African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1398: Chapter 374: The End of War (Part 2)

This is actually related to the mobilization of the Ottoman Empire. The total population of the Ottoman Empire is just over twenty million people. With such a small population and underdeveloped industry, the Ottoman Empire simply couldn’t support the logistics of a larger army.

If Russia hadn’t suddenly collapsed and if countries like Austria-Hungary could spare troops to support the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman Empire truly wouldn’t have been able to hold on.

This can be seen from the moment the United Kingdom began its offensive against the Ottoman Empire. At that time, the Ottoman Empire’s army could be said to fall apart at the first touch. Luckily, with the Baghdad railway open, ally reinforcements could arrive in time to prevent the worsening of the Ottoman Empire battlefield, eventually turning defeat into victory with the help of allies like Austria-Hungary.

William II said, ”Continuing the war is absolutely not good news for you, especially when the strength of the Royal Navy exceeds that of our countries.”

”The Ottoman Empire’s economy is mainly concentrated in coastal areas. If the war continues, all your coastal economic centers will suffer further blows, if you’re able to bear such a cost.”

Since the Age of Exploration, the global economy has started shifting towards coastal or water transport-developed areas. Even East Africa is no exception. Although East Africa pays attention to inland economy, the economic volume of the East Africa eastern and western coasts still represents the largest share.

East Africa is still like this, needless to say for other countries in the world. Although Germany’s economic distribution is relatively balanced, cities and industrial bases are also basically arranged along rivers, possessing an enviably developed inland waterway network.

And the Ottoman Empire’s economy naturally cannot escape this point. After all, foreign capital investments in the Ottoman Empire definitely choose areas with convenient transportation, and their penetration is inherently from outside inwards.

This is even more typical for the Far East Empire, where the penetration of great power capitals in the Far East Empire starts by occupying the coast, constructing commercial ports from south to north, then gradually moving inland through rivers.

William II said, ”Now, your performance has already shown that you cannot continue to sustain the war. Of course, the Allies are also not doing much better. From the economic and development standpoint, prolonging the war does not benefit the Empire’s progress.”

”After all, no one knows how long this war will continue. If it lasts for another few years, the final winner will definitely not be us, but the United States, East Africa, Japan, the spectators of this war.”

Although the United States has already joined the Allies, William II did not consider the United States as part of it. After all, given America’s location, even if the Allies could truly defeat England and France, they do not have the capability to cross the Atlantic Ocean to bother the Americans, at least militarily.

Regarding William II’s explanations, the Ottoman Empire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs naturally understands, but he still reminded, ”But how can you ensure that the Allies won’t renege on their commitments? Also, how can we guarantee our post-war interests?”

William II said, ”Rest assured on this point. After years of war, at least the patience of European countries has been exhausted. We must admit that we and other countries are under enormous pressure.”

”Thus, seeking peace is not only our idea but also that of other European countries. They also lack the energy to continue supporting the war’s continuation.”

”As for the interests of the Allies, our situation is much better than that of the Allies. After all, we gained considerable spoils from Russia; didn’t your country acquire a significant portion of the Caucasus territory?”

”Territorial expansion can always be explained to the citizens, while the Allies truly gained nothing. What we should worry about next is not the issue of ceasefire, but the Labor Party in Russia. After they stabilize domestic affairs, will they renege?”

William II’s words indeed made the Ottoman Empire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs feel tense inside. To be honest, Russia or Soviet Russia is a more terrifying monster than Tsarist Russia.

Although the Ottoman Empire and Tsarist Russia are mortal enemies, Tsarist Russia’s military conquests were not enough to frighten the Ottoman Empire’s upper society. After all, Tsarist Russia’s backward social system and brutal rule were not stronger than the decay of the Ottoman Empire.

But the Soviet Russian regime is completely different. They are ideological ”monsters.” This became evident in the past century when the Soviet Union could foster similar regimes in the Arabian Sect region, which is extremely remarkable.

After all, Western society’s military penetration and public opinion offensive towards the Arabian Sect region lasted over a thousand years, yet struggled to foster a spokesperson in the Middle East. America continued this practice in the past century, but in the 21st century, countries in the Arabian Sect region became increasingly doctrinaire and conservative, partially indicating that false democratic freedom has no market there.

Of course, this mainly targets the upper rulers of the Arabian Sect region’s countries, as using religion to govern the country incurs lower costs for them.

But the Labor Party’s ideological attack is completely different. It is especially seductive to the lower societal levels, not following an upper route, making it defenseless for countries like East Africa.

The Ottoman Empire’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said grimly, ”The Labor Party is an evil organization. We should indeed worry about the troubles they might cause us in the future, especially as we, the Allies, are in the forefront, too close to Russia.”