Bulgarian Empire

Chapter 24: Police Government

Chapter 24: Police Government

"Your Excellency, it doesn't matter how the leak happened. The key now is how to take care of the aftermath?" Mihail said eagerly.

"Let me think!" Stambolov wanders a few steps and says calmly.

A few moments later, the office door, once again, was knocked on the door. This time it was Ionas, Sava, and Wilson, who also came evenly aware.

Stambolov scanned the three men coldly to find the leaker and then withdrew his gaze. He opened his mouth and asked, "You all know about it?"

The three nodded their heads in agreement.

"Your Excellency, this matter is tricky. The matter of our mortgage is now exposed, and domestic public opinion is very strong against us!" Ionas said in a slightly lowered tone.

As Interior Minister, the control of public opinion in the country is the duty of Ionas, and now he is in trouble.

"Not only that, but also within the government, there are many people who are unhappy about this matter. I also met Chekhov on the way just now, and he wants clearing up from our cabinet!" Wilson added.

"I know! The mortgage of the tariff right of way was decided privately by our cabinet, which bypassed the National Assembly. If it had not been exposed, when the railroad was completed and opened to the public, it would have created facts that were set in stone. It is still possible to overcome on the basis of political success, but now I am afraid that many people in the party, are going to oppose us!" Stambolov said, depressed.

"That's right, Your Excellency, that was our initial plan. Now it's out of the question, the British and Austria-Hungary won't let us change our minds, isn't it time to launch emergency plans?" Sava said in a harsh tone of murder.

"Ah, God! Sava, are you crazy? Emergency plans are for times of crisis, and it's not that far along yet!" Wilson roared in protest.

"Mr. Wilson, this is already a time of crisis. If it continues, the prestige of the government will be affected. Now that we are caught by the opposition party, they may launch a cabinet reversal at any time!" Ionas said.

"It's not going to wait, this matter is too big. Once it starts, it's a disaster! It will also intensify the conflict, then it is you die and I live, there is no more chance of peace." Mihail hesitantly said.

With two no votes and two yes votes, it put the decision in the hands of Stambolov.

"Well, launch it! The situation is beyond our control and can't go on much longer. Mr. Ionas, I'll leave the rest to your Ministry of Interior!" Stambolov said ruthlessly.

"Don't worry, Your Excellency. Everything is under our control!" Ionas said with a clear mind.

"The army will remain neutral in this operation, and at the moment of needs, it can also come out to quell the rebellion!" Sava assured with confidence.

Stambolov nodded with content, and as for the second half of Sava's sentence, it had been filtered by him naturally.

Are you kidding? If the army is really mobilized, it will signal the start of another civil war. Whether it wins or loses, the cabinet will be the loser. Now that the Liberals are the ruling party, a coup is no longer ~ the right toy for them.

It did not wait for the government to come out to clarify and explain for the opposition parties. Because that the police had already come to their door. The figures at the head have been jailed and have suffered a heavy blow.

Along with many newspapers, they were also closed down, and countless scholars were implicated. The hustle and bustle of Sofia fell silent for a while.

They opened the literal prison, and the White Terror began in Sofia and spread throughout Bulgaria.

Prisons became overcrowded, and in just half a month, more than 10,000 people were arrested in Bulgaria.

Among them were intellectuals, feudal landlords, workers, peasants, government officials, and even some members of the National Assembly whose butcher's knives had been raised high in Stambolov's cabinet.

They had blatantly trampled on the Constitution, and they had brought the law into disrepute. On September 15, Stambolov's cabinet declared the Conservative Party an illegal political party and ordered it to be dissolved.

In fact, the Conservative Party is now a broken mess, with almost all the backbone in jail. Despite the anger rushing through their hearts, there is nothing they can do in the face of tyranny.

From now on, the time of freedom in Bulgaria is no longer there. Everyone has to be careful what they say, and if you're not careful, you'll be targeted by the secret police, and the prison gates will be open for you.

Ferdinand is pushing the issue from the sidelines, such a big purge chance, but a rare event. And there is the Stambolov cabinet, which has taken the lead to take the blame and attract hatred.

How can one afford the selflessness of the cabinet if one does not make the most of it! Ferdinand admitted that Stambolov was a true patriot who could do anything for the rise of Bulgaria.

But politics is cruel. It's not about justice, and it's about achieving a goal. The cabinet's approach is a bit radical, but there is no excuse for the sake of national development.

The biggest problem is that the cabinet holds a lot of power in its hands and wants Ferdinand, the Knyaz, to be a rubber stamp. Since it is in his way, it is natural to kick it away.

He cannot compromise the power struggle. The previous Ferdinand has also been giving Stambolov many olive branches, but what is the result?

If Stambolov were really superbly capable with high political skills and excellent ability to rule the country compared to the Iron Chancellor, he would have been a great success. Ferdinand is, of course, more than tolerable, but unfortunately, he is not even.

And so, with Ferdinand's covert help, the police were as efficient as they had ever been. Large numbers of anarchists, revolutionaries, and anti-governmentists, were exposed and then arrested.

Ferdinand was well aware for:

The main problem of modern Bulgaria is not that democracy is not sufficient and freedom is not active enough. On the contrary, democracy at the present stage in Bulgaria has long exceeded the actual need, and freedom has gone beyond the necessary degree...

Bulgaria is located in the Balkans, surrounded by strong enemies. The most important thing at this stage is to focus on development. Only when the country is strong can they talk about freedom and democracy!

At the same time, because nationalism is so strong in the Balkans, being Bulgarian has its own political ideas and can not help but contribute to the country's development. That is, to the point of pointing fingers and blind xenophobia to national politics and development strategies!

The two Balkan wars in history are proof that a strong nationalism creates a strong army. The same is true of creating diplomatic isolation, where they can find not even a single ally in the surroundings!

Looking through the history books, it is clear that Bulgaria has never developed a clear, long-term, constructive strategic goal.

This group of politicians came to power to do this. That group of politicians came to power to do that. Who to choose as enemies and who to choose as allies?

It is a pity that the Bulgarians never got it right and ended up so much that they were besieged. Then again, they were held hostage by nationalism and joined the Great War to get corn from the fire and make a miserable mess.