I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 725 Visiting Relatives
To put it bluntly, Britain's continental balance is to constantly create conflicts on the European continent in order to achieve Britain's strategic goals.

After the Franco-Prussian War, Britain joined forces with France to contain Germany, but later found that it still could not hold out, so it brought Russia in to form the Entente.

Now that Germany is gone, if Britain wants to continue its continental balance policy, it will have to continue looking for an enemy for Europe.

If you can't find one, make one.

From the UK's perspective, Russia is well suited to becoming Europe's "public enemy".

So this is not a question of whether Russia is peace-loving, but rather that the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop.

Russia's attitude is also clear.

Against the backdrop of the economic crisis, Russia is a unique country that has driven economic growth through infrastructure construction and taken advantage of the golden opportunity of reconstruction to adjust its domestic economic structure.

The root cause of unrest in Europe has never been Russia, but Britain.

Far from being the source of trouble, Russia is also the European gendarme that maintains order.

After joining the Free Trade Organization, Germany immediately enjoyed the convenience brought by "free trade".

Although Germany suffered heavy losses during the World War, the war did not spread to Germany itself, and the foundation of German industry was still there. As long as there were funds and raw materials, it was not difficult to resume production.

During the Paris Peace Conference, British, French and American politicians discussed in Paris how to punish Germany in order to cater to the needs of their people.

However, the capital forces in Britain, France and the United States are already ready to move, with cash and checks ready to go to Germany to buy at the bottom.

This really is capital without borders.

It is understandable that Britain and the United States want to buy the bottom of Germany.

The French also want to buy at the bottom, which is completely against France's interests.

It is said to be bottom fishing, but in fact it is an investment. Regardless of whether it makes money or not, German industry will definitely benefit from it.

Once Germany regains its strength, France will be the country most threatened.

Therefore, it is difficult to explain the behavior of the French logically, except that they are driven by profit.

This is not surprising. During the Russo-Japanese War, the French, as Russia's ally, were buying Japanese bonds crazily.

Even the French can "let bygones be bygones", so George, as a German son-in-law, has even more reason to buy at the bottom.

Compared with Britain, France and the United States, Germans also prefer to cooperate with Russia.

It has been said many times before that 90% of the conflict between Russia and Germany is due to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The remaining 10% should not be shared by the arrogant William II and the indecisive Nicholas.

Instead, it should be blamed on Britain's instigation.

After the end of the World War, the German elite began to reflect on the World War and finally concluded that if Germany had not been caught in the passive situation of fighting on two fronts, the World War might have had a different outcome.

Let’s not talk about whether the conclusion is right or not.

At the very least, Germany's elite has a new understanding of Britain, France and the United States.

On November 11, Alexander visited Germany as vice president of the Yuriev Consortium. The Weimar government prepared a welcome ceremony for Alexander at the head of state level. The German media affectionately called Alexander's visit a "relative visit."

Alexander first came to Anne's hometown accompanied by Prince Karl to pay homage to Anne's relatives, and then met with Friedrich Ebert, President of the Weimar government, at the manor where Anne grew up.

In Germany, Alexander was a guest.

But Alexander is also the owner of this manor.

From Anne's side, Alexander is also a prince in Germany.

With the blessing of multiple identities, the atmosphere of the meeting between Alexander and Friedrich was particularly harmonious.

Friedrich first asked Alexander to convey his greetings to Anne, and then, on behalf of the Weimar government, gave Anne a crown that had been worn by Queen Augusta.

Augusta was the daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and married to Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany.

Alexander reciprocated by donating one million rubles on Anne's behalf through the foundation, earmarked for the rescue of German children.

Friedrich was very happy. Although one million rubles was not a lot, it was enough to represent the attitude of the Yuriev family.

After exchanging the "greeting gifts", Friedrich got down to business, hoping to get help from the Yuriev Group.

The three largest financial groups in Russia are Yuriev, Yusupov, and Dolgorukov.

Alexander is not only the vice president of the Yuriev Consortium, but also the vice president of the Dolgorukov Consortium.

The president of the Yuriev Group is Anne, and the president of the Dolgorukov Group is Alexander's uncle Mario.

The only heir to the Yusupov Group is Felix the Younger, who once worked with Alexander to kill Rasputin.

These two are sworn brothers.

Friedrich hoped to obtain a loan from the Yuriev Group to restore the German economy.

Alexander agreed to increase cooperation, but not in the form of loans, but in the form of joint operations.

The terms offered by Friedrich were not bad, with an annual interest rate of 10%, which seemed to be very profitable.

The total amount of indemnity owed by Germany was 1320 billion gold marks, equivalent to 9.6 tons of gold. Even if all the Germans were sold out, they would not be able to pay the compensation.

Don't listen to what Friedrich says. He is the president, not the emperor, and he has a term limit.

