Chapter 120: Late Spring Night 6
ps.Thanks to Pipilu and Bingzhou War God Xiaobu for the rewards. Your support is my motivation to move forward, thank you.
Although Joey's suggestion to guide British public opinion was finally accepted by his father, Joey was not ready to let him go and brought himself into the old prime minister in the ditch.
"Father, although Britain's foreign policy claims to be glorious and isolated, in fact, they have never watched the changes in the situation in Europe indifferently, but have always been enthusiastic about creating hot spots." Joey glanced at the serious old prime minister.
"For example, last year's Berlin Conference dragged us into the uninterested Balkans and the Near East, which was a beautiful diplomatic approach for the British to create conflicts without contradictions."
Joey emphasized the issue of the Berlin meeting several times one night, which finally made the old prime minister unable to sit still. Seeing that the old prime minister finally twisted his body uneasy, Joey decided to stop at the right time. If he continued, the conversation tonight might be about to change.
"The inspiration for my South American foreign policy comes from this beautiful diplomatic strategy of the British. Since they can use Austria to drag irrelevant Germany into the fire pits of the Balkans and the Near East, then we will use the greedy Russians to drag Britain into South America and into the game of alliance between great powers!"
"When Russians drag the British in with Russians, why are there any Russians?!" Crown Prince Frederick asked in surprise. He was about to raise the coffee cup, but put it down again. The coffee was not as refreshed as Joey's words.
The old prime minister also put down the cigar on his lips and looked at Joey seriously.
"Yes, Father. Use the Russians to drag the British into South America." Joey emphasized his thoughts again.
"What reason is to let the Russians enter South America? Who are the Russians support after they enter? How do the Russians support him?" The old prime minister suddenly spoke and asked Joey three questions in a row.
"Sir, there are actually many reasons for letting Russians enter South America, such as the 200 million franc loan, the war with Britain cannot always burn in their own homes, such as the world should cause trouble for the British, cough." Joey looked at his father a little embarrassedly and continued, "For example, the Russians want to export industrial equipment, and the Russians want to wash leather boots in the Pacific."
"Jojo, don't show off your cleverness. This is a discussion of diplomatic affairs. Everything must be explained clearly." The crown prince looked at Joey and said unhappyly.
"Yes, father." Joey began to help the Russians think from the perspective of others with one reason.
"For the French loan of 200 million francs, I can guarantee that the Russians dream of having a second, third, and forever. Since the Russians are so greedy, if we tell them that their dream of borrowing French money can be realized, why don't the Russians do it?"
"The Russians continue to seek loans from the French. Isn't this pushing the Russians to the French?! This is not in Germany's interests." Crown Prince Frederick opposed first, and at the same time, there was a dissatisfied expression on the old prime minister's face.
"Father, sir, I would like to ask a question: Can the Empire lend 200 million francs to the Russians within one month?"
"No, the empire doesn't have so much money." Crown Prince Frederick shook his head. Even if he had this money, he could never spend it like this.
"Then I would like to ask, is the Empire confident of defeating the French and the Russians at the same time?"
Crown Prince Frederick looked at Lao Zai and replied in unison, "I'm not sure."
"Since we can't give the Russians money, and we can't defeat them, and this time the Russian blackmail was successful, father, sir, what can we do to stop the Russians from coming again, create tension on the German-Russian border again, and let the French open a check?"
"If I were French, and someone created tension on the other side of my enemy and let my enemies fight on both sides, I would also be willing to spend money on this matter. It might not be 200 million francs, but 500 million francs, or 100 million francs, would it always be affordable, right?"
"For money, the Russians can't do anything. The Russians may not beat the British at sea, but they fought with the British and French coalition forces on the ground and eventually lost. But I think these Russians will not be afraid of Prussia in the Battle of 6."
"On the German-Russian border, acting and making offensive postures will not only help the Tsar stabilize the domestic situation and suppress opposition voices, but also get benefits from the French. If I were the Tsar, I would never tire of it." In front of his father and the old prime minister, Joey analyzed the most natural side of a Russian ruler.
A bear who tastes the sweetness will not change its greedy nature, but will only be shameless, repeat, and repeat this sweet thing.
"Your Highness, that's why I want to implement the Great Six alliance policy to avoid the above-mentioned things you said." The old prime minister said.
