The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 1014 Bismarck, remember this: Germany is the third strongest power in the world!

September 1888, Palazzo Venezia, Rome.

Inside the World Map Hall of the Palazzo Venezia, morning sunlight streamed through the 16th-century stained-glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the black and white marble floor. On the dome frescoes, navigators holding compasses gazed down, as if witnessing a negotiation that would determine the fate of the world.

Luo Yaoguo's fingers tapped lightly on the long table, on which lay a yellowed map of Europe, its ink-drawn borders shimmering faintly in the sunlight. Bismarck sat opposite him, cigar smoke swirling between them, his grey-blue eyes sharp as a hawk's. His son, Bismarck Jr., the German State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, stood behind his father, holding a stack of documents, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Wu Chaoyue, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Minister of Foreign Affairs—who was translating fluently in both English and Chinese for both sides.

In the corner of the room, a 16th-century Venetian globe stood silently, its gilded meridians shimmering dazzlingly in the sunlight. Luo Yaoguo's gaze lingered on it for a moment—the Pacific Ocean seemed magnified in that instant, while Europe huddled on the edge.

“Your Excellency Prime Minister,” Bismarck Jr. began, tracing Russia’s vast territory across the map, “Defeated Russia is still far too large—nearly 20 million square kilometers of territory, almost equivalent to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Moreover, Russia is the world’s second most populous country, with over 100 million people! Such a country possesses limitless potential.”

Bismarck narrowed his eyes slightly and took over the conversation: "Even if Russia loses the area east of the Ural Mountains, including Western and Eastern Siberia, the Caucasus region, Ukraine, and Belarus, leaving only a little over 400 million square kilometers of its European part, it will still be the largest country in Europe by land area. Moreover, Russia's population is still the second largest in the world."

Luo Yaoguo picked up the blue-and-white porcelain teacup. The clear tea reflected his calm face. He didn't respond immediately, but gently blew away the steam from the tea, letting silence fill the room.

He understood Bismarck's subtext—Germany wanted to take advantage of the chaos of the Russian Civil War to join forces with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to completely dismantle this northern giant. The first step was to gain independence for Ukraine, Belarus, the Caucasus, and the area east of the Ural Mountains; the second step was to slowly annex the newly formed "small countries" such as Belarus and Ukraine; and the third step was to eventually bring the European part of Russia under its control.

If successful, Germany's mainland will exceed 600 million square kilometers, with a population approaching 1.5 million, becoming a super-empire ruling over most of Europe! This would elevate it from the world's "third" (one of several tied for third) to the world's second!
"The disintegration of Russia seems inevitable, but it should be an endogenous process." Luo Yaoguo put down his teacup, the porcelain clinking softly against the wooden table. "It shouldn't be forced by external powers. At most, we can... give it a little push."

Upon hearing this, Bismarck's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

Luo Yaoguo ignored his expression and continued, "But there's one thing I must remind Your Excellency the Prime Minister—"

His gaze suddenly sharpened, piercing Bismarck like a blade.

"Germany has always been the world's third strongest country."

The reception room fell silent instantly.

“It’s tied for third place.” Luo Yaoguo said, emphasizing each word. “It’s tied for third place in the world with Britain, the United States, and perhaps Russia in the future.”

Bismarck's cigar hovered in mid-air, its greyish-white smoke rising slowly, forming solidified patterns in the sunlight.

“As long as Germany remains the world’s third-largest economy,” Luo Yaoguo stared into his eyes, “I guarantee it will be very, very comfortable in the future. With over 100 million people, over a million square kilometers of territory, several satellite states, and colonies in Africa, it can enjoy long-term prosperity and wealth in the world under the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s leadership, and may even become a ‘millennial empire’.”

He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold:
"But if Germany wants to break out of three or four third-place finishes and become second..."

"Then it will become the enemy of the whole world."

Bismarck paused for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "The world's third and a thousand-year empire are also what I aspire to. Fortunately, the world's number one in our era is high enough to give us, the third, sufficient room to grow."

Luo Yaoguo nodded—Bismarck was Bismarck after all; he knew exactly what Germany was capable of.

"So, my conditions are as follows." Luo Yaoguo stopped beating around the bush and laid his cards on the table.

"First, do not try to destroy Red France, and do not annex the demilitarized zone in northern France."

"Secondly, Dunkirk and Calais are not part of the demilitarized zone, and Britain and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will maintain a military presence there."

"Third, do not attempt to annex Ukraine, Belarus, or the remaining western territories of Russia, do not establish a Russian-German monarchical alliance, and do not place the Hohenzollern family on the thrones of these countries."

"Fourth, join the World Naval Arms Limitation Treaty—Germany's capital ship tonnage shall not exceed 40% of that of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and 50% of that of Britain."

Bismarck frowned slightly: "How many countries will participate in this naval arms limitation treaty?"

“Every independent nation that possesses a capital navy must participate,” Luo Yaoguo said calmly.

Bismarck tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "What if Germany refuses?"

Luo Yaoguo laughed, a cold sneer in his smile: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, how many more German warships do you think the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's 'Yinglong-class' battleships can sink?"

The air in the reception room seemed to freeze.

