1890 King of Southeast Asia

In 1871, Moltke defeated MacMahon and Napoleon III at Sedan, and Napoleon III, 100,000 French troops and 650 cannons were captured.

A few days later, the French Third Republic was established and the French Second Empire collapsed. Not long after, the Third Republic also signed an armistice agreement with Prussia.

King William I of Prussia was crowned as the German Emperor at the Palace of Versailles in France, which was undoubtedly a huge humiliation for the French.

Especially at that time, France still had the influence of Napoleon and was a European hegemon.

Later, in order to weaken France's potential and prevent France from regaining its glory, the Germans proposed the "Treaty of Frankfurt".

The contents of the treaty include ceding land, compensation, and stationing troops.

Alsace and Lorraine (not the entire territory) were ceded, and the compensation was 5 billion francs, which was paid within three years. Before the end of the compensation, Germany had the right to station troops in France.

What is the concept of 5 billion francs? According to the exchange rate at that time, 1.25 billion taels of silver! !

What is the concept? Britain, which had the highest income at that time, had a fiscal revenue of 260 million taels in 1874, while the Qing Empire had 60 million taels.

Even if the British government did not spend a penny, it only had 780 million taels in three years, which was not enough to pay it back.

This was the purpose of the Germans, not to make France pay back the money, but to drag the troops stationed there.

However, the Germans misjudged the romanticism and private wealth of the French. France repaid the money in two years by issuing national bonds.

Even if the money is paid back, the hatred will not disappear, and the lost territory will not be returned because of the repayment. The nail has been planted.

The feud between Germany and France, the French can't wait to drink Germany's blood, eat Germany's meat, and gnaw Germany's bones. This description is not an exaggeration in France in the 1880s.

However, this only applies to ordinary French people. Bankers and big capitalists don't care about these. In the 1880s, Germany began an industrial boom and France began to hollow out its industry.

A large amount of French capital was invested in German industry for profit.

Therefore, Germany's rapid development is not only due to the role of reparations. Although the amount of reparations is huge, it is not large enough to support the rise of a world empire.

For German industry, French investment is very important, and the French market is also very important.

In the two Moroccan crises, France used financial means to deal with Germany, and the effect was good.

Especially in the second Moroccan crisis, the war was imminent, and a large number of capitalists were afraid of risks and withdrew their capital from Germany, leading to an economic crisis in Germany, which also promoted Germany's compromise in Morocco.

"Things can't go on like this. Germany can't compromise with the French again and again. The situation must be improved."

At the imperial meeting, William II suppressed his violent emotions and said to the prime minister, ministers, nobles, and military leaders.

"Your Majesty, I have confirmed that the French action this time is not aimed at us."

Theobadden von Bethmann-Hollweg, Prime Minister of the Second German Empire, aristocrat, and peace advocate.

During the Balkan War, with Bethmann's efforts, he reached a consensus with British Foreign Secretary Edward Grey that the war was limited to the Balkans and did not expand into a world war.

He was a capable pragmatist. If the system of the German Second Empire had not restricted the power of the prime minister (the Supreme Command decided the policy, and the prime minister could only implement it), the war might have been avoided.

For example, he had presided over naval negotiations with Britain many times and pushed the British to make concessions many times, but failed due to the opposition of William II and Tirpitz.

However, it was also because he accepted the advice of the officer corps and promised the Austro-Hungarian Empire that Germany would stand on their side that the Austro-Hungarian Empire took a tough attitude towards Serbia and eventually triggered the First World War.

"This time it's not against us, what about next time? The empire wants to develop, it can't do without funds, and businessmen and capitalists will not turn it away just because the funds come from the French."

"If the problem is not fundamentally solved, such things will happen again, once, twice, or even more."

Tirpitz whispered aside.

Many ministers wanted to agree with Bethmann, but suddenly found that William II was looking at Tirpitz with admiration.

This attitude was very clear, and he, William II, also thought so.

In the system of the Second German Empire, the central power was concentrated in the hands of the Prussian nobles and the emperor.

Of course, it was not undemocratic. At least each kingdom had a lot of rights that could restrict the emperor's power...

In Berlin, William II, who was supported by the Prussian military nobles, had absolute power.

"Alfred is right. We can't let this situation continue. Otherwise, when to go to war with France will be decided by the French?"

William II saw that no one agreed, and Bethmann was about to stand up again, so he quickly came out to support Tirpitz.

"Your Majesty, isn't this a good opportunity?" Moltke looked at the situation on the scene and made a choice.

"What?" William II was stunned for a moment.

Although the army has always been a war faction, it has always believed that Germany is not ready for war.

The German General Staff believed that once the war broke out, Germany would be trapped in a two-front war and a naval blockade, so they had been making preparations.

