Chapter 984: What on earth is Charles thinking?
This is the effect Charles wanted to achieve.
The accounts for reparations can be made as they wish. Charles said that one million soldiers died and each was given $1,000, or how much tanks were lost, how much ammunition was used, and how much economic damage was suffered. Can Germany check each one of them?
Charles could easily call for $20 billion and leave Britain and the United States starving.
But Charles did the opposite. He was very objective and only asked for 2 billion US dollars. However, Britain and the United States did not expect this at all and still maintained the high standards of "13 billion" and "10 billion".
Britain's standards cannot be lowered and it owes 10 billion just in loans.
As an old capitalist country, and the Minister of Munitions in charge of the negotiations was extremely short-sighted, it was impossible for him to pay money as a victorious country, and it was also impossible for him to get no benefits at all.
In his opinion, if he didn't get a few billion more, wouldn't this war be fought in vain?
But this fell right into Ciel's trap.
The Germans would think:
France only wants 2 billion, do you have the nerve to ask for 10 billion or 13 billion?
Give you face?
It’s not like we can’t win. The worst that can happen is that we both lose. Who’s afraid of who?
And Britain and the United States must pay reparations.
Otherwise, the British economy will collapse because of the inability to repay the loans, and the American politics will fall because of such a large amount of bad debts.
As a result, they will enter an unbreakable vicious circle and may continue the war.
The result is that not only will Britain and the United States not get the compensation they hoped for, but they may lose even more.
As for France, there was no need to worry about reparations. The Germans would be happy to pay the money and would express their gratitude profusely, fearing that Charles would not accept it.
On the other hand, Charles controlled the Ruhr industrial zone and sold the ammunition produced by the Germans to Germany, allowing those Germans full of hatred to fight against Britain and the United States!
Why not make money from the war while using the Germans to consume Britain and the United States?
In a few years, it will be clear who the world's number one superpower is!
Erzberger, who was sitting opposite Charles, was also thinking about this question.
Why did Ciel ask for so little?
Is it really because of the “conscientious capitalists”?
Others might believe it, but he, who has been involved in politics for many years, doesn't believe a word of it.
There must be a reason for this, something in Charles's interest, Erzberger thought.
Considering that Charles previously agreed to release the prisoners and allowed the Ruhr Industrial Zone to continue to supply arms to Germany, and now Charles is so conservative in terms of reparations...
The more Erzberger thought about it, the more he felt that his guess was correct. Charles had already pointed his spearhead at Britain, and he needed a Germany that maintained its combat effectiveness to stop the British and American forces.
Erzberger was overjoyed.
This is Germany's chance, a chance to make a comeback.
Germany, which had nothing but was about to surrender unconditionally to the Allies, now has a chance of turning around because of Charles' strategy.
"Thank you very much, Lieutenant General." Erzberger stood up and shook Charles' hand tightly, saying with a double meaning:
"Not just me. I trust Chancellor Ebert, Marshal Hindenburg, General Ludendorff."
"And all German soldiers and civilians will be grateful for your kindness."
"You saved us all, you saved Germany, Lieutenant General!"
Charles smiled and nodded: "That's what I should do, sir. Like I said, this will be a pleasant negotiation."
Erzberger laughed. He had thought that the negotiation with Charles would be the most difficult part, but he did not expect this to be the result.
…
After coming out of the Pontisse Fortress, Erzberger contacted Fischer as soon as possible.
"Don't agree to any conditions from Britain and the United States." Erzberger said firmly: "Not even one dollar!"
Fischer wondered, "Was the negotiation with Charles successful? Or unsuccessful?"
The result could be very successful or unsuccessful.
The success meant a ceasefire between Germany and France, and Germany still had the strength to fight against the British and American forces.
Failure means that agreeing to the conditions of Britain and the United States will be of no avail. The German provisional government will collapse anyway, and Germany should just throw the jar into the ground.
Erzberger responded excitedly: "More than a success, Fischer, France only wants $2 billion in compensation, two billion!"
Erzberger was not in a position to say too much about the rest. He emphasized once again: "In short, don't agree to anything. We don't have to agree to anything. Do you understand?"
Fischer kept his mouth open for a long time.
2 billion US dollars?
Shire only wants $2 billion?
Fischer thought that Charles might ask for less, perhaps $10 billion like the United States.
No matter how little, it can’t be less than the United States, right?
The United States, which had just entered the war, suffered far less losses than Britain and France, yet it could both demand 10 billion.
Charles reduced the indemnity in the spirit of France, and the request for 10 billion was already a huge gift to Germany.
But he only wants 2 billion?
Things seemed a little different, Fischer thought, and that was a good thing!
Fisher was emboldened, and when he returned to the negotiating table, he shook his head and said to General Winter and Pershing: "I'm very sorry, gentlemen, I think we should end this negotiation."
General Winter thought Germany had made a decision. He smiled and said, "I believe you will make a wise choice."
"Of course." Fischer nodded, stood up politely, shook hands with the two men, then turned and left.
"What do you mean?" General Winter stood up and signaled the guards to stop Fischer.
Fischer turned around and looked at General Winter in a puzzled manner: "I've already said, General, the negotiations are over."
"You mean..." General Winter's face turned gloomy: "You don't want to talk to us anymore?"
Pershing looked cautious. This was not a good thing for the United States.
"Yes." Fischer nodded.
"Can you afford the cost of war?" General Winter gritted his teeth and said, "You will regret your carelessness and recklessness today, Mr. Commissioner."
"No, I won't." Fischer said firmly. He glanced at the two with disdain. "Because I found out that you are liars. Do you know how much compensation Charles asked for?"
"What do you mean?" General Winter asked, realizing that the problem was probably with Sharna.
Fischer said sarcastically: "I heard that Charles is your friend, General? Now it seems that is not the case!"
Fischer was unwilling to miss any opportunity to divide the Allies.
After Fisher left, General Winter and Pershing looked at each other, neither of them knowing what had happened.
Just as General Winter was about to call Charles to find out, the newly appointed commander of the British Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant General Plumer, pushed the door open with a telegram in his hand.
"I think you need to know this, Admiral," he said. "Charles is only asking for $2 billion in compensation!"
"What?" General Winter and Pershing exclaimed in unison.
Just $2 billion?
Charles, this fool, what on earth is he thinking!
(End of this chapter)
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