I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 696: Others’ poison, my honey

If possible, Clemenceau would like to completely dismember Germany and split it into four or five small principalities so that it would not pose a threat to France.

Lloyd George opposed excessive weakening of Germany for the sake of continental balance.

In order to strengthen the United States' influence in Europe, Wilson also opposed excessively weakening Germany.

Nicholas the Younger's initial attitude was similar to that of Clemenceau, and he also supported the complete separation of Germany.

But as time went on, little Nicholas' attitude began to change.

Would it be good for Russia to completely dismember Germany?
Yes, but not much.

A Germany that can disrupt the European order is more beneficial to Russia.

Without Germany, France will become the only superpower, which is also disadvantageous to Russia.

Faced with a 3:1 situation, Clemenceau had to give up the idea of ​​completely dismembering Germany and focus more on gaining practical benefits for France.

In addition to territory, war reparations also caused huge controversy.

After calculating France's losses, Clemenceau proposed that Germany demand 8000 billion gold marks in compensation.

This request is too much. Germany is now exhausted and even if all Germans are sold, they cannot be sold at this price.

This does not even take into account the damage Germany has caused to Russia, Britain, Belgium and the United States.

Russia suffered greater losses in the war than France.

Clemenceau dared to ask for 8000 billion, and young Nicolas was not polite either, and asked for 2 trillion.

Lloyd George and Wilson were helpless. Are you two having an eating contest?

The year before the outbreak of World War II, Germany's GDP was only about one trillion marks.

Wilson continued his style, saying that the United States did not need to pay reparations and hoped that Clemenceau and Nicolas the Younger would lower the reparations standards.

Clemenceau opened his mouth and started to retort.

"Germany's missing gold is all in the United States. You have made enough money through free trade—"

"Russia lost 2000 million people in the war, Germany must pay reparations."

The figures from little Nicholas' mouth are not accurate. It was 1500 million a week ago.

Russia mobilized a total of 1500 million people to participate in the war, and the total number of casualties was about 700 million.

"Can you please calculate the data accurately first?"

Clemenceau is not a tiger, but a mad dog who bites whoever he catches.

"Gentlemen, let's be realistic. The Germans simply can't afford that much money."

Lloyd George was worried, what should he do?

Clemenceau and Nicolas the Younger were not blackmailing Germany, but Britain and the United States.

In order to maintain continental balance, Britain and the United States will certainly increase their support for Germany after the war in order to continue to generate interests in Europe.

It doesn’t matter if Germany has no money, it can use resources and products to pay off its debts. Clemenceau set his sights on the coal mines in the Ruhr area.

The Ruhr is Germany's main coal-producing area. If this piece is taken away, German industry will be missing a leg.

Russia does not have any requirements for Germany's resources, but is quite interested in Germany's industrial products.

Before the outbreak of the war, the main trade mode between Russia and Germany was: Russia imported industrial products from Germany, and Germany imported food from Russia.

The deterioration of relations between the two countries also began with trade restrictions.

Given George's emphasis on industry, Russia's dependence on German industrial products will decline rapidly in the future.

If the Germans are willing, they can make some beer-smoked ham to enrich the Russian table.

"It doesn't matter if we don't have money now. Germany can pay it back slowly. We have plenty of time!"

Clemenceau refused to give in; this was his bottom line.

The French bottom line has always been very flexible.

George is also very flexible on the baseline.

At the beginning of spring, a delegation led by former US Secretary of State Robert Bacon arrived in Yakutia to inspect the construction of the Hebrew autonomous state.

Robert Bacon had an extraordinary resume. He served as Secretary of State, Ambassador to France, and head of the U.S. Army Office in Britain during the World War. He was also a director of the Morgan Consortium and an outstanding banker.

Yakutia has a very large area, more than 300 million square kilometers.

The area of ​​Hebrew State is only 3.6 square kilometers. Not only does it have no access to the sea, but it is also almost at the Arctic Circle.

In April, New York was already full of flowers and spring, but Hebrew, where he came from, was still covered in ice and snow.

The average temperature in Xizhou in January is minus 1 degrees Celsius, and the average temperature in July is 50 degrees Celsius. The winter lasts for 7 months, and all areas are located in the permafrost zone.

Bacon was very angry. What a terrible place. It was not suitable for human survival.

"Are we going to give up Vladivostok or St. Petersburg to the Hebrews?"

Ilya, who had just retired from the Russian army three months ago, was in a bad mood. He didn't want to go to this hellish place in the snow and ice.

Although Russia has a large area, many of its regions are actually extreme places that are not suitable for human survival.

To survive in such a hellish place, you need not only a strong body but also a savage spirit.

