite capable.

Ferdinand was already acquainted with him and knew of his abilities. After much persuasion, Princess Clémentine temporarily lent him to Ferdinand.

Ferdinand planned to have him take charge of the department store and supermarket. As the name suggested, although Ferdinand was opening a supermarket, due to the limitations of the era, supermarkets at this time could not be completely separated from department stores. Therefore, the personal abilities required for high-level management were quite high.

In the 19th century, the market economy was not yet fully developed. Family businesses were the mainstream, and talent mobility was not significant. High-level talents could only be found by chance.

In 1881, there were only about thirteen thousand university students in Austria. At first glance, this seemed like a lot, but upon closer calculation, it was clear that only two to three thousand students graduated successfully each year, spread across various majors. After focusing on management majors, there were only a pitiful one hundred and eighty or so people left.

Excluding those who were already nobles or merchants, the number of people who actually needed to find jobs was very few.

At that time, university students were truly the elite. Government departments and major financial groups were all competing for them. Basically, before they even graduated, their future positions were already secured.

After comparing the situation, Ferdinand had to temporarily abandon the idea of recruiting from schools and instead focus on training his own people.

The first task Franz Kafka undertook for Ferdinand was to recruit personnel, but things did not go smoothly.

One day, Franz came over and performed a noble bow. “Your Highness, Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxe, Franz Kafka greets you.”

“Hmm, you can choose to call me Your Highness or Duke. The full title is really too inconvenient. Franz, what brings you here today?” Ferdinand said casually.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I cannot complete the task you assigned on time,” Franz Kafka said with some difficulty.

“What? But it’s just recruiting a little over a thousand people. How can you not complete it?” Ferdinand asked, puzzled.

In his mind, his evaluation of Franz had already dropped a few points. He had given him half a month to recruit people, and now, with less than half the time passed, he was already talking about difficulties. Didn’t he know to find a way to solve the problem?

“Your Highness, according to your requirements, it’s impossible to complete. So far, we have only recruited three hundred and eighty-two people. Moreover, since yesterday morning, the number of applicants has dwindled. I’m afraid there aren’t that many highly educated people in Vienna still looking for work!” Franz Kafka explained.

After a pause, Franz suggested to Ferdinand, “Your Highness, what do you think about lowering the standards for the remaining positions? This way, we can also reduce some salaries, save on expenses, and it won’t affect the operation of the supermarket!”

Ferdinand’s minimum requirement for recruitment was a middle school diploma. Because the salary offered was quite generous, the first batch of one hundred people was quickly recruited, which made him overlook the fact that in this era, middle school graduates were actually considered highly educated.

At this time, graduating from middle school could easily secure a decent job. The value was even higher than that of graduates from prestigious universities in later years.

After hearing Franz’s reasoning, Ferdinand’s anger subsided. This was his own oversight.

He silently reminded himself to remember this lesson and not to bring modern concepts into this era. Making a fool of himself was one thing, but one wrong move could lead to disaster.

Admitting mistakes was one of Ferdinand’s strengths. Since Franz’s suggestion made sense, there was no reason to refuse.

“Mr. Franz, your suggestion is excellent. I’ll leave the rest to you. Go ahead with your plan!” Ferdinand’s tone was much more polite this time.

The management talent for the supermarket was secured, but financial personnel were still a problem. In this era, there were no computers, and accounting was done manually.

The workload was enormous. Each supermarket had to be equipped with reliable financial personnel. For the time being, Ferdinand found it difficult to find so many people.

The financial staff of the previous five supermarkets were hastily trained and put on the job. They could barely keep accounts and had nothing to do with professionalism.

Just thinking about it was troubling. It seemed that opening Volvos all over the world was still a long and arduous journey.

But thinking about the profits from the supermarkets, Ferdinand’s spirits lifted immediately. The first Volvo supermarket had already broken even in the first month of operation. The other four had been open for a shorter time, but their earnings were also good.

Especially the two noble supermarkets. After all, the consumption power of the nobles was much higher. The goods inside were all high-end, the service was first-class, and the prices were naturally a bit higher than the market!

“Indeed, the easiest way to make money is through monopoly!” Ferdinand thought to himself.

But he also knew that these good days would probably last no more than half a year. Once others joined in, the profits would surely decrease.

After continuing to focus on the matter for more than two months, the supermarket operations had gotten on track. Ferdinand then handed over the daily management of the department store and supermarket to Franz.

Of course, he did not forget to promote two people from the earliest employees to be Franz’s assistants. The supermarket would definitely continue to expand. How could he not prepare talent in advance?

For the time being, the supermarket matters were settled, but Ferdinand did not idle. The supermarket profits were good, but compared to what he planned to do in the future, they were just a drop in the bucket.

Thinking about Bulgaria, Ferdinand felt that he still wasn’t working hard enough! After all, he was a transmigrator who had seen grand scenes. How could he be satisfied with a mere ten thousand pounds a month?

Of course, if it were before the transmigration, having an income of over ten thousand pounds a month would have made him very satisfied.

But now, everything was different. After all, he was a prince, a duke, and the future king of Bulgaria. How could his vision be so narrow?

Ferdinand was very envious of those transmigrator predecessors who could easily come up with inventions and creations worth tens of millions or even hundreds of millions. When it came to his turn, he could only do small businesses.

Although the Koháry family had assets worth tens of millions of pounds, they were only nominal. The vast territories and castles could not be liquidated unless he no longer planned to stay in the noble circles!

Oh, the Koháry family was only nominally wealthy. In reality, the family’s various investments and territorial incomes amounted to only a little over a million pounds annually!

After deducting expenses, the annual surplus was probably only two to three hundred thousand pounds. However, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this was still considered a first-class family.

Ferdinand couldn’t come up with any inventions. He knew about things like adding an eraser to a pencil, but Hyman had already registered the patent in 1867. There was nothing left for him.

As for stockings, that was even more ridiculous. With the chemical industry level at that time, even if they could be made, the price would probably not be much lower than gold. Whether they could be worn was another question!

Moreover, was it really that easy to obtain patent fees in this era? Did he think capitalists were vegetarians? Wasn’t it in this era that people sent peanuts and toy airplanes?

Even if Ferdinand was a great noble, what could he do? They wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on him, but if someone stole his patent, what could he do about it?

Piracy couldn’t be eradicated even in the 21st century, let alone the 19th century!

Since the patent route was not feasible, Ferdinand finally decided to continue focusing on food, clothing, housing, and transportation. For example, a grain processing plant would be good.

Although the profits weren’t high, even a mosquito was meat! The grain came from his own land. After processing, it could be directly sold in the supermarket, forming a small industrial chain and increasing resistance to risks.

Chapter 4: Trivial Matters II

Ferdinand had always been a man of action. Since he had decided to build a grain processing plant, he began preparations immediately.

His estate’s main crops included wheat, barley, sugar beets, potatoes, and flax. Livestock farming primarily involved pigs and cattle.

To maximize profits, a flour mill was the obvious first choice. Next would be a sugar factory. Potatoes could be used for making fries, which was also a good option. As for flax, perhaps a textile or clothing factory could be opened, but that could wait. A slaughterhouse would require minimal investment and could be established. And then…

The more he thought about it, the more ideas he had. If all these were realized, Ferdinand could proudly say that he was self-sufficient in all aspects of life—clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—the ultimate goal of feudal lords.

Starting a factory was not as simple as it seemed. His father had died early, and the family’s investments were mostly conservative, typical of the aristocracy, not yet transitioning to capitalism.

So, he would start with himself. The combination of a great noble and a great capitalist was the mainstream of social development for the next few decades.

This posed a problem for Ferdinand. Although his family had shares in some factories, none were under their direct control. They lacked a reserve of talent.

“Steward Karl, send someone to investigate the flour mills around Vienna!” Ferdinand finally decided to start with a flour mill.

“Yes, Your Highness, I’ll attend to it immediately!” Karl Chikov replied politely.

Ferdinand was becoming more accustomed to his noble identity. Unlike when he first arrived, he no longer insisted on doing everything himself. Now, he lived a life where clothes were handed to him and meals were served—exactly as they should be.

Ferdinand also planned to report to the city guard. Since his transmigration, he had been absent from work. Although no one had questioned him, he still felt it was inappropriate. At the very least, he should maintain appearances!

Even though he was no longer interested in military life, he had no intention of taking off his uniform!

In the German regions, nobles had a tradition of military service. If you didn’t serve, you would be looked down upon and considered a coward. Finding a suitable wife would become difficult!

The Ferdinand family was also part of the German nobility, so they naturally upheld this tradition.

However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was indeed decaying. Officers like Ferdinand, who did nothing but collect pay, were not uncommon.

The old emperor was powerless. To maintain the army’s combat effectiveness and prevent them from corrupting others, he simply threw them all into the city guard.

Of course, if one was willing to endure hardship, they could apply for a transfer. The original Ferdinand had been planning to do just that, but the current Ferdinand had no such intentions!

Entering the city guard building, a musty smell hit him, just as he remembered—a dilapidated office building that looked ready to collapse.

“This is too run-down! No wonder no one comes to work. Who would want to be here? I don’t know how the original owner managed to stick it out!” Ferdinand grumbled inwardly.

As he walked, aside from a few lazy guards on duty, Ferdinand didn’t see anyone else.

He found his office—a small room of less than twenty square meters. Inside was a small wooden desk, a chair, a teacup, and a stack of expired newspapers. That was all the original owner had left behind.

The room was covered in a thick layer of dust. It seemed no one had been there for a long time. Ferdinand looked around and finally gave up the urge to clean it himself.

He turned around and left. There wasn’t even an officer on duty. What was the point of reporting in? The city guard had disappointed him. With an army like this, it was no wonder they had been beaten senseless by the Russians.

Ferdinand knew this was only part of the problem. They had been specially prepared for these nobles—no training, no missions. These nobles were ready, but the rest of the Austro-Hungarian army still had some combat power. After all, they were one of Europe’s five great powers.

But thinking about the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s chaotic ethnic conflicts, Ferdinand shook his head. The old emperor had to speak eight languages—it was terrifying just to think about.

“So how do you command the army? If you organize them by ethnicity, the country could easily split. If you mix them, to maintain combat effectiveness, the officers would have to learn other languages. Where would you find such a group of scholarly officers?”

“This must be the root of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s collapse! Unless they quickly unify the language and culture, even without World War I, this country wouldn’t last much longer!” Ferdinand thought to himself.

He had already made up his mind to learn from this. The Balkan ethnic issues were not much better than those of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The only advantage might be the smaller population. When had a small population become an advantage? Ferdinand couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.

Walking the streets of Vienna, Ferdinand still felt uncomfortable. Compared to the future, Vienna was just as prosperous, but it was far from clean and tidy. Many places reeked!

If he couldn’t change the world, he would adapt to it!

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of a Volvo supermarket. Ferdinand stopped to observe for a while.

Watching the bustling crowd coming and going, carrying large and small packages, chatting and laughing, returning home fully loaded.

Ferdinand was satisfied. He strode toward Volvo, gesturing to the security guards at the entrance not to move.

Then he entered the supermarket. The staff were busy at work. When they saw Ferdinand, they were about to approach, but he quickly signaled them to continue.

Inside was somewhat chaotic. Many goods were scattered about, and the staff were busy restoring order. There was also a lot of garbage on the floor. Ferdinand frowned but then relaxed.

Overall, he was satisfied. Everyone was doing their job, working hard, and business was booming.

But this might be a limitation of the times. In a commoner’s supermarket, hygiene and customer comfort were not considered.

Of course, in the 19th century, people might be used to it. Vienna was smelly, and the streets were littered with garbage. Hygiene standards were not as high.

Ferdinand still found Franz and expressed his approval of his work while also raising the issue of environmental hygiene.

Ferdinand was willing to increase costs now to retain customers. After all, it was easy to choose between clean and tidy versus messy and chaotic.

This era was the most comfortable for capitalists. They could make workers work overtime without the labor unions of the future or the threat of the Soviets.

Ferdinand thought about the labor costs in his mind. They hadn’t increased, but the staff now had an additional task of cleaning at any time.

Protests, demonstrations, strikes, demands for wage increases—none of the situations Ferdinand remembered from his past had appeared.

Chapter 5: Preparing the Flour Mill

The Volvo Department Store Supermarket operated for ten hours each day, but with preparation work, employees actually worked twelve-hour shifts. No one complained, and no one asked Ferdinand for overtime pay.

First, Ferdinand paid slightly above market wages, which satisfied everyone.

Second, at that time, factories in Vienna typically required twelve-hour shifts, with some even demanding sixteen hours.

Third, working in the supermarket was far easier than toiling in a factory. One was a comfortable department store, while the other was a dreary workshop with constant danger. Everyone knew which to choose!

Moreover, working in a department store was considered a respectable job—stable income and a pleasant environment.

Ferdinand had cleverly rebranded the concept. On the surface, the supermarket seemed similar to a department store, just with a bit more work. Since supermarkets were a novelty, people didn’t fully understand them. To make it easier, Ferdinand added “department store” to the name, making it more acceptable. Naturally, many came for the department store reputation, allowing Ferdinand to quickly fill positions—a happy accident.

Three days passed in a flash. Steward Karl worked efficiently, thoroughly investigating the flour mills around Vienna.

“Your Highness, Vienna has thirteen flour mills, large and small. Only two are profitable, seven barely break even, and the remaining four are operating at a loss. The market competition is fierce!” Steward Karl reported dutifully.

Clearly, Steward Karl disapproved of Ferdinand’s plan to establish a flour mill. In his view, the market was already saturated, and competition was too intense—entering now would make it difficult to turn a profit.

After hearing the report, Ferdinand hesitated. If a small city like Vienna had thirteen flour mills, how many were there across the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire?

After a moment of silence, Ferdinand decided to proceed. He had advantages—self-production and self-sale would keep costs much lower. If needed, he could develop related byproducts. Why fear competition?

“Understood. Thank you for your hard work, Karl!” Ferdinand acknowledged the old steward’s efforts.

“It is my honor to serve you, Your Highness!” Karl replied happily.

“Karl, if I were to acquire a flour mill, how much would it cost?” Ferdinand asked cautiously.

In 1881, establishing a factory was no simple task. Building facilities, purchasing machinery, training workers—it would take at least a year before production could begin.

Acquiring an existing factory would be much simpler, allowing for immediate production.

As long as the price wasn’t too high, Ferdinand preferred acquisition.

Steward Karl paused, seemingly calculating the value, then said, “Your Highness, a bankrupt small factory might cost a few thousand pounds. The two profitable mills would likely cost seventy to eighty thousand pounds!”

Ferdinand was startled by the vast difference. Then he realized—struggling factories had issues: outdated equipment, poor management, or lack of competitiveness. In such cases, finding a buyer at all was difficult, let alone being picky.

“Alright, then. Contact the factory owners first to see if any are willing to sell. I’ll evaluate before deciding.” Ferdinand said.

“As you wish, Your Highness!” Steward Karl replied. Seeing no further instructions, he turned and left.

After dismissing the steward, Ferdinand read the newspaper at home. Today, he had an important banquet to attend—his uncle, the tragic Emperor Franz Joseph I’s birthday.

Franz Joseph I (August 18, 1830 – November 21, 1916) was renowned for founding the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1879, he allied with Prussia-led Germany, forming the Triple Alliance. In 1914, his ultimatum to Serbia dragged Austria and Germany into World War I. He died of pneumonia in Vienna at 86.

Recalling the emperor’s life, Ferdinand sighed. A living legend stood before him!

“A great diplomat!” That was the world’s verdict. Perhaps God had misallocated his talents—while his diplomatic skills were sharp, his other abilities were mediocre at best.

Through diplomacy, he established the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Yet the decaying empire was plagued with endless ethnic conflicts, hindering progress and leading to collapse.

Unfortunately, Franz Joseph I’s efforts in this area were lackluster, marked by indecision. Though he implemented measures to ease ethnic tensions, they had little effect.

His later years were tragic. His brother was executed in Mexico, his wife assassinated in Geneva by an Italian anarchist, his son committed suicide young, and his chosen heir was assassinated by Serbians!

In retaliation, he sparked a world war, causing millions of deaths. The empire he had fought for crumbled in the storm.

“Ferdinand, it’s time to go. You’re not planning any mischief, are you?” Princess Clémentine asked worriedly.

Lately, she had noticed Ferdinand acting strangely—more eccentric, tinkering with odd things. It concerned her.

“How could you think that, dear mother? You must trust me!” Ferdinand quickly explained, clearly annoyed by her suspicion.

The original Ferdinand had always been peculiar, unlike most nobles. He had few friends and enjoyed dabbling in strange projects.

Princess Clémentine didn’t suspect he had been replaced. Seeing him approach, she simply called him into the carriage.

Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace dated back to the Middle Ages. Emperor Franz Joseph I was born there, and it was his favorite residence.

Now, the grand palace buzzed with activity. The establishment of the Triple Alliance marked a peak in Austro-Hungarian political and diplomatic relations.

Nobles, ministers, foreign envoys, and European aristocrats filled the halls. The Habsburg dynasty’s power was on full display.

The banquet wasn’t as formal as Ferdinand expected. After the emperor accepted greetings, it began immediately.

Ferdinand wasn’t the center of attention. He mingled with important figures, but no dramatic events unfolded.

Oh, and Ferdinand, being handsome, met a few noblewomen. If he wished, there could be further developments.

Chapter 6: The Food Factory Sets Sail

Capitalists are all profit-driven! — Das Kapital

Steward Karl’s efficiency was impressive, and the results were pleasing. Eight of the factory owners were willing to sell their businesses.

No one wanted to run a business that wasn’t profitable! In highly industrialized Austria, flour mills were already a sunset industry. The fierce competition left little room for “profitability”!

Ferdinand left the negotiations to Karl. After all, the old steward’s talent in this area left him in awe. The supermarket’s previous procurement had proven this point—Ferdinand simply wasn’t cut out for haggling.

In the end, Ferdinand acquired a flour mill named “Kartweilport” for eighteen thousand pounds.

The machinery had been updated just a year ago, and the factory employed over one hundred eighty skilled workers and fifty staff members. At full capacity, it could produce two thousand metric tons of flour daily.

Since the machinery was installed, Kartweilport had never operated at full capacity. The workforce had been reduced from over five hundred at its peak to its current size.

Even so, Kartweilport was barely staying afloat, teetering on the edge of profit and loss.

Ferdinand was satisfied with the acquisition. A new owner meant a fresh start, so he renamed the factory.

“Shuanghui Food Development Co., Ltd.”—this grand-sounding name was the flour mill’s new identity, symbolizing a new beginning. Well, in truth, it was entirely Ferdinand’s mischief. He planned to “borrow” every familiar brand he could think of.

Ferdinand retained the original factory manager, William Schubert. In the fiercely competitive Vienna market, keeping a flour mill from running at a loss was proof of his competence.

In reality, the original Kartweilport was well-managed, with costs minimized both inside and out.

However, sales were a disaster. There was no brand recognition, no major wholesalers, and products were primarily sold to rural areas.

It couldn’t be helped. As a latecomer, the urban market had already been carved up. Being able to tap into the rural market showed the owner had strategic vision—though perhaps too far ahead of his time. The countryside was dirt poor in this era. Dreaming of surrounding the cities from the countryside was just that—a dream!

But now, with Ferdinand in charge, none of that mattered. Of course, in the short term, supermarket sales were limited, so the rural market couldn’t be abandoned just yet!

As the new owner, Ferdinand personally visited the factory to reassure the workers. He publicly promised never to delay wages and inspected the factory’s current state.

Upon seeing the dark, unappetizing bread, he took pity and announced an immediate twenty percent increase in the food allowance. This instantly won the workers’ support.

Management personnel were dispatched, and with the workers’ cooperation, the factory resumed operations after a brief adjustment period.

To boost productivity and motivate the workers, Ferdinand proposed a bonus plan to William.

William quickly drafted a practical incentive system and submitted it for approval.

Ferdinand was pleased with William’s approach. As an owner, he could afford to be generous with the workers, but with managers, it was the opposite.

Like many bosses, only he could play the good guy, winning hearts, while the managers had to be the bad guys, saving him money.

Under William’s plan, workers would receive rewards if their monthly average production increased or if overall quality improved. For every one percent increase in production or quality, their team would receive a bag of flour as a bonus.

This measure was cost-effective. The flour was their own product, so the cost was low. Workers could take it home to use, making it as good as cash.

Ferdinand also noticed that William had a basic sense of decency. Without harming the company’s interests, he tried to benefit the workers as much as possible, which pleased Ferdinand even more.

“Mr. William, this plan is excellent. Workers need incentives. Here’s what we’ll do—go and count how many family members each employee has. From now on, they can buy their rations at factory prices.”

“Understood, Your Highness! I’ll take care of it right away!” William replied, clearly excited.

From factory to retail, the price of flour increased by at least three layers. And since flour was a staple in Europe, this would significantly reduce the workers’ living expenses—equivalent to a two or threefold increase in wages.

This was Ferdinand’s way of improving the workers’ lives without harming his own interests under current conditions.

As it turned out, Ferdinand’s strategy was highly effective. As his business expanded, the benefits for his workers grew.

Later, when the labor movement was in full swing, his factories remained the most stable, with almost no union influence!

Time flew by, and the flour mill soon stabilized. Production and quality steadily improved. Eventually, total output increased by nearly thirty percent, and premium-grade flour rose by eleven percent.

The cost to Ferdinand? Just a few hundred extra bags of flour each month—enough for each worker to receive two or three bags.

When calculating the rewards, William was generous, giving the maximum possible. But when distributing them, he shamelessly switched to smaller bags. Since the original agreement hadn’t specified the size, the workers couldn’t complain!

This was to adapt to supermarket sales, so they developed various package sizes: fifty-kilogram large bags, twenty-kilogram medium bags, ten-kilogram small bags, five-kilogram mini bags, and even one-kilogram micro bags. Naturally, the smaller the package, the higher the unit price.

William still had some conscience—he didn’t switch to the smallest bags. Otherwise, the workers would have been truly heartbroken. As it was, they received ten-kilogram bags, and two or three bags were enough for one person’s rations, so they happily took them home.

Ferdinand, fearing future financial mismanagement, separated the factory’s and supermarket’s finances early on. Even supermarket purchases required payment, settled at market prices.

With the addition of the supermarket sales channel, the flour mill quickly became profitable. In the first month alone, it made three hundred pounds in profit—still less than a single supermarket.

But Ferdinand was satisfied. This was a good start. The factory was only operating at one-third capacity, and many products were sold to rural areas with little profit. If everything could be produced and sold in-house, there was still plenty of room for increased profits.

Ferdinand then employed a tactic common among future businesses—shamelessly repackaging the same product under seven or eight different brands for customers to choose from. Like the unscrupulous merchants of later times, he sold the same flour at different prices, reaping substantial profits.

Chapter 7: Christmas

1881 was a year of development. The emergence of department stores had enriched the material lives of Vienna’s citizens.

Ferdinand, with his boundless imagination, was becoming increasingly cunning in his business dealings, employing all sorts of schemes that left people overwhelmed.

The Shuanghui Food Group’s product line continued to expand, including a wide variety of noodles, numerous brands of cookies, and potato chips in various flavors.

Bakers had officially moved into the supermarkets, and all kinds of pastries made their dazzling debut, capturing the attention of Vienna’s citizens and greatly facilitating their lives.

Of course, this also enriched Ferdinand’s pockets. Volvo had spread across the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with its footprint in every major city.

The Shuanghui Food Group, along with the supermarkets, had also evolved from a briefcase company into a prominent player in the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s food processing industry.

Christmas was approaching, and Volvo became even busier. Under Ferdinand’s urging, Franz, in a daze, began preparations for the Christmas activities.

Ferdinand couldn’t afford to relax. Vienna now had several supermarkets undergoing renovations, most of which were copying Volvo’s style.

There were some that tried to be innovative, but Ferdinand ignored them. Those who knew nothing yet attempted innovation were courting disaster and posed no real threat.

It was easy to imagine that in 1882, Vienna would see a surge of supermarkets. Ferdinand’s monopoly era was coming to an end, and a period of competition was about to begin.

Ferdinand estimated that the next three to five years would be the golden age of supermarkets, with competitors still in the learning and exploration phase. In five to ten years, it would transition to the silver age, with increased competition and thinning profits.

However, Volvo’s dominant position was already established, and newcomers would find it difficult to challenge in the short term. In ten years, with his supporting industries perfected, he would have a complete industrial chain, maximizing profits and fearing no competition!

Reviewing the gains of 1881, Volvo had opened thirty-six new branches since its opening on June 18th, exceeding the plan.

It had also contributed a net profit of thirty thousand pounds to Ferdinand, most of which was spent on opening new stores.

The average monthly profit per supermarket was maintained at around eight hundred pounds, with the earliest noble supermarket even reaching two thousand pounds! It was terrifying and Ferdinand’s largest personal income.

The Shuanghui Food Group Co., Ltd. also performed well. After the restructuring of the flour mill, benefiting from the rapid expansion of sales channels, profits had grown from three hundred pounds per month to one thousand pounds.

The newly established noodle factory had average sales. Although Ferdinand had created many brands, Europeans were not used to using chopsticks, but pasta sold well.

Initially, there was a slight loss, but now the monthly profit was only around one hundred pounds, much to Ferdinand’s disappointment.

Fortunately, it was a small factory with only about ten people, and they had not blindly expanded, otherwise, they would not have made a profit.

The snack processing factory was doing well, with popcorn, potato chips, and various cookies selling well.

Since its establishment, the snack processing factory had expanded twice and now had over eight hundred employees.

In terms of scale, it was second only to Volvo in Ferdinand’s industries. The monthly profit was as high as eight thousand pounds, with significant room for improvement.

Throughout 1881, Ferdinand had created an industry worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, but his pocket had only increased by less than ten thousand pounds in cash.

Christmas arrived, and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree was placed in front of Volvo. The counters were filled with a dazzling array of food.

Santa Claus, wearing a red pointed hat, a red robe, and with a white beard, waved to the people and handed out bags of food to passing children.

The supermarket also launched a holiday discount event, with a wide range of products marked with discounted prices, attracting crowds of people.

This was entirely Ferdinand’s arrangement based on the Austrian Christmas of later years. The effect was excellent, with many products sold out, leaving only empty shelves and exhausted salespeople.

Christmas was the most important holiday in the West, and Ferdinand’s family was no exception. They were invited to Schönbrunn Palace to have Christmas dinner with relatives from Vienna.

Then, the family danced and sang around the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, and the whole scene was filled with warmth.

At midnight, the bell rang, and Ferdinand and the others stood up, lit candles, recited the Bible together, blessed each other, and then sang Christmas songs. The first Christmas song that spread worldwide originated from Oberndorf in Salzburg, Austria.

After singing the Christmas songs, Ferdinand left Schönbrunn Palace and went to St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna for mass.

At this time, a tall Christmas tree was placed in the church, with a shining star on top, pointing the way for the “Three Kings of the East” Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior to Bethlehem.

The streets of Vienna were now filled with children singing Christmas songs and going from house to house to spread the good news.

Nobles and capitalists were also unusually generous, giving workers holidays, and many even received Christmas gifts.

At least the workers under Ferdinand received a Christmas gift, which included some snacks produced by the factory and some slow-selling products.

If it weren’t for Steward Karl’s timely reminder, Ferdinand would have almost given out year-end bonuses. Fortunately, he reacted in time. In this era, arbitrarily increasing workers’ wages would be met with hostility from capitalists!

After the lively Christmas celebrations, the next morning, Ferdinand was woken up by Princess Clémentine.

Sleeping in was a bad habit Ferdinand had developed in his previous life, but Princess Clémentine despised it, believing it would erode one’s will.

Ferdinand resisted a few times to no avail and eventually obeyed. He thought Christmas might be an exception, but reality told him otherwise.

Morning exercises were a tradition of the Koháry family. The life of a military noble was not as good as people imagined.

Indulgence in luxury was rare, except for a few exceptions. Most German nobles followed tradition, and from a young age, they were strictly required to learn much more than ordinary people, with almost no pleasant childhood.

The nobles of Vienna had begun to decay, but most were nouveau riche who indulged in pleasure, tarnishing the reputation of the entire noble circle.

Truly established great nobles had extremely strict requirements for their descendants, beyond what ordinary people could imagine!

Chapter 8: The Growing Volvo

Major Events:

In 1882, Germany, Austria, and Italy held negotiations in Vienna, and on May 20th of the same year, they signed the Triple Alliance Treaty, marking the formation of the Triple Alliance.

On September 30th—the world’s first hydroelectric power plant began operations (the dam on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin, was the site of the world’s first hydroelectric power plant).

…

On January 14th, Ferdinand convened a meeting of his management personnel to discuss industrial development plans.

The attendees included not only the managers of Ferdinand’s new industries but also the heads of the Koháry family’s traditional businesses.

Ferdinand had discovered that many traditional industries still had untapped potential. In his plans, there were many areas where they could complement each other.

For example, like many great nobles, the Koháry family had their own vineyards, exclusively serving their family.

Ferdinand occasionally drank the wine himself and found it quite good. He felt it was a waste to maintain such a large staff just to serve a few family members. The vineyards could easily be expanded to sell to the market. Even if production increased and the taste declined slightly, as long as it wasn’t worse than the average market wine, he could still sell it.

The wheat and potatoes grown on the estate no longer needed to be sold externally this year—the family’s factories could absorb all of it.

The cattle and sheep from the ranches could be processed in their own slaughterhouses and then sold in supermarkets.

They could also set aside land near their cities to grow vegetables for self-supply and sale.

The extravagance of Europe’s great nobles often exceeded ordinary imagination.

Take Ferdinand, for instance—he had over a dozen personal maids and a culinary team rivaling a five-star hotel, capable of preparing Italian, French, Indian, and other international cuisines.

His castle housed over three hundred guards and servants. He had a personal tailor who only served him, and seven or eight luxury carriages at his disposal.

The milk he drank came from his own ranch, where only the finest dairy cows were selected for his personal use. The vineyard was also standard, using only the best grapes for winemaking.

Of course, his extravagance was nothing compared to Princess Clémentine, whose grandeur perfectly matched her status as a French princess.

In any case, the Koháry family’s income, after necessary expenses, spent no less than one hundred thousand pounds annually on their lavish lifestyle—and this figure was rising every year.

This was the driving force behind the great nobles’ transformation into capitalists. The income from traditional industries was limited and could no longer satisfy their ever-increasing consumption demands.

Ferdinand despised these excesses and was eager to change them. As for whether it would tarnish the nobility’s reputation, he didn’t care—he would just wear a mask.

Ferdinand had no intention of challenging the noble system. His position determined his stance—he was a beneficiary. On the surface, he remained a loyal supporter of the noble system. His extravagance hadn’t changed; at most, he had his maids double as secretaries and his attendants as assistants!

While Ferdinand was restructuring his industries, Vienna’s retail sector was also undergoing changes. Pressured by Volvo, many grocery stores saw their profits plummet, and the capitalists behind them began to transform, with many entering the supermarket industry.

Starting in February, a department store called Little Ding Dong opened, breaking Volvo’s monopoly and ushering in a competitive era in retail.

By October, over eighty department stores of various sizes had opened in Vienna, an international metropolis.

Initially, everyone chose locations with some distance between them, deliberately avoiding direct confrontation. Although there was competition, it was relatively harmonious, and profits were still decent.

But after 1883, new competitors emerged like mushrooms after rain, and avoidance was no longer possible. Some streets had seven or eight department stores, and some were even directly across from each other, fiercely competing for business.

Since the supermarket industry had no technological barriers, capitalists swarmed in. By the end of 1883, Vienna’s supermarket density was comparable to that of later eras.

Brutal competition began, with various tactics emerging. Price wars were the first choice, and streets were littered with discount and promotional advertisements. The good times were over.

Volvo, the industry leader, had stores across the Austro-Hungarian Empire and had even expanded into Germany and Italy. Although it was affected by the competition, its Vienna stores remained profitable.

Then, in March 1884, the Kortefly Department Store announced a restructuring, officially entering the supermarket industry.

Ferdinand was shocked. He had been fueling the fierce competition in Vienna’s supermarket sector to scare off major capitalists.

It had worked before—although Volvo’s Vienna stores were impacted, conservative capitalists in other cities had retreated under this pressure!

Volvo’s losses in Vienna were more than compensated by profits in other cities.

Ferdinand was familiar with Kortefly Department Store’s background—it was backed by a major financial group in the Kingdom of Hungary, of which the Koháry family was a part.

The dominant force was a group of Hungarian capitalists in the flour milling industry.

Although Ferdinand also had flour mills, they were mostly for self-supply, so he didn’t pay much attention to this sector. This time, he was caught off guard.

Once he realized what was happening, Ferdinand immediately used his family connections to uncover the details.

Due to Volvo’s rapid expansion, its share of the retail market had grown significantly, and the Shuanghui Flour Mill had naturally benefited, with its market share continuously increasing.

Hungarian flour sales in the Austro-Hungarian Empire had plummeted, and the capitalists in the flour industry were getting restless.

If Ferdinand were an ordinary person, they could have forced him to submit or even sent him to meet his maker!

But Ferdinand was also a great Hungarian noble, making this an internal competition. Many tactics were off the table. Aside from those directly affected, others were watching from the sidelines.

To break Volvo’s dominance in the retail industry, they chose to support Kortefly’s entry, mainly to pressure Ferdinand into making concessions!

After understanding the situation, Ferdinand was relieved. As long as this wasn’t the entire Hungarian financial group’s decision, a mere Kortefly Department Store could be crushed anytime if he wanted.

Moreover, the quick arrival of the news and the clear intention to negotiate suggested that the other side didn’t want a fight to the death.

This incident also taught Ferdinand a lesson—he needed to strengthen his intelligence network. A transmigrator wasn’t omnipotent. If he had paid more attention to these old family connections, the two sides might have already reached an agreement, and this incident wouldn’t have happened!

Chapter 9: The Competition

Upon learning the full story, Ferdinand immediately sprang into action. Though he had little regard for those flour capitalists, he still extended some goodwill, and Volvo increased its flour offerings with several new brands.

He also decided to teach Kortefly Department Store a lesson, while simultaneously establishing his own position in the industry and warning certain individuals.

After a thorough investigation, Ferdinand discovered that although Kortefly was a giant in the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s department store industry, its financial situation was far from healthy.

They still clung to traditional operating models and family-style management, which was increasingly falling behind the times.

The current head of the company was Robert Held, an Austrian not yet thirty years old. Robert was ambitious and disdained Kortefly’s traditional operating methods. He was aggressive and progressive, but his relationship with the company’s management was extremely strained.

However, as a family-run business, most of Kortefly’s upper management were relatives, including his two uncles and one brother, who also held a significant portion of the company’s shares.

Robert’s push into the supermarket sector was an attempt to break free from the management’s constraints. As for what role those flour capitalists played in all this, Ferdinand had no interest in finding out.

After understanding his opponent’s situation, Ferdinand assigned this task to Franz. To be honest, Ferdinand didn’t think much of Robert. Though capable, he clearly had the reckless ambition typical of young people.

Otherwise, if he had known about Volvo’s background, he should have known to keep a low profile, pay his respects to the established players, rather than charging in like a bull in a china shop.

Moreover, given Kortefly’s current situation, they shouldn’t have blindly launched new projects, dispersing their limited resources. Instead, they should have focused on reforming their own management system.

Even if they wanted to enter the market, they shouldn’t have chosen this moment. And even if they did enter now, they shouldn’t have chosen Vienna. This was the most intense period of competition in Vienna’s retail industry, which would deplete Kortefly’s already limited resources.

But Robert not only entered the market now, he also focused his efforts on Vienna, opening ten supermarkets simultaneously with great fanfare. It was obvious who he was targeting.

