It was dark and damp, and it was raining all morning, as if mourning the fallen soldiers on the Missouri River front. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info In the afternoon, although the rain stopped, the sky was still cloudy, and the sun could not be seen. Even the fun-loving Crown Prince Edward was nervous, and instead of throwing a ball or dating a beautiful woman as usual, he spent the day in Buckingham Palace reading Verne's novel "The Celestial Empire".

The book is a sequel to Prince Seris in Exile and is set in a 20th-century world in which Prince Seris and his descendants achieved universal unity through world wars and dynastic marriages, ruled by Prince Seris's grandson and the granddaughter of Napoleon III (who had just had a daughter) - the result of two world wars between the two civilizations. But it looks a bit like the English version of the War of the Red and White Roses.

In Verne's book, most of the nations of the 19th century still existed as vassals in this unified world empire, including England. But it was not the Saxony-Coburg-Gotha dynasty that ruled Britain, but the Wittelsbach dynasty from Bavaria - and Crown Prince Edward knew that this meant a victory for the Jacobite party! Looked at this book in France are all. of the novel, Crown Prince Edward's mood was of course extremely bad. If this book is really a prophecy of the future, as it has been circulated, then where is he?

British Prime Minister Benjamin. Disraeli was also in a bad mood -- *a* book * read * small * said. YBDU - It was only at dusk that the grey sky turned to pitch black, and the ironclad of the Saxony sailed into the Thames, where the German Chancellor Bismarck visited.

Benjamin. Disraeli personally went to greet him. See Bismarck's big stride. He knew there must be good news. "The Earl (Benjamin. Disraeli has just been made an earl). Bismarck smiled heartily. The Tsar lost Kaunas (an important city in Lithuania). ”

"That's really good news." Benjamin. Disraeli shook Bismarck's big hand and squeezed out a smile. Her Majesty will be very pleased to hear this. On this gloomy and bleak day, this news seems to be a ray of victory, making people see hope. ”

This is a bit of a compliment, but the capture of Kaunas is a big victory. In fact, the German attack on Kaunas was part of the Autumn Offensive of the German-Boo Three, which had learned its lesson and adopted a focused offensive against Russia, concentrating its forces on the Belo-Lithuanian area. It is hoped that the capital of Belarus will be captured in Minsk. The Germans were responsible for the Northern Front, sending troops from East Prussia, advancing to Kaunas and Vilnius, threatening Minsk from the northwest.

But the sharp German spear was only part of this autumn offensive. To the south, the Polish offensive remained weak and was firmly held back by the Russians.

And further south in Ukraine, the Austrian offensive was only diversionary, and Franz. Emperor Joseph's army was stuck in the Balkans, Greece and Serbia were still resisting, and the Russian army around Constantinople was ready to move. The French took advantage of the chaos to occupy Crete, which was not part of Greece but belonged to Egypt after Greek independence. It then became an independent principality after the loss of Constantinople to Turkey, led by Amedeo I from the House of Savoy (an important ally of the House of Bonaparte). But France did not have the right to station troops on the island. However, in September 1875, the powerful French Mediterranean Fleet sent a French infantry division to Crete, and at the same time, Duke Amedeo I of Crete took in the Greek government-in-exile and accepted the latter's support as king of Greece. It is clear that it is going to meddle in the Balkans.

"Feng. Admiral Moltke did achieve a commendable victory, but he was still far from defeating Russia. After arriving at 10 Downing Street, at the dinner table, Bismarck continued to pay homage to Benjamin. Disraeli gave an account of the situation. "Russia is a powerful country, and the Poles and Austrians are not as powerful as they claim." Prime Minister Bismarck's smile disappeared, "If we want a quick victory on the Eastern Front, Britain must enter the war!" ”

"Britain's participation in the war against Russia?" Benjamin. Disraeli looked at Bismarck inquiringly, "Will Germany enter the war against China?" ”

"Does that make sense?" Bismarck took a sip of whiskey, "Do you want Germany to send troops to North America?" Count, do you want Germany to lose the power to contain France? ”

"How are you going to contain France?"

"A treaty could be concluded where, as soon as France joined the Chinese side, Germany would go to war against France, attacking Jérôme from land. Peel Line. ”

"Oh, that's a good idea. But everyone knew that Mathilde and Eugénie did not want to fight at all. These two women only wanted to achieve the fruits of victory for nothing, and did not want to let France bleed. What is the significance of such a treaty? ”

"Then there will be no treaty," said Bismarck, "and in fact a strong and united Germany would be enough to keep France firmly in the grip of the European continent." And without the threat of France, the British Empire could transfer her entire navy to the East...... Oh, and if Britain needs it, our four Saxony-class ships can also be sold to Britain for a negotiable price. And our shipyard can also accept orders from the UK, I think you still have some confidence in the quality of German goods, right? ”

"A strong and united Germany!" Benjamin. Disraeli was stunned, "What territory will this Germany include?" ”

"It will include the existing territories of the German Reich, plus Poland, Lithuania, Livonia (Latvia and Estonia) and the western part of Belarus and Ukraine."

"Excluding Austria and Bohemia?"

"Of course not! Franz. Joseph is our ally. ”

"Isn't the Republic of Poland an ally of Germany?"

Bismarck nodded solemnly, "Yes, that's one of the purposes of my coming to England. The German Empire was to be united with the Republic of Poland...... This is good for both Germany and Poland. In the future, relations between Germany and Poland will be like those between Austria and Hungary today. Poland could get part of Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine at the expense of having the German Emperor also be King of Poland. We hope that the UK will support this joint programme. ”

What a big conspirator! The British Prime Minister took a breath. First he encouraged Poland to go to war with Russia, then used it to weaken Poland, and now he threw out a seemingly rosy coalition that would include Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Western Belarus and Western Ukraine. What a clever hand the Germans played! Not only did Germany become the most powerful country on the European continent, but it also maintained peace with the Holy Roman Empire and France...... If Britain supported this plan, France would not dare to oppose it, because that would mean that France would go to war with the British navy and the German and Holy Roman Empire armies at the same time, and there would be no chance of victory at all!

"In what ways will Britain support this joint programme?" Benjamin. Disraeli asked.

"Of course, the army will be dispatched to fight together with Germany, Poland, and the Holy Roman Empire!" Bismarck said, "Britain has mobilized and equipped 1 million troops, and I think half of them can be used for the war against Russia." Defeat Russia first, and then concentrate all your energy on dealing with China. ”

"Focus?" Benjamin. Disraeli didn't quite understand.

Bismarck smiled and said, "Although China is strong, it has not defeated the power of the entire white civilization of Europe. Now they can challenge world hegemony precisely because white European civilization is not united. Russia colludes with China to seize the Balkan Peninsula. France, on the other hand, adopted a pro-China neutrality, hoping to become the leader of the white world after the defeat of the British Empire. If we can defeat Russia, and then threaten France from land and sea at the same time, forcing France to take a consistent position with us, and send their powerful navy and British navy to fight against the Chinese navy, I believe that the Chinese can only choose to retreat. (To be continued......)