usatvline Chapter 852 - 76: Cabinet Meeting
Chapter 852 - 76: Cabinet Meeting
Frankfurt, Würzburg Palace.
A closed-door meeting belonging to the Emperor and cabinet members quietly convenes with the return of Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria.
The elderly Emperor seated on the throne slowly opens his mouth: "Gentlemen, this is the agreement Crown Prince Ruprecht reached with the Texans during his journey to the New Continent. What are your insights?"
Everyone remains silent, and the Prime Minister is the first to speak: "Your Majesty, Texas is merely a remote small country, the statuses of the two are fundamentally unequal, thus losing the premise of cooperation. Moreover, Your Majesty, as the Guardian of Catholicism, cooperating with a Wolf Race country, could it be detrimental to Your Majesty’s reputation?"
The Foreign Minister also frowns: "The mineral resources of Texas are indeed scarce in the Empire, but to collaborate with Texas and consequently offend our allies, is it not somewhat unworthy?"
"Ahem!"
The Naval Minister can’t help but interrupt: "Colleagues, according to intelligence personnel observations, the warships of the UK and France are already using the most advanced magic stone power. Only we are still researching how to use inferior magic stone ore powder, which the British have long discarded, as warship power. Are you all planning to let our navy use such warships to protect the Empire’s seas and overseas colonies?"
The Army Minister slightly nods: "I agree with Gustav’s view, not only should we cooperate with the Texans, it’s best to classify them as a protectorate of the Empire, and even turn them into our colonial territory, to transport precious minerals back home continuously."
The ministers of navy and army share the same enemies, causing the crowd to involuntarily cast a glance. It’s known that these two, the former being a major supporter of the "Sunlit Lands" theory, advocate for naval expansion and overseas conquest.
The latter is a supporter of continental militarism, demanding expansion focus on the Balkans and Apennine Peninsula, while accumulating power, preparing to combat the "Franco-Russian Treaty."
The two are truly incompatible, after all, the annual military budget is limited, giving more to one means less for the other.
The Minister of Finance also speaks: "The energy crisis has become the biggest factor restricting the Empire’s industrial development. Although a few magic stone ores were found in the Rhineland and Schleswig areas, their quantity is too small, unable to supply nationwide use. Now in the international market, apart from agricultural products and some light industrial goods, it is almost filled with British and French goods, simply because we want to produce equally quality products, the cost is higher, forcing capitalists to cut corners and lower workers’ wages."
He pauses and continues: "The former makes our industrial products unable to compete with Britain and France, selling only in domestic and royal crown territories; the latter brings great security risks."
The problem lies there, soon, the cabinet ministers collectively pass the resolution to cooperate with the Texans, although they lean more towards the Army Minister’s statement, wanting to turn them into their colonial territory.
Franz noncommittally states: "Too harsh conditions may make Texans turn to the French, the power of France in Central America is far beyond our comparison. I actually quite recognize the phrase their leader once said, ’We and the Texans now each need something,’ just like us and the Hungarians, where cooperation is mutually beneficial."
Since the unification of Germany, Hungary has de facto become its economic colony.
The reins are tighter, but the Hungarian nobility have become increasingly compliant instead.
Once clamoring for independence, the Hungarian nobility don’t have the courage to abandon the Germanic people in the era of budding nationalism, to face the "Slavic Tsar Father" directly.
After all, Hungary, under the territory known as Saint Stephen’s Crown, holds a large number of Croats, Slovaks, Ruthenians, and other Slavic ethnic groups.
"If that’s the case, I’ll finalize it. Gustav, inform the British ambassador that if they experience another defeat in Texas, we will mediate this war."
The Foreign Minister frowns: "Your Majesty, if we intervene in this way, we might pay quite a price."
Franz shakes his head: "This issue should be discussed between Prince Eugene and you. When we fought with the French initially, it cost seventy million florins in less than half a year. If the French hadn’t provided war reparations, our country would have gone bankrupt."
The Foreign Minister reminds: "But Your Majesty, in the Austro-French War we mobilized nearly a million troops, while the British Expeditionary Force only numbered over a hundred thousand."
"But we fought domestically, whereas the British are conducting cross-sea expeditions, even if they are wealthy, they still need to consider the cost of continuing the fight."
Franz ponders for a moment, then says: "If necessary, we may transfer some of our interests in the Near East to them."
"If they do not agree, ask that little girl Victoria if she hopes our boys are fighting alongside them with fire sticks when the next major war breaks out."
"Settled then!"
Franz concludes decisively, providing a summary for the cabinet meeting. Although the elderly Emperor has increasingly delegated power to the Regency Council and Crown Prince Ferdinand.
Yet this wise elder still firmly holds the helm of this Central European Empire.
...
Battery No. 2.
"Work swiftly, those Brits are filthy rich, their artillery outnumbers ours and reaches farther, so don’t expect this battery above us to provide much support."
The Texan artillery actually contains a lot of British Army equipment, but the number is far too few compared to the enemy, even if engaged in artillery battles, they might not
Franz ponders for a moment, then says: "If necessary, we may transfer some of our interests in the Near East to them."
"If they do not agree, ask that little girl Victoria if she hopes our boys are fighting alongside them with fire sticks when the next major war breaks out."
"Settled then!"
Franz concludes decisively, providing a summary for the cabinet meeting. Although the elderly Emperor has increasingly delegated power to the Regency Council and Crown Prince Ferdinand.
Yet this wise elder still firmly holds the helm of this Central European Empire.
...
Battery No. 2.
"Work swiftly, those Brits are filthy rich, their artillery outnumbers ours and reaches farther, so don’t expect this battery above us to provide much support."
The Texan artillery actually contains a lot of British Army equipment, but the number is far too few compared to the enemy, even if engaged in artillery battles, they might not know