Russia, St. Petersburg, Winter Palace, Ulyanov's office.
Joseph was reporting Germany's demands to Ulyanov. As Ulyanov's assistant, Joseph had always been responsible for maintaining contact with Germany. Before the Bolshevik Party's revolution succeeded, Germany had been their greatest supporter. This gave Joseph an extremely high standing within the Bolshevik Party, almost second only to Ulyanov.
"Leader, Germany has conveyed its willingness to hold peace talks with us. How should we respond?" Joseph asked.
"Peace talks? What do the Germans want? Could it be that they intend to use this opportunity to extort us?" Ulyanov frowned. Ever since accepting Germany's aid, he had known that this day would soon come. He simply had not expected it to arrive so quickly. German money was not so easy to take!
"Leader, from what I know of the Germans, they will probably carve a chunk of flesh from us this time," Joseph said.
"Alas! Accepting their support back then had been unavoidable. If we had not accepted it, our very survival would have been in question, let alone the success of the revolution." Ulyanov sighed.
"Leader, there was no other way. For our cause, we could only do that at the time," Joseph said.
Ulyanov nodded. "Since the Germans want peace talks, then we will hold peace talks with them! But we must pay as little a price as possible. Russia is about to be ruled by us. If we are to grow strong in the future, we must have a sound foundation."
"Yes, Leader. But the Germans hold an absolute advantage. I fear it will be difficult for us to refuse their demands," Joseph said.
Ulyanov's heart was also filled with bitterness. Germany's military strength was simply too formidable. If they rejected the Germans' demands, what awaited them would be the German offensive.