The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 845 This is not a clash of civilizations, this is a struggle for survival! (Please give me a monthly ticket)

One day in the autumn of 1868, a red carpet had been laid out in front of No. 10 Downing Street. The newly appointed British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli stood on the steps, wearing a black tailcoat meticulously, holding a gilded cane in his hand, and looking at the slowly approaching carriage.

The car door opened, and German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck stepped out, his iron-gray beard neatly trimmed, and his Prussian-style military uniform straight as a knife. This iron-blooded chancellor was at his most proud and satisfied. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, sweeping across the buildings of Downing Street, and with a slight smile on his lips, he said in German to the British Prime Minister who greeted him: "The weather in Britain is much milder than in Berlin."

Before defeating the French, the German chancellor would speak French or English in accordance with European diplomatic conventions when meeting with high-ranking British dignitaries. But now, he no longer speaks French, but mainly speaks German, and only speaks English in the most critical parts to clearly express his intentions.

Disraeli smiled and replied in English: "I hope our talks will be so gentle."

The two walked side by side into the black door under the flashing spotlights of reporters. In the reception room of 10 Downing Street, the firelight of the fireplace reflected the dark brown wall panels, the servants served black tea and cigars, and the Foreign Secretary Lord Stanley greeted the new Prime Minister and the visiting German Chancellor to take a seat.

"Prince Bismarck," Disraeli said in a relaxed tone, taking a sip of tea. "Regarding Queen Mathilde's restoration plan, we believe that Corsica is sufficient as a base for counterattack. As for the rest of the royalist territory in mainland France, it seems difficult to hold on for a long time."

Bismarck raised his thick eyebrows slightly, and suddenly switched to English, emphasizing his tone: "Corsica is too small and isolated overseas. If we can establish a land base in the Vosges Mountains to form a horn with Corsica, it may be more conducive to restoring order in France."

Lord Stanley chuckled: "The Prime Minister means that the Queen's army should rely on the mountains to resist?"

"That's right." Bismarck blew out a puff of smoke and spoke back to German. "The Vosges Mountains are easy to defend but difficult to attack. The iron mines in Alsace-Lorraine can also provide resources for the royalists."

Disraeli and Stanley exchanged a look. They knew it well - the Germans had no intention of rebuilding the French Empire. The "resistance center" in the Vosges Mountains was just a noose tied around the neck of the revolutionary regime, which could be tightened at any time. It was also a means for Germany to control France's iron ore resources and weaken France's industrial potential.

"It sounds like a safe plan," Disraeli smiled, "but how long can the Queen's army hold out?"

"Long enough," Bismarck said dryly, "so long that the revolutionaries in Paris had to learn to coexist with the Bonaparte dynasty."

There was a brief silence in the room.

Stanley put down his teacup: "So, will Germany send troops directly?"

"If necessary," Bismarck said sharply, speaking English again, "but they will wear the blue uniforms of the French."

Disraeli sneered in his heart. In order to make France forever at loggerheads, Bismarck even resorted to the trick of "changing skins" of German soldiers. How much did he fear the French! But the British Prime Minister still had an approving smile on his face: "Britain is willing to provide naval support."

The topic in 10 Downing Street turned to the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

"The expansion of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is a threat to the entire Christian civilization," Disraeli's voice suddenly became passionate. "This is a clash of civilizations! The Yellow Peril must be contained!"

Bismarck shook his head and switched back to fluent English: "No, Mr. Prime Minister, this is not a clash of civilizations."

"Oh?" Disraeli was stunned.

"This is a struggle for survival!" Bismarck's voice was low and cold. "Mr. Prime Minister, the world's resources are limited, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is backed by 40 million East Asian yellow people, who account for more than % of the world's total population! Once they complete industrialization, their demand for resources will devour the entire world."

Disraeli narrowed his eyes. "You mean..."

"If 600 million people are full, what will we eat?" Bismarck looked at him directly. "This is not the enlightenment of a higher civilization to a lower civilization, but a struggle between two races for living space."

Stanley frowned: "But our civilization advantage."

"Civilization. Advantage?" Bismarck sneered. "What is this? In the face of survival, civilization is meaningless. Either victory or destruction."

The firelight from the fireplace cast shadows on the faces of the three people.

Disraeli finally understood Bismarck's intention - he did not mention the "yellow peril" or the "clash of civilizations", but proposed "competition for survival", just to show the British Empire that Germany also needs living space and resources to develop industry!