Among them, two were converted from department stores, with such large areas and luxurious decorations that they were unmatched in Vienna. It was clear they were even targeting the noble supermarkets.

However, Volvo had reached a point where it was time to reap the rewards. With other regional markets to support it, Ferdinand could afford to weather the storm. The first to fall would surely be the small capitalists.

With Kortefly Department Store’s supermarkets entering the market in force, the tension grew thicker. The first to buckle were the large supermarkets.

Their high operating costs meant that while large customer traffic was normally good—more customers meant more profit—now, the more they sold, the more they lost. The financially weaker independent operators were the first to exit the game.

On May 18, 1884, Katar Department Store Supermarket, unable to bear the prolonged losses, declared bankruptcy, sounding the death knell.

Within the next week, another department store supermarket named Philip also declared bankruptcy. Then it became unstoppable, with supermarkets closing every few days.

By this point, no one in Vienna could remain unaffected. All supermarkets had entered a state of negative profitability; the only question was how much they were losing.

Volvo was no exception. Even with its vast network of stores lowering procurement costs, several of its Vienna locations were now operating at a loss.

Of Volvo’s five stores in Vienna, three were losing up to five hundred pounds a month, while the two stores catering exclusively to nobles remained profitable.

The newly entered Kortefly Department Store Supermarkets were in deep trouble. Their grand scale meant grand losses. Additionally, Kortefly had carried over the extravagant style of their department stores—luxurious decorations, poor layouts, wasted space—all of which increased operating costs. The situation was dire.

Ferdinand acknowledged that Robert was indeed talented. The luxurious decorations had attracted a large number of customers, including a significant portion of the middle class—quality customers—making business booming.

Unfortunately, this was 1884, not the 21st century. The number of middle-class consumers in Vienna was limited and couldn’t support a large department store. Thus, prices still couldn’t be raised.

As for the nobles, sorry, but they weren’t on the same level. Apart from the newly risen nouveau riche, the old aristocracy still looked down on them.

To capture the market, Kortefly had no choice but to lower prices—or rather, they had been discounting since opening, losing more each day with no end in sight.

Franz wasn’t idle either. He first mobilized the employees of Shuanghui Food Group to shop at Kortefly Department Store Supermarkets. Thousands of people flooded in, instantly boosting Kortefly’s popularity.

The products they purchased were pre-selected, then secretly transported to other cities in Vienna and sold through Volvo stores to earn the difference. For a time, this was quite profitable, offsetting the losses from Volvo’s Vienna stores.

Robert was in a foul mood. After a week, the vase in his office had been replaced three times.

Originally, seeing the promising prospects of department store supermarkets and with the support of Hungarian flour capitalists, he had rushed in headfirst, only to embark on a path of losses.

Losses were losses, and Robert had mentally prepared for them. He considered it an investment in building initial popularity. But he hadn’t expected business to be so good—and the losses to be so massive.

Kortefly’s ten stores in Vienna had all lost money last month. The least affected store lost over eight hundred pounds, while the flagship store set a record with a loss of three thousand pounds. It was only because Kortefly was a large enterprise that they could endure this; anyone else would have withdrawn from the competition long ago.

Now, department store supermarkets were selling goods at factory prices with a mere five percent discount—a practice Volvo had started, and which other capable businesses had followed.

When operating costs were factored in, losses amounted to about ten percent of sales. Now, the more they sold, the more they lost.

Kortefly Department Store Supermarkets could proudly announce that they had become the giant of Vienna’s department store supermarkets, with the highest market share, far surpassing the second-ranked Volvo.

But this was precisely why the atmosphere at Kortefly Department Store was tense. Even though Robert held the majority of the shares, his days were far from easy. Last month, Kortefly Department Store Supermarkets had lost fifteen thousand pounds, and this month showed signs of even greater losses.

Even the profits from the department store side couldn’t fill this bottomless pit. At this point, it wasn’t a matter of wanting to withdraw; they couldn’t. Front and back, Kortefly had already invested eighty thousand pounds in this department store supermarket project.

Robert decided to lay his cards on the table with the shareholders. Since things had come to this, he was ready to go all in. Either they abandon the eighty thousand pounds already invested, suffering a total loss and severely damaging Kortefly Department Store’s vitality, or they continue investing, first squeezing out the competitors, then letting the market return to normal and recouping their losses.

In the Kortefly Department Store conference room, the atmosphere was heavy. The more than ten attendees were all smoking, and soon the room was filled with smoke.

“Alright, since everyone is here, let’s begin today’s meeting,” Robert said, his usual charm gone.

Chapter 10: Competition II

At Robert’s signal, Manager Cameron Oxenford spoke passionately, “Gentlemen, Kortefly has made remarkable achievements in the department store supermarket sector since entering the market at the beginning of the year. In just three short months, starting from scratch, we have become the industry leader…”

“Excuse me, Mr. Oxenford, but if by ‘industry leader’ you mean the leader in operating at a loss, then I see no need to bring it up!” James Held interrupted rudely.

James Held was Robert’s uncle, the company’s second-largest shareholder, and the former head of human resources. He had co-founded Kortefly Department Store with old Robert and held significant influence in the company, though he had since retired.

Robert’s expression darkened. His retired uncle James had actually come forward, clearly indicating his deep dissatisfaction.

“Mr. James, the losses are only temporary. Once we drive all competitors out of the market, it will be our time to reap the rewards!” Cameron defended.

“Then, Mr. Oxenford, tell me—how much longer will it take to drive all competitors out?” Zamal Held, Robert’s younger brother, sneered.

Seeing Cameron fall silent, Zamal continued, “Remember, our losses are growing every day. Kortefly may be a large enterprise, but don’t forget—our foundation is in department stores, not supermarkets! We cannot pour all our resources into this bottomless pit!”

Robert saw that Cameron had been defeated and knew it was his turn. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Alright, we’ve reached this point. Useless talk is over!”

“We have already invested too much in the supermarket sector—eighty thousand pounds! Gentlemen, do you think we can still withdraw now?”

“What? Eighty thousand pounds? Are you sure you didn’t miscalculate?” Zamal jumped up, questioning Robert.

“My dear brother, the documents were sent to all shareholders yesterday. Don’t tell me you didn’t receive them!” Robert snapped.

Robert had always had little patience for his frivolous younger brother. Inwardly, he cursed, Damn it, at a time like this, you idiot still cause trouble. How did the Held family produce such a fool?

Zamal gave an awkward laugh before returning to his seat, clearly still somewhat afraid of his elder brother.

James thought for a moment before stepping in as a mediator. “Alright, we’ve come this far. Let’s find a way to pull together! The company has already invested eighty thousand pounds—that’s one-tenth of Kortefly’s assets. We’re in too deep to back out now.”

After a pause, seeing no one speak, James asked, “Robert, the company’s cash flow must be nearly in trouble by now. What’s your plan?”

“Over the years, the company has earned a lot, and the annual dividends haven’t been small. I hope all shareholders can inject some capital to keep things running—proportionally, of course!” Robert said calmly.

The room erupted in discussion, with some in favor and others opposed.

“How much exactly is needed to get through this crisis?” James asked concernedly.

All eyes turned to Robert, filled with expectation. It seemed that if the amount wasn’t too large, they were prepared to contribute.

“The company’s accounts have been brought here. The current funding gap is two hundred thousand pounds—that’s five years’ worth of dividends!” Robert said gravely.

Everyone’s expressions changed. The number was far too large. Even divided by shares, it wasn’t a small sum. They certainly had the assets, but who kept that much cash on hand? It had either been spent or invested elsewhere.

“How could it be so much? The supermarket project only invested eighty thousand pounds!” Zamal asked, pale-faced.

“It’s simple. The department store has also been impacted. Many of our products overlap with the supermarket, which has already affected our profits. The key is that the supermarket project still needs further investment. This number is under ideal conditions—we may need even more later!” Robert explained.

“We can provide the money, but what is your ultimate goal?” James asked seriously, his gaze fixed on Robert.

Robert knew that if he could convince James, the matter would be settled. The two of them combined held more than two-thirds of the shares.

“Eliminate those small fry and make Kortefly Department Store Supermarket stand alongside Volvo!” Robert said solemnly.

“Hmm, good. This goal is difficult but feasible!” James showed a rare smile.

Frankly, Robert was the most capable of the next generation in the Held family, and James had always held high hopes for his nephew.

But he also worried about Robert’s arrogance. The Held family was a latecomer in the capital world and lacked the strength to challenge the Koháry family. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was still a world of nobles!

This time, Robert had directly launched a price war without resorting to other tactics. It wasn’t because of his high moral standards but because he didn’t dare break the rules.

Facing the Koháry family, if it weren’t for the support of the Hungarian flour capitalists behind them, they wouldn’t have chosen to enter the market at this time.

“By the way, Robert—what do those Hungarians say? It’s time for them to step up!” James cut to the chase.

“I’ve already spoken with them. It’s not ideal. Apart from the previously agreed terms—a twenty thousand pound loan and flour at cost price—they don’t plan to do more.” Robert said bitterly.

Twenty thousand pounds was indeed a large sum, but it was a loan—and a secured one at that. Apart from flour at cost price, they hadn’t gained the expected benefits.

“Wasn’t this expected? They won’t go out of their way for us. You need to finalize these terms quickly. If Ferdinand catches on, we might not even get this much. Getting another loan later won’t be easy!” James cautioned.

Robert said bitterly, “Alright, Uncle, I’ll handle it immediately.”

Clearly, this matter had dealt a heavy blow to him. The influence of the old nobility exceeded his imagination. Ferdinand had only shown a hint of goodwill, and the flour capitalists had already retreated.

“Robert has already fallen into the trap. Franz, what do you plan to do next?” Ferdinand asked expectantly.

“Your Highness, why not let them sink deeper before we act? I plan to clear the field first—lower prices by another five percent. In less than two months, half of Vienna’s supermarkets will be dead!” Franz said with a wicked smile.

Ferdinand laughed along. Though Vienna’s supermarkets were all operating at a loss, Shuanghui Food Group was making a fortune. Retail prices had dropped, but sales had increased, and the factory price remained unchanged.

Chapter 11: The Beginning of Ruthless Competition

Vienna in June was lush and vibrant, with flowers in full bloom, as if it were a paradise on earth—though that was impossible. The Vienna of the 21st century was a different story.

As June arrived, the competition among supermarkets grew fiercer. One by one, traditional grocery stores suffered collateral damage and were forced to close. The bustling streets of Vienna suddenly seemed desolate, plastered with advertisements for storefront transfers. Only a few small shops remained open.

Not only were the small stores struggling, but many newly opened supermarkets also faced a choice: either change their business or shut down.

But this was no challenge for the capitalists. If selling daily goods was unprofitable, they would sell something else—learning from the supermarket model of fixed pricing.

Some opened clothing markets, others started buffet restaurants, and still others…

Riding on their accumulated popularity, business boomed for a time, encouraging even more people to join the fray. Vienna’s retail industry was thrown into chaos.

None of this affected Robert, however. Kortefly Department Store Supermarket had ample funds, and Robert was brimming with confidence. Little did he know, he had already been marked by the hawk.

“Mr. Cameron, how much longer do you think this war will last?” Robert asked, full of vigor.

“If we maintain the current situation, by next month, a third of Vienna’s supermarkets will be gone. In six months, half of them will disappear. By then, everyone will be exhausted, and only the strongest will survive. With fewer competitors, the price war will stop,” Cameron analyzed.

“That won’t work. Prolonged losses will upset the shareholders, and it’s already affecting department stores. It will interfere with our IPO plans,” Robert rejected the suggestion.

“Then we’ll have to intensify the price war. Our losses will be significant,” Cameron frowned.

“Then keep lowering the prices. I want this fight to end in three months. Spare no expense to eliminate those small fry and recoup our losses,” Robert said ruthlessly.

A sly smile crossed Robert’s face as he thought of a clever plan. “The retail prices in the supermarkets are now lower than our procurement prices. You can secretly send people to buy from other supermarkets.”

“It will hurt our competitors and lower our procurement costs. Remember, do it secretly. If they find out and copy us, it will be trouble.”

“Understood, sir. As you wish. Today, I’ll lower the prices by another ten percent. Maybe that will scare off a few of those small fry,” Cameron said with a smile.

The retail market was once again filled with lamentations. Volvo, due to its large scale, had most of its products labeled as “Volvo Exclusive.”

To avoid exposure, goods bought from Volvo had to be repackaged. After trying it out, Robert found it too troublesome and had to abandon the idea.

Other supermarkets were in for a world of hurt, suffering heavy losses. But Ferdinand soon caught on—Kortefly’s orders from Shuanghui Food Group had decreased.

Ferdinand smiled knowingly. Robert is digging his own grave. He’ll soon learn what it means to be the target of everyone’s arrows.

Volvo could pull it off because of its size. It could distribute the costs across different regions, and even if exposed, Ferdinand could handle the fallout.

Those small capitalists might not be strong individually, but if they all banded together, even Ferdinand would have to be cautious.

Without hesitation, Ferdinand had the news of Kortefly’s reduced orders leaked. Anyone with half a brain would realize something was amiss.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the shrewd capitalists caught on. They sent people directly to Kortefly Department Store Supermarket to pick up goods, leaving Cameron scrambling.

Capitalists with connections used their influence to make life difficult for Kortefly. The department store often had its water and electricity cut off.

Occasionally, thugs would show up to cause trouble. At times, things even escalated to murder.

Everyone knew that the more Kortefly sold, the more it lost. They tacitly targeted the department store, though Ferdinand’s subtle guidance played no small part.

In just half a month, Robert’s home was bombed twice, and he was ambushed three times on the road. Members of the Held family were also frequently targeted.

Kortefly’s employees were not spared either. Many were beaten, and countless others called in sick. If their leave requests were denied, they simply quit.

The Held family, seasoned capitalists, seemed accustomed to such situations. They quickly tightened security, used their connections to pressure the police, and soon restored order. However, their already tarnished reputation grew even worse.

To quell the chaos, Kortefly paid a hefty price of two hundred thousand pounds in just one month.

The losses from the department store were manageable—only around forty thousand pounds in half a month. But the department store’s losses were substantial. With foot traffic plummeting, it too was operating at a loss.

Of course, the biggest expense was public relations. To grease the wheels, money had to be spent. Faced with such a fat sheep, who wouldn’t take a bite? Were they even officials of the Austro-Hungarian Empire if they didn’t?

But the trouble wasn’t over. Even though the authorities had intervened, the competition continued. Now, not only was Kortefly’s supermarket operating at a loss, but its department store was too. With only expenses and no income, no one could endure such a situation.

James was forced to step in and quickly stabilized the department store. He knew they had been targeted. Otherwise, why would everyone focus on the department store and leave the supermarket alone?

The seasoned James quickly identified the culprit. “Robert, prepare to close the department store. We concede,” he said.

“Why, Uncle? They’re on their last legs. That’s why they’re acting so desperately,” Robert said, unwilling to give up.

“The enemy hasn’t even exerted full force, and we’re already severely weakened. If we continue, the Held family might cease to exist,” James said with a sigh.

“You mean the Koháry family has made a move against us?” Robert asked uncertainly.

James shook his head. “Not yet. Otherwise, you and I wouldn’t be sitting here right now. I suspect it’s Franz’s doing. What happens next is anyone’s guess.”

It wasn’t that Ferdinand didn’t want to act. He was concerned about his reputation. If he acted now, wouldn’t that be admitting his involvement?

But that didn’t mean Franz would stand idly by.

If he strikes, it will be lethal.

Chapter 12: Capital Feast

The buying frenzy had begun. Franz spread rumors that prices were about to rise.

This wasn’t baseless. Vienna, which had always had the highest prices in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, had seen its prices remain lower than other regions for the past half-year. Everyone knew this wasn’t normal. Capitalists weren’t philanthropists—this situation couldn’t last.

Faced with hard evidence, the citizens of Vienna believed it. The good times they’d enjoyed for the past six months were about to end. Naturally, they rushed to stock up. Before dawn, long lines formed outside supermarkets across Vienna as the buying frenzy began.

Volvo, well-prepared, had already moved most of its goods. Long-term storage essentials were no longer in stock. Instead, they had prepared crafts, short-term consumables like bread, and various snacks.

These were quickly snatched up. When Volvo’s staff opened the warehouse, people saw that none of the goods could be stored long-term. Naturally, they weren’t the main targets for ordinary citizens, so they left and surged toward other supermarkets. Soon, many supermarkets were emptied. Facing bare shelves, many capitalists were on the verge of tears.

Most supermarkets operated on credit, settling accounts monthly. Delaying payments for half a year or even a year was normal. Now, they were selling at a loss—the more they sold, the more they lost. Yet, the debts remained unchanged.

If you had the strength to continue, you could delay payments to retain customers. But if losses were severe and you wanted to close, you couldn’t blame them for kicking you while you were down.

Kortefly Department Store, which had just emerged from trouble, suffered another blow. Their stockpiled goods were snatched up, leaving them with nothing to sell—an awkward situation.

Vienna’s retail industry was devastated. Many capitalists faced a common problem: cash flow issues.

Department stores were now selling at a loss—the more they sold, the more they lost. The proceeds from liquidation weren’t enough to cover debts to manufacturers.

Forced into a corner, they took on more debt. Vienna’s banks, naturally, wouldn’t miss this capital feast. In no time, they swooped in to exploit the situation.

Smaller capitalists faced the risk of insolvency. Many simply donated their assets and fled. After all, this era had no cross-border asset recovery capabilities.

This also affected manufacturing. Many factories were caught in the crossfire. With debtors fleeing, they couldn’t recover payments. Many small factories, burdened with bad debts, fell into crisis.

The capitalists who survived weren’t willing to give up. Many had a sudden inspiration, creating clothing malls, dining malls, machinery malls—all sorts of chaotic ventures—to make a quick profit and recoup losses.

They reasoned that since the buildings were already there and couldn’t be sold, they might as well make a desperate attempt. The pioneers made money, but the aftermath was that all sales industries suffered.

A massive wave of bankruptcies swept through. Many capitalists went under, dragging others down with them. Unemployment soared, and Vienna fell into desolation. The economic crisis had arrived.

The financial elites, who had initially rejoiced, weren’t familiar with this kind of operation. They took big bites and choked. Holding a pile of collateral, they faced a financial crisis and couldn’t liquidate. They watched their assets depreciate day by day, helpless.

This spread to the stock market. With a lack of funds, the market crashed, and countless fortunes evaporated.

Vienna’s financial crisis quickly spread across the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many businesses went bankrupt, workers lost jobs, and society became unstable.

Bank deposits began to drain rapidly. Finally, a small bank called Boston ran out of funds and collapsed.

Due to the Austrian government’s mishandling, a bank run began, dragging more banks down. Many that had insufficient reserves followed Boston’s fate.

Finally, the Austro-Hungarian Empire realized it needed to intervene. On December 8th, the Minister of Finance, Murdoch Holman, held a press conference to announce a rescue plan.

Ferdinand knew the time for harvest had come. The empire’s economy was still strong. With sufficient capital injection, this financial crisis would pass quickly.

Taking advantage of the stock market slump, Ferdinand went on a buying spree, acquiring many valuable enterprises at bargain prices. He also invested in Škoda, becoming its second-largest shareholder.

At this point, Škoda wasn’t yet the powerhouse it would become. Its true rise would begin in 1899, peaking in 1937 when its artillery production surpassed that of the entire British Isles. Ferdinand was simply laying the groundwork early.

Kortefly Department Store, already under Ferdinand’s control, couldn’t escape his grasp.

Kortefly had suffered heavy losses in retail. After the financial crisis, banks demanded early repayment, delivering a fatal blow.

The two hundred thousand pounds in loans from Hungarian capitalists had become a death sentence.

Since its reputation had hit rock bottom, Kortefly’s suppliers demanded cash upfront, tying up large amounts of capital.

Now, with banks demanding early repayment, its cash flow was broken. Kortefly was powerless to recover. After holding on for a while, the Held family decided to give up.

After all, they had triggered this financial crisis. The government would likely pin the blame on them. Being a scapegoat wasn’t easy.

Selling the company now would at least let them split some profits. Crucially, Ferdinand could pay in cash, which they could use to bail out other industries.

Fifty thousand pounds in cash, plus taking on all debts, and Ferdinand easily absorbed Kortefly Department Store—a company valued at eight hundred thousand pounds.

This kind of opportunity only arose during financial crises. With many businesses going under, everyone was busy with mergers and restructuring. Naturally, no one competed with Ferdinand.

Ten years of effort couldn’t compare to a single moment of explosion.

This perfectly illustrated the saying. Ferdinand had made a fortune this time. The gains from this alone were enough to save the Koháry family ten years of struggle.

The economic crisis had caught Ferdinand somewhat off guard. The butterfly effect’s power exceeded his imagination.

As the butterfly effect fermented, the prophet’s influence would diminish. Ferdinand felt a pang of panic. He needed to prepare several backup plans.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was no longer an option. Though it was the Koháry family’s stronghold, its future was doomed.

The Triple Alliance wasn’t worth considering either. Ferdinand wasn’t confident he could change the outcome of the World War on his own.

Perhaps turning his gaze beyond Europe, to the colonies, was a good choice. Many places were still untouched, with no competition. He probably still remembered the locations of several famous mineral deposits. At worst, he could become a mining tycoon.

Time was running out. It seemed he needed to advance his trip to London. Ferdinand thought to himself.

Chapter 13: Journey to London

The financial crisis in the Austro-Hungarian Empire came and went swiftly. Once the government injected sufficient funds into the market, stability was quickly restored.

Amid this capital feast, Ferdinand, having had his fill, now embarked on a journey to London.

It was time to lay low. Over the past two years, Ferdinand had risen to prominence in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his recent windfall in the capital markets had only amplified his visibility.

This was not his style. Seizing the opportunity, he decided to travel abroad, conveniently addressing the matter of the gold mines along the way.

After his rebirth, Ferdinand had immediately dispatched people to purchase land. Many of the renowned mineral deposits discovered in later years were now under his control.

Some locations were too harsh to exploit at present, so he left them untouched for now. But those open-pit gold mines—how could he leave them idle?

Who knew if someone might discover them prematurely and steal the gold? The potential income of tens of millions of pounds was enough to drive anyone mad.

With his current limitations, Ferdinand sought a powerful partner who could safeguard his interests. Thus, the journey to London began.

Queen Victoria, full name: Alexandrina Victoria (May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901), daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, ascended the throne at the age of eighteen and was revered as a national symbol.

Her reign lasted sixty-three years and seven months, longer than any British monarch before her and any female monarch in history, earning her the title of the Victorian Era.

This period marked significant advancements in Britain’s industry, culture, politics, science, and military.

Queen Victoria was the last monarch of the House of Hanover. Her son and heir, Edward VII, belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

The Victorian Era was Britain’s golden age. As the world’s trade center, the British proudly declared:

The plains of North America and Russia are our cornfields; Chicago and Odessa are our granaries; Canada and the Baltic are our timberlands; Australia and West Asia are our sheep pastures; the grasslands of Argentina and the western United States are our cattle ranges.

Peru sends its silver; South Africa and Australia’s gold flows to London; Indians and Chinese cultivate our tea; and our coffee, sugarcane, and spice plantations span the Indian islands.

Spain and France are our vineyards; the Mediterranean is our orchard; America is our cotton field.

Ferdinand departed Vienna in early December and arrived in London just before Christmas. As he disembarked, he was greeted by his good friend and cousin, Albert Edward of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha—Edward VII.

Their friendship stemmed from shared interests and unorthodox lifestyles, making them outliers among the nobility.

Edward warmly welcomed Ferdinand, though he also saw an opportunity to share some of the heat. After all, facing scoldings together was better than bearing them alone. Otherwise, a prince wouldn’t have personally come to greet him.

“Ferdinand, my brother, why did you take so long?” Edward shouted.

“Damn it, you know how far the journey is! The sea waves were unbearable!” Ferdinand complained.

…

They chatted idly, pulling the conversation in every direction—Ferdinand’s forte. Naturally, they got along splendidly. Following protocol, Ferdinand first paid a visit to Queen Victoria.

Buckingham Palace—well, despite its future fame, Ferdinand didn’t find it particularly impressive. Perhaps he had already assimilated into this world, as it seemed no different from an ordinary palace.

What truly caught his eye were the paintings and calligraphy along the way. The palace housed antiquities and artworks from around the world, along with furniture that resembled masterpieces, broadening Ferdinand’s horizons.

Edward seemed pleased with Ferdinand’s reaction and said, “If you like them, I can consider giving you some. But for now, we must go see my mother.”

This snapped Ferdinand back to reality. He awkwardly chuckled, realizing his earlier behavior had been somewhat embarrassing.

“Ferdinand, welcome to our home!” Queen Victoria said kindly.

For Ferdinand, however, the encounter felt like an eternity. Queen Victoria’s presence was overwhelming. He couldn’t help but sympathize with Edward—having such a formidable mother must make his life difficult.

…

Queen Victoria was already advanced in age, and her energy was limited. She soon excused Ferdinand. That evening, after attending the welcome banquet as customary, she departed hastily.

The next day, Ferdinand and Edward let loose, touring London.

“Ferdinand, I hear you’ve made a fortune these past two years?” Edward said enviously.

“It’s not that much, just a few million pounds. A drop in the bucket for the royal family!” Ferdinand replied nonchalantly.

He was puzzled by Edward’s envy. As the heir to the world’s superpower, shouldn’t making money be easy? A little scheming here and there, and the wealth would pour in.

“Of course, a few million pounds is nothing to the royal family! But to me, it’s an astronomical sum!” Edward complained.

Ferdinand recalled that Edward’s life wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed. His relationship with Queen Victoria was strained. Though he was the heir, he was barred from political affairs, and his expenses were tightly controlled. With his love for yachting and horse racing, his frequent extravagant spending made financial struggles inevitable.

“God, you must be joking! The heir to the British Empire, short on money? Don’t tell me the royal family’s hundreds of millions of pounds in assets don’t give you access to funds?” Ferdinand exaggerated.

Inside, he was delighted. If Edward needed money, things would be easier. He immediately changed his plans. Partnering with Edward seemed just as viable. Colonial officials wouldn’t dare cause trouble for the prince’s ventures, would they?

In any case, Edward was easier to manipulate than Queen Victoria, and the cost would be much lower. A gold mine delivered to his doorstep—how could he refuse?

“Financial restrictions—no more than ten thousand pounds a month! You know my expenses are high. How can this amount be enough?” Edward complained.

“You don’t know how to invest?” Ferdinand played along.

“How can I not? But with my meager capital, I can’t get much even if I invest!” Edward roared.

“Really? I’ve discovered a gold mine. Aren’t you interested?” Ferdinand said with a smile.

“A supermarket? I’ve opened a few, but the profits aren’t great,” Edward bluntly replied.

Ferdinand cursed inwardly. So you stole my idea and now complain about low profits in front of me, the original creator.

“Of course not! I’m talking about a gold mine—an open-pit gold mine! Do you understand, Edward?” Ferdinand roared.

“Heavens! Am I dreaming? If you have a gold mine, why not dig it yourself? Why come to me?” Edward exclaimed in shock.

“Damn it, don’t you know mining requires a lot of labor? Do you have any idea how high European workers’ wages are? Partnering with you means I don’t have to pay wages!” Ferdinand said matter-of-factly.

“What! You don’t plan to pay wages? You heartless capitalist! I won’t let you succeed. I’m breaking ties with you!” Edward angrily declared.

Ferdinand remained unmoved and sneered, “Come on, cut the act. There’s no one else here; no need to pretend! This is the first time I’ve heard the British heir cares about the lives of natives! So…”

“Wait, just say it, my brother. You want slaves? How many? I’ll handle it. But how do we split the money?” Edward suddenly changed his tone.

The two then began haggling over every penny. After intense negotiation, they reached an agreement and jointly established the United Mining Company.

As the owner of the gold mine, Ferdinand invested three hundred thousand pounds for a sixty percent stake. Edward contributed nothing but was responsible for providing labor and protecting the company from external troubles, earning a forty percent stake.

Ferdinand’s first target was the Kalgoorlie mining area.

Kalgoorlie: The Kalgoorlie gold belt is one of the two largest gold-producing regions spanning Australia. The Kalgoorlie gold project is located about forty kilometers west of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

In 1892, five hundred and fifty-four ounces of gold were discovered here, sparking the world’s last gold rush. Nearly sixteen thousand people flooded into Kalgoorlie at the time, making it almost the third-largest city in Australia.

The project’s resources amount to approximately one million two hundred thousand tons, with a grade of 1.7 grams per ton, containing sixty-nine thousand ounces of gold. In the first twenty-eight months of the mine’s lifespan, sixty-five thousand ounces of gold can be recovered from three shallow ore bodies.

Chapter 14: The Bulgarian Coup

Ferdinand’s trip to London had gone even more smoothly than he had anticipated. Not only had he developed a gold mine, but he had also deepened his relationship with the British royal family, which would greatly benefit his future development!

Edward, facing a financial crisis, was far more interested in the gold mine than Ferdinand. The two quickly established a mining company.

Excited, Edward even planned to personally visit Australia, but Ferdinand hastily stopped him. Nineteenth-century Australia was no paradise—it was a remote and desolate wilderness, and Ferdinand valued his life too much.

It wasn’t until June of the following year that the first batch of gold from Australia arrived in London, finally easing Ferdinand’s worries.

The amount wasn’t large—only eight hundred kilograms, worth just over ten thousand pounds—but Ferdinand and Edward were thrilled.

A pile of gold was far more impressive than a check. Even Queen Victoria attended their celebratory banquet. In the gold-standard era of the nineteenth century, gold held far greater significance than in later times.

With the mining company now on solid ground, Ferdinand set off to return to Vienna. If all went well, it would generate hundreds of thousands of pounds in annual revenue for him.

Unlike his arrival, Ferdinand chose to travel by land after landing in France on his return journey, taking the opportunity to tour famous landmarks along the way.

In France, he visited the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Panthéon, leaving his footprints at each.

In Germany, he explored the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Neuschwanstein Castle, Lake Constance, Cologne Cathedral, and the source of the Danube, all of which bore witness to his presence.

It wasn’t until the end of 1885 that Ferdinand finally returned to Vienna.

This journey had been immensely enriching. He had witnessed the three most powerful nations of the time—England, France, and Germany—gaining a clear understanding of their human geography and industrial development.

Though all three were thriving, Ferdinand sensed that France was falling behind. A significant amount of capital was flowing into financial markets, while investment in industry was sharply declining.

Germany, on the other hand, was the opposite. Perhaps influenced by the traditions of the German regions, capitalists showed little interest in the virtual financial sector, focusing instead on industry with much greater investment.

After touring the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ferdinand found that this decaying empire was still functioning remarkably well, showing no signs of imminent collapse.

Economic development was rapid, and while it couldn’t compare to England, France, or Germany, its potential was not far behind.

Domestic conflicts were also being suppressed to their lowest point. Hungary, the most troublesome region, was now only vying for power without any inclination toward independence.

Looking at the British Empire now, no one could have predicted that it would decline into a second-rate nation in just a few decades.

Of course, that was none of Ferdinand’s concern. What he was focused on now was the coup in Bulgaria. The Russian government was growing increasingly dissatisfied with Alexander Battenberg’s anti-Russian stance, and a coup was brewing.

Battenberg had always been an extreme reactionary who despised Russia. Initially, to avoid provoking Russia, he had cleverly concealed his anti-Russian sentiments.

However, his reactionary ideology was never hidden. From the beginning, he had openly sided with the Conservative Party, even though the Liberal Party dominated parliament. He still managed to form a Conservative government.

Once in power, the Conservatives immediately began trampling on the constitution. The Liberals fought back through public opinion and demonstrations, leading to fierce struggles between the two parties.

Over the next few years, the conflict between the Grand Duke’s Conservatives and the Liberals, along with Russian interference, plunged the country into chaos.

In 1886, the political crisis intensified. The Russians planned to depose Battenberg and replace him with a pro-Russian figure. However, Western powers like England and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, seeking to weaken Russian influence in the Balkans, chose to support Battenberg.

Bulgaria’s fledgling bourgeoisie also split into pro-Russian and anti-Russian factions, locked in bitter dispute.

The pro-Russian faction sought Russian aid, and on August 21, 1886, a group of Bulgarian officers, backed by Russia, deposed Grand Duke Alexander.

This move sparked nationwide outrage in Bulgaria. Some military and political figures launched a counter-coup, urging the Grand Duke to return.

The Russian government opposed this, threatening to occupy Bulgaria. On September 7, Grand Duke Alexander was forced to abdicate and flee.

A sharp political crisis erupted. The great powers once again clashed over the selection of Bulgaria’s next Grand Duke.

Russia’s stance was clear: as long as power remained in the hands of the pro-Russian faction, a national assembly would be convened to elect a new Grand Duke. However, the Russians’ heavy-handed tactics only fueled Bulgarian resentment.

Stambolov, defying Russian opposition, forcibly convened a national assembly and elected Prince Valdemar of Denmark as the new Grand Duke. But under pressure from the Tsar, Prince Valdemar refused to ascend the throne.

The conflict continued to escalate. Russia even severed diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. With the two domestic factions unable to reach a compromise, the pro-Russian faction launched an uprising in February 1887, only to be swiftly crushed, with its leaders sentenced to death.

To end the crisis, the Bulgarian government, with the support of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, convened a national assembly without Russian approval and elected a new Grand Duke.

Seeking broader support, the Austro-Hungarian Empire nominated Ferdinand. On June 25, 1887, the Bulgarian National Assembly elected Ferdinand as the next Grand Duke.

The Russian government protested, demanding that the Ottoman government, under the terms of the Treaty of Berlin, refuse Ferdinand’s ascension. But under pressure from the Western powers, the Ottomans rejected Russia’s demands and supported Ferdinand’s succession.

For now, the Bulgarian coup was still brewing, and Ferdinand refrained from interfering, fearing the butterfly effect.

Historically, Bulgaria had scoured Europe for a Grand Duke, with numerous candidates. Though they ultimately chose him, it was merely to secure the support of the Western powers, not because he was irreplaceable.

Ferdinand waited anxiously while strengthening his intelligence network. From history, he knew his early days in Bulgaria would not be easy—power would remain in the hands of the Liberals.

Time passed, and in the summer of 1886, the coup unfolded as expected. Battenberg was forced to abdicate and was exiled.

The subsequent power struggle over Bulgaria left Ferdinand stunned. Russia, which had initially held the advantage, gradually lost ground due to a series of missteps.

In 1887, the Bulgarian crisis deepened. After obtaining Ferdinand’s consent, Stambolov forcibly convened a national assembly in February, officially electing Ferdinand as the Prince of Bulgaria.

Chapter 15: Ascension to the Throne

July 12, 1887, was a day to remember. Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria was crowned Grand Duke of Bulgaria in the Vrana Palace, marking a historic moment.

Thanks to Ferdinand’s meticulous planning, the coronation was far grander than it had been in history, with far more distinguished guests in attendance. The heir to the British Empire, Edward; the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Rudolf; and the King of Greece all attended the ceremony in person, signaling the support of the great powers.

Ferdinand had achieved his goal. By leveraging external forces, he had temporarily intimidated the various factions within Bulgaria, laying the foundation for future reforms.

Bulgaria boasted excellent natural conditions, with diverse terrain including mountains, hills, and plains, as well as numerous lakes and rivers, the most significant being the Danube and the Maritsa.

However, it was also poor in natural resources. Its main mineral deposits included coal, lead, zinc, copper, iron, uranium, manganese, chromium, salt, and a small amount of oil.

