Expedition to Europe

The world in 1920 was peaceful compared to the previous decade.

The British were busy supporting the Germans and looking for a new balance on the European continent; Lanfang temporarily stopped its expansion and prepared to start working hard on its internal strength; the Americans were trapped in the vicious circle of "Monroe Doctrine". Their president could no longer work, and the vice president and secretary of state were working hard to decide who would become the acting president; France was starting to die again. Former President Raymond Poincaré finally lost the election, and Paul Eugene Louis Deschanel became the new French president on February 18, 1920.

Well, Paul Eugene Louis Deschanel is a joke. I don't know what the French parliament took wrong to choose such a person as president.

Paul Eugene Louis Deschanel is almost a congenital neurotic, and at the same time an absolute idealist. He has an impatient temperament, hates red tape, and is eager to use positive social etiquette to develop France's foreign relations.

This is absolutely a deviation from the essence. In the early 1930s, everyone in Europe was worried that France would dominate the European continent alone. As the president of France, Descharnel actually wanted to become a "country of etiquette" and throw away the "cannonism" that he had always pursued. I really don't know what Descharnel was thinking.

As an ally of France, Lan Fang had no reason to interfere in these matters, but Qin Zhiyuan and Pierre's communications became closer and closer. Under Qin Zhiyuan's guidance, Pierre began to win over those military generals who were iron-blooded and warlike during the world war but were now gradually marginalized.

These people included former Minister of War Louis Herbert Lyautey, Mangin, known as the Butcher, Louis Franche d'Espere, who had been fighting in the Balkans as the commander of the Western Front, and even Raymond Poincaré, who had resigned as president, Pierre did not give up on him.

French politics is a hodgepodge. Every day, someone rises like a comet, and every day, someone disappears like a meteor. Raymond Poincaré's failure in the presidential election this time does not mean that he will not have a chance to make a comeback.

You should know that Raymond Poincaré has shares in the "United Petroleum" led by Louis Renault and Qin Zhiyuan. As long as there is no problem with financial resources, Raymond Poincaré will definitely have a chance to make a comeback.

Lan Fang in 1920 needs to lie dormant to accumulate physical strength.

Pierre in 1920 also needs to lie dormant. Pierre must stabilize everything he has now, win over all the forces that can be won over, and prepare for possible opportunities in the future.

Similarly, Germany in 1920 is also different from when the war just ended.

In the Berlin Palace, William III held a royal meeting.

The participants were German Chancellor Prince Max von Biden, Finance Minister Philip Scheidemann, German Chief of Staff Paul von Hindenburg, Field Marshal August von Mackensen, and Bavarian Crown Prince Rubecht.

"... The most difficult year has passed. Compared with last year, we now have a good situation. Although we still have heavy war reparations to pay, the British and Americans have promised to provide us with loans. Our friend, the Eastern Overlord from the Far East, has also promised to mediate for us and provide help to the best of his ability. Although we have not seen any results yet, anyway, we have finally seen the light of day and finally don’t have to continue groping in the dark. This is a good thing for us." William III opened the topic.

"It seems that the situation is not bad now, but the war has caused too much damage to our economy and people's livelihood. If we want to fundamentally reverse it, we must develop people's livelihood and use domestic demand to drive the economy. Otherwise, relying solely on external forces, our road will still be difficult." Prince Marx has a clear understanding.

"We are currently unable to develop the economy. The pressure of war reparations is too great. Our minerals are transported away as soon as they are produced, so we cannot carry out deep processing, and naturally there is no added value. If this situation cannot be reversed, then we can only become a colony like the export of raw materials." Finance Minister Philip Shechtmann is a little pessimistic.

Philip Shechtmann is one of the right-wing leaders of the German Social Democratic Party. When the World War just ended, a workers' uprising broke out in Germany. Philip Shechtmann participated in the establishment of the government and brutally suppressed the workers' uprising. After William III came to power, Philip Shechtmann became the German Finance Minister and was William III's right-hand man.

"If we want to make fundamental changes, we must first have an army. Only by restoring a certain size of the army can we have enough voice and our opinions will be truly valued. Otherwise, no one will look at us even if we shout our throats out." Chief of Staff Hindenburg still maintains the old way of thinking.

