Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 84 The Shepherd Boy and Foolish Ivan (2)

in other words, the great game is still streaming live, and at this rate, france might soon have to make a nation-defining choice between the two.

'why, why are the two countries still fighting? hadn't britain won by decision in europe and russia knocked out asia?'

'if we abandon russia, our mainland is in danger, if we abandon britain, our colonies are in danger!'

'russia or britain! that is the question!'

germany and austria-hungary empire, currently growing most frighteningly in europe.

they are desperately eager to expand whether in the balkans or africa.

morocco? those colored, uncivilized sultans whose names are hard to pronounce aren't what's important.

france is approaching a moment where they must make a choice.

mainland security or colonial empire security.

russia or britain.

"of course the alliance with russia is important! the relationship with britain is sufficient as it is! honestly speaking, i too was angry about those island pirates playing king in the mediterranean-"

"hey, you bastard! it's morocco now but do you know where it'll be next time when you spout such nonsense?"

"but didn't germany even support russia in the russo-japanese war? if i were the tsar of russia, i wouldn't want to create unnecessary friction with germany either."

russia, having proven its overwhelming army power through the russo-japanese war.

no matter if germany built a high seas fleet, they're up against britain with its overwhelming, undisputed world's #1 royal navy.

france didn't have the confidence to choose one. instead, they came to a thought anyone might have.

that is, reconciling the two countries.

in other words, making them at least not fight, even if they don't become allies.

this was something britain had also considered during the time of alexander iii, who established russian isolationism as europe's peacemaker.

just that britain didn't feel the need to reconcile with russia at that time.

"ugh, we must acknowledge it now. russia has finally completed the trans-siberian railway and advanced into asia."

"stop russia on land instead of sea? we're an island nation. that's impossible."

"haven't they already given up the strait leading to the black sea once? then they might give up the far eastern seas to suppress germany."

the morocco crisis. a dispute where most europeans don't even know where morocco is in africa.

this situation became not simply a pride battle between germany and france, but an incident that dredged up past relations between russia and britain.

many questions and even more complaints.

"if you're truly displeased with the situation... declaring non-intervention could be one option."

"then we'd be cowards. our allies would be anxious, and both britain and germany would clearly remember our turning away."

it's just morocco now, but it wouldn't be strange if a second or third morocco appeared in tomorrow's newspaper.

if this were still the bismarck system, then maybe we could have unconditionally supported germany and grown sufficiently from behind.

but stupid willy broke the bismarck system and pulled out carrot-and-stick tactics against us russia.

no, actually, even immediate diplomatic restraint or taking on their problems would be fine.

not fine, but as someone who knows the 'flow leading to the great war' to some extent, i can understand.

however, what angers me most is.

'they're not sincere themselves yet expect sincerity from me. disgusting.'

their hypocritical attitude.

they easily speak the word war and carelessly point gun barrels at neighboring countries.

yet they hand the crucial trigger to my index finger.

and then they say.

you pull it.

"...dogs, all of them."

this is 20th century diplomacy. beyond dirty and petty, it's irresponsible. and trying to push the consequences onto others is just a bonus.

fine, alright.

i acknowledge that we russia might stupidly be used in their game.

but if they handed me the trigger for something this trivial, then everyone should share the responsibility equally.

us who just advanced into the qing dynasty versus you who completed colonial empires over decades.

"giers, please call ambassador maurice bompard."

who has more to lose?

the western european advanced nations who don't know dialogue or compromise and flare up over something like morocco?

or russia, who has proven they'll really go to war if communication fails due to ignorance, even when their barely recovered economy is just returning to normal?

a game of chicken will show who's really serious.