Start 1861: I Just Inherited the Dutch Throne

Prussia, Berlin.

"Should Prussia go south and invade Verdun, France?"

William I's thoughts about Bismarck suddenly brightened when he heard Bismarck's thoughts.

At present, all the favorable factors are on Prussia's side. In this case, why not first cut off the territory of eastern France and become Prussia's territory? After all, it borders Prussia. It’s also easy to manage, so why bother getting inside the 30 million people in France?

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that it would be extremely difficult for Prussia to occupy France, but it would be good if it was in the east.

Chief of General Staff Moltke naturally agreed.

"The Kingdom of Prussia currently has one million troops and a population of 45 million, while France has 33 million. I killed 600,000 troops. I killed 150,000 and 450,000. There are 150,000 regular troops in the Far East and there are 300,000 regular troops left, but the war potential of 33 million people is It’s huge enough, and nearly one-third of our population of 45 million are citizens of the small German Confederation that we have just annexed. They don’t quite agree with Prussia yet. If the war is really going to aim at occupying the entire French Empire, phew”

Mao Qi said frankly: "I think we still have some internal worries, and there seem to be a lot of difficulties."

Prime Minister Bismarck: "Because I have seen this clearly, the Lorraine-Alsace region has become the target of our current encroachment. After that, it is the eastern part of France that we currently occupy, and Sedan all the way to the northern tip of Switzerland has become our target." I think the direction Prussia should strive for”

Bismarck quickly came to the battle map hanging on the wall. As he moved, everyone's eyes also fell on the north-south straight line he drew.

William I pondered for a while and said: "Sedan-Verdun-Tours-Belfort?"

Bismarck nodded and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, please see, I designed a layered strategy to advance the goals layer by layer. The first layer is the Lorraine-Alsace region that is now completed, and the second layer of goals is the current goal. Sedan-Verdun-Tours-Belfort"

Mao Qi asked with curious eyes: "What is the third level?"

"The third floor from north to south is Riche-Douai-Saint-Quentin-Reims-Challontrois-Chaumont-Dijon-Lonsoigne." Bismarck glanced at William I with a little respect. , and then explained: "As long as these three floors are taken, the troops will be at the gates of Paris, and one-sixth of the entire French Empire will fall into our hands. At this time, we will be much more relaxed, and we can advance or retreat."

"Where is the fourth floor?" William I asked hurriedly while holding back his excitement.

It has to be said that the pie painted by Bismarck is enough to keep him awake at night. The opportunity to defeat the French Empire and replace it is right in front of him. I wonder which European country's monarch can calm down?

"Fourth level?" Bismarck shook his head, "Your Majesty, I'm not here to throw cold water on you. If we can complete these three levels and the territory of the French Empire falls into our hands, we should feel lucky."

Moltke asked William I: "But with the current combat power of France's army, it seems that it is not impossible to defeat more places in France."

Bismarck pointed his finger to the southwest and sneered: "Do you think Queen Victoria will watch us annex the French Empire and threaten the English Channel? When we annexed the Kingdom of Hanover, Britain was still hesitant. In the end, it was because the French Empire was checking us. So we choose to watch quietly. But if we are determined to take over the French Empire this time, the result will be that the fate of Napoleon I will be ours."

Moltke asked curiously: "Then we will still attack Paris?"

When William I heard this, he also looked at Bismarck.

This decision is definitely the most important thing for Prussia next. How to go to war and what the goal is. These are the reasons for the continuation of the war or its end.

Now, Prussia needs a reason to continue the war. If according to what Bismarck said just now, occupying the eastern part of the French Empire is the ultimate limit, then attacking Paris will naturally become an unnecessary action. In this case, will the Prussian army continue? Just put the target on the third level when you get down. In this way, concentrating firepower to capture them will be the next target for Moltke to preside over the three major Prussian armies.

William I also had doubts about whether to attack Paris.

What is undeniable is that when Bismarck mentioned Britain and Napoleon I just now, he couldn't help but tremble, because he could clearly remember the siege of Napoleon I by multiple European powers. He was born in 1798 and observed it closely as a Prussian prince. He was 17 years old when the Congress of Vienna, which marked the end of the war, was held in 1815.

Therefore, I was deeply impressed by France being defeated by a group of countries.

So at this moment, the balance in his heart was slowly moving toward not wanting to attack Paris.

Just when William I and Moltke thought Bismarck disapproved of the attack on Paris, Bismarck's unexpected answer surprised them both.

"Paris must be attacked," Bismarck said with great pride: "The French Empire has collapsed, so why can't Prussia replace them? But to let other countries know that we, Prussia, deserve to replace them, then what else can be better than defeating them? The capital Paris is more impactful. What could be better than that after our Prussians occupied Paris, the capital of the French Empire, our great King William I officially declared our victory in the Franco-Prussian War in Paris."

Driven by the quality and Bismarck's passionate words, Wilhelm I and Moltke, two men with a combined age of over 140, couldn't help but get emotional.

Just imagining that scene makes people excited. What if the real scene is in front of us? What kind of scene is it?

"As long as we win the recognition of all countries there, then those people in our country who are annexed by countries with different intentions will no longer dare to act rashly. And do I have a way to solve it once and for all?"

"What method?" William I.

Bismarck made an astonishing statement: "His Majesty officially declared victory over the French Empire in Paris and then replaced it to establish Prussia's promotion to the status of an empire. In order to completely bring back those who were annexed and had different intentions, Your Majesty can replace the one that now only refers to us Prussians." national"

Mao Qi felt incredible when he heard this. He looked at William I who was also shocked after hearing this.

Bismarck said excitedly: "The German Empire!"

German Empire!

The eyes of William I and Moltke were as big as they were at this time.

Moltke could even see William I shaking all over next to him.

Not to mention His Majesty William I, he also felt the beating of cells all over his body.

And Bismarck's voice was obviously trembling.

The three of them looked at each other. William I faced the expectant looks of Bismarck and Moltke. Finally, he chose to nod his head heavily.

The German Confederation became the Prussian German Empire!

The three finally merged the same concept!