No matter what, it was good that the plan had succeeded. The hardest part was always the beginning; once they had taken the first step, the road ahead would be much easier.
Just as Grover Cleveland was preparing to launch the next phase of the plan, a pie fell from the sky and struck him squarely on the head, leaving him dizzy.
The British hoped that the Union would take the lead in helping the Russians build the "Siberian Railway."
On the surface, an ordinary railway might not seem like much, but with his wealth of political experience, Grover Cleveland immediately recognized the risks and opportunities hidden within it.
"Divide the Russo-Austrian Alliance," "lure the Russians eastward and ease the military pressure on British India," "scheme against the Russians"... A string of possibilities surfaced in Grover Cleveland's mind.
Grover Cleveland did not know what consequences would ultimately result. The only certainty was that worsening relations among Europe's great powers would be good for the Union.
Where there were benefits, there were naturally drawbacks. In order to draw disaster southward and provoke Anglo-Russian hostility, the Vienna Government had spared no expense in helping the Russians construct the Central Asian Railway.
The money had already been poured in, and the plan was on the verge of success. Now, with someone suddenly swooping in to steal the prize, the Holy Roman Empire certainly would not let the matter rest.
Though an ocean lay between them, offending a top-tier great power still posed an enormous risk to the Union.
Although the British Government had promised to cover them, Grover Cleveland had not the slightest faith in John Bull's integrity.
After rubbing his forehead, Grover Cleveland asked, "What terms have the British offered?"
Risk itself was not frightening. Offending the Holy Roman Empire would be