"Damn those Germans! Do they intend to strip us of our last bit of wealth? To employ such a method!" The expression on Mir Osman Ali Khan's face was one of utter dismay.
Although they were fully aware that the Germans were seizing this opportunity to extort riches, they had no intention of yielding so easily. Therefore, the larger princely states had secretly coordinated their actions. During the bidding, they aimed to let the Germans save face while minimizing their own costs to achieve their goals.
However, the Germans' proposal had utterly derailed their plans. With each princely state submitting its own donation amount without consulting the others, it left them with no choice but to give their all. If they held back even a little while others gave their full commitment, the consequences could be dire.
The princely states of India were rife with internal strife and competition. Any genuine union among them was nearly impossible. Therefore, for their individual interests, each ruler would give their utmost to secure a favorable outcome.
"No matter what, I must secure first place. Not only would that mean fertile and prosperous land, but it would also earn the favor and trust of the Germans. They have promised to appoint one of the princely rulers to oversee India, even if only nominally. That alone is worth my utmost effort!" Mir Osman Ali Khan declared resolutely.
This information, however, was unknown to the other rulers. The German government had shared it with him as a special favor, to reward his loyalty. Of course, if Mir Osman Ali Khan hesitated to spend and failed to secure the top spot in the military donation, this opportunity would pass him by.
"The British appointed a viceroy to govern India, and it has always been a British position. But if the Germans establish a viceroy, it will be a princely ruler. For any ruler, that is an irresistible temptation! I must win first place!" Mir Osman Ali Khan swore silently.
With determination, he wrote down a donation of 15 billion marks on the form. This amount nearly represented 80% of his total fortune. It was the only asset he could quickly liquidate; his land, houses, and mines were not easily converted to cash.
Mir Osman Ali Khan believed that no other ruler had the resolve he did. Therefore, he was confident that the top spot in the donation would be his.
The other rulers quickly realized this too. No one wanted to be surpassed by another. Each sought to secure a high rank in the donation, with some even hoping for first place. Only then could they have the privilege of choosing the best lands. Thus, their only option was to donate as much as possible to Germany, ensuring they would obtain what they desired.
Of course, this would cost the rulers dearly. The only beneficiary seemed to be the German Empire. As the princely states poured their wealth into the military fund, it was clear that Germany would amass an incredible fortune.
Ten minutes later, the staff collected the forms and began tallying the donations and rankings.
An hour later, the staff completed their work. When the results reached Chancellor Bilo, he could scarcely suppress his laughter.
The first place was none other than Mir Osman Ali Khan of Hyderabad, who donated 15 billion marks. The second was Mysore, with a donation of 14.5 billion marks, followed by Indore with 12 billion marks. Junagadh was fourth with 10 billion marks, and Kashmir ranked seventh with 8 billion marks. Other rulers had also made significant contributions.
To secure a favorable position in the land allocation, all the rulers had given their all. After all, those who ranked low would have little choice in selecting land.
Nearly six hundred princely states had all contributed, with no donation less than 100 million marks. Even the smaller states, not particularly wealthy, had accumulated impressive fortunes over generations.
In total, the princely states donated 172.5 billion marks, a staggering sum that was comparable to Germany's entire annual GDP. Truly, the rulers had proven to be an overflowing source of wealth.
The Empire's military and political ministers were overjoyed after reviewing the list. This meant that for the foreseeable future, Germany would not lack funds. And a steady supply of wealth would allow them to pursue many ambitions, further strengthening Germany's power.
"I will now announce the top ten princely states in terms of donations! First place: Hyderabad, with 15 billion marks. Second place: Mysore, with 14.5 billion marks..."
When the list was revealed, it caused a stir among the rulers. They had not expected the top donors to contribute such large sums. In particular, the ruler of Mysore deeply regretted not donating just 500 million marks more, which would have made his state number one. Had he done so, Mysore would have surpassed Hyderabad to become the most powerful state in India.
But it was too late now. There would be no second chance.
Mir Osman Ali Khan also felt a moment of dread. If he had held back even slightly, he might have been overtaken. The consequences would have been disastrous.
"Thank you all for your contributions to the German Empire. The Empire will not forget you. One month from now, the division of land in India will begin! The order of selection will follow this donation list!" Chancellor Bilo declared.
"Additionally, I have one more announcement. His Imperial Majesty has appointed Mir Osman Ali Khan as the Viceroy of India, to govern on behalf of the Empire, overseeing tax collection and other duties!" Bilo concluded.
In that instant, many rulers were filled with regret.