Chapter 38

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Chapter 38: Weird

"Dear Your Highness the Regent, The Emperor of France will visit Berlin next Wednesday for a state meeting with you, and also France wishes to gift you a dog."

Cabinet Secretary Schultz reported.

Leader One, "Can you translate, what does ‘gift you a dog’ mean?"

Baron Schultz, puzzled, "It means the France Emperor wants to give you a dog."

Leader One (angrily), "I asked you to translate, what does ‘give you a dog’ mean."

Baron Schultz, sweating, "It means to give away for free."

Leader One (furious), "I told you to translate, what the heck does ‘give you a dog’ mean!"

Baron Schultz realized, "It means they want you to act like a dog."

"Well, that’s right. You guys in the cabinet need to figure something out. If you can’t come up with a solution, both you and the Prime Minister can leave."

"Solution?" Baron Schultz paused. "We Prussia have always been France’s followers. Do we really need to think of a way?"

"You said yesterday that we Prussia were England’s followers, and today we have become France’s again."

Baron Schultz, "Tomorrow we might become Austria’s."

Hello to our audience, welcome to ‘Today in Prussia’. I am the host, Prussia’s Cabinet Secretary Schultz. Due to Prussia’s weak national strength and geopolitical factors, in the early 19th century, Prussia was often manipulated by other countries. Interference in Prussia’s internal affairs by England, France, and Austria has become a norm. During this period, Prussia adopted a policy of filial diplomacy, that is, being a follower in diplomacy, assessing Prussia’s material strength, and pleasing other countries.

This time, France’s Emperor Napoleon III is visiting Prussia for official matters. His primary purpose is the issue of the tariff alliance between the South German states and Germany, followed by the Kiel Canal issue.

The Northern Tariff Alliance and the French issue with the South German states are very complex and cannot be discussed in detail. The Kiel Canal issue is easier to understand.

Although France has the important steel-producing region of Alsace-Lorraine, the steel quality there is low. France hopes to purchase high-quality iron ore from Sweden. Using the Kiel Canal would save some distance.

However, Emperor Napoleon III believes that the Kiel Canal is narrow, has limited capacity, and the tolls are high. France hopes that the German Confederation can widen the canal and reduce the tolls.

About the Kiel Canal issue, it is actually located within the territories of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, which are under the control of Denmark but ruled by German princes.

Napoleon III wanted to discuss the canal matter with Austria, Prussia, and Denmark.

Prussia was closest, so he first went to Berlin to talk to Regent King Redel. The prince regent could choose to agree with France’s conditions, or be forced to agree with France’s conditions.

France still arrogantly wanted to intervene in Prussia’s internal affairs, meddling in Prussia’s customs union and canal issues. Napoleon III thought he was superior.

"Prussia will not be anyone’s dog anymore. If I say no, it means no. I cannot accept the conditions of the French Emperor," Leader One said.

Baron Schultz approached the desk.

"Have you ever been King of Prussia?"

Leader One (shaking his head), "No."

Schultz, "Let me tell you, being the King of Prussia means___________________ (Fill in the blank: 10 points)."

In 1837, Prussia was still very weak.

Leader One really wanted to challenge Napoleon like a hero, but he knew he couldn’t win if he fought directly. He thought maybe if he could get England to help him against France, France might have to back down.

Russia wanted some Prussian land and the city of Danzig. They also wanted to take over the Polish region that Prussia controlled.

Austria wanted to be the most powerful in the German region. Prussia seemed to be challenging them, and Austria was happy to see Prussia getting weaker.

It seemed like the Seven Years’ War was happening all over again. The British Empire used Prussia as a pawn, and Leader One had to fight battles in all directions. Even Frederick the Great couldn’t help now.

Last time, Peter III of Prussia helped them in the war, but this time they couldn’t find anyone as smart and brilliant to help in the war.

The situation wasn’t so bad yet that they had to fight France. They didn’t want a war that could cause too much damage. It was better to be a bit submissive and follow France’s wishes.

Leader One was good with his own country’s affairs but not good at foreign affairs. Until his Iron Chancellor arrived, he needed to be cautious. Europe in the 19th century was already complicated, and he didn’t want to upset the delicate diplomatic balance. He needed to wait for the Iron Chancellor to come.

"Today, we have to obey the French, but I won’t accept the humiliation they’re trying to send my way. We won’t accept their dog."

If Leader One likes dogs, when others visit, they can bring a dog as a friendly gesture.

But Leader One prefers cats, he never said he likes dogs. The Emperor of France unexpectedly sent him a dog, isn’t this on purpose to irritate him? He firmly refused to accept it.

Baron Schultz asked in surprise, "We are already humiliated by France interfering in our affairs, why do you care about that dog?"

Anyway, Leader One absolutely did not want it. He asked the Cabinet to find a way to refuse the gift of the dog from the Emperor of France, and Cabinet Secretary Schultz took action.

The next day~

The French ambassador to Prussia came for an audience.

Faced with Leader One, the Prince Regent of Prussia, the French ambassador was arrogant and even rude, his every move reflecting the hostility between them.

Leader One frowned, feeling more and more repulsed.

Leader One wanted to resolve the hatred between France and Germany, to avoid the brutal slaughter of World War I, but now it seemed that the enmity between France and Germany could not be resolved.

Since the Napoleonic Wars, France has been expanding its power, with Napoleon leading the French army to conquer Berlin in just 14 days, making Prussia a puppet state of France, and holding a grand parade at the Brandenburg Gate.

Even though Napoleon I was defeated later on, with Napoleon III now in power, these proud French people still continue to expand their power, deepening the hatred between the two countries.

"Now that you are strong and I am weak, you can humiliate me as you please, but the humiliation I suffer today, I will repay a hundredfold," Leader One thought to himself.

The French ambassador began with a meaningless introduction before discussing issues related to South Germany, the tariff alliance, North Germany, and the Kiel Canal.

Leader One did not want to deal with it himself, so he had his Cabinet Secretary negotiate. After some bargaining, Prussia agreed to most of France’s demands.

The French ambassador then brought up the matter of the dog.

Leader One looked puzzled at Cabinet Secretary Schultz, wondering why he did not reject the offer as instructed.

Schultz quickly spoke up, "Prussia has recently implemented an animal quarantine law, requiring animals to be isolated for two weeks before entering the country. Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that we cannot accept this gift."

The French ambassador’s expression turned cold, "Oh, are you saying that France is gifting our friendly neighbors a sick dog?"

Schultz, "No no no, but the law is the law, and all animals need quarantine."

French Ambassador, "I, as a proud Frenchman, cannot bring a sick dog here, there is no need to discuss this matter."

Baron Schultz seriously said, "Our country cannot accept the gift from France."

French Ambassador, "This matter cannot be changed, the decision to bring the dog was made by the Queen, and on the day of the visit, the Emperor and the Queen will come with the dog in their arms."

Leader One, "Please tell Emperor Napoleon III not to bring that female dog here."

French Ambassador, Baron Schultz: ???