"Your Majesty, the Imperial Ambassador to Switzerland reports that the French and Italian ambassadors have separately proposed negotiations for peace with the Empire. It seems the effects of our naval victory are already beginning to manifest," reported the Imperial Foreign Minister, von Kidron-Wacht.
"It is no surprise. They had pinned all their hopes on the naval battle, and now that they have been utterly defeated, it is only natural they can no longer hold out," QinTian said with a smile, nodding in agreement.
Indeed, with this victory, Germany was on the cusp of final triumph. Though the British still stubbornly resisted, France and Italy were in a vastly different situation. They did not have the Channel to protect them, and the formidable German army could wipe them out at any time. Faced with the prospect of national annihilation, their only option was to beg for mercy from Germany. And now, Germany could finally reap the rewards of its efforts in this war.
"Your Majesty, if the Empire does not intend to annihilate France and Italy, I believe the time has come to begin peace negotiations," said Prime Minister Bernhardt von Bülow.
"Very well, prepare to negotiate. Let the representatives of France and Italy come to Berlin. Since they are asking for mercy, they must do so in a manner befitting their plight," QinTian replied.
"Yes, Your Majesty," both Prime Minister Bülow and Foreign Minister Wacht nodded in agreement.
"In these negotiations with France and Italy, I expect we will extract as much as possible from them. Remember, the Empire has paid a tremendous price to win this war. The military expenses alone have depleted all our accumulated reserves, and the government is now deeply in debt. Now that we have won, it is only right that they should bear the burden," QinTian stated.
Germany had been preparing for this war for a long time. The army had undergone extensive rearmament, acquiring vast quantities of advanced weapons, especially automatic firearms and artillery, enhancing the military's firepower. The navy, too, had amassed new battleships, battlecruisers, and aircraft carriers—built with immense financial expenditure. Throughout the war, the German army's overwhelming firepower had been the decisive factor, allowing them to secure victories with minimal cost. However, this had also led to staggering logistical expenses, all of which required funding.
As the war consumed vast resources, civilian life had been disrupted, with essential supplies, such as gasoline, being rationed. The nation's economy had been severely impacted, and if the war dragged on much longer, it could have devastating effects on Germany's financial stability.
Fortunately, although the war was not yet over, it was now certain that Germany would emerge victorious. Moreover, they could replenish their coffers by extracting reparations from the defeated nations, using the spoils of war to heal the economic wounds inflicted by the conflict and ensure the continuation of the war effort.
Previously, Russia had paid Germany a massive war indemnity of two hundred billion marks, paid in gold and precious metals, granting Germany a windfall and relieving some of the fiscal pressures. Now, with France and Italy on the brink of collapse, Germany had another opportunity to profit.
"Indeed, Your Majesty. However, what is our bottom line in these peace talks with France and Italy?" asked Wacht.
QinTian thought for a moment before responding, "When negotiating with France, our demands will be as follows: First, war reparations must not be less than five hundred billion marks. Second, all of France's overseas colonies must be ceded to the Empire. Third, France must cede large tracts of territory on the mainland—everything north of the Loire River shall belong to the Empire, while everything to the south shall remain French. Fourth, France's military power must be severely restricted—no air force, the naval fleet must not exceed five thousand tons in displacement, and they cannot possess submarines or aircraft carriers. The army must be limited to a maximum of one hundred thousand men, and the police force must not exceed the size of the army. As for the rest, you may handle it as you see fit."
When QinTian laid out these terms, Bülow and Wacht were left speechless. They had never imagined that QinTian would set such harsh conditions for France. These terms were far more severe than anything they had anticipated.
"Your Majesty, do you truly think the French will agree to such terms? If they do, it would be as though they had ceased to exist as a nation!" Prime Minister Bülow remarked.
Five hundred billion marks in war reparations was twenty times Germany's annual fiscal revenue! To put it in perspective, Germany's total income the previous year was only 2.4 billion marks. Whether or not the French could pay such a vast sum was highly questionable.
"Rest assured, the French will comply. If they refuse, our army will occupy the entirety of France. At that point, they will have no choice but to submit to our terms. While five hundred billion marks may seem astronomical, it is not an impossible sum for France. After all, the French have investments all over the world, amounting to at least a thousand billion francs, which is roughly equivalent to eight hundred billion marks. This is why they are often referred to as an empire of usurers," QinTian explained.
"As for their colonies and territory, the French will certainly be reluctant to cede them. But we must remember, the Empire holds an absolute advantage. They are like meat on the chopping block, helpless to resist. If they refuse, the Empire will simply destroy them. They have no other choice. France's overseas colonies are crucial to the Empire's raw material supply and market expansion. The northern part of France is also home to the country's most advanced industrial base. If we can absorb that territory, our industrial strength will be further augmented. As for limiting their military power, this is a necessary measure for the Empire's security. Such a harsh settlement will undoubtedly breed resentment in France, and without these restrictions, how could we trust them?" QinTian continued.
Bülow and Wacht nodded in agreement. They saw the logic in QinTian's words and decided to proceed accordingly. As QinTian had said, the Empire was in a position of absolute power in these negotiations, and France and Italy had no choice but to yield to Germany's demands.