Chapter 913 - 137: Offering Counsel
Losa contacted the German Emperor, purely to lay the groundwork for another advanced battle record in Losa’s possession.
Entering Phase Two, Lavinia dramatically boosted the power of the entire Losa team.
The ancient legendary Tashia, even stronger than Shemir, although having the drawback of not being physical, contributed to their easy victory, thanks to him and the Main Battle Attendants reaching a new realm.
The advanced battle record is not to be discarded.
But with their current power, attempting to influence the course of the world war is still too challenging. Even with the help from Texas, which could now be considered a second-tier power, their influence remains limited.
Moreover, this is not feasible for them.
In fact, if possible, he would rather contact Franz from earlier years to give him more preparation time. However, the "Voice of the Tower of Babel," which determines the timeline of selected individuals randomly, also limits the number of times a single character can be used.
Losa watched the big "Four-Star" symbol above Franz’s head, silently waiting for him to recover from his surprise.
"Apologies."
Franz couldn’t help but smile wryly. Suddenly hearing that the person he’s talking to is an ancestor from when Habsburg had not yet risen hundreds of years ago - who could maintain a calm demeanor?
"So, Mr. Losa, how do you plan to help us?"
"Your Majesty, since you have maintained a good relationship with Texas over these years, you should have some understanding of the power we currently possess."
Due to a heavy influx of foreign investment, Texas had already become compromised. Even with Juliano’s tight security, it was impossible to stop every witness from revealing information about Losa and his team.
Franz nodded slightly, "Yes, an immensely powerful individual might, but to you, as the master of the Tower of Babel with secrets of time, such power must seem rather insignificant, right?"
The power Losa and his team showed earlier was already comparable to the Caster teams, which are the trump cards of a great nation. But their numbers are too few, and this power would serve limited purpose if deployed in a war with the Allies.
The British performed poorly in the Texas campaign, but that doesn’t represent their full strength. They need global deployments and must always assign mobile forces to counter French provocations, so the power they can lend to the Texas battlefield is quite limited.
"Your Majesty shouldn’t regard us too highly. Even in the higher-ranking existence, one is fragile during its infancy."
Possessing Yesterday’s Giant Ship, Losa’s status is undoubtedly very high.
No matter how powerful, no one can escape the might of time. Losa had once traveled back to the Ancient Era, facing formidable Ancient Dragons and Ancient Gods, but they have all fallen, leaving not even corpses behind.
"So, Mr. Losa, are you relying on altering the original timeline to gain ’growth’?"
Losa replied with a smile, conversing with intelligent people is much less troublesome than talking to dim-witted ones.
Though in his original world, the old emperor’s performance was at best mediocre.
However, in the world of Yesterday’s Giant Ship, the old emperor who unified Debang truly lived up to the title of the "Great Emperor."
Losa chuckled, "So, the help the Tower of Babel can provide your country is actually quite limited. But aside from our personal combat capabilities, we can offer some more valuable information."
Franz’s expression turned serious; just mentioning the relatively precise start time of two years from now is already very valuable intelligence.
Losa asked, "Your Majesty, a European war is inevitable, and once it breaks out, your country will inevitably face being sandwiched by the Allies. Although the British navy will serve your country, without Gibraltar, can the Royal Navy still enter the Mediterranean gate guarded by the Allies to battle with the French-Spanish Fleet and the Tsarist Russian Fleet coming out of the Black Sea? It’s uncertain."
"Therefore, considering the worst-case scenario, your country may lose control of the Mediterranean sea routes. The enemy’s fleets can cut your country’s supply lines and bombard your Veneto and Illyria regions at will."
Franz nodded, "That’s true, but we have very few coastal territories in the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic Fleet, cooperating with coastal defense guns, can firmly guard the Empire’s maritime boundaries."
"Yes, that’s correct, but if the Allies can move freely in the Mediterranean, it means they can take whatever they want from the countries along the Mediterranean coast. They can capture Egypt and occupy Ottoman territories, using all the resources however they wish. The Allies will have significant wartime potential."
