Prime Minister Bilow and Moltke Jr. were shocked again, and Wu Haoxuan's appetite simply exceeded their expectations again and again. The two countries have only just agreed on a deal on loans and technology. Even the contract had not yet been signed, and the Chinese had their eyes on the German colonies in the Pacific again. This inevitably gave Germany the impression that the Chinese Empire was too insatiable.

"Your Highness, Germany is capable of protecting our colonies." Little Moltke said coldly.

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, once Germany's coastline is blocked, Germany's overseas colonies will inevitably become the target of attack by other countries. The colonies of Africa and the Americas were bound to be the target of British and French attacks. The Asian colonies, on the other hand, will become a meal on the plate of the Japanese. Rather than this, it is better to transfer it to the Chinese Empire. Wu Haoxuan said.

Germany's overseas colonies were very scarce. After the Western world entered the era of colonial expansion, Germany was still divided. By the time Germany had completed its reunification, the world had been divided. The German colonies were only a few small islands or deserts. It is precisely because of this that Germany is extremely dissatisfied with the world colonial system dominated by Britain and France, and wants to challenge Britain and France in this war, defeat them, and then take over these colonies from Britain and France.

However, Germany also began to develop overseas colonies a long time ago. However, because Germany was divided, they could not compete with other countries for those colonies at all, and they had little success.

In 1526, the banking family of Augsburg, Anton Anton Brown. Welser and Bartolomeus. The Welser family attempted to establish a colony in present-day Venezuela. From 1528 to 1556, the Germans had some privileges on Venezuelan territory. On 5 October 1685, Brandenburg acquired the island of Altun off the coast of present-day Mauritania, and became a Prussian colony in 1701, but was captured by France on 7 March 1721.

17th century. Some German states also had colonies for a short time. The Brandenburg-Africa Company of Brandenburg (i.e. the Kingdom of Prussia) acquired the islands of Altun, the Prussian Gold Coast (later incorporated into the Dutch Gold Coast, in present-day Ghana), and St. Thomas (present-day U.S. Virgin Islands). The Baltic German-led Duchy of Courland also established colonies on the islands of Tobago and St. Andrew's (present-day James Island in Gambia). However, all German states failed to compete with the maritime powers of Western Europe. Similarly, the Habsburgs ruled the Austrian provinces of the Holy Roman Empire at the time, with the exception of Ostender-Kompanie, which it operated in the South Netherlands, briefly owned the Coromandel coast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, and later relinquished their territories due to French opposition.

Germany was united only in 1871 by the Kingdom of Prussia, a continental state, and thus embarked on the path of imperialism and colonial struggle (the so-called "position under the sun") later than the countries of the West. Before 1870. The German Confederation maintained its independent political system and objectives; And Germany's foreign policy before and after reunification, including Otto. Feng. Bismarck's policy was focused on solving the "German question" and purely pursuing German interests in Europe. In addition, the overseas trade of the Germans actually had a long history, beginning as early as the Hanseatic League; Germans also have a tradition of immigration: as far east as Russia and Romania; west to North America; Merchants and missionaries in northern Germany were also interested in developing their careers abroad.

At the end of the 19th century, many Germans believed that the struggle for colonies was a sign of national power. and the dream of building a high seas fleet - that was ultimately a wish come true and threatened Britain. Because Germany joined the ranks of colonies too late, it faced a large part of the world that had already been carved up by other European powers; In some regions, decolonization has even begun, such as the countries of the Americas. The American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars all accelerated the independence of the Americas.

In 1904, the Herero people in German South-West Africa (present-day Namibia) revolted and were defeated by the Germans. The Germans then launched genocide. Tens of thousands of local Herero and Nama were killed.

Until the outbreak of World War I, Germany's colonies were only marginal. For example, in the Pacific Ocean. The German colonies were just small islands. German New Guinea, including the territory of Kaiser Wilhelm, Bismarck Archipelago, German Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Nauru. Its administrative region also includes the German Marshall Islands. German Samoa, Caroline Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau. Mariana Islands and many more.