“All in all, it’s suitable for beginners. After being ruled by the Ottomans for so long and just gaining independence, there are no great nobles or capitalists in the country. The initial development is good, but the potential isn’t great!” Ferdinand couldn’t help but comment, despite having already prepared for this.

“Stambolov, do you have any good suggestions regarding personnel appointments?” Ferdinand asked calmly.

Stambolov, a Bulgarian politician and a strong prime minister (serving from 1887 to 1894), was seen as Bulgaria’s Bismarck.

From 1870 to 1872, he studied at the theological seminary in Odessa. In his early years, he participated in the underground revolutionary movement against Turkish rule in Bulgaria.

In 1875 and 1876, he led small-scale uprisings against the Turks. In 1878, when Bulgaria gained autonomy, he was elected to the newly established parliament and became its speaker in 1884.

After the abdication of Grand Duke Alexander I in 1886, he thwarted Russian interference and supported Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha as the Grand Duke of Bulgaria.

After the new Grand Duke ascended the throne, Stambolov organized the cabinet. During his tenure, he continued to oppose Russia, maintained friendly relations with Turkey, and expanded Bulgaria’s influence in Macedonia.

He used terrorist methods to deal with the constant anti-court conspiracies and mutinies. Grand Duke Ferdinand I reclaimed his authority, and Stambolov was forced to resign as prime minister on May 31, 1894.

Ferdinand had no intention of replacing him now. He had just ascended the throne, and the most important thing was to stabilize the situation. Besides, there were no suitable candidates.

“Your Highness, after careful consideration, here is the list of cabinet members and key government officials. Please review it,” Stambolov said, handing over the document.

“Hmm, alright, let it be! Have them take office as soon as possible! Next week, we will hold a cabinet meeting, and you must present a governance program. You may leave now; I need to rest,” Ferdinand dismissed him, clearly displeased.

“So now he wants to be a power-holding minister, and he’s in such a hurry! At least he should maintain appearances and provide more candidates! He’s already decided everything, treating me like a rubber stamp!” Ferdinand thought to himself.

…

“Bulgaria’s development still has its advantages. First, there are no strong industrial competitors, and the industrial base is weak, so it can be monopolized. There are almost no troubles from the government. Second, I have a lot of money, and there’s no such thing as technological blockade now, so I can get the technology I want!”

“The government should focus on developing agriculture! What’s with this industrial talk? We’re still waiting for loans to pay salaries! Oh, and we need to develop education, but for now, let’s just use literacy classes. Encourage patriotic youth to spread cultural knowledge with some rewards, which will save a lot of money…” Ferdinand was busy making plans.

“Your Highness, the cabinet ministers have all arrived and are waiting in the hall. Should we start the meeting?” the attendant reminded him.

“Alright, I’ll be right there.”

…

“Excuse me, Mr. Stambolov,” Ferdinand spoke up.

“Alright, Your Highness, go ahead,” Stambolov said, somewhat displeased.

“Mr. Stambolov, how was this plan made? How many people are there in Bulgaria now? How many are in agriculture, how many in industry? What’s the education level like? What’s the distribution of resources?” Ferdinand bluntly exposed the problems, giving Stambolov a stern warning and rejecting the hollow plan.

“This… Your Highness, Bulgaria currently has a population of 3.1045 million, mostly agricultural. As for education levels and resource distribution, we haven’t conducted any statistics. Alright, I admit this plan was made in haste,” Stambolov paused before saying.

“Seems like historical figures aren’t simple; he reacted so quickly,” Ferdinand thought. Out loud, he said, “Prime Minister, we must be responsible to the Bulgarian people. We need to understand the actual situation before formulating a governance program!”

“Regarding the salaries of the personnel, I approve! The rest, send it back to be redone. Large-scale industrial plans? Nonsense, I haven’t even heard of any industry in Bulgaria. Be specific, understand?”

“From the population structure, I suggest you focus on developing agriculture first. We must consider the interests of the majority! Also, education reform should lean towards science. You can start with literacy classes. For industrial development, first figure out the resource distribution, then make plans accordingly. I don’t want to see any more of these so-called large-scale industrial plans!”

“I apologize, Your Highness. We will go back and redo it immediately!” Stambolov said, lowering his head.

Stambolov was left dazed by Ferdinand’s criticism. His carefully prepared plan was deemed worthless, and he had no way to refute it.

In Ferdinand’s eyes, the current Bulgarian government was similar to the Tongmenghui during the Xinhai Revolution—a group of idealists who could talk big but had no concrete governance strategies, completely at the beginner stage.

“Go, gentlemen, for the future of Bulgaria, I appreciate your hard work!” Seeing Stambolov and the cabinet members bowing their heads, Ferdinand knew it was time to stop.

“For Bulgaria!” The previously disheartened group immediately perked up.

“Strive for Bulgaria!”

…

“Hmm, not bad. Patriotic youth are easy to fool!” Looking at the cabinet members, whose average age was no more than thirty-five, Ferdinand thought to himself.

The Stambolov government was later evaluated as a police terror regime. They gained the support of a part of the emerging bourgeoisie, completely siding with the bourgeoisie, and vigorously promoted factories and trade.

The vast majority of farmers and workers were excluded, making the ruling foundation extremely weak.

Most missionaries, some intellectuals, and a part of the petty bourgeoisie opposed the government’s radical anti-Russian policies.

Chapter 16: Planned Economy

After dismissing the cabinet, Ferdinand shouted toward the door, “Steward Karl, notify our people to come for a meeting.”

“As you wish, Your Highness!” the old steward Karl replied in a booming voice.

Half an hour later, Ferdinand gathered everyone and said, “Gentlemen, please take your seats. You all came with me from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Bulgaria, and I believe you are all aware of the current situation.”

“Bulgaria is only a small country, and developing it will not be easy. I need your help.” Ferdinand looked at them as he finished speaking.

“Your Highness, it is our honor to serve you!” Franz and the others said in unison.

Ferdinand was pleased with their response and smiled, “Alright, let’s not waste time. First, we need to expand our industries here. Although Bulgaria’s market is still small, the competition is also minimal!”

“But Your Highness, Bulgaria’s poor transportation conditions make it difficult for our products to compete internationally!” Weilian said gloomily.

“Oh, Mr. Weilian, I know it’s difficult, but that’s why we have you! You could focus on the Balkan market—domestically, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey are all good choices!” Ferdinand knew Weilian’s concerns and suggested.

“Alright, Your Highness, I understand. If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be a big problem, but they are all poor, so the profits won’t be high!” Weilian reminded him.

“Of course, I know that. For the international market, we still have the factories in the Austro-Hungarian Empire! Your main focus should still be there. The main competitors for the flour mills here are household workshops and transportation!” Ferdinand said somewhat gloomily.

After scanning the others, Ferdinand said, “You shouldn’t have any problems, right?”

Seeing the silent crowd, Ferdinand said gloomily, “It seems we still need to build roads first! I will ask the cabinet to draft a railway plan as soon as possible and issue government bonds.”

…

Although he had long been prepared, Ferdinand was still gloomy. The future of Bulgaria was still a headache for him.

He pondered, “High-end route, how to take the high-end route? Internal combustion engines, cars, airplanes, tanks—these are still far off. Bulgaria can’t produce these things.”

“Even if we could, we might sell them domestically, but they would be crushed by foreign companies abroad. The industrial foundation is too weak!”

“For now, we should take it slow. The industrial foundation can’t be built overnight; it needs gradual improvement and government support.”

“First, I need to convince that group of delusional cabinet members. Forget it, I’ll just use big data. Young people are impatient, so a five-year plan with a planned economy should suit their tastes. Besides, there are no capitalists in Bulgaria to oppose it.”

In the spring of 1887, the wind blew over the Sofia Palace.

The grass, which had slept through the winter, now awakened, stubbornly pushing its head out of the ground. Though only a hint of green was visible, it was full of vitality.

After five months of investigation, the cabinet concluded that Bulgaria’s natural resources were scarce. The previously submitted industrial plan had long been discarded into the Mediterranean.

“Alright, everyone, cheer up! Lack of natural resources doesn’t mean there’s no way to compensate.” Ferdinand consoled them.

“Your Highness, are you planning to start a war?” Stambolov’s eyes lit up as he asked.

Ferdinand thought to himself, “Bulgarians are truly the Prussians of the Balkans, so warlike. Just look at this cabinet. No wonder they mobilized over a million soldiers out of a population of four million in history!”

He rolled his eyes and said, “No, we don’t have the strength to start a war! Although Bulgaria lacks mineral resources, its geographical conditions are excellent, and the people support the government. I plan to implement a planned economy to reduce unnecessary resource waste.”

“Planned economy?” The crowd buzzed, turning their gaze toward him.

“Yes, planned economy. You might not understand it fully, so let me simplify it.”

“For example, take railways. We plan to build one thousand kilometers of railway in five years to improve Bulgaria’s transportation. If private capital is insufficient, the government will issue bonds to fund it.”

“One thousand kilometers of railway in five years in Bulgaria?” Minister of Transportation Clinton asked incredulously.

“That’s right,” the Grand Duke smiled.

“Then I support it,” Clinton immediately declared.

“This is just one part of it. Bulgaria’s main industries are all involved.” Ferdinand said confidently. Seeing their reactions, he knew the outcome.

“Alright, quiet down. Let me finish before we discuss!” Ferdinand waved his hand to signal them.

“This is my initial idea. You can take a look.” With that, Ferdinand handed them a copy of the Bulgarian Five-Year Plan.

First, focus on developing agriculture. Invite agricultural experts and promote advanced agricultural production techniques. Increase agricultural output by thirty percent in five years and raise farmers’ incomes.

Second, the railway plan. Build one thousand kilometers of railway nationwide in five years to improve transportation. The required funds will be raised by issuing railway bonds.

Third, military:

1. Establish a basic arms factory to achieve domestic production of light weapons within five years.

2. Complete the reorganization of the national army within five years, implementing a reserve system and compulsory military service.

3. Establish a National Defense University.

Fourth, industry. Encourage the development of heavy industry. Given Bulgaria’s lack of resources, key industries such as steel mills, machine tool factories, and arms enterprises will be supported with tax exemptions and priority use of domestic products under equal conditions.

Fifth, education:

1. Establish literacy classes in factories and rural areas. Encourage young scholars to teach the public during holidays, focusing on legal education. Reduce the illiteracy rate to below fifteen percent in five years.

2. Establish a public comprehensive university. Given the current special period, only science and engineering courses will be offered for now.

3. Build three normal schools to train teachers and lay the foundation for future compulsory education.

“These five points are the core of this five-year plan, which can also be called the Five-Year Plan. You can add any suggestions or raise any objections.” Ferdinand said confidently.

“Your Highness, can I really do this? This clearly violates market laws!” Minister of Economy Michael asked uncertainly.

“Of course you can. Don’t worry about those so-called market laws. They’re just nonsense made up by capitalists to deceive people! Be confident. You are Bulgaria’s elite and can definitely accomplish this. You might even exceed expectations!” the Grand Duke encouraged.

“Your Highness, how will the funding be resolved? With Bulgaria’s fiscal income, it might be difficult to complete.” Prime Minister Stambolov asked.

“The main expense here is the railway plan. Issuing railway bonds with higher interest rates can attract private capital. If that’s not enough, we can sell them abroad. Later, the railway’s operational income can be used to repay the debt, and the government can cover any shortfall.”

“As for the arms factory, I can invest in it, which will save the government some expenses.”

“The remaining funding gap isn’t large. With Bulgaria’s fiscal income, we should be able to manage, at most issuing some education bonds. Any other questions?” Ferdinand said straightforwardly.

“Your Highness, why are there no targets for steel and coal? These are essential for a strong nation!” Michael asked puzzledly.

“It’s simple. Bulgaria’s coal reserves are too small. We can’t defy natural laws to create more! And the iron ore is in the Balkan Mountains. Without railways, building a steel mill would require importing all raw materials, which is no better than directly importing steel!” Ferdinand explained.

“If there are no more questions, then this is our decision. The specific details will be left to you to refine, and then we will submit it to the National Assembly for resolution!” Seeing that no one else spoke, Ferdinand announced the decision.

Chapter 17: The Five-Year Plan

To Ferdinand’s surprise, the Stambolov cabinet was far easier to handle than he had anticipated. He had already prepared himself for the rejection of his Five-Year Plan Draft and for the cabinet to draft a new one instead.

Unexpectedly, these Liberal Party members were politically naive, handing over the initiative without a fight.

Once this plan was passed by the National Assembly, Ferdinand would be the one leading it. Naturally, he would then be able to take some power from the Liberal Party.

If it succeeded, Ferdinand’s position would become secure. If it failed, he could easily shift the blame onto the cabinet, guiding public opinion to question their governance, and emerge unscathed.

The methods were somewhat underhanded, but effective. After years of noble life, the former nobody had transformed into a politician, though his tactics were still somewhat immature.

After more than half a month of busy work, the Stambolov cabinet finally completed the Five-Year Plan. To accommodate various interests, the clauses grew in number, covering every aspect of Bulgaria.

By the time it reached Ferdinand’s hands, there were over three hundred clauses, big and small. Frankly, the plan was decent, but the biggest problem was that it was too radical.

In Ferdinand’s eyes, this was pure idealism—it might be theoretically possible, but the government would have to do far too much!

This was the common flaw of idealism—wanting to get everything done at once. Ferdinand did not raise any objections. If this plan were actually completed, Bulgaria would become the dominant power in the Balkans.

For now, it was best not to pour cold water on it. From the changes in Stambolov’s attitude, Ferdinand could tell that his calculations had been seen through. But under the pressure of Bulgaria’s development, Stambolov could not come out in opposition.

On January 5, 1888, a day later dubbed “Bulgaria’s Revival Day” by historians, the Stambolov cabinet submitted the world-shaking Five-Year Plan to the National Assembly, laying the foundation for Bulgaria’s rise.

The National Assembly, dominated by the Liberal Party, passed the resolution without major incident. Ferdinand signed it on the spot, announcing the bill’s effectiveness, and thus began Bulgaria’s grand Five-Year Plan.

There were too many clauses, which conveniently made it easier for Ferdinand to seize power. The shameless Ferdinand immediately called a cabinet meeting.

Looking at the excited cabinet members, Ferdinand smiled and asked, “Prime Minister, now that the plan is set, what do you intend to start with next?”

Stambolov was stunned. They had been so focused on drafting the plan, but how were they supposed to implement it?

Ferdinand had only proposed five clauses. If everyone worked hard, they could still be achieved! But now, with over three hundred clauses added, how were they supposed to complete them? How many people would it take? Where should they even begin?

All of these were problems! But as the prime minister, he couldn’t pretend to be ignorant and say he hadn’t thought about it! Everyone was watching. If he couldn’t come up with a feasible suggestion, his authority would take a serious hit.

Stambolov knew he was in trouble. He wasn’t without competitors. If he couldn’t demonstrate some capability, even these cabinet members might start eyeing the prime minister’s position!

After a moment of silence, Stambolov gritted his teeth and said, “Your Highness, please trust that our cabinet will surely come up with a satisfactory strategy!”

“Is that so? Of course, I believe in the cabinet’s abilities. But this is a critical moment for Bulgaria’s development, and the nation is watching us. I hope you can come up with a feasible plan within three days!” Ferdinand said, feigning expectation.

Stambolov knew he had been tricked, but he didn’t know how he had left the palace. In a daze, he returned home.

Today’s events had already displeased many. Like most Liberal Party members, they were all talk and no action—a common flaw among revolutionaries worldwide!

He gathered his advisors for a discussion, and they all agreed that he had been set up by the king. But this plan had been completed by Stambolov and the cabinet members themselves. Ferdinand had only proposed five clauses, while they had come up with over three hundred. No one would believe it if they said otherwise!

“So what should we do now? I have to take some action, or I won’t be able to account for this!” Stambolov said, his head aching.

“Your Excellency, this plan has already been passed. The opposition is singing our praises! Giving up is impossible. We have to complete at least most of it to be able to account for it!” Kobif—Stambolov’s most trusted advisor—said.

“You’re right. This is no longer just my problem. If we don’t produce results, none of us in the cabinet can escape, and the Liberal Party won’t be able to wash its hands of it!” Stambolov understood Kobif’s meaning. If they succeeded, everyone would be happy. If they failed, no one could escape.

Ignoring the cabinet’s thoughts, Ferdinand knew that this matter was both difficult and easy. It was just a matter of a plan. Whether they had one or not, it was impossible to complete all the tasks. As long as the main five items were completed, Ferdinand would be satisfied!

If the cabinet could pull off a miracle and complete everything, he would only be happier. After all, he wouldn’t be left out of the credit.

Three days passed, and as Ferdinand had expected, the Stambolov cabinet actually came up with a plan. Though in Ferdinand’s eyes, it was full of flaws!

Ferdinand still nodded in satisfaction and said, “Not bad! But with so many tasks, can you handle them all? Why not divide them? Each department could be responsible for some, and the cabinet could coordinate. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Seeing the others’ eyes light up, Stambolov’s expression darkened. This was a dagger seen too late, and worse, it was irrefutable.

Indeed, Ferdinand’s ultimate goal was to decentralize power. Once power was delegated, taking it back would be troublesome.

Strengthening the departments weakened the cabinet, especially targeting Prime Minister Stambolov. Most cabinet members also held ministerial positions, so their power wasn’t actually diminished.

Ferdinand could not tolerate the existence of a power-holding minister. If Stambolov were truly a genius, he might have endured it. But history had already shown him that Stambolov lacked the ability of an iron-fisted chancellor.

Currently, the Bulgarian cabinet consisted of five members besides Prime Minister Stambolov: Economic Minister Michael, Industrial Minister Wilson, Defense Minister Sovereign, and Interior Minister Jonas.

The cabinet already had plenty on its plate and couldn’t possibly manage hundreds of projects. Delegating authority was the most effective solution.

Stambolov exchanged glances with the others. He knew the four had already agreed, and he couldn’t refuse any longer.

But Stambolov still had to assert himself, saying, “Your Highness is right. Dividing the tasks is necessary, and we must also divide the work among ourselves, each responsible for a part.”

After speaking, Stambolov’s expression darkened. From this day forward, the cabinet would no longer be his sole domain. The others’ status would gradually approach his own.

Chapter 18: Education

The cabinet meeting concluded smoothly, and Ferdinand was quite satisfied with the division of responsibilities. He had secured oversight of both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education.

Compared to other industries, the cabinet’s attention to agriculture was clearly insufficient. The plans they had formulated included very little regarding agricultural development, which gave Ferdinand an opportunity to step in.

The Ministry of Education was even simpler. Bulgaria’s national treasury was empty. Besides the opposition party, the education sector was the most vocal in criticizing the government, with teachers’ salaries having been unpaid for several months.

Since King Ferdinand was willing to take over, they naturally had no objections to handing over this mess. After all, the education budget was still in arrears.

Ferdinand had taken on two hot potatoes, but he was actually quite pleased.

Bulgaria was an agricultural country with poor mineral resources. In the short term, the easiest area to achieve results was agriculture.

Compared to China’s land utilization rate, Bulgaria, like other European countries, lagged far behind. If they were to follow the Eastern model, Bulgaria’s arable land could be expanded by another fifty percent.

Of course, Ferdinand had no intention of doing that. It was completely unnecessary. With an area equivalent to Jiangsu Province, the current population was only over three million, less than one-tenth of Jiangsu’s population at the same time.

Ferdinand planned to vigorously develop water conservancy, promote advanced agricultural technology, and increase grain production. That would be sufficient. (Agricultural development in the Balkans was backward, and grain yield per mu was less than two-thirds of that in Western Europe at the same time.)

As long as he did these things well and gained the support of the peasant class, which made up nine-tenths of the total population, he would be in an invincible position. For this, even if it cost several hundred thousand pounds, Ferdinand was willing to spare no expense.

As for the education sector, that was even easier to handle. History had taught him that controlling the schools meant controlling public opinion. Mastering the next generation of the nation meant mastering the future of the country.

The top priority was to establish a university. Historically, Bulgaria’s first university—Sofia University—was established in 1888.

It was also this university that produced Bulgaria’s earliest socialists—the Scientific Society—and laid the foundation for the proletarian revolution.

Ferdinand’s efficiency was enough to make the cabinet sweat. Knowing that the national treasury was empty, he did not go to the Stam cabinet.

On January 10, 1888, just as the cabinet had clarified the division of responsibilities, Ferdinand, in his capacity as Grand Duke of Bulgaria, issued the second decree: “Issuance of 5 Million Leva Education Bonds” (Note: 1 Leva = 1 Franc = 0.2903225 grams of gold).

The nation was shocked. Due to the civil war, Bulgaria’s fiscal revenue in 1887 was less than 40 million leva.

This move quickly received strong support from the education sector and the enlightened bourgeoisie. Although the interest was only slightly higher than bank deposits and the term was as long as ten years, everyone generously contributed, selling half of the bonds in just one month.

The shrewd Ferdinand, of course, knew how to maximize benefits. Not only did he publicly subscribe to 300,000 leva, but he also openly invited the media to supervise the use of these funds, greatly increasing his prestige.

He had no intention of embezzling education funds. Even if the media supervision was strict, the ones who would suffer would only be the people below. If he could catch a few corrupt officials, he wouldn’t mind.

With the money in hand, besides paying the backlog of teachers’ salaries, he allocated funds to build Bulgaria’s first university—Bulgaria University.

The remaining funds had not been touched yet. The cabinet had tried several times to divert them, but Ferdinand had blocked them with the excuse of designated funds for designated purposes.

This frustrated Stam, who followed Ferdinand’s example and issued bonds. However, his appetite was not as small as Ferdinand’s. The funds required for the Five-Year Plan were astronomical for the government.

He started with a 50 million leva railway bond, followed by a 30 million leva industrial bond.

The Bulgarians were not that wealthy, and the government’s credibility was not that high. For the education bonds of several million leva, they could muster some patriotism and grit their teeth to buy them.

But for the government’s industrial and railway bonds, they were powerless. Only a few hundred thousand leva were sold, and the matter ended awkwardly.

Ferdinand did not worry about the cabinet’s troubles. He was still fretting over the selection of the first president of the university. It had to be someone with high prestige who could command the respect of the education sector.

Among the figures in Bulgaria’s education sector, there was no one who was universally respected. Like the country itself, the capable returnees were still young and lacked the necessary seniority. The older generation was conservative in thought, lacked international vision, and could not keep up with the times.

Unable to find a suitable candidate, Ferdinand turned his gaze to the Ministry of Education.

“Minister Chikov, what are your thoughts on the president of Bulgaria University?” Ferdinand asked.

“Your Highness, the education sector is in an uproar. There are three people qualified for nomination, but their abilities are hardly convincing!” Minister of Education Chikov said with a headache.

Ferdinand understood. Insufficient ability was a minor issue; the key was that all three were opponents of the Stam cabinet. They were old educators, pro-Russian, and the cabinet would definitely block their appointment.

“What about others? We must find a suitable candidate. We can’t drag this on. The school is still an empty shell. What will we do then? You go back and think it over!” Ferdinand shifted the pressure to Chikov.

This put Chikov in a difficult position. If he chose one of the three, how would he explain it to the cabinet? If he chose someone else, how would he gain the trust of the education sector?

Suddenly, Chikov’s eyes lit up as he thought of a suitable candidate. Why not let the king take the position? Once this idea came to mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

First, the cabinet wouldn’t oppose it, and it could suppress the opposition. Second, the education sector could be appeased. At least, they wouldn’t have to worry about education funds in the future. This reason alone was enough to make the three old stubborn men withdraw.

On his way back, Chikov thought more and more about the idea. If Ferdinand became the university president, the presence of the Ministry of Education would surely be greatly enhanced. When requesting funds, the king could take the lead, and he wouldn’t have to bear the cabinet’s pressure.

No, this was too big a matter for him to decide alone. He might as well contact the education sector and let them take the lead. Whoever opposed could be responsible for solving the education funding problem!

As Chikov had expected, after the news was released, the heated debates in the education sector stopped immediately.

For the sake of everyone’s interests, or for their own rice bowls, to be able to receive their salaries on time, almost all teachers publicly expressed their support for Ferdinand becoming the president.

This left Ferdinand stunned. So, he was the universally respected one. He had thought it impossible. As an outsider, having been on the throne for only half a year and having done nothing significant, how could he gain everyone’s support?

Even though Chikov repeatedly assured him, Ferdinand remained unconvinced. He didn’t want to become president only to be cursed by those educators.

“Karl, send someone to investigate what’s going on,” Ferdinand decided to get to the bottom of it.

“Your Highness, it’s actually quite simple,” Karl said calmly.

“Oh, tell me about it,” Ferdinand said.

Chapter 19: Raising Taxes

“Your Highness, educators need to eat too! Have you noticed that ever since Bulgaria gained independence, education funding has never been sufficient? Every government has been dragging its feet on payments, and you just happened to make up for the back pay recently.”

Ferdinand exclaimed, “That’s an eye-opener! So they’ve set their sights on me.”

“But it actually suits my purposes. Schools are usually hard to interfere with, but now that I’m the official principal, it’ll be much easier to intervene.”

Having figured out the reason, Ferdinand naturally didn’t continue to refuse. However, he also knew that he was only a figurehead principal and couldn’t devote all his energy to the school. The day-to-day management would still have to be handled by others.

“Karl, call Chikov back and tell him I’ve agreed,” Ferdinand said with a smile.

“Yes, Your Highness!” Karl replied before leaving the room.

Moments later, Chikov entered and greeted Ferdinand.

“Alright, for God’s sake, I’ve agreed to be the principal. But the rest of the faculty and staff will be up to your Ministry of Education. Also, you need to prepare for the admissions in the second half of the year!” Ferdinand said earnestly.

“Yes, Your Highness, the Ministry of Education will do its utmost, I swear to God!” Chikov promised.

Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction and smiled. “Well, tell me about your plans?”

Chikov thought for a moment and said, “Your Highness, you know that Bulgaria is establishing a university for the first time and lacks relevant experience. The Ministry of Education plans to hire management talent and some teachers from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German Empire!”

Ferdinand pondered for a moment, thinking to himself, “It seems the Liberal Party has a good impression of the Triple Alliance! Russia’s education isn’t that great, so it’s understandable to overlook them; but England and France weren’t even mentioned—that’s not a good sign!”

Though he thought this, Ferdinand wasn’t naive and naturally didn’t say it outright. That would be politically unwise.

“Submit your plans to me as soon as possible, along with the departmental divisions and enrollment numbers for the University of Bulgaria!” Ferdinand said to Chikov.

“Yes, Your Highness!” Chikov replied firmly.

“Alright, get to work!” Ferdinand said, looking at the spirited Chikov.

“Yes,” Chikov replied before leaving the palace.

Meanwhile, in the government building in Sofia, a heated argument was underway. Stambolov shook his head in frustration and slammed his fist on the table.

“For God’s sake, stop arguing! It’s all about the damned money. No matter how much you argue, you won’t conjure money out of thin air!”

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Stambolov continued, “You all know Bulgaria’s financial situation. If we do nothing, we can achieve a balanced budget, but is that possible?”

“If we don’t do anything, what’s the point of us being here? Instead of fighting over the budget, why don’t you think about how to get more money?”

“How about we consider borrowing from foreign banks?” suggested Wilson, the Minister of Industry.

“No, bankers aren’t philanthropists. They’ll take advantage of the situation, and the cost will be enormous. Besides, the funding gap is so large, what can we use as collateral?” Michael, the Minister of Economy, objected.

“Then let’s raise taxes!” proposed Jonas, the Minister of the Interior.

“That’s absolutely not an option! The domestic economy is in a slump, and the capitalists are having a hard time too!” Stambolov opposed.

He was well aware that the Liberal Party had been supported by the capitalists to come to power. Raising taxes on them now would be cutting off their own lifeline.

“Prime Minister, I know the capitalists are having a hard time, but I’m suggesting we tax the farmers!” Jonas explained.

“This…” Everyone fell silent, no one directly opposing.

After a moment, Stambolov said, “Why don’t we hold a ministerial meeting to discuss this?”

“Good!” everyone agreed.

Everyone knew that raising taxes wasn’t a good thing and would inevitably draw criticism. The farming class didn’t have much influence, but the feudal landlords, though weak, weren’t pushovers.

Sure enough, it was a case of “where you stand depends on where you sit.” Faced with the financial crisis, just like in history, the knife was turned toward the farmers.

Historically, Bulgaria had increased the burden on farmers to develop industry. Land consolidation intensified, and many farmers went bankrupt, losing their land and being forced to move to the cities to make a living.

Families being torn apart was inevitable, and blood and tears were shed across Bulgaria. Although the influx of labor into the cities drove industrial development, the newly formed working class did not benefit from it. They worked 14 to 16 hours a day but received less than half the wages they deserved.

This laid the foundation for the development of communism. Later, the failure in the World War I further exacerbated domestic contradictions, ultimately leading to a proletarian revolution.

Ferdinand, knowing the causes and consequences, naturally had to think twice. Although he urgently needed to develop industry, he was still worried that his butterfly effect might lead to adverse consequences and decided to intervene to a limited extent.

The cabinet’s proposed tax increase bill was directly vetoed by Ferdinand. He had made up his mind that, no matter what, he wouldn’t let history repeat itself with massive farmer bankruptcies.

“Your Highness, the government is in a financial crisis, and we have no choice but to take this measure!” Stambolov said discontentedly.

“I know! But for God’s sake, I can’t agree to it! Do you know that once this bill passes, thousands of families will go bankrupt, families will be torn apart, and cries will drown out all of Bulgaria!” Ferdinand said righteously.

“No, Your Highness. It won’t be as bad as you imagine. The farmers’ lives will be harder in the coming days, but for the development of Bulgaria, we have to sacrifice them. Besides, they can become workers; it won’t be as bad as you say!” Stambolov said angrily.

Ferdinand sneered, “Is that so? Don’t take me for a fool. If we follow your new tax law, next will be massive land consolidation, and many farmers will go bankrupt. Don’t tell me Bulgaria can provide so many jobs?”

“At that time, many farmers will lose their livelihoods, and then the capitalists can continue to cut wages and force workers to work overtime without restraint. Is that right, Stambolov, my prime minister?”

“Remember, you are the prime minister of Bulgaria, not the prime minister of the bourgeoisie! A qualified government must consider the interests of the majority, or we will face endless enemies. A group of people on the verge of starvation will demand justice with their lives!”

Chapter 20: The Fuse

Ferdinand, with an air of righteousness, blocked the cabinet’s reckless bill.

What a joke. If it happened once, it would happen again. Bulgaria’s fiscal deficit wasn’t just a few million, but hundreds of millions of leva. If all of it were shifted onto the farmers, Ferdinand could already imagine countless bankrupt farmers rising in revolt, overthrowing the government.

As for falling out with the cabinet over this, Ferdinand couldn’t care less. Between two evils, he chose the lesser one. Compared to a peasant uprising, the cabinet was clearly the softer target.

Ferdinand was quite familiar with the Stamov cabinet. Politically, their methods were crude, amateurish even. Dealing with them, Ferdinand had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

Outside the palace, Minister of Economy Michael worriedly said, “Prime Minister, the Grand Duke has vetoed the tax increase bill. What do we do now?”

“What do we do? Since that’s the case, we don’t need to be polite with him. Ferdinand’s throne was put there by us. If worst comes to worst, we can replace him!” Minister of the Interior Jonas angrily declared.

“What!” Everyone’s expressions changed.

Stamov-Bolov angrily retorted, “God! Jonas, you idiot, shut your mouth! Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think this is child’s play, that we can just swap people out? Do you want to get us all killed?”

Realizing he had made a blunder, Jonas turned pale. He knew that if word of today’s events got out, he was finished. The last Grand Duke’s affair had just passed, and Sofia had been awash with blood. He looked desperately at the others.

Wilson, who usually got along well with Jonas, stepped in to smooth things over. “Prime Minister, don’t mind that fool Jonas. What should we do next?”

After a moment of silence, Stamov said, “According to Bulgarian law, we can still convene the National Assembly. As long as the assembly passes it, the Grand Duke won’t jump out to veto it again, right?”

Everyone was taken aback, their expressions shifting slightly before they nodded. They all knew that bypassing the king and directly using the assembly to pass the bill was tantamount to sidelining the king.

This cabinet would never gain Ferdinand’s support again. There would surely be endless trouble ahead.

Sure enough, as Ferdinand had anticipated, the Stamov cabinet did not back down. After Ferdinand’s veto, they directly convened the National Assembly.

They planned to rely on the Liberal Party’s advantage in the National Assembly to force through the tax increase bill and simultaneously strike at Ferdinand’s prestige.

On April 28, 1888, Bulgaria convened the National Assembly once more. Stamov-Bolov, representing the cabinet, submitted the “Agricultural Tax Increase Bill” to the assembly.

However, Ferdinand, who had long been prepared, was not about to sit idly by. Before the assembly convened, news of his dispute with the cabinet had already spread.

Would the opposition party, having received the news, let the Stamov cabinet have their way? Ferdinand didn’t know.

But one thing was certain: public opinion was on his side. If the bill passed, the cabinet would undoubtedly be cursed to high heaven.

Knowing that today’s assembly would be lively, Ferdinand naturally did not attend the meeting. He stayed behind the scenes to watch the show. If he jumped out directly, it would be beneath his dignity.

Looking at the noisy assembly, Stamov felt inexplicably irritated. To rise from a shoemaker’s son to become the prime minister of a country, he was no fool.

Increasing agricultural taxes would surely invite criticism, but he had prepared for that in advance. For the sake of Bulgaria’s industrialization, bearing a little infamy was nothing to Stamov.

But looking at the chaotic assembly, he doubted whether these people could lead Bulgaria to revival.

Stamov, who also served as the speaker, angrily spoke up, “Silence! Enough chatter. Let’s proceed directly to the vote!”

Unexpectedly, this move provoked strong dissatisfaction from the Conservative Party and democratic figures. According to normal procedures, there should be a debate before the bill’s vote.

In a bad mood, Stamov had skipped this step entirely. After submitting the bill for clarification, he proceeded directly to the vote, depriving them of their right to speak.

Enraged Conservative Party members withdrew from the vote in protest.

As expected, the Liberal Party occupied seven-tenths of the assembly seats, so passing the resolution was not a problem.

Now, the largest opposition in the assembly, the Conservative Party members, had withdrawn from the vote. Shouldn’t it pass with a high vote?

The result, however, was unexpected and left the Conservative Party members regretting their decision. Twenty-six votes in favor, fifty-five abstentions, and eighteen against. The resolution passed.

The scene left the Stamov cabinet embarrassed. It turned out they were so unpopular, with support below thirty percent. If the Conservative Party hadn’t withdrawn, the Liberal Party-controlled assembly would have rejected their proposal today.

One could imagine that a political struggle centered around the cabinet was about to unfold.

If Ferdinand had been there, he could have clearly told Stamov that he was overthinking it.

Most Bulgarian assembly members were students who had studied abroad. Young and impetuous, they were easily swayed by public opinion.

Moreover, a large portion came from feudal landlord families. Their families certainly wouldn’t tell them how their land was acquired. Upon hearing about the tax increase, their first reaction was that their own interests were being harmed.

Opposing the proposal was merely instinctive, not out of genuine dissatisfaction with the cabinet.

Upon receiving the results, Ferdinand knew that the Stamov cabinet was about to make a foolish move. This might just be the fuse for a police state.

Since he couldn’t stop it, Ferdinand naturally went with the flow, striving to maximize his interests.

At the very least, Ferdinand’s intelligence organization had already begun to act. They had secretly acquired several newspapers, which were now shouting slogans for Ferdinand.

Before anyone could react, they had boosted his reputation. At least in the hearts of most citizens, Ferdinand, who opposed excessive taxation, was a benevolent king.

