Chapter 681 The Tough Russian Old Lady
William II and Nicholas are truly brothers in trouble. They are always overconfident in certain things, so that they are so arrogant that they are completely divorced from reality.
From the time Tirpitz suggested that William II develop a navy and engage in an arms race with Britain, William II was coerced by a mysterious force within the German army and had to embark on the crazy path of a world war.
The greed of William II was exposed through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Although William II argued that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a punishment for the provisional government's overthrow of Nicholas' rule, this punishment was too severe. Even Hindenburg believed that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a punishment for the provisional government's overthrow of Nicholas' rule. " will seriously affect the relationship between Germany and Russia. After the signing of this treaty, there will never be peace between the two countries.
Compared with William II, the British were much smarter. The punishment for Germany was to let the Germans return Alsace and Lorraine to the French.
Although this result does not satisfy the French people, the French elite know very well that if Germany is punished more severely, it will make the relationship between Germany and France more dangerous.
The task given by George to Peter is very clear. He must advance to the North Sea coast in the shortest possible time to create established facts and create a more favorable situation for the subsequent negotiations.
Peter was also very ambitious. He mobilized 30,000 Marines and 80,000 Finnish troops, and under the cover of 600 aircraft and nearly 100 warships, landed in Vis near the border of Germany and Denmark.
Most of the Jutland Peninsula during this period belonged to Germany, and only a small part in the north belonged to Denmark. There was a dispute between the two countries over the ownership of the Jutland Peninsula.
Denmark is a neutral country. During the World War, Denmark had both sides. It opened the door for the Russian Empire's Baltic Fleet and facilitated Germany's assistance from the United States. It lived a comfortable life during its small life.
After Nicholas abdicated, Queen Mother Maria has been living in Denmark. Since Maria fled in a hurry and did not take any property with her, Maria's life in Denmark was quite difficult, and she even had to pay the electricity bill. He asked his great-nephew King Christian X of Denmark to pay, and the two had conflicts over electricity bills.
Although George has not yet ascended the throne, Constantinople has begun to continue to transfer money to Maria's account.
When Nicholas was on the throne, Maria's basic salary was similar to that of the Grand Duke, 1.5 million rubles per year.
The exact amount you spend depends on Maria’s mood, and there is no upper limit.
Constantinople paid 10,000 rubles a month to Maria's account, which was a much smaller amount than during Nicholas' reign.
This money is probably not enough for Maria to bathe in champagne.
It is still okay to take a bath with milk.
The Russian army landed on the Jutland Peninsula. Although Denmark did not participate in the war, it opened the door to the Russian army and allowed the Russian army to use Eagle Island near Vis to provide supplies for the landing Russian army.
From Vis to the Atlantic Ocean, it is only 50 kilometers.
The first to land in Vis was the 1st Marine Division.
After the First Division landed, it did not consolidate the beachhead position like previous landing battles to prepare for subsequent landing troops.
Instead, they advanced lightly and quickly towards the North Sea.
Compared with the Eastern and Western Fronts, the Jutland Peninsula was Germany's rear area, with no troops stationed at all. The First Marine Division was unstoppable and advanced all the way. When William II received the telegram, the Marine Division The 1st Division had actually penetrated Jutland.
George was very satisfied with Peter's efficiency and promoted Peter to the rank of marshal and minister of the navy.
Witte's reforms continued to deepen. In order to raise more funds for reconstruction, Witte decided to issue bonds.
The issuance of bonds did not go well. The United Kingdom and France had exhausted their resources. Neutral countries such as Spain and the Netherlands lacked strength. Although their enthusiasm was relatively high, they were completely unable to provide sufficient funds for Russia's reconstruction.
Witt set his sights on the United States across the ocean.
The United States turned around through the World War and jumped from a debtor country to a creditor country, and its ambitions are getting higher and higher.
The United States has the ability to provide funds for Russia's reconstruction, but it is not easy to get American money, and there are many conditions attached.
The first demand of the Americans is that they hope that Russia will immediately lift all restrictive measures against the Hebrews -
This wording is not accurate enough.
In the AD II and AD III eras, although the Russian Empire occasionally acted against the Hebrews, generally speaking, its policy towards the Hebrews was indeed restrictive.
Since the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Empire’s treatment of the Hebrews has evolved from restriction to suppression and exclusion.
After the overthrow of the provisional government, Russia's attack on the Hebrews reached its climax, and the Hebrews had disappeared from St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Compared with the Russian and European regions, only the Amur Hebrews in the entire Russia dare to admit their identity.
This is funny.
