The first thing the old prime minister said after thinking for a long time was that Joey's above-mentioned diplomatic concept lacked a cornerstone. For the words of the old prime minister, who has nearly thirty years of diplomatic experience among European powers, Joy can only listen with twelve times the spirit.

"Germany is in the middle of Europe, which means we have at least three fronts that will be attacked." The old chancellor did not immediately say what the cornerstone of diplomacy was missing from Joey, but spoke first of Germany's unfavorable geographical position: "We are French to the west, Russians to the east, and Austrians to the south." ”

"Your Excellency, you have forgotten the British from the north, and the Americans." Joey muttered to himself.

"The French, bent on revenge, had only one eastern border to be taken seriously, while the Russians, who had betrayed Germany in 1874, were only on the western border, and were in danger of being attacked."

"Our neighbor to the south, Austria, has lost its Italy, has lost its barrier in the Mediterranean, has a serious conflict of interest with the Russians in the Balkans because of the national question, and although the Carpathians have the Carpathians to the north, which can help the Austrians against the Russians, Austria-Hungary is no less under pressure than Germany."

When Joey heard this, he knew what the old prime minister was about to say, he must have talked to his father about an alliance with Austria-Hungary.

Crown Prince Frederick also understood what the old prime minister meant, nodded and said, "Your Royal Highness, I understand your eagerness about the German-Austrian alliance, but my father is very fond of my cousin Alexander, and he is trying his best to advocate German-Russian reconciliation. ”

"And it seems to me that the aggressive posture of Austria-Hungary in the Balkans and the Near East will sooner or later come into conflict with Britain, and in the Balkans and the Near East, Germany has no major interests, and in the absence of a serious conflict of interests between Germany and Britain, I have always advocated cooperation with Britain."

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the purpose of the German-Austrian alliance, in addition to winning over the Russians, another purpose is to unite the United Kingdom." The old prime minister's words were astonishing, which surprised Crown Prince Frederick.

"Your Royal Highness, I don't really understand what you mean, why can the German-Austrian alliance unite the UK?" Crown Prince Frederick's doubts followed.

"Because the alliance between the European powers will be an inevitable tendency, the British policy of glorious isolation in the face of the continental alliance will force Britain to abandon the policy of glorious isolation. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Germany has such a sworn enemy as France, but now Britain is facing the challenge of Russia and France, and neither Germany nor Austria has a conflict with Britain, if after the German-Austrian alliance, if you are British, will you choose that side? The old prime minister asked.

Crown Prince Frederick thought for a moment, "I will choose the German-Austrian Alliance, but Your Royal Highness, aren't you promoting the Three Emperors Alliance, the British will not stay in the same alliance with the Russians." ”

"Your Royal Highness, the Russians are too ambitious, and the political treaty of the Three Emperors Alliance cannot bind the Russians in the end." The old prime minister bluntly expressed his disapproval of the Three Emperors Alliance.

"That's why I want to promote the German-Austrian alliance, and only by relying on this alliance can we win over the British and even the Italians by virtue of the German-Austrian alliance, even if the Russians withdraw from the Three Emperors Alliance in the future. In short, we need to form a stable majority in Europe. Lao Zai finally confided his true thoughts on diplomacy to the crown prince.

"In other words, after the Three Emperors Alliance, there will be the Triple Alliance, the Mediterranean Agreement, the Reinsurance Treaty, and so on." Joey looked at the old prime minister and thought to himself.

"A more important point." The old prime minister glanced at the crown prince and his son, gritted his teeth and whispered the words hidden in his heart, "I want to turn the German-Austrian alliance into the gratitude of Great Germany!" ”

Hearing this view of Chancellor Bismarck, Crown Prince Frederick's eyes immediately lit up, and the original intention of the German liberals to establish a German state was to establish a Greater German state that included all Germanic peoples, rather than the German Empire that excluded Austria.

In his previous governing program, Chancellor Bismarck had always emphasized the Prussian concept and was always careful to create a concept of Little Germany for the world.

Today, the old chancellor changed the concept of small Germany into the concept of greater Germany, and as a representative of German liberalism, Crown Prince Frederick could not help but be excited when he heard this new political declaration of the old chancellor.

Looking at the confident old prime minister and excited father, Joey understood that whether he wanted to or not, the formation of the German-Austrian alliance, the source of the first major war in history, could not be stopped.

The concept of Greater Germany is a concept that every German likes, and Joey does not reject this, but when he thinks of the prisoners in the national prison of Austria-Hungary, Joey has a headache and can't help but remind.

"Father, my lord, the Austro-Hungarian form is too complicated, and it has been entangled with the Russians in the Balkans and the Near East outside." Joey was about to complain about Austro-Hungarian foreign policy when he was interrupted by the old prime minister.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, although the German-Austrian alliance is ostensibly to help Austria and oppose Russia, in fact this treaty is to control Austria-Hungary. With regard to the question between Austria-Hungary and Russia, I believe, as always, that while forming a defensive alliance between Germany and Austria, it is necessary to ensure good-neighborliness and friendship between the alliance and Russia. ”

"The Russians are always dangerous to Germany, and if you want to get rid of the Russians, the Reich needs time. In this process, a stable coalition is needed to ensure the security of Germany. The old prime minister waved the cigar in his hand and said excitedly, "The German-Austrian alliance I advocate is only defensive, only to resist the possible attack of Russia, not to take the initiative to attack Russia." ”

"If it is only defensive, in order to avoid troubles in the Balkans and the Near East, my lord, I think we should make it clear in the covenant that Germany will provide the greatest help only when Austria-Hungary's own territory is invaded, and that it cannot pay for Austria-Hungary to cause trouble outside." Joey persevered in expressing his views, hoping from the bottom of his heart to change the trajectory of the historical wheel of the German-Austrian League.

