Chapter 145: How to Win over Tsarist Russia

Germany's diplomatic situation is currently complicated. Although it has formed a triple alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy to counter the two-nation entente established by France and Russia.

But in fact, Germany still has a lot of contacts with the Russian Empire, and tried to extract the Russian Empire from the Franco-Russian entente, and even pull it into the alliance.

With the all-round rise of Germany in industry, economy and military, Germany's diplomatic situation has also ushered in a huge change.

Before Germany was unified, France had always been the hegemon of the European continent. But since the Kingdom of Prussia established the German Empire on the French foothold, the hegemony of the European continent, especially Western Europe, has shifted to the German Empire.

But don't forget that although the British Empire did not personally participate in the disputes on the European continent and always pursued an isolation policy.

But at the same time, the British Empire was also supporting the relatively weaker party in the European hegemony struggle, such as the previous Kingdom of Prussia.

When Germany gained greater advantages in Western Europe, especially when its army and navy developed comprehensively and its comprehensive strength was able to threaten the British Empire, the British Empire no longer supported Germany and even began to compete with Germany in some places.

Among the powerful powers on the European continent, France is Germany's mortal enemy and strategic target. There is an irreconcilable state between the two countries, and the contradiction is basically impossible to resolve.

After the coronation of Edward VII, the British Empire has gradually changed its foreign policy. From the original isolation policy, it has gradually participated in European affairs and exerted greater influence on Europe.

However, the British Empire did not clearly stand on either side of the two major military groups in Europe, but temporarily remained neutral in the two military groups.

At present, the British Empire is also the target of the two major military groups to win over, and even William II has repeatedly shown goodwill and won over Britain.

In addition to the two old powers of Britain and France, the only powerful countries in Europe besides the German Empire are the Russian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Needless to say, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is a member of the Triple Alliance and the only ally that the German Empire can rely on at present.

The Russian Empire was also the target that the German Empire had always tried to win over. However, due to the good relationship and close economic exchanges between France and Russia, it was not easy to get the Russian Empire to turn to the German Empire, and it was basically impossible to achieve.

More importantly, like Germany and France, there were irreconcilable territorial conflicts between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian Empire.

Both countries were adjacent to the Balkans, the powder keg of Europe, and both wanted to try to establish their own sphere of influence in the Balkans.

This situation further led to the impossibility of the union between Germany and the Russian Empire, and the territorial disputes were basically impossible to resolve.

Similarly, as an ally of the German Empire, there were also some territorial conflicts between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Although the conflicts between the two countries were initially resolved after the mediation of the German Empire, it was precisely because of this that the formal Triple Alliance was established.

But how could the resolution of the conflicts alone satisfy people? The Kingdom of Italy was not satisfied with the simple concession of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was also an important reason why the Kingdom of Italy turned against the Allies in history.

The German Empire did not understand one truth, that is, the importance of making friends with distant countries and attacking nearby countries for a country.

As powerful countries with the same ambitions and aspirations, there will be many territorial issues as long as they are adjacent.

This is just like France and Germany. The two countries will basically become hostile because this is the general trend of the country.

Even if the external force leads to a short-term calm and resolution, the problem itself will always be there. As long as the two countries have not decided on a winner and there is no mutually recognized division of territory, even if an alliance is established, it will be divided due to disputes over interests.

Unlike the neighboring allies of the German Empire, the closest distance between the Russian and French alliances is also separated by the entire Germany, and there will be no disputes over territory, which is why the two countries can cooperate closely.

Hearing William II's question, Foreign Minister Andrew replied with a smile: "I wonder if the honorable German Emperor has heard of the strategy of making friends with distant countries and attacking nearby countries?"

"Make friends with distant countries and attack nearby countries?" William II repeated, asking with a little interest: "So how to make friends with distant countries and attack nearby countries specifically?"