It can be said that Germany's overseas colonies can be called places where birds don't. However, it has to be admitted that the locations of these colonies are very precarious. If the Chinese Empire acquires these colonies, and builds naval bases and air bases on them. So. Whether it is a blockade of Japan or a southward march to Australia, the suspicion is that the empire will occupy a lot of convenience by competing with the United States for hegemony in the Pacific. It's always much closer to the Hawaiian Islands from these small islands in the Pacific Ocean than it is to go straight to the Hawaiian Islands from the mainland.

At this stage, the strategic significance of these small islands may not yet be apparent. However, with the development of science and technology, the importance of these islands will increase greatly when aircraft begin to be used on a large scale. If the future empire wants to compete with the United States for hegemony in the Pacific Ocean, it can vigorously build airfields and deploy land-based aircraft on these islands. This alone will create a balanced defense in the Pacific to contain the United States. If the Americans wanted to attack the empire mainland, they would have to fight the empire for the islands. In addition, the islands could serve as a springboard for the Empire to attack Hawaii and even the continental United States.

As for the vast and sparsely populated Australia, it is even more within the attack range of these colonies. The empire could borrow these islands to launch an attack on Australia. If you take Australia, there is no problem at all.

It can be said that after obtaining these colonies, the influence of the empire will be further increased. And provide the foundation and guarantee for the future strategy of the empire.

Of course, it is not so easy to get these colonies. First of all, the Germans do not give up lightly. Second, the Chinese Empire even took over these colonies from the Germans. But after the end of the war, will the victorious Britain, France, and the United States allow the empire to gain so many strategic points? That's obviously impossible. Predictably, they will definitely put pressure on the Empire to spit out these colonies. Of course, since this fat has already been eaten by the Empire, how can it be possible to want the Empire to spit it out again. After the First World War, the Western countries were hit hard, do they still have the strength to really fight a large-scale war with the Empire? So, at most, they resorted to some intimidation of the Empire. As long as the empire remains tough, there is no way for them to take the empire.

In addition, Wu Haoxuan can also be sure that once the empire receives these colonies, it will definitely break out into a fierce conflict with the Japanese, or even detonate a war. The Japanese were also already salivating over these German colonies. In addition, they were equally reluctant to allow the empire to acquire these strategic locations that would pose a greater strategic threat to Japan.

However, the empire at that time was not afraid of Japan at all. Britain and France have been dragged into the European theater, and with the strength of the empire, they can have a decisive battle with Japan and defeat Japan in one fell swoop. It would be nice if we could take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of Japan in one fell swoop.

Now, the first problem before Wu Haoxuan was to get the Germans to agree to the transfer of these colonies to the Chinese Empire. In this way, the Chinese Empire would be able to prepare in advance and take these colonies into its pocket, creating a fait accompli.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, these colonies are the result of the efforts of the ancestors of the German Empire, and it is impossible for us to transfer these colonies easily." Prime Minister Bilow flatly refused.

Seeing that the attitude of the Germans was so insistent, Wu Haoxuan had no choice but to use the backup plan.

"Your Excellency, the Chinese Empire respects the pioneering position of the German Empire in the sun. However, once the war broke out, Germany simply did not have much strength to defend those overseas colonies. Those overseas colonies will inevitably be seized by the Entente. Wu Haoxuan said.

"After we defeat the Entente, those colonies will be returned to us. Moreover, those colonies of the Entente will also become ours. Moltke said.

Wu Haoxuan nodded: "Of course, this is completely possible. However, it is an indisputable fact that these colonies were seized in the early stages of the war. In this way, Germany can transfer these colonies to us at a low price before the outbreak of war. Once the war is over, if Germany wins the war, we will return these colonies to the German Reich at the same price. In this case, it is very advantageous for Germany. ”

Prime Minister Bilow and Moltke Jr. couldn't help frowning, they knew what Wu Haoxuan meant, that is, if Germany won the final victory, then these colonies would be equivalent to the Chinese Empire preserved for Germany. Of course, if Germany fails, then these colonies will have no other meaning for Germany.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, Your Excellency the Chief of Staff. We did this mainly because we didn't want our old enemies, the Japanese, to get these colonies. Japan was an ally of the British, and in the event of a war, they would inevitably attack the German colonies as soon as possible. And this will pose a threat to the security of the Chinese Empire. Marshal Cheng Biguang said. (To be continued.) )

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