Berlin, on a secluded street. Though far removed from the slums, it could hardly be called a prosperous area. In a modest three-story building, a middle-aged man, pipe in mouth, frowned in thought.
"Has there been any response from the Germans?" the middle-aged man inquired.
"Comrade Joseph, there has been no reply from the Germans as of yet. They previously stated that Kaiser Wilhelm III is too occupied with official duties to meet with you," another middle-aged man replied.
The man with the pipe was none other than Joseph, a key leader within the Russian-Baltic organization. He had traveled to Germany as their special envoy to attend their military parade. However, he bore an additional, more pressing mission.
In Eastern Europe, on the newly occupied territories of Germany, the German army had deployed four army groups, totaling nearly 800,000 soldiers, to eliminate the guerrillas active in the region. After more than half a year of intense military action, the guerrillas had suffered devastating losses. Most of them were wiped out, leaving only a handful of survivors. Yet, even those few remaining groups found themselves in an increasingly dire situation.
Simultaneously, the underground forces of the Russian-Baltic organization in this area suffered a crushing blow. For years, the Russian-Baltic had been dedicated to expanding their influence in this region, supporting numerous guerrilla groups. Their ultimate aim was to prevent Germany from fully integrating these territories and to prepare for the eventual reclamation of them. With the help of these guerrilla forces, they believed their chances of regaining the lands would increase significantly.
Unfortunately, their calculations had been wrong. How could Germany allow them to succeed? The formidable German military was ruthlessly exterminating the guerrillas and systematically eliminating any Russian-Baltic operatives along with them. This blow was a devastating one for the Russian-Baltic.
Joseph's secret mission to Germany had one crucial objective: to persuade the Germans to halt their extermination of the guerrillas and the Russian-Baltic factions. However, Joseph knew this would be an incredibly difficult task. The actions of the Russian-Baltic in Eastern Europe were not something any major power would condone. The German army's suppression of the guerrillas was entirely justified. Were it the Soviet Russians, they too would never tolerate foreign powers establishing forces within their borders.
Thus, Joseph was plagued with anxiety, uncertain how he could persuade the formidable Kaiser. Though he had dealt with Qin Tian on numerous occasions, he was well aware of the Kaiser's unyielding nature—he would never allow the Russians to proceed unchecked.
Yet, this mission was of great importance to Ulyanov, placing immense pressure on Joseph. To secure his future as the heir to the Russian-Baltic and their factions, Joseph had to earn Ulyanov's approval. This visit was a test of his abilities. If he failed, his efforts of the past years would be in vain.
"We must contact the Germans again. I must meet with the Kaiser at once! Moscow's urgencies are growing, and we can afford no more delays!" Joseph declared.
"Yes, Comrade Joseph!" the middle-aged man immediately replied, rushing out.
The location they were in was the Russian-Baltic representative office in Germany, and the man who had just left was its director. However, all of this operated under the strictest secrecy. In the capitalist world, the Russian-Baltic remained an outcast, and most nations took rigorous precautions against them. Even Germany's dealings with the Russian-Baltic were carried out covertly.
As Joseph fidgeted with impatience, much like an ant on a hot pan, the German Foreign Minister, Walchit, was briefing Qin Tian about the Russian-Baltic envoy's persistent requests for an audience.
"Your Majesty, the Russian-Baltic envoy has grown impatient, making three requests for an audience in a single day," Walchit reported.
"Hm, do we know their intentions?" Qin Tian asked. He had always maintained the utmost caution regarding the Russian-Baltic. While cooperating with them, he simultaneously sought ways to weaken their influence, or rather, prepare for their eventual defeat.
Qin Tian understood the terrifying potential of the Russian-Baltic, and he knew dealing with them was akin to playing with fire—one wrong move could result in disaster. This made him proceed with extreme caution.
"Your Majesty, they likely seek our support. Over the past year, they exchanged much of their grain and agricultural products for weapons and equipment from us, which led to widespread famine within Russia-Baltic territory, causing many deaths. Perhaps they hope to obtain food from us?" Walchit proposed.
Qin Tian shook his head. "Unlikely. The Russian-Baltic cares little for such survival matters. They would not use precious food reserves to feed peasants. For them, securing machinery and equipment to further their industrial development is of paramount importance. Anything else is expendable."
Qin Tian understood the Russian-Baltic's resolve to build a strong industrial base. Without it, they could never have a powerful military or guarantee their national security. In a world surrounded by capitalist powers, the Russian-Baltic felt a constant sense of insecurity, and so they worked tirelessly to develop their industry to ensure their safety. For them, anything could be sacrificed for industrial growth. Moreover, as a workers' state, the welfare of the peasantry was of little concern.
Although Walchit found it hard to believe, he trusted Qin Tian's judgment.
"Beyond that, there's only one other possibility. Our forces have been ravaging the Eastern European plains. The guerrillas have been pushed into a corner. Countless traitors have been executed. The Russian-Baltic envoy must be seeking to address this issue," Walchit speculated.
Qin Tian nodded. This was indeed plausible. He knew very well that the guerrillas were supported by the Russian-Baltic. The German army's actions in Eastern Europe had dealt a severe blow to the Russian-Baltic. This was why the Russian-Baltic sought to use their relationship with Germany to salvage their operatives.
However, from Germany's perspective, the existence of these guerrillas and Russian-Baltic factions was a clear threat. In the event of war, these groups would surely disrupt Germany's supply lines and sow chaos. Therefore, to ensure victory over the Russian-Baltic, Germany had to eliminate these guerrillas before the war began. It was essential to fully absorb these territories and eliminate any remaining space for the Russian-Baltic to operate.