Bab 45: Invasion of Sulawesi
Phosphate, which can be harvested from phosphorus ore, is a strategic commodity used not only as a fertilizer but also as an important ingredient in gunpowder.
So important, in fact, that a decade ago, a major war was fought in South America over a piece of phosphorus ore.
From February 1879 to January 1883, the Bolivian-Peruvian alliance fought Chile for about four years.
The war culminated in Chile's annexation of the Antofagasta province from Bolivia and the Tarapaca, Arica, and Tacna regions from Peru.
This was due to the enormous amount of phosphorus ore produced in Antofagasta.
Today, the world's phosphorus ore comes from South America.
The question is, did the British Empire wield the twin weapons of gunpowder and fertilizer to control not only the global distribution of guano, but also the world's largest producer of raw stone, the Indian Empire?
"And the gears that the British Empire put in place were just released when our German Empire discovered the island of Nauru."
"Well, if we take this one step at a time, we might actually succeed. The unification of the Aryan peoples...."
"Hmph. Not quite, but the fact that we, the German Empire, unlike the Qing Empire, are loosening one or two of the shackles that the British Empire has put on us is important."
"A small step for one man, but a giant leap for the German Empire."
"Indeed."
I'd have to do the math, but it's estimated that Nauru has between 45 million and 60 million tons of phosphate.
That's enough to last 30 years, until the end of World War I, in 1918, when a compound fertilizer mix of phosphoric acid and nitrogen was applied.
Maybe gunpowder would be enough to replace it?
Hmm.... Not enough, given the warmongering nature of the German Empire?
Anyway, if the Haber-Bosch method of making bread from air and nitrogen could be mass-produced, the pressure on resources would be considerably reduced, as it was in WWI.
"Kaiser...."
The day after I heard the news that the future of the German Reich was on Nauru.
I had more interesting news.
"But why?"
"Because the battleships of the United States of America.... by a cyclone."
"...!!!!"
Life is indeed funny.
***
March 15-16, 1889.
Robert Louis Stevenson could only watch in disbelief as a cyclone destroyed all three U.S. warships in the harbor.
The White House's performance was nothing short of humiliating.
62 dead.
One sloop sunk.
One steamer sunk.
One sloop sunk.
"That.... sucks."
"Yeah. We're screwed. The citizens are probably going to tear us apart."
"...To make matters worse, none of the German Empire's battleships were wrecked. Is that luck or was that a target?"
"The Reich practiced naval diplomacy in the Pacific and German New Guinea. That's how they were able to escape the cyclone's influence."
Now there was only one path left for the United States.
Negotiate with the German Empire.
"Contact the German ambassador. Let's negotiate."
"I'll also contact the ambassador of Great Britain. Ask him to mediate between Germany and the United States...."
"Damn it, the stupid Lincolnites took the shit, why do I have to clean it up?!"
"...So as soon as you were elected president, didn't you say you wanted to turn the battleships back to the mainland?"
"If I'd listened to you, the citizens would have been trying to tear me apart before the battleship was even sunk by a cyclone."
"You're.... probably right."
Benjamin Harrison was in trouble early in his term.
***
Capital of the British Empire.
London.
The British Empire was not surprised by the report card received by the United States.
They had hoped for a general victory for the German empire, not for the demoralization of the United States, which had slipped from their grasp, and the German empire, which had grown too rapidly in power in recent years.
"The German Empire and the United States of America were on the verge of declaring war, while three American battleships were smashed by a cyclone...."
"Given the stubborn and proud nature of the German Empire and the Kaiser, they're not going to go down without a fight. At the very least, the United States will have to give up a few territories."
"Hmm.... Do you really think the US would give up an island in the Pacific?"
The FCO of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Empire, the organization that runs the world.
They were able to second-guess the White House's actions based on mountains of data.
"The current president of the United States is an overtly isolationist Republican of the Monroe Doctrine. If a few Pacific islands can avoid friction with the world's second largest superpower, the German Empire, they'll take it in a heartbeat."
"Although it would be a disaster for the Lincoln-affiliated Republicans, who, boom! Stupid Yankees. A navy wiped out with only three battleships. I guess small countries are small countries for a reason."
"That's what I'm saying."
"By the way, how are we supposed to mediate this negotiation?"
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, FCO.
Joseph Chamberlain.
Beside him, Berry Beaufort House, the most elite member of the British secret service, said.
"I think we'd better side with the German Empire for now, after all, the Pacific isn't exactly our top national interest zone anyway."
"Indeed. Perhaps it would be better to increase the German Empire's influence in the Pacific."
Joseph Chamberlain nodded his head in agreement.
There were three reasons for this
Increasing German influence in the Pacific would allow the imperialist Kaiser to take his eyes off the jeweled lands of India and Africa and set his sights on Asian territory.
It would also save money on defense, which could be used to fund the interior ministry.
Next, the U.S. influence could be drastically reduced.
The United States of America has the potential to be the size of all of Europe, surpassing the German Reich in economic size alone, even with the Confederate States of America (CSA) broken up, and matching the mainland of the British Empire.
We need to maximize our economy while we still can.
And finally....
"Australia and New Zealand could cut down on unruly behavior."
"Recently, a group of leading Australian politicians got together and even simulated a rebellion to form a federation. They've grown a pair, and they want to leave the bosom of the British Empire. That's just plain stupid."
"Yes, it is. If they had a stronger German influence near their territory, they'd be even less likely to leave our bosom. Ugh, this is what happens when you have a bunch of criminals for ancestors."
Joseph Chamberlain said, clicking his tongue.
Just then, the door to the smoke-filled conference room burst open and an agent from the Foreign Office rushed out.
"Minister!"
"...Damn it, every time I see that look on his face, the world goes to shit."
Her forehead was beaded with sweat, and Joseph Chamberlain realized instinctively.
The world was not going to work out the way it always did.
"What is it?"
"Because the German Empire-"
"The German Empire again? What's wrong with those bastards?"
"Apparently, three battleships that were expanding their influence in the Pacific and the German Asiatic Fleet joined forces to invade the island of Sulawesi!!!"
"...Crazy assholes!"
Joseph Chamberlain marveled at the seemingly fearlessness of the German Imperial Army.
***
Sulawesi.
North.
Pre-dreadnought battleship.
One by one, the pre-dreadnought battleships that changed the nomenclature of the nation's naval power pounded the island of Sulawesi with their guns blazing.
And the garrison of German New Guinea, the brave soldiers of the German Empire, charged.
against the troops of the Triple Alliance under Dutch East Indies influence.
"Long live the German Empire! Long live the Kaiser! Long live German New Guinea! Charge!"
"Long live the German Reich! Long live the Kaiser! Long live German New Guinea! Charge!"
"Long live the German Reich! Long live the Kaiser! Long live German New Guinea! Charge!"
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PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
IQIX
IQIX South Korean novel translated into English through AI.
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