Chapter 8 The Imperial Era

  The royal yacht "Brandenburg" is a small ship with a displacement of less than 500 tons.

  In keeping with the Prussian tradition, the royal yacht was decorated very simply. The paint on the hull was new and had a pungent smell. Because the internal space of the yacht was limited, the cabin allocated to Feng Chengqian was less than ten square meters. The furnishings were extremely simple, with only a single bed, a wardrobe and a chair. Like other attendants, Schmidt could only sleep in a hammock in the lower hold.

  There were also several warships in the harbor.

  According to the arrangements, a warship would escort the royal yacht to Portsmouth. Since the Imperial Navy had only a few large warships that were presentable, and its four Sachsen-class ironclads were either in poor condition or under maintenance, the second-class cruiser Irene was assigned to accompany the visit.

  This warship was just built last year and commissioned at the beginning of this year. It can be considered as one of the best warships in the Imperial Navy.

  It's just royal activities, no need for large warships.

  After sunset, "Brandenburg" followed "Irene", slowly leaving the bay.

  Port William faces the North Sea, and the voyage to Portsmouth Harbour is less than a thousand nautical miles, which will be reached in two days.

  Since the British ambassador to the Empire was in attendance, Frederick III arranged a dinner party, which also served as a warm-up for this diplomatic visit.

  Feng Chengqian did not attend the banquet but stayed in the cabin to study the documents provided by Crown Prince Wilhelm.

  No one can stop the empire from rising economically, so the contradictions with the old empire become irreconcilable and will inevitably lead to an all-out war between the new and old empires.

  Didn't you realize there would be such an ending?

  The answer is affirmative, and it has been recognized for a long time.

  Not someone else, but the Imperial Chancellor Bismarck himself.

  In the history familiar to Feng Chengqian, Bismarck's evaluation is seven parts achievement and three parts fault. In the eyes of later generations, Bismarck's greatest mistake was over-trusting Britain, attempting to create an impossible balance between allying with Britain and pursuing imperial overseas interests, thereby using British help to counterbalance European powers, ensuring national security while acquiring colonies and overseas markets.

  After the Franco-Prussian War, all of Bismarck's diplomatic policies revolved around this core.

  The question is, can Britain be relied upon?

  The far-sighted Bismarck could hardly have been unaware that the contradictions between Britain and the Empire were irreconcilable, and it was impossible to place all his hopes in Britain.

  Sooner or later, the empire will become Britain's arch-nemesis.

  Bismarck was not unprepared but had long been prepared, it's just that not many people could see it.

  For example, in diplomacy, Bismarck made full use of Russia's ambition on the Balkan Peninsula and united with Britain, Italy, and Austria to jointly contain Russia. For another example, economically, through trade protection policies, labor law bills, and opening up overseas markets, he vigorously promoted the development of domestic capital.

  After the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck's policies were all aimed at making the empire stronger.

  Feng Chengqian had to admit that he had previously misunderstood Bismarck.

  As the Imperial Chancellor, Bismarck was more aware than anyone else that as long as the Empire developed smoothly, it would eventually challenge the strongest country in the world. Either replace or defeat, there is no third choice. As a rising power, the German Second Empire urgently needed a period of peaceful development. Bismarck's diplomatic policy was to fight for the empire's indispensable opportunity to rest and recover.

  After more than ten years, the empire has undergone a thorough transformation.

  In the familiar history of Feng Chengqian, in another ten years, the Second German Empire will surpass Britain and become the number one economic power in Europe.

  The question is whether Bismarck foresaw what other politicians could also think of.

  The increasingly powerful German Second Empire posed a threat to many countries.

  The most obvious feelings are France and Russia.

  The conflict between Germany and Russia began ten years ago, first with Russia raising tariffs on industrial products from the German Empire to protect its domestic industry, which greatly affected the empire's industrial capital. Immediately afterwards, Bismarck retaliated by introducing a tariff policy targeting Russian agricultural products.

  This trade war directly led Russia to lean towards France.

  Feng Chengqian had to admit that before he came to this era, economic conflicts had already led to a rift between Germany and Russia, and the alliance between France and Russia was unavoidable.

  Of course, economy is just one aspect.

  Affected by the Crimean War and the Balkan situation, the Tsar decided to build a Trans-Siberian Railway from European Russia across Siberia to Vladivostok. The plan was fully supported by the Russian military and capitalists, who hoped that this railway would speed up the movement of troops, accelerate the opening up of Asian commodity markets, and stimulate Russia's metallurgy, coal mining and mechanical engineering industries.

  At first, the Tsar hoped to get help from Germany.

