C928 This was the real old fox! (1/2)
This is the real old fox.
The reason why the prince came to see Bismark was to discuss about the Dakar's matter, the two of them did not exchange pleasantries, and directly went to the main topic.
”Karl, I think we should wake up Xiao Letian. It's too dangerous to continue taking this risk as we don't have the strength to fight the entire world. Britain's industry, economy and military power are not something we can face.
Karl shook his head lightly, ”It shouldn't be that serious. It is understandable for those young people who are studying abroad to have such impulsive reactions and be provoked to such an extent … I think it's better to give some help! ”
Bismark lit his pipe and took a deep breath, ”Excessive reaction? I think they're a bunch of war maniacs, attacking a merchant ship from the Marshall Islands. ”I just wanted to check the battleship's performance on the way back, that's all. I don't have a general idea of the situation, it will ruin our plans!”
”Karl, you must remember, if we want to compete with France for the position of the continental Europe's hegemon, we must endure for a period of time. Our weapons factory is currently secretly producing Arms and ammunition, our farms are currently preparing the army for war, our Steel plant are constantly supplying the empire with iron and steel …”
”There's also our huge government, trying to find a way to save energy and raise every single Mark for the war!”
”Don't underestimate France. We have to prepare ourselves so that we can instantly crush the relaxed France. We have to use absolute strength to intimidate the French upper echelons in the early stages of the war, making them feel terrified!”
”What we need to do now is not to challenge the dignity of the France in advance and let them join in the arms race. If France starts to prepare for war, then with their strong capital, we Prussia will not benefit at all!”
Karl was speechless, he knew that the Prime Minister had said those words with absolute logic, making it impossible for people to refute him. France was already a unified nationalist country, with a huge overseas colony. Both the government and the people had abundant financial resources, and its industrial and military might was even greater.
As for Prussia, they had yet to unify the entire Germany. There were no overseas colonies, and their finances had been squeezed dry by military plans. Their civilian wealth was on the verge of drying up.
This was a gamble. In Chinese words, it was a militaristic gamble. Prussia's only advantage over the France was his national character.
The strict Prussian had already decided to fight this battle of fate, while the romantic France people were still immersed in the seductive aroma of the candlelight dinner. The newly built Paris was like a fairy tale, the extravagant atmosphere had softened their bones.
As it turned out, France and Germany, the two old enemies, still had the upper hand in the hundreds of years of conflict. The reason was simple, France's geographical location was much better than Germany's. Facing the vast coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, he was able to avoid the British Navy's blockade and join the global army of colonists.
Moreover, France had been united much earlier than Germany, and the accumulated national power and concentrated nationalism were much stronger.
In real history, Germany defeated France in several major battles, all of which were quick and slow, in order to be ready and unprepared. This was how the Franco-Prussian War went. Under Bismark's deceit after deception, the France did not use all of his national power to prepare for battle.
To put it simply, Prussia had brought together 100 percent of the nation's forces for armaments, while France had used only a tenth of its power for armaments. That was why France had more troops than Prussia, but had never been able to mobilize them at the beginning of the war.