Hearing Joey's idea, the old prime minister frowned, Joey's request, for Austria-Hungary, the Austrians may not be willing to accept, the Austrians leaned on Germany, and the subtext of being willing to sign the German-Austrian alliance was actually to rely on this alliance to increase their confidence in competing with the Russians in the Balkans.

For himself, the subtext of Joey's sentence accuses himself in disguise that the Germans have paid too much in the German-Austrian League, both of which annoy the old prime minister.

"Your Royal Highness, if Joey's idea can be written into the covenant, I think I can try my best to persuade my father to finally accept this covenant." Looking at the old prime minister who was a little angry, Crown Prince Frederick helped Joey and played a round game.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness the Prince, I will try my best to discuss this proposal with the Austrians." After thinking for a while, the old prime minister nodded a little distressedly and agreed.

But Joey's request was obviously not over, "My lord, I am in favor of the concept of Greater Germany that you just mentioned, and if Germany and Austria conclude a political alliance, should the two sides also conclude an economic alliance document?" ”

Joey looked at his father and said, "For example, a German-Austrian Customs Union agreement. ”

The land area of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is the third largest in Europe, larger than the German Empire, the population is only smaller than that of Russia and Germany, the variety and output of agricultural products are rich, in terms of agricultural output value, surpassing France with refined agriculture and Russia oriented by grain exports, ranking first in Europe, in addition to the machinery and instrument manufacturing industry is also quite prosperous, of which the steel and arms industry is strong, and can rank fourth in the world.

If such a large country can deeply integrate with the German economy and provide each other with markets and raw materials, Joey feels that he may not be so resistant to the German-Austrian alliance.

"An agreement similar to the German Customs Union?" Crown Prince Frederick asked.

"Yes and no, yes means that by lowering tariffs on each other, the Austro-Hungarian industry will be united with the German industry, and the economy of the German-speaking region of Austria-Hungary will be firmly in the hands of the hands of the imports of Hungarian wheat."

"As for it, it's not." Joy glanced at his father and the old chancellor, and said in a low voice, "The idea of Greater Germany, which I personally approve of, should be confined to the German-speaking zone and a few pro-German buffer zones. As for the rest of Austria-Hungary, this national prison is, frankly a big trouble, helping the Austrians to see the prison, too much trouble for the Reich,

"In the event of a prison riot that day, I think it would be better for Germany to have good assets in the hands of Germany." Joey added at the end.

"Your Royal Highness, are you not optimistic about the future of Austria-Hungary?" The old prime minister asked suspiciously.

"My lord, I am not optimistic about the future of Crown Prince Rudolph, frankly speaking, I still remember the meeting of the Imperial Palace in April, if he is in charge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, I think it is better to make plans as soon as possible." After Joey moved out of the great god Crown Prince Rudolph, the old prime minister wisely shut his mouth.

"Jojo, you are so unoptimistic about the Austrians, will the German-Austrian League be born lame?" Crown Prince Frederick pondered for a long time and decided to ask his son one last time.

After listening to his father's question, Joey looked at the old prime minister with a relaxed face, but obviously clenched his cigar in his hand, and said after thinking about it.

"In my opinion, the best foreign policy for Germany would be to seek cooperation among the European powers but avoid alliances, and to gain benefits without being bothered. Until 78 years, adults have been taking this route, and it has been successful. ”

"Since the British have been drawn into the great power game because of the Near East problem, then the alliance is a step that must be taken, since they are allies they must have common goals and interests, although we have the same purpose in defending against the Russians, but in the Balkans and the Near East, it is clear that the empire does not have any interests at the moment."

Joy glanced at his father and the old prime minister, and reiterated his point with great interest, "I am afraid that a riot in this national prison will not only burn Austria-Hungary, but also drag Germany into it." ”

"The Reich needs to form a stable majority alliance in Europe, which is the primary interest of the Reich at present, and under this primary interest, we can only live with the rest." The old prime minister couldn't help but emphasize his point again.

"It is also the acceptance of you, in order to avenge the 75 years of revenge of the Russians, and in 78 years you made mistakes." Joey couldn't help but sneer.

Finally, in the slightly nervous eyes of the old prime minister, Joey finally nodded, "As a response to Austria-Hungary's neutral position on Germany and France in the future war, in the German-Austrian Alliance, the obligation of the empire is only to support Austria-Hungary for its own defense. The empire must take a neutral stance on conflicting interests in the Balkans. ”

"In return for the political effort of the Reich, Germany and Austria-Hungary need to reduce or reduce tariffs on all industrial and agricultural products, and both countries need to set a timetable for this, and Austria-Hungary cannot only want to get the benefits without paying."

"If the above conditions can be met, I advise you not to object to the German-Austrian alliance." Joey finally relented.