I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 681: The Tough Russian Old Woman

William II and Nicholas were truly brothers in distress. They were always overconfident about certain things, to the point of being so arrogant that they were completely out of touch with reality.

Ever since Tirpitz suggested to William II that he develop the navy and engage in an arms race with Britain, William II was swept up by a mysterious force within the German army and had to embark on the crazy path of world war.

William II's greed was fully exposed through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Although William II argued that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a punishment for the Provisional Government's overthrow of Nicholas' rule, the punishment was too harsh. Even Hindenburg believed that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk would seriously affect the relationship between Germany and Russia, and that there would never be peace between the two countries after the signing of this treaty.

Compared with William II, the British were much smarter. Their punishment for Germany was simply to ask the Germans to return Alsace and Lorraine to the French.

Although this result cannot satisfy the French people, the French elite is well aware that if Germany is punished more severely, it will lead to a more dangerous relationship between Germany and France.

George's task for Peter was very clear: he must advance to the North Sea coast in the shortest possible time, create a fait accompli, and create a more favorable situation for subsequent negotiations.

Peter was also very capable. He mobilized 3 Marines and 8 Finnish troops, and landed in Vis near the border between Germany and Denmark under the cover of 600 aircraft and nearly warships.

During this period, most of the Jutland Peninsula belonged to Germany, and only a small part in the north belonged to Denmark. There was a dispute between the two countries over the ownership of the Jutland Peninsula.

Denmark is a neutral country. During the World War, it had the best of both worlds. It opened the door for the Russian Empire's Baltic Fleet and facilitated Germany's assistance from the United States. It lived a very comfortable life.

After Nicholas abdicated, Queen Mother Maria has been living in Denmark. Since Maria fled in a hurry and did not take any property with her, her life in Denmark was quite difficult. Even the electricity bill had to be paid by her great-nephew, King Christian X of Denmark. The two had a conflict over the electricity bill.

Although George had not yet ascended the throne, Constantinople had already begun to transfer money to Maria's account.

During Nicholas' reign, Maria's basic salary was similar to that of a grand duke, 150 million rubles per year.

How much it costs depends on Maria’s mood, there is no upper limit.

Constantinople deposited 1 rubles into Maria's account every month, a significant reduction compared to the period of Nicholas' reign.

That probably wasn't enough to give Maria a champagne bath.

It is still okay to bathe with milk.

The Russian army landed on the Jutland Peninsula. Although Denmark did not participate in the war, it made things convenient for the Russian army and allowed the Russian army to use the Eagle Island near Vis to provide supplies for the landing Russian army.

From Vis to the Atlantic Ocean, it is only 50 kilometers.

The first to land in Weiss was the 1st Marine Division.

After the First Division landed, it did not consolidate its beachhead positions like in previous landing battles to prepare for the subsequent landing troops.

Instead, they traveled light and advanced rapidly towards the North Sea.

Compared with the Eastern and Western Fronts, the Jutland Peninsula was Germany's rear area with no troops stationed there at all. The 1st Marine Division was unstoppable and advanced rapidly all the way. When William II received the telegram, the 1st Marine Division had actually penetrated the Jutland Peninsula.

George was very satisfied with Peter's efficiency and promoted him to Admiral of the Navy and appointed him as Minister of the Navy.

Witte's reforms continued to deepen. In order to raise more funds for reconstruction, Witte decided to issue bonds.

The issuance of bonds was not smooth. Britain and France were already exhausted, and neutral countries such as Spain and the Netherlands were not strong enough. Although they were relatively enthusiastic, they were completely unable to provide sufficient funds for Russia's reconstruction.

Witt turned his attention to the United States across the ocean.

The United States turned around through the world war, from a debtor country to a creditor country, and its ambitions have grown.

The United States has the ability to provide funding for Russia's reconstruction, but it is not easy to get American money as there are many conditions attached.

The first demand of the Americans was that Russia immediately lift all restrictions on the Hebrews.

This wording is not accurate enough.

Although the Russian Empire occasionally took actions against the Hebrews during the Asiatic II and III eras, overall, its policies toward the Hebrews were indeed restrictive.

Since the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Empire's treatment of the Hebrews has evolved from restriction to suppression and exclusion.

After the overthrow of the Provisional Government, Russia's crackdown on the Hebrews reached a climax, and the Hebrews disappeared from St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Compared with the European region of Russia, only the Amur Hebrews in the whole of Russia dare to acknowledge their identity.

This is funny.

During the time of Nicholas, Amur was criticized for his various restrictions on the Hebrews.

