"Father, how are our negotiations with the Italians progressing? When will they fulfill their alliance and engage in the war?" QinTian inquired.
More than a month had passed since the outbreak of war, yet the Italians showed no inclination to participate, steadfastly maintaining their neutrality. QinTian was acutely aware that the Italians were merely waiting for a favorable opportunity, seeking to navigate between the Allies and the Central Powers to secure maximum advantage.
Though he knew that, in another timeline, the Italians ultimately chose to betray their allies and join the Allies, he was uncertain whether they would make the same choice in this timeline. After all, in this reality, the Central Powers had gained a more substantial advantage in the conflict. The German Navy's severe blows to the British fleet alone were sufficient to compel the Italians to reconsider their position.
QinTian harbored no goodwill towards the duplicitous Italian kingdom; he would even prefer Italy to side with the Allies. While Italy was indeed one of the great powers, it ranked among the lowest in terms of industrial and military strength. Their military capability was particularly dismal, as evidenced by their invasions of Ethiopia and their engagements with the Ottoman Empire, which clearly demonstrated the ineptitude of the Italian forces. Thus, QinTian was untroubled by the prospect of Italy joining the Allies. Should they dare to do so, he would seize the opportunity, post-victory, to eliminate Italy from the ranks of great powers, reducing them to a second-rate nation.
In QinTian's vision, the future of the European continent would be one of German supremacy, and he had no intention of sharing that hegemony with any other nation, allies included.
Whenever the Italian kingdom was mentioned, Wilhelm II's expression darkened further. Prior to the war, QinTian had warned Wilhelm and the German cabinet to be cautious of the Italians. Although they had indicated their intent to monitor the situation, they did not seem particularly concerned, given their long-standing alliance with Italy.
However, none had anticipated that, upon the outbreak of war, the Italians would indeed dare to remain inactive, refusing to uphold their treaty obligations. This defiance undoubtedly angered both Wilhelm II and the German cabinet, yet the tense circumstances prevented them from pressing too hard, fearing they might push the Italians into the arms of the Allies.
"The Italians still have not made a clear statement; they evidently seek greater benefits," Wilhelm II remarked.
QinTian nodded. "The Italians have always acted thus; they would forsake any commitment for their own gain. From the outset, the Empire could not place trust in them."
"It is too late for discussions now, Falkenhayn. Should the Italians join the Allies, will our allies be able to withstand their onslaught?" Wilhelm II asked.
Initially, Germany had hoped that Italy would honor its treaty and declare war on the Allies. If Italy could muster forces to cross the Alps and attack southern France while the French main forces were engaged in the north, victory would have been certain. In that scenario, with the combined might of Germany and Italy, they might swiftly defeat France. However, the current Italian attitude had seemingly dashed that strategy.
QinTian had never harbored illusions about the Italians, especially given the infamous incompetence of the Italian army. In another timeline's Second World War, as Germany poised to vanquish France, the Italians hastily dispatched troops to seize a share of the spoils, only to be soundly defeated by the French, who, despite being outnumbered, emerged victorious. This clearly illustrated the Italians' dismal combat effectiveness.
"Your Majesty, should Italy engage with the Allies, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will be compelled to withdraw troops from the front to guard against them. Otherwise, if the Italians breach the southern border, it could lead to catastrophic losses for the Austro-Hungarian Empire," Falkenhayn warned.
"Chief of Staff, there is no need to overly concern ourselves with the Italians. Even if they betray their alliance and join the Allies, it is not insurmountable. The border between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy is predominantly mountainous. The Austro-Hungarians need only a modest force to secure their defenses. If necessary, we can dispatch two or three infantry divisions to assist them. I assure you, the Italians will find it impossible to breach our lines," QinTian replied with unwavering confidence.
Wilhelm II and Falkenhayn exchanged uneasy glances, recognizing QinTian's disdain for the Italians' military capability. Nevertheless, they understood that Italy, despite its failings, remained a great power, equipped with relatively advanced weaponry. Their combat effectiveness, while inferior to Germany's, should not be underestimated.
"Oscar, do you hold the Italian military in such low regard?" Wilhelm II inquired.
"Yes, Father. I believe the combat effectiveness of the Italian military is exceedingly poor; it could well be described as rubbish. Their invasions of Ethiopia and their recent conflict with the Ottoman Empire starkly illustrate this point. Thus, we need not be excessively concerned about the Italians," QinTian stated.
Wilhelm II and Falkenhayn nodded in agreement, acknowledging that Italy's past performance had indeed been inconsistent with its status as a great power.
"Of course, Father, should the Italians fulfill their alliance and engage against the Allies, it would offer us some advantages. For instance, a joint Italian and Austro-Hungarian naval force could effectively suppress the British Mediterranean fleet, which has been significantly diminished. This would allow us to sever British supply lines in the Mediterranean while facilitating the transport of oil from Cyrenaica back to Germany," QinTian proposed.
Since the outbreak of war, Germany's oil reserves had been depleting rapidly, necessitating replenishment.
"Very well, I will instruct the Foreign Office to reestablish contact with the Italians, adopting a firmer stance this time," Wilhelm II concluded.