The second more

The French newspapers immediately carried out an overwhelming report on Napoleon's visit to St. Petersburg and the provision of loans to Russia, for fear that the whole of Europe would not know about it. Of course, these reports were directed at the Germans. But Napoleon wanted to make it clear to everyone that France was showing friendship with Germany. And he has to hook up with Russia behind his back.

The speed of the telegram was always faster than Napoleon's return to France by train, and when he had just finished his state visit to St. Petersburg and was on his way back, he did not know that Berlin had exploded.

Napoleon's state visit to St. Petersburg was carried over with the Minister of Finance, and the general policies were decided by him, but when it came to specific details, the Finance Ministers and Ministers of both sides conducted detailed consultations, after all, it was the first time that France cooperated with Russia after Napoleon took office, and the economic loans provided were not much, and it was also to test the French people's ability to repay.

"Do you think it's a reasonable investment?"

Napoleon sat on the train and looked out the window at the vast plain. Finance Minister Marit sat diagonally across from Napoleon, but thanks to the generosity and mercy of the President of the French Empire, Guerome's betrayal, the family was able to become the economic eagle dogs of the French government.

"I think it's a very good investment."

"A country as vast as France requires well-developed railway lines to keep it running, but look at the few railways in Russia that maintain a huge and heavy transportation capacity," Marit said, pointing to the vast plains outside the window. This was a major factor restricting the economic development of Tsarist Russia, and the technology and funds provided by France would be compensated for by Russia's interest and steady resources in the future. ”

In eight years, however, Carl Benz would invent the world's first single-cylinder, two-stroke engine. Then there will be another revolution in transportation, and everything Napoleon is doing now is preparing for the First World War.

The biggest factor in even a war is in transport.

In 1914, a British division needed only 27 carts of various supplies per day. Two years later, the daily consumption of daily necessities such as supplies and fodder was still 20 trucks, while the number of large trucks needed for combat materiel, especially ammunition, had increased to about 30. Of the total amount of supplies required by the field army, grain and grass accounted for only a small part, and a very small part. It is conceivable that a road transport fleet that cannot meet even this small part of the needs will be able to support the strategic movement of the army. As a result, sports warfare was a death sentence at the physical level, and positional warfare became the only logical option. In times of positional warfare, all supplies had to be done by rail, and the huge convoy of horses was only responsible for distributing supplies from the railway station to the various parts of the army.

Many people believe that armoured forces were the hero of ending trench warfare, allowing armies to quickly break through enemy lines and move in depth. In fact, trenches and barbed wire are only the phenomenon of positional warfare, and the supply maintained by the railways is the reason for the maintenance of positional warfare. In other words, a war that relies on railways can only be positional warfare, and a more central element than tanks is automobile transportation in order to restore battlefield movement.

Napoleon saw this in mind, so he spared no effort in the development of transportation facilities in France. If necessary, he would buy Karl Benz's machine-building plant as an agent after the economic crisis, and he would be in charge of building cars.

In addition to civilian engines, the development of the military industry was Napoleon's favorite project. Strategy and tactics aside, the backyard is the soul and heart of a war.

About forty years later, when Moltke Jr. implemented the Schlieffen plan, he would not be intimidated by the mobilized forces of the French army.

Napoleon said to himself, "On the bright side, the development of the railways in Russia may be a slight improvement for the bad war in the future." ”

Unlike the high-spirited Napoleon, Bismarck was growing irritated at home. He never imagined that a small Catholic party would grow into the second largest party in the Imperial Parliament.

Unable to bear it, Bismarck finally intervened, and he instructed Falck to strengthen the state's control over the church, and under Bismarck's instructions, Falke submitted a draft law on state supervision of schools. However, most of the Prussian Lords were opposed, and even Ron was reluctant to approve of it, and Bismarck passed the bill with a tough attitude.

Forcing the bill through is the first battle in the cultural struggle. The Germania newspaper, which is funded by the Wenderjoth Fund, has made a big deal about the bill warning the Vatican Pope that there will be "marriage procedures from the church to the civil affairs bureau", "heavy taxes on the church's business", and "restrictions on the Jesuits and other transnational church institutions".

Wenderhorse tried to win all the Catholic parliamentarians to his side, isolated Bismarck, and intended to push him down from the position of chancellor.

The list was in front of Bismarck, and were letters from Winderhos who tried to get in touch with Paris. He believed that the opportunity to threaten France had come, and that it was impossible for France, unwilling to admit defeat, to try to overthrow the nascent Second German Reich by intervening in the cultural struggle within Germany. And Germany's Junkers will give France the toughest response.

Paris was accused of trying to provoke another war between the two countries, and Germany was ready for Paris to lose again.

War Secretary Ron stood beside him and listened patiently to Bismarck's story, after which he looked at the iron-blooded Prime Minister with a complicated expression and whispered, "This letter does not directly prove that Wenderhorse is in collusion with others, and once France is involved, the situation will not be so easy to clean up." ”

He thought about it, but still said the words that were rotten in his stomach.

"Many people may die at that time, or Chancellor Bismarck will be forced to step down."

Bismarck, however, said disdainfully, "Justice and fairness are on my side, Chancellor Ron." The collusion of German Catholics with our enemy, France, was inherently unforgivable treason. Besides, I have no intention of starting a war, but I just want to use this cultural struggle to blackmail France. ”

He picked up the envelope in his hand and shook it in front of Chancellor Ron.

Although he tried his best to show that he was sure of victory, Bismarck's every move was expected by Napoleon.

Bismarck sneered and said, "I want to use this letter to wipe out all the traitors in Germany." Let our enemies know also that the Second German Reich is impregnable. ”

"It was Napoleon himself who was ultimately calculated."