Ferdinand’s gaze now extended beyond Sofia, into the vast countryside.

As early as last year, Ferdinand had sent people to the Austro-Hungarian Empire to invite agricultural experts. He had also ordered the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct a preliminary survey.

His agricultural development plan was drawn up by these experts. To ensure smooth implementation, Ferdinand had even lowered the standards.

A thousand years ago, during the Warring States period, farmers had already recognized the use of fertilizers to improve soil. Early farmers applied compost and animal manure to their fields.

Nineteenth-century scientists discovered the importance of nitrogen. Farmers began purchasing sodium nitrate found in natural deposits in Chile, applying it to their own fields.

However, Bulgarian agriculture as a whole was still behind the times. The use of chemical fertilizers was irrational, and the yield per acre was less than two-thirds of that in Western Europe.

Irrigation projects were a mess, basically relying on the heavens for food. If Bulgaria didn’t have favorable climate conditions and vast, sparsely populated land, it would probably still be struggling to feed itself.

Ferdinand was no longer a naive youth. He didn’t plan to solve all problems at once. He intended to start with the easiest tasks.

First, he had the agricultural experts compile reasonable methods for using fertilizers. Then, he handed them over to the Ministry of Agriculture to promote. After achieving some results, they would continue to delve deeper.

Chapter 21: The University

Ferdinand’s agricultural reform plan did not harm the interests of the landlord class, so it received the support of the enlightened landlords. Others mostly watched from the sidelines, making the promotion in rural areas quite smooth.

Seeing the progress, Ferdinand was very satisfied. As long as results could be achieved this year, further progress could be made next year.

As Ferdinand’s understanding of Bulgaria deepened, he decided not to undertake water conservancy projects before gaining executive power.

The Bulgarian peasant class was already living in difficult conditions and could not bear the burden of water conservancy projects.

Some might say that the government could fund it or have the landlord class pay. In reality, this was impossible. The Bulgarian finances could not afford it.

The Bulgarian landlord class, before the large-scale land consolidation, had not yet adopted mechanized production on a large scale and was not as wealthy as imagined.

Unlike the Qing Dynasty, where a hundred or two hundred mu of land made one a landlord, and a thousand mu of good land made one a great landlord, in Bulgaria, it was common for an ordinary peasant family to have several hundred mu of land. Without tens of thousands of mu, one would not dare to call themselves a landlord.

With vast land and sparse population, there was no concept of ecological protection in this era. As long as one was willing, they could continue to reclaim wasteland.

This was also why the Stamov cabinet dared to increase taxes. Even if peasants went bankrupt, they could run to the mountains to continue reclaiming land, and the government could not manage them.

Unless driven to desperation, peasants would not rebel. Historically, Bulgaria had increased agricultural taxes multiple times to develop industry, but peasant uprisings rarely occurred.

Understanding the current state of Bulgarian agriculture, Ferdinand was temporarily at ease. The current agricultural output, while satisfying domestic demand, was also exported abroad. The short-term demand for increased production was not very urgent.

In June, the simple Bulgarian university was completed. As for decoration, in that era, who was so picky? A cement floor and a layer of lime on the walls were enough.

Historically, Sofia University was also established this year, funded by the generous donations of the brothers Hristo Georgiev and Evlogi Georgiev. The main building was completed in 1934.

Now, of course, it was not the same. Bulgaria’s resources were limited. Due to Ferdinand’s intervention, the Bulgarian government took the lead, and with the strong support of all sectors of society, a simple university was built in just a few months from a manor in the eastern suburbs of the city. The conditions were probably comparable to rural elementary schools from two or three decades ago.

Ferdinand had to focus his energy on the school. Historically, Sofia University had the title of “Red Cradle,” and he could not afford to ignore it.

Although he was not very familiar with the details of the Bulgarian revolution, Ferdinand remembered one thing: a large number of unemployed Sofia University graduates laid the foundation for the spread of revolution.

Ferdinand decided to nip it in the bud and directly implement a policy of guaranteed job placement. If everyone had a job, there would be no time to stir up revolution!

On July 2, 1888, Ferdinand convened a school management meeting to determine the number of students to be admitted in the first batch and the division of departments.

“Minister, is the Grand Duke really coming to the meeting?” Aleksey Konstantinov asked in surprise (a famous Bulgarian writer, currently a literature teacher at the Bulgarian University).

Others also pricked up their ears, showing interest. Although those present were all luminaries in the education sector, the highest officials they usually interacted with were from the Ministry of Education.

They had no concept of Ferdinand, this high-spec version of the principal. When they nominated him, it was just to secure funding.

“Of course, the Grand Duke attaches great importance to education. Isn’t there still half an hour before it starts? Be patient and wait!” Chikov said with a smile.

…

After a few polite words, Ferdinand waved his hand and said, “Alright, let’s begin the meeting!”

“Very well, Your Highness! Then we from the Ministry of Education will start!” Chikov said in a good mood.

“The admission examination for this session has been prepared by the Ministry of Education three months ago. The preparations are complete. Now, the main task is to determine the number of students to be admitted and the number of students for each major!” Chikov finished concisely.

Ferdinand appreciated his pragmatic work attitude, without long speeches and no bureaucratic style.

“Hmm, now everyone can express their opinions!” Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction.

“The Department of Mechanical Engineering needs two hundred people! Everyone knows that Bulgaria is undergoing industrialization and is in urgent need of such talents!” The head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, Allen, spoke first.

No one spoke, obviously acknowledging Allen’s reasoning, but it involved the competition for quotas, so no one spoke. Ferdinand nodded, signaling his attendant to take notes.

“The Department of Literature needs three hundred people. Bulgaria has been enslaved by the Ottoman Empire for a long time and urgently needs to liberate its thoughts and restore traditional culture. This requires a large number of people. We also urgently need excellent literary works to enrich the spiritual life of the people!” Aleksey followed closely.

Next, the Department of History…

Department of Physics…

Department of Chemistry…

Department of Architecture…

…

The small Bulgarian University had more than thirty departments, and the number of students to be admitted added up to over five thousand.

Ferdinand listened to everyone with a smile throughout. Frankly, was five thousand a lot? In Ferdinand’s view, it was not much at all, but that depended on the place. In later times, any university would have tens of thousands of students.

But now, that was simply impossible. It was estimated that the number of applicants for the first batch in Bulgaria might not even reach five thousand.

Ferdinand looked at Chikov and asked, “My minister, what is your ministry’s estimate of the number of applicants for the first batch of Bulgarian University?”

“In response to Your Highness, through preliminary investigations, the total number of eligible applicants is expected to fluctuate between 4,500 and 5,200!” Chikov said cautiously.

Ferdinand said cautiously, “Hmm! Everyone here is an elite in Bulgarian education, and now everyone understands the situation. Based on the current situation, everyone knows that we cannot meet everyone’s demands!”

“So, for the better development of Bulgaria, many majors must make sacrifices!”

Everyone’s expressions changed drastically. In fact, they were also shocked by this data. How many students did the University of Vienna have? Less than three thousand, right? If the Bulgarian University really admitted five thousand students at once, they would probably become a laughingstock in the education sector.

The number must be reduced, but which major to reduce more and which to reduce less was a problem!

Seeing that everyone was still in thought, Ferdinand spoke again, “Everyone knows that Bulgaria is establishing a university for national development, so the quality of university students must be guaranteed. Therefore, the number of students admitted in the first batch should be better to have fewer but better, and in principle, it will not exceed five hundred!”

“In reality, it will be even fewer. The current number of students admitted to the University of Vienna is no more than this, and the number at Oxford University is even smaller! Internationally renowned universities have already set a good example for us!”

Chapter 22: Enrollment

“His Highness the Grand Duke is correct. Our Bulgarian University has just been established, and we must ensure the quality of our students! In fact, the faculty’s capabilities also limit the number of students we can admit. The Ministry of Education estimates that the first cohort will be around three to five hundred students,” Chikov added, twisting the knife in their hearts.

“We understand the situation, and I agree with reducing the numbers, but this is less than one-tenth of the original plan!” the history department representative, Akogo, said in frustration.

“No, sir, you’re mistaken. It’s not one-tenth. To conserve educational resources, some majors may not see much change in numbers, while many others will be outright canceled!” Chikov dropped the harsh truth.

“What? How can this be?” The crowd was shocked.

“Minister, this…”

Seeing the situation spiraling, Ferdinand waved his hand and said, “Gentlemen, let’s not make things difficult for our minister. He doesn’t want to do this either, but what can he do? We’re poor! I can answer this question for him and give you an explanation!”

“This is a critical moment for Bulgaria’s development. All resources must be devoted to industrialization. Therefore, Bulgarian University, at this stage, will serve industrialization!”

“For Bulgaria, everyone must make sacrifices. You are all Bulgaria’s elite. Tell me, can you make sacrifices for this country?” Ferdinand demanded.

The crowd responded unevenly:

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

…

Ferdinand was satisfied with their reaction. It seemed everyone had some pride, at least on the surface, they were all patriots.

As for which specific majors to cut, Ferdinand didn’t interfere, leaving it entirely to the Ministry of Education.

He only gave the Ministry of Education one principle: all science and engineering majors would be retained, with government funding covering tuition and fees, and graduates would be guaranteed job placements.

As for liberal arts majors, there would be no funding. All expenses would have to be covered by the schools themselves. No financial allocations, including private donations or other income, would go to liberal arts. The state would take no responsibility for their employment.

In essence, he was telling the Ministry of Education to cut liberal arts departments or find their own funding.

The reason was simple: most liberal arts graduates from Bulgarian universities were impractical and couldn’t find jobs.

These unemployed individuals, in retaliation against society, either joined revolutionary parties or became anarchists. Later, when the Soviet Union exported revolution, they became the successors of communism.

To secure his position, Ferdinand naturally had to eliminate these potential threats in advance. Without their involvement, Soviet infiltration into Bulgaria would be nearly impossible.

The final outcome was no surprise to Ferdinand. The education sector chose to compromise. Liberal arts majors were mostly reduced to electives, though history and language courses luckily became mandatory, without separate admissions.

This result was acceptable to everyone. At least the liberal arts majors were preserved, and everyone kept their jobs.

Ferdinand was also pleased with this outcome. Spending a little money to keep these scholars in school was better than having them cause trouble.

The real losers were the students of Bulgarian University. The freedom of university life in later generations was something they would never experience.

The packed schedule made even Ferdinand’s scalp tingle. They were treated like high school seniors in later years, with no weekends—truly the most miserable university students in the world.

Ignoring Ferdinand’s schadenfreude, the news from Bulgarian University immediately caused a nationwide sensation.

Everyone was focused on the university’s twelve majors, all in science and engineering, which was astonishing.

The media was abuzz with debates. Don’t look at those people who had previously fought tooth and nail to preserve liberal arts majors for their own interests.

Now, they had all transformed into patriots, claiming it was all for Bulgaria’s development, to conserve educational resources, and that they had voluntarily made this decision.

They even dared to swear to God that they had not a single selfish motive, that it was all for the country and the people, and that they had voluntarily made sacrifices.

Ferdinand was almost moved by their patriotism. If their benefits weren’t preserved, the scene would probably be different now.

Bulgaria has a continental climate with distinct seasons. The north is influenced by the Black Sea, and the south by the Mediterranean.

The summer temperatures weren’t very high. Students from all over the country arrived full of vigor and confidence, each with an air of “if not me, then who?”

The streets and alleys of Sofia were filled with their presence. To accommodate this major exam, several hotels under Ferdinand’s ownership had opened early.

At the Hilton Hotel in the east of the city, a group of students were discussing.

“Lam, do you know what the exam will cover?” Andrea asked.

“Andrea, isn’t that obvious? How could I know? But I’ve heard the exam will be very strict. If you don’t study hard, failing will be embarrassing!” Lam replied.

“Lam, you’re still so boring. This is Sofia, our capital, Bulgaria’s largest city. Don’t you want to go see it?” Andrea said.

“Andrea, I think Lam is right. We should study hard. I’ve heard the admission numbers are very low. If we’re careless and get eliminated, how will we face our families?” Annabelle added.

“Oh, God, you’re both right! We’ll study, but we don’t know what’s on the exam. How can we study? A bunch of boring people!” Andrea exclaimed.

Such small episodes were happening all over Bulgaria. Those who managed to graduate from high school mostly came from decent families. In those days, education was not something ordinary families could afford.

Coming to Sofia from all over the country, some couldn’t resist going out to explore, which also boosted Sofia’s economy. However, most chose to study.

University students in Bulgaria had always been associated with prestige. Previously, the only way to attend university was to study abroad.

The enormous expense could cripple even a wealthy family. The number of people who could study abroad each year was few and far between, mostly out of reach.

This exam was an opportunity for many. Don’t be fooled by their casual talk; in reality, almost everyone was working hard.

As the exam date approached, influenced by his past life, Ferdinand couldn’t help but think of selling study materials to make a profit.

In the end, he restrained himself. He was no longer that Taobao merchant selling pirated goods. How much could a few thousand sets of materials earn? A few thousand leva or a few tens of thousands?

It wasn’t even as much as he earned in a day now. If it affected the fairness of the exam and selected a bunch of incompetent students, that would be trouble.

The first graduates would be his future backbone, the future leaders of various industries in Bulgaria.

Although he dismissed the idea, he couldn’t help but think that future Bulgarian students would surely be buried under study materials. Ferdinand’s morals were always low when faced with profit.

Chapter 23: Prelude

On August 2, 1888, the first entrance examination of Bulgarian University grandly commenced, marking the beginning of Bulgaria’s college entrance examination history.

The examination lasted three days, with a wide range of subjects covering various fields. However, professional subject scores held the primary position, accounting for eighty percent of the total score. If a candidate’s professional subject score was in the top three, they would be admitted even if they scored zero in other subjects.

Of course, the candidates did not know yet that after three days of intense examination, they would all look like frostbitten eggplants, their confidence completely shattered.

Sofia seemed to have become lively, with people everywhere complaining about the difficulty of the examination questions. Many regretted not accumulating enough knowledge in their daily lives.

On August 15, the entrance of Bulgarian University was already crowded with people, all anxiously waiting for the final results.

On the other hand, they were fortunate not to worry about choosing a major or fearing that a wrong choice would affect their future development. The school would choose the most suitable major for them and guarantee job placement.

As for personal interests and hobbies, could they be eaten? Sorry, this was the 19th century, and no one had heard of such creatures.

Ferdinand was quite satisfied with the results of this enrollment. Although there were many shortcomings, it was the first time, and overall, it went smoothly. At least no one had caused any fraud.

To commemorate his own academic career, Ferdinand chose September 1 as the opening date, a familiar day.

The event began with Ferdinand’s speech, reviewing Bulgarian history… (omitted one hundred thousand words, you can attend your own opening ceremony).

Amidst the cheers, four hundred and thirty-six students stepped into the halls of the university.

Looking at the vibrant students, Ferdinand was filled with emotion. These were his future team.

Recalling the packed schedule, Ferdinand thought maliciously, “Enjoy yourselves! Release your joy now! Tomorrow, you will discover how terrifying it is to attend university!”

Bulgarian University now adopted a closed military-style management, with up to twelve classes a day, plus self-study time.

From waking up at five-thirty in the morning to finishing school at ten-thirty at night, except for meal times and short breaks, everything was spent studying.

This was the study plan Ferdinand had devised based on his previous life’s senior high school schedule. Since it was the first time running a university, everyone lacked experience and followed the plan.

The management personnel were high-salary hires from Berlin’s military academies by the Ministry of Education, directly copying their management methods.

In this era, information transmission was slow, and the spring breeze of democracy and freedom had not yet arrived. Bulgaria was relatively conservative, adhering to the tradition of strict teachers producing outstanding students, which was adopted by the respected educators.

Just as Ferdinand returned to the palace, he received bad news—the peasant movement had begun.

Following the previous tax increase, the Stamov cabinet had made another blunder, passing a proposal in the National Assembly to restore the payment of the tithe in kind.

If the previous agricultural tax increase only harmed the interests of poor and rich farmers, the landlord class could still compensate for the loss through land annexation.

However, restoring the Ottoman-era tithe severely hindered the development of agricultural capitalism.

To a large extent, it harmed the interests of the landlord class, but the most fierce opposition came from medium and small landlords, as this meant government officials could launch new plunders against them.

They incited peasant protest movements, which began to spread rapidly throughout Bulgaria.

To Ferdinand’s relief, they were currently only holding rallies and demonstrations and had not yet evolved into a revolution.

This also strengthened his resolve to overthrow the cabinet. However, the Stamov cabinet had made significant contributions to his rise to power and had the merit of supporting him. Ferdinand needed a convincing reason to dismiss the cabinet.

Historically, it was not until 1894, when the Stamov cabinet had become universally despised, that the original host personally intervened and dismissed the cabinet.

Before that, Stambolov had always held great power. Although Ferdinand had used political means to some extent to divide Stambolov’s power and strengthen various departments, he was still powerless to change the fact that Stambolov controlled the cabinet.

Ferdinand had originally thought that he would have to wait for the next National Assembly election to successfully seize power. Unexpectedly, due to his butterfly effect, Bulgaria’s government financial crisis had worsened.

The cabinet, in order to successfully complete the Five-Year Plan, had become obsessed. To raise funds, various taxes and fees were constantly being imposed.

Ferdinand knew that a police terror regime was about to take shape. In just one year, the Bulgarian police force had increased by fifty percent.

Stamov-Bolov had also taken the liberty of forming a secret police force. Ferdinand’s intelligence organization had discovered over three hundred of them, and of course, they had also sent people to infiltrate.

If they did not act, it would be fine, but once they did, it would be earth-shattering. Ferdinand took the opportunity to insert his own agenda, such as anarchists, future leaders of revolutionary parties, and radicalists.

He planned to use others to kill his enemies, solving future problems once and for all, making the most of the Stamov cabinet.

…

“Your Highness, we have everything set up. The fish have taken the bait!” said Frhu, the head of the intelligence organization.

Ferdinand nodded satisfactorily and said, “Then prepare to reel them in.”

…

Michael urgently knocked on the prime minister’s office door and said, “Prime Minister, something terrible has happened!”

“Don’t be anxious, speak slowly. God is still watching, and the sky won’t fall,” Stambolov said leisurely, sipping his tea.

“Oh, damn it! My Prime Minister, the sky is about to fall. After hearing this news, I don’t think you’ll be in the mood for tea anymore!” Michael said anxiously.

“Oh, what could make my minister so pale with fright? Let me guess, has the Ottoman Empire attacked, or is Serbia causing trouble again?” Stambolov joked lightly.

“Oh, God! Prime Minister, don’t you read the newspapers? Our secret treaties with England and Austria-Hungary have been exposed. Public opinion is calling for the government’s head!” Michael said angrily.

With a “bang,” Stambolov’s hand shook, and the teacup fell to the ground.

He exclaimed, “What? How is this possible? Only a few high-ranking officials know about this!”

“Yes, no more than five people on our side know the contents of the secret treaty! But now the treaty has been published in the newspapers, exactly the same, not a single punctuation mark changed!” Michael said worriedly.

“Could there be a problem on the British and Austrian-Hungarian side? It shouldn’t be, it’s unlikely that both sides leaked at the same time! On our side, no more than ten people know about the treaty, and only a few in the cabinet know the contents. Even the Grand Duke doesn’t know the specific agreement. Who could have leaked it?” Stambolov said puzzledly.

Chapter 24: The Police Government

“Prime Minister, how the leak happened is no longer important. The key now is how to handle the aftermath,” Michael said urgently.

“Let me think!” Stamov-Bolov paced a few steps before speaking calmly.

A moment later, the office door was knocked on again. This time, it was Jonas, Sovereign, and Wilson who arrived together.

Stamov-Bolov coldly swept his gaze over the three, as if trying to identify the leaker, then withdrew his gaze. He asked, “You all know?”

The three nodded in acknowledgment.

“Prime Minister, this matter is very thorny. Our mortgage loan deal has been exposed, and domestic public opinion is very unfavorable toward us!” Jonas said, his tone somewhat subdued.

As the Minister of the Interior, monitoring domestic public opinion was Jonas’s responsibility, and now his troubles had begun.

“Not only that, but within the government, many people are also dissatisfied with this matter. Just now, on my way here, I encountered Chikov. He hopes our cabinet will clarify the situation!” Wilson added.

“I know! Mortgaging tariff and road rights was a decision our cabinet made privately, bypassing parliament. If it hadn’t been exposed, once the railway was completed and operational, it would have created a fait accompli. We could have relied on our political achievements to get through, but now, I’m afraid many in the party will oppose us!” Stamov-Bolov said, frustrated.

“That’s right, Prime Minister. That was our initial plan. Now it’s impossible. The British and the Austro-Hungarian Empire won’t let us back out. Shouldn’t we activate the emergency plan?” Sovereign said, his voice filled with killing intent.

“Ah, God! Sovereign, are you crazy? The emergency plan is for times of crisis. We’re not at that point yet!” Wilson loudly objected.

“Mr. Wilson, now is the time of crisis. If this continues, the government’s credibility will be damaged. Now that the opposition party has a hold on us, they could launch a vote of no confidence at any time!” Jonas said.

“Shouldn’t we wait a little longer? This matter is too significant. Once we activate the plan, it will be like an avalanche. It will also intensify the contradictions, and then it will be a matter of life and death, with no chance for reconciliation,” Michael said, hesitating.

With two votes against and two in favor, the decision was left to Stamov-Bolov.

“Hmm, activate it! The situation has already spiraled out of our control. We can’t let it continue. Mr. Jonas, the next steps are up to your Ministry of the Interior!” Stamov-Bolov said firmly.

“Rest assured, Prime Minister. Everything is under our control!” Jonas said confidently.

“The military will remain neutral in this operation and can step in to suppress any rebellion if necessary!” Sovereign assured with confidence.

Stamov-Bolov nodded in satisfaction. As for Sovereign’s last remark, he had already filtered it out.

Joking aside, if the military were truly deployed, it would signal the start of another civil war. Regardless of victory or defeat, the cabinet would be the loser. Now that the Liberal Party was in power, a coup was no longer a suitable tool for them.

The opposition party did not receive any clarification or explanation from the government. Instead, the police came knocking. The leaders were arrested one after another, suffering a heavy blow.

Many newspapers were also shut down, and countless scholars were implicated. The bustling Sofia suddenly fell silent.

Literary inquisitions began, and white terror spread from Sofia to all of Bulgaria.

Prisons became overcrowded. In just half a month, more than ten thousand people were arrested in Bulgaria.

Among them were intellectuals, feudal landlords, workers, farmers, government officials, and even some members of parliament. The Stamov cabinet’s butcher’s knife had been raised high.

The constitution was openly trampled upon, and the law’s authority was swept away. On September 15th, the Stamov cabinet declared the Conservative Party an illegal political party and ordered its dissolution.

In reality, the Conservative Party was already in disarray, with its core members mostly in prison. Although everyone was filled with anger, they were powerless against the tyranny.

From now on, Bulgaria’s days of freedom were over. Everyone had to be careful with their words. If the secret police caught wind of anything, the prison doors would open wide for you.

Ferdinand was on the sidelines, fanning the flames. Such a massive purge was a rare opportunity. Moreover, the Stamov cabinet had willingly stepped forward to take the blame and absorb the hatred.

If he didn’t take advantage of this, how could he justify the cabinet’s selfless dedication? Ferdinand admitted that Stamov-Bolov was a true patriot who would stop at nothing for Bulgaria’s rise.

But politics is cruel, unrelated to justice, only to achieve the goal. The cabinet’s methods were somewhat radical, but for the sake of national development, it was understandable.

The biggest problem was that the cabinet held great power and wanted Grand Duke Ferdinand to be a rubber stamp. Since they were blocking his path, they naturally had to be kicked aside.

The struggle for power allowed no retreat. Previously, Ferdinand had not been stingy with olive branches to Stamov, but what was the result?

If Stamov-Bolov were truly exceptionally capable, with superior political acumen and outstanding governance skills, comparable to the Iron Chancellor, Ferdinand might have been able to tolerate him. Unfortunately, he was not.

Thus, with Ferdinand’s covert assistance, the police’s efficiency was unprecedentedly high. Large numbers of anarchists, revolutionaries, and anti-government activists were exposed and arrested.

Ferdinand clearly understood:

The main problem with modern Bulgaria was not a lack of democracy or insufficient freedom. On the contrary, Bulgaria’s current democracy had already exceeded actual needs, and freedom had surpassed necessary levels…

Bulgaria was located on the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by strong enemies. The most important thing at this stage was to concentrate on development. Only when the country was strong could it talk about freedom and democracy!

At the same time, nationalism in the Balkan region was too strong, to the point where every Bulgarian had their own political ideas and couldn’t help but contribute to the country’s development. This led to meddling in national politics and development strategies, blindly rejecting foreign influence!

The two Balkan Wars in history were proof that strong nationalism could create a powerful army. Similarly, it also led to diplomatic isolation, with not a single ally to be found in the surrounding areas!

Opening the history books, one would know that Bulgaria had never formed a clear, long-term, and constructive strategic goal.

This group of politicians did this when they came to power, that group did that when they came to power. Who to choose as enemies, who to choose as allies?

Unfortunately, Bulgarians had never figured it out, ultimately leading to being surrounded and attacked. Then, driven by nationalism, they joined the fire of the World War I, only to end up in a miserable state.

Chapter 25: Conspiracy

“Useless! They can’t even stand up straight!” Ferdinand remarked about the opposition party.

Under the government’s tyrannical rule, the opposition party wasted their limited strength on violent assassinations instead of organizing the masses to overthrow the government. Violence only breeds more violence, stirring up public resentment.

In 1888, the people of Sofia mostly sympathized with the opposition party and expressed dissatisfaction with the government. But by 1889, public opinion had shifted—everyone was now united in their disdain.

The enraged Stamov cabinet declared martial law once again. The secret police expanded rapidly, spreading across the country.

With power came corruption. The hastily expanded secret police became a mixed bag—some abused their authority, sought revenge, and oppressed the people, stirring up widespread anger.

“What do we do now? Stamov’s dogs are running wild, arresting people everywhere. If this continues, we’ll be exposed sooner or later!” Petko Karavelov, one of the pro-Russian leaders, exclaimed.

“Maybe we should launch a coup!” Major Panitsa, a Conservative Party supporter in the military, suggested.

“No, the government may be tyrannical, but the Liberal Party still controls the military. Our forces are too weak!” Weber, a democrat, objected.

…

“Alright, we have no choice left. Stamov-Bolov wants our heads—we have to fight to the death! May God be with us!” Petko Karavelov made the final decision.

“Maybe the situation isn’t that bad?” Major Panitsa said, seeing the uneasy looks on everyone’s faces. He smirked. “Don’t forget, Sofia still has the Royal Guard! Our Grand Duke Ferdinand has been expanding it since his ascension—now it’s over three thousand strong!”

Weber coldly replied, “True, but what does that matter? Our Grand Duke seems uninterested in politics. Otherwise, why would he allow the cabinet to run amok?”

“The key issue is, why would he support us? Don’t forget, many of us here were his opponents!”

Major Panitsa confidently said, “Not necessarily. The cabinet has already clashed with the Grand Duke over raising agricultural taxes. Do you really think he bears no grudge?”

“Moreover, gentlemen, we once opposed Ferdinand’s succession as Grand Duke, making us enemies. But now that it’s a done deal, we can’t overthrow him, nor is there any need to oppose his rule!”

“The fundamental conflict between us no longer exists. Doesn’t the Grand Duke want real power? Then why expand the Royal Guard? Unless someone in Bulgaria is crazy enough to attack the palace?”

“Major Panitsa, you make a good point! But if Ferdinand takes power, won’t all our efforts be in vain? I don’t think he’ll let us take charge just because we eliminate the Liberal Party!” Weber retorted.

Milner Vlov of the People’s Party smiled. “No, our Grand Duke won’t have a choice! Don’t forget, in Bulgaria, aside from the Liberal Party, it’s our people who hold influence. Other political forces are still insignificant!”

“Your People’s Party may not care, but we Conservatives are the main force opposing Ferdinand. It’s no surprise we’re being suppressed!” Weber said sarcastically.

…

To Ferdinand, the opposition’s conspiracy was no secret. Their internal disputes quickly reached him through informants.

“Fools!” Ferdinand sneered.

At a time like this, they were still squabbling over power. A complete rabble.

Even if they wanted to divide the spoils, they should wait until after overthrowing the government. If they failed, they’d all be doomed. Yet here they were, already fighting for dominance. What would happen later?

If it weren’t for needing them to distract the government, Ferdinand would have already had them eliminated. A bunch of incompetents, yet they still thought they could outmaneuver him.

“The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend—they could still be my enemy.” This phrase perfectly described Bulgaria’s current situation.

The government, formed by the Liberal Party, and the opposition, made up of Conservatives and democrats, were both targets Ferdinand intended to eliminate.

“An innocent man with a treasure is guilty.”

Ferdinand had been biding his time, planning to use others as his blade. He wanted the Conservatives to provoke the Stamov cabinet, forcing them to launch a brutal crackdown.

The reason lay in the massive confiscated assets. The Stamov cabinet planned to use this money to complete the Five-Year Plan, which aligned with Ferdinand’s own intentions.

If he intervened now to set things right, he would have to return the confiscated funds. Then where would the money for the Five-Year Plan come from?

Ferdinand was no saint. He had no intention of paying this himself. The only solution was to seize this unexpected fortune. Only if all the property owners were dead could he legally confiscate the funds.

This would also clear away most of the obstacles to his reforms. Among those arrested were not only Conservatives, democrats, pro-Russians, and radical nationalists but also a large number of feudal landlords and agricultural capitalists.

Throughout history, every reform has required bloodshed. The privileged will never willingly let go of their interests. Bloodshed is inevitable. Now, the Stamov cabinet could take the blame, which was perfect.

In 1888, the Stamov cabinet’s purge greatly benefited Ferdinand, rapidly expanding his assets.

Ferdinand himself was principled. He did not act recklessly and strictly adhered to noble conduct, not bullying the weak.

However, his subordinates were another story. Franz colluded with the intelligence chief Frhu to frame competitors, incite conflicts, and seize assets. Many capitalists had their properties confiscated and ended up in prison without knowing why.

Then, they bought up high-quality assets from the government at low prices. Of course, many others did the same, but none were as decisive and thorough as they were.

The mass imprisonment of capitalists did not cause major market turmoil. Ferdinand’s industries played a crucial role.

“Your Highness, we have almost monopolized Bulgaria’s food processing industry. Only a few family-run workshops remain, which are negligible!” Weilian reported excitedly.

Ferdinand listened to Weilian’s report and nodded in satisfaction. “Good. But we must be careful not to let anyone discover that we’ve monopolized the market.”

Weilian confidently replied, “Don’t worry, Your Highness! We’re still using the old method—each local factory produces different brands. And on the surface, we occasionally create some friction to avoid suspicion!”

“Good. You must also keep an eye on the international market for any changes. Focus on technological innovation to enhance our competitiveness!” Ferdinand emphasized again.

Agricultural exports were currently Bulgaria’s largest export industry and the most promising sector for development.

Ferdinand had no choice but to prioritize it. Historically, agricultural exports had always been Bulgaria’s largest source of foreign exchange.

In 1911 alone, Bulgaria’s agricultural exports reached one hundred and twenty-nine million and four hundred thousand leva.

At that time, Bulgaria’s total exports were only one hundred and eighty-four million and six hundred thousand leva, with agricultural products accounting for 70%.

Now, with Bulgaria’s industry still underdeveloped, agricultural exports made up an even larger share—nine-tenths of total exports.

In 1888, Bulgaria’s annual agricultural exports were only over forty million leva, leaving vast room for growth.

And this was just for raw products. If they processed the agricultural products before exporting them, the figures could increase even further.

Chapter 26: Dark Currents Stir

“Your Highness, Volvo supermarkets have now spread across Bulgaria’s major cities. However, due to the poor domestic economy, sales are not high, and some smaller cities are barely breaking even. The estimated profits don’t even compare to a single Vienna!” Franz said, somewhat frustrated.

Ferdinand smiled and said, “Heh, Franz, don’t be impatient. We must be patient! Once Bulgaria’s economy develops, wealth will come rolling in!”

“Understood, Your Highness! Rest assured, I know what to do!” Franz immediately put away his negative emotions and gave Ferdinand his word.

“Good!” Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Habit.

Habit worriedly said, “Your Highness, the machinery factory has just begun production, but the problem is, we can’t find a market for our machines. Apart from our own procurement, there are hardly any orders!”

“Now, the people of Bulgaria are uneasy, and capitalists have no desire to invest in factories. The future outlook is not optimistic. Many have placed orders but haven’t come to pick up their goods! However, spare parts are selling well and are very popular!”

“Hmm! In that case, focus on the spare parts market! While international capital hasn’t noticed yet, seize the Balkan market first, then expand into Eastern Europe!” Ferdinand said after some thought.

Greed is indeed human nature!

Originally, Ferdinand had planned to promote Bulgaria’s industrial development, but now it had turned into state monopolism. No matter how it was dressed up, it couldn’t change the fact that he was profiting from it.

From a resource perspective, monopoly is indeed the most suitable choice for Bulgaria. Especially for heavy industry, resource-poor Bulgaria has no other choice!

“Understood, Your Highness! Rest assured, currently in the Balkans, we have no competitors!” Habit said confidently.

Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction, then said, “Hmm! Frhu, tell me about the current situation in Bulgaria!”

Frhu, full of confidence, said, “Yes, Your Highness!”

“Currently, Bulgaria appears calm on the surface. The Liberal Party has the upper hand and controls the government. Under the government’s pressure, the Conservative Party, the Democratic Party, and other political forces have been suppressed.”

“But this situation will soon be broken! The Liberal Party has pushed the opposition to the limit. For survival, they have no choice but to fight to the death!”

…

“Mr. Petko Karavelov, how are the negotiations with the Russians going?” Panitsa asked urgently.

“Rest assured, gentlemen. Saint Petersburg deeply despises Stamov’s dictatorial government. They have agreed to support us and have provided a one million lev interest-free loan!” Petko Karavelov said confidently.

Of course, he omitted the unimportant details, such as the new government having to fully align with Russia in diplomacy after the coup, and so on…

In Petko’s view, these were minor matters, unimportant, and not worth mentioning. Besides, he was pro-Russian and didn’t see anything wrong with it.

Those present were not fools; they knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. The Russians were not philanthropists; they must have their demands.

Now, everyone was in the same boat; no one could escape. First, they had to overthrow the government. As for what price they would have to pay, they couldn’t worry about that now.

“That’s great! With Russia’s support, our new government won’t have to worry about international isolation!” Panitsa said happily.

“Major Panitsa, you’re celebrating too early. Let’s wait until we succeed. Now, the dictatorial government’s hounds are everywhere, and one careless move could expose us!” Dragomir Tsvetkov (Democratic Party) said calmly.

“Perhaps we can carry out another major operation to divert their attention and create conditions for the uprising!” Vasil Radoslavov (the future famous leader of the Radoslavov faction).

“Oh, God! Are you planning another assassination? But now they’re like startled birds; there’s no chance at all!” Major Panitsa asked in surprise.

Vasil Radoslavov, full of confidence, said, “Major Panitsa, you’re right! But apart from assassination, do we have any other options?”

“The cabinet members are like turtles now, so we naturally have no chance to strike. But what about their families? The security isn’t as tight!”

“Oh, God! Mr. Vasil, you must be possessed by the devil! No, quickly call a priest to come and see; you must be bewitched!” Konstantin Stoilov (a democrat) said incredulously.

