It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 232 | Augusta!
Of course, from the perspective of the United States, the best outcome would be for the United Kingdom to voluntarily 'kneel down' and submit.

In an effort to exert pressure, the Americans once again pressed for repayment at this critical juncture, becoming increasingly aggressive and even threatening to restrict trade if the Britons did not pay off their debts.

This only added fuel to the fire, making the already worried Renton side even more anxious.

The debt is a long story, dating back to the European War more than 20 years ago.

Shortly after the start of the European war, the Allied Powers borrowed approximately $103 billion from the United States, a huge debt that, when interest is included, amounted to as much as $116 billion.

After the war, the United States established the World War Foreign Debt Commission specifically to recover the war debts owed in Europe. However, when European countries were supposed to repay their debts in 1932, the Republic of Marianna was the first to refuse to pay. The following year, the United Kingdom also stopped repaying its debts, and European countries resolved not to pay.

Since then, every June the United States has routinely demanded repayment, while the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mariana have tacitly refused to pay, a situation that has continued year after year to this day.

Over the years, the United States has not paid much attention to the matter, and the debt has not had a substantial impact, so the United Kingdom has not taken it to heart and has been content to be a deadbeat.

Now that the old issue has been brought up again, with threats to cut off trade, and right at this critical juncture, London is in a panic.

The saying "a life for a life, a debt for a debt" is a matter of course!

While the Union Jack gentlemen were in a state of utter chaos, the revelry in St. Peter'sburg had been going on for weeks and showed no signs of abating.

As the birthplace of abstract art, Ivanos also had an incurable messianic complex, and the Ivanos Empire, which swept across Western Europe, seemed to become the savior of Europeans in that year.

So who created all of this? Or rather, who led the empire to such glory?
Veronica Alexandrovna was elevated to a divine status.

Compared to her achievements, any of the "great emperors" in history pale in comparison, and it can even be said that no monarch in the entire history of Europe has ever achieved such accomplishments.

The Ivanros people exhausted almost every word of praise, celebrating wildly and extolling Veronica's greatness with heartfelt enthusiasm.

In many parts of St. Petersburg, large numbers of people celebrated day and night, and the revelry was so extreme that a dozen or twenty people died of alcoholism every day.

Meanwhile, a detachment the size of an army group rapidly marched south through Romania, reaching Istanbul, ready to reclaim the sacred city from its century-old enemy by force.

Everyone was optimistic that the Ottomans would inevitably submit.

Five centuries have passed since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The recapture of the city, once the long-cherished wish of countless Christians, is now within reach.

Many people suggested that Veronica should go there to be crowned Augusta for all of Europe a second time after the recapture of Constantinople.

Veronica was indeed preparing for this.

What's rather peculiar is that when her fame was being lauded, some people felt something was amiss—this Tsar was too mild-mannered, not at all cruel, and it just felt strange.

It's difficult to define whether Veronica was cruel. She disliked mass purges and wouldn't exile prisoners to Xianbeili. Her methods of eliminating dissidents were unique, essentially involving imprisoning them and starving them to death. Compared to those people, Tukhachevsky was only executed by firing squad because Veronica felt more disappointment than resentment towards him.

From the perspective of the Ivan Rus's people, Veronica was an incredibly benevolent Tsar, because the vast majority of Tsars in history were not kind.

Some even joked that it would be better if Veronica had one or two unique quirks, such as the insane killings of Ivan IV or the perversion of Anna I. If that were the case, it would actually make people feel more at ease.

Veronica could only smile bitterly to herself in response to such words.

In her diary, she wrote: "I cannot imagine how people would react if they knew I was a tsar who made deals with the devil, but I know no one would resent me except myself."

The Ivan-Russians are characterized by their stubbornness and admiration for strength, tinged with a cold melancholy. Growing up in a wild and harsh land, they always yearn for a strict but powerful leader who can conquer foreign lands with swords and suppress domestic ones with whips.

For the Ivan Rus', the Tsar's character was the least important thing. No matter how cruel, tyrannical, or oppressive the Tsar was, as long as he could expand the territory, he was considered wise and powerful. On the contrary, Tsars who suffered defeats and humiliations were the most despised. Even if they were just, honest, and loved their people like their own children, the Ivan Rus' would discard them like trash.

Later that day, the Imperial Foreign Minister arrived and reported the situation to Veronica.

"Your Majesty, more news has arrived regarding the Britons. We are now certain that the negotiations in Washington by our diplomat, Sir Alexander Cadogan, have been a complete failure. It is clear that the Americans are not willing to be our enemies."

Veronica scoffed, “The British seem to think all other countries are fools. The only time the Americans were fit to intervene was two months ago; now it’s too late.”

"In addition, the Americans urged the Britons to repay debts owed during the European War and threatened to suspend some trade between the two sides."

"Hmm? Suddenly pressing for repayment of the debt? Perhaps the British have wavered? I think now is a good time for us to back down."

“I think so too,” the Foreign Secretary nodded. “But the likelihood of the British finally agreeing remains slim.”

"Who knows what will happen?" Veronica said softly. "In times of despair, it's better to try than to wait for death. I hope the British understand this."

The next day.

In the midsummer of 1840, a bleak and chilly atmosphere lingered in the hearts of the British upper class. In such a time of great strife, the declining British Empire was struggling to even protect itself.

Ambassador Ivan Ross brought a coded telegram, encrypted with diplomatic codes, indicating that the United Kingdom could make certain concessions on its bottom lines, such as halting the dismantling of the Maginot Line and reorganizing the Marianna government, and even allowing the complete withdrawal of troops from Marianna.

To demonstrate its sincerity, Ivan Ross's army was allowed to withdraw from Belgium and the Netherlands at any time, and both countries were permitted to rebuild their armies at any time.

"...I believe you Britons can trust us, and likewise, you should trust your fleet. The attack on America depends on a sufficient number of ships, and all of this is in your control." The Great stated the facts in a slow and deep tone.

(End of this chapter)