Unexpectedly, Amur has now become the only pure land for the Hebrews.

Therefore, the Americans hoped to establish an autonomous state near Amur, which would be governed by the Hebrews themselves.

If Constantinople agreed to this request, the US government was willing to provide loans to Russia.

Witt was quite interested in this.

George scoffed.

Whenever an American makes a suggestion, even if it looks like chocolate, you should consider whether there is shit inside the chocolate. George sent a telegram to his fourth cousin Alexander, hoping that Alexander would lobby the US government to give up these unrealistic demands.

That's not right. This request was not made by the US government, but by the underwriter of Russian bonds, the US Federal Reserve.

The Federal Reserve Board was established on December 1913, 12. Its position in the U.S. financial system is roughly equivalent to that of the Bank of Siberia in the Amur. It exercises the responsibilities of formulating monetary policy and supervising U.S. financial institutions.

George did not expect that Alexander not only did not take any active action, but instead persuaded George to accept the requirements of the Federal Reserve.

George sent a telegram to his third cousin Daniela who was in Paris, asking Daniela what was going on with Alexander.

Daniela has always been responsible for the contact with Alexander.

Daniela couldn't explain it to George in the telegram and flew back to Constantinople directly.

Only then did George realize that Alexander's dissatisfaction with George had a long history.

When George was a child, he was raised in the Catherine Palace and had little contact with Alexander.

After the assassination of Adolf II, Alexander went to the United States with George's third uncle Thierry and did not have much contact with George.

Thierry is still very loyal to the Dolgorukov family and is particularly grateful to Ekaterina. Thierry is in charge of all of George's investments in the United States, and the cooperation has always been a pleasant one.

Thierry died of a stroke two years ago, and Alexandre became the man at the helm, and his relationship with George gradually became distant.

Alexander was unhappy with the way the profits were being distributed.

Most of the profits from George's investment in the United States are returned to Russia through investment, purchase of machinery and equipment and raw materials, and the Alexander family can obtain about one-tenth of the profits.

Compared with the Dolgorukov family, the Alexander family made a lot of money. After all, the start-up capital and technical support were provided by George. Alexander was equivalent to a professional manager hired by George, and his role was not as important as Alexander thought.

Alexander doesn't think so.

In Alexander's opinion, Dolgorukov's business territory, or business empire, in the United States was all created by Alexander's father Thierry. George's original investment has already generated sufficient returns, and the current profit distribution method should be changed.

“How are our investments in the United States controlled?”

George knew that this pattern would go wrong sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to happen so suddenly.

"Although the equity distribution method is very complicated, you are definitely the major shareholder, otherwise Sasha would have rebelled long ago—"

Daniela bluntly said that Alexander had been in the United States for too long and had no idea of ​​George's strength.

George's investments in the United States were very successful. Through automobiles and alternating current, the Dolgorukov family had become a force to be reckoned with in the United States and had long been part of Wall Street capital.

It is easy for people to lose themselves in such an environment.

To put it bluntly, the United States is too far away from Europe. Alexander probably feels that George cannot reach the United States.

George did not act rashly, but still had to consider Ekaterina's feelings.

Catherine was so happy in Adrianople that she didn't want to leave. She watched her great-grandchildren grow up every day, and her pride was indescribable.

If I really have to describe it, it would be that I would be able to feel justified when I meet Ya Er a hundred years later.

Catherine's estate in Adrianople was called Alexander in honor of Alexander II.

Catherine attaches great importance to her children. George has to be thoroughly disinfected from head to toe when entering the Alexander Manor.

George told Catherine everything about Alexander's situation without exaggerating.

Ekaterina was silent for a long time, with a bitter smile.

"Don't worry about this, I'll handle it."

Catherine would not allow George's interests to be harmed in any way.

Even if it's your own nephew from your mother's side, it's not allowed.

In order to strengthen the cohesion of the Dolgorukov family, Ekaterina organizes a party on her birthday every year.

Now think about it, since Thierry's death, Alexander has been using his busy official duties as an excuse not to attend Catherine's birthday party in person, but instead had his younger brother Vladimir attend.

George didn't know how Catherine would punish Alexander, and to ensure that American business was not affected, George hoped for a peaceful handover.

Catherine did not understand George's meaning correctly and thought that George wanted Vladimir to take over.

"What are you thinking about? Have you forgotten what your father taught you? To cut the grass, you must remove the roots!"

Ekaterina was murderous.

This Russian old woman is really tough.

(End of this chapter)