Kicking Someone While They Were Down

"The Russians had done a fine job."

Friedrich List said with a smile. Frederick William IV understood what he meant: drive the Poles out.

Only by replacing one group with another could they ensure the complete death of Polish restorationism. No matter how hard the Polish Restorationists abroad might strive, as long as there were no more Poles in Prussia, all their efforts would be in vain.

The trouble was, this decision would be difficult to make. The slightest misstep could spark a rebellion.

Prime Minister Ludwig von Thile and Minister of War Hermann von Boyen both understood Friedrich List's meaning.

They were both typical Junker Landowners and naturally supported the idea. After all, if the Poles were driven out of the New Three Provinces, their estates could grow considerably.

And if war broke out, the Junker Landowners' status would rise even further. The two exchanged a glance, and Minister of War Hermann von Boyen spoke up.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. The Prussian Army is invincible, and we are confident we can crush any enemy who dares challenge the order of things.

"Those Poles will suffer the punishment they deserve, just like the rabble in Silesia!"

Prime Minister Ludwig von Thile teased, "Perhaps we could ask whether they'd be interested in Polish laborers."

The newly appointed Foreign Minister, Heinrich von Bülow, was also a Junker noble.

Although his family had no particular interests in the New Three Provinces, as Foreign Minister, he knew that Austria was currently taking in Russian refugees. Could Austria handle an influx of refugees from Prussia on top of that?

"Your Majesty, as I understand it, the Austrian royal family and the Church are taking in Russian refugees in Galicia. We could send our own trash over as well, and help them do some charity work."