Bismarck slowly exhaled a smoke ring, his grey-blue eyes gleaming behind the smoke. Finally, he nodded slightly:
"We will seriously consider His Excellency the Prime Minister's proposal."

Luo Yaoguo stood up and straightened his collar: "I hope we can reach a consensus when we meet next time."

He turned and walked towards the door, Wu Chaoyue following closely behind. Just as he was about to step out of the reception room, Luo Yaoguo suddenly turned back and looked at Bismarck:
“Remember, Your Excellency Chancellor—” “Third in the world is already very good for Germany.”

Palazzo Venezia, Bodesta Hall.

As Luo Yaoguo stepped into the Podesta Hall, the last rays of the setting sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting their light onto the ancient mosaic floor tiles. Portraits of 16th-century Venetian doges hung on the walls, their cold gazes looking down upon those below. At the negotiating table in the center of the hall, United States Secretary of State Thomas F. Bayard had been waiting for some time.

The silver-haired Southern gentleman stood up, his dark gray three-piece suit impeccably tailored, the gold watch chain on his chest swaying slightly. His gaze was calm, yet carried a suppressed sharpness—like a tamed falcon that still retained the instinct to tear its prey apart.

“Mr. Secretary of State.” Luo Yaoguo nodded slightly, and Wu Chaoyue immediately stepped forward and translated in fluent English: “His Excellency the Prime Minister sends his greetings.”

Bayard did not respond immediately, but instead scrutinized Luo Yaoguo with a critical gaze. After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice low and restrained: "Your Excellency, on behalf of Commander-in-Chief Sherman and the American people, I thank you for your congratulations."

His tone carried a subtle irony—just three days earlier, Luo Yaoguo had publicly congratulated "the American people on finally welcoming their Caesar," a statement that caused a huge uproar in The New York Times.

Luo Yaoguo seemed oblivious to the other party's emotions, and sat down at the negotiating table with a smile: "This is the inevitability of history. The Roman Republic eventually became the Roman Empire, and since the United States has taken Rome as its model, it is only a matter of time before it transforms from a republic into an empire."

Bayard's lips twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "Perhaps. It's just that our founding fathers did not expect this process to be so... rapid."

“Progress always happens faster than expected.” Luo Yaoguo tapped the table lightly, and a servant immediately brought two cups of tea. “Like your country’s civil war—I heard that the Workers’ Republic of West Virginia won’t last much longer?”

Bayard's eyes narrowed slightly. Sherman's army was besieging the last rebels in the Appalachian Mountains, a bloody crackdown that had been going on for three months.

“The rebellion will soon be quelled,” Bayard said coldly. “The unity of America must not be undermined!”

"Is that so?" Luo Yaoguo nodded. "Just like the integrity of Mexico cannot be compromised?"

These words caused Bayard's fingers to tighten slightly.

"Is Your Excellency the Prime Minister supporting the tyrants who covet Mexican land in the American West?" Bayard stared directly at Luo Yaoguo.

“No.” Luo Yaoguo took a sip of tea. “I just want to tell the Secretary of State that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has no interest in the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean.”

Bayard narrowed his eyes slightly: "Does the Prime Minister mean that the United States of America can acquire the land surrounding the Gulf of Mexico in eastern Mexico?"

“You’d better take it there,” Luo Yaoguo said calmly. “Don’t let the American Empire become an America that owns two oceans.”

This was tantamount to tacitly approving, no, it should be called encouraging the United States of America to annex the coastal areas of northeastern Mexico! Bayard was shocked—Luo Yaoguo clearly did not want the American Empire, which had occupied sixteen states in the western and central United States, to become too powerful.
"As for the navy..." Luo Yaoguo changed the subject, "We hope that the United States of America can join the Naval Arms Limitation Treaty."

Bayard frowned: "What are the conditions?"

"The tonnage of the main warships will not exceed 40% of that of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, while Britain's will be 50%, the same as Germany's!" Luo Yaoguo said calmly. "In this way, even if the United States and Germany join forces, Britain will still have the strength to suppress them."

These words were like a knife, piercing directly into Bayard's heart. He instantly understood Luo Yaoguo's intention—to exchange Mexican territory for the naval control of the United States, while simultaneously ensuring that Britain could forever suppress the American-German alliance!
“What if I say no?” Bayard’s voice carried a hint of coldness.

Luo Yaoguo smiled, a smile that was gentle yet undeniable: "Mr. Secretary of State, how many targets do you think the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's 'Yinglong-class' battleships could find on the west coast of the Atlantic?"

Bayard's face turned pale instantly.

As the sun completely sank below the horizon, candles flickered to life one by one inside the Venetian palace. Luo Yaoguo's shadow stretched long in the firelight, like a deity looking down upon all living beings.

“The world has changed, Mr. Secretary,” he said softly. “And the United States of America… must learn to find its place in the new order.”

After a long silence, Bayard finally rose slowly and said, "I will convey your proposal to Commander-in-Chief Sherman."

Luo Yaoguo nodded slightly: "I look forward to your reply."

As Bayard's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, Wu Chaoyue asked in a low voice, "Prime Minister, will he really agree?"

Luo Yaoguo gazed out the window at the night view of Venice, a slight smile playing on his lips:

He had no other choice.

(End of this chapter)