According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was only allowed to have an army of less than 100,000 people, no air force and navy, and no heavy weapons including automatic weapons. This was the punishment imposed on Germany by the whole world.

Of course, because the German military did not participate in the formulation of the Treaty of Versailles, Hindenburg himself did not take this treaty seriously, and therefore did not have much awe.

Yes, Germany was indeed defeated in the World War, but almost all German soldiers did not think that the problem was with themselves. They believed that it was because of the compromise and betrayal of politicians in the rear that Germany was defeated in the World War.

"We can't think like that now. Before we have accumulated a certain amount of strength, all possible provocative actions against Britain, France and the United States should be stopped. Before we are able to challenge the order again, we must remain calm. If our decision-making is wrong again, then I can be sure that we will no longer have such an almost." August von Mackensen is more sober than Hindenburg.

August von Mackensen, one of the five recipients of the Grand Iron Cross in World War I, was the most outstanding German general during World War I. After Ludendorff died in the war, August von Mackensen was appointed as Hindenburg's assistant.

But it is obvious that the two men are not as harmonious as Hindenburg and Ludendorff.

"The key to the problem is that we must find the right allies. Look at our former allies, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria. These can't be called allies, they should be called sleepwalking! It is precisely because of their poor performance that Germany failed. No matter what we plan to do in the future, we can't get a bunch of pig teammates. We must have strong allies standing by our side, so that we can do something without scruples." Bavarian Prince Rupercht has his own suggestions.

During the World War, Bavarian Prince Rupercht and the Foreign Legion led by Qin Zhiyuan had a confrontation.

To be honest, if the war hadn't ended a little early, Bavarian Prince Rupercht would have run fast enough. In the Second Battle of Reims, Bavarian Prince Rupercht might have followed in the footsteps of William III and become a prisoner of the Foreign Legion.

"Lan Fang is a good choice. It is full of vitality and has a bright future. The key is the Far East overlord. He almost never makes mistakes. Look at Lan Fang in the past year. It is simply a miracle. They completed the primitive accumulation that would take hundreds of years to complete in just one year. This is incredible. If possible, we should form an alliance with Lan Fang, the best kind of relationship." Prince Marx has been to Lan Fang and has a deep impression of Lan Fang.

When Qin Zhiyuan ascended the throne, Prince Marx went to Lan Fang with William III.

At that time, because Prince Marx and William III had a clear division of labor, Prince Marx did not have the opportunity to make close friends with Qin Zhiyuan. However, in the process of dealing with Huang Bohan, Prince Marx deeply felt the potential of Lan Fang. In Prince Marx's view, Lan Fang is one of the most promising countries in the world.

The original text is available at Liu # 9 @Shu/Bar!

"Lan Fang is indeed good, but they are too far away from us. It is still unknown how much help they can provide us. Moreover, the relationship between Lan Fang and France is a huge obstacle. If France does not change its attitude, it is unknown to what extent the relationship between Lan Fang and us can improve." Philip Shetman was suspicious of Lan Fang again.

"I am against deepening relations with Lan Fang. I have always been against it. In the last war, the Chinese caused us too much harm, even more than the Americans and the French. If the Chinese had not appeared, we would have won the war. And if we choose to ally with Lan Fang now, it would be a betrayal of those soldiers who died on the battlefield. This behavior cannot be forgiven." Hindenburg was still stubborn on this issue.

Hindenburg was an old-fashioned soldier. He was very determined to maintain tradition, so he often made inappropriate remarks. In many cases, Hindenburg's remarks sounded like an 18th-century tombstone inscription, full of bleak spiritual power, old ideas and narrow observation.

If Hindenburg had not had an irreplaceable position in the German military system, William III would have retired Hindenburg and gone home to take care of his children.

Even so, William III's patience with Hindenburg was still running out.

Just after Hindenburg finished speaking, William III exchanged a few obscure glances with Prince Marx and Bavarian Prince Rupert.

Unfortunately, Hindenburg, who was immersed in memories of the past, did not notice it.

Philip Shechtman noticed it, but said nothing and looked through the documents in front of him.

August von Mackensen also noticed it, but there was more excitement in August von Mackensen's eyes, and a little less obvious sadness.

Well, the former imperial giants will eventually grow old, and the new generation of young people can't wait.