In the time of Nicholas, Amur was criticized for various restrictive measures against the Hebrews.
Unexpectedly, Amur has now become the only pure land for the Hebrews.
Thus the Americans hope to establish an autonomous state near Amur that will be managed by the Hebrews themselves.
The U.S. government was willing to provide loans to Russia if Constantinople agreed to this request.
Witt was quite moved by this.
George scoffed.
Any American suggestion, even if it looks like chocolate, you should consider whether the chocolate is wrapped in Xiang. George sent a telegram to his fourth cousin Alexander, hoping that Alexander would lobby the U.S. government to give up these unrealistic demands.
No, this request was not made by the U.S. government, but by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the underwriter of Russian bonds.
The Federal Reserve was established on December 23, 1913. Its status in the U.S. financial system is roughly equivalent to that of the Amur Bank of Siberia. It exercises responsibilities such as formulating monetary policy and supervising U.S. financial institutions.
George did not expect that Alexander not only failed to take active action, but instead persuaded George to accept the Federal Reserve Board's request.
George sent a telegram to his third cousin Daniela in Paris, asking Daniela what happened to Alexander.
Danila has always been responsible for the contact with Alexander.
Daniela couldn't explain clearly to George in the telegram, and took a plane directly back to Constantinople.
George then realized that Alexander had been dissatisfied with George for a long time.
When George was a child, he was kept in the Yekaterin Palace and did not have much contact with Alexander.
After the assassination of Alexander, Alexander went to the United States with George's third uncle Thierry, and had little contact with George.
Thierry is still very loyal to the big Dolgorukov family, and is especially grateful to Ekaterina. Thierry is responsible for all George's investments in the United States, and they have always cooperated All very enjoyable.
Thierry died of a stroke the year before last, and Alexander became the helmsman, and his relationship with George gradually became estranged.
Alexander was dissatisfied with the way profits were distributed.
Most of the proceeds from George's investment in the United States were returned to Russia through investment, purchase of machinery, equipment, raw materials, etc. The Alexander family can obtain about one-tenth of the proceeds.
Compared to the Dolgorukov family, the Alexander family has made a lot of profits. After all, the start-up capital and technical support were provided by George. Alexander is equivalent to the professional manager hired by George, and his role is not Not as important as Alexander thought.
Alexander didn’t think so.
In Alexander's view, Dolgorukov's business territory, or business empire, in the United States was all started by Alexander's father Thierry. George's original investment has already made enough profits, and the current profit distribution should be changed. Way.
“How are our investments in the United States controlled?”
George knew that something would happen to this model sooner or later, but he didn’t expect it to happen so hastily.
“Although the equity distribution method is very complicated, the major shareholder must be you, otherwise Sasha would have rebelled long ago——”
Danila bluntly said that Alexander has been in the United States for too long , completely unaware of George’s strength.
George has been very successful in investing in the United States. Through cars and alternating current, the Dolgorukov family has become a big presence in the United States and has long become part of Wall Street capital.
In this kind of environment, it is easy for people to lose themselves.
To put it bluntly, the United States is still too far away from Europe. Alexander probably feels that George cannot reach the United States.
George did not act rashly, but still had to take care of Ekaterina's mood.
Ekaterina was very happy in Adrianople. She watched a group of great-grandchildren thrive every day. She felt so proud that words could not describe it.
If I really had to describe it, I would probably be able to feel confident when I see Ya Er a hundred years later.
Catherina's estate in Adrianople was called Alexander, in honor of Alexander II.
Ekaterina attaches great importance to the children, and George must be thoroughly disinfected from head to toe when entering the Alexander Manor.
George told Catherine everything about Alexander's situation without adding any extraneous details.
Ekaterina was silent for a long time, smiling bitterly.
"Don't worry about this matter, I will handle it."
Ekaterina did not allow George's interests to be harmed in any way.
Not even his natal nephew.
In order to enhance the cohesion of the Dolgorukov family, Ekaterina uses her birthday to organize a party every year.
Think about it at this time. Since Thierry’s death, Alexander has not attended Ekaterina’s birthday party in person due to busy official duties. Instead, his brother Vladimir attended it. .
George didn't know how Catherine would punish Alexander. To ensure that American business would not be affected, George hoped for a peaceful handover.
Ekaterina did not correctly understand what George meant, and thought that George wanted Vladimir to take over.
"What are you thinking? Have you forgotten how your father taught you? To cut the grass, you must remove the roots!"
Ekaterina was murderous.
This Russian old woman is indeed tough.
(End of this chapter)