Facing the surprised gazes of everyone, Vasil Radoslavov calmly said, “No, I’m fine! Don’t you think this is a good idea? Only by enraging that dictator Stamov will he make mistakes, then go crazy with retaliation, providing cover for our next actions!”

Konstantin Stoilov hesitated and said, “But, God! Attacking innocent people really crosses our line!”

Vasil Radoslavov, full of spirit, said, “Gentlemen, for Bulgaria, paying a small price is worth it!”

…

Early morning at Sofia Palace, Ferdinand had just finished breakfast when Minister of Education Chikov burst in.

“Your Highness, something happened at the school?” Chikov said anxiously.

Ferdinand’s expression changed, and he asked, “What?”

Chikov nervously said, “The police just surrounded the school to arrest anti-government elements and are now in a standoff with the guards!”

Ferdinand said in surprise, “How is that possible? Isn’t the school closed for teaching? How could there be anti-government elements?”

Chikov bitterly smiled and said, “Your Highness, the students do stay in school every day, but the teachers can come and go freely. Many of them have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s actions!”

“Many have published articles criticizing the government, and with many of their friends and relatives being arrested, hiding suspects is something they would do.”

Ferdinand nodded and said, “I understand! Take a company of guards with you and go there first. Tell those police: the school has been taken over by me, and I will handle the rest. If there are any problems, come to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness, I’ll go right away!” Chikov said happily, and as soon as he finished speaking, he ran out.

Ferdinand knew that this probably also involved the Minister of Education’s handiwork; otherwise, even if he was asking for help, he wouldn’t be so anxious.

He had no intention of investigating further. Ferdinand was still satisfied with Minister of Education Chikov. He worked diligently and responsibly, and most importantly, he had already pledged his allegiance.

Bulgaria was really not big, and the number of literati was not large. Although they had different political views, they all had some connections with each other. Now that Chikov had friends involved, it was only human nature for him to lend a hand.

Chapter 27: Bulgarian University

Alekos-Kondinsnov asked anxiously, “What do we do now? The campus security won’t hold them off for long!”

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this! I never expected those hounds to have such sharp noses. I’ll go turn myself in right now. After all, this is Bulgaria’s only university. Once they have me, they—” Kavenlev apologized.

Alekos cut him off, shouting, “No, my friend, you can’t go out there! If you fall into their hands, you’re done for! You’re right—this is Bulgaria’s only university. Those hounds won’t dare do anything to us!”

“You stay here and hide. I’ll go think of something and come back soon! Don’t worry, my friend. Don’t forget, the university’s president is the Grand Duke himself. They won’t dare act recklessly!”

With that, Alekos quickly left to find someone to discuss a plan. The same scene was unfolding in other parts of the campus.

When Alekos arrived at the office, many people had already gathered. Clearly, many had done the same as him and were now busy figuring out how to handle the aftermath.

“Alekos, you’re just in time! Come help us think of a way to deal with those hounds outside!” his friend Clinton interrupted his thoughts.

Just then, Adolf-Kor walked in and said, “Alright, gentlemen, please quiet down!”

Once everyone had settled, he continued, “The Sofia police have given us a list of suspects. They have solid evidence and demand we hand over these hundred or so people! I’ll give you a moment to look it over and verify, then we’ll discuss further.”

Alekos nervously scanned the list. When he saw one name, his face turned pale.

At the same time, the expressions of the others varied—some relieved, others ashen-faced.

After some time, Adolf-Kor continued, “Alright, everyone has seen it! Any thoughts?”

“Mr. Kor, this is slander! How could they possibly be rebels?”

“Exactly!”

“This is all slander!”

…

The crowd grew agitated, and the scene descended into chaos. Alekos joined in the uproar.

“Enough! In the name of God, quiet down!” Kor barked.

“Whether this is slander or not is a matter we can debate later! Right now, the Sofia police are illegally surrounding the school. I suggest we protest in the university’s name and demand they withdraw immediately!”

“Additionally, regarding the police’s accusations, our school should conduct an internal investigation. Those who violate school rules will be severely punished!”

“As for specific measures, we’ll wait for the final investigation results and report to the president before making a decision! I’ve already informed the Ministry of Education about today’s events.”

The crowd’s faces fluctuated between red and white. Alekos’s emotions also swung wildly—one moment happy, the next worried.

After a moment of silence, Adolf-Kor said, “If no one has any objections, let’s go protest to the police now!”

Everyone immediately came to their senses. No matter how this would be handled later, they had to get through this crisis first. They quickly stood up and rushed toward the school gates.

They were well aware of what had happened in recent months—anyone taken by the police never came back.

A few days ago, on Christmas, a horrifying assassination had taken place. Everyone knew the police were busy hunting down the culprits. If anyone was linked to this, their fate would be dire.

Even those uninvolved were terrified. Who knew if the police would arrest them as accomplices? The higher-ups in the government had gone mad. There was no telling if they might just shoot everyone on the spot.

…

Seeing no response from inside the school, in the coffee shop across from the main gate, a police officer leaned out from the second-floor private room and asked, “Chief, should we send people in?”

The middle-aged man’s expression darkened slightly. He snapped, “Shut up, James, you idiot! Didn’t I tell you to keep this confidential? I’m not here today. You’re in charge. If you shout like that, won’t everyone know I’m here?”

“Yes, yes, you’re not here!” The officer named James bent over, grinning as he lowered his voice.

The middle-aged man said seriously, “What are you talking about, charging in? Don’t you know where this is? Bulgaria’s only university, with the Grand Duke himself as president. If there’s a conflict with the suspects and a few of those precious students get hurt, how will you compensate for that?”

“So we just keep surrounding them? That’s not a solution either. The pressure from above is unbearable. It won’t be easy to explain,” Officer James said, frowning.

“Wait a little longer. If there’s no result by noon, you take your people in. Remember to tell your men to be smart and not cause trouble!” the middle-aged man instructed.

“Don’t worry, Chief! You can trust me. When have I ever messed up? I’ll be careful. As long as the suspects inside don’t resist, nothing will go wrong!” Officer James promised.

The middle-aged man was pleased with the officer’s performance and promised, “Mmm, do a good job! If you handle this well, you’ll be Chief James!”

“Hey, someone’s coming out. They’re all there! You go deal with them. Remember to be polite. My teacher is among them. I’ll slip away first!” The middle-aged man left without waiting for James’s response.

Seeing the middle-aged man leave through the back door of the coffee shop, James took a deep breath. Slowly, he went downstairs and walked toward the school.

His lips moved slightly as he cursed in a voice only he could hear, “Damn bastard! I’ve risked my life for you, and now you’re using me as cannon fodder!”

“Heartless scum, and you even know your teacher is among them. Who knows how many big shots in the government have teachers and classmates here. Those old fools are easy to deal with? If they pull the ‘respect your elders’ card, what can I do to them?”

“Damn it, I should have given them a heads-up. I shouldn’t have been greedy for this hot potato of a merit. It’s fine if we don’t catch anyone, but we absolutely can’t have a shootout. If any of the Grand Duke’s precious students get hurt by mistake, I’m done for!”

“God help me. Hopefully, the school has a secret passage so the rebels can escape. Then I can just walk in smoothly, and everyone will be happy!”

The hundred-meter journey took James a full ten minutes. He even scolded himself for walking too fast.

When James approached, a teacher in his sixties shouted angrily, “James, you little bastard, get over here! How dare you bring people to surround the school? Who gave you the guts?”

James’s legs went weak—he had run into someone he knew. He vividly remembered his school days from over a decade ago.

Back then, he had been this old man’s student. Because his family was poor, the old man had even helped him financially, allowing him to barely finish middle school before becoming a police officer.

He never expected that over a decade later, they would meet again under such circumstances. James’s eyes involuntarily welled up with tears. He walked up to the old man, bowed respectfully, and greeted him, “Hello, Teacher Orka!”

Chapter 28: Handling

Seeing his student become a hound for the authoritarian government, Orka felt deeply distressed. He did not accept James’s greeting, instead coldly sneering, “I’m fine! You’ve brought people to arrest me—how could I not be fine?”

James was in a difficult position, the current situation making him extremely uncomfortable. The furious old man before him left him in a dilemma.

On one side was the task from above, on the other, his benefactor. Completing the task meant severing ties with his benefactor, which weighed heavily on his conscience. But if he considered their past kindness, his career would be ruined, and years of hard work would go to waste.

James’s hesitation immediately boosted the teachers’ morale. It turned out these police weren’t as ruthless as the rumors suggested.

They all turned their gaze toward the officers, searching for familiar faces. Soon, someone found a target.

Alekos found one and walked up to a young officer, angrily scolding, “Laurel, you little brat! Get back home right now!”

Laurel defended himself, “But Uncle Alekos, I’m on duty! If I leave now, I’ll lose my job!”

Before he could finish, Alekos pointed a trembling finger at Laurel’s nose, his voice shaking with anger, “You little brat! Is your job all that matters to you? Are you even human? Do you know what conscience is? Do you have any shame left?”

Laurel stumbled back, clearly not expecting his explanation to provoke such fury from his uncle.

In a matter of moments, several other unfortunate officers were caught by the enraged teachers and subjected to a barrage of scolding.

James began to panic. He knew things were about to go south. On the surface, he was indeed the highest-ranking officer present, and those with connections had already fled.

But James had no authority to order a retreat. However, he couldn’t just stand by and watch his subordinates be berated until their morale was completely shattered.

He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling as he said, “Professor Orka, I’m sorry to disturb you! Today, I’m here on orders. The police have obtained concrete evidence proving that the school is harboring a suspect!”

“You just need to hand over the suspect, or let us go in and arrest them ourselves. I guarantee no one else will be implicated!”

“Don’t get upset. Let me be frank with you! This matter is beyond my control. I don’t want to do this either—it’s all orders from above. I’m truly powerless!”

Adolf-Kor saw that the moment was right and stepped forward, speaking deliberately, “So, Mr. James, you’re being forced into this as well?”

James couldn’t help but nod, acknowledging that he was indeed being coerced.

Seeing James admit it, Kor spun a tale in front of everyone, “Well, if that’s the case, we won’t make things difficult for you. Here is a protest letter drafted by all the faculty and staff of our school. There are three copies. Please deliver this one to your superiors!”

James took the protest letter in a daze. On the cover, in bold and spirited writing, was the title: Protest Proposal Against the Sofia Police’s Illegal Siege of Bulgarian University by All Members of Bulgarian University.

James immediately realized the gravity of the situation. “This is bad! The president of Bulgarian University is Grand Duke Ferdinand! This is going to be a huge mess! I don’t know how the higher-ups will react, but us lower-ranking officers are definitely in trouble!”

“Now, there’s no choice but to force our way in. As long as we catch the suspect and solidify the charges, even if things escalate, the responsibility will be much lighter.”

James still decided to try to resolve the situation peacefully, hoping to minimize the damage. With a trembling voice, he said, “Gentlemen, isn’t it a bit too soon for this?”

“Not at all! It’s already come to this!” Chikov, who had hurried over, declared loudly.

Seeing Chikov arrive, accompanied by the palace guards, everyone relaxed. After all, the police couldn’t possibly storm the campus in front of the Minister of Education. Besides, with a squad of soldiers present, the police wouldn’t dare act recklessly, even if they wanted to escalate the situation.

The professors now looked upon Chikov with great favor, thinking him “shrewd, capable, and brave enough to take action, arriving just in time to help!”

Many secretly thought that having a powerful president made all the difference. The police could act recklessly outside, but on campus, they had to behave.

Even if they found evidence, they had to follow the rules. If they broke them, they could always report to the higher-ups!

Seeing Chikov, James’s headache worsened. Damn it, for a bunch of nobodies like us, you, a minister, personally showed up? Is that necessary? And you brought a squad of soldiers? What are you going to do to me?

Now, it wasn’t about the mission anymore; the key was figuring out how to handle the aftermath. One wrong move, and this high-ranking minister could detain him, forcing the police station to come and retrieve him—that would be disastrous!

Chikov paid no mind to James’s thoughts. A police officer, even the chief of the Sofia Police, was far below his rank. Though he held the least real power among all the ministers, his position was still high.

After a quick look around, Chikov got straight to the point with James, “Listen up. Take your people and leave immediately. From now on, the school is under our control. If you have any issues, you can appeal to the Grand Duke!”

James quickly nodded, “Yes, we’ll leave right away!” With that, the police whistle blew, and they swiftly departed.

Chikov ignored the police’s reaction and led everyone into the campus.

The relief everyone had just felt vanished, replaced by renewed tension. They all knew this incident had escalated, and there would be consequences later.

In the meeting room, Chikov’s expression darkened as he calmly said, “Bring out everyone you’re hiding. Don’t try to explain—no matter the reason, you’ve severely violated school regulations. Punishment is unavoidable!”

“Whoever is hiding someone is responsible for their supervision and must sign a guarantee agreement. We will investigate thoroughly. If they are indeed criminals, you will bear joint responsibility. Any objections?”

“No objections! We’ll sign immediately!” everyone replied in unison.

Hearing their response, Chikov sighed and said, “Alright, I’ll leave it to you, Mr. Kor. Please register everyone and take temporary command of this platoon of soldiers to maintain stability on campus!”

“Also, as educators, think carefully about whether your actions today align with the standards of a teacher.”

“The Grand Duke has said, ‘If the beam is crooked, the rafters will be askew.’ I don’t want you to pass on this selfishness to the next generation!”

“For those among you who directly violated school rules, the punishment is as follows: 1. No promotions for life; 2. A permanent fifty percent salary deduction; 3. Submit a deep self-criticism and recite it publicly in front of all students and faculty!”

Everyone’s faces turned pale. This punishment was truly painful. In truth, Chikov had gone too far, but at the time, he had to act quickly to save the situation and hadn’t raised any objections to Ferdinand.

Intellectuals were proud, at least in front of others. Faced with such a painful penalty, they couldn’t bring themselves to object.

Chapter 29: Konstantin

Ferdinand had read and analyzed countless articles on human weaknesses in his past life, and now he was putting that knowledge to good use—with impressive results.

The teachers of Bulgarian University were now in a state of silent despair, unable to refuse. They could only console themselves with the thought that this was a price worth paying to oppose the tyranny of the dictatorial government. To stand before the entire school and recite a self-criticism was indeed humiliating. But if it was for the sake of resisting government oppression and protecting their friends, even if word got out, people would only praise their character! Decades later, it would be another beautiful tale of sacrificing personal gain for reputation—they couldn’t argue with that.

Though Chikov had spoken fiercely just now, his heart was actually full of unease. He, too, had taken advantage of his position to sneak someone in.

That someone was none other than the future renowned Konstantin Stoilov, leader of the People’s Party and future prime minister of Bulgaria.

Not long ago, Konstantin Itolov, who had been wanted by the government, had sought refuge with his old classmate, Chikov.

Bound by their friendship, Chikov had taken him in, but fearing trouble, he had hidden him in the school. He planned to wait until the heat died down before recommending him to Ferdinand, using that as a way to absolve himself of guilt.

Unexpectedly, another incident had occurred, and now Chikov dared not delay any longer. He knew the cabinet had gone mad—if Konstantin Itolov were caught, his fate would be dire.

Since Christmas, the Stamov cabinet had ordered the execution of no fewer than a thousand people. This was also the main reason Chikov had decided to defect from the Liberal Party and throw his lot in with Ferdinand.

He no longer held much hope for the Liberal Party’s future. After much deliberation, he still believed Ferdinand had the most potential. Cabinets could change every few years, but the Grand Duke could not be replaced so easily—he stood on unshakable ground from the start.

Now, Chikov decided to have an open and honest conversation with Konstantin Itolov. He recognized his old classmate’s abilities.

But for a political figure, stance was key. If Konstantin was willing to stand with him, then all would be well. If not, then Chikov would have no choice but to leave him to his fate.

Konstantin’s mood had been oppressive lately. For safety’s sake, he had been confined to a small storage room for a long time, with food delivered only at night. The fact that he hadn’t gone mad yet was a testament to his inner strength.

When he saw Chikov arrive, Konstantin felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. “Chikov, my friend! What brings you here? How are things outside? Has the storm passed? It must be good news, right?”

Chikov gave a faint smile and joked, “What are you thinking? The situation outside is even worse! You know what happened on Christmas Eve—it’s not going to blow over so easily. The police are busy arresting people everywhere!”

Konstantin’s face darkened, and he sighed bitterly. “Oh, God! When will this nightmare end? Chikov, you have no idea—every day I’m stuck in this hellhole with no one to talk to, eating and sleeping here. Can you smell that? There’s something wrong with this place.”

Only now did Chikov notice that Konstantin looked like a disheveled rat, with unkempt hair and beard, and the room reeked of a foul odor.

“Oh, God! You’re really unfortunate! Let’s go outside to talk—this place is awful!” Chikov said sympathetically.

Konstantin was startled and grabbed Chikov’s shoulder. “God! What did you say? I can go outside? But you just said the police are after me! If I go out now…”

“Stop! Let go of me, you bastard! Don’t you know how filthy you are?” Chikov snapped.

Konstantin released him and apologized. “Sorry! I’m just too excited. You have no idea how much I hate this place—I don’t want to stay here a second longer! But… can I really go out? What if someone sees me and it implicates you?”

Chikov stepped out of the room and put on a look of deep sorrow. “Oh, God! Poor Konstantin, you must have gone mad in here—you’re not making any sense!”

Konstantin dashed out of the room, took a deep breath of fresh air, and then angrily said, “Chikov, you bastard! Stop mocking me! Tell me what’s going on!”

Chikov smiled. “Alright, alright. Since you’re so pitiful, I’ll tell you. Starting today, the police can no longer enter the school, so you’re safe for now.”

Konstantin asked excitedly, “Really? What happened?”

Chikov smiled again. “This morning, the police illegally surrounded the school. The Grand Duke, in his fury, sent the Palace Guards to take over. So now, this place is safe.”

Konstantin exclaimed, “That’s wonderful! I can finally leave this hellhole!”

With that, Konstantin began to vent his frustration in the courtyard, running and shouting wildly. After a moment, he regained his composure and walked up to Chikov, full of gratitude. “Thank you, my friend! I know you must have gone to great lengths for this. Truly…”

“Enough of that. We’re friends, aren’t we? You should go take a shower and get some proper sleep. I have things to attend to, so I’ll leave now. I’ll come see you again in a few days,” Chikov interrupted, cutting off Konstantin’s thanks.

…

After finishing his conversation with Konstantin, Chikov knew the matter was settled. Unless Konstantin wanted to return to a life in the shadows, he would never refuse.

Back in the palace, Ferdinand was still unaware that Bulgaria’s next prime minister was about to pledge his allegiance. If he had known, his mood would have been much better.

“The Conservatives, the Democrats—they’re all useless! They can’t even stand up to the Liberals, let alone provoke them! It’s been days, and still no reaction!” Ferdinand thought bitterly.

In truth, Ferdinand was already prepared, waiting for the Liberals and Conservatives to clash so he could eliminate all of Bulgaria’s hidden threats in one fell swoop.

As a history enthusiast, Ferdinand knew that every successful reform was accompanied by bloodshed.

Having lived two lives, Ferdinand didn’t want to dirty his own hands. Having experienced the internet age, he knew that any stain on his reputation would be condemned by future generations—those intellectuals wouldn’t care about the bigger picture.

So, for the sake of his reputation, both in life and after death, Ferdinand had allowed the Stamov cabinet to wield unchecked power. Otherwise, he would have intervened long ago.

At this critical moment, Ferdinand still felt uneasy. After all, this involved the lives of tens of thousands. He didn’t know whether he should put a stop to it.

“Your Grace, the fish has taken the bait!” Frhu rushed in and announced.

“Mmm, I see,” Ferdinand replied calmly. The pieces were in place. There was no excitement, no pain—it was as if he had transcended the world, as if none of it concerned him.

Chapter 30: The Uprising

The winds of May swept into Bulgaria, brimming with smiles, blooming with flowers, and knocking on the sleeping sky with hands of hope. They scattered decay and carried away the stench, bringing clarity in their wake.

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, four months had gone by. Time was the best medicine. The wounds inflicted by the Bloody Christmas Night gradually faded from people’s lives.

Bulgaria began to slowly regain its former tranquility. Sofia had long since lifted its martial law. With the capture of numerous opposition members, the regions had calmed, and the government had started to relax its oversight of the populace.

On May 4, 1889, a deafening “boom” shattered Sofia’s usual peace.

The long-silent opposition party launched a massive counterattack against the government.

This time, unlike before, the mastermind was the radical Vasil Radoslavov. The opposition had gathered dozens of volunteers—the strongest force they could muster at the moment!

Vasil chose to avoid direct confrontation, targeting the families of government officials instead. Stamov-Bolov was once again in the crosshairs. As the prime minister, his family was naturally a prime target.

Aideburg Elementary School, located in the southeastern part of Sofia, was one of Bulgaria’s finest primary schools. Stamov-Bolov’s eldest son, Will, attended school there.

At noon, as the school was in its midday break, two unfamiliar men suddenly overpowered the guard and stormed into the campus. Strapped with explosives, they headed straight for Will’s classroom and detonated the bomb.

Over ten people were killed on the spot, and more than thirty were injured. Will was among the wounded—whether to call him lucky or unfortunate was unclear.

People rushed to the scene upon hearing the news and immediately began rescue efforts. Perhaps aware of Will’s identity, the school doctor spared no effort in saving him, and he clung to life.

However, shrapnel had struck both his legs. To prevent infection, they were forced to amputate. For a child barely in his teens, this was an unbearably cruel fate.

Upon receiving the news, Stamov-Bolov rushed to the scene. Seeing Will’s condition, his mind went blank, and rage burned in his chest. He wished he could tear the culprits limb from limb!

Almost simultaneously, other high-ranking officials received grim news. For instance, Jonas, the Minister of the Interior, whose wife was out shopping when she was suddenly struck by a bomb blast and killed instantly.

Blood for blood—this was their unanimous thought.

Sofia’s police force mobilized once more. They were now trembling with fear, terrified of angering their superiors and losing their jobs.

By evening, an emergency cabinet meeting was convened. The attendees entered the room with grim expressions, while furious shouts could be heard from outside.

Stamov’s voice started low but gradually rose into a roar. His face turned red, then purple, his neck swelling as if about to explode. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his fists pounded the table with a “crackling” sound.

He was furious, but the other four were no better. Their mutual complaints only fueled their anger further.

Stamov roared, “The police are a bunch of useless fools! How could they let these terrorists infiltrate Sofia? I’ll have them all fired…”

Sovereign, his face ashen, said, “Yes, they must be fired! And not just that—they should be thrown in prison! This is all due to their negligence!”

Michael gritted his teeth. “We must retaliate fiercely! Capture them all and hang them!”

Jonas sneered. “And that’s not all. They dare to do this? It’s time we show them our strength! Do they really think we won’t kill?”

Stamov’s eyes widened, and he growled, “You’re right! Most of their leaders are already in our hands. So let’s execute them! Let them see that the government kills too!”

Vasil Radoslavov’s plan had succeeded. The Stamov government’s attention was now entirely focused on them, and the subtle changes within the military were overlooked!

But the consequences might be beyond his expectations. Overstimulated, the Stamov cabinet no longer cared about the repercussions. The butcher’s knife was already swinging toward them.

The police were now arresting people without regard for life or death. With the support of Frhu’s intelligence department, the police’s combat effectiveness soared. Hidden opposition members were captured one after another, and many who tried to flee were shot on the spot.

Vasil was secretly celebrating the success of his operation, but unfortunately, as a dangerous individual, he was one of Frhu’s primary targets for elimination.

The police came knocking at his door. Vasil, unaware that he had been exposed, opened the door without hesitation. Before he could speak, a bullet struck him.

With a “whoosh,” the future infamous Radoslavov radical was snuffed out in his cradle.

This was Ferdinand’s plan to kill with a borrowed knife, and the executor was, of course, the intelligence chief Frhu.

Over two years, Ferdinand’s influence had permeated every sector of Bulgarian society, with the police and military as key targets.

Compared to the military, the Bulgarian police were like a sieve, full of holes. Whether through infiltration or coercion, Frhu easily recruited a group of people.

Today was the time to put them to use. Targeted elimination was just a small task. Frhu’s main targets were the arrested landowners, capitalists, politicians, and extremists.

Jonas returned to the Ministry of the Interior. A cup shattered on the ground, and papers flew everywhere. After venting his anger, he summoned his subordinates and furiously berated them, “The rebels are running rampant, and you’re all a bunch of useless fools! All day long…” (omitted ten thousand words)

Perhaps exhausted from his tirade, Jonas angrily said, “Go to the prison now and publicly execute the rebel leaders! Do you hear me?”

The crowd was startled and was about to ask for a specific list, but seeing Jonas’s iron-clad expression, they hesitated.

Outside the office, Paul Korchagin and the others were confused. “Execute the leaders”? Who were the leaders? How were they defined? But having lived under Jonas’s shadow for so long, they didn’t dare to ask.

Paul Korchagin puzzledly asked, “What should we do now? Does anyone know who the leaders are?”

Everyone shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know. Suddenly, Khalil slapped his forehead, smiled, and said, “I’ve got it! It should be based on their status! Those with high status and position are naturally the leaders! As for the specific definition, why not leave it to the underlings?”

“And even if we make a mistake, it’s not a big deal. If we kill the wrong person, it’s their bad luck. The ones who escape can be killed later! I don’t think the minister would mind even if they all died right now!”

The others also realized this and exchanged smiles. That made sense. After all, it was just a difference in political views before, so there was no need to be ruthless. But now, the people they had captured had personal grudges with those above. The minister hadn’t said it outright, but perhaps he wanted them to kill more!

There should be another update later, to be posted in the evening!

Chapter 31: The Massacre

From top to bottom, the cabinet’s decision was passed down in a muddled, half-understood manner.

Frhu, who had long been waiting for this opportunity, naturally would not let this heaven-sent chance slip away. Ferdinand’s order to him was to use others as his blade and eliminate hidden threats.

Now that the time was ripe, Frhu activated the intelligence personnel he had planted in the police force for a long time. Their mission was simple: “Expand the situation as much as possible!”

Laurence Will was now very troubled. As the head of the Sofia Police Department, few dared to make things difficult for him!

But recently, things had been different. Yesterday, Sofia had witnessed a shocking nationwide assassination. As the chief of the Sofia Police Department, the fact that he hadn’t been dismissed was already a blessing from God, but his days were naturally not pleasant.

He had just received a secret order from the Ministry of the Interior, which made his mood even worse. The core message was clear: he was to immediately “execute the leaders of the rebels,” but there was no specific list. Laurence Will was confused.

“Who exactly should be killed? There are piles of rebels in my custody. There must be specific targets, right? Do they want me to execute all of them?” Thinking this, Laurence Will was terrified. That was several thousand people!

Not understanding, Laurence Will could only pace back and forth in his office. At that moment, his secretary, Conroy, suddenly said, “I think I know what this is about!”

“Oh, God bless! Conroy, tell me quickly, what are they thinking upstairs?” Laurence Will said happily.

Conroy smiled bitterly and said, “Chief, if you connect what happened in Sofia yesterday, you’ll understand immediately!”

Laurence Will’s face turned pale as he said, “Yesterday… Oh, God! I’m in big trouble. This is not a good job! If it’s not handled well, there will be big trouble. No wonder the people from the Ministry of the Interior don’t dare to say it directly!”

Conroy complained, “Yes, Chief! They want revenge but don’t want to bear the name of butchers. The Ministry of the Interior doesn’t want to bear the name of butchers either, although their reputation is already bad!”

Laurence Will angrily said, “Damn it, they want me to be the scapegoat! So what should we do now?”

Conroy suggested, “Chief, since that’s the case, why don’t we learn from the Ministry of the Interior and pass it on to the people below to handle?”

Laurence Will’s eyes lit up, and he slapped the table, saying loudly, “Good idea! Let’s do it that way! At least it can reduce our responsibility. Oh, don’t forget to give some hints to the people below, otherwise those idiots probably won’t be able to do anything!”

Conroy immediately agreed, “Yes, Chief, it’s best to let the people below take action tonight to avoid any delays!”

“Good, I’ll give the order immediately!” Laurence Will said after a moment’s thought.

Laurence Will still didn’t know how much impact this order would have. Tonight, Sofia would be drenched in blood.

Clearly, Conroy had given him a bad idea, and with the intelligence personnel under Ferdinand stirring things up, everyone knew that the cabinet wanted revenge, and so the massacre began!

In fact, many people were confused at the same time. Everyone who received the secret order was feeling the same way.

At this moment, someone would always step forward to offer advice, making people think of that assassination. Many smart people thought they understood: the boss wanted revenge, so the more they killed, the better!

From the cabinet’s original plan to execute a dozen or so leaders, to the Ministry of the Interior expanding the target to dozens of people, and now, with the intelligence personnel stirring things up, it had been interpreted as: the more they killed, the better. Some even killed all the rebels in their hands to please the cabinet!

A vague secret order, due to the misinterpretation of subordinates, led to an unexpected massacre. This was the “Secret Order Massacre” that had a profound impact on Bulgaria!

Because the people in charge of the execution were not sure who should be killed and who shouldn’t, they blindly raised the butcher’s knife, and it was later called the “Bulgarian Confused Massacre” by later generations.

Ferdinand successfully hid himself in the background, showing no trace, and on the surface, he seemed unaware.

The black pot was accurately placed on the head of the Stamov cabinet. After all, too many debts don’t weigh you down. From a “dictatorial government” to a “police government,” now they had added the hat of a “butcher government.” They were even voted by later media as the worst cabinet in Bulgarian history.

On the other side, the opposition party, still in the dark, didn’t know that the butcher’s knife was about to fall on them.

On May 5th, led by Major Panitsa, the officers launched an uprising in the military camp on the outskirts of Sofia. Unfortunately, due to poor organization, it was exposed as soon as it started and was suppressed by the Sofia garrison commander, Sava Mutkurov. Panitsa was shot dead on the spot.

At the same time, the opposition party’s strongholds in various places were also exposed. The enraged police directly attacked, and the opposition party was almost completely wiped out!

Everything was going smoothly for the Stamov cabinet, who still didn’t know that the death knell had already sounded for them. They were basking in the joy of eliminating the rebels or the pleasure of avenging their great hatred!

…

With the sound of gunfire in the suburbs, the prisons of Bulgaria gradually lost their usual noise and became empty again.

After this night, the Stamov government finally physically eliminated the opposition party. Even if there were any survivors, they would no longer have the opportunity to rise again. Because their supporters no longer existed.

According to later statistics, more than twelve thousand people were killed that night across Bulgaria.

“Blood flows like a river, bones pile up like mountains, the sky is gloomy, the earth is pale. Dark times, a tragedy beyond imagination!” Later, the famous Bulgarian writer Nikolai Haitov described this tragedy with such verses.

At the end of the 19th century, the strength of the Bulgarian bourgeoisie was still very limited. The dominant position was actually held by the landlord class—evolved agricultural capitalists, while the emerging industrial and commercial bourgeoisie was extremely weak.

The main supporters of the Stamov government were precisely this part of the emerging industrial and commercial capitalists, who had close ties with the capital of Austria-Hungary and England.

Now, although the Stamov government had successfully eliminated its competitors, it had also lost its fragile ruling foundation.

Originally, the vast majority of Bulgarian farmers, urban petty bourgeoisie, most missionaries, and intellectuals were pro-Russian, opposing the government’s policy towards Russia, and had extremely low support for the Stamov government.

Coupled with the Stamov cabinet’s reign of terror, which made the people dislike them even more, and now this horrifying massacre, it was bound to provoke the people’s opposition. The opportunity Ferdinand had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Chapter 32: Subversion

In the Sofia Palace, Ferdinand was leisurely sipping his tea. Tea had become an indispensable part of his life, embodying the sentiment that “a nation cannot go a day without its ruler, and a ruler cannot go a day without his tea.”

At that moment, a maid of about sixteen or seventeen years old approached. She had a round, oval face, eyes as dark as lacquer, and exuded a youthful, lively energy.

“Your Highness, Mr. Frhu has arrived!”

“Oh, Alice, bring him in!” Ferdinand replied lazily.

Alice playfully responded, “Yes, Your Highness!”

Those familiar with Ferdinand knew that in his daily life, he was quite approachable and unpretentious. He could even joke and chat with the maids on equal terms, and the young Alice was not the least bit afraid of him.

In an instant, Frhu stood before Ferdinand.

Frhu forced himself to remain calm as he said, “Your Highness, the fruit is ripe!”

It was clear that he was very excited, though he tried hard to appear calm. However, the subtle changes in his expression betrayed his true feelings.

Ferdinand happily replied, “Good! Mr. Frhu, you’ve all done well. We can proceed to the next step!”

“Yes, Your Highness! We are currently negotiating prices with the workers!” Frhu said solemnly.

Ferdinand’s eyebrows twitched slightly before relaxing again. He smiled and said, “Then go ahead and get busy. I await your good news!”

The situation in Bulgaria was already very dangerous, and Ferdinand had to be extremely careful. He feared that any oversight might leak information, alerting the Stamov cabinet and ruining all his efforts.

From Frhu’s report, Ferdinand knew that the initial plan had been completed. The Stamov government was on the verge of collapse. However, the efforts to win over the military had only been partially successful. This was understandable, as news of the massacre had not yet spread widely, and the military was not yet in a hurry to choose sides.

Once the news spread, unless someone was a die-hard loyalist, everyone else would make the right choice. After all, few were willing to go down with the Stamov cabinet and stand against the Bulgarian people.

In reality, the Stamov government’s control over the military was not very tight. Most mid- and lower-level officers and ordinary soldiers were not fond of them. This created an opportunity for Ferdinand. Talking about ideals with junior officers and discussing benefits with ordinary soldiers were tried-and-true tactics that often proved effective.

The military was a closed system, making it difficult for outsiders to access. However, this was not a problem for Ferdinand, as he had his own personal guard, which was rightfully under his control.

After nearly two years of indoctrination, the personal guard was now composed of Ferdinand’s loyalists. The stubborn ones had long been retired. They were Ferdinand’s tool for winning over the military.

The personal guard had always been well-paid. During times of financial difficulty, Ferdinand had even paid out of his own pocket, so the morale of the officers and soldiers remained high. Often, they unconsciously promoted Ferdinand, enhancing his prestige within the military.

Since Ferdinand’s ascension, the personal guard had become the most envied position among ordinary Bulgarian soldiers. Although the pay was the same, the food standards were a notch higher, and Ferdinand had promised retirement benefits.

Previously, someone had been injured during training and forced to retire. Ferdinand had arranged for him to work in a factory. Enjoying the benefits of a retired soldier, he received the same wages as ordinary workers but only needed to work eight hours a day, with overtime pay for any additional hours.

This was truly enviable. In fact, Ferdinand had submitted a draft of the “Preferential Treatment for Retired Soldiers” to the parliament, only to be mocked by the Stamov cabinet.

The parliament, representing the interests of the bourgeoisie, had unhesitatingly rejected it. The high-ranking officers didn’t care, as their benefits were already high, but the ordinary soldiers had long cursed the parliament to high heaven.

Now, Frhu’s target was the Sofia garrison commander—Sava Mutkurov. If he could be won over, the fall of the Stamov cabinet would be beyond doubt.

Sava Mutkurov, who had just suppressed a rebellion, was now busy thinking about the aftermath. An uninvited guest walked in and sat down in front of him. The visitor was none other than Frhu.

To resolve the final hidden danger, Frhu decided to take matters into his own hands. If Sava Mutkurov chose to refuse, Frhu would have no choice but to send him to meet his maker.

In fact, if it weren’t for Sava Mutkurov’s considerable prestige in the military, killing him might easily cause the military to feel a sense of “the hare dies, the fox mourns,” and Frhu would have dealt with him long ago.

