Although the peace treaty was signed, the crisis of the Ottoman Turkish Empire was not over. After the people learned that the empire had lost millions of troops on the battlefield, it had finally ceded so much territory and paid a full 300 million yuan in war reparations to end the war. The populace was outraged, and in all the major cities of the Ottoman Empire, there was an outbreak of opposition against the Ottoman Sultan Abdul. The procession of Mejid I. The populace demanded the abdication of the incompetent Sultan.

However, Abdul. Mejid I relied on the support of the army and the government, and his position was as stable as a mountain. The military magnates and the high-ranking officials of the government knew that the Ottoman Turkish Empire was not lost to the kingdoms of Afghanistan, Egypt and Najd, but to the Chinese Empire. Without the support of the Chinese Empire, the kingdoms of Afghanistan, Egypt, and Najd would have been defeated by them long ago. However, with the intervention of the Chinese Empire, everything was completely different. The Ottoman Empire suffered a crushing defeat and was eventually forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty.

This also makes Abdul. Mejid I and the rulers of the Ottoman Turkish Empire hated the Chinese Empire to the extreme. They desperately want revenge. This made it inevitable for the Ottoman Empire to slip over to the side of the Holy Alliance. Because they know that it is almost impossible to seek revenge on the Chinese Empire just by relying on their own strength. The best outcome is likely to be that revenge is not avenged, and one's own country is destroyed. Joining the Holy Alliance was the only way for the Ottoman Empire to take revenge. Although, the strength of the German Empire was perhaps inferior to that of the Chinese Empire. However, the strength of the entire Holy Alliance is not so weak.

End of 1861. Mustafa of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Lester. Pasha in Berlin with the German Empire's Foreign Minister Albrech. Feng. Count Ron signed the Holy Alliance Treaty and joined the Holy Alliance. It became the fifth member of the Holy League, after the kingdoms of Germany, Great Britain, Russia, and Italy.

Around the same time, the Kingdom of Egypt and the Kingdom of Najd also joined the peace alliance dominated by the Chinese Empire. It became the eighth and ninth member states of the alliance after the Chinese Empire, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Afghanistan, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, the Kingdom of Scotland, and the Republic of Chile. In terms of the number of members, the Peace Alliance is nearly twice as large as the Holy Alliance. However, with the exception of the Chinese Empire, which is the dominant one, the strength of those member states is too poor. So much so that once the war breaks out, the Chinese Empire can only rely on itself.

As time passed, the antagonism between the peace alliance dominated by the Chinese Empire and the Holy Alliance dominated by the German Empire became more and more severe, and military preparations were being made on both sides. Prepare for the next large-scale war. This can be seen from the new warships that are constantly in service on both sides. In order to ensure superiority at sea, the Chinese Empire always built capital ships twice as many as the capital ships of the German Navy. This placed maritime supremacy firmly in the hands of the Chinese Empire. However, it also put a lot of pressure on the empire. After all, the cost of each capital ship is extremely high, and the empire would not be able to support it if it were not for India, an important source of military spending.

The Germans, on the other hand, are not so rich. The British had long since run out of money to support their naval development. The battleships that are being built now need to be paid for by the Germans themselves. After the commissioning of four 'Nassau-class' battleships commissioned in the second half of 1861. This brought the number of capital ships owned by the German Navy to 24. In 1862, the German Navy would have four more 'Helgolland-class' battleships in service, which would be super battleships with 381 mm guns. Because of the high cost of construction, the Germans only started to build four. Of course. A follow-up modification, the four 'Caesar-class' battleships, will also be commissioned next year, 1863. However, according to the forecasts of the German General Staff. The war may not wait for the entry into service of the 'Helgoran-class' battleships. Once the war broke out, in order to ensure victory on the land battlefield. Germany's resources would begin to pour into the army, and the resources available to the navy would inevitably decrease accordingly. When the time comes. The construction of warships in the Navy will inevitably be affected.

In order to ensure that it had sufficient resources to fight the war, Germany strengthened its deterrence against the Nordic countries. Iron ore from Sweden is an indispensable and important resource for Germany. The geographical location of the Kingdom of Norway and Denmark was so important that Germany might have the opportunity to break through the blockade of the Chinese Navy and rush into the Atlantic Ocean from the narrow North Sea.

The strength of the German navy was already inferior to that of the Chinese navy, and once it was trapped in the North Sea, it would not be able to avoid a decisive battle with the Chinese navy. In this case, it will be even more disadvantageous to the German Navy. If it can rush into the Atlantic, it will be able to hit the sea transportation lines of the Chinese on the vast ocean, and thus play a greater role.