  Although Germany and Russia were quasi-allies at the time, Bismarck would never have helped the Tsar build this railway. The fact is that the greatest value of this railway lies in its military rather than economic significance. With this railway, Russia could easily transfer troops from the Far East to Europe. As a neighboring country of Russia, the German Empire would definitely be greatly harmed, and Bismarck naturally would not lend a helping hand.

  Like the Empire, Britain also did not want Russia to grow and expand.

  As a result, the Tsar could only turn to France for help.

  In the end, this railway became the foundation of the Franco-Russian Alliance.

  At the beginning of the year, France decided to provide a loan of 500 million francs to Russia, which was originally intended for the construction of the Siberian Railway. However, 500 million francs were far from enough, and Russia would certainly apply to France for more loans later. Only how much of the loan was actually used for railway construction remained an unknown quantity.

  The Franco-Russian alliance forced Bismarck to seek new allies.

  The UK follows a policy of non-alignment and naturally cannot be relied upon.

  In the European continent, apart from Germany, France and Russia, there are only two countries that can be considered as strong powers, namely Austria-Hungary and Italy. The Ottoman Empire, which spans across Europe, Asia and Africa, is also barely considered a strong power. Because the Ottoman Empire is located at the crossroads of the world, with too many interests involved, it is easy to conflict with Britain, so Bismarck focused on Austria-Hungary and Italy. For example, Bismarck personally promoted the conclusion of an agreement between England, Austria and Italy last year, agreeing to maintain the status quo in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Adriatic Sea coastlines and North Africa.

  Although the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy had not yet been formed, its embryo was already visible.

  Whether it was the "Triple Alliance" formed by Germany, Austria and Russia 15 years ago, or the alliance with Britain after the Russo-Turkish War, Bismarck's policy had only one core: to prevent a military power or state alliance that could pose a threat to the empire from appearing on the European continent.

  It must be acknowledged that Bismarck's foreign policy achieved good results and also laid hidden troubles.

  In the short term, the empire gained an opportunity to rest and recover. More than a decade of peaceful development has already shown initial results, and the rise of the Second German Empire is imminent. In the long run, the empire will inevitably face even more severe challenges, and may even be at odds with multiple powerful nations simultaneously.

  The problem has come full circle again.

  As long as the emperor, nobles, officials, capitalists and ordinary citizens are not willing to see the empire become a second-rate country, they will eventually have to challenge the old imperial powers.

  Looking back on Bismarck's policies over the past decade or so, one cannot deny the prime minister's achievements.

  Feng Chengqian had to admit that in the history he was familiar with, it was not the old prime minister who buried the Second German Empire, but the dull emperor.

  Is Frederick III no longer a "Hundred Days' Emperor", will history repeat itself?

  If World War I had broken out in the early 20th century as it did, would the German Empire still have been defeated and thus ceased to exist?

  These problems gave Feng Chengqian a big headache.

  He understood Bismarck and he also understood Crown Prince William, but he did not understand Frederick III.

  Is there another choice?

  In the history familiar to Feng Congqian, his motherland had suffered more than a hundred years of humiliation. The powers did not treat all belligerents fairly after World War I. If the outcome of World War I changed, the history of that ancient eastern country would also change.

  Helping the German Empire win World War I was von Tsing's only choice.

  At least, as a rising power, the German Empire and Von Chongqian's home country have the same enemy, so they also have a common interest foundation.

  Since there is no choice, then don't choose.

  After calming down, Feng Chengqian's mood also relaxed a lot.

  The Second German Empire was not without opportunities to win World War I, but rather had many opportunities that were wasted for no reason.

  However, Feng Chengqian didn't know where to start.

  The best way, of course, is to use the advanced science and technology of the future world. However, Feng Chengqian was just an ordinary soldier before he came to this era. If his academic performance had been good, Feng Chengqian would not have enlisted in the army and would not have come to this era.

  That is to say, Feng Chengqian knew a lot of future world technology, but he couldn't understand any of it.

  Besides, it is impossible for Feng Chongqian alone to transplant those advanced technologies that require the efforts of several generations of scientists into the early industrial era.

  Not understanding the technology, they could only let Feng Chengqian start from somewhere else.

  Fortunately, as a soldier from the future, Feng Chengqian knew many things that people of this era did not know, and possessed abilities that people of this era did not have.

  These cognitive abilities will definitely come in handy.

  For two days, "Brandenburg" sailed smoothly in the North Sea accompanied by the cruiser "Irene", arriving punctually at Portsmouth on 11 April.

  As they crossed the English Channel, Feng Chengqian went up to the deck for a stroll.

  Geographically speaking, this strait, which is only over thirty kilometers wide at its narrowest point, made Britain and made the first world hegemon of the industrial age.

  In the decades that followed, many more stories of joy and tears would be written on both sides of this strait.

  However, Feng Chengqian wanted to see with his own eyes what this era's strongest navy looked like.