Chapter 952 Negotiation Rights
When Baker heard that the French army had deployed "mine-clearing tanks" on the battlefield, he flew to London because he knew that Charles would win this battle, and would win it easily and beautifully.
Baker was looking for the Minister of Munitions.
Although the Minister of Munitions was no longer in the most important position, his authority in the Navy and even in Britain was unchallengeable because he promoted the "coal to oil" strategy in the Royal Navy.
(Note: Before World War I, most warships were powered by coal or a mixture of coal and oil. In 1912, the Minister of Munitions promoted the reform of abandoning coal and switching to oil-powered ships, which quickly made oil an important strategic material.)
The meeting took place at the villa of the Minister of Munitions because neither Baker nor the Minister of Munitions wanted the news of "Britain and the United States conspiring to bypass France" to get out.
"I think you should be aware of what Charles is doing, Your Excellency." Baker sat in front of the coffee table and stirred the coffee on the table casually.
The Quartermaster sitting opposite nodded slightly: "Yes, I know."
Charles established the "League of Nations" to win over neutral countries and forced Britain to recognize Malta's independence.
Although Malta is just a very small country and is not worth mentioning to the UK, this is a very bad start.
All of this means that Shire wants to pull Britain down from the top spot in the world.
The Minister of Munitions struck a match, lit the cigar in his mouth, took a few puffs, and expressed his concerns in the smoke:
"That's not the scarier part, Mr. Minister."
"I'm worried about the 'French' spirit of the Shire."
"Do you know how destructive it is?"
Baker smiled slightly: "Of course, Your Excellency, I know."
He thought to himself that the Minister of Munitions certainly didn't know that everything Charles was doing now was what the United States originally wanted to do, but Charles just got there first.
So, how could the United States not know how destructive this is?
The Quartermaster General frowned, stood up irritably, walked to the French window, looked at the scenery outside, and exhaled a long puff of smoke.
"Colonies, Your Excellency." His tone was heavy, as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest:
"The French spirit that Charles promotes is dismantling our colonial system."
"The Shire shouldn't say this to the colonies. They are not in the same world as us."
"Only by keeping them ignorant can we better rule them. France is no exception. It also has its own colonies. Doesn't Charles understand? This idiot!"
The Quartermaster General tapped heavily in the air with his hand holding a cigar, as if trying to wake Charles up.
If Charles were here, the Quartermaster would have wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him awake.
The real fool is you, Baker thought. Charles has already put the British Empire on the table at another level, but you just don't know it yet.
But of course, someone like the Minister of Munitions, who is extremely short-sighted and only considers immediate interests, would not think of this.
Baker did not wake him up, but continued along the lines of the Minister of Munitions:
"I agree, Your Excellency."
"Char seems to have lost himself in the process of building his own reputation."
"He doesn't understand that prestige must be converted into benefits, otherwise it is nothing but a 'castle in the air'!"
This remark touched the heart of the Minister of Munitions, and he pointed his finger at Baker:
"That's right, that's what I wanted to say, there's no better way to put it."
"What about prestige? Can it be turned into a warship? Can it be turned into a cannonball? Can it defeat the enemy?"
"If Charles wasn't also a military genius, he would have become a piece of cannon fodder scattered on the battlefield!"
Baker smiled secretly in his heart. The key point was that Charles was a military genius and no one could defeat his military genius on the battlefield.
"That's why we have to unite, Your Excellency," Baker said. "We can't let the Charles continue like this. It will destroy the existing order and balance and put the world in endless turmoil. This may be more terrible than this war."
Baker described a terrible scene to the Minister of Munitions: all the colonies awakened one after another, sweeping across the world like a tornado.
Civilized countries that lose their colonies will fall into terrible poverty and difficulties due to lack of labor and resources, which will trigger a global economic recession and humanitarian crisis.
These words touched the Quartermaster's heart. He replaced Baker's coffee with brandy, and the two of them drank and talked happily.
The Minister of Munitions had no idea that this was a ploy by Wilson.
…
Two days ago, Baker received a secret telegram from Wilson: "If we can't defeat Shire, let him become a problem for the British, understand?"
Baker understood.
The one challenging Britain for the world's number one position is Shire. The United States can continue to play neutral and add fuel to the fire on both sides, allowing Britain and Shire to fight to the death.
Now is the time when the Shire is rising strongly and surpassing Britain, so of course it is Britain that needs help.
…
After three rounds of drinking, the Minister of Munitions, who was addicted to alcohol, was not drunk at all but became more sober as he drank. However, Baker, who was a lawyer, was not very good at drinking and was a little confused.
"I know this, Your Excellency," said the Minister of Munitions. "But now we can only rely on Charles, otherwise Britain might be dragged down by the war first. This is one of the reasons why we have to accept his blackmail."
Baker burped and said, "Your Excellency, there is an opportunity right before your eyes."
"Opportunity?" The Quartermaster General looked confused.
"Negotiate with the Germans," Baker replied. "Bypass the French, I mean."
"Bypass France?" The Minister of Munitions laughed. "That's impossible. Not to mention the London Treaty, Charles is the one who holds the initiative now. I'm worried that Charles will bypass us and negotiate with the Germans."
There is a saying that goes, "What you can't get on the battlefield, you can't get at the negotiating table."
It was Charles who won on the battlefield, and it was of course Charles who had the right to sit at the negotiation table and negotiate with the Germans.
But Baker shook his head and laughed strangely: "It is true according to common sense, but Charles overlooked one point."
"What?" the Quartermaster General asked with interest, refilling Baker's glass with wine.
"His French spirit," Baker replied.
"Charter advocates 'equality', 'freedom', and 'fraternity'."
"That would just hurt him and make him lose his negotiating power."
"Because Germany is a dictatorship and they have a emperor!"
The Minister of Munitions suddenly realized.
Yes, there is a contradiction here.
If Germany negotiated with Charles, Charles would inevitably demand the Kaiser's resignation.
Otherwise Charles would have gone against the French spirit that he emphasized.
If Britain and the United States supported William II to continue to be emperor at this time, it would be obvious that William II would be unwilling to negotiate with Charles and would choose Britain and the United States!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
