Holy Roman Empire

"Ito-kun, calm down for a moment. No one wants to see such a thing happen. Also, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not idle.

It is a well-known fact that the Vienna government declared its neutrality early on.What happened now is mainly because we ignored a secret agreement made [-] years ago.

Before the Austrians went to the sea, they signed port-sharing agreements with several colonial empires, including Spain.

It was thanks to this treaty that the Austrians were able to overcome the supply difficulties in the early days of colonization and created the world's second colonial empire.

According to the provisions of the treaty, without jeopardizing its own interests, the contracting parties are obliged to provide logistical support and port calls to the other party within their capabilities. "

Gongwang of Xiyuan Temple explained helplessly.

This is really not their responsibility. It was the shogunate era 40 years ago, and they were all kids. Who would care about a treaty that they didn't even have half a dime for?

In particular, this treaty still exists in the form of a secret agreement.If he hadn't negotiated with the envoy of the Holy Roman Empire, he wouldn't even know that there was a treaty now.

Youtou Ito asked angrily: "So what if there is a secret agreement? Didn't the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ask the Austrians for an explanation for this violation of international practice?"

Xiyuan Temple Gongwang replied bitterly: "The explanation is naturally coming. After receiving the Spanish navy entering the New Frankfurt Port, I met with the Minister of the Holy Roman Empire as soon as possible.

The other party also gave a reasonable explanation, but I don't think you will like this explanation. "

After making eye contact, and seeing that everyone was determined to know, Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said slowly: "Minister Antonio expressed regret for this incident, and made a promise on behalf of the Vienna government, and is willing to bear all the consequences arising from it.

He also said that if we insist on pursuing it, we can use this as an excuse to declare war on them, and the Holy Roman Empire will take the initiative to assume the moral responsibility for this war. "

It's okay if you don't explain it, everyone can't help it.Even Emperor Meiji, who has always attached great importance to the majesty of the monarch, was furious at this moment.

An understatement of being willing to take responsibility, which seems to be responsible for the matter, is actually playing helplessness.

"Declaration of war"?

If Japan has this strength, Emperor Meiji would not mind a good fight with the Holy Roman Empire, and let them know that the Great Japanese Empire is not easy to mess with!

Unfortunately, the reality is cruel.The Holy Roman Empire, which was established less than two months ago, is now the overlord of half of the world. A country like Japan can be killed with a single slap.

Weak countries have no diplomacy, which is vividly reflected here.Even if people admit to violating international practice, the Japanese government does not have the guts to pursue responsibility now.

Even the Vienna government once again proved its credibility to the outside world because of this incident.For a secret agreement made 40 years ago, even one can violate international conventions and offend to death...

Well, the weight of the Japanese is still a little lighter these days, and the spread is not very convincing.If it is replaced by the British, it is estimated that the effect will be better.

After all, he was used to strong winds and waves, and when he saw that the meeting was out of control, Emperor Meiji immediately reprimanded him: "Shut up! You have to go home and scold slowly, don't act wild here.

I also know that the Holy Roman Empire has done a very unnatural thing this time, but what can it do?They are the most powerful country in the world, with domineering capital.

If you have the ability, remember this account first, and then get it back from them when you have a chance in the future, and wash away the shame this time. "

In the end, Emperor Meiji also lost his confidence.There is no way, the strength gap between the two sides is too great.

Just the power of the Holy Roman Empire in the Nanyang region has the ability to destroy the Japanese Empire.When it comes to the comprehensive national strength of the two countries, there is at least a double-digit multiple gap.

2 Forty Chapters

It's a blessing in disguise. Politics is such a comedy sometimes.Originally, the British government had doubts about supporting the Japanese, worrying that the mud would not support the wall and the investment cost would not be recovered.

But with the Holy Roman Empire supporting the Spaniards, the British government had no choice.If they don't make a move, they will soon lose their foothold in the Nanyang region.

