"According to the information currently available, the German Navy defeated the French fleet at a very small cost with inferior forces, and we underestimated the combat effectiveness of the German 10,000-ton armored cruisers before, whether it was the Asama-class armored cruisers purchased by the Japanese or the Marquis Bismarck armored cruisers used by the Germans this time, they all had the strength to suppress most of the battleships, so it was very necessary and correct for us to order a new generation of Rurik-type battleships in Germany, The only fly in the ointment is that the quantity we ordered is a bit less! ”

In the summer palace, Makanov reported to Nicholas II the details of the Franco-German naval battle, and took the opportunity to encourage the Kaiser to order more German ships! "And the low-interest loan that the French have temporarily increased for us this time can just make up for our lack of funds, and it is completely okay to order 4 ships."

"General Makanov, what we need to discuss here is about the future political situation, and not about ordering battleships from Germany, now there is tension between France and Germany, the British have already expressed their support for France, and as a friendly country of France, we need to do something." Foreign Minister Gilles said with some dissatisfaction that he was somewhat pro-French and had a natural resistance to the powerful Germany, and that Makanov's actions made him very unhappy.

"If I'm not mistaken, our diplomats in Germany must have told the Germans about our concerns, right? What is the opinion of the Germans? Nicholas II asked suddenly.

On the one hand, the Russians could not develop without the money of the French, but at the same time, they harbored some malice towards the French, who controlled their finances. The Russian upper echelons complained more than once that Russia was working for the French. Now, with the entry of Americans into the Russian financial market, the pressure on Russian funds has been greatly reduced, and the United States has become more likely to gain favor with Russia than the French.

But at the same time, the Russians also pay attention to maintaining the balance of power in Europe! Only with France can Russia guarantee its superiority over Germany and have the energy to open up the Far East. So, in 1880, Russia warned Germany, which was going to wage a preventive war against France, and this time, if Germany wanted to take the opportunity to change the fundamentals of Europe, then Russia intended to repeat history!

Fortunately, this time the Germans recognized the situation and did not want to make a fuss. "Your Majesty, the Germans have a very simple opinion, they have no intention of waging a national war with France, but only if France renounces its intervention in Portugal and makes some amends for its actions in Africa. The Germans did not issue ******, and the number of troops on the Franco-German border was not very large. Basically met our requirements. Giles replied.

"Well, as long as the Germans do not set foot on the Franco-German border, then there is no need for us to take substantive action, so what exactly is the so-called compensation of the Germans?" Nicholas II breathed a sigh of relief, assured by the Germans, that he could at last concentrate on dealing with the hateful country of the Far East.

"Your Majesty, but the premise of the Germans is for France to make amends, and if the French are not willing to admit defeat, then it is difficult for me to imagine whether the Germans will take military action on land." Giles points out a "trap" in the German discourse.

"These are all details, and as long as there is no large-scale fighting between the two sides, there is no need for Russia to intervene. We have good relations with France, but it is impossible to endorse all French actions! We have been preparing for war in the Far East for several years, and if there is a conflict with Germany, all our previous efforts will be in vain. War Secretary Kulopatkin said.

"But now Britain is moving closer to France, and if Britain and France take advantage of this opportunity to come together, it will be very unfavorable for our future situation in the Far East." Giles retorted.

"British? Is it still trustworthy to say what this group of guys, who are ostensibly gentlemen but are actually profiteers and pirates? If Britain and France come together, we can strengthen the relationship between Germany and Austria and the United States, by the way, and Italy, there are five big countries on our side, while the British have only three countries, Britain, France and Japan, and we have the advantage. ”

"And now in England, they have not taken care of the affairs in their own backyard, and they want to use an empty declaration to drive us against Germany? Have you forgotten the failures we suffered in the Philippines? And now, the Germans still have 3 of our battleships in their hands, and if there is some surprise, then we will have no chance of winning in the Far Eastern seas. Since Germany and France had expressed their unwillingness to engage in a national war, there was absolutely no need for Russia to participate. Makanov said.

"If the Germans had no intention of invading France, but only wanted to gain some benefits, then we could be neutral and could act as mediators. The pace of eastward expansion cannot be stopped, our military hand to help France can only plunge us into a deeper quagmire, the empire can only have one enemy at a time, and this enemy is Japan, and the hatred between France and Germany should be resolved by themselves! Nicholas II finally set the tone and put an end to all discussions.

"However, this is the opportunity to look to Germany for some benefits, and I think it would be much cheaper for us to import some equipment from Bavaria if the German government intervened. The French should also pay Russia more francs for this mistake. "Of course, the Russians will not give up this opportunity, and for a country like Russia, which comes out to make a small profit, it is a loss to get a benefit from the Germans with a promise, and a loan from the French with a verbal support is what they are most willing to do now!

The Russian Foreign Ministry acted quickly, first stating that the basic situation in Europe could not be changed, and that Russia was opposed to the outbreak of conflicts in all situations on the European continent. Secondly, he said that Russia was neutral on the African issue, that the reason for the confrontation between the two sides in Angola was entirely caused by an accident, that the two sides should sit down to negotiate rather than continue to fight, and that the honorable Russian tsar was willing to act as a mediator.

On the face of it, the Russians were in favour of the weaker France, but the day after the announcement, the Russian government ordered a fourth warship from the Brom-Forss shipyard for £1.3 million.

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