Santiago was besieged by the Legion of Parliament, and the scattered Presidential Army was either wiped out or surrendered by the sporadic Presidential Army, and President Balmaceda was gone. All that remains is the question of when to attack Santiago, completely wipe out the presidential army, and capture Balmaceda.

And the Germans, who had nothing to do, began to think about their next move. And Monte also has to negotiate with the Germans to make the Germans cut as little flesh as possible from themselves, and he is about to become the highest power in Chile, and he also has his own little calculations.

On 16 May, in Berlin, the day after the capture of Parvaliso by the Parliamentarians, Germany received a telegram from Chile in which Frederick III summoned his ministers to discuss how to negotiate with Chile for higher interests.

"This is a telegram from Chile, circulate it, and then give your opinion." Frederick III first handed the telegram in his hand to Prime Minister Caprivi.

Caprivi respectfully took it with both hands, the telegram was very short, read it with a brief glance, and then respectfully handed it to Jochen. Jochen also quickly read the telegram and handed it to Schlieffen, and then began to think.

The message was simple: the war in Chile was decided, and it was only a matter of time before Monte became the new president of Chile. Monte himself approached the German minister in Chile and asked the two sides to begin negotiations on what Germany wanted after the war, and Monte made some demands of his own.

The telegram quickly circled back into Frederick III's hands, but no one spoke, all thinking about what they could fight for in this opportunity.

Caprivi was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, Palvaleso has been captured, and the battle in Chile has been decided. The victory of the parliamentarian faction is at hand. Negotiations between the empire and the Chileans can begin. As I told you before, Chile has a lot of capital because of the saltpeter trade, and our country is now in an economic crisis, so we need to use this to help the empire through its difficulties.

Therefore, Chile must conclude a trade agreement with the empire to expand the export of our industrial products in order to maintain the normal operation of the empire's factories. This must be met, that's our bottom line.

In addition, Chile used to rely more on Britain and France for foreign purchases of industrial goods, and I think that we can take advantage of this opportunity to snatch away France's share. France is now also in the grip of an economic crisis, and losing the Chilean market would be a blow to them.

After ensuring that a trade agreement is signed, all other conditions are easy to say. For example, Chile wants to increase its loans to our country, which will also be conducive to the operation of our financial industry and increase Chile's dependence on our country. In the saltpeter trade, we should strive as much as possible to obtain as many saltpeter mining rights as possible without stimulating the British, which will also help our country avoid the control of the British in the import of saltpeter. "Caprivi proposes to build from an economic point of view.

It is also true that now the economic crisis in Europe is getting worse, although Germany has not changed to the same mourning as France, but the overall is also sluggish, for Prime Minister Caprivy in his own office, especially his own prime minister who was promoted by His Majesty the Emperor, the political foundation is unstable, and it is easy to become an excuse for the attack of the opponent. Therefore, stimulating the recovery of the German economy is the only thing on his mind now.

As for participation in the saltpeter trade, the previous opinions were already quite unanimous, the Germans should intervene, but they could not stretch their hands too long to irritate the British.

"We don't have to worry too much about the saltpeter trade now." Jochen said: "Because of our intervention, the situation in Chile is moving much faster than the British expected, so they don't have time to react at all. And we only meddled in the saltpeter trade, and did not try to completely control the saltpeter trade as Balmaceda, and the British still took the lion's lead. So even if there is dissatisfaction, the British will not react much. ”

In the original history, Monte was still having a headache to capture Antofasgat, and even the British Navy came to Chile to help Monte blockade the coastline at the end of the Civil War. Now that the end of the war is within reach, the British must be dumbfounded. Therefore, Germany made such a big effort in Chile that even if it took a slight advantage in the saltpeter trade, the British would not be able to make any moves.

"Your Highness is very true, it is better to take only a small piece of the cake from the saltpeter trade than to take the whole cake from Balmaceda. We have helped the British to settle Balmaceda anyway, and the British will have to acquiesce in the benefits we have obtained if they do not want to turn against us. Caprivi agrees that he would like to see a larger share of the saltpeter trade.

"By the way, Your Excellency Prime Minister, I hope to add a clause in the negotiations with Monte that the Chilean government can give special preferential policies to German companies investing in Chile, and I think it should not be difficult."

Caprivi is also a human spirit, and he immediately knew what medicine was sold in the crown prince's gourd: "Your Highness, you are going to invest in Chile?" ”

Jochen also did not hide it: "I am interested in the copper mines near Escondida and Antofasgat and am ready to invest there. ”

To Jochen's request, Caprivi naturally agreed, copper ore only, not saltpeter. It will not irritate the British, but it can please the crown prince, so why not.

Unbeknownst to Caprivi, the Chuquikamata copper mine near Antofasgat is the world's largest open-pit porphyry copper deposit, with 60 million tonnes of copper reserves. The Escondida copper mine is the third largest copper deposit in the world, with a total copper reserve of 45 million tons in the north and south deposits.

