"The German Empire is truly formidable! Everywhere we go, their warships are present!" Prince Abdul exclaimed.
Although he held a noble title as the Prince of the Kingdom of Nezhi, the kingdom itself was far from the wealth of modern-day Saudi Arabia. It remained an impoverished nation, and his princely title scarcely afforded him more than a ceremonial distinction. In contrast to the mighty German Empire, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appeared insignificant. A sense of apprehension lingered in his heart—how would the German Empire respond to their requests? Would they be met with favor? The very thought of this filled Prince Abdul with a tinge of self-doubt.
"Indeed! The German Empire is incredibly powerful. They've even defeated the so-called 'Empire on which the sun never sets,' the mighty British Empire," Prince Salim added in awe.
Kuwait, once merely a district under Ottoman Turkish rule, had gained independence with British aid. Yet, in doing so, Kuwait became a British protectorate. Though geographically strategic, the tiny nation had little of substance to offer, leading the British to show little regard for it. Thus, Kuwait remained a poor and underdeveloped country.
"The Great War is over, and the Germans are already reaping the fruits of victory. Their forces are advancing on Egypt, and soon they will turn their sights on the Middle East. If we fail to secure German support this time, our nations may become targets of German aggression. That would be a disaster for us!" Prince Salim continued, his voice filled with concern.
Kuwait was too small to resist the Germans; with a mere flick of a finger, they could crush it. Even the much larger Kingdom of Nezhi would prove insignificant in the face of German might. The overwhelming strength of the Germans left them feeling utterly powerless. Of course, this was an inevitable reality for smaller nations.
For small nations to survive in this world, they must rely on the protection of great powers. In the past, Kuwait and Nezhi had relied on Britain, but with Britain in decline, they now had no choice but to cling to the Germans. Only by aligning themselves with a powerful nation could they hope to safeguard their interests.
While Prince Abdul and Prince Salim conversed, the foreign ministers of both nations were engaged in their own discussions in a nearby chamber. Unlike the two princes, these ministers were the true representatives of the negotiations. The princes were mere pawns, sent as hostages to Germany. The true matters of negotiation would be handled by the diplomats.
"Brother Ghazi, do you think our mission to Germany will be successful?" asked Hamid, the foreign minister of Kuwait, a middle-aged Arab man.
"I don't know; may God protect us," Ghazi, the foreign minister of Nezhi, replied with a resigned tone. "But whether before the British or the Germans, we remain a small nation. As long as we can meet the demands of the great powers, our security should be guaranteed. Our country is sparsely populated and impoverished; the great powers have little interest in us."
Hamid nodded in agreement, recognizing that their nation had little of value to offer great powers, and thus, there was no need for excessive concern.
The light cruiser sailed swiftly and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on January 28th.
"My God! So many warships! The German navy is truly awe-inspiring!" Upon entering the naval port and seeing the massive battleships, the representatives from Kuwait and Nezhi were stunned.
Although the German navy had been divided into five fleets, only the Mediterranean fleet had been deployed for tasks in the Mediterranean. The Atlantic fleet, however, had moved its base to Scapa Flow. These ships were stationed temporarily, as the Germans sought further prime ports. They had set their sights on the Azores, currently under Portuguese control, but how to acquire them from Portugal remained a puzzle.
The warships docked at Wilhelmshaven mainly belonged to the Pacific and Indian Ocean fleets, as the home fleet's main vessels were still under construction. With Germany preparing to launch offensives in India and Southeast Asia, these fleets would soon depart. Yet, the massive warships, towering like mountains, left the representatives from the Middle East in complete awe.
"Truly, the world's strongest power, having defeated the British Empire! Their military might is unparalleled!" Prince Salim marveled.
"Indeed, the German Empire is truly the greatest!" Prince Abdul said, his eyes filled with admiration.
The German Foreign Minister, Wahid, personally came to welcome them at Wilhelmshaven, further elevating the mood of the delegation. When Wahid informed them that the Emperor would host a banquet in their honor the following evening, their joy knew no bounds. Before their arrival, they had never expected such an honor. Now, with the news of the Emperor's reception, they felt that their mission to Germany was surely destined for success.
On the evening of January 29th, Emperor QinTian hosted a grand banquet at the imperial palace to honor the representatives from Nezhi and Kuwait.
When Emperor QinTian entered the banquet hall, everyone stood to salute him.
"Good evening, everyone!" QinTian said with a warm smile.
"Your Majesty, it is an immense honor to meet you," Prince Abdul exclaimed, unable to contain his joy.
QinTian paused for a moment, surprised by such fervent admiration. The intense worship in Prince Abdul's eyes astonished him.
"Prince Abdul, it is a pleasure to meet you," QinTian said with a faint smile.
"My God! The Emperor is speaking to me!" Prince Abdul, stunned, had not expected such a friendly demeanor from QinTian.
"Your Highness, please maintain your composure!" Foreign Minister Ghazi of Nezhi quickly pulled at Prince Abdul's robe, a gesture of restraint.
Realizing his lapse in etiquette, Prince Abdul blushed deeply in embarrassment.
This brief interlude did not disrupt the banquet, but rather lightened the atmosphere considerably. The representatives from Kuwait and Nezhi continued to lavish praise on the German Empire's might, greatly pleasing the German ministers present.