Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 137: League of the Four Emperors



As Bruno expected, it was not long before the four emperors who would forge the alliance to replace the Central Powers of this world were gathered together in the same room. Several months had indeed passed since the incident which sparked this meeting. After all, it would take some time for Emperor Meiji to travel to Europe considering the distance between his empire and that of the continent where the gathering would be held.

But in the end, the leaders of four of the world's major powers sat in the same room. Discussing the important issues to be had. Tsar Nicholas II had frankly been coerced by Bruno into relenting on the Balkan issue, as well as taking his father's stance in supporting the Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Something which he had strayed from initially upon ascending to the throne.

And it was because of Bruno's subtle manipulations in this regard that the Tsar spoke to the other emperors, voicing his support for these two things.

"I will be withdrawing all support for the Kingdom of Serbia following their attack on my soil. Whether or not Peter assisted, or if the assassins were rogue elements of his military, I cannot accept the fact that they dared to make such a bold violation of my sovereignty.

Considering this is the greatest issue that led to the collapse of the previously established order between our three empires. I am willing to relent on this issue in order to restore what had previously existed between our nations."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Kaiser Franz Jospeh was indeed surprised that the Tsar was willing to go to such lengths. But if the House of Romanov was willing to back off on their previous disputes over the Balkans, then there was no reason to continue antagonizing them, especially now that Russia was swiftly entering a fully industrialized state. Its economic potential was massive, and its vast natural resources would be useful to Austro-Hungary's own attempts to revitalize their military.

With all of this in mind, he nodded his head, agreeing to end the disputes between them, and formally enter a military alliance with the Russians.

"I say let bygones be bygones. With these disputes ending between us and our houses, I see no reason to continue fighting one another. The question, however, is if Japan can be so forgiving after the war you two have waged in the east so recently..."

All eyes were cast upon Emperor Meiji, who had been sitting quietly and sternly throughout the meeting so far. He had gotten what he wanted out of the war with Russia. His territorial gains were far greater in this life than in his past life, and he had no reason to continue fighting with the Russians over these previous disputes.

As a rational man, the one whose reforms had transformed Japan from an isolated and fragmented state, into a single unified Empire whose power and authority was on the verge of competing with his European rivals. Meiji knew when to forgive past grievances, especially if they had already been settled with Iron and blood.

With this in mind, he sighed, and spoke to Nicholas, offering a sense of solidarity, as he agreed to join hands with the three emperors in this room, to establish a formal military alliance between them all.

"What happened in the past has no bearing on how we proceed in the future. The British Empire has proven to be an unreliable friend, as they sent little aid into past conflicts. Moreover, I can't deny that certain members of my family have been pestering me towards building alliances on the global stage.

Germany has proven to be a valuable friend and trading partner. As for the rest of you, we either hold past grievances, or are total strangers. Either way, if Wilhelm is willing to vouch for this alliance, I am willing to sign my name on the defensive pact. That is, of course, if you are all willing to do the same?"

There was a long pause between the four Emperors until finally Wilhelm pulled out a pen and signed his name on the treaty which they had all drafted together. The mutual defensive pact stipulated that if any of their four empires were to be declared war upon, then the others were obligated to come to their defense.

In doing so, the League of the Four Emperors came into existence after all four Emperors had signed their names on the legally binding document. The Central Powers of Bruno's previous life had been replaced by this new faction, who would also be known throughout history as the United Imperial Powers. Or the Imperial Powers for short.

After coming to these agreements, and further discussing disputes with foreign nations, global ambitions, and a wide variety of other subjects, the four emperors went their distant ways. This secret gathering in Berlin would not immediately become known to the world, and would instead only privately be given out to the Generals of the nations which this newly established alliance was composed of.

As for Italy, they had not been invited to the meeting, despite formally still holding ties to Germany and Austro-Hungary. Repeated slights against the two empires had caused their leaders to view the Italians, and their King as untrustworthy.

And considering the clandestine nature of this diplomatic meeting, fears of the Italian King spreading word of this to their potential adversaries were large enough that they were excluded from the gathering altogether.

An incident which would ironically enough be the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. Because in the coming days, when King Victor Emmanuel III came to learn of this newly formed alliance, and that he had been excluded from the diplomatic convention which established it, he would immediately retaliate by switching sides, and approaching the French and British for support. Formally forming the Triple Entente as he did so.

Or at least, how the Triple Entente would manifest itself in this new timeline. Bruno, of course, was one of these generals, who was gathered at the Kaiser's palace, along with several other major figures among the German Reich's military leadership.

Where the Kaiser would inform him that the League of the Four Emperors was signed. Bruno acted surprised to hear it, but he knew it was inevitable after what had happened to him in Russia. Tsar Nicholas II was trying to win Bruno to his side after all, and quite frankly, Nicholas was a man who, when provoked, was known to act out of anger.

Because of this, Bruno had expected the Tsar would at the very least disregard Serbia entirely, thoroughly ending any involvement Russia would have in the upcoming Great War before it began. But it was also expected that with his ongoing efforts to fully industrialize Russia and flex the modernization of its military, that the man would be eager to join with his cousin Wilhelm, and put aside the differences previously had between Austro-Hungary, and Japan. Even if Nicholas did not care much for the Japanese, due to events that happened when he was much younger. At the very least, they would be a formidable ally in the years to come. And with enough persuasion from his ministers, many of which were either directly, or indirectly, acting on Bruno's behalf. He came to accept this alliance. Even if he was still very wary of the ally which lied on his eastern border.

Thus, a new military alliance was born. And in the coming years, many changes would result because of it, both domestically within these Empire, and abroad in reaction to their combined industrial and military might.