"After World War I, Italy has completed its historical mission and belongs to a role that can be thrown into the garbage heap. We need to propose a world system dominated by Germans and no longer need such a speculator. And now, they

They actually want to surrender to the Allied Powers, which just provides us with an opportunity to clean them out.

Prime Minister Metternich is right, an Italy that is in pieces is the best Italy. Italy should be a geographical term rather than the title of a country!" Ferdinand said with interest as he looked at the silent Kaiser next to him.

, the large-scale map of Italy hanging on the wall seemed to him like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"What we have paid, we must now get back thousands of times. Venice should have been ours, and Milan can also be called a new province of the empire." Ferdinand said after looking at it for a moment.

"The whole of northern Italy? Without the protection of the northern mountains, the Austro-Hungarian Empire can expand southward at any time. This is a good calculation." William said in his heart. William was not satisfied with his ally. "A typical only

A guy who causes trouble without knowing how to end it! A guy with limited strength but huge ambitions

, a country that is strong on the surface, but is in disarray internally!" In private, William II complained more than once. The performance of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's army in World War I was simply poor!

The Army is at the bottom like the Italians, but the Italian Navy has a very high combat effectiveness, but what about the Austro-Hungarian Navy?

"Venice can belong to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but does Milan? This is the place where the future Italian Prime Minister will make his fortune. I'm afraid it would be bad to take it." William II said lightly, with irresistible majesty in his plain tone.

William is not scary when he is angry. What is scary is silent and rational William, because the former is more of an emotional expression, while the latter appears to be serious!

"Uh, is that Mussolini? He is just a villain and a political liar. Let him be the leader of Italy? Are you kidding me?" Ferdinand frowned and said.

"If Tycho is willing to continue to side with the Allies, then I don't mind helping him reach the pinnacle of power in Italy. He is a puppet, but he is our puppet. Understand? He needs to take charge of Italy instead of us, and then use

italian industry

and labor force to fight for the Allies! And we cannot be too harsh on such puppets. The harsh grooms will only have scarred and skinny horses instead of real good horses. Do you understand?" William II's words have already been revealed.

There was a hint of impatience.

"Then we want oil from Libya. Germany has oil from Romania. It also controls oil fields in the Transcaucasus and the Middle East. What does Austria-Hungary have? We can only import oil every year, even from oil fields controlled by China in the Middle East. This

It's extremely unfair. We consume millions of tons of fuel every year, but we don't have a big oil field." After a moment, Ferdinand pointed to North Africa with his hand and said.

"Half for you and half for Italy. But you can choose which piece you want first!" William's answer was as straightforward as ever. According to the analysis of the German General Staff, after the end of the Italian Civil War, no matter who wins, Italy's

Some cities will be turned into ruins, and the reconstruction of cities and the resettlement of people will be difficult.

A lot of money is needed, and this is necessary, otherwise Italy will become a quagmire. All kinds of unrest will completely destroy the country. Instead of turning it into an important base for the Allies, William must leave some for Italy.

Property. This is not for Mussolini, but for the interests of Germany!

"What about East Africa? They guard the road from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. We must control them in our own hands, and there is an Italian squadron there that must be annihilated. Otherwise, if they are allowed to run to India or China, there will be no hope.

Is there a way?" Ferdinand asked again.

"Turkey will be responsible here, and they will be responsible for destroying the Italian overseas fleet. As long as the Austro-Hungarian fleet can deal with the Italian fleet." William II interrupted. In the next phase of the operation, Turkey will play a major role,

As a forward base and providing logistical support, Germany needs to leave some benefits to Turkey. According to intelligence, the Italian fleet currently in East Africa is nothing more than 2 light cruisers and a few destroyers. The Turks should have no problem dealing with such a fleet.

.

"That's it for now. Also, don't you think it's too early to discuss how to share the fruits of victory before victory is achieved? I want to know, once the action starts, what can the Austro-Hungarian Empire do?" William II

He asked, changing the topic.

"We can guarantee sea control in the Adriatic Sea and cooperate with your air force to gain air control. Then we will land in Italy with your army and go straight to Rome. The Italian army is not worth mentioning. Neither is the air force, which is still there until now.

Importing aircraft engines from the United Kingdom and the United States. As for the navy? As long as they dare to enter the Adriatic Sea, that will be their death!" Ferdinand replied with a smile.

