Queen Luisa sprang to her feet and cried out:
"God, we absolutely cannot give up territory so easily!"
Baron Stein hurriedly said:
"Your Majesty, those places are either currently under French Army control, or they can occupy them at any time. Besides, the French have promised to compensate us with Celle in the future."
Prince Heinrich added:
"Judging from the French Prince's attitude just now, we may even be able to secure more."
Queen Luisa could not help but freeze. Celle seemed to be in Hanover's Eastern Provinces.
She said nervously, "This will cause the British to declare war on us!"
"The French will send troops to help us," Baron Stein said. "They have mobilized 380,000 soldiers. If those troops are not sent to deal with England and Austria, they will be standing across from us..."
Queen Luisa slowly sat back down in her chair.
Indeed, Prussia no longer had any troops with which to refuse the French. Fortunately, they could offer more benefits than the British.
Prince Heinrich lowered his voice and added:
"Actually, even if England declares war on us, it would not be entirely a bad thing. The loans we owe London could be 'postponed' for repayment."
The Queen of Prussia remained silent for a long while before finally nodding.
"Then you shall take full responsibility for signing the agreement with the French."
Prussia had borrowed loans worth more than a million Pound Sterling from the British. If they could take the opportunity to default on them, it would almost be enough to offset the War Reparations owed to France.
The negotiations proceeded extremely quickly. Only two days later, on February 17, France and Prussia formally signed the Treaty of Berlin, declaring a military alliance.
Under the treaty, the two nations would jointly establish a Joint General