Britain does not have much interest in the Nanyang region, and even if it is squeezed out, it does not seem to have much loss.However, things cannot just be seen on the surface.

Open the map and you will know that the Nanyang region is just stuck between the Far East and India.Once squeezed out, Britain's hegemony in the Far East will also be shaken.

Of course, they still have another option - Australia.The problem is that this has to go in a big circle again!

Britain can't stand the toss.The Royal Navy is unable to navigate through the Suez Canal, and the pressure itself is great enough, and it will be impossible to make a detour.

In this context, Britain can only introduce external forces to balance the forces of all parties in the Nanyang region and relieve its own pressure.

……

At the same time when the Spaniards arrived in New Frankfurt Port, Ito Hirobumi signed the "British-Japanese Nanyang Secret Treaty" in London on behalf of the Japanese government and British Foreign Secretary George.

The treaty states:

1. Both contracting parties recognize each other's right to protect their interests in the Nanyang region. If Japan's "special interests" in Nanyang are threatened by other countries, the two countries have the right to intervene.

2. When one of the contracting parties fights against a third country to protect the above-mentioned interests, the other party shall strictly observe neutrality and provide assistance within its capabilities.

3. If one of the contracting parties is attacked by two or more countries, the other party shall provide military assistance.

4. In peaceful times, the navies of the two countries should cooperate to maintain their advantages in the South China Sea and the Far East waters.

……

Supplementary Agreement: In view of the needs of the Japanese-Western War, Britain sold 3 battleships, 5 cruisers, 7 destroyers, and several subsidiary warships to the Japanese government.

The treaty is valid for 5 years.After the expiration, the two countries will decide whether to continue to renew the contract according to the specific situation.

Except for the different targets, this Anglo-Japanese secret agreement is basically a replica of the original space-time "British-Japanese Alliance".The only difference is probably that the situation in the Nanyang region is more complicated, which makes Britain and Japan unwilling to disclose the news of the alliance.

Regardless of the fact that the Royal Navy is number one in the world, when it comes to the speed of fleet deployment, they are not as good as the Holy Roman Empire in the Southeast Asia region.

The fleets of the two countries departed from the mainland at the same time, and the fleet of the Holy Roman Empire was at least half a month earlier. This is the strategic significance of the Suez Canal.

The only way to avoid this disadvantage is to garrison heavy troops.In theory, as long as the Royal Navy is twice the size of the Shinra Navy, it can maintain its advantage.

As long as the Royal Navy divides into two groups and blocks the Strait of Gibraltar and the Red Sea, the Shinra fleet can be locked in the Mediterranean bathtub.

After all, the Royal Navy's combat effectiveness is stronger. With a comparable fleet size, the Shinra Navy is not yet their opponent.

Of course, this is only in theory.If you actually operate it, you will find that it has no effect at all.

The naval blockade is only effective against small countries. Facing the giant Shinra, the Royal Navy's blockade will at most bring some economic losses.

Apart from being able to anger the Vienna government and make the Shenluo Empire invest more in building warships, it has no deterrent effect at all.

While it can't win, Britain can't lose either.With the strength of the Royal Navy, it is inherently invincible.

The end result is nothing more than Britain losing its colonies in Africa, and Shinra will most likely lose its colonies in Southeast Asia and the Americas.

Maybe the two countries still have air forces that compete with each other, and you come and bomb them.Maybe several states along the coast of Shinra will still be baptized by war.

But in general, both sides are big losers, and the winners will only be the melon-eaters who are not involved.

Under the background of not turning their faces, the secret agreement between Britain and Japan was exposed, which is to force the Netherlands and Spain to join forces with Shinra.

Two to three British people feel that it is a loss, but the Japanese are simply afraid to join in the fun.Although they are all great powers, the goalkeepers of such great powers as Spain and the Shenluo Empire are not a species at all.

If the game really crashes, who can guarantee that the British will be reliable?In case people don't care about 21 and a fleet goes directly to Tokyo, the Japanese government can't afford it.