This included the preparation of the Schlieffen Plan, but Moltke the Younger did not like this plan very much because it was too risky.

If the French army launches an attack on the front and cannot be contained, then even if the mobile forces on the right wing succeed in bypassing, the matter will be meaningless.

What's the point of changing homes?

Therefore, Moltke the Younger has been arguing and revising the Schlieffen Plan.

"Your Majesty, the biggest problem at present is that there are too many unemployed people. When there are too many of these people, it has caused a lot of social chaos and led to unrest."

"We just need to deal with these unemployed people and give them a stable job, and the unrest problem will naturally disappear."

Moltke the Younger said while looking at the ministers and nobles.

This is a good way he thought of to expand the power of the army in an open and aboveboard manner.

"Your Majesty, I think General Moltke's plan is very feasible..."

"Your Majesty, I think so too. Let them go to the army to exercise. It can not only solve the employment problem, but also exercise their discipline ability..."

"Yes, it can also enhance the combat effectiveness of the army, deter the French, and express dissatisfaction with practical actions..."

The ministers are basically from Prussian or military backgrounds. Most of them support the army, and a small number of them support the navy, and they did not speak out against it.

"General Moltke, there are more than two million unemployed people in the country. Our army cannot accommodate so many people, unless... we go to war." Tirpitz said softly.

"Two million? No, no, no, we don't need so many. I have learned some economic principles by myself." Little Moltke waved his hand hurriedly.

"We don't need to expand much. We only need to expand 20 divisions to drive several times of employment."

"In other words, we only need to recruit about 300,000 people to basically solve the employment problem."

"We can issue a statement that all the items needed for military expansion will only be purchased from companies that have recruited a certain number of people."

"The more workers we recruit, the more we will purchase."

"In this way, we don't have to worry about those big companies not recruiting workers."

This is not a sudden whim of Moltke. Moltke has the consistent rigorous style of the Germans and has conducted in-depth investigations on the equipment of soldiers.

A gun involves dozens of upstream and downstream factories and hundreds of processes. If the army is expanded, can't more factories be pulled in, given orders, and employment be alleviated?

Moreover, soldiers need more than just a gun. They also need clothes, pants, shoes and socks. Although the price of cotton in the international market has risen, it is acceptable to make military uniforms.

There are also helmets, kettles, shovels and drafts. There are so many messy things.

It is precisely because there are so many things involved that Moltke the Younger has personally learned about the production speed and production process of weapons and equipment, and knows how many things are involved in the soldiers' equipment.

Moltke the Younger estimated that it would be no problem for 200,000 soldiers to drive hundreds of factories.

As for the consequences after the drive, that is not what Moltke the Younger should care about, he is not an economist. (This is what Moltke the Younger thought.)

"This is really... General Moltke, you should go to the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Industry, they need a genius like you." William II praised generously.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty, but I am a soldier, I am old, I just hope to see the Black Hawk soaring in the land under the sun all over the world before I go to see God." Moltke the Younger bowed slightly, with the corners of his mouth raised.

"You will see it in the near future." William II has full confidence in this.

Germany's development speed is far beyond the reach of countries such as Britain and France. It took only more than 40 years for it to become the second most powerful country in the world.

It seems that it is not far from surpassing Britain, the world's number one.

William II believes, or no one in Germany doubts, that in the future, Germany will surpass Britain and become the most powerful country in Europe and even the world.

In fact, if Germany maintains this development trend, it may be able to do it in a few decades.

The premise is that the external environment does not change.

"Your Majesty, blindly expanding the army is likely to cause misunderstandings among our neighbors." Bateman stood up and said loudly.

"Now is a sensitive period, and we should avoid misunderstandings as much as possible." Bateman explained.

"Prime Minister, don't worry, the French dare not start a war, they can't even solve their own problems." William II laughed gloatingly.

"What if they also expand their army? Take the same approach as us. If this continues, the entire European continent will begin to expand its army, and the situation will become more and more tense." Bateman looked at the problem from a different angle.

"I am not against war or force. On the contrary, I always believe that the sword held by the German Empire must be sharp enough."

"But this is not a good time for us to start a war..."

Bettman tried to persuade William II.

As for the sequelae of this method, the country is bound by the army and arms companies, and finally has to expand abroad.

Most people have seen this result, but no one cares, after all, it is almost the same now.

From the first naval bill to the present, the German Empire Navy has become the second largest fleet in the world in terms of hard power, and can even compete with Britain. (Not comprehensive strength, comprehensive strength is far worse than Britain.)

Where does the money for expanding the navy come from? It is not simply from the army. In addition to normal appropriations and special funds, there are more debts.

In other words, Germany has been bound for a long time, so they don't care at all.

Similarly, the war was inevitable, which is why William II was unwilling to reduce the fleet. He needed someone to pay for the fleet.

Or, he would pay for it...