"Sir, the policy you mentioned is indeed a good way." Joey first praised the old prime minister, "But there are other ways besides encirclement? For example, learn from the British and take advantage of the situation to make a trap?"
"Your Highness, what are you going to do in this situation?" The old prime minister gently put down the cigar in his hand and asked seriously.
"Sir, take advantage of Germany's unwillingness to go to war on both sides and threaten Germany to earn money from the French. The Russians will figure it out sooner or later. Since it cannot be hidden, why don't we just tell the Russians generously that we are willing to play a good show with them and help the Russians cheat money from the French, uh, it's borrowing money to spend."
"How do you cheat?" Crown Prince Frederick ignored Joey's thoughts and asked.
"First, tell the Russians that there is such a routine of borrowing money from the French. As long as Russia is short of money, Germany doesn't mind cooperating with Russia and performing a program of tension with France with Germany and Russia, artificially creating some tensions and allowing the French to open their money bags happily."
"A bear with only money is not a good thing for Germany." The old prime minister retorted.
"If it is a hardworking bear, the money earned by his hard work, this bear is indeed the most terrifying enemy of the empire, but a bear that is used to falling pies from the sky and being fed, even if it can hurt people, it is not that scary." Joey said with a smile.
"In addition, a bear that is used to getting something for nothing will definitely fall in love with the habit of spending money with big hands. Father, sir, you all know the style of Grand Duke Sergei's money."
When he heard Joey move out Grand Duke Sergei, the crown prince and the old prime minister could only helplessly admit that liking for luxury is indeed another nature of the Russians besides greed.
"The key is that we still have public opinion. As long as the Russians borrow money from the French, we can fight public opinion behind the scenes anytime and anywhere to expose all this to the French people!"
"If the French people learned that they would give nearly 1 ooo francs to the distant Russians every year, the money would be equivalent to the annual income of a Frenchman, and most of it was not used in the Russian-German conflict, but was wasted by the Russians and spent on countless luxury goods such as jewelry, perfume, fur coats, and so on for women, what would the French people think?!"
"A democratic country, I think the situation at that time would be even more lively than the recent French politics." Joey shrugged.
"The most important thing is that after performing like this in Germany and Russia a few times, when the truth is revealed, the Russians are equivalent to the shepherd who shouts about the wolf in the eyes of the French." Although the old prime minister said calmly, his eyes were filled with joy.
"Yes, when it is exposed, it is when the French hate the Russians, and the Russians who cannot borrow money will also be dissatisfied." Joey nodded, then said in a lengthened tone, "It's just this time to expose..."
The old prime minister nodded to Joey in a sympathetic manner and said to himself, "I will seize this opportunity."
"The world now implements a currency gold standard. I don't believe that the French gold can fill the bear's greedy heart. When the French do not borrow money, the bear will definitely be liable for the debt. The contradiction of money is a contradiction of interests. Nothing can destroy friendship and trust more than money." Joey said with a smile, "A Russian-French alliance that destroys mutual trust relations is not a powerful alliance."
"Your Highness, you have no conflicts to create conflicts, and your methods are no worse than those of the British." The old prime minister couldn't help but say.
Looking at his son who was smiling, Crown Prince Frederick understood that he had no psychological burden for extorting the French. He just watched his son keep digging pits for the French, and suddenly the little person with big eyes and big smiles flashed in Crown Prince Frederick's heart.
The crown prince couldn't help but rub his nose and thought to himself, "Jojo, you're so tricky in France, your little girlfriend is French."
After looking at Joey and the old prime minister, the crown prince swallowed his words to his mouth and thought to himself, "Forget it, let Wiki talk to Joey another day. Wiki has talked to me many times that little girl. It won't work if this continues."
At this time, Joey's heart was so much in mind, and it was already all about planning this late spring night diplomatic game. "Secondly, after we help the Russians get the money, in addition to applauding the Russians' extravagant behavior, we also need the Russians to spread the borrowed money to Germany."
When he heard that the money he wanted to cheat the Russians and eventually spread it to Germany, the spirit of Crown Prince Frederick and the old prime minister came again, and he pricked up his ears for fear of missing something.
"The best way to make money from rich people is to first tell the rich people that they are safe and profitable. For example, on the one hand, we should tell the rich people that they have a sense of happiness in Germany, and that their money is safest in Germany. On the other hand, we should tell the rich people that Germany has the best financial product projects."
