"Your Majesty, the Germans must have failed to invade Gibraltar militarily, fearing condemnation from the international community. And then they want to put pressure on us through diplomatic means, and they want to make us give up. Prieto looked very determined.

"Is that so?" Alfonso XIII hesitated. He is very unassertive, and he thinks whatever the ministers say. This undoubtedly made him vacillate a little on this issue.

He was afraid of the outbreak of war, of the Germans who would destroy Spain and make him a dead king. At the same time, he was obsessed with the glory of the reconquest of Gibraltar.

"Your Majesty, it must be so. The Germans wanted to intimidate us into compromise so that they could realize their delusional dream of occupying Gibraltar. If we resolutely do not compromise, the Germans will definitely retreat. Prieto said.

Alfonso XIII couldn't help but believe most of what Prieto said with such certainty.

"Your Majesty, why don't we summon the German ambassador and see what conditions they have!" Prime Minister Count Romanones proposed.

"Okay, that's it." Alfonso XIII said.

The palace immediately sent someone to summon the German ambassador, and in less than half an hour, the German ambassador appeared at the palace.

"Your Excellency, Gibraltar has always been a territory of the Kingdom of Spain. It's just that it was forcibly occupied by the British before. Now, we will recover Gibraltar, which is legitimate and reasonable. I hope that the German Empire will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Spain. Alfonso XIII said.

Although he is a straw bale, after so many years of being a king, he knows what to say in this situation.

"Your Majesty, I have discussed this matter with your Foreign Secretary. So, here I don't want to waste time saying anything more. "The German ambassador did not have a bit of humility in the face of Alfonso XIII.

Alfonso XIII's face suddenly turned ugly, and Prieto had already told him about his conversation with the German ambassador. He was also very dissatisfied with the Germans' strong words.

"Your Excellency, I need to tell you that we have not colluded with the British, let alone joined the Entente. Germany cannot afford to impose accusations on us as such. Said the Count of Romanones.

The German ambassador nodded: "Well, if you insist on this, then the German Reich needs to see your sincerity." Spain, if not a member of the Entente, was not an ally of the British. Gibraltar, then, is not of much use to you. The German Empire hoped that the Kingdom of Spain would be able to lend Gibraltar to us. In this case, the German Empire would recognize the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Spain over Gibraltar. ”

Alfonso XIII and the others immediately began to think about what good this would do for them. If Germany could recognize the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Spain over Gibraltar, no one could deny it. At the same time, this can be regarded as giving Spain a step. It is much better than falling out with Germany and breaking out into war. In addition, it may be possible to earn a rent from the Germans. Such a result seems to be very good.

"Your Excellency, I wonder how much rent your country is willing to pay? How many years is it leased? Alfonso XIII asked.

"Your Majesty, we hope to be able to lease Gibraltar for a period of ninety-nine years for one mark." This was stated by the German ambassador.

"A mark? Rent for ninety-nine years? Alfonso XIII was dumbfounded.

Romanones and Prieto, too, couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"Your Excellency, this is too much of a bully. One mark a year, how is it possible to get Gibraltar on loan. Prieto said angrily.

"No, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, you heard me wrong, not one mark a year, but ninety-nine years, a total of one mark!" This was stated by the German ambassador.

"Ninety-nine years is a total of one mark, so what's the difference between this and giving it to you for nothing?" Count Romanones' face was gloomy.

"Of course there is a difference, at least the sovereignty is yours. Ninety-nine years later, Gibraltar was part of Spain. When the time comes, no one will dispute this. ”

"Humph! Ninety-nine years from now, who can say clearly? Alfonso XIII was furious, and he hated the Germans for fooling him. He was almost certain that if he accepted the Germans' terms, Gibraltar would probably have something that did not belong to Spain. When the ninety-nine-year lease expired, the Germans would certainly have thought of other ways to ask for an extension. It was not until by that time that the German Empire had collapsed, or the Kingdom of Spain had become incomparably stronger, that it would be possible to reclaim Gibraltar. However, both possibilities are too slim.

"Your Majesty, this is the condition of the Empire. To agree or not to agree is up to your country. Of course, if your country does not agree, then I am afraid that you will have to be prepared to withstand the wrath of the Empire. The German ambassador said.

"Your Excellency, are you threatening us with war? Spain and Germany have no grudge, and if Germany wantonly attacks Spain, it will make the whole world laugh! Count Romanones rebuked angrily.

"No, Your Excellency. This is not a threat of war. The German Empire did not want war with the Kingdom of Spain. However, the premise is that the interests of the empire will not be harmed by this. Otherwise, the Empire will do everything it can to ensure that its interests are not harmed! The German ambassador smiled. However, his words made the kings and ministers of the Kingdom of Spain feel a cold from the depths of their souls.

"All right, Your Majesty. I hope to receive a response from your country tomorrow morning. May God bless the Kingdom of Spain! After saying this, the German ambassador leaned over and saluted Alfonso XIII before leaving.

"Oh God! This is really a threat of war! The Germans threatened us with war. What should we do now? Our army, can it beat the Germans? Alfonso XIII asked in a panic.

Obviously, the attitude of the German ambassador just now frightened him. Now he doubted that if he did not end the conditions offered by the Germans, the Germans would not hesitate to go to war with them.

But if he were to accept the Germans' offer to lease Gibraltar for a mark of ninety-nine years, he would not be able to do so. In that case, his face, the face of the Kingdom of Spain, would be completely lost. 10