This was an advantage that the German-Austrian Alliance, the challenger of this world order, did not have in the original world line during World War I.
Franz frowned, "The Empire, with its vast land and resources, including the crown lands of Hungary, Illyria, and Galicia, can draw resources from overseas, and our wartime potential should be even stronger."
"That’s correct, which is why this war is bound to become protracted. Conservatively, it will last at least five years."
Franz’s expression shifted slightly; mainstream opinion at home believed the war would last only a few months, and the General Staff’s Schlieffen Plan demanded that Debang reach Paris within forty days.
Though he was prepared for a protracted war, a five-year conflict was still far beyond his expectations.
"Your Majesty, the European war now differs fundamentally from past wars. This is a war between nations, and cannot be resolved with one or two major victories as before."
Losa continued, "So your country should be prepared for a prolonged war; any rush to victory is inadvisable."
He was unaware that Franz’s desk had the "Schlieffen Plan" from the General Staff laid out. Even if he knew, he doubted that capturing Paris would make the revenge-driven French surrender.
"More than five years..."
The old emperor couldn’t help but sigh; he was never keen on initiating a European war, and now he was even more reluctant.
Assuming the French wanted only Alsace-Lorraine and the Tsarists wanted only Galicia, if Debang could safely emerge from this war while watching the British and Franco-Russian sides struggle, he would gladly do so.
But some matters cannot be avoided by wanting them to be; establishing Great Germany and with its people full of nationalistic fervor, the Debang people wouldn’t tolerate a cowardly emperor.
Should he dare appease, the Debang people could replace him.
After all, Debang still retains the special title of "Elector," which, though practically ineffective, cannot be ignored as long as it remains.
Furthermore, appeasement now would leave Debang isolated fighting alone after the Franco-Russian Treaty defeats the British.
"So, Mr. Losa, your thoughts are..."
Losa decisively said, "First the Eastern Front, then the Western Front, fighting a long war. As both sides suffer greater losses, the Franco-Spanish Federation will develop cracks, and internal unrest will plague Tsarist Russia. In contrast, we will have overseas support while using resources from Russian-occupied territories."
This is a common thinking process; with development concealing all contradictions, once the hardships of wartime arise, the Spanish will naturally feel, "Why should we die for the French’s ambitions?"
Franz seriously nodded, "I will consider this proposal."
The strategy of first the East, then the West, was not without mention in the General Staff, but Tsarist infrastructure was poor; vast territories and outdated rail networks affected their troop deployments and supplies, and Debang’s many war machines also had trouble deploying.
Several Debang generals believed, "The vastness of Tsarist land and the Winter General will drain us of every drop of blood, just like with Napoleon before."
"Additionally..."
They talked for a long time, covering war strategies, troop arrangements, and thoughts on new war machines.
Eventually, Franz couldn’t help but marvel, "I find it hard to believe this is a medieval person’s perspective, Master of the Tower of Babel, I look forward to us having a face-to-face conversation in the future."
"Your Majesty, you seemed to mention my brother William earlier, has he ascended the throne?"
Miss Nia, who had waited a long time for the two to finish their serious discussion, couldn’t help but ask.
Franz clearly understood what Viviana really wanted to ask and shook his head, "Rest assured, Frederick has only abdicated. Though if that old man were truly gone, I would indeed be pleased. However, as a Spiritual Master, he could likely live for many more years."
The Grand Elector’s talent in spiritual energy was good, although not up to the level of geniuses like Viviana, he was still only second to talented individuals like Ruprecht within the Royal Family, and far superior to himself.
Incidentally, Frederick’s abdication was due, in part, to pressure from the old emperor.
For even if Franz was lenient, he could not allow Frederick to openly incite north-south opposition for his power.
Viviana breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"It seems, Anna, you haven’t contacted that old Frederick yet."
The old emperor seemed noticeably pleased, "That’s good; his heart, as cold as stone, doesn’t deserve a daughter as understanding and obedient as you."
Viviana gave a somewhat pensive smile, "Your Majesty, I am, after all, his daughter."
Losa quietly left the room.