Chapter 134: Manipulating Diplomatic Negotiations
Bruno's words had stuck with Franz Joseph more than he intended them to. He had mentioned his "altruism" in passing, all the while neglecting to confirm his real ambitions. Which was to bring Russia and Austro-Hungary closer together.
Establishing a joint trade network between the three empires was the start of Bruno's masterful plan to manipulate international diplomacy in the favor of the German Reich. After all, if Germany did not have to worry about fighting a war on both its eastern and western borders, and instead simply had to maintain their line of defense against the French, then wiping out the Serbian and Italian Armies would be a matter of ease.
Not only that, but with Russia being forced to increase their efforts of industrialization as a consequence of the Civil War, they fought due to Bruno's interference in the timeline. They would be a far more powerful ally than the likes of Italy to have backed their alliance.
The problems came with how he would go about souring the relationship between Serbia and Russia. The latter of which had long since sought to control the Balkans within their sphere of influence. Something that Austro-Hungary also desired.
There were few diplomatic solutions to this problem. As it was not exactly like the Serbians could entertain both empires. However, if sabotaging the relations between the Kingdom of Serbia and the Russian Empire was possible, then it would go a long way towards deterring the Russians from investing in the region, or God forbid backing Serbia when the time for the war came.
After all, the Russian backing of Serbia had been a large reason for the Great War turning into a global conflict when it could have easily just been an extension of the Balkan Wars that preceded it by a single year.
Still, there was no doubt about the way things were headed. France would still support Serbia, and England would back the French. Turning this into a major conflict regardless of who Russia sided with.
In fact, at the current rate of geo politics, Russia was likely to still stay out of the war altogether as a result of Bruno's actions. And though that was more than acceptable, it would still be preferable that Russia gave its aid to Germany. If not in this war, then the next one that was destined to follow it.
Either way, that was a matter for the years to come. Establishing some form of incentive for the two relatively hostile powers to come together was a good start, and that was exactly what Bruno had done by convincing Franz Joseph to end his sanctions and tariffs against Serbia, and instead open up a network of meat trade from Serbia that would go through Austro-Hungary and Germany until finally reaching the Russian Empire.
After all, when everyone was profiting in some way or another, everybody was happy, right? Or such was the theory behind Bruno's methods. And sure enough, after no more than 48 hours, Franz Joseph I, having gone over the books and realized the losses he was sustaining in this foolishly advised Trade War, decided to do as Bruno advised.