"What is Germany's proposal?"
Upon hearing Witte's words, Hans couldn't help but smile slightly in his heart.
As expected of the last great prime minister of the Russian Empire, the man who, together with Pyotr Stolypin, prolonged the lifespan of this gradually declining empire. He indeed had remarkable powers of insight.
It's great to deal with capable people. They can immediately understand without the need for long-winded explanations.
"Wait a moment, Witte. What exactly do you mean by that?"
However, in contrast, someone like Nicholas II was incredibly frustrating.
The Tsar completely failed to understand the current situation. He looked at Witte with a blank expression and asked the question.
In response, Witte let out a sigh and turned to look at this ignorant Tsar.
"Your Majesty, I also think that the baron and the German Empire's view is correct. If we go to war with Japan like this, our Russian Empire will be caught in a bitter battle, and in the worst case, failure will be inevitable."
"What, what? Witte, you actually think so too?!"
Nicholas II opened his mouth wide, as if he had been hit hard with a hammer.
Even though Witte had firmly stated his judgment, Nicholas still looked incredulous and shook his head, unable to accept it.
"I can't understand. Russia will be defeated by Japan? No matter how I think about it, this is an impossible thing!"
"Nicky, this is the conclusion reached after in-depth discussions between our German Empire government and the General Staff."
"But..."
Even though Prince Heinrich said so, Nicholas II still couldn't accept the reality.
No, to be precise, he was unwilling to accept it.
In the end, to make the Tsar understand the current situation of Russia, they could only explain it to him slowly.
"Your Majesty, think about it. If we go to war with Japan, the main battlefield will undoubtedly be the Liaodong Peninsula with Port Arthur and Manchuria."
"Um, um..."
"The German Empire has no intention of belittling the Russian army. Russia is indeed a more powerful country than Japan. However, the main force of the Russian Empire is concentrated in Europe after all, not in the distant Far East, isn't it?"
"Ah..."
The Russians let out a sigh.
They gradually realized why Hans and Witte had said that Russia would lose to Japan.
"Minister of War Kuropatkin, if we assume that a war with Japan breaks out within five years, how long will it take to transport troops and supplies from the motherland to the Far East?"
Upon hearing Witte's words, Kuropatkin, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in the historical Russo-Japanese War, fell into a brief moment of contemplation. Then, with a solemn expression, he replied:
"At least three to four months."
"It will take that long!"
Kuropatkin's words made Nicholas II look shocked and sigh.
But this couldn't be blamed on the Russian government.
The vast Siberian snowy fields had not yet been fully conquered by human power, and this was also a helpless situation.
"Your Majesty, the Trans-Siberian Railway has not been completed yet. Although some sections have been opened, with the current conditions, it is far from being able to undertake the large-scale transportation of troops and supplies from the motherland to the Far East."
"Just relying on the troops of the Far East to confront the Japanese army..."
Upon hearing the Tsar's words, Witte shook his head.
Nicholas II, who had originally held a glimmer of hope, lowered his head.
The Russian troops in the Far East were actually second-line troops, equivalent to colonial garrisons.
In addition, the Russian army has always been renowned for its logistical issues. Not to mention weapons, even ammunition is in extremely short supply.
In such a situation, not even the incompetent Russian generals would expect the Russian troops in the Far East to put up a fierce fight when confronting the Japanese army.
"Oh, Lord..."
"Your Majesty, how about signing an agreement with Japan?"
"Foreign Minister?"
"The reason why Japan wants to wage war against the Russian Empire is, in the final analysis, to compete for interests on the Korean Peninsula and in the Qing Dynasty. If we cede the Korean Peninsula to them and make certain concessions regarding our interests in the Qing Dynasty, perhaps..."
"Stop talking!"
When Foreign Minister Lamsdorf proposed negotiations with Japan, the military let out a roar.
Foreign Minister Lamsdorf turned to look at the person who had roared and then showed a look of displeasure.
"Do you want to bow down to those monkeys from the island nation like a coward? Our great Russian Empire?!"
"General Alexeyev, who said anything about bowing down to Japan? It's just a step back to avoid a senseless war!"
"What's the difference between this and surrender?!"
In the face of Foreign Minister Lamsdorf's retort, the man named Alexeyev instead raised his voice.
Then, he stared at Hans for a moment.
"Yevgeny Ivanovich Alexeyev."
One of the Tsar's favored figures, and also a representative of the hardline faction towards Japan, he was the Governor-General of the Far East during the Russo-Japanese War.
He was also one of the core members of the Bezobrazov faction that Hans and the German government had previously made contact with.
"Under no circumstances should we negotiate with Japan. Manchuria, Liaodong, and Korea must be brought under the rule of our Russia, even if it comes at a certain cost!"
General Alexeyev waved his fist and shouted loudly, and many nobles and generals nodded in agreement.
However, officials of the Witte faction such as Witte and Lamsdorf clearly disagreed with this.
"After all, General Alexeyev and other members of the Bezobrazov faction have always been at loggerheads with Witte politically."
Although not present, Bezobrazov, who was also favored by Nicholas II, was Witte's sworn enemy and one of his greatest political opponents.
Because Bezobrazov took advantage of the Tsar's favor to interfere in Far Eastern diplomacy, expanding Russian influence in Manchuria and Korea to obtain benefits, all out of pure self-interest.
Naturally, Witte vehemently opposed this and tried to stop Bezobrazov, but Nicholas II ultimately undermined his efforts.
Regarding the Far Eastern issue, Nicholas II bypassed Witte and supported his confidant Bezobrazov.
It was precisely due to the rise of irresponsible hardliners towards Japan like Bezobrazov and General Alexeyev that Russo-Japanese relations continued to deteriorate, ultimately leading to the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War.