"Your Majesty, if you count all the neighboring countries of Germany, it is rare to find that there are no historical territorial disputes with the German Empire. Even your current ally, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was the biggest enemy of the Kingdom of Prussia in the German region before the establishment of Germany. The Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy also have the same problem and have considerable disputes over territory. Although your country has worked hard to bring the three countries together to form an alliance, I think such an alliance is loose and can be easily broken from the inside." Minister Andrew explained.

"Looking closely at your two allies, the only one that can really share some of the battlefield pressure with the German Empire is the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself also has big problems. The ethnic composition of the country is too complicated, and communication between the armies of various ethnic groups is not easy. Although after the integration of His Majesty Emperor Joseph, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has temporarily condensed into a united country. But if it really faces the dilemma of war, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is very likely. I think Germany's current priority is to try its best to win over other major powers in Europe, including the British Empire and the Russian Empire, which are the countries that the German Empire should try its best to win over at present." Foreign Minister Andrew said.

William II did not nod, but looked closely at Minister Andrew.

The method that Minister Andrew mentioned is exactly what the German Empire is currently implementing, and it is also a method that has never been successful.

Although Germany has tried hard to win over the British Empire and the Russian Empire, one of these two countries previously pursued isolationism, and the other had very good and close economic and political relations with France in Europe, so Germany's wooing ultimately failed.

But whether the method is successful or not, this is already a decision made and tried by the German Empire.

If Minister Andrew did not have a good explanation, then even if William II had a good impression of Australia, and Germany's current relationship with Australia was close, it would not be made fun of in such a way.

"Your Majesty, the situation is different now than in the past. Based on the analysis of the current situation of the island country, Your Highness believes that the conflict between the island country and the Russian Empire will become more and more intense, and even a war will break out within a few years." Minister Andrew did not keep it a secret and explained with a smile: "The island country has imported a large number of army weapons and warships from the British Empire and Australia, and has signed an import treaty with us for mineral resources. All signs show that their goal is no longer to focus on their own country, but to try to gain hegemony in East Asia."

"At present, from an international perspective, the island country has obtained the support of two powers including the British Empire and the United States, and because the base camp is in East Asia, there is basically no great pressure on logistics. But looking at the Russian Empire, its ally France does not support their actions in East Asia, and no other powers support them. They. Under the premise that most of the power of the Russian Empire is placed in Eastern Europe, I don’t think that a small number of Russian troops and fleets will be the opponent of the island countries. This is a serious crisis for the Russian Empire. "

"But this is also an opportunity for the German Empire. As far as the British Empire and the Russian Empire are concerned, Your Highness believes that it is the Russian Empire that is more likely to lean towards or even unite with the German Empire. The British Empire is an old power like France, and it also has a large number of colonies. Germany’s idea of ​​competing for more overseas colonies is also a shock to the British Empire. And because Germany has been developing faster and faster recently, the navy is also causing an impact on the British Empire. This is unacceptable to the British Empire’s pride in the navy. Under the conflict, the possibility of Germany and the British Empire uniting is very small, and they may even become hostile. "

William II nodded. Minister Andrew’s idea of ​​Arthur is actually the current idea of ​​William II and most German officials.

Australia’s export of weapons and warships to island countries seems to be supporting possible enemies of the German Empire, but in fact it is also helping the German Empire create opportunities to win over the Russian Empire.

If the German Empire can win over the Russian Empire, then what does it matter if the island nation rises in the Far East?

Even if the island nation is given a few more decades of development, it will never catch up with the development of the German Empire.

That is the confidence of William II and all German officials in the German Empire and all German people.

"As for how to win over the Russian Empire, His Royal Highness the Duke has the following suggestions. First, try to weaken the economic ties between France and the Russian Empire. After France provided a large amount of loans to the Russian Empire, the economy of the Russian Empire was basically tied to France, which is why the two countries can unite. As long as the economic influence of France on the Russian Empire can be weakened, the plan to unite the Russian Empire will complete the first step." Minister Andrew said with a smile.

