As Bruno predicted, relations began to sour between the Russian Empire and the German Reich following the end of the Boxer Rebellion. No doubt due to the actions Bruno had taken, standing up in the face of war crimes committed before his very eyes.
And because of this, the Kaiser and the Tsar were currently meeting in neutral ground within Vienna to discuss their disputes. The Russians felt humiliated following the deaths of their soldiers at the hands of the Germans.
Despite thorough investigations into their War Crimes, they refused to admit any wrong doings, specifically because China had not signed nor ratified the Hague convention in 1899, and because of this was not protected by its regulations.
With this mentality, they pursued justice in the face of their losses at the hands of the German Army. The Kaiser, of course, had no intentions of condemning Bruno for doing the right thing. Nor did he plan to keel over to Russian demands.
The Tsar may be his cousin, but the Russians were a backwater compared to the rest of Europe. Everything about the Russian Empire, whether it was its economy, agricultural output, cultural development, or its military might have been severely lagging behind that of its neighbors to the West.
While the west had already industrialized for decades and had managed to introduce mechanized agriculture in the previous century. The Russian Empire was woefully behind in the times. Trying their best to catch up, they only began to industrialize at the end of the 19th century. And they, as a civilization, would not be fully industrialized until the very end of the Great War.
Even then, it would ultimately be the Empire’s successor state, during the early days of the Soviet Union where the process of industrialization within Russia would finally come to completion.
This was in stark contrast to the Reich, who had long since reached a full state of industrialization. They could mobilize millions of men in the event of a conflict and give them modern weaponry. Something the Russians would struggle to achieve due to their lacking industry.
It was with this in mind that the Kaiser did not fear any threats his cousin may make and instead behaved rather confidently in these negotiations. Tsar Nicholas II was without a doubt the one lacking confidence as he struggled to press the Kaiser to relent to his demands.
“It is simply unacceptable! Over one hundred of my men lie dead because of the actions of your soldiers! It was a betrayal of our alliance, and I will not stand for it! I demand the officer who gave the orders to be handed over to the Russian Empire to stand trial for his crimes!
In addition to this, I demand reparations for the aggrieved families of those who were murdered by the hands of your soldiers.”
The Kaiser however would not back down in the face of such demands. In fact, he was quite confident that there was little the Russians could do to force his hand in this regard, and because of this he was rather calm, as he sat there in front of his cousin, blatantly rejecting his request to his face.
“An officer in the Russian Army pulled his sidearm and threatened an officer of the Reich. There were dozens of eyewitnesses who can testify to this. In addition to this, after my officer correctly responded in defense of his life towards a criminal who threatened him, the men in your army raised their rifles in an attempt to shoot my own.
It’s only justice that they were all gunned down on the spot. Perhaps if your men weren’t engaging in war crimes, they wouldn’t have felt the need to resort to such thuggery to protect their own necks. Your demands are simply unreasonable, and I have no reason to meet them.
We have come all this way, and at the end of the day, you have still chosen to behave like an immature brat, Nicholas. I’m very disappointed in you…”
Nicholas’s expression turned sour when he heard his cousin’s words. He felt the need to do something to save face and immediately threatened economic sanctions against the Reich if he did not get what he wished for. A bold move, but a foolish one.
“If you do not comply with my demands, then be prepared to face the consequences. Let’s see how the Reich does when I impose sanctions against it!”
Kaiser Wilhelm II looked at his cousin as if the man had been born a half-wit. He quickly explained why this was a bad idea, one that would affect the Russians more so than it would the Germans.
“Do you really believe such a course of action is wise when the Russian Empire is so heavily reliant on trade with Europe? Let’s not even talk about luxury goods such as silk, sugar, and wine. Your entire population relies on imports from Europe for necessary resources such as wool, flax, linen, leather, tallow, and pig iron.
How will your industrialization proceed without the iron gained from Europe? Do you believe I am not capable of convincing the other Great Powers to sever ties with you over such ridiculous sanctions?
Your reputation has taken a hit in the west following the atrocities that your men committed in China. It would be incredibly unwise to push your luck any further. Though, I suppose if you must proceed with such foolishness, you won’t blame me for being ruthless, now will you?”
Nicholas stared at Wilhelm with an intense sense of fury and concern in his eyes. What exactly did the Kaiser mean by that? Was he threatening him? The Tsar was quick to demand a straightforward response from his cousin.
“Are you threatening me with war, Wilhelm? Do not think Russia is so unprepared for such a conflict!”
Wilhelm simply rolled his eyes, and sighed before explaining that he was not threatening a direct war with the Russian Empire, but rather his intentions would reveal themselves should Russia proceed with sanctions.
“Not in the slightest. A war between the German Reich and the Russian Empire is in neither of our interests. But, don’t be surprised if I end up supporting any future enemies you might make in the coming years as a way to recover from the economic losses sustained during your sanctions.
Assuming, of course, you actually go through with such a threat. Which I would heavily advise against. ”
Frankly, the Tsar had no idea how to respond to this. Whereas the Austrian Kaiser was sweating bullets in the background. He was chosen to act as a mediator between the two Great Powers of the world. And yet, things had rapidly spiraled out of his control. He tried to calm the two youngsters, but their fury was something an old man like him could not keep up with.
“Now, now… The two of you are letting your tempers get the better of you. Let’s try to think this through rationally. Wilhelm, can’t you grant some kind of concession to Nicholas, even something minor? Such as a formal apology?”
Wilhelm however was stubborn and utterly refused to budge on this issue out of principle. Voicing the absurdity of such a compromise with a heightened and offended tone.
“Apologize? For what? The Russians are clearly at fault here. If I apologize for the deaths of every war criminal in the field, what kind of face would I have as a monarch? If anything, Nicholas should be apologizing to me for the horrific way which his men behaved in the field, and their poor attempt to silence my men who observed the atrocities they were committing!”
Ultimately, there was no agreement to be had. The Tsar would return to Russia, bitter and emboldened. Following through on his threat to impose economic sanctions against the Germans.
While the Kaiser responded to such endeavors by making formal contact with the Empire of Japan, who were already having squabbles with the Russians over disputed territory in Manchuria and Korea.
As Wilhelm predicted, the sanctions imposed by the Russian Empire had a greater effect on the Russians than they actually did on the Germans who simply made up for the cease of trade between the two nations by instead exporting the same value worth of materials and goods to the Empire of Japan.
And in doing so, the timeline had once more shifted from its original state. Relations between the German Reich and the Empire of Japan would continue to improve. Whereas the Russian population became increasingly belligerent towards the Tsar as a result of their failing industry, and its inability to meet their demands.
If things continued to progress this way, it was highly likely that the Kaiser would send German military advisors to the Empire of Japan when war officially broke out between them and the Russians in three years. Potentially culminating in the Japanese joining the Central Powers when the Great War finally arrived a decade later.
Such a future, would no doubt be beneficial to the Reich. And they would have Bruno to thank should this become the reality of this new timeline.