This was a great misfortune for the Russian Empire.
But for Hans and the German Empire, it was a beneficial thing.
How ironic.
"Didn't you hear what the Germans said? They said that if there is a war, we will be defeated!"
"Saying something about defeat before even fighting a single battle? Kuropatkin has also become a coward!"
"What? A coward?!"
"Everyone, please calm down."
Upon hearing Hans' words, the Russians from the Witte faction and the Alexeyev faction, who had almost come to blows, suddenly halted and stopped their quarrel.
After confirming that everyone had quieted down, Hans spoke again.
"Even if the Russian Empire wishes to negotiate, the Japanese side may not necessarily accept it. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance has already been signed. Japan has no need to negotiate with Russia, and Britain will not sit idly by either."
What's more, the current Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Tarō and Yamagata Aritomo behind him, just like the Bezobrazov faction, have always maintained a tough stance on the issue of Russia.
And Itō Hirobumi, the representative figure who advocates negotiation, has long since become an insignificant and idle person.
The hardliners in both Russia and Japan are taking the dominant position.
In such a situation, it is almost impossible for a war not to break out.
"However, please rest assured, Your Majesty. Prince Heinrich and I came to Russia to support Russia in its confrontation with Japan."
"Is this true?"
Nicholas II, who had been wearing a gloomy expression after hearing the remarks about Russia's possible defeat, raised his head and looked at Hans.
"Yes, Your Majesty. His Majesty the Emperor is deeply angry about the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and is determined to help the Russian Empire fend off Japan's clutches."
"Indeed, if it's Wilhelm, he is very likely to do so."
Nicholas II and the other Russians whispered among themselves and seemed to think it made sense.
In their hearts, Wilhelm II was indeed such a person.
Of course, in reality, this was entirely Hans' idea, and the decision was made after unanimous agreement from the cabinet and the military.
"The German Empire government intends to provide large-scale weapons assistance to Russia in the Far East when the war breaks out to support the Russian Empire."
"Weapons assistance?"
"Oh, oh!"
The Russians, who had been feeling down due to the negotiations with Japan, all showed joy upon hearing this.
"What are the conditions?"
Only Witte was an exception.
His eyes, sharper than a sharp blade, stared at Hans warily.
"The weapons assistance is limited to Russia in the Far East. This is the condition of our German Empire."
"What? Is that all?"
"Of course. This assistance is completely based on His Majesty Wilhelm II's 'goodwill'."
Upon hearing Hans' words, Witte's gaze became even sharper.
Yes, to be honest, if he were in this situation, he wouldn't believe such a statement either.
"Your Majesty, we must accept Germany's proposal!"
However, the thoughts of others seemed to be different from those of Witte.
Especially the members of the Bezobrazov faction who had their political careers in the Far East, and Admiral Alexeyev, who was grateful for Germany's "sincerity", were the most enthusiastic.
"What the Russian troops in the Far East urgently need at present are weapons and ammunition. If there is German assistance, this problem will be mostly solved!"
"Is... is that true?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. And the superiority of German weapons has long been proven."
"That's indeed the case."
After Hans added a sentence, Nicholas II had already nodded, half-believing.
At this time, Prince Heinrich, who had been sitting and watching, also added the decisive words.
"This is definitely not a bad thing for the Russian Empire, Nicky."
"Heinrich, tell me in detail?"
"Of course."
Prince Heinrich nodded readily.
Here, Hans' task was almost completed. The prince would handle the following matters well.
There was only one thing left now.
"Can we have a little talk?"
It was Witte.
"Of course, Your Excellency, Minister of Finance."
Hans nodded and then followed Witte into a room where they would not be disturbed.
Witte looked at Hans with a gaze as sharp as a knife.
"What on earth is Germany's plan?"
"Plan? As I said before, this is completely out of goodwill..."
"Hah! Goodwill? Goodwill?! That German Empire and the Kaiser? I'd rather believe that the sun will rise from the west!"
Well, he really didn't believe it.
"No matter what our German purpose is, it's not a bad thing for Russia, right? By accepting German assistance, at least it can ensure that you won't lose to Japan."
"But you won't win either, will you? Is that what Germany wants?"
For Russia and Japan to both suffer heavy losses?
Witte stared at Hans and asked.
There was no point in lying here.
"There is a proverb in the East that goes, 'If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' It means that if there are no lips, the teeth will feel cold."
"You mean that if our Russian Empire fails, Germany will also suffer losses?"
After hearing Hans' words, Witte fell into deep thought.
Then, he looked at Hans with an expression as if he had been hit hard.
"It's because of Britain, isn't it? You little guy who is as cunning as a weasel."
As cunning as a weasel... This gentleman is really going too far with his joke.
"If our Russia is defeated by Japan and the southward expansion policy is hindered, then Britain will surely start to comprehensively contain Germany. That's why Germany has put forward the proposal of weapons assistance."
"But do you have any other choices?"
"Tsk..."
Upon hearing Hans' words, Witte showed a dissatisfied expression and clicked his tongue softly.
Although he was dissatisfied with the straightforward way the German Empire was using Russia, Witte indeed had no other options.
Hardliners like Admiral Alexeyev, in order to safeguard the interests in the Far East, loudly advocated accepting German assistance, and the Tsar also supported their stance.
Moreover, more importantly, once defeated in the war, the Russian Empire would lose too many things.
"Let's make a deal, Minister Witte. We in Germany can make concessions in some areas, but we will also help Russia end the war in a way that allows it to gain certain benefits."
So, Witte chose to cooperate with Hans.
"How much can you concede?"
"It depends on how much the Russian Empire is willing to give up."
In the end, Witte showed a look of determination to obtain as many benefits as possible.