While Romania was experiencing economic prosperity due to orders from European countries, the European battlefield was still continuing. After Germany captured Belgium, its five army groups of one million troops invaded northern France, intending to capture Paris in one fell swoop and force France to submit. While the British and French armies were in
The French commander-in-chief Joffre, under the leadership of the French Army, stopped the German army's attempt at the Marne River.
In this Battle of the Marne, taking into account the quality factors of the generals and armies of both sides, cars as a means of transportation also performed well. Among them, the 12,000 trucks used by the British and French armies will be dispersed from Verdun to the Paris army quickly
Gather to the front line of the Marne River to counterattack the German First and Second Armies.
The German army was not ambiguous, and 14,000 of the 21,000 transport trucks assigned to the right wing were mainly used to reinforce the First and Second Army, mainly to support its small ammunition to withstand the British and French attacks.
In this battle in which both sides suffered casualties of 600,000 soldiers, trucks on both sides became the focus of busy work. They transported personnel and ammunition to the front lines and transported the wounded back to the rear, making trucks the little bees in this battle that remained busy until the end. Although
After the battle, 10,000 of the 26,000 trucks owned by both sides could not be used due to running out of parts, breaking down, being destroyed by the enemy, etc. However, it was still much higher than the current main force-charged transportation of both sides (charged transportation is easy to make.
Livestock are frightened by artillery fire and are thrown away, and livestock can easily die in war zones).
After the battle, the commanders on both sides of the front asked the rear to replenish their trucks as much as possible. The government in the rear could only collect as many domestic trucks as possible and hand them over to the army. Volkswagen Dongfeng, which has now become almost synonymous with trucks, was 90
% of the trucks are Volkswagen Dongfeng trucks. Moreover, Volkswagen's truck orders have also been queued from after March to half a year later.
In the short period of time when the number of trucks owned by both parties has not changed, oil as its fuel has also become the target of competition between the two parties. After the overseas transportation of Germany and Austria was cut off, Romania is now the only country that can supply Germany and Austria.
Oil becomes the focus.
In the Royal Palace of Romania, Edel was listening to the report of Prime Minister Bretianu. The British and French ambassadors had previously approached the Prime Minister and wanted to discuss purchasing the entire export share of Romanian oil, and the price was not low. Of course, the Prime Minister did not
If you dare to make a decision privately, you can only discuss the matter with the crown prince.
Eder sat behind his desk and asked the Prime Minister in front of him with interest. "Are you saying that Britain and France agree to purchase all refined oil products we export at a price of 8 pounds per ton?"
Looking at the crown prince sitting in front of him, Prime Minister Bretianu replied. "Yes. The British Ambassador Richard Mann and the French Ambassador Jean Bader said it themselves at the time, and they were authorized by the government. So I think
You can think about it.”
Romania's current annual oil extraction volume is about 3 million tons of crude oil, and after refining, 1.8 million tons of refined oil can be obtained. Moreover, solvents and petrochemical products can also be obtained from the remaining refined oil, so now Romania's petrochemical industry is
It's also a good level for Europe.
After leaving 400,000 tons of refined oil for his own use, there are also 1.4 million tons of refined oil, which is more than 11 million pounds at the price of 8 pounds. Faced with this huge amount of money, it is no wonder that the Prime Minister couldn't control it and rushed to find it.
The Crown Prince discussed. You must know that the government also owns 15% of the shares of the oil company. This is not a small amount for the government whose fiscal revenue has only eased due to the outbreak of World War I.
Eder looked at the obviously moved Prime Minister and said, "Now we are not in a hurry to reply to the British and French ambassadors. Let the news go out and say that Britain and France will package all Romania's refined oil exports."
Prime Minister Bretianu is not stupid either. As soon as he heard the words of the Crown Prince, he knew that he was waiting for a reply from Germany and Austria-Hungary. Moreover, the two countries do not produce oil. Now Germany and Austria can only rely on Romanian oil to ensure their own consumption.
.So when faced with this news, Germany and Austria must rush over to stabilize Romania. Being able to package all the oil exports from Romania back to China is what the two countries most want to see.
Sure enough, the day after Edel asked the Prime Minister to release the news, the German Ambassador Baslob and the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador Beili rushed to see the crown prince. Edel, who had been waiting for the two ambassadors at the palace, immediately asked the guards to
They invited in.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, there were rumors that Britain and France wanted to buy all the refined oil products exported from Romania. Is this true?"
After completing the necessary diplomatic etiquette, the Austro-Hungarian ambassador Belli hurriedly asked about the crown prince.
Facing the inquiry from the Austro-Hungarian ambassador, Edel admitted without any hesitation. "Yes, the British and French ambassadors came to the Prime Minister before and wanted to buy all the refined oil exported from Romania. Now we are considering it."
After hearing Edel's reply, German Ambassador Baslob stood up and said, "Your Highness, Germany still owns 12.5% of the shares in the Romanian Petroleum Company. Germany has also contributed a lot to the development of Romania and now has 2
A loan of more than 100 million marks. Therefore, I hope that His Highness can take into account the profound friendship between our two countries and reject the malicious demands of Britain and France. You must know that their two countries have no shortage of oil, and all the oil in the world can be provided for their use."
Edel also sneered at Ambassador Baslob's words. When are we still talking about friendship? Between countries, we can only talk about interests. The current hegemon, the United Kingdom, is a positive example in this regard. As long as we need you, we will be irreconcilable.
The class enemies of the two countries can also talk about the long history of relations between the two countries, even if most of them are fighting to death.
But of course he would not say this when facing the two ambassadors. Instead, he changed his rhetoric. "But the conditions offered by Britain and France are so good that it is difficult for us to choose."
After hearing the words of the Crown Prince, Ambassador Baslob, who was mainly responsible for this meeting, knew that the real drama was coming. He had no hope in the previous rhetoric. He mainly wanted to see if Edel would be like his Majesty.
, he agreed in a moment of confusion. But now it seems that this shrewd Romanian crown prince has always had an above-average IQ.
Faced with the Crown Prince's words, Ambassador Baslob also stated the conditions offered by the two countries. "We believe that the current oil price is not reasonable. We plan to increase the price of Romanian oil to ensure the interests of both parties."
He glanced at the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador Belli and continued after receiving the ambassador's signal. "Our two governments have decided to increase the price of Romanian petroleum products exported to us to 9 pounds."
Regarding Ambassador Baslob's remarks, Edel did not give a specific reply but said, "Thank you to both countries for their support to Romania. I still need to discuss this matter with the government, so I can't give you a direct reply now. I hope the two masters
Forgive me."
Regarding the words of the crown prince, both masters said, "There is no problem, we will understand your country's difficulties."
Ambassador Baslob and Ambassador Bailey know that now is the time when the two camps are beginning to compete for this oil-producing country that is crucial to Germany and Austria. They are here in a hurry just to stabilize Romania and prevent it from agreeing to Britain and France in advance.
conditions. Moreover, the two governments not only gave them this price, they also need to release it slowly to gain sufficient benefits for their countries.
PS: According to the data, the price of oil exported from Romania to Germany and Austria is 35 pounds per ton, and it only accepts precious metals such as gold. Considering that the demand in Germany and Austria has increased significantly, this price is obviously impossible, but let me know how to write in the future.