Even if the British government is willing to help, when the Royal Navy arrives, it can only help collect the corpse.

What's the use of revenge?

With the family background of the Japanese Empire, if you lose once, you don't even think about turning over, so what will happen next.You can't expect the Holy Roman Empire to admit defeat and lose money and let them rebuild their navy, right?

……

The Spaniards, who had just arrived in the port of New Frankfurt, were holding a celebratory banquet at the moment.After so many days at sea, it's time to relax.

"Sir Witter, Governor Chandler is not here?"

Halfway through the banquet, Admiral Valkenhain, the commander of the fleet, realized that there was still an important guest who hadn't arrived.

Sir Werther, the foreign affairs officer, replied with a smile: "I'm very sorry. Your Excellency, I can't come due to something, so let me convey my apologies."

It can be seen from his sincere smile that he is very apologetic.However, this is not what Admiral Valkenhain needs.

If Spain wanted to defeat the Japanese and regain the Philippine Islands, it needed the support of the Governor of Austrian Southeast Asia.Governor Chandler avoided seeing him, obviously because he did not want to further intervene in the Japanese-Western War.

Although the two countries are allies, countries still have to use their interests to speak.The Vienna government is able to fulfill the treaty signed with Spain before, and it is already very good friends.

If you want to get further support, it depends on what the Spanish government is willing to pay.It's a pity that Spain's family background is too thin to afford this price at all.

Otherwise, Spain would have bought European countries long ago and let the Continental Union pass a resolution ordering the Japanese to withdraw from the Philippine Islands.

Not to mention the Japanese government, even if it is replaced by the British government, it should think twice about the collective resolution of the European Union.

In fact, Spain is not without opportunities.If you join the Anti-French Alliance before the Russians enter the war, you can definitely get the full support of the Anti-French Alliance.

It's a pity that the Spanish government's hesitation was so slow that the Russians joined the war one step later, causing their own value to plummet.

The status of the victorious country has been mixed up, and the spoils of war have also been obtained. It is obviously not enough to ask the Holy Roman Empire to help take back the Philippine Islands.

After a short period of embarrassment, Admiral Valkenhain immediately reacted, and politely replied: "It doesn't matter. It's understandable that Your Excellency the Governor is busy. It's just about the maintenance of the warship. I don't know when it will start?

Sir Werther, you know.Our fleet came from the mainland and sailed tens of thousands of kilometers. There will be another major war soon, and the warships are in urgent need of maintenance. "

After sailing tens of thousands of kilometers, the warship is only "maintenance", not "repair", which is enough to prove that the quality of the French warship is excellent, and it also proves the professional quality of the Spanish Navy.

Compared with the miserable Russian fleet in the original time and space, the Spaniards are very lucky now.

"The repair shop is ready, and it may start at any time. It's just that the fleet in your country is huge, and a repair shop may not be able to complete the maintenance in a short time.

If you're in a rush, I personally recommend spreading out your fleet to multiple repair shops for maintenance.With our technical strength, if they are separated, it can be done within a week at the earliest. "

The money delivered to the door is not earned for nothing.Whether it is providing logistical supplies or maintaining warships, they all have to pay.

Sir Werther always treats customers with the warmth of the sun.As long as the customer has money in his pocket, he will do everything possible to meet the customer's needs.

As for the outcome of this war, it is actually not that important.As long as the Vienna government is willing, even if the entire Spanish navy is wiped out, they can immediately form a stronger fleet for them.

The same goes for enemies.As long as the British are willing, no matter how much the Japanese lose, they can also replenish it immediately.

In a sense, the key to determining the outcome of the Japanese-Western War is no longer on the battlefield, but in the game between major powers.

Admiral Valkenhain said happily: "Of course, the sooner the better, the Filipino people are still waiting for us to rescue them!"

Although he didn't know that Britain and Japan had hooked up, Admiral Valkenhain still understood the truth of long nights and many dreams.

