Wilhelm II remained silent, contemplating Qin Tian's suggestion for a considerable time. After a moment, he spoke, "Gentlemen, let us proceed as Oscar has advised! Inform the Austro-Hungarian Empire that the Empire supports their territorial expansions in the Balkans and Italy, but the territories acquired from Russia cannot be allocated to them. Furthermore, we can grant them two billion marks from the war indemnities received from Russia. In this manner, we have been more than generous!"
Qin Tian nodded; although two billion marks was a substantial sum, resolving the issue satisfactorily made it worthwhile. After all, this money had originated from the Russians.
"Your Majesty, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire may harbor some discontent, it is unlikely to amount to much. Their contribution in this conflict has indeed been exceedingly limited," remarked Prime Minister Bernhard von Bülow.
Qin Tian chuckled at this observation. Indeed, the Austro-Hungarian Empire's role in the war had been minuscule. Their greatest claim to fame was the sacrifice of a crown prince, which had precipitated the outbreak of hostilities. Beyond that, what achievements could they lay claim to? The performance of their military during the war had been abysmal. In the war's early days, Germany had relied on the Austro-Hungarian forces to hold off the Russian and Italian empires; however, now they had no such utility. With internal strife engulfing Russia, the German Empire had reaped significant rewards, and Italy's military capabilities were equally poor, requiring little concern. Thus, the German forces only needed to secure breakthroughs on the Western Front to achieve victory in the conflict. Under these circumstances, Germany had little reason to coddle the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
"Foreign Minister, you will represent the Empire and travel to the Austro-Hungarian Empire to ensure they comprehend the current situation," commanded Wilhelm II.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" replied von Kidlen-Wacht.
In this world, serving as a diplomat was undoubtedly a prestigious endeavor. Except for representatives of minor nations, diplomats typically fared well. Of course, the diplomats from Eastern powers were an exception, often treated with disdain. In contrast, figures such as the Foreign Minister of the German Empire were accorded the utmost respect when dispatched to other nations.
In the Austro-Hungarian capital of Vienna, a rumor had been circulating that the German Empire had sidelined them and negotiated separately with the Russians. The Germans had secured immense benefits from Russia, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire, having endured substantial losses, seemed to have gained nothing. This naturally bred considerable discontent among the empire's elites, who felt deceived by Germany. Consequently, an undercurrent of animosity towards Germany began to emerge within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
However, the true power holders in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly Emperor Franz Joseph I, remained largely unaffected by these rumors. While he was indeed angered by the prospect of Germany circumventing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he had encountered numerous similar situations throughout his life. Most importantly, Franz Joseph possessed a clear understanding of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's strength. He recognized that even if the German Empire were to sever ties, they were powerless to retaliate, given their inherent weaknesses. Despite boasting a status among the great powers and formidable industrial capabilities, the empire was fundamentally hollow. Without German assistance, they would have been defeated by the Russians on the Eastern Front long ago.
The Prime Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Commander-in-Chief, and the Chief of Staff all understood this reality and worked diligently to dispel the rumors, albeit unsuccessfully. The driving force behind these rumors was none other than Crown Prince Karl of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Before the German Foreign Minister von Kidlen-Wacht's visit to Vienna, Franz Joseph I had summoned Crown Prince Karl for a private audience. An hour later, Karl departed from the Schönbrunn Palace, his expression grim. However, the very next day, the rumors vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.
At the end of January 1915, German Foreign Minister von Kidlen-Wacht arrived in Vienna. Austro-Hungarian Prime Minister Mario Weber personally welcomed him at the airport, a gesture that honored the Germans.
Upon his arrival in Vienna, von Kidlen-Wacht's first act was to pay his respects to Emperor Franz Joseph I on behalf of German Emperor Wilhelm II.
Although Franz Joseph had not been feeling well lately, he summoned the strength to meet with von Kidlen-Wacht.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has asked me to express his apologies. In our negotiations with the Russian Bolsheviks, we indeed failed to inform the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We regret this oversight, but hope you can understand it was due to the necessity of confidentiality," said von Kidlen-Wacht.
Franz Joseph nodded. "Then, what does the German Empire intend to offer the Austro-Hungarian Empire? After all, we had an agreement that neither party could negotiate with the enemy independently."
"Your Majesty, the Empire has indeed secured considerable benefits from Russia. However, we do not plan to share these territorial gains with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Empire has already made arrangements for those lands," von Kidlen-Wacht replied.
The expression on Mario Weber's face darkened instantly. Yet Franz Joseph remained stoic, seemingly aware that von Kidlen-Wacht had not finished speaking.
"While we cannot share the benefits received from the Russians with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, we can offer compensatory support in other areas. We are prepared to back the Austro-Hungarian Empire's expansion in the Balkans and towards Italy. Additionally, we can allocate two billion marks from the war reparations received from Russia to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Empire greatly values its friendship with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and we do not wish for our alliance to be adversely affected. As for how your nation chooses to proceed, that decision lies with Your Majesty and the Prime Minister," von Kidlen-Wacht concluded, effectively placing the ball in Franz Joseph's court.
After a moment of contemplation, Franz Joseph accepted the German overture with goodwill, stating that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would forever remain an unwavering ally of the German Empire, a bond that would never change.