Greece’s Roman Road

Chapter 48: military service

"This is not a choice we can take the initiative to choose. As the disgraced conquered, no matter what we do, we must work harder to be recognized."

"We must be careful at all times and frequently prove our loyalty to the Empire to the Sultan"

Angelis made a statement full of the sadness of foreign rule, which silenced all the people present.

Hearing these words, all of them have complicated feelings and have a heart.

Under the notice of Ottoman Turkey, the most painful people are the Greeks.

Every splendor of the past has been transformed into a heavy burden under the rule of the Ottoman Turks.

The Greeks living in Constantinople regarded themselves as "the last Romans", especially the wealthy and powerful families of the Fanars, who maintained the customs and etiquette of Eastern Rome in their lives.

While others call them "Greeks" contemptuously.

I don't know how many people secretly ridicule these "Greeks" who can only indulge in the glory of history and behave "weirdly".

Especially in the eyes of Europeans who came to do business and travel.

Countless Greeks were forced to convert to Islam in order to pay less taxes and avoid discrimination.

"Okay, let's not discuss these issues left over from history." Constantine saw the dull atmosphere and changed the subject.

"Mr. Angelis, you Greeks living overseas do have the opportunity to become a shareholder."

"Just in exchange, I hope you can cooperate with Prime Minister Trikupis to solve the land issue in Thessaly and reduce the grain tariffs," Constantine said.

Speaking of the land of Thessaly, it is also a confused account.

As the most suitable area for developing agriculture in Greece, at the Berlin Conference in 1881, the foreign powers made a decision to allocate it to Greece.

Thessaly has a rare plain on the Greek peninsula, surrounded by mountains, suitable for growing wheat and cotton.

It was such a piece of land that the original big landowner of Ottoman Turkey had secretly traded with a wealthy overseas businessman in Greece. Before handing it over to the Greek government, he sold all the land in Thessaly to a wealthy overseas Greek businessman at a discount.

The land originally recovered from Ottoman Turkey will be nationalized by the Greek government, and then distributed to farmers for free planting to stimulate farmers' enthusiasm for production.

According to the national sentiment and national identity in Greece, these Greeks living overseas are undoubtedly Greeks and should enjoy Greek citizenship.

Now these lands have been sold to the Greeks, putting the Greek government in an embarrassing situation.

The government confiscated the land of the Turks, which is naturally legal, but now that these lands belong to the Greeks, it makes no sense legally.

Moreover, these Greek overseas wealthy businessmen have great wealth and extensive communication, and have great influence on Greece's domestic politics, making them firmly hold the land of Cesari.

And these wealthy businessmen live abroad all the year round. They don't have time to take care of the land, so they rent them out to shepherds or tenants. In this way, this precious plain is covered with wild grass and flocks of cattle and sheep.

The tenants who originally worked on this land had to leave their homes and were forced to leave their homes.

For these peasants who originally lived in Thessaly, the benefits of returning to Greece were not gained, but the homes where they lived for generations were lost.

While farmers in other parts of Greece plant a large number of wine grapes, the production of wheat has declined, so they need to import a large amount of wheat.

The wealthy overseas businessmen who hold 50% of Greece's land, by supporting Greek politicians, maintain high grain tariffs, so that their land output maintains a low yield and is protected from cheap foreign competition for food.

They enjoy a lot of Greece's economic benefits, and they don't play their due role in Greece's economy. They are like a blood-sucking parasite lying on Greece.

After Thessaly, which is suitable for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, was merged into Greece, not only did it not reduce the price of grain in Greece, but it also increased.

This is simply a crime against the country and the nation.

So don't look at Angelis's infinitely sad words, which made the hostility of everyone present decrease, as if they were more patriotic.

Once it was profitable, Greece's national interests were immediately put behind it.

For people like Angel Heath, national and national feelings are not as important as making money after all.

If you don't take out the bargaining chips that make Constantine's heart move, you want to get benefits, you can only daydream.

"This... This, Your Excellency, we need to discuss this matter." Hearing Constantine talking about the land issue in Thessaly, he hesitated and hesitated.

"You big landowners of Thessaly, make a decision as soon as possible," Constantine said angrily.

"In short, the Greek Education Foundation holds 30% of the shares of the Greek Congo General Corporation, and the Royal Family holds 20%. The rest is for you to divide," Constantine said to everyone present.

"His Royal Highness, who is the Greek Education Foundation?" Gao Berry asked inexplicably.

"The Hellenic Education Foundation will be responsible for education in Greece in the future," Constantine explained.

"Okay, it's up to you to discuss the next meeting~www.wuxiaspot.com~ Nina will preside over the meeting." Constantine stood up and said to the crowd.

Next, there will be a fierce competition for interests, and the parties are constantly wrangling, and Constantine has no intention to entangle them with them.

Anyway, there are no large-scale companies or factories in Greece. It is nothing more than the competition of these bankers, big families in Greece, and overseas businessmen.

After speaking, he walked out of the conference room.

Just happened to meet Cape butler to inform the king and queen of the summons.

Constantine came to the tea room and saw Queen Olga and King George chatting.

When the two saw Constantine entering, they looked at each other, and King George spoke first.

"Constantine, you are seventeen years old, and your mother and I have decided to send you to serve in the Legion of Thessaly," the king said.

Military service is a tradition for children of European royal families.

The children of the royal family in almost all countries generally have the experience of serving in the military.

Because the monarchs of various countries are themselves the supreme commanders of the army, it is very common for royal men to serve in the army and accumulate military experience.

In European history, it is a common thing for the monarch to go on a personal expedition.

For example, Emperor Napoleon of France and Frederick the Great of Prussia.

As the crown prince of Greece who has received a complete military education, as long as there is a war, Constantine is almost certain to participate in the war.

After all, what could better ensure the legitimacy and authority of the regime than military performance?

Constantine was mentally prepared for this.

The Thessaly Legion is also one of the main armies of Greece, deployed in the north of Thessaly to guard against the Turks.

"When you have arranged things in the Congo, go to serve in the Thessaly Legion," George I said solemnly.

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