Sava Mutkurov looked at Frhu and asked in confusion, “Who are you? How did you get in?”

Before Frhu could answer, he shouted towards the door, “Guards! Guards! Quickly throw this rude man out!”

Frhu smiled and said, “Mr. Sava, please calm down. Since I can come in and sit here, it means everything has been taken care of!”

“Who are you?” Sava Mutkurov forced himself to suppress his anger.

Frhu still smiled and said, “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Frhu. By order of Grand Duke Ferdinand, I have come to visit Mr. Sava!”

“What? The Grand Duke’s order? You’re lying. If His Highness wanted to see me, wouldn’t he send someone to call me directly to the palace? Why would he need to be so secretive?” Sava Mutkurov sneered.

Frhu ignored his rudeness and countered, “Then, Mr. Sava, who else in Bulgaria, besides His Highness, could make the soldiers outside ignore your commands?”

Sava Mutkurov thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. He was the military spokesman for the Liberal Party, so Frhu couldn’t be from the Liberal Party. If the opposition party had such power, they would have succeeded in their uprising long ago.

“So, Mr. Frhu, what does His Highness need me to do?” Having confirmed Frhu’s identity, Sava Mutkurov spoke much more politely.

Frhu still smiled and said, “I believe Mr. Sava is also aware of the cabinet’s recent actions. They have been going against the tide and have lost the support of the people!”

Sava Mutkurov retorted, “Mr. Frhu, you’re exaggerating. The cabinet’s recent actions may have been somewhat inappropriate, but it hasn’t come to that!”

Frhu looked at him and said seriously, “Mr. Sava, you may not know this, but last night, a horrifying event occurred in Bulgaria!”

Sava Mutkurov smiled casually and said, “Oh, isn’t it just the opposition party’s rebellion? I’ve already suppressed it!”

Frhu solemnly replied, “No, Mr. Sava, it’s ten, a hundred times worse than that!”

Hearing this, Sava Mutkurov straightened up and asked in confusion, “What happened?”

Frhu’s expression darkened as he said, “Last night, the cabinet ordered the execution of the arrested opposition party members. We don’t know exactly who was involved, but there are already over a thousand corpses in the outskirts of Sofia!”

Sava Mutkurov exclaimed, “What? Mr. Frhu, are you sure? Has the cabinet gone mad?”

Frhu affirmed, “Yes, Mr. Sava, the cabinet may have truly gone mad. Without a trial, they directly executed so many people. This is outright massacre!”

Sava Mutkurov asked in a daze, “What… does His Highness plan to do?”

Chapter 33: Overthrowing the Cabinet

Frhu let out a deep sigh, looking at Sava Mutkurov as he said, “Bulgaria has reached a critical moment of life and death. Enemies surround us from without, and within, the situation is like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark!”

“The Grand Duke is deeply concerned and believes the Stamov cabinet is no longer capable of controlling the situation. He is preparing to dismiss the cabinet!”

Though Sava Mutkurov had been somewhat prepared, he was still stunned, as if struck by a bolt from the blue or drenched from head to toe in cold water, leaving him numb all over.

After a moment of silence, Sava slowly regained his composure, forcing himself to gather a shred of strength. His eyes locked onto Frhu as he asked incredulously, “What?”

Frhu nodded solemnly, confirming the news. Then, he took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and took a drag before saying, “Mr. Sava, would you like one?”

Without waiting for Sava Mutkurov to respond, he lit another and handed it over. Sava took it numbly and inhaled deeply. The swirling smoke seemed to burn away the need for thought, if only for a moment.

The cigarette burned down quickly. Frhu looked at the still-silent Sava Mutkurov and asked, “Would you like another?”

“Oh, thank you! No need!” Sava Mutkurov suddenly snapped back to reality, though his voice still carried a hint of panic.

Frhu said nothing more, simply watching Sava Mutkurov. He knew everything that needed to be said had been said. Anything further would be unnecessary.

As for threats or bribes, they were out of the question here. At this level, the choices made and their consequences were crystal clear.

Sava Mutkurov stood up and began pacing back and forth in the office. After a moment, he let out a deep sigh and asked worriedly, “How does the Grand Duke plan to handle the cabinet?”

Frhu knew he was concerned about future retribution. After all, the Stamov government had performed so poorly that countless people in Bulgaria wanted their heads.

“The cabinet members are suffering from excessive work pressure, and doctors have diagnosed them with possible mental illness, rendering them unable to continue their government work. The Grand Duke has already arranged for a hospital in Vienna and plans to send them there for treatment for a while,” Frhu said calmly.

Sava Mutkurov’s suspended heart finally settled. He knew Ferdinand was letting them off the hook.

The Stamov cabinet’s reputation was already in tatters. Once stripped of power, they would inevitably face retribution in the future.

Sending them abroad seemed to be the best option. As long as the cabinet members weren’t convicted, the Liberal Party members wouldn’t face a purge later.

Looking at the recent actions of the Stamov cabinet, Sava couldn’t help but wonder if they really were mentally ill.

If Stamov-Bolov knew what he was thinking, he would surely cry out in protest! Things weren’t like that at all—who knew what those idiots under him had done!

“Alright! Mr. Frhu, whatever the Grand Duke commands, I will follow!” With those words, Sava Mutkurov seemed to have all the strength drained from his body, collapsing weakly into his chair.

…

With Sava Mutkurov taken care of, Frhu had completed most of the tasks Ferdinand had assigned.

The other military factions of the Liberal Party were far from Sofia, making it difficult for them to act. Once the Stamov cabinet was dismissed, they would find it hard to make a move.

Ferdinand was no reckless youth. As long as he didn’t resort to total annihilation, the high-ranking officers wouldn’t be able to act without the cooperation of their subordinates.

Upon receiving Frhu’s message, Ferdinand decided to act swiftly, catching the Stamov cabinet off guard before the news could spread.

Ferdinand altered his original plan, immediately sending someone to notify the members of parliament and convening the National Assembly ahead of schedule. Though he knew the assembly was now completely under the control of the Liberal Party, he still intended to go through the motions.

Due to Ferdinand’s deliberate delay in spreading the news, the Stamov cabinet only received notification the next day, much to the displeasure of Stamov, who now held great power.

But before he could vent his frustration, Jonas rushed in, interrupting him and leaving him with no mind to dwell on it.

Jonas brought shocking news—a list of those executed. That’s right, the list of those executed the night before. Seeing the long list, Stamov knew the sky was falling.

His thick lips, drained of color, trembled slightly like willow leaves, as if he had something urgent to say but couldn’t get the words out.

Michael, Wilson, and the others who arrived shortly after, upon seeing the list, also turned pale, realizing they were doomed.

The disoriented cabinet members somehow made their way into the National Assembly and took their seats, staring blankly, silent, ignoring the greetings of those around them. Even when Ferdinand entered, they showed no reaction.

Ferdinand knew the situation was under control. The news was simply too shocking. The Stamov cabinet wouldn’t be able to react quickly enough to come up with a countermeasure.

The National Assembly convened, but Ferdinand didn’t follow the usual procedure. Instead, he spoke directly: “Gentlemen, I regret to inform you of some bad news.”

“Mr. Stamov-Bolov and several other cabinet ministers may have developed mental illness and are no longer capable of leading the government!”

The assembly erupted in an uproar, buzzing with discussion.

“What? That’s impossible!”

…

But looking at the cabinet members, who were clearly in a daze, it did seem as if they were truly ill. Just moments ago, when others had gone to greet them, they hadn’t responded.

In truth, Stamov-Bolov and the others had already come to their senses but didn’t know how to handle what was coming next. Since Ferdinand had declared them ill, they decided to play along.

After all, the massacre had already happened. They had no way to explain to the outside world how they had executed tens of thousands without trial. Once the news spread, they would be public enemies in Bulgaria, hunted by all.

Ferdinand’s explanation seemed to be the only way for them to escape unscathed. As long as they could prove they were mentally ill, the law wouldn’t hold them accountable on the surface.

Karl, who had been appointed as the new prime minister, shouted loudly, “Quiet!”

After a moment, seeing that everyone had calmed down, Ferdinand continued, “As you can all see, they are clearly in no state to continue working for Bulgaria. I have already arranged for a hospital in Vienna, and they will be sent there this afternoon. The guards will now escort them home to pack their things!”

Chapter 34: Dissolving Parliament

Watching the guards escort the cabinet away, Ferdinand let out a deep sigh of relief. After all, he had been placed in power by Stamov-Bolov. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, Ferdinand truly would not have wanted to take such drastic measures.

But politics was cruel, leaving no room for retreat. Even so, Ferdinand chose to show mercy.

Ignoring the astonishment of the crowd, Ferdinand continued, “Gentlemen, you may now turn your attention back. The cabinet led by Mr. Stamov-Bolov has made significant contributions to Bulgaria’s development in its early work, which is evident to all. May God bless them with a speedy recovery!”

“As for their later work, due to the influence of their illness, their judgment may have been impaired, leading them to commit many foolish acts against their will! But I believe everyone will not hold it against the sick. The people of Bulgaria are forgiving and will surely pardon them!”

“According to the Bulgarian constitution, the cabinet no longer exists. To handle the upcoming work, I have decided to organize a temporary cabinet until the end of this term, after which new elections will be held!”

The faces of the Liberal Party members changed drastically. Ferdinand had not given them a chance to reorganize the cabinet, which greatly displeased them.

Many began to stir restlessly. After being suppressed by Stamov-Bolov for so long, they could no longer contain themselves.

“Your Highness, shouldn’t it be our Liberal Party forming the cabinet?” Holmes stood up, questioning Ferdinand.

Other Liberal Party members also expressed their dissatisfaction, seemingly unwilling to back down without a reason.

Before Ferdinand could speak, another member jumped in. Archbishop Clement of the Church immediately stood up to argue, “According to the Bulgarian constitution, Your Highness’s actions are completely legal!”

“Due to the previous cabinet’s repeated violations of the constitution, if it weren’t confirmed that Stamov-Bolov and others were suffering from mental illness, they would be in prison now! The Liberal Party failed to stop the cabinet’s illegal actions and has thus lost the right to continue forming the cabinet.”

This immediately gained the support of a group of members. The tyrannical rule of the Stamov government had long displeased them.

If the Liberal Party continued to govern, who knew if they would continue to eliminate dissenters? Perhaps one day, they themselves would be taken away by the police.

It was better to support Ferdinand. At least he wasn’t an enemy, and they could cooperate. Maybe they could even secure a position in the cabinet.

Both sides argued fiercely. The Liberal Party members were numerous and powerful, while the opposition waved the flag of the law, arguing vehemently.

Ferdinand suddenly slammed his hand on the table and roared, “Silence!”

“This is Parliament, not a marketplace. Whoever causes trouble again will be thrown out!”

“Now I declare, due to the Liberal Party’s repeated violations of the constitution during their governance, their ruling party status is hereby revoked! Additionally, due to the arrest of many members, the number of parliamentary members has fallen below three-quarters. I have decided to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections!”

Upon hearing this news, the expressions below varied, some joyful, some worried.

The faces of the Liberal Party members changed instantly. They knew it was over. Due to the Stamov government’s reckless actions, their reputation was already in tatters, leaving them no chance of victory.

Just moments ago, everyone was busy vying for power, never expecting Ferdinand to pull the rug out from under them. After all, the Liberal Party had been the main force supporting Ferdinand’s ascension. Most other political forces in Bulgaria were pro-Russian and had been his opponents.

But politics was full of such ironies! Before Ferdinand’s ascension, the pro-Russian faction had opposed him.

Now that the situation was settled, Ferdinand was the legitimate Grand Duke of Bulgaria, and the basis for the pro-Russian faction’s opposition no longer existed.

Instead, it was the Liberal Party, which had previously supported Ferdinand, that had become a stumbling block on his path to power.

The key was that the Liberal Party members had not realized this in time and still saw him as a rubber stamp. Now, they were facing tragedy.

Other members, however, revealed victorious glances. The powerful Stamov cabinet had collectively fallen ill, and the Liberal Party had collapsed with them.

The Bulgarian political landscape was about to undergo a major reshuffle. For them, this was a heaven-sent opportunity. If they didn’t take action now, they would be foolish.

Ferdinand looked at the chaotic crowd, said nothing more, and directly left the venue. He knew that once the news of the massacre was exposed, the Liberal Party would truly be finished.

To avoid suspicion, the news could not come from him. It had to spread naturally.

A street newspaper in Sofia had already begun printing. Previously, due to the government crackdown, they had been forced to close.

Fortunately, they were noticed by Frhu, who recruited them, allowing them to escape just in time.

Now was the time to show their value to the new boss. Exposing the news of the massacre was the first step.

Initially, the workers were hesitant, but upon seeing the photos of the massacre, their anger towards the government was ignited, and they immediately got to work.

As the new boss had said, exposing this news would lead the Grand Duke to dissolve the cabinet. The arrogant police would suffer, and everyone could live better lives.

Just as the former members stepped out of the Parliament gates, they received this shocking news. Many were stunned.

Those who had been skeptical now all agreed that the cabinet members must have been truly insane. Otherwise, who would dare to do such a thing? Killing tens of thousands in one go, and not just ordinary people.

One could imagine that once the news of Ferdinand dismissing the cabinet and dissolving Parliament spread, he would gain a wave of popularity.

Back at the palace, Ferdinand’s tense heart finally relaxed. He had been worried that there might be an incident where members would assault the king.

Fortunately, nothing happened. Now he could safely tally his gains. The Liberal Party had reached the point where everyone was against them.

The opposition certainly wouldn’t mind pinning the label of a “butcher party” on them. In times of great trouble, everyone scattered. They were too busy saving themselves to bother Ferdinand.

“The bitterness of embroidering golden threads year after year, only to dress others in wedding clothes.” This phrase perfectly described Stamov’s current feelings. He had worked hard and borne the blame, while Ferdinand reaped the benefits.

Setting off on the road to Vienna, Stamov-Bolov had a sense of “lingering every five miles.” He knew that if nothing unexpected happened, he would never set foot on this land again in his lifetime.

Things weren’t going to end so easily. So many people had died; the government had to provide an explanation. The cabinet had been sent away, and although Ferdinand had labeled them as mentally ill, it wasn’t over.

With so many government officials, a few would have to be sacrificed to take responsibility. And that enormous fortune—many had their eyes on it.

Time to settle the accounts!

Chapter 35: Formation of the Provisional Cabinet

Staring at the newspaper in his hands, Clement, the Grand Archbishop, exclaimed in disbelief, “This is impossible! Has the cabinet gone mad? Have all the officials below lost their minds too? This is sheer lunacy!”

No one answered him. Everyone around was just as stunned. The opposition party, which had hoped to make a comeback, was now reeling from this devastating blow.

With their key figures dead and their foundation crumbling, the remaining few were doomed to be mere spectators.

To the outside world, this was a brutal showdown between the Liberal Party and the opposition. The Liberal Party, sensing their impending downfall, had dragged the opposition down with them.

Now, both sides were equally crippled. The Liberal Party’s reputation was in tatters, and the opposition was left with barely any members. Both had lost their public support, leaving neither capable of annihilating the other.

This was exactly the outcome Ferdinand had wanted. After this battle, Bulgaria’s political parties would struggle to regain influence for at least twenty years.

Moreover, the public had grown disillusioned with political parties. The Liberal Party’s mass executions and the opposition’s assassinations had left everyone horrified.

Ferdinand pondered for a moment before deciding to strike while the iron was hot. Turning to Frhu, he said, “Your next priority is to continue guiding public opinion. Focus on promoting unity and condemning factionalism!”

Frhu hesitated, “Your Highness, are you planning to abolish political parties?”

Ferdinand shot Frhu a displeased glance. After a moment of silence, he asked, “What? Do you see a problem with that?”

Frhu realized he had overstepped. This was beyond his scope of work. He quickly backtracked, “No, no problem at all! I’ll get right on it!”

Ferdinand waved him off, signaling Frhu to leave. Frhu’s power has grown too much, he thought. He’s starting to forget his place. It’s time to redistribute some of that authority.

Just then, Alice approached Ferdinand and said, “Your Highness, Minister Chikov has arrived.”

“Show him in,” Ferdinand replied, composing himself.

…

After exchanging polite greetings, Chikov began his report.

“Your Highness, I would like to recommend someone to you. He is highly capable and can assist you in managing government affairs.”

Ferdinand’s eyes lit up with interest. “Oh? Who is it?”

The Stamov cabinet had collapsed, leaving behind not only a massive fortune but also a mess of problems. The provisional cabinet had yet to be formed, and Ferdinand desperately needed help.

Chikov did not mince words. “My old classmate, Konstantin Itolov. He was a high-ranking member of the People’s Party and is very capable. He has no clear political leanings in diplomacy.”

Ferdinand was taken aback. Another prominent figure—wasn’t he the next prime minister of Bulgaria in the original timeline?

Konstantin Itolov had become Bulgaria’s prime minister in 1894. Known for his boundless energy, he had continued the economic policies of the Stamov government, driving Bulgaria’s industrial development. Diplomatically, he had reconciled with Russia, normalizing relations. However, the People’s Party had often employed assassins against political rivals, and soon after taking office, party officials had engaged in widespread corruption, tarnishing their reputation.

Ferdinand considered this for a moment before relaxing. The current situation was vastly different from history. One Konstantin Itolov could not stir up much trouble. Appointing him to handle internal affairs seemed like a good choice.

“Well, if you speak so highly of him, I suppose I should meet him,” Ferdinand said with a smile.

Chikov replied confidently, “Rest assured, Your Highness. He will not disappoint you.”

Ferdinand nodded. “Good. By the way, the provisional cabinet will be formed soon. I’ve reserved a position for you. Be prepared.”

Chikov’s heart leaped with joy. His efforts had finally paid off, and he was being rewarded so quickly. Excitedly, he said, “Your Highness, I will do my utmost to serve well!”

Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction. He had not been in Bulgaria long enough to cultivate many suitable candidates. Chikov was one of the first high-ranking officials to pledge allegiance to him. Though his abilities were mediocre, he was obedient and had decent execution skills. Moreover, as the Minister of Education, promoting him to the cabinet would not seem too abrupt.

…

Time flew by. After two days of fermenting, the news had spread throughout Bulgaria, sparking widespread discussion.

The media, recently freed from strict controls, seemed to have gone mad, relentlessly attacking the Liberal Party and the opposition. Intellectuals and educators who had survived the purge joined the chorus.

Thanks to the Stamov government’s reign of terror, many ordinary citizens had adopted an attitude of “mind your own business,” which actually eased the pressure on Ferdinand.

Though the Stamov cabinet had been sent away under the pretense of mental illness, the public demand for their execution remained high.

Fortunately, Ferdinand acted decisively, establishing a rehabilitation committee to review cases, which diverted public attention and prevented chaos.

On May 15, 1889, Ferdinand quietly formed the provisional cabinet. The position of prime minister remained vacant for the time being. The cabinet consisted of only three members: Minister of Education Chikov, Minister of Agriculture James Peidinov, and the pro-Russian Grand Archbishop Clement.

The new government immediately abolished the in-kind tithe and repealed the excessive taxes imposed by the Stamov government.

Following this, Ferdinand, at the behest of Grand Archbishop Clement, organized a delegation to visit St. Petersburg, appeasing the domestic pro-Russian faction.

With these tasks completed, Ferdinand finally breathed a sigh of relief. Bulgaria’s turbulent situation had been stabilized for the time being.

Now, Ferdinand could focus on cleaning up the mess left by the Stamov cabinet. The ongoing Five-Year Plan could not be halted; the chaotic government system needed to be reorganized; and most troublesome of all, the secretly executed prisoners and those still in jail needed to be re-evaluated.

Konstantin Itolov passed Ferdinand’s test and was appointed Minister of the Interior, tasked with overseeing the government’s daily operations.

Chikov personally led the rehabilitation committee, beginning the process of reviewing convictions. Of course, those involved in or connected to the assassination cases were outright ignored. The unlucky ones whose entire families had been wiped out were also sidelined.

Even so, the rehabilitation of tens of thousands of people could not be rushed. This was Ferdinand’s idea—everything had to be done according to legal procedures.

Ferdinand also enlisted Boris Kristof, a notorious stubborn figure in Bulgaria’s judicial circles, to establish an anti-corruption bureau.

They began purging the government of corrupt officials, including those from the previous cabinet. A large number of officials faced dismissal.

The police department was the first to be targeted. As direct participants in the massacre, they faced widespread public outrage. Seizing this opportunity, Ferdinand quietly took control of the police system.

Ferdinand and the provisional cabinet worked tirelessly for over half a year before the government finally got back on track.

Chapter 36: Domestic Affairs

After the establishment of the interim cabinet, Ferdinand, under the guise of anti-corruption, purged his political opponents and vigorously promoted his confidants, diligently diminishing the influence of the Liberal Party. In this endeavor, Boris Kristof played a pivotal role!

As the head of the anti-corruption bureau and a great contributor, Boris Kristof now found himself overwhelmed with work, experiencing both joy and pain. His ideals had been realized, but his leisurely life was gone forever.

Now, he was seen as a beacon of justice by the people and a butcher by the officials. Ferdinand placed full trust in Boris Kristof; once he set his sights on someone, few could escape.

He was incorruptible, showing no favoritism, not even to Ferdinand. Even some of Frhu’s intelligence personnel, who had dirty hands, were caught in the net and ended up behind bars.

Frhu decided to go with the flow, sending them to prison to infiltrate and monitor the criminals, allowing them to redeem themselves through service. Currently, Bulgaria was undergoing massive infrastructure development, and these criminals would mostly be sent to labor camps.

Under Boris’s leadership, the anti-corruption bureau was sending people to court every few days, with astonishing efficiency. This forced the Bulgarian courts to establish a special temporary court dedicated to trying corrupt officials.

The media even bestowed upon him the title of “Official Butcher,” making Boris Kristof the most popular figure among the Bulgarian populace.

Boris Kristof’s efforts were not in vain. Apart from netting a large number of corrupt officials, the people’s trust in the government was restored.

To better develop the economy, Ferdinand merged the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economy. The promotion of local officials and economic development had become important indicators.

Ferdinand, considering Bulgaria’s actual situation, established a healthcare department and merged it with the Ministry of Education. The water conservancy department, originally under the Ministry of the Interior, was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Thanks to the enormous legacy left by the Stamov cabinet, Bulgaria’s long-standing financial crisis was resolved. This gave Ferdinand the confidence to accelerate Bulgaria’s industrialization.

In agriculture, due to the impact of the “Confused Massacre,” a large amount of ownerless land was nationalized. Additionally, some hidden land was confiscated by the government, leading to the decline of the landlord class. The government now directly controlled one-third of Bulgaria’s land.

To alleviate class contradictions, Ferdinand stipulated that the maximum land rent and tax should not exceed thirty percent, with the landowners responsible for paying agricultural taxes.

Ferdinand decided to gradually establish farms in the plains, adopting mechanized operations to promote technological upgrades in the agricultural industry.

…

At the year-end ministerial meeting in 1889, Konstantin Itolov, with a ruddy complexion, said, “Your Highness, the domestic economy is developing splendidly. In the past six months, new investments have reached fifty million leva!”

Ferdinand smiled and nodded, signaling him to continue. He thought to himself, “Splendid my foot! More than half of that is my own investment or government investment. Private capital is negligible!”

Konstantin continued, “From June until now, the country has added one thousand and thirty-five factories of various sizes. Among them, twelve are large factories with capital exceeding one million and employing over one thousand people!”

“Government investment totals one hundred and twenty-eight million leva, mainly used for the grand railway plan, supporting road construction, and some infrastructure projects! So far, the overall progress is smooth!”

“Next year, we will continue to promote industrial development and increase government investment in infrastructure projects. The main projects will continue to complete the railway plan and urban supporting construction, creating favorable conditions for the development of industry and commerce!”

Ferdinand knew he was laying the groundwork to compete for next year’s budget. He smiled and said, “Good, the government’s work is indeed commendable!”

After Ferdinand finished speaking, he turned his gaze to the Minister of Defense, Sava Mutkurov. To control the military, Ferdinand had made significant adjustments to the army, promoting most high-ranking military officers into the Ministry of Defense.

Sava Mutkurov, with his seniority and early allegiance, became the Minister of Defense. In Ferdinand’s view, military officers serving in the Ministry of Defense, even if they were civilians, were more professional, making it a case of making use of the otherwise useless.

Sava Mutkurov was very grateful to Ferdinand. Although he was a member of the Liberal Party, the position of Minister of Defense had always been held by civilians, leaving no room for him.

Understanding Ferdinand’s meaning, Sava Mutkurov immediately spoke, “Your Highness, our military has just undergone a major reorganization. The current problem is that our weapons and equipment are mostly outdated. Not to mention the European powers, even compared to Greece and Serbia, our firepower is somewhat lacking!”

“Currently, our military industry is still lagging behind. The machinery and equipment in the arms factories are outdated and urgently need to be updated. Moreover, they can only produce firearms, ammunition, and small-caliber artillery.”

Ferdinand thought carefully and said, “The issue with the arms factories indeed needs urgent resolution. In next year’s fiscal budget, it can be given priority. However, the problem of military training must be addressed promptly to forge an elite force as soon as possible!”

“Rest assured, Your Highness! We will handle the training issue well!” Sava Mutkurov assured.

James Peidinov knew it was his turn to speak and said, “Your Highness, due to the fluctuations in the first half of the year, agricultural production has been somewhat affected, with the cultivated area decreasing by three percentage points compared to previous years.”

“However, the promotion of new agricultural technologies has increased yield per unit area, with some regions even seeing an increase of over eight percent! Overall, it is on par with last year.”

Ferdinand smiled and said, “Not bad! Keep up the good work and strive to reach a new level this year!”

Finally, Chikov stood up to speak. Although the Minister of Education had the least authority, his ranking in the cabinet was the highest.

This was Ferdinand’s political strategy, using the small to control the large. Konstantin, who held the most power, couldn’t even enter the cabinet, while Chikov, with the least power, had the highest ranking in the cabinet.

Chikov cleared his throat and said, “Your Highness, the development of education this year has been rapid. The second batch of university students has successfully enrolled. Additionally, five new vocational colleges have been established and started recruiting students, including two normal schools, one medical college, and the remaining two are comprehensive technical institutes! This basically meets Bulgaria’s educational needs.”

“The literacy education promoted to society is also progressing very well, with the total number of illiterate people decreasing by ten percentage points. It is estimated that within ten years, illiteracy can be basically eliminated!”

Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction. Chikov lacked initiative, but his execution was indeed impeccable.

Finally, the meeting was adjourned.

Chapter 37: Diplomacy

In the summer and autumn of 1887, Bismarck and Salisbury expanded the Mediterranean Agreement to the Balkans.

In December, England, Italy, and Austria exchanged notes, signing the second Mediterranean Agreement and forming an alliance against Russia’s Near Eastern ambitions. This was Bismarck’s adjustment to the alliance system, creating a balance where England, Italy, Austria, France, and Russia mutually restrained each other in the Near East while preventing a Franco-Russian alliance, thus securing Germany’s position on the European continent.

From the late 1880s onward, the League of the Three Emperors gradually collapsed, but Germany still maintained alliances with Russia and Austria. This period marked the peak of Bismarck’s “never-setting sun” diplomacy.

In March 1890, Bismarck resigned, and his successor altered Germany’s foreign policy, bringing the alliance system to an end. The most significant change was the refusal to renew the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty.

After Germany tore up the treaty, Russia’s diplomatic situation grew increasingly dire. Forced to turn to France, the two nations began alliance negotiations in 1891. Due to mutual distrust, the Franco-Russian Alliance was not formally established until 1894.

Under Germany’s “new course,” in July 1890, the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty was signed between Germany and England, resolving colonial disputes. At the time, this was seen as a major concession by Germany, aimed at drawing England into the Triple Alliance.

From 1890 to 1894, Germany repeatedly urged England to expand its obligations under the Mediterranean Agreement. Demonstrative actions in the Mediterranean showcased the “four-power coordination,” reinforcing Germany’s diplomatic stance.

Against this backdrop, Ferdinand dispatched Archbishop Clement to Russia. The primary objectives were twofold: first, to appease the dominant pro-Russian faction, and second, to improve Russo-Bulgarian relations at minimal cost, effectively securing a powerful ally.

Time was running out. In a few months, Bismarck would resign, and Germany would abandon the Reinsurance Treaty. Russia, seeking to break its diplomatic deadlock, naturally turned to Bulgaria.

In truth, the League of the Three Emperors had been fraught with contradictions from the start, particularly the irreconcilable tensions between Russia and Austria.

In 1885, an uprising in Eastern Rumelia saw the people expel Ottoman Turkish officials and declare unification with the Principality of Bulgaria, with Grand Duke Alexander proclaimed as the ruler of the unified state.

What began as a Bulgarian nationalist movement, under the intervention of the European powers vying for control, spiraled into a two-year Bulgarian crisis.

The Principality of Bulgaria, established after the Russo-Turkish War of 1878, was Russia’s primary stronghold in the Balkans. The League of the Three Emperors in 1881 had even stipulated Bulgarian unification, but due to shifting Russo-Bulgarian relations, Russia could no longer maintain its puppet regime in Bulgaria.

Grand Duke Alexander, a nobleman from a minor German state and nephew of the Russian Empress, ascended to the Bulgarian throne in 1879 with the Tsar’s support.

Once in power, Alexander grew increasingly discontent with the arrogance of Russian officials in Bulgaria. Negotiations failed, and his anti-Russian stance became more pronounced as he sought to break free from Russian control.

Though Austria-Hungary was allied with Russia, it had no desire to see Russia monopolize Bulgaria. Thus, mutual interests drew Austria and Alexander closer.

After the rupture in Russo-Bulgarian relations, Russia, unable to maintain control over the Bulgarian government, began obstructing Bulgarian unification. It threatened to withdraw military officers and dismantle Bulgaria’s armed forces, while pressuring other powers to force Alexander to dissolve the Bulgarian state.

At the Great Powers’ conference, Germany mediated, siding with Russia and Austria, but faced British opposition due to the wavering stances of Germany and Austria.

A compromise was reached: Alexander would serve as Governor of Eastern Rumelia, achieving de facto Bulgarian unification while Turkey retained nominal sovereignty.

But the troubles did not end there. Bulgaria’s unification drew the covetous eyes of smaller nations like Greece and Serbia, who sought territorial compensation.

In September, King Milan of Serbia visited Vienna, hoping for Austro-Hungarian support in his territorial claims. When the Great Powers’ conference denied him backing, Serbia invaded Bulgaria in November. The outcome, however, was unexpected—the numerically superior Serbian forces were decisively defeated by the Bulgarians, who then seized key Serbian towns and advanced toward the capital.

Austria-Hungary intervened to protect its Balkan interests, forcing Bulgaria to withdraw while excluding Russia. Serbia’s defeat also led to the rise of the pro-Russian faction, sowing the seeds of future Russo-Austrian conflict.

Unwilling to accept defeat, Russia orchestrated a coup to overthrow Alexander. However, due to British and Austrian intervention, the situation spiraled beyond Russia’s control, and Ferdinand was installed as the new Grand Duke, further straining Russo-Austrian relations.

German-Russian relations were also far from harmonious. Trade disputes erupted as cheap Russian agricultural products flooded the German market, undermining the interests of the Junkers. Under their pressure, heavy tariffs were imposed on Russian goods. In retaliation, Russia levied high taxes on German industrial products, sparking a full-blown trade war.

In November 1887, Germany banned its banks from handling Russian securities, effectively closing its capital markets to Russia. This pushed Russia toward France, marking the beginning of the end for the German-Russian alliance.

In late November 1889, a Bulgarian diplomatic delegation arrived in St. Petersburg. The following month, Archbishop Clement was granted an audience with Tsar Alexander III, signaling the first thaw in four years of frozen Russo-Bulgarian relations.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand, well-versed in the ways of the Great Powers, was compelled to acknowledge the secret treaties signed during Stamov’s government with England and Austria-Hungary.

These treaties granted England and Austria-Hungary preferential trade rights in Bulgaria, with minimal tariffs. Given the industrial disparity, this was deeply unfair to Bulgaria.

With tariffs mortgaged, English and Austrian influence began a new wave of infiltration into Bulgaria. Though Ferdinand’s government paid a heavy price, it secured the support of these two powers, furthering their relationship.

In the long term, England and Austria-Hungary, leveraging their industrial superiority, dominated Bulgarian trade, stifling the growth of the Bulgarian bourgeoisie.

Fortunately, Ferdinand had always intended to develop state capitalism. Through policy favoritism and resource consolidation, he competed with the Great Powers. Had he relied on the bourgeoisie, Bulgaria’s development would have been nearly impossible.

Chapter 38: Reader Group

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Chapter 39: Relations with Russia

In March 1891, Archbishop Clement returned from St. Petersburg in high spirits. It was clear that his trip to Russia had gone smoothly, and he was in excellent mood.

He frequently touted the benefits of aligning with Russia, to the point where cabinet members now avoided him. Without Ferdinand’s approval, none of them dared to make any decisions.

Seeing that the government route was blocked, Clement turned his attention to Ferdinand. No longer satisfied with merely easing tensions with Russia, he now sought to deepen the relationship, ideally forming a solid alliance.

“Your Highness, Russia is Bulgaria’s natural ally. Since the War of Independence, we have always received their help. Although there have been some misunderstandings, those were issues from the Stamov cabinet era. For Bulgaria’s better development, an alliance with Russia is imperative! I swear on God’s name!” Clement spoke passionately, attempting to sway Ferdinand with his words.

It was evident that Clement was politically naive; otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought this up so bluntly in a ministerial meeting.

The conflicts between Bulgaria and Russia during the Stamov period had paved the way for Ferdinand’s rise to power. Anyone with even a modicum of political sense would avoid the topic to prevent embarrassing Ferdinand.

Though Clement spoke with great fervor, the others remained unimpressed. His arguments were too vague, lacking any concrete details. While relations with Russia were important, what specific benefits would Bulgaria gain? Without this clarity, how could he expect their support?

Ferdinand took over the conversation. “Archbishop, you are correct—relations with Russia are indeed important! However, the issue is that Russo-Bulgarian relations involve both parties, not just us making unilateral decisions!”

“Furthermore, we must consider the broader international landscape and the attitudes of other great powers! At the very least, we must take into account the positions of England and the Austro-Hungarian Empire!”

As it turned out, Clement truly did not understand politics. He was merely a staunch pro-Russian advocate, utterly overwhelmed by the complexities of international relations.

His position in the cabinet was nothing more than a symbolic gesture by Ferdinand to ease tensions with Russia and demonstrate Bulgaria’s sincerity during diplomatic visits. In reality, he held almost no actual power.

At that moment, a knock echoed through the room—thud, thud, thud… thud, thud.

“Come in!” Ferdinand said. He knew that unless something major had happened, no one would dare interrupt a cabinet meeting.

Chamberlain Karl hurried in and approached Ferdinand. “Your Highness, the international situation has undergone a massive shift! We’ve just received word from Berlin—on March 17th, the Russian ambassador to Germany, Paul Shuvalov, proposed extending the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty by six years, but the German government rejected it!”

The room was stunned. The German-Russian alliance had just collapsed, and the international order was about to be reshuffled.

Even the politically obtuse Clement understood that Bulgaria’s foreign policy would now need adjustment.

Ferdinand pondered for a moment before speaking. “This was expected, though I didn’t think it would come so soon! Ever since the German-Russian trade conflicts began, people have been predicting this. After the League of the Three Emperors dissolved, no one expected Bismarck to come up with the Reinsurance Treaty. Now that the old chancellor is out of power, the impatient Wilhelm II, eager to prove himself, couldn’t wait any longer!”