Even if the interest rate given by Friedrich is 50%, what if Friedrich's successor does not recognize it?
In May this year, just before the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, Britain and France jointly proposed to offset the loans owed by Britain and France to the United States with the reparations owed to Germany.

Is this how “hedging” is used?
Let’s not talk about whether Americans agree or not.

The fact that this request can be made fully demonstrates what the so-called spirit of contract between Britain and France means.

This is not a smear campaign, it is a historical fact. Some things are not as good as advertised.

The British never attach importance to the spirit of contract, the free trade of the United States is just a joke, the French democracy only exists among the so-called elite class, and the Germans are never rigorous, but they are more obedient.

Germany's "rigor" means that if the manual of a machine states that it must be kowtowed nine times before being turned on, then not even one must be missed.

Alexander didn't know where the Germans' bottom line was.

George knew it.

In another time and space, through the Dawes Plan, Germany obtained loans and investments totaling 326 billion marks from Britain, France and the United States. During the same period, Germany only paid 110 billion in reparations. Subsequently, due to the outbreak of the economic crisis, Germany declared financial bankruptcy and stopped paying reparations.

After the end of World War II, Germany continued to pay reparations for World War I on the basis of World War II reparations, and the money was not paid off until 2010.

The World War II reparations are due until 2015.

This is what national credit means.

"Russia has issued tens of billions of ruble bonds for reconstruction, most of which are borne by domestic consortiums and banks, and is unable to provide direct loans to Germany."

While Alexander refused, he left hope for Friedrich.

If you don't pay, then we can only barter.

Russia can provide Germany with industrial raw materials including food, and Germany can use industrial products to repay its debts.

Friedrich frowned.

This means that if Germany is used as a processing factory, it can only earn some processing fees, and most of the profits will still be earned by the Russians.

"We have built two new automobile factories in St. Petersburg and Constantinople. If Mr. Benz is interested, we can have more exchanges on technology."

Alexander continued to bait.

Amur Automobile Group is not interested in German automobile technology, but is very interested in the German automobile market.

"Mr. Benz will contact you."

No matter whether it is meat or shit, Friedrich will pick it up and put it in the basket first.

Don’t be disgusted. Before the large-scale appearance of fertilizers, if you were slow, you wouldn’t be able to pick up the warm shit.

Friedrich was busy with official duties and had limited time for Alexander.

The real negotiations took place between Alexander and Prince Karl.

Like Germany and Russia, although the empire is gone, the people who truly control the country are still the same as before, and the situation has not changed at all.

Prince Karl hopes that the Yuriev Group will inject capital into Deutsche Bank and promote Germany's economic recovery through Deutsche Bank.

Unlike Friedrich, Prince Karl gave shares directly, which is a real benefit.

During the World War, Russian companies used a lot of patented technologies from Germany without paying patent fees to German companies.

German companies have also committed infringements against Russian companies.

After the end of World War II, German and Russian companies filed claims against each other, with both sides winning and losing, but the compensation they received was almost the same.

It seems like a waste of time and no money was made, and the lawyer got nothing for nothing.

In fact, it is the protection of intellectual property rights, which is of far-reaching significance.

There are some countries in the world that wantonly infringe on intellectual property rights and seem to be making huge profits.

A country that only cares about its immediate interests has no future. It can only imitate and has no soil for innovation. People with innovative capabilities will naturally choose a country that respects intellectual property rights.

Prince Karl directly gave the shares. Even if Russia and Germany go to war again in the future, no matter who wins or loses, Deutsche Bank will pay the profits belonging to the Yuriev Consortium after the war.

Based on the same reason, the profits of German consortium's investment in Russia can also be guaranteed.

This is the consequence of insufficiently thorough social change.

"How to say?"

Alexander is straightforward.

"If the Yuriev Group invests 1 million gold marks, it can get 1% of Deutsche Bank's shares."

The conditions offered by Prince Karl were not as favorable as those offered by Frederick.

"Deutsche Bank is worth 100 billion gold marks?"

Alexander disagrees with this valuation.

Deutsche Bank might have been worth this before the outbreak of the world war, but it is certainly not worth this now.

“You may not think it’s worth it, but the profits generated by this investment will surely satisfy the Grand Duke.”

Prince Karl had confidence in the German economy and knew who had the final say in the Yuriev Group.

"Do you think my father still cares about the profits generated by the investment?"

Alexander pointed out directly that if one wanted to obtain investment from the Yuriev Group, it would not be enough to rely solely on profits.

"What are your conditions?"

Prince Carl is not in a hurry. This level of investment cannot be decided by one or two people.

After learning about the conditions of the Yuriev Group, Prince Karl will communicate with Deutsche Bank's shareholders before conducting a second round of negotiations.

(End of this chapter)