Once more than 100 million tons of copper reserves are explored and mined, Chile's dependence on Britain for saltpeter trade will collapse in an instant, and Chile's proximity to Germany will become an inevitable trend, and Germany will have a very important ally in South America.

Economic issues are not of concern to the Chief of the General Staff and the Minister of the Navy. They are more concerned with military issues.

"Since there is no room for us to intervene in the war in Chile, I think our military advisory group can also be withdrawn. Let them return home as soon as possible, and then bring back the experience of the war, which is extremely important for the next step of the Army's military reform. "Schlieffen built yì to.

For the three large-scale battles in which the German army took part in Chile, Walsh sent telegrams back. However, it is difficult to explain things clearly by telegram, so the experience of front-line combatants is very important.

In the Chilean war, machine guns, mortars, shotguns, and grenades were used; An excellent example of an accurate shooter and sniper; The shock to the German Army was enormous for the attack on the city storms and attempts to infiltrate special operations behind enemy lines. Even the steel helmet was far superior to the leather helmets that the German Army had commonly equipped with in terms of protection against stray bullets and fragments. And the Navy is clearly ahead of the Army, which is unacceptable to Schlieffen, who is focused on the application of new technologies and military reform.

Schlieffen received a copy of the formation and training plan for the Marine Corps and the KSK from Frederick III, and was hesitant to reform the army according to such standards. In the end, it was only now that the Prussian Army increased the number of machine guns, purchased some mortars to increase fire support at the company and platoon levels, and even the steel helmets were only tested in small quantities to see the effect.

And now the performance of the troops in actual combat has made Schlieffen have made up his mind, and he is ready to learn the standards of the Marine Corps to strengthen the army's equipment, add new arms, increase the training intensity, and supplement the training subjects. The German soldiers who returned home this time, even if they tore their faces with Muntz, had to fight for the army to help them complete the military reform.

KSK is the crown prince's heart and cannot be moved. However, when the army purchases a large amount of new equipment produced by HK Company and obtains a large number of orders from the army, it should not be a problem for the army to come forward and ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to sell face and transfer some people from the KSK to help the army also form such a special unit.

Muntz was not stupid, as soon as he heard Schlieffen's words, he knew that he was going to rob people, and immediately retorted: "The army wants to take everyone away?" Don't even think about it, no one in my Marine Corps wants to move! I'm going to grow these people as seeds! There are more people in your army going to Chile this time than us, and you still want to move my people? Don't be so greedy! ”

Seeing that Montz didn't give face, Schlieffen was also angry: "Your Marine Corps is only one division, why do you want so many seeds?" There are hundreds of thousands of people in our army, and the more experienced instructors there are, of course, the better! And I didn't move the people in KSK, isn't it enough for you to have them?! Don't be so selfish! ”

"You didn't move KSK, that's because you don't have the guts to move! Don't say it so righteously. The KSK table is indeed excellent, but the tasks they perform are different from those of the Marine Corps, and you have less ideas to hit the accurate shooters and mortars of our Marine Corps. ”

Seeing that the two were about to pinch again, Frederick III stopped him on the side: "Okay, don't fight." What kind of system does a chief of general staff and a navy minister become like a vegetable seller in a vegetable market? ”

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, the minister lost his temper." The two immediately bent down and apologized.

"I think it's true, the army says that it needs more people because of its numbers, but it's really too ugly to take them all away. So be it, the Marines have since sent half of the troops to keep the remaining half to the Army. What do you think of this? Frederick III decided.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Seeing that Frederick III had spoken, the two of them fell silent. Schlieffen took advantage of it and was naturally happy, while Muntz was cheated and naturally unhappy.

Jochen spoke on the side to help the navy get benefits: "Father is wise, and indeed I also think that experienced troops are more helpful to the army. However, the navy is excellent this time, and the people below will not be convinced. So I think they should be rewarded as well. ”

"What kind of reward do you think is appropriate?" When Frederick III heard this, he thought it was right, so he asked.

"I feel that the performance of the Marines in this war has proved their worth, and I think I can give them another division, so that I think the Navy will have no complaints."

"Is that so? Muntz? Frederick III asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Navy has said that it is more than happy to help the Army solve the problem." Of course, it would be good to be able to expand the army, and that little dissatisfaction has long been left behind by Muntz.

After fighting for the interests of the Navy, Jochen did not forget to pull his plate: "In addition, the KSK has also proved the ability of such special forces in non-frontal combat, and I think that the KSK will be expanded to a battalion." Of course, Jochen remembers to give the Army a little sweetness.

"I heard that the army is also interested in forming special units. I think it is possible to draw a platoon from the KSK troops and give it to the army as a seed. The Marines and KSK are on your side, don't be disgraced by the Army. ”

"Of course, please rest assured that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Needless to say, after coming, don't you have to be like an uncle?