He was educating the cabinet on international affairs. For far too long, Bulgaria’s foreign relations had been a mess, primarily because their vision was confined to the Balkans, leaving them blind to the broader global environment.

“Your Highness, how should we adjust our foreign policy moving forward?” Metev, the minister in charge of foreign affairs, asked nervously.

Ferdinand countered with a question of his own. “What do you all think?”

Konstantin thought for a moment before replying, “Your Highness, until the international situation stabilizes, we should avoid direct involvement. Bulgaria is a small nation with no power to influence global affairs. We must remain flexible and adaptable!”

Ferdinand nodded in approval. If he hadn’t known the course of future history, he would have made the same choice.

After all, Bulgaria was a small country. One wrong step could spell disaster, and even if they gambled correctly, the gains would be limited. It was far better to play both sides.

Historically, starting with Konstantin’s government, Bulgaria had skillfully exploited international contradictions, playing both sides to their advantage. Initially, this strategy worked well, and they were courted by various nations.

However, as the two major international blocs formed later on, Bulgaria’s attempts to play both sides came at a heavy price.

During the Second Balkan War, Russia, dissatisfied with Bulgaria’s indecisiveness, chose the more resolute Serbia instead. Similarly, the Austro-Hungarian Empire grew suspicious of Bulgaria’s stance and ultimately abandoned them.

Clement grew anxious. He, too, understood that the shifting international diplomatic landscape would be unfavorable to Russia. The value of a Russo-Bulgarian alliance would diminish significantly, and he found this unacceptable.

After a brief silence, Ferdinand realized that expecting the cabinet to come up with a plan was asking too much. After all, they had been hastily promoted and lacked experience in this area.

“Now that the international situation has undergone a dramatic shift, the direction it will take is beyond our control. Therefore, our overall principle should be to maintain stability—continue stabilizing relations with England and Austria. At the same time, we must prioritize our relationship with Russia and continue advancing bilateral ties. We should also strive to ease tensions with the Balkan nations to lay the groundwork for future economic development!” Ferdinand’s decision surprised everyone.

Clement, whose political instincts were underdeveloped, was momentarily stunned. Ferdinand, who had previously opposed an alliance with Russia, had now suddenly shifted to supporting it.

Konstantin was the first to recover. A faint smile crossed his face, and soon, the others understood as well, nodding in satisfied agreement.

Bulgaria lacked mineral resources, and to achieve industrialization, it would need to import from abroad. In terms of cost, Russia was the best option.

The Ukraine region was rich in mineral resources, yet its industrial development lagged behind. Located along the Black Sea coast, it could not only supply Bulgaria with resources but also provide access to a vast market. Thus, Russo-Bulgarian relations would become Bulgaria’s most crucial diplomatic task in the coming years.

Even now, Ferdinand found the situation frustrating. The diplomatic maneuvering of the Balkan nations was astonishingly chaotic.

Initially, Serbia leaned toward the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Greece and Romania toward Germany, and Bulgaria toward Russia. But when World War I broke out, pro-Entente Bulgaria joined the Central Powers, while the nations that had previously sided with the Central Powers eventually switched to the Entente.

“Mr. Clement, I’m afraid I must trouble you to make another trip to St. Petersburg. Under the guise of civilian cultural exchange, you will strengthen unofficial ties between our two nations. Is that acceptable?” Ferdinand asked, leaving no room for refusal.

Clement immediately replied, “No, no problem at all!” Though he didn’t fully grasp Ferdinand’s foreign policy, as long as the outcome was what he wanted, he was satisfied.

Chapter 40: Labor Issues

Since 1888, Bulgaria had embarked on its Five-Year Plan, with railway construction as the top priority. Whether during the Stamov government or Ferdinand’s era, no matter how the domestic situation changed, it never interfered with the normal construction of the railways.

To ensure the smooth completion of the railway plan and to save costs, during Stamov’s time, criminals were sent to the construction sites as laborers.

The Stamov cabinet allowed the police to run rampant—initially to suppress competitors, later to raise funds, and not without the intention of securing a cheap labor force.

With the rehabilitation work underway, many wrongful convictions from the Stamov era were investigated and cleared, and a large number of innocent people were released. Now, the railway project was facing a severe labor shortage.

Although Bulgaria could not be called vast, its sparse population was a fact. Previously, many farmers had gone bankrupt, but with the advancement of industrialization, most of them had already been absorbed into the workforce.

Given the choices available, few were willing to work on the railways, even though the wages for railway workers were higher.

But railway construction in the late 19th century was akin to a death sentence—workplace accidents were all too common. Even those forced by circumstances to take the job would leave at the first opportunity.

Now, Konstantin was troubled. Even after sending all the criminals to the construction sites, the labor shortage remained severe!

In an era without machinery, relying solely on manual labor, workers were indispensable. To meet the deadline, the engineers had come up with a staggering figure: at least fifty thousand laborers were needed.

When this number was reported, Konstantin was stunned. It meant there was still a shortage of forty thousand workers.

Bulgaria’s population was only just over three million. Gathering so many railway workers was as difficult as ascending to heaven. With no other options, he had no choice but to report the issue upward.

Chikov, who was on duty in the cabinet, received an unexpected visitor—Konstantin, accompanied by the engineers.

Chikov was bewildered upon seeing Konstantin and his group. “Konstantin, what’s going on?” he asked.

Konstantin, too preoccupied to exchange pleasantries, got straight to the point. “Mr. Chikov, I’m here today regarding the railway issue.”

Chikov asked seriously, “Has something happened with the railway project?”

“No!” Konstantin replied firmly.

Chikov’s suspended heart settled. “Thank God, no accidents—that’s good!”

“But it’s worse than that!” Konstantin’s next words confused Chikov again.

“What is it?” Chikov asked.

“Let the engineer explain it to you!” Konstantin said helplessly.

Chikov, annoyed, said, “Fine, whoever says it is the same!”

The chief engineer, Lauren Holman, with a stern face, said, “Respected Mr. Chikov, the railway project is proceeding smoothly, but we’ve encountered a major problem!”

Chikov was even more puzzled. If everything was going smoothly, what kind of problem could there be? He immediately asked, “What major problem?”

Lauren Holman replied stiffly, “We lack sufficient labor!”

Chikov’s heart settled, and he asked, “How many are we short?”

Lauren Holman calmly said, “To ensure timely completion, we need at least forty-three thousand more laborers, and the project budget must be increased by fifty percent!”

“What? That’s impossible! This is way beyond the original plan!” Chikov said incredulously.

“Mr. Chikov, please trust our professionalism! These figures are the result of actual measurements and calculations by our technical staff!” Lauren Holman said solemnly.

Chikov still found it hard to believe. He asked doubtfully, “Sorry, Mr. Lauren, I’m not questioning your professionalism, but this discrepancy is too large!”

“For that, I can only apologize. Initially, we underestimated Bulgaria’s transportation conditions. While building the railways, we had to invest a large amount of manpower into road construction first. Additionally, the construction difficulty in the Rila Mountains has exceeded our imagination!” Lauren Holman explained.

After listening to Lauren, Chikov’s face turned pale. He knew this was indeed a major problem—one beyond the cabinet’s ability to solve.

Chikov sighed bitterly, “God help us! Konstantin, you’ve really brought a big problem!”

“Chikov, I didn’t want to!” Konstantin said helplessly.

This problem was too big—so big that it could determine whether the Five-Year Plan could be completed and whether the interim cabinet could become permanent.

Chikov thought for a moment and decided to report to Ferdinand. He no longer believed the railway plan could be completed smoothly. Given Bulgaria’s current situation, it was impossible to gather so many laborers in a short time.

Ferdinand, who had just become free, was in the palace enjoying a dance performance. Several beautiful girls were performing passionately, their costumes designed by Ferdinand himself.

Just as Ferdinand was about to take things further with one of the dancers, Alice entered, her face flushed with shyness. “Your Highness, Mr. Chikov and Mr. Konstantin are here, and they’ve brought three strangers with them!”

Ferdinand, somewhat displeased, said, “I know, I’ll be right there!” He released the woman in his arms and, seeing Alice’s shy expression, suddenly smirked mischievously, scaring her into running away.

In his past life as a single man, Ferdinand had been quite decent after his transmigration. But soon, the noble lifestyle corrupted him. Although he hadn’t reached the point of promiscuity, he had never participated in the nobles’ orgies for fear of disease. Of course, he had never lacked women by his side.

Remembering he had official business, Ferdinand decided to let Alice off the hook this time and strode toward the main hall.

Seeing Chikov and the others, Ferdinand, in a bad mood, didn’t give them a chance to speak. Since Lauren Holman had been invited by Ferdinand’s people, he recognized him at once. “You’re all here. What’s the problem with the railway project?”

Chikov, seeing Ferdinand’s foul mood, didn’t dare to beat around the bush. “Thank God, the railway project is going smoothly, but we’re short on labor!”

“Oh?” Ferdinand responded, waiting for more. Labor shortages in railway construction were common, but bringing such a minor issue to him was unusual.

Chikov hesitated but then blurted out, “According to Engineer Lauren’s calculations, we need at least forty-three thousand more laborers to complete the project on time!”

Upon hearing this, Ferdinand couldn’t believe it. “What? Are you joking? You need that many more laborers?”

Chapter 41: Importing Labor

Seeing Ferdinand’s anger, Lauren Holman spoke up: “Your Grace, I can answer that question for you!”

“Oh? Then give me a reason, Mr. Lauren!” Ferdinand said irritably.

Lauren Holman paid no mind to Ferdinand’s tone and calmly replied, “Your Grace, the railway project has actually involved a great deal of work beyond the railway itself!”

“Oh!” Ferdinand exclaimed in surprise.

Lauren Holman continued, “In reality, while constructing the railway, we also had to build roads first. Of course, there was also the issue of underestimating the geographical conditions, which led to greater construction difficulties than expected! All these factors combined have resulted in the current labor shortage!”

Ferdinand understood and his expression returned to normal. He calmly said, “I see. So, Mr. Lauren, you’re saying that in addition to the railway project, we’ve also added a supporting road network. Does that mean the budget of ten million pounds will also increase significantly?”

Lauren Holman replied straightforwardly, “Yes, Your Grace! It’s estimated to increase by about fifty percent. Of course, if we only build temporary roads, the cost can be lower, but that would be very uneconomical.”

Ferdinand, now aware of the situation, immediately brightened up and said, “Alright, I understand. Thank you, Mr. Lauren. The Bulgarian people will not forget your efforts! The government will resolve this issue as soon as possible, so you can proceed with the construction without worry.”

“Very well, Your Grace. This is what I should do. Since there’s nothing more for me here, I still have work to finish at the construction site, so I’ll take my leave.” It seemed Lauren Holman had sensed that Ferdinand’s next matters were not suitable for him to be involved in, so he chose to excuse himself.

Watching Lauren Holman and his two companions leave, Ferdinand turned his gaze to Chikov and Konstantin, asking, “What are your thoughts?”

Chikov shook his head, indicating he had none.

Konstantin thought for a moment and said, “Why don’t we purchase black slaves? Although there are some moral issues, as long as it ensures the smooth progress of the railway project, it’s worth it!”

Ferdinand rolled his eyes, thinking: What a terrible idea. What era is this to still be buying black slaves? Is the Bulgarian ethnic issue so simple that it can be resolved just by looking at skin color? Even a hundred years later, they won’t be able to assimilate.

Seeming to sense the inappropriateness, Konstantin awkwardly said, “Oh, this seems unfeasible. The price of black slaves is too high!”

Ferdinand almost laughed out loud. So, you only care about money!

After a while, Ferdinand sorted out his thoughts and said, “Since Bulgaria lacks labor, why not look abroad? We can recruit from our neighbors, and if that’s not enough, we can look to the world’s most populous countries! But we must ensure two principles: first, no nationalists, and second, no fanatical religious extremists!”

Chikov and Konstantin both realized the situation. Now, factories in Bulgaria were springing up like mushrooms, and the government was heavily investing in infrastructure construction, naturally leading to a domestic labor shortage, which in turn had driven up workers’ wages significantly.

But other countries had labor to spare. The Balkan countries had small populations, so their surplus labor was probably not much, but other regions of the world had plenty.

As for distant Qing China, it was too far away, and apart from Ferdinand, probably not many people would think that the best workers came from there.

Just in Eastern Europe, Russia and Austria-Hungary had abundant labor. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people emigrated to the Americas. If even half of them could come to Bulgaria, it would be enough.

At this point, Ferdinand thought of another way to increase the population and happily said, “Oh, Chikov, your Ministry of Education will be busy again. We also need a batch of language teachers.”

“For the basic wages of foreign laborers, set them lower than those of local workers; increase them slightly after they learn Bulgarian; and raise them to the same level as local workers if they obtain Bulgarian citizenship.”

Chikov puzzledly asked, “Your Grace, wouldn’t this increase expenses? And if they change their minds after the project is completed and leave Bulgaria, wouldn’t all our efforts be in vain?”

Konstantin had the same expression, clearly not understanding Ferdinand’s suggestion.

Ferdinand smiled and said, “I don’t plan to make them all stay. Some will definitely leave. But Bulgaria’s economic situation, although not as good as Western Europe, is still better than our neighbors, right?”

“Moreover, our construction will be completed in the short term. At least for the next ten years, we will face a labor shortage. If they stay in Bulgaria for a few years, many will choose to stay!”

Konstantin suddenly realized something and looked at Ferdinand with delight, saying, “Your Grace, are you planning to use economic means to address the ethnic issue?”

Seeing that Konstantin had caught on, Ferdinand did not deny it and smiled, saying, “Exactly. This is just an experiment. If it succeeds, great; if it fails, it’s no big deal—just an extra expense. As long as one-tenth of them stay, we won’t have lost out!”

One word from above, and those below run their legs off. Ferdinand had given a grand strategy and considered his part done, continuing to discuss life with the ladies.

But importing labor was far from as simple as imagined, especially in such large numbers. Even in those days, when governments did not strictly regulate civilians and visas were not required, the effort to bring tens of thousands of people to a foreign land was considerable. The journey’s food, clothing, shelter, and transportation all required careful organization.

Konstantin took on the task, and the government began to operate around this matter, bustling with activity. Many people’s vacations were canceled.

Even the usually idle Ministry of Education was now actively searching for teachers. Academic qualifications were no longer a requirement; as long as they knew a few languages, it was enough. Even so, it was like finding a needle in a haystack, and whether they could gather enough depended entirely on luck.

Minister Metev was in a very bad mood. Ever since Ferdinand decided to import labor, the government first organized the recruitment, and later, unscrupulous capitalists joined in. They used all kinds of tricks, deceiving and swindling people.

Austria-Hungary and Russia had not yet felt the impact, but the neighboring countries suffered first. The embassies of Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, and the Ottoman Empire in Bulgaria all sent people to protest.

Fortunately, in those days, no one cared about the lives of the poor, or else the diplomatic pressure alone would have been enough to give Ferdinand a headache.

As the party at fault, Minister Metev had to apologize and offer generous bribes. After exerting tremendous effort, he barely managed to smooth things over, but now another problem had arisen.

After being closed off for a few days, he took a look and was shocked to find that the votes had decreased by half. How tragic!

Chapter 42: Bulgaria’s Labor Protection Law

Not long ago, Bulgarian capitalist Bill Kiyev directly went to Romania to “relocate a factory,” but unfortunately, he made too much noise and was detained.

Bill Kiyev was the son of Bulgarian capitalist Evlogi Georgiev (one of the founders of Sofia University), clever and bold.

During the poaching frenzy, Bill Kiyev did not set up recruitment signs like others; he thought that was too inefficient.

Upon entering Alexandria, Romania, Bill Kiyev set his sights on Weber’s paper factory. He bribed the local thugs and found two local workers, the Nicost brothers.

“Big brother, is what Mr. Bill Kiyev said true?” Little Nicost asked worriedly.

“How would I know? But these eight hundred lei can’t be fake!” Big Nicost said casually.

“Well! Anyway, our family is in this state now. If we don’t have money to repay the debt, we’ll be beaten to death!” Little Nicost said helplessly.

“No, at most they’ll turn us into their slaves. If they beat us to death, who will repay their money?” Big Nicost comforted him.

Ever since their father, Old Nicost, fell ill three years ago, their family’s life had become difficult. They were forced to borrow high-interest loans, but Old Nicost still did not survive.

Then the Nicost family began their journey of debt repayment, from the initial thirty lei to the current five hundred lei, during which the brothers repaid one hundred lei.

“Forget it, as long as Mr. Bill is willing to give money, we’ll do it. Anyway, that vampire Dracula is not a good thing!” Little Nicost said fiercely.

“That’s right, my brother. That vampire Dracula wants to deduct every lei from us. Going to Bulgaria to make a living might be a good way out.” Big Nicost said expectantly.

The Nicost brothers, united in thought, began to lobby for Bill everywhere. Although people did not believe them much, out of past friendships, they still met with Bill.

Bill used his silver tongue to quickly deceive a group of workers, then advanced a month’s salary as a deposit.

Dracula, as a qualified capitalist, was naturally a greedy vampire. It was only natural that Bill Kiyev hollowed out the workers and then secretly took everyone away.

If it were just this, it would be fine. As long as he ran fast, by the time he was discovered, he would have already returned to Bulgaria, and no one could do anything to him.

But Bill Kiyev, who had tasted the sweetness, was not willing to stop after one job. He carried on the nature of a capitalist and directly started working as a labor intermediary, deceiving workers from all over Romania and taking a commission for himself.

It turned out that 19th-century capitalists were not to be trifled with. After only a few jobs, Bill was targeted and unfortunately exposed in the Caracal region, where he was detained by local capitalists.

With his silver tongue, Bill successfully saved his life, but now the other party was demanding a ransom from Evlogi Georgiev.

Evlogi Georgiev, worried about Bill’s safety, went to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Metev. There was no way around it; after all, Metev had married Evlogi Georgiev’s daughter and had to step in to rescue this…

A ransom of one million lei was something Evlogi Georgiev clearly did not intend to pay, and even if he wanted to, he could not raise such a large sum in a short time!

Metev was troubled. Using personal connections, he found the other party, and the negotiations went smoothly. Bill’s safety could be guaranteed, and his treatment was not a concern; they just needed to pay the ransom, and not a single penny less.

In the end, Metev managed to get Bill out by owing a lot of favors and paying a large sum of money.

This marked the end of the poaching incident. From then on, capitalists from various countries became more vigilant, and Bulgaria could no longer recklessly poach workers.

Ferdinand’s easy days were also over. The influx of a large population brought not only benefits to Bulgaria but also a host of troubles.

The crime rate soared, conflicts between locals and outsiders intensified, capitalists began to cause trouble again, recklessly deducting wages, and labor disputes emerged one after another. Some capitalists even cut costs by using large numbers of foreign workers and laying off local workers.

To mediate disputes, various government departments were constantly mobilized and were already exhausted. This was still thanks to Ferdinand’s industries, which dominated Bulgaria and always behaved, preventing major chaos.

Looking at the problems reported from all over, Ferdinand knew it was time to introduce labor protection laws; otherwise, if it dragged on, a workers’ revolution might break out one day.

On September 18, 1890, Bulgaria’s first law to resolve labor disputes—the Bulgarian Labor Law—was enacted.

This law was formulated by Ferdinand with reference to future labor laws and England’s Factory Act. To a certain extent, it favored the working class, and the penalties for labor disputes were astonishingly severe.

Later generations considered this the first true labor protection law. The articles clearly stipulated that heavy manual labor working hours should not exceed ten working hours, and overtime pay must be provided, with one paid day off per week.

It also set a minimum monthly wage of no less than seventy-five leva (approximately three pounds), which, when broken down into hourly wages, was equivalent to the current average wage in Bulgaria.

Regarding labor disputes, if capitalists maliciously withheld wages or arbitrarily deducted wages, they could face the penalty of having their factories confiscated, along with heavy fines.

Similarly, if workers maliciously caused trouble, framed others, or engaged in extortion, they would face life imprisonment upon conviction.

All illegal acts would be severely punished. However, the law did not protect everyone; many clauses applied only to Bulgarian citizens.

For example, the prohibition on arbitrary layoffs applied only to Bulgarian citizens. The minimum wage level was also a privilege for local citizens.

For foreign workers, if they spoke Bulgarian, the minimum wage guarantee was only eighty percent of that for local citizens; if they did not, it was only fifty percent.

Including rest days and working hours, the treatment of local citizens and foreign workers was also different. Moreover, in every factory, the number of local citizens could not be less than sixty percent.

It was almost as if the law was saying that capitalists could recklessly exploit foreigners but should go easy on their own people!

The enactment of the Bulgarian Labor Protection Law caused an uproar in public opinion. The mainstream praised it, considering it a major step forward for Bulgarian democracy.

Some scholars also ridiculed it, claiming it destroyed the free market of capitalism, and apart from a few capitalists who supported it, no one else responded.

There were also a few saintly individuals who believed the government had not done enough and had not treated everyone equally, but their voices were too weak, and even newspapers were too lazy to publish them.

Chapter 43: Reform I

Ferdinand was well aware that capitalists were greedy—if pushed too hard, who knew what they might do. But they were also weak; give them an inch, and they would compromise.

In just half a year, Bulgaria had seen an influx of no fewer than one hundred thousand foreigners. Ferdinand, ever cunning, chose to sacrifice their interests to secure the capitalists’ compliance.

At the same time, he did not forget to open a small window of opportunity, encouraging foreigners to learn Bulgarian and integrate into society. The primary goal, of course, was to promote ethnic assimilation and boost the population.

The Labor Law, aside from winning Ferdinand public favor, had another short-term benefit: it dampened the enthusiasm of the working-class movement.

The Bulgarian Social Democratic Party of the working class, which had yet to be established, was already stillborn. Its founder, Blagoev, had been eliminated by the Stamov cabinet in 1889 under the butterfly effect of Ferdinand’s transmigration.

Due to Ferdinand’s influence, by 1890, Bulgaria’s employed workforce had swelled to four hundred and eighty thousand, with foreign laborers making up a quarter of that number. Economic development far outpaced historical levels.

Government investment in infrastructure had created jobs, stimulated domestic demand, and propelled Bulgaria’s rapid economic growth.

Yet, despite the surge in workers, Bulgaria’s industrial development remained backward.

Apart from Ferdinand’s own enterprises, most Bulgarian factories were still small workshops—technologically outdated, lacking competitiveness, scattered, and vulnerable to risk.

To change this, Ferdinand decided to deepen reforms. A small nation of just three million two hundred thousand people, with over a thousand factories competing for a tiny market, was simply wasting resources.

On September 20th, the Sofia Royal Palace hosted a grand debate that would determine Bulgaria’s economic future. Government officials and Bulgaria’s few economists were in attendance.

Under Ferdinand’s subtle guidance, Konstantin submitted a proposal: the Industry Entry Standards plan. It would set industry thresholds, eliminate weaker capitalists, artificially restrict new entrants, and indirectly support corporate mergers and monopolistic capitalism.

If passed, over seven hundred of Bulgaria’s one thousand-plus factories would be merged, restructured, or shut down within five years.

Clearly, this plan had little support. At the end of the 19th century, free-market capitalism was in vogue, and major powers were fighting against monopolies.

In 1890, the U.S. had just enacted the Sherman Act, making monopolistic capitalism seem like swimming against the tide.

Konstantin launched into a heated debate: “Gentlemen, we all know Bulgaria’s predicament. We are a small nation of just over three million, with scarce mineral resources. Our industrialization has reached a point where we rely heavily on imported raw materials. Many factories are poorly managed, technologically backward, and their products lack international competitiveness. They survive only on the domestic market. Last year, our trade deficit reached sixty million leva! How can our economy develop healthily under these conditions?”

“Mr. Konstantin, your Industry Entry Plan undermines free-market capitalism! Excessive government interference disrupts economic order and fairness—consequences would be dire!” economist Vilen Soma countered.

“Mr. Vilen, you exaggerate. Government intervention is necessary to ensure Bulgaria’s economic stability and eliminate hidden risks! If we do nothing, how can our capitalists compete internationally?” Konstantin retorted.

“Mr. Konstantin, we all know competition drives progress. Instead of monopolies, we should raise tariffs to protect our industries!” Minister of Industry Kamilayev argued.

“Mr. Kamilayev, how large is Bulgaria’s market? Can three million people sustain industrialization? If not, we must rely on international markets. Higher tariffs only isolate us further!” Konstantin shot back.

Seeing no response, Konstantin pressed on: “Gentlemen, we have no choice—either abandon industrialization or embrace monopolies to reduce inefficiency and force capitalists to innovate!”

“Konstantin is right. Monopolies may not suit great powers, but they are what Bulgaria needs now!” Chikov agreed.

“What do you mean by ‘needs’? It only serves someone’s interests!”

“Nonsense!”

The debate grew heated, with supporters of monopolies presenting stronger arguments while opponents, though numerous, grew increasingly aggressive.

Ferdinand intervened before the argument escalated further: “Enough! Silence! Mind your conduct—no personal attacks! This is your only warning. Anyone who violates this rule will be barred from further discussions!”

The room fell silent. Thank goodness Parliament is dissolved—otherwise, this would be even messier, Ferdinand thought, resolving to push through controversial bills before the next election.

On one hand, monopolies stifled technological progress—history had proven this. On the other, they could also drive innovation by consolidating resources, improving labor quality, and expanding production.

Ferdinand knew monopolies were Bulgaria’s best option for now. But once the nation grew stronger, they would become an obstacle.

The resistance to reform was greater than Ferdinand had anticipated—even within the government, opposition was fierce.

After a moment of silence, Ferdinand decided on a detour strategy, taking inspiration from American tycoons like Rockefeller.

With his plan in mind, Ferdinand abruptly ended the meeting, leaving only Konstantin behind.

Konstantin felt uneasy—judging by the meeting, he had failed Ferdinand’s task.

Ferdinand studied the distracted Konstantin and asked, “Mr. Konstantin, do you think the Industry Entry Plan is feasible?”

Konstantin answered without hesitation: “It is.”

Chapter 44: Reform Part II (Food Safety Crisis 1)

Finally, the contract was signed. Thank you all for your support!

“However, Your Highness, the resistance is too great. It will be difficult for us to gain support from all sectors of society, and the government will be put in a passive position,” Konstantin hesitated.

Ferdinand nodded in agreement, then asked, “What if we break the plan down? For example, start with one industry as a point of entry.”

Konstantin was taken aback. “If it’s just one industry, the resistance we face will be much smaller, but—”

Ferdinand cut off Konstantin’s next words. “No more ‘buts’! Your government can start by investigating one industry, uncover the problems, gather enough evidence, then build public opinion, and then carry out the reform!”

Konstantin pondered for a moment before saying, “Your Highness is wise!”

Ferdinand was quite pleased, though the flattery was a bit forced. He smiled and said, “Don’t flatter me; it doesn’t suit you! By the way, you’ll have your hands full from now on. Reform is reform, but the Five-Year Plan must not be affected. The government’s responsibility is immense!”

“Rest assured, Your Highness, the Ministry of the Interior will handle it well!” Konstantin promised.

…

After leaving the Sofia Palace, Konstantin was already feeling a headache. Despite his quick agreement earlier, he actually had little idea how to proceed.

The Five-Year Plan occupied most of the government’s energy, and Konstantin was internally opposed to carrying out reforms at this time—they were simply too busy.

Yet, he also agreed with Ferdinand’s reasons for reform. Now was the time when resistance to reform was at its lowest. The interest groups had just been cleaned up by the previous government, their strength greatly diminished, and those who survived were the smart ones.

The new parliamentary elections had not yet begun, and all power was still concentrated in Ferdinand’s hands. If the government forced through reforms, they could still be implemented. The backlash wouldn’t be too severe, as the butcher’s knife of the Stamov era had already frightened the capitalists, who wouldn’t dare to confront the government head-on in the short term.

But where to start was another thorny issue. As the first target, it had to be representative and widely recognized by all sectors of society.

The autumn wind was refreshing, the autumn rain was cooling, and the weather was pleasant. The land presented a scene of abundant harvest, making one’s heart and mind feel at ease.

Walking against the autumn wind, Konstantin unconsciously found himself on the street. From time to time, he heard vendors calling out, and the streets were filled with stalls from one end to the other. The colorful goods on the stalls dazzled the eyes, and the air was filled with the enticing aromas of tripe soup, canned meat, cheese, roasted meat, yogurt cucumber soup…

Konstantin suddenly had a flash of inspiration. What industry could be better than the food industry?

“Food safety” was definitely a topic of concern to everyone. Cracking down on illegal businesses and solving food safety hazards—who could say there was a problem with that?

Looking at the bustling Sofia, who else but Konstantin knew that in the near future, a government crackdown would be coming here?

The issue of “food safety” had been around for a long time. In this golden age of capitalism in the 19th century, capitalists were unscrupulous in their pursuit of maximum profit, using all kinds of additives indiscriminately.

As for food safety, as long as eating it didn’t cause immediate problems, they dared to put it on the market. Rotten beef and rat meat were child’s play; large amounts of mercury compounds were used as preservatives—it was practically murder.

On October 15th, the Bulgarian government issued the “Food Safety Management Regulations,” ordering food processing enterprises to rectify within a specified period.

The capitalists waited a few days, and seeing no further action from the government, they dismissed it as typical “all bark and no bite.” So, everyone went back to business as usual. After all, no one was foolish enough to turn down money.

Of course, there was one exception. At least Shuanghui Food Group was undergoing a major overhaul. Weilian, who had insider information, naturally knew that this time the government was serious.

Previously, Shuanghui Food Group had multiple brands for the same product, with vast price differences. The lowest-end ordinary goods and the highest-end noble-exclusive products differed by more than tenfold.

Even so, the noble-exclusive products still sold very well. The customers, besides the face-conscious nobles, were mainly capitalists.

Why did European nobles eat food from their own estates, and why were the newly rich capitalists eager to buy estates? They weren’t fools. The main reason was that everyone knew there were problems with the food sold on the market.

Clearly, Ferdinand was also a qualified capitalist. The products sold to the masses were naturally aimed at maximizing profit—cheaper was better. As for the noble-exclusive products, Ferdinand could guarantee with his chest that they were absolutely safe, with no chemical additives added, mainly because he himself ate them.

In any case, the cheaper the product, the less guaranteed its quality, absolutely in line with international standards—everyone was more or less the same. Whether it would poison people was not within Ferdinand’s considerations.

Now that Ferdinand was king, from the king’s perspective, Bulgaria needed to increase its population, so food safety was an urgent problem to solve. Konstantin’s plan could be said to be in perfect harmony with his own.

As for whether the rectification of the food industry would affect Ferdinand’s business, that was just unnecessary worry.

No matter how the rectification was carried out, people still had to eat, right? The market demand wouldn’t drop significantly. Technological innovation and rising production costs would only affect the small capitalists first.

A few days later, the Bulgarian Daily reported a piece of news. At the Super Special Hardware Factory in Sofia, a large-scale food poisoning incident had occurred. More than eighty people were sent to the Renai Hospital for emergency treatment due to food poisoning.

According to the news report, the cause of the poisoning was mainly the large amount of mercury preservatives added to the food consumed.

Such incidents were actually not uncommon in Bulgaria at the time, or even throughout Europe, or the entire world at that time. So what if a group of workers were poisoned? It wasn’t as if some important figure had been poisoned. What was so special about it?

They were poisoned, so what? It wasn’t as if anyone had died. In fact, not a single person had died.

Not a single person had died, and they were even sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. Such things happened every day. How could this be considered big news?

Well, such incidents indeed wouldn’t normally be considered news. In the past, if workers were poisoned, they were left to fend for themselves. Now, the capitalists even sent them to the hospital for emergency treatment, albeit under pressure from labor laws. This was a significant progress.

The news media didn’t bother to report it because the workers were mostly poor and wouldn’t buy newspapers. But this time, the situation was entirely different. The Bulgarian Daily actually published this news in the most prominent position.

Book recommendation: “Balkan Overlord,” a novel about the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Interested friends can go check it out.

Chapter 45: The Food Safety Storm (Part 2)

If the Bulgarian Daily had merely published an ordinary report, it would have been fine. After all, though the media had rarely covered such issues in the past, it wasn’t entirely unheard of.

The problem was that the Bulgarian Daily had gone further—publishing a follow-up investigation that exposed the purpose behind adding mercury compounds to food, the widespread nature of the practice, and the severe harm it caused. They listed dozens of products—cheese, sausages, canned goods—all laced with excessive mercury additives. The result? The people of Bulgaria, who had been basking in their so-called “happiness,” suddenly realized their idyllic lives were crumbling.

Viki burst through the door, excited. “Aileen, look what I bought! The finest Spanish sausage!”

“What? Have you even read today’s paper?” Aileen snapped. “Do you have any idea what mercury compounds are? They’re heavy metals! Just think—we’re eating metal! Oh God, it’s terrifying! It could cause irreversible damage, even affect our children! How could you still buy—”

Scenes like this played out in countless homes across Sofia. Overnight, long-shelf-life foods became unsellable across Bulgaria.

A bizarre spectacle unfolded on the streets of Sofia. Wealthier families marched out of their homes, dumping their stockpiled food into the trash. Piles of discarded goods turned into makeshift food camps, much to the delight of the city’s wandering beggars.

Naturally, such reporting threatened the profits of the capitalists, and retaliation was inevitable. Dumping feces at the newspaper’s doorstep, sending bullets to the editorial office—these were child’s play. Soon, a major incident occurred.

On the morning of November 1st, a stranger hurled a bomb into the Bulgarian Daily offices. Fortunately, since it was early, no one was injured.

But the attack didn’t scare the Bulgarian Daily—it enraged them. And society at large was furious too.

Upon receiving the news, the Sofia Police immediately provided security for the newspaper and arrested the suspect. They also began closely monitoring the capitalists whose interests had been harmed.

The next day, the Bulgarian Daily published a front-page article titled: “Terrorists, Come at Us—We’re Waiting.”

The editorial recapped the entire incident—from the initial feces-dumping to the bomb attack—drawing a direct parallel between unscrupulous capitalists and terrorists. They declared that while they, too, feared death and loved life, when it came to the safety of Bulgaria’s people, the freedom of the press, and the moral integrity of journalists, the Bulgarian Daily would never back down.

The article’s publication sent shockwaves through the media. Outlets rallied in support, and in a display of social responsibility, they joined the condemnation of such practices.

More problems surfaced. What began with mercury compounds now expanded to include aniline purple—a dye derived from coal tar—and dozens of other additives, all exposed in rapid succession.

The food safety crisis had ballooned. What was once a list of a few dozen products now encompassed nearly every item on the market.

Scholars from Bulgarian University suddenly found themselves in demand, stepping forward to provide expert analysis and theoretical backing for the reports. Some even claimed that resolving the food safety crisis could increase Bulgaria’s average life expectancy by ten years—further fueling public outrage.

Overnight, Bulgaria’s food processing industry became public enemy number one. Society demanded government action to crack down on these “terrorist capitalists”—a term that had emerged after the Bulgarian Daily equated unscrupulous businessmen with terrorists.

The industry was in freefall. Products piled up in warehouses, unsold and rotting. Thanks to labor protection laws, capitalists couldn’t simply lay off workers. And with public opinion turning against them, no one dared to report to the government—fearing that disgruntled workers might leak damning information, making their factories prime targets for official scrutiny.

The Bulgarian Daily had become the capitalists’ most hated enemy. The mastermind behind the bomb attack? They wished they could grind his bones to dust.

The wealthy capitalists could weather the storm, but the smaller ones were suffering. Some were already looking for an exit, knowing full well that the government would need scapegoats to appease public opinion.

Klo-Ivan was one such capitalist. He ran a slaughterhouse in Sofia, and since the food safety crisis erupted, he had been on edge.

