"Your Majesty, my conversation with Mir Osman Ali Khan was exceedingly pleasant. The faction of Indian princely rulers he represents has expressed their stance with remarkable clarity: they are willing to pledge allegiance to the Empire, provided their interests are safeguarded. Furthermore, they have no intentions of pursuing Indian independence," reported Wahid, the Empire's Foreign Minister, to QinTian.
QinTian nodded thoughtfully. "Good. Their attitude is indeed most advantageous for us. India is far too distant from the Empire, and with the growing awareness among its people, demands for independence will only intensify. The Empire's goal in India is to extract wealth, not to entangle itself in an unwinnable quagmire. Such a scenario would be profoundly detrimental to the Empire. Enlisting the support of the princely rulers to manage the region would save us significant trouble."
From the perspective of the German Empire, it was natural to oppose Indian independence. However, contemporary India was no longer as easily manipulated as before. The increasing influence of the Congress Party and the Green Party Alliance was undeniable. If their aspirations for independence were thwarted, they would likely abandon peaceful protests in favor of violent resistance. And it was almost certain that the Empire's adversaries would seize the opportunity to support such uprisings. They would not idly stand by while the Empire reaped immense wealth from India, consolidating its strength further. Creating chaos in India would undoubtedly become a favored tactic of these enemies.
Should India descend into widespread rebellion, Germany's prospects of benefiting from the subcontinent would evaporate. Worse still, India could become a burdensome liability for the German Empire—a piece of meat that was unappetizing to chew yet too precious to discard.
If the Empire could extract itself from directly governing India while still reaping financial rewards, leaving administrative matters to the princely rulers, it would be a highly advantageous arrangement. After all, it would be the princely rulers contending with the independence movement, not Germany. The Empire would merely provide arms and support from behind the scenes.
"Gentlemen, I have a proposal. Don't the princely rulers already govern 45% of India's territory? That's nearly half. Why not allocate the remaining lands to them, granting them full governance on behalf of the Empire? In this way, we can completely extricate ourselves from India," suggested QinTian.
"Your Majesty, wouldn't such an arrangement be too generous to the princely rulers? The remaining lands are the finest and most fertile regions. After the fall of the Mughal Empire, these territories came under direct British control. Handing them over to the princely rulers would be an enormous windfall for them," objected Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg.
"Of course, I am well aware that the princely rulers covet those lands. If they wish to acquire them, they must pay an appropriate price—gold, silver, jewels, or cash. They have amassed vast wealth over the centuries. Take Mir Osman Ali Khan, for instance—his assets alone are worth over 10 billion marks. If the Empire were to offer him lands equivalent to his current holdings, would he not willingly surrender all his wealth to the Empire?" QinTian questioned.
"Good heavens! India is truly a land of unimaginable wealth. Even a single princely ruler possesses such immense riches," exclaimed the Finance Minister.
Although Germany had received substantial reparations from the Great War, its financial demands were insatiable. The integration of newly acquired Eastern European territories required massive investments in infrastructure. Moreover, improvements in public welfare, military reorganization, and modernizing weaponry drained the treasury at an alarming rate. Securing a windfall from the princely rulers could dramatically stabilize the Empire's finances.
"There are nearly six hundred princely rulers in India. If each of them surrendered their wealth to the Empire, we could potentially acquire over a trillion marks—or even more," estimated Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg, his voice tinged with excitement.
A palpable sense of anticipation filled the room. Such a sum—over a trillion marks—could propel the Empire to unprecedented heights. It would widen the gap between Germany and its closest competitor, the United States, rendering American ambitions to surpass the Empire futile.
"Your Majesty, India's lands hold little strategic value for us and can be entrusted to the princely rulers. As long as they are willing to pay, let us grant them these territories!" declared Field Marshal von Falkenhayn, the Army Minister and Chief of General Staff.
With such a vast influx of wealth, the Empire's overall power would soar, solidifying its dominance on the global stage. Any attempt to challenge the Empire's supremacy would become an exercise in futility.
"I concur, Your Majesty. Selling these lands to the princely rulers in exchange for substantial wealth is a sound strategy," added Grand Admiral Reinhard Scheer, the Navy Minister.
The German Navy was developing a new generation of aircraft carriers. However, a functional carrier required a fleet of carrier-based aircraft, as well as escort ships, making the cost of each carrier battle group astronomical. For the Navy to establish a dozen such groups, the financial burden was staggering. Moreover, the maintenance of these fleets would require ongoing expenditures. Without additional funding, the Navy would face severe constraints. A substantial financial boost from India would greatly ease these challenges.
The other ministers of state and defense were equally supportive of the proposal.
If India were geographically closer to Germany, direct governance might have been more practical. But given its distance and the resources required, monetizing Indian lands through princely rulers was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.