The living space of 600 million yellow people is not commensurate with their population and strength! And the living space of 60 million Germans seems even more disproportionate compared with their population and strength.

The yellow people and Germans got less!
So who got more?
"So," Disraeli said slowly, "you think that Britain and Germany should..."

"Join forces," Bismarck said firmly, "Britain, with the strongest navy, and Germany, with the strongest army, must fight for the survival of white civilization." Of course, his words had a subtext. Joining forces means being on an equal footing, which means that Germany must also obtain a living space equal to its population and strength!

Bismarck stood up, walked slowly to the world map on the wall, and tapped lightly on the blank area between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

"Mr. Prime Minister," he turned around, his eyes sharp, "if we really want to contain the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, we must develop a long-term strategy."

Disraeli leaned forward slightly. "I'd like to hear more about that."

Bismarck's finger traced the ocean: "First, Britain must ensure absolute superiority at sea."

"Of course!" The British Prime Minister nodded proudly, "The British Navy will always rule the world's oceans!"

"Mr. Prime Minister, we can't just talk about dominating the ocean forever!" Bismarck said calmly, "The world's naval technology is advancing at a rapid pace. The battleships of various countries are getting bigger and stronger, and the power of their main guns is also getting stronger. The advantage of existing stocks may become a burden at this time!"

Disraeli put away his smile: "The British Empire has enough wealth and updated capital ships!"

"But at the same time, you certainly don't have enough financial resources to maintain a large army, right?" Bismarck spoke English again, "Fortunately, we still have Germany! This is the greatest advantage of our white civilization in this struggle for survival! We are fighting side by side, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom actually has no reliable allies, not even one!"

Disraeli nodded slightly, seeming to agree with Bismarck's opinion.

Bismarck suddenly turned around, his boots making a dull sound on the floor: "As for Germany - we will build the strongest army in the world."

"How big is it?" Disraeli narrowed his eyes.

"Five hundred thousand standing troops." Bismarck raised a finger, "One hundred thousand of them can be stationed permanently in the United States."

Stanley gasped, "One hundred thousand German troops in the United States!"

"Sir, Marshal Moltke believes that the United States will be the main battlefield of the land war!" Bismarck explained in English, "What else? The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's army can still come to the European continent? And our army can't land in East Asia, right?"

He walked to the map of America: "More importantly, help the United States rebuild its army."

"How to help?"

"Three methods," Bismarck counted on his fingers, "First, send 1000 Junker instructors; second, Krupp invests in building arsenals in the United States; third, help them establish an efficient staff command system."

Disraeli and Stanley immediately understood Bismarck's intention - he wanted to take the opportunity to build a pro-German American army, and use it as a starting point to compete with Britain for the United States, the "rebellious son"!
Bismarck suddenly punched the North American continent with his fist: "When everything is ready - the British fleet will blockade the Pacific Ocean, the German army will land on the east coast, and together with the American army we have trained, we will press on the yellow regime entrenched in the Rocky Mountains and completely wipe them out! Then it will be the Inca Kingdom."

The room fell into a brief silence. The sunlight from the window cast the shadows of the three people on the huge map, as if three beasts were dividing the world.

After the meeting, Disraeli stood at the window and watched Bismarck's carriage disappear into the afternoon sun in London.

"What do you think?" he asked Stanley.

"The Germans want to eat at the table," Stanley sneered. "They are no longer satisfied with the European empire of more than one million square kilometers. They want to occupy a colony on the American continent and establish their own German world empire."

Disraeli clutched the silver eagle on the top of his cane: "This is also their struggle for survival! If we can't satisfy them, will they unite with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom?"

"Unite with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom?" Stanley was shocked - it's really possible! At least Bismarck did not rule out this possibility. What he mentioned was the "struggle for survival" rather than the conflict of civilizations. Since it is a struggle for survival, then in order to survive, you can naturally do whatever it takes. There is nothing wrong with joining forces with other races!
"My Lord," Disraeli suddenly smiled, "Since there is no conflict of civilizations, only the struggle for national survival, is it possible for us to find our friends in the yellow civilization of East Asia?"

"Mr. Prime Minister, what do you mean?"

Disraeli laughed and said, "Red Star Over China, page 106: The living hell of East Asia!"

Outside the window, as the sun gradually set in the west, fog suddenly began to rise over the Thames, like the clouds of impending war.

(End of this chapter)