“Goddamn it, this is a disaster!” he raged. “That damn Bulgarian Daily—a bunch of whores! I never wronged them, so why the hell are they sticking their noses in my business? And that moron who threw the bomb—what’s wrong with his brain? If I ever find out who he is, I’ll make him regret—”

Every day, he cursed the Bulgarian Daily for meddling, but most of his venom was reserved for the bomb-throwing idiot.

Still, Klo-Ivan was no fool. His first move was to placate his workers, then start planning his escape.

He knew the government would crack down hard. There would be no easy way out.

As for food safety? He was a capitalist—water-injected meat was standard practice. And since not all meat sold daily, chemical additives were a necessity. Everyone did it.

Klo-Ivan mobilized every connection he had, offering whatever it took. But no one in the government dared take the risk.

He realized he was in deep trouble. If he didn’t act fast, extricating himself later would be impossible.

He immediately began searching for a buyer, no longer caring about the price. As long as someone was willing to take over and handle the fallout, he’d agree to anything.

But in Bulgaria’s current climate, everyone was scrambling to save themselves. Who in their right mind would jump into this pit?

After all, “food capitalist” had become synonymous with “terrorist capitalist.” Industry insiders were too busy saving their own skins, and outsiders, even if tempted by a bargain, wouldn’t dare touch anything associated with the label.

Chapter 46: The Food Safety Storm Concludes

It wasn’t that no one dared to take over—Shuanghui Food Group was quite interested. Klo-Ivan was a shrewd operator; though his business wasn’t large, his connections were extensive.

Through an introduction from a friend, he had established contact with a high-ranking executive at Shuanghui Food Group. After some haggling, Klo-Ivan sold his slaughterhouse for the rock-bottom price of ten thousand lei.

Of course, the enterprises being acquired weren’t limited to Klo-Ivan’s slaughterhouse alone. Around the same time, Shuanghui Food Group had already taken over more than ten factories, large and small, laying the groundwork for their monopolistic dominance.

While the food industry in Bulgaria was in turmoil, Shuanghui Food Group was thriving, even finding room to expand.

Having prepared in advance, they had halted production of several inferior products and cleared out their inventory. Even if there were stockpiles left, they could be sold overseas through Volvo’s distribution channels.

Now, all the products in their hands were up to standard. Weilian publicly invited all sectors of society to supervise them and welcomed experts and scholars to conduct inspections. Moreover, after discontinuing their low-end products, sales of their mid-to-high-end food items had surged.

Under Ferdinand’s guidance, Shuanghui Food Group adopted “cheap goods are never good” as their core marketing message, plastering advertisements everywhere to instill this idea in the Bulgarian people.

The frightened middle class quickly became loyal fans of Shuanghui Food Group, especially their “noble-exclusive” products, which immediately became hot commodities.

After all, the 19th century was still the age of the nobility. No one dared to tamper with products supplied to the nobility. The impact of poisoning a thousand commoners paled in comparison to poisoning a single noble.

Shuanghui Food Group also vigorously advocated for the government to introduce food safety laws to regulate hygiene standards in the food industry.

A food processing enterprise taking the initiative to call for government legislation instantly ignited public opinion. In an instant, Shuanghui Food Group became synonymous with a conscientious enterprise.

Seizing the opportunity, Weilian decisively stripped all inferior products from the group’s operations, setting up several shell companies to handle their production.

From then on, all food produced in factories under the Shuanghui Food Group worldwide would be up to standard, laying the foundation for their future food empire.

The food safety storm was escalating, and everyone knew a tempest was about to strike.

Just after Klo-Ivan sold his factory, within a mere half-month, the police had sealed off more than fifty food processing enterprises, large and small, and arrested dozens of unscrupulous businessmen.

Since Bulgaria had no relevant food safety laws, handling these cases became problematic.

According to convention, they only needed to pay a little money to settle things, and there was no need for factory closures or arrests. But now, under public pressure, no one dared to let them off lightly!

In response to public demand, the government quickly drafted the Food Safety Management Law, but disputes arose over the specific enforcement standards.

If the standards were set too high, food processing enterprises wouldn’t be able to meet them, and even if they barely complied, the prices would be beyond what ordinary people could afford. If the standards were set too low, the public might not accept them.

The capitalists in the food processing industry were no fools. Now, they were “each showing their own magic,” bribing experts, scholars, and newspapers to guide public opinion, spending lavishly on government lobbying, and attempting to lower the standards.

The capitalists deeply involved in the scandal employed every tactic to reduce penalties, hoping to escape unscathed.

But clearly, they had miscalculated this time. Konstantin, who was looking for a breakthrough, wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away.

…

To quell public opinion, Ferdinand instructed the government to hold a hearing, inviting relevant experts, scholars, and media representatives, as well as a few delegates from various social strata.

At the hearing, Konstantin, representing the government, read out the newly drafted Food Safety Management Law.

“Mr. Konstantin, aren’t these standards too high? Can they really be met? What if most enterprises can’t comply?” a reporter asked doubtfully.

Konstantin replied confidently, “There’s no need to worry. These standards were set after market research. Some enterprises on the market can already meet them. Technically, it’s feasible, and the cost won’t increase significantly.”

Kobif, a capitalist, objected, “But most enterprises can’t do it!”

Konstantin responded firmly, “So what? Our goal is to ensure the public eats safe and reliable food. If most enterprises can’t meet the standards, then let the capable ones take over the market! Survival of the fittest—that’s the law of nature!”

“But what about production capacity? Our enterprises can’t make the leap overnight. We need gradual improvements to meet market demand!” Kobif said excitedly.

Konstantin smiled and said, “There’s no need to worry at all. The technical difficulty of most food processing isn’t high. Expanding production capacity will only take a few months. I believe that for the sake of life and safety, the public can accept a temporary decline in living standards. As for gradual improvements? Sorry, the public can’t wait any longer. Our government can’t continue to let people consume slow-acting poison!”

As soon as Konstantin finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted.

Seeing this, Kobif continued to argue feebly, “But this will lead to terrible monopolies! Imagine the entire Bulgarian food market being monopolized by one or a few enterprises. The market will stagnate—what a terrifying scenario!”

Before Konstantin could respond, Alekos stepped forward, angrily questioning Kobif, “No scenario could be worse than the current one! You greedy devil! At least the food we eat will be safe, and our lives will be protected. We won’t have to worry about meeting our maker at any moment!”

Thunderous applause erupted again. Alekos had spoken for everyone. Someone shouted, “Get out, you greedy devil!”

The crowd echoed the sentiment, shouting chaotically, “Get out, you greedy devil!”

Seeing the crowd’s fury, Kobif fled in panic, forgetting the purpose of his visit.

The rest of the proceedings went smoothly. Recently, everyone had been terrified by news reports. Apart from eggs, every other food seemed unsafe.

The wealthy could still buy raw materials from the countryside to process themselves or purchase noble-exclusive products from Volvo. Some even switched entirely to egg-based diets, causing egg prices to skyrocket.

But the common people suffered. They couldn’t afford high-end food, and eating ordinary food felt like consuming poison, leaving them with poor appetites for long periods.

After the Food Safety Management Law was enacted, Bulgaria completely banned substandard food from entering the market. The police became busy, sealing off unqualified goods and arresting unscrupulous businessmen.

To meet the public’s living needs, the government also procured a large batch of raw materials from the countryside and pushed them into the market. Ordinary people, for the sake of their safety, had no choice but to process food themselves.

Fortunately, Shuanghui Food Group had prepared in advance, stockpiling a large quantity of qualified food products and releasing them into the market, which finally calmed the storm.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to rectify the food processing industry, Ferdinand had, in fact, completed the monopoly of Bulgaria’s food industry.

Chapter 47: Reform III (Population and Agriculture)

“Food is the people’s heaven, and safety is its foundation!”

On the surface, solving the food safety issue appeared to be a crackdown on unscrupulous merchants, providing a foundation for monopolistic development.

But only Ferdinand himself understood the deeper reason—it was to accelerate population growth. A nation with just over three million people could never become a great power.

Though no one had conducted a formal census, Ferdinand was certain that the total number of Bulgarians scattered across the world did not exceed ten million. In the entire Balkan region, the Bulgarian population was roughly between six and eight million.

Compared to the European powers of the time, France had over thirty-eight million people, Germany nearly fifty million, and Russia a staggering one hundred and twenty million. Bulgaria, with only three and a half million, was less than a tenth of their populations.

Thus, the population issue was the most severe core problem for Bulgaria’s future development and strength. To Ferdinand, every Bulgarian was precious.

After much contemplation and on-site investigations in Bulgaria, Ferdinand had a plan.

Thanks to political stability, rapid economic development, and a secure livelihood, Bulgaria’s birth rate had significantly increased.

In 1885, the birth rate was 4.07%. By 1889, it had risen to 4.25%. Based on data from the first half of the year, the birth rate for 1890 was optimistically estimated to be between 4.36% and 4.39%.

As for the death rate: in 1885, it was 2.65%; in 1889, it was 2.78% (including those secretly executed); and in the first half of 1890, it was 1.01% (excluding foreign migrant workers).

Currently, Bulgarian society remained relatively conservative, with a strong enthusiasm for childbirth. As long as economic conditions allowed, families were willing to have more children.

Ferdinand knew there was still much room for improvement. Compared to Russia at the same time, which had a birth rate of 5.29% in 1864 and maintained around 5% for several consecutive years, Bulgaria was far behind.

The death rate was similar. Compared to the great powers, Britain and France had theirs controlled at around 2%. If colonial maintenance personnel casualties were excluded, the numbers were even lower.

However, the infant survival rate in Bulgaria was astonishingly high—almost unbelievably so. (Even the author found it hard to believe.)

The statistics showed the survival rate of infants past one year of age. In 1889, Bulgaria’s infant survival rate was 85.7%. In comparison, Austria was 74.4%, France 82.6%, and Germany 77.4%. The highest survival rates were in Ireland and Norway, both exceeding 90%.

Before his transmigration, Ferdinand had not believed these figures, but after seeing the actual statistics from Bulgaria, he had no choice but to accept them. (The above data is from the Palgrave Statistical Yearbook.)

As a transmigrator, Ferdinand had no special methods to increase the population—he could only encourage childbirth. He had not studied medicine in his past life, so he could not make breakthroughs in healthcare.

Medical talent was still in training, and improving Bulgaria’s medical standards in the short term was beyond Ferdinand’s capabilities. He was not omnipotent.

Before his transmigration, many regions had entered negative population growth, with little interest in having children. Only one group was eager to have more children.

In the Sofia Royal Palace, Minister of Agriculture James Peidinov was being berated by Ferdinand: “Is this the result of your department’s work over the past two years? Idiot! Useless!”

James Peidinov looked bewildered, thinking, “What’s wrong? Isn’t this how we’ve always done things? Why is the Grand Duke so angry today?”

Fortunately, Ferdinand did not know James’s thoughts, or the consequences would have been dire. Looking at the documents scattered on the floor and then at the confused James, Ferdinand’s suppressed anger flared up again.

He roared, “Hmph! James, you fool! Tell me, what have you done with the funds specifically allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture?”

James was sweating profusely, nervously replying, “Your Grace, some of it was used to promote new technologies, and most of the funds were directly transferred to local governments to increase grain production!”

Ferdinand sneered, “Hah! James, you imbecile! Besides promoting new technologies, what other achievements does your Ministry of Agriculture have? You allocated funds to the localities—then what? Were they used for water conservancy projects or agricultural industrialization?”

“None of that! Look at what’s written here—repairing river embankments, reinforcing riverbanks? The Danube, the Maritsa, the Struma—do you not know their geographical distribution? What does this have to do with Montana? Has the river flooded the Stara Planina Mountains?”

“You fool! Even if you were to manage the rivers, there are fiscal allocations for that. Did the localities submit any reports? The funds for water conservancy projects were just swallowed up, and what’s even more ridiculous is that my Minister of Agriculture is covering for the corrupt officials below!”

Hearing this, James was drenched in cold sweat. Such an obvious problem had gone unnoticed by him, and he had treated it as routine. The reports from below had been approved without verification, and millions of leva had been wasted under his watch.

Trembling, James said, “Your Grace, this is my negligence! Please relieve me of my duties!” After saying this, James let out a deep sigh of relief.

Originally, as a member of the cabinet, he had little real power. Apart from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ferdinand did not allow him to be responsible for anything else, which had left James somewhat dissatisfied. Now, all that remained was relief. “So, I really am useless!”

Ferdinand looked at the dejected James and knew that the earlier incident had been a heavy blow to him. After all, he was not yet thirty and could not bear such pressure.

James had already developed the intention to resign, but Ferdinand could not let him do so now. He was not Emperor Chongzhen, who could change cabinets like a revolving lantern.

He had already dismissed one cabinet, and only a few months had passed. Without any major issues, Ferdinand did not plan to replace anyone before the new cabinet elections.

“Enough. It seems the Ministry of Agriculture is not suitable for you. The government is about to establish a Ministry of Information. I hear you used to work in propaganda—this is a perfect fit. Go and take up the position of minister!”

James looked at Ferdinand with gratitude. He knew this was Ferdinand’s way of saving face for him. The main task of the Ministry of Information was to oversee newspapers. As minister, he would be a figurehead, following regulations and essentially holding an idle position.

After some thought, James’s scholarly spirit flared up, and he said excitedly, “Your Grace, I am truly not suited for politics. Bulgarian University is more appropriate for me. Passing on my agricultural knowledge to the next generation or engaging in scientific research would be more meaningful!”

Ferdinand looked at the indignant James, feeling helpless. “Fine! If you want to go, then go. Bulgaria is in need of agricultural experts. Your position in the cabinet will be temporarily retained. You cannot consider yourself an ordinary researcher—you must organize research teams and conduct on-site investigations in rural areas! I hope you will contribute to Bulgaria’s development in the field of scientific research!”

“I will, Your Grace, I swear on God’s name that I will work hard!” James said excitedly.

Chapter 48: Agriculture—Inspection

After dismissing James, Ferdinand lay helplessly in his armchair. Alice, ever perceptive, gently massaged his temples.

“A small temple has fierce winds, a shallow pond breeds many turtles!”

This saying perfectly described Bulgaria’s current state, even after a thorough purge of corrupt officials.

The problems in Bulgarian agriculture ran far deeper than mere corruption or embezzlement. The core issue was that agriculture had never truly captured the attention of the bureaucracy.

The Five-Year Plan was unfolding with great fervor, with the most difficult and highly prioritized “Railway Plan” progressing smoothly. So far, no major issues had arisen, not even during the most chaotic periods of Stamov’s rule.

Local governments were wholeheartedly supporting railway construction. Demolition, land acquisition, material transport—many local governments organized manpower to assist without hesitation. Ferdinand had yet to encounter anyone daring to drag their feet.

The deeply ingrained mindset of the bureaucrats was not something Ferdinand could change overnight.

Seeing Ferdinand in low spirits, Alice, who served as both secretary and maid, suggested, “Your Highness, why not go out for a walk?”

“Go out for a walk? Yes! That’s exactly what I should do!” Ferdinand exclaimed, suddenly enlightened.

The words had awakened him from his confusion. He had found a solution.

In his original timeline, the Soviet Union had faced a similar problem during its first Five-Year Plan. It wasn’t until the first half of 1929, when Stalin personally inspected the countryside and urged progress, that socialist collectivization in Soviet agriculture fully took off.

Within just two months, ten million households—half of the nation’s total—had joined the collectivization effort. Though many problems arose along the way, the overall agricultural reform was a success.

Bulgaria’s problems couldn’t be worse than the Soviet Union’s! Ferdinand only intended to reform agriculture, not touch land privatization or harm class interests.

…

Heavy snowflakes fell from the sky, blanketing everything in white. Only the pine trees remained vibrant green, with snowflakes drifting onto them like white blossoms.

In February 1891, Ferdinand set out from Sofia, braving the bitter cold to begin a three-month national inspection tour. Heading northwest, he led a thousand guards in a grand procession, with their first stop being Vratsa Province.

Vratsa was a city in northwestern Bulgaria and the capital of Vratsa Province. Located on the northern slope of the western Balkan Mountains where the Leva River flowed into the plain, its geographical position was advantageous. It boasted industries such as natural gas, chemicals, cement, cotton spinning, silk spinning, iron casting, copper smelting, fertilizers, and timber processing. In agriculture, it was known for its wheat and oat production.

The importance of Vratsa Province to Bulgaria was self-evident.

In the parallel timeline of 1974, Vratsa Province accounted for 96% of Bulgaria’s total urea production, 24.8% of its pulp, 23% of its cement, and 19% of its cotton fabric.

In agriculture, the province ranked third in wheat and oat production, fourth in poultry and egg production, and eighth in milk production.

Most notably, the “Kozloduy” nuclear power plant, built near Kozloduy Village in Vratsa Province, was the first nuclear power plant in the Balkans and all of Southeast Europe.

Ferdinand couldn’t help but take it seriously. However, Vratsa Province was not yet as glorious as it would become in later years. Industrial development was just beginning, and agricultural development was severely lagging.

Ferdinand’s sudden arrival stunned the bureaucrats of Vratsa Province. Since it was only a few days’ journey from Sofia, they had little time to prepare after receiving the notice.

Ferdinand wasn’t there to make trouble for them. His inspection tour proceeded at a leisurely pace. At each location, he sent people to inspect factories and personally visited rural areas. When he encountered problems, he directly pointed them out and ordered local governments to resolve them.

What were bureaucrats like? Ferdinand had seen plenty in his past life. Without pressure, there was no motivation. Their primary driving force was to cater to the political demands of their superiors.

Vratsa’s Governor, Wei Zheng-Ivanov, was a new breed of bourgeois bureaucrat. Since taking office, Vratsa’s industrial development had surged, with an annual growth rate of over 10%, earning multiple government commendations.

Thus, despite being from the Liberal Party and a staunch supporter of Stamov-Bolov, he had not been replaced by the new government.

…

Wei Zheng-Ivanov declared sternly, “Alright, gentlemen, get to work! His Highness will arrive soon. I don’t want him to see a dirty and disorderly Vratsa. If there are any problems, none of you will have it easy!”

“Don’t worry, Governor, we’ll handle it!” the crowd responded in unison.

This showed his authority. If Ferdinand had seen this, he would have cried out, “Factionalism!”

On February 18th, Ferdinand arrived in Vratsa with his large entourage and was warmly welcomed by the people. The city’s first impression on him was its cleanliness and order.

If this were 21st-century Vratsa, Ferdinand wouldn’t have been surprised. But this was the 19th century, when cities worldwide were uniformly filthy, chaotic, and poor. There was even a saying, “Fine carriages, fine wine, foul London.” Cleanliness and hygiene had not yet become a priority.

It had to be said that Wei Zheng-Ivanov had played his cards right. Since Ferdinand’s ascension, he had issued multiple commands regarding political cleanliness and hygiene, though only Sofia had fully implemented them.

Ferdinand greeted Wei Zheng-Ivanov warmly and attended the welcome banquet they had organized.

Of course, he only made a brief appearance, speaking fewer than ten words before leaving hastily. The gap in their status made it difficult to socialize comfortably.

“Wei Zheng-Ivanov, you’ve done an excellent job!” Ferdinand said during a private audience.

Wei Zheng-Ivanov replied modestly, “I dare not take credit. I merely followed Your Highness’s orders and did my duty.”

Later generations of Westerners were confident and direct, disliking modesty. But in the 19th century, their confidence had not yet exploded. At least when facing those of higher status, they still maintained a sense of awe.

Ferdinand smiled and said, “Being able to perfectly execute my orders makes you a talent! But what I’ve seen is only part of it. I look forward to your performance in other areas!”

Wei Zheng-Ivanov first felt pleased, then alarmed. He believed he had fulfilled the central government’s orders quite well. But whether he met Ferdinand’s expectations was another matter. He secretly regretted, If I had known His Highness was coming to inspect, I would have done better.

…

Why did so many leaders in later times go on inspection tours? Why not just stay in the office? Before his transmigration, Ferdinand hadn’t fully understood, thinking it was just for show. After more than two years as king, Ferdinand realized that even if it was for show, it was necessary. At the very least, it could put enough pressure on those below!

Suddenly realizing his drafts were all used up.

Chapter 49: A Visit

Ferdinand did not stay long in Vratsa City. The next day, he set off on his journey once more.

Koinare Village in Vratsa Province was still just an ordinary, impoverished mountain village, with no hint of the prosperity it would later become known for as Bulgaria’s foremost village.

Ferdinand concealed his identity, arriving quietly with a few guards. It was already midday when he entered the village’s only restaurant, which also served as a general store and tavern.

Through conversation, Ferdinand learned that the owner was named Kater Dilov, a man in his forties. Though his business was not thriving, he seemed optimistic.

Ferdinand instructed his guards to order their meals while he requested a serving of yogurt, a piece of bread, and a local salad made of onions, bell peppers, celery, and bamboo shoots—his lunch.

The taste was… best left unsaid. Ferdinand could only force himself to swallow it. The only seasonings were salt and fruit jam. Aside from being organic, he found no trace of culinary delight.

After managing a few bites to fill his stomach, Ferdinand could not help but ask, “Mr. Kater, is there nothing else available?”

Hearing Ferdinand’s question, Kater Dilov quickly replied, “Oh, God! Esteemed guest, of course there is! Look, these snacks were brought back by my son from Vratsa! What would you like? There’s ham, sausage, canned goods, and even potato chips…”

Ferdinand asked in confusion, “Wait, Kater, if you have so many products, why not display them for sale? It’s just a matter of adding a few more names to the board. It’s simple!”

The owner immediately responded, “Oh, I’m sorry! Esteemed guest, you’re well-traveled and must know that recently, Bulgaria has been cracking down on food safety nationwide. These products have all gone up in price!”

“We’re just a small village, Koinare. Everyone here is poor. Hardly anyone could afford them before, and now even fewer can.”

“This batch of goods was only brought in over three months ago. When I tried to explain the price increase, they didn’t believe me. They said I was lying, so in a fit of anger, I took them off the shelves!”

“Kater, you’re lying again. How could prices double overnight? I was young when I went to Vratsa. City folks are poor too; their lives aren’t much better than ours. At your prices, they’d all starve!” an elderly man around sixty interjected.

The old man was spirited, his clothes slightly worn but clean and neat without patches. Ferdinand could tell he was doing relatively well.

Kater Dilov wore an expression of wronged innocence. “Mr. Franko, you know me. When have I ever lied? That’s just the price! Don’t believe me? Ask this gentleman!”

The man named Franko rolled his eyes. “I know what you were like before, but things are different now! Ever since you started doing business, you’ve changed. What merchant doesn’t lie?”

Seeing Franko’s stubborn disbelief, Kater Dilov hopped in frustration. Ferdinand understood the situation and picked up a can of beef, checking the production date. He immediately saw the issue.

Ferdinand smiled and said, “Mr. Franko, this time you’ve wronged Mr. Kater!”

Franko looked at Ferdinand in confusion. He was helping him, so why was he being told he was wrong?

Ferdinand continued, “Judging by the production date, this was made half a year ago. If Mr. Kater bought it three months ago, then the price makes sense. At that time, many inferior products were seized, and shortages drove prices up.”

Franko still looked doubtful. “Sir, are you saying prices outside really rose that much?”

Ferdinand calmly replied, “No! I’m talking about three months ago. The market has since returned to normal. Overall price increases shouldn’t exceed ten percent!”

Kater Dilov excitedly said, “Mr. Franko, now do you believe me? I really wasn’t lying!”

Franko shook his head dismissively. “Oh, God! Kater, you’re such a fool! Didn’t you hear this gentleman? That was the price three months ago. It’s back to normal now! You’re still selling at the old prices. Doesn’t that prove something?”

Kater Dilov argued, “But my cost is that high! If I lower the price, I’ll lose money!”

Franko laughed. “That’s your problem. Losing money is part of doing business. By the way, you should find a way to sell them quickly. Otherwise, keep them for yourself. If they expire, that would be terrible!”

…

Watching their exchange, Ferdinand understood that Franko had no real issue with Kater; he simply disliked merchants. Though his words were harsh, he still advised Kater to sell the goods quickly.

Ferdinand smiled and asked, “Mr. Franko, how was last year’s harvest in your village?”

Franko laughed. “Guest, you jest! It’s the same as always—manageable!”

Ferdinand asked curiously, “Aren’t new agricultural techniques being promoted? Why hasn’t production increased?”

Kater Dilov interjected, “How can you say it hasn’t increased? Some people are just too lazy to learn, so—”

Franko seemed to have touched a sore spot. “Shut up, Kater! This is none of your business!”

“Guest, forgive me. You know agricultural innovation isn’t something that happens overnight. I’m cautious. The technicians sent by the authorities didn’t explain things clearly, so I decided to wait and see!”

Ferdinand smiled. “I understand. You’re being prudent! By the way, I noticed you seem to lack irrigation channels. How do you handle agricultural water?”

Hearing Ferdinand’s question, Franko looked helpless. “What can we do? Thank God, we’ve had good weather these past few years! Guest, building irrigation channels isn’t simple! Don’t be fooled by our current conditions. Solving the water problem would require an enormous amount of work—more than we can afford!”

Ferdinand nodded thoughtfully and asked, “If the government organizes it, would you be willing to participate?”

Franko smiled. “Guest, you jest! If the government takes the lead, why would we refuse? I don’t know about other places, but in our village alone, solving the water issue would allow us to cultivate at least a third more land!”

Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction. Since the people were willing to support it, the irrigation project could proceed.

Franko’s expression suddenly changed, and he asked in surprise, “Guest, are you from the government?”

“How so? Don’t I seem like it?” Ferdinand countered.

Franko quickly replied, “You do! So, the rumor that the government plans to organize irrigation projects is true?”

Ferdinand nodded. “There is indeed such a plan!”

Franko exclaimed joyfully, “God bless! Can it start with us?”

“What’s wrong, old man? Aren’t you cautious? No more waiting and seeing?” Ferdinand teased.

Franko cried out, “God, no! What risk is there in building irrigation? We won’t lose anything!”

“Besides, life has been much better these past couple of years! His Highness the Grand Duke has done a great job. Taxes are much lighter than before. Originally, we had to provide labor for the railways, but later it was changed to paid work. The pressure on everyone has lessened considerably!”

Ferdinand smiled in acknowledgment, feeling pleased inside. He thought, “This was all my doing, of course I know! Do you think I didn’t want free labor? It’s because there are irrigation projects coming up! Since labor is needed anyway, having you volunteer is better than forced conscription!”

Ferdinand joked, “However, Franko, this time you can’t escape. The principle for this irrigation project is that the government provides explosives and some machinery, but the rest of the labor must come from you!”

Franko’s face stiffened, then he smiled again. “That’s no problem. The irrigation projects across Bulgaria will require an astronomical amount of labor. Aside from everyone pitching in, I can’t think of another way!”

“Exactly. The Ministry of Agriculture estimates that completing the national irrigation projects will require hundreds of millions of man-days. Even if all the young and strong men in the country work together, it will take several years. In this regard, aside from your own efforts, the government can’t do much more!” Ferdinand said solemnly.

“So much?” Kater exclaimed.

Franko glared at Kater. “Don’t be so surprised! We’re in good shape here. If all goes well, it might take a year or two. In worse conditions, it could take eight or ten years!”

…

After the conversation ended, Ferdinand declined Franko’s invitation and left directly.

To some extent, Bulgarians were similar to the Chinese—both were attached to their homes and placed great importance on land.

Even in later generations, unless forced by circumstances, they would not leave their hometowns to work elsewhere.

Merchants who became wealthy often returned to their villages to buy land, and Franko was a miniature version of Bulgaria’s small landowners and rich peasants.

Chapter 50: The Opening of the Sofia-Burgas Railway

The streets bustled with colorful open-top carriages, the warehouses of the wealthy overflowed with mountains of grain, and entertainment venues were plastered with large, vibrant posters of “beauties”…

Yet beneath this veneer lay the unspeakable suffering of the common people—empty tables, chronic hunger, and the rare luxury of a simple loaf of white bread…

Does this sound familiar? Indeed, it mirrors the descriptions of old Shanghai (though slightly adapted by the author). This was the reality of the Balkans, and Bulgaria had been no different just two years ago.

Thanks to the purges during Stamov’s era, which swept away much of the wealthy elite, Ferdinand now had the resources to ease the burden on the people, allowing the common folk to breathe a little easier.

As Ferdinand traveled, he noticed that many of the old entertainment venues had shut their doors. Hope flickered in the eyes of the people, taxes had returned to reasonable levels, and the crushing weight upon their shoulders had been lifted.

Most crucially, the exorbitant debts from usury no longer needed repayment—no debt collectors would come knocking. Many still held gratitude for the Stamov government.

Despite its infamous reputation, the Stamov government had made the greatest contributions to Bulgaria of any administration in its history.

Bulgaria’s terrain was rugged and varied, with mountains and hills covering sixty-four percent of the land. (Note: This was the geography in 1891; after the Second Balkan War and the two World Wars, Bulgaria lost vast plains, and by later years, mountains and hills accounted for seventy-nine percent of the territory.)

In an era when railways were still under construction and automobiles were in development, even a king like Ferdinand had no choice but to travel by carriage, enduring the jolts and bumps of the road.

As for why he didn’t ride a horse—before his transmigration, Ferdinand had been a proper knight. But now? Staying on a horse was a challenge in itself!

Fortunately, Ferdinand’s body was in good condition after his transmigration, able to withstand the hardships. If it had been his past self, Li Mu, he would have been sick to his stomach long ago.

Along the way, as Ferdinand had expected, industrialization was progressing well in most regions. In agriculture, new technologies spread rapidly across the plains, though progress in the mountains remained slow.

There was one benefit Ferdinand hadn’t anticipated—wherever he went, a road seemed to materialize ahead of his arrival.

This ordinary road became Bulgaria’s first continuous transportation artery, historically known as the “Imperial Highway,” though the people jokingly called it the “Inspection Path,” meaning the road the king traveled during his inspections.

Now, Ferdinand had arrived in Burgas, a city in southeastern Bulgaria. Located on the western shore of the Black Sea, it was the capital of Burgas Province, nestled along Burgas Bay. In the future, it would become Bulgaria’s second-largest economic hub, a central city on the southern Black Sea coast, with significant industrial and transportation importance.

Its history traced back to ancient Greece, and it had developed during the medieval period. It was also a key transit hub for tourists visiting Bulgaria’s Black Sea coastal regions, boasting industries such as petroleum, chemicals, salt production, and iron mining.

At present, Burgas was just a small, ordinary port. Ferdinand had come primarily for the opening of Bulgaria’s first major railway line—from Sofia to Burgas, spanning five hundred and eighty kilometers. (Some sections had existed before but were now connected.)

Ferdinand knew that with the railway’s completion, Burgas would soon enter a phase of rapid development.

In a parallel timeline, Burgas Port handled sixty percent of Bulgaria’s maritime shipping, with a thriving petrochemical industry. The largest refinery in the Balkans was located here.

It was also Bulgaria’s fishing center, benefiting from a maritime climate and temperate continental humidity, making it ideal for agriculture. Beyond staple crops like wheat, corn, and barley, it also produced grapes, apples, almonds, and cherries.

The opening of the Sofia-Burgas railway was a monumental event for Bulgaria. The line passed through multiple cities, connecting the east and west of the country.

Ferdinand couldn’t recall the original name of the railway, so he simply took the first character from each city’s name, resulting in the somewhat awkward name “Sofia-Burgas Railway.”

The Sofia-Burgas Railway was Bulgaria’s lifeline, with immense military and economic value. Once the branch lines were connected, the entire country’s transportation network would come alive.

The opening ceremony was grand. Ferdinand attended in Burgas, while Chikov represented the government in Sofia.

Two trains departed simultaneously from Sofia and Burgas, taking twelve and a half hours to safely reach their destinations.

In truth, multiple test runs had already been conducted to ensure a smooth opening—this was merely a formality.

That day, Bulgarian newspapers splashed the news across their front pages, announcing the joyous occasion to the people.

Ferdinand, however, felt little excitement. Accustomed to the speed of high-speed rail, a railway with a top speed below fifty kilometers per hour failed to stir his emotions.

In reality, by the late 19th century, the Sofia-Burgas Railway was nothing extraordinary. It used the most common steam locomotives, with the sole advantage of being a mature and reliable technology.

Ferdinand knew it would soon be obsolete, and the railway would require significant upgrades—but there was nothing he could do about it.

Nevertheless, this did not diminish the Sofia-Burgas Railway’s significance in Bulgaria. From this moment on, travel from east to west could be completed in a single day.

Economically, transportation costs plummeted, communication became easier, and economic development was spurred.

Militarily, national defense pressure eased. A regiment could now be deployed to most parts of the country within a day; within three days, that number could grow to a division—provided the branch lines were connected. Otherwise, logistics would become a problem.

Ferdinand had underestimated the impact of the Sofia-Burgas Railway’s opening.

Across Bulgaria, people spontaneously organized celebrations. Of course, the modern phenomenon of parades and demonstrations did not exist—such actions were considered obstructions to public traffic and were illegal.

Most gatherings were small groups of friends, chatting, dreaming of the future, and discussing current affairs. Some businesses took the opportunity to launch promotions.

In short, the people of Bulgaria were still quite conservative. Not only were their lifestyles simple, but their daily behavior was also traditional and restrained. The winds of democracy and freedom had not yet reached their hearts.

Ferdinand was enjoying this peaceful moment when an unexpected visitor interrupted his journey.

UNTITLED

1. Chapter 1: Transmigration
2. Chapter 2: The Supermarket Opens
3. Chapter 3: Trivial Matters
4. Chapter 4: Trivial Matters II
5. Chapter 5: Preparing the Flour Mill
6. Chapter 6: The Food Factory Sets Sail
7. Chapter 7: Christmas
8. Chapter 8: The Growing Volvo
9. Chapter 9: The Competition
10. Chapter 10: Competition II

11. Chapter 11: The Beginning of Ruthless Competition

12. Chapter 12: Capital Feast
13. Chapter 13: Journey to London
14. Chapter 14: The Bulgarian Coup
15. Chapter 15: Ascension to the Throne
16. Chapter 16: Planned Economy
17. Chapter 17: The Five-Year Plan
18. Chapter 18: Education
19. Chapter 19: Raising Taxes
20. Chapter 20: The Fuse
21. Chapter 21: The University
22. Chapter 22: Enrollment
23. Chapter 23: Prelude
24. Chapter 24: The Police Government
25. Chapter 25: Conspiracy
26. Chapter 26: Dark Currents Stir
27. Chapter 27: Bulgarian University
28. Chapter 28: Handling
29. Chapter 29: Konstantin
30. Chapter 30: The Uprising
31. Chapter 31: The Massacre
32. Chapter 32: Subversion
33. Chapter 33: Overthrowing the Cabinet
34. Chapter 34: Dissolving Parliament

35. Chapter 35: Formation of the Provisional Cabinet

36. Chapter 36: Domestic Affairs
37. Chapter 37: Diplomacy
38. Chapter 38: Reader Group
39. Chapter 39: Relations with Russia
40. Chapter 40: Labor Issues
41. Chapter 41: Importing Labor

42. Chapter 42: Bulgaria’s Labor Protection Law

43. Chapter 43: Reform I

44. Chapter 44: Reform Part II (Food Safety Crisis 1)

45. Chapter 45: The Food Safety Storm (Part 2)

46. Chapter 46: The Food Safety Storm Concludes

47. Chapter 47: Reform III (Population and Agriculture)

48. Chapter 48: Agriculture—Inspection

49. Chapter 49: A Visit

50. Chapter 50: The Opening of the Sofia-Burgas Railway