"So what does Your Excellency Da Gong think about the future relationship between great powers?" Ruprecht did not answer directly this time, but wanted to see the attitude of Grand Duke Baden first. After all, he is the fifth largest mountain in Germany and is also the person most trusted by the German Emperor. His attitude is very important!

"The European continent is too small. We can tolerate a France, but we can't tolerate a Russia, even now Russia." Grand Duke Baden said seriously: "Even if the Russians lost too much this time, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic coast, they are still a very strong country. This hatred is almost impossible to resolve unless one side completely collapses. With such a Russia in our east, I must have one eye when I sleep."

"The British are also our enemies, and they still have the potential to rise. The reason why we can win this time is largely because Britain has lost too much power on the European continent. If they devote their main forces to the air force and navy to defend, then if they start war again, they will last longer. If they cannot conquer for a long time, there will be variables, which will become a springboard for some extraterritorial countries to enter Europe. Therefore, the British still cannot underestimate them."

"Just talking about these two countries, the empires have been under great pressure. We have to face a brand new Russia in the east. Although it has lost a lot of land and resources, in terms of efficiency, they will be much stronger than the Normanov dynasty. At sea, we still have to face the re-emerging British naval and air force. But these are not the most important. I am worried that in the future, Britain, Russia and the United States will come together, and we will control the center of the world. Americans will not sit idly by and watch our powerful. When we lose the means of restraining our opponents, the next goal of the Americans is likely to be us, unless Americans are willing to limit their influence to the American continent."

Grand Duke Baden still has a very thorough understanding of the differences between the United States and Germany. The fact that the United States was able to sit together before was largely because the United States was not strong enough at the time and the pressure from the old empire represented by the Allies. But now, the United States is constantly developing, and the Americans have become confident in taking the initiative. The Group of Allies, which was the common enemy of the United States and Germany, was also defeated, and the basis of cooperation between the two sides has been severely weakened!

And it is foreseeable that in the future, whether in foreign trade or geopolitical terms, conflicts between the United States and Germany will surge! Americans do not want to see the entire Europe under the control of one country, and Americans will not curl up in the Americas. Like Germany, they want to become a great power with considerable control in every corner of the world! This is not even a problem that one side can retreat. After all, all countries in this era are accustomed to using war as the ultimate means to solve things, and without nuclear weapons, such an existence that can make owners feel feared, the cost of war does not seem to be that high! Until World War II educated mankind again!

"So, in the future, the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will face a stronger alliance. We will fight our opponents in the Atlantic Ocean, Eurasia, Africa and even South Asia. Our army is no longer fighting against our opponents only a few hundred kilometers away. We may have to concentrate millions of troops and opponents thousands of kilometers away to fight. This kind of consumption is terrible. The French at most let go of our hatred and choose to be neutral. It is unlikely to stand on our side. The Turkish Empire? Although this country has won by chance, it has no future." said Grand Duke Baden.

"So, I think we need a new and powerful ally, an ally that can help us relieve stress. This ally must have some strength and have this unresolved hatred with the United States, Britain and Russia. Only in this way can they stand on our side strongly." Grand Duke Baden thought for a while and said.

"So, do you think Japan might be our ally?" Ruprecht asked.

"Yes, the Americans want to expand to the Far East, but Japan regards the Far East as their back garden. Their contradictions are irreconcilable, and there are conflicts between Japan and Russia now. Japan is a country with a gambler character, and they dare to fight! In just 20 years from 1895 to now, they have participated in four large-scale wars. If Japan helps us to restrain Russia and the United States in the Far East, we will be much less pressure." said Grand Duke Baden.

"Do you think that because the irreconcilable contradiction between Japan and the United States and Russia is the basis for our alliance with Japan? Is that true?" Ruprecht said with a smile.

"That's right." said Grand Duke Baden.

"Do you know what the British would do if they were in our position?" Ruprecht asked with a smile. "Their approach will surely surprise and surprise you!"

"I don't understand what your words mean." said Grand Duke Baden.

"First of all, we know that the purpose of alliance is to support each other and exchange of interests. If I take out the interests a, I can choose to give you or not. Only when you decide to pay me another interest b will I give you a benefit a. This is called exchange." The crown prince said with a smile.

"That's right. If we allege with Japan is interest a, then the Japanese fight against the United States and Russia is interest b, and they exchange interest b for our interests a. This is exchange." said Grand Duke Baden.

"Wrong, this is not an exchange! Although Japan's objective struggle against the United States and Russia has indeed made the empire profit, because Japan has no choice, so whether we give them benefits or not, Japan will confront the United States and Russia. In this case, why should we pay Japan additional benefits? If we don't give benefits, Japan will not confront the United States and Russia?" the crown prince said with a smile.

You can get benefits without paying money, so who is willing to pay? Since Japan will confront the United States and Russia in any case, it will objectively benefit Germany, so why does Germany have to sign a treaty with Japan?

"But we can help the Japanese so that they can better fight against the United States and Russia!" Grand Duke Baden understood Ruprecht's words, but then said unwillingly.

"Haha, why should Japan listen to us? The basis of alliance is to have common interests, and having common enemies is not a sufficient condition for alliance! Can you understand this sentence?" Ruprecht said.
Chapter completed!