Germany was therefore eager to bring the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden into its camp. German diplomats have made a lot of efforts. But none of them succeeded, and the Kingdom of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were all small states that did not want to get involved in the war. But how could the Germans let them get their wish?

Having lost their patience, the Germans sent direct threats of war to their three countries. If they did not join the Holy Alliance, the German Empire would see them as enemies and send troops against them. Under the threat of the Germans, the position of these small countries was shaken.

In 1862, just after New Year's Day, the Reich* Military Intelligence Bureau received news that King Frederick VII of Denmark, under the military threat of the Germans, had to compromise and had sent someone to negotiate with the Germans to join the Holy Alliance. It is expected that in a maximum of half a month, the Kingdom of Denmark will join the Holy Alliance.

At this time, the Kingdom of Denmark was nothing more than a small country with a population of 1.6 million. Such a small country was not at all a threat to the Chinese Empire. Even if they join the Holy Alliance, they will be of limited use. However, Denmark's geographical location allowed it to have a huge impact on the Empire's naval strategy.

The Kingdom of Denmark, in addition to its own homeland, has an enclave in the Atlantic. This enclave is the Faroe Islands. If the Kingdom of Denmark were to join the Holy Alliance, the Germans would be able to take advantage of the Faroe Islands. Well, the encirclement of the German Navy by the Reich Navy will be a complete failure.

The Faroe Islands are made up of 18 rocky islands in the North Atlantic Ocean and are an overseas dominion of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located about 602 km west of Norway and about 310 km northwest of Scotland. It is presumed that the Faroe Islands were discovered in the 8th century AD.

The Faroe Islands have a land area of 1,399 square kilometers and consists of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, mostly of Scandinavian descent, Lutheran Christians, and the official languages are Faroese and Danish. Irish monks moved here around 650 AD. It became a Norwegian dependency in 1035. In 1397 it was administered by Denmark as part of the Kalmar League. The archipelago was originally called Fereiaar, from which the use of the ram as a symbol of the nation may have come from. Around 700 years ago, Irish monks first moved here. Around 800 years, it was a colony of Vikings. Around 1,000 years ago, the king of Norway converted the islanders to Christianity. There are remains of a Gothic church in Chilchub your; The church was built by Bishop Elam, but was never completed. In 1035 the Faroe Islands became a province of Norway, and in 1380 it was transferred to Denmark along with the rest of Norway.

After listening to the report of Marshal Luo Hongtao, director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Emperor Long Yufei frowned.

"Is there a way to stop the Kingdom of Denmark from joining the Holy Alliance?" Long Yufei asked. The strategy of the Reich Navy, which could not afford to be missed, was an important guarantee for the Reich's victory over Germany and even the Holy Alliance. As long as the Reich Navy can win, then the Reich will be able to cut off Germany's ties with the rest of the world, thus squeezing Germany's strength bit by bit and finally defeating them.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it's very difficult. Frederick VII had compromised. What's more, in the face of the military threat of the German Empire, the Danes had no choice but to surrender. Foreign Minister Wei Yuan said.

"In order to secure victory in the war, we must trap the German navy in the North Sea and force them to fight us in a decisive battle. The Germans could not be allowed to slip into the Atlantic, at least a large number of warships! Long Yufei said.

"In addition, according to the information we received, the Germans also succeeded in airplanes, as well as on submarines. Even if it is not as good as the Empire, the gap is not too big. Once the Germans get their hands on the Faroe Islands and build them into a military base, it will pose a huge threat to the Reich! Therefore, we must not allow the Faroe Islands to fall into the hands of the Germans! Long Yufei continued.

Everyone frowned, the geographical location of the Faroe Islands was so important. However, once Denmark joined the Holy Alliance, the Germans would be able to use the archipelago to break through the imperial blockade.

"Your Majesty, since there is no other way. Then we have no choice but to seize the Faroe Islands by force. Seize the Faroe Islands, and the Germans will naturally not be able to use the islands! General Liu Zhongming, Chief of the General Staff, said.

"But will that lead to a full-blown war between us and the Holy Alliance?" Prime Minister Lin Zihao asked.

"Get started before the Kingdom of Denmark joins the Holy Alliance! In this case, the initiative for the outbreak of war or not is in the hands of the Germans! Long Yufei hesitated, and then said. (To be continued......)

PS: Today's four watches are completed, ask for subscriptions, ask for monthly passes and recommended tickets! Warm up for the new book, and the editor has communicated, and the new book will be uploaded on the 6th of next month, I hope that book friends will support it by then!