The Philippine archipelago is a treasure land, and the countries peeping here are not only the Japanese, almost every colonial empire has fantasized about it.

In the short term, everyone still acquiesces that the Philippine Islands are a colony of Spain. Due to political factors, it is inconvenient for countries to take action against the Philippine Islands.

But the situation will be different after a long delay. Once the international community believes that Spain is unable to take back the Philippine Islands, then their ownership of the Philippine Islands will be gone.

The original political factors of the Philippine Islands, which have changed their owners, no longer exist, and there is no burden for everyone to get angry.

In particular, Britain and Austria have enough power to seize the Philippine Islands from the Japanese, and they are even more vigilant objects in Valkenhain.

Chapter 241 Losing Money Trading

With the continuous withdrawal of the Allied forces, the law and order in France also deteriorated sharply.The revolutionary government in Paris, which had just taken over the regime, obviously lacked governance experience, and the countermeasures it adopted were even more ironic.

For example: Economic Recovery Act, Employment Act, Social Assistance Act...

It seems that these measures are very good, but in fact they ignore the feasibility.Whether it is to restore the economy, increase the employment rate, or social assistance, it is inseparable from money.

It just so happens that France has no money right now.The European war not only impoverished the French government, but even the private consortium was severely damaged, and it was simply unable to provide funds for the Paris government.

Printing money without money, I don't know which genius came up with the idea. Small currencies of 1 franc and 2 francs have long since withdrawn from the stage of history, and the zeros on the franc have been increasing since the success of the Paris Revolution.

In this France where everyone is a billionaire, it is no news to carry a bag of money to buy bread.

No matter how hard ordinary people try, they cannot keep up with inflation.As the Times described it, the franc increases by a zero every month.

The economy has collapsed, and the revolutionary government in Paris is still infighting.President Robert, who was the scapegoat, had long been ousted by the angry French people, and now the No.17 President of the French Republic, Baptiste, is in charge.

On average, the government changes twice a month, which truly reflects "the emperor takes turns and will come to my house next year".Let's put it this way, but any political faction with some energy has produced a president.

However, the end result is the same, no matter who comes to power, it won't last long, let alone control the situation.

After smoking a cigar, President Baptiste asked, "When will the aid from the Continental Union be realized?"

France has no money, and it can only turn to the international community to get rid of its financial difficulties.There is no doubt that the European Union is the only one that can help them in the current situation.

Although the British also have money, John Bull's money is hot!The current overlord of continental Europe is the Holy Roman Empire, and if he goes to entangle with the British, he is courting death.

Foreign Minister Fernandez: "It is very regrettable, Your Excellency. The European Union has issued an ultimatum, ordering us to determine the king within one month and restore the monarchy.

If we fail to meet their demands, not only will there be no international aid, but we may also be sanctioned by the alliance.

Just yesterday morning, Chekov, head of the Grain Committee of the Holy Roman Empire, released the White Paper on Grain Exports, reducing the total amount of grain exported to my country in the second half of the year by 100 million tons. "

In theory, after giving up the Italian region, France has no shortage of food.But this is only in theory, because of the war, France's agricultural production has been devastated, and food has to rely on international imports.

It is no longer a day or two for the Holy Roman Empire to monopolize the European grain trade. With the birth of the European Continental Union, this monopoly has been pushed to the extreme.

As a strengthened version of the EU, a customs union is naturally indispensable.Agricultural products from various countries in the Americas also had to pay high tariffs if they wanted to import them into France.

If the tariffs are collected by the French government, these will naturally not be a problem.Unfortunately, as part of the sinking fund, France's tariff rights have long been in the hands of the anti-French alliance.

Tax evasion is impossible, and it involves self-interest. The Vienna government is very strict about the import of foreign agricultural products and industrial and commercial products.Even if someone wants to smuggle, they can only get the goods from their own house.

In this context, the Holy Roman Empire's reduction of grain exports to France is undoubtedly a fatal blow to the Paris government.