"Oh? Then what?" Seeing that Minister Andrew finally got to the point, William II asked with a little interest.

"The way that the German Empire can win over the Russian Empire is to help it maintain its advantage in East Asia and safeguard its hegemony. The Russian Empire's army in East Asia has poor weapons and equipment, and the training quality of its soldiers is low. If a war breaks out, such an army will be lucky to be able to defend its territory, let alone win the war. The German Empire can provide a large amount of loans to the Russian Empire under various names, and encourage and support its expansion of the army and replacement of weapons and equipment in East Asia. As long as the Russian Empire's hegemony in East Asia can be maintained, it will naturally be full of goodwill towards the German Empire for lending a hand to them in this crisis." Minister Andrew said: "Of course, this is only an open plan. Secretly, your country also needs to control some public opinion agencies in the Russian Empire, that is, various newspapers and printing houses. On the basis of the German Empire helping the Russian Empire to safeguard its hegemony in East Asia, a large amount of propaganda should be carried out within the Russian Empire to strengthen the friendship and close relationship between the German Empire and the Russian Empire among the people, which will also determine the thinking of the Russian Empire's top leaders."

Arthur's proposal to William II was very simple, that is, on the premise that Germany successfully helped the Russian Empire, through public opinion, a large amount of propaganda was carried out within the Russian Empire, and the goodwill of the people of the Russian Empire was obtained, thereby influencing the strategy of the Russian Empire's top leaders.

Public opinion has a huge impact on a country, especially on the public opinion. As long as the public opinion of a country can be mastered, it can even affect a country's strategic choices.

Imagine that a Russian Empire where all the people in the country are full of goodwill towards the German Empire, even if a war breaks out with the German Empire because of the entente, will the enthusiasm of the lower-level people for such a war be high?

Even if they have to raise their guns to the enemy under the order from above, they will not be so cruel because of various mentalities.

Such wars often develop into false wars, and both sides will not invest too much troops, and the area where the war really breaks out is very small.

After all, as the saying goes, the generals are not subject to military orders when they are away. Especially on the battlefield, a qualified commander must always consider the feelings of his soldiers.

If you act recklessly without caring about the feelings of the soldiers, then you have to worry about whether the army will cause a mutiny.

"Oh? Create public opinion? What a good idea, hahaha. Starting from the bottom of Russia, to influence the top of Russia, a good plan." William II nodded and said with satisfaction.

Although it is only the early 20th century, the influence of public opinion on a country is already very huge.

Especially in European countries like Britain, France and Germany, although the exploitation of the people by domestic capitalists still exists, and is even very intense.

But the rights that people have when they unite are already very strong, and can even shake the ruling foundation of a country's government.

If most of the Russians unite, even the powerful Russian Empire government will have to consider the opinions of the people.

"But there is still a problem, Minister Andrew. France will not sit idly by and watch us win over the Russian Empire through loans and arms sales. I am afraid that we have just provided loans to the Russian Empire, and France will provide more loans and give away a batch of weapons." After being happy, William II expressed his doubts again.

At present, France and the Russian Empire are still allies who have signed an agreement. Although France does not support the Russian Empire's actions in the Far East, it does not mean that France will abandon the Russian Empire.

On the contrary, France attaches great importance to the Russian Empire as an ally, and will never do what the German Empire did to win over the Russian Empire.

Although France has gradually lost to the German Empire in terms of industry and economy, what the German Empire can provide to the Russian Empire, France can also provide.

What's more, France currently has a better relationship with the Russian Empire than the German Empire. If the German Empire wins over the Russian Empire so straightforwardly, it will definitely be stopped by France as before.

"Yes, Your Highness. As a European country, and your country and France are neighbors. Germany's behavior of winning over the Russian Empire will definitely be known to France, and will definitely be stopped by France." Minister Andrew nodded and said: "Therefore, this time we can't directly win over the German Empire. We need another country that can provide a large amount of weapons and equipment and has no connection with France to do this."

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