As storms gathered across Europe, the first to lose their composure was neither Austria nor John Bull, but the Berlin Government at the heart of the whirlpool.
There was no helping it. No matter how many people the Russians had plotted against, once their plan succeeded, Prussia would undoubtedly suffer the worst.
"No matter what, we must sabotage the Russians' loan plan."
William I spoke solemnly. He had no desire to be driven from the throne. The Kingdom of Prussia had already staked its national fate on this gamble, and the people could not tolerate defeat.
Once the Russians obtained loans from France and Austria, this war would truly become impossible to fight. Even if the Kingdom of Prussia won the coming decisive battle, it would still be unable to alter its doomed fate.
What the Tsarist Government lacked was not soldiers, but money! No matter how terrible their losses, to Saint Petersburg, it was nothing more than that.
History bore this out. Centuries ago, Russia fought year after year until there were no able-bodied men left to send into battle—yet they organized female soldiers and kept fighting.
Times were different now. The Russian Empire truly had an enormous population, eighty or ninety million strong. William I did not believe they could bleed the Tsarist Government until it could endure no more.
Foreign Minister McKet proposed, "Your Majesty, I suggest different measures against France and Austria to obstruct their issuance of loans to the Russians.
"Against the French, we can begin with the joint defense plan. We can exploit the wariness European nations feel toward France and apply pressure through diplomacy.
"Austria's ambition to unify the German regions has never been extinguished. The French covet the Rhineland, so the two stand on opposing sides.
"The British are equally wary of