"This is so natural. The High Seas Fleet believes that the Italian Navy will not just give up. They enter the Adriatic Sea, but they can attack the Mediterranean coast. Greece, Crete and other places are within their attack range.

,In addition, I need to enable your country to make an emergency landing of the Italian Navy.

, if the Italian Navy escapes or is sunk, then our victory will only lose half of its meaning. We will give your country a lot of benefits, not just because your country can provide frontline airports and transportation." Looking at his face, his face became more and more complex.

The more gloomy Ferdinand became, William II paused and continued.

"Of course, before that, I will send a squadron to the Mediterranean to cooperate with your operations. This fleet will have at least one armored aircraft carrier. At the same time, Spain has also guaranteed that it will block the Strait of Gibraltar with mines. The Austro-Hungarian fleet and Germany

As long as the Mediterranean fleet can hold off the Italian fleet for a period of time, after we enter the Mediterranean, Tycho will have no choice but to surrender. Do you understand?

"It only takes a while." The Austro-Hungarian Empire was unwilling to have a head-on conflict with the Italian Navy, so Ferdinand just said that it would ensure sea control of the Adriatic Sea. This can be easily achieved by blocking the southern exit with mines and aircraft.

That's it. But William II was obviously not satisfied with this. He needed the Austro-Hungarian Navy to ensure the security of the Mediterranean base and hold back the Italian Navy!

"One month at most, just one month will be enough! If it still doesn't work, then we can only wait until the High Seas Fleet enters the Mediterranean to deal with Italy." Looking at the hesitant Ferdinand, William II became more and more impatient.

!So an ultimatum was issued. If Austria-Hungary was not willing, then wait until Germany itself

If you solve Italy, you will get nothing! Of course, the biggest problem with this is that there are too many variables. If the Allies are able to intervene in the Italian civil war, then Germany will really get nothing. So.

So far, William II is still willing to "share" Italy with Austria-Hungary!

"I need to think about this." Ferdinand avoided William II's eyes and began to calculate the capital in his hands. The operation will officially start in about two years, so how many fleets will the Austro-Hungarian Empire have by then? Aircraft carriers

On the other hand, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will have three aircraft carriers, two of which are the 18,000-ton Bohemia and Silesia aircraft carriers, which are enlarged versions of the German Blücher-type aircraft carriers.

version. The Lord Loudoun that is already under construction is based on the German Moltke-class aircraft carrier. In a few months, when Germany announces the abolition of the Beijing Naval Arms Treaty, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will start construction of the Lord Loudoun.

The No. 2 ship may have a No. 3 ship in the future, but according to the current progress, the Austro-Hungarian Empire can use up to 3 aircraft carriers, which is almost the same number as the Italian Navy.

As for battleships. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has a total battleship tonnage of 150,000 tons. Although there was still one super-dreadnought after the end of World War 1, up to now, this battleship has increased to a displacement of nearly 30,000 tons after some improvements.

, was renamed Victory, and in order to commemorate the Combined Forces-class battleships that were sunk in World War 1, the new first-level equipment

The battleship equipped with 16-inch class guns was renamed as the Combined Forces class. The first of these three battleships, the Union Force and the Prinz Eugen, have been completed, and the third one is about to be launched, so it is time to take action.

, the Austro-Hungarian Empire can also produce 4 battleships. Although the tonnage is similar to that of the Italian Navy, they are all cutting-edge battleships with elite combat capabilities.

Finally, there is the cruiser. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has a total cruiser tonnage of 105,000 tons. It has currently completed 2 heavy cruisers, 1 aviation cruiser, and 2 light cruisers. In the future, it will complete 1 aviation cruiser and 1 light cruiser.

The Italian Navy is expelling sea

The outer fleet is about the same strength as the cruisers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria-Hungary does not suffer. If we also consider the German fleet stationed in the Mediterranean, then the German-Austrian fleet has a certain advantage in the Mediterranean. Coupled with the advantage of aviation force, Fei

Dinan really couldn’t think of a reason why he lost!

"Good William, for the future of our two countries and for the glory of the German nation. I agree with your plan. The Austro-Hungarian Empire will provide all-round help. From now on, the German Air Force can enter some airports designated by our country. The German Army

We can also provide some of the materials and supplies needed." In the end, under the Kaiser's coercion and inducement, Ferdinand agreed. And the countdown to the outbreak of the Mediterranean War finally entered!
Chapter completed!