The Hebrews' forte, finance, was completely useless in a place like this.

"Russia is so big, why here?" Bacon believed that this was a deliberate targeting of the Hebrews.

If Werther were here, he would say to Bacon: You are right.

The loan from the United States to Russia only allows George to do so much.

If you want to go to a better place, you have to pay extra.

"The Hebrews are the smartest race in the world. My Grand Duke, Prime Minister Kerensky, believes that the Hebrews will definitely be able to create miracles here."

Elijah smiled and said, “The smartest” was not said by me, but by the Hebrews themselves.

Grand Duke Yuriev - Premier Kerensky was very good not to find a desert to throw the Hebrews into.

"Kerensky is dead!"

Bacon was furious and didn't even bother to give a proper excuse. Could he find a better excuse?

"No, as the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government, Prime Minister Kerensky will always live in the hearts of all Russians."

Ilya's words were righteous and Kerensky would be very pleased if he were still alive.

Why on the ground?

He is so great, if I don’t go to hell, who will?

Although the name of Georgetown, the capital of Greek state, contains the word "city", it is actually just a small town with a few hundred households, who make a living by fishing and hunting.

The living room of Ilya's mayor's mansion, which was also his own residence, was so small that it couldn't even accommodate all the members of the delegation.

However, the "official residence" covers a large area. The warehouse next to it is full of smoked meat and fish. There are more than a dozen fat and strong sled dogs in the kennel. They can not only pull sleds, but also are responsible for the security of the mayor's residence.

Another warehouse was filled with firewood, an indispensable fuel in winter.

The clothes that Elijah was wearing were bearskin coats. If this clothes was sold in a shopping mall in New York, it would cost at least more than 100 US dollars.

$100 is worth a lot these days.

Although the name Elijah comes from ancient Hebrew, he has an oriental face, yellow skin and black hair, and does not look like a Hebrew at all.

This is normal, the Yakuts are originally yellow people.

There was not even a staff member in Ilya's "official residence". Ilya had to boil water and make tea by himself, and he didn't even wash the cups before making tea.

Bacon was too busy worrying about the details now.

Except for the teacups which were not very clean, the conditions in other aspects were quite good.

The carpet in Ilya's living room was made of the skin of some animal.

On the wall hung sabers and rifles, as well as medals that Elijah had won during the war, and a photo wall consisting of more than a dozen photos. Bacon actually found a photo of Elijah and George among them.

Looking at the yellow and black blanket on the recliner next to the fireplace and the huge specimen of deer antlers above the fireplace, Bacon felt that this place was not so bad. It was similar to his country villa in the United States.

But when he thought of the nine-month winter, Bacon frowned again.

"You think this place is bad? No, in my opinion, this is exactly the best place for the Hebrews."

Elijah poured Bacon a cup of tea and started roasting potatoes by the fireplace.

This thing tastes great whether dipped in sugar or salt.

It would be better if it was pepper and salt.

"We are a nation chosen by God, but also a nation abandoned by God. As long as we can live here without being disturbed, this is the greatest luck."

Ilya's heart is not as rough as his appearance.

"The long winter is nothing. There is endless firewood and game here. I only need to work for three months a year to store enough supplies for a year. I like to wrap myself in a warm bear skin, drink a glass of vodka with a not-so-high alcohol content, and read my favorite book by the hot fireplace during the long winter nights."

Elijah's description immediately made Bacon's eyes open.

this--

Isn’t this the life I’ve always dreamed of!
"I called on all Hebrews living in Russia to settle here, but not only did they not come, they also called me a liar - it's funny, they would rather endure being ostracized by locals in big cities than come here to enjoy a peaceful and quiet life. I can only say that this is their own choice."

Elijah leaves Bacon speechless.

If you come here, live here for a while, feel that this place is not suitable for you, and then return to the city, that's fine.

He didn't even come and rejected the place Yakutia as soon as he heard about it. Is this what a smart person would do?
It is undeniable that the bright lights and nightlife of big cities do have an unparalleled appeal to many people.

But is the fast-paced life in big cities really suitable for everyone?

All I can say is that you know how you feel.

"what can I do for you?"

Bacon is finally back on the right track.

"The biggest problem here is the inconvenient transportation. If we can have a railway, this place will become a paradise for the Hebrews."

Elijah once again made Bacon frown.

The distance between Xi'an and Moscow is 8900 kilometers, and that between Xi'an and Khabarovsk on the Amur River is 1900 kilometers.

"No, no, no, you are wrong. We don't need to build a railway that far. We just need to extend the railway to the coastline, and then we will no longer be isolated from the world."

Ilya's plan is more suitable.

It also saves money.

(End of this chapter)