Chapter 877: Mutual Calculations (Two-in-One)
Sunlight spilled across the earth, shining upon the snow and casting off sparkling golden glints.
The snow blanketing the ground and the frozen Neva River proclaimed winter's arrival. Saint Petersburg had always suited snow better.
On a day with such fine weather, Alexander III would ordinarily have taken his family out to bask in the winter sun.
At this moment, however, the upper ranks of the Tsarist Government had gathered inside Gatchina Palace to discuss the nation's next course of action.
Foreign Minister Oscar Jimenez said, "At last night's banquet, the French envoy let slip some news: the French Government is preparing to increase its aid to us.
"So long as our frontline troops capture either Herat or the Wakhan Corridor, they will underwrite one billion Francs' worth of war bonds for us.
"The French intentions are perfectly obvious. They want to use us to weaken the British. The Anglo-French alliance can be said to exist in name only.
"Before this, the Austrian Government had expressed similar intentions as well, except the French are more anxious.
"The British have done far too many wicked deeds in ordinary times. Now they have enemies everywhere in the world. The current international situation is extremely favorable to us; all that remains is to see what the military can do."
Turning an enemy into an ally could be considered a miracle even in the history of diplomacy. But considering the complicated relationship between the United Kingdom and France, it was perfectly normal for such a thing to happen.
Britain and France were hereditary enemies. No reason was needed to undermine the British; if the French Government wholeheartedly helped them instead, that would be the truly suspicious thing.
War Minister Ivanov said, "The front is progressing very smoothly. We have