Loans naturally could not simply be handed out so easily. To maximize their gains from the Franco-Prussian War, they also needed to make political demands.
As a Southern German state, Hechingen was likewise obligated to take part. Although Hechingen was Prussian territory, the Hechingen Royal Family's name could still be put to use.
"Uncle Wilhelm, as a member of Germany, Hechingen also has a duty to participate in Prussia's war of resistance against France."
Hmm! King Wilhelm I did not quite understand what Ernst meant. The company's money had already been loaned out—how else did the Hechingen Royal Family intend to contribute?
"Although Hechingen is now an inseparable territory of Prussia, our Kingdom of East Africa, as one of the German states, also has an obligation to contribute."
"Uh, your Kingdom of East Africa intends to join the war as well?" King Wilhelm I seemed to have heard the joke of the century. Though the Kingdom of East Africa had been recognized as a German country from the day it was founded, given East Africa's location, everyone merely found it amusing. Surely no one truly regarded Africa as Europe!
"No. Hechingen will enter the war as a German state."
"Ernst, forgive my bluntness, but Hechingen is now merely a German principality in name. Prussia can handle things on its behalf—"
Suddenly, King Wilhelm I stalled. He had abruptly remembered that Hechingen had indeed become part of Prussia, yet it truly contained a group of people with decent military training whom Prussia had no right to requisition.
Prussia had long implemented compulsory military service, but conscription could only forcibly draft citizens within Prussian territory. The students at that military academy in Hechingen had originally been presented by Ernst as so-called "Far Eastern exchange students," meaning they were not Prussian citizens. Later,