In Joey's previous life, companies selling luxury goods for a lifetime were no less than the US government's treasury bonds sold for a day. As for the wealthy people turning their assets and deposits to Europe and the United States, it is the most popular thing for emerging aristocrats in autocratic countries like Tsarist Russia.
"Jojo, so last time Mr. Merck came to the uterus, you talked with Mr. Merck about banks, bonds and funds for the sake of the Russians?" The crown prince was startled by Joey's foresight.
"Of course not. Father, I have such a long-term vision. I just feel that the new bank, bond and fund system that Mr. Merck is preparing to establish is for financing. Since it is financing, it means borrowing money from the rich."
When Merck and his son came to the Prince's Palace in mid-May, Joey introduced his past lives in detail, such as hedge funds and credit funds. As soon as Joey finished talking about the rules of these funds, Mr. Merck understood how they should play in the securities market. Then Mr. Merck and Sir George William von Siemens began to draft the new bank, securities and foreign exchange laws of the German Empire.
The purpose of drafting the new bill is to establish rules of the game on the one hand, and to ensure that such radical financial policies will not get out of control.
"The rich Germans and the rich Russians are both rich. As long as they are rich, they are the best sources of funds for financing."
"Of course, for ordinary Germans, I always oppose participating in such a high-risk money game. The risks that the rich can bear are not necessarily those that the poor can bear."
When the old prime minister heard this, he had an intriguing smile on his lips, "Finance, the risks that rich people can bear, are interesting. Isn't this just gambling? As long as the gambling is big enough, the rich people can't bear it. Since talking about gambling, should I tell you what I think..."
"Anyway, I would suggest that Mr. Merck and Mr. Siemens use a banking system that focuses on privacy and security to absorb Russians' deposits, and then use high-return city construction bonds to absorb Russians' hot money, so that the wealthy Russians will fall in love with the German banking and bond systems." Joey did not notice the Prime Minister's expression and continued to explain to his father.
As for hedge funds, credit funds are Joey's secret weapon, and Joey is not going to tell it so early.
Absorbing foreign currencies and deposits has always been the dream of Crown Prince Frederick, the head of the German Empire's economy. Of course, it is also the dream of Deutsche bankers who are Mr. Merck and Mr. Siemens.
In the era of gold standard, the more money a country has inflows, the more gold reserves the country has, the more wealth it has, and the more things it can do.
"Jojo, the money deposited by the Russians in Germany and the money purchased by German bonds will eventually be returned, especially when Germany and Russia conflict, which is a living money." Although Crown Prince Frederick knew that his question had nothing to do with what to discuss at night, his wealth was touching and he couldn't help but ask.
Joey grabbed his head and glanced at the old prime minister who was sitting in the chair, a little hesitant.
The old prime minister played with the matchbox in his hand on his own, with an expression that was indescribable.
"Jojo, Your Highness the Prince is the brain of the imperial government. No matter whether you say it tonight or not, I will always report to Your Highness the Prince." Crown Prince Frederick said openly.
"Yes." Joey nodded, "Whether live or hot money, for them, as long as the investment returns are high and deposits and withdrawals are safe, we can't drive them away because money is profit-seeking."
"As for them to run," Joey touched his nose, "In fact, there are hundreds of ways to prevent them from running. Later, Mr. Merck, Mr. Siemens will submit you the new Deutsche Imperial Banking Law, Securities Law and Foreign Exchange Trading Law drafts, which include a large number of methods to protect deposits and encourage investment, and a large number of measures to regulate foreign exchange and restrict gold and silver trading in extraordinary times."
Joey glanced at his father and the old prime minister and whispered, "In short, it is easy to get money in peacetime, but in extraordinary times such as war, the gold that exists in the imperial vault can only belong to the empire. As for the gold from the defeated country after the war, it should be indemnity, and it still needs to be returned there, right?"
Crown Prince Frederick looked at Lao Zai, speechless.
Finally, Crown Prince Frederick waved his hand and said, "Joey, let's talk about the main topic, and tell me how the Russians brought the British in on the South American issue."
Crown Frederick was not disgusted with the application of his son's moral unscrupulous means, or in other words, to achieve a goal that is beneficial to Germany. The Crown Prince Frederick the Great of the Hohenzollern family has always believed in the "The Monarchy".
Chapter completed!