As George III's words fell, Alexander, Mahmud, and Franz were all moved.
Alexander cast an admiring glance at George III, then turned to Franz and said, "If the Ming can be defeated, we, the Russian Empire, are willing to support the Habsburg family's ownership of Austria and their rule over France."
Franz nodded and said to Mahmud, "We, the Habsburg family, will also support the Ottoman Empire's interests in the Indian region and be the first to recognize the Ottoman Empire as part of Europe."
Mahmud II was overjoyed.
Regarding interests in the Indian region, Mahmud didn't care much. What truly mattered to Mahmud was that Franz was willing to be the first to recognize the Ottoman Empire as part of Europe. The Ottoman Empire had been at war with Europe, even constantly fighting with Russia, all for the sake of becoming a part of Europe.
Franz II was also very pleased with Alexander's statement.
The territory ruled by the Habsburg family had shrunk considerably compared to before, almost to the Eagle Castle region. If they could gain the recognition and support of Russia, England, and the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburg family might not be able to rule France again, but at least they could regain Austria.
However, after his initial joy, Franz II slowly regained his composure. "It is difficult for just a few of us to create momentum for a global alliance against the Ming. After all, there is France, and that failed art student from Austria. France's interests are almost tied to the Ming, and that damned failed art student from Austria needs the Ming's recognition."
There was another even more important reason: the interests of the failed art student from Austria overlapped with the interests of the Habsburg family.
If Alexander and George III wanted to win over the failed art student from Austria, they would have to recognize the mustache artist's rule over Austria, which meant sacrificing the interests of the Habsburg family.
This was quite ironic.
On the surface, the failed art student from Austria's sphere of influence and military strength were far greater than those of the Habsburg family. Since Alexander wanted to rally European nations against the Great Ming, the failed art student from Austria should have been the priority target for recruitment.
However, Alexander had not chosen to recruit the failed art student from Austria at the first opportunity. Even though the Russian Empire had agreed with the failed art student from Austria to divide Poland, apart from the fact that the failed art student from Austria needed the Ming's recognition and was closer to the Ming, the most important reason was that the failed art student from Austria was not a European noble in the traditional sense.
Simply put, his bloodline was not pure enough, and Alexander looked down on the mustache artist's lineage.
Franz II was also very fortunate that Alexander did not fancy the mustache artist's bloodline. Otherwise, what role would the Habsburg family have?
Just as Franz II was secretly rejoicing, Alexander, George III, and the others frowned deeply, and Mahmud II felt a hint of despair.
Although this secret plot was kept confidential, only Russia, England, the Ottoman Empire, and the Habsburg family were involved, according to Franz II's analysis, there were currently France and Austria in Europe that were wholeheartedly supporting the Ming. If this scope were expanded to the entire world, how many countries would be following the Ming?
Or rather, how many countries would choose to follow Russia in targeting the Ming?
If they could not rally enough allies, an alliance of just Russia, England, the Ottoman Empire, and the Habsburg family would be insufficient to deal with the Ming…
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room fell into an eerie silence. Although there were four people present, there were three different thoughts.
George III and Alexander were thinking about how to win over more allies to deal with the Ming, Franz II was secretly relieved that Alexander had not chosen to recruit the failed art student from Austria, while Mahmud II felt a growing sense of despair.
After a long while, George III finally spoke, "There are so many countries in this world, why don't we split up and try to win over the allies we believe we can?"
Alexander nodded and said, "With Poland and the Ottoman Empire as the dividing line, the countries to the east will be the responsibility of our Russian Empire."
Hearing Alexander's statement, everyone present secretly cursed Alexander for his shamelessness. If Poland and the Ottoman Empire were the dividing line, how many countries would be left to the east? Did they still need the Russian Empire to recruit them?
However, while they cursed inwardly, George III and the others knew that now was not the time for infighting, as resisting the oppression of the Ming was more important.
After thinking for a moment, George III simply snorted, "We, England, can recruit the countries near France and the United States, including the countries south of the United States."
Franz II, the leader of the Habsburg family, also said, "Then we, the Habsburg family, will be responsible for recruiting the remaining countries in Europe. Perhaps the Ottoman Empire can be responsible for the countries in the West Kunlun?"
After Alexander, George III, and Franz II had each designated the countries they would try to win over, Mahmud II, who was already feeling a bit despairing, became even more despondent.
Under normal circumstances, the West Kunlun, which George III and Franz II had left to the Ottoman Empire to recruit, could be considered a good place. After all, West Kunlun was full of small countries, and they were not strong. Currently, they were recruiting large numbers of laborers from France. The businesses that could have made West Kunlun prosperous, such as oil and diamonds, were monopolized by the Ming. It was impossible for the Kunlun slaves in West Kunlun not to hate the Ming, and it should be easy to win them over.
However, the crux of the problem was that France, with a group of its cronies, was making great strides into West Kunlun.
If the Ottoman Empire sent envoys to recruit the small countries in West Kunlun, they might encounter French troops at any moment.
Once Ottoman envoys encountered French troops, it would mean that the plot against the Ming would be revealed to France.
If France knew, it would essentially mean that the Ming would know.
If the Ming found out about this secret plot before the entire world was completely united…
Thinking back to the news relayed by their envoys after attending the Small Pot Conference – how the Ming ambassador to the Small Pot had dealt with the Russian ambassador, how the Ming had directly humiliated Russia, and how powerful the Ming's military strength was…
Mahmud no longer had time for despair; instead, he felt regret, regretting why he had gotten involved in this conspiracy.
However, Mahmud also understood that since he had boarded the pirate ship, it would not be easy to get off. The only way out was to follow Russia, England, and the others and go all the way.
Just then, Alexander suddenly spoke again, "We need to hurry up and recruit other countries; we won't have much time."
Hearing Alexander's words, Mahmud II and George III were startled, and Franz II directly asked, "Are there other problems?"
Alexander shook his head and said, "There are no other problems, but I still feel uneasy, always worried that something unexpected will happen."
…
As Alexander, Mahmud, and the others dispersed and began to recruit the various countries in Europe and West Kunlun according to the plan, Emperor Zhu in the capital of the Great Ming suddenly felt a headache.
Because the secret gathering of Alexander and Mahmud and others, including the matters they discussed, had already been placed on Emperor Zhu's desk.
"Alexander, George III, Mahmud II, and Franz II held a secret meeting at the Eagle Castle of the Habsburg family to discuss uniting the countries of Europe and West Kunlun to jointly attack the Great Ming."
Emperor Zhu was not afraid that Alexander and the others could rally other countries to attack the Great Ming; he simply felt annoyed.
This was endless, wasn't it? First, England caused trouble, then Bengazi caused trouble, then Russia caused trouble, the United States cut itself, and now Alexander and others wanted to unite other countries to jointly attack the Great Ming. Damn it, did they think that the temper of this Emperor of the Great Ming was too good?
Casually throwing the intelligence to Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming, Emperor Zhu couldn't help but sigh, "I see it now. On this small broken globe, there isn't a single barbarian who likes our Great Ming."
Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming huddled together and started reading the intelligence, as if they hadn't heard Emperor Zhu's complaints at all. Who was the main culprit behind the current situation? It was you, Emperor Zhu! It was our Great Ming!
If it weren't for the Great Ming constantly draining the lifeblood of the various countries, if it weren't for the Great Ming's envoy in the Small Pot frantically slapping the faces of others at the Small Pot Conference, would those barbarians have thought of uniting to attack the Great Ming?
Putting themselves in the shoes of Alexander and the other barbarian monarchs, if it were themselves, they probably wouldn't like the Great Ming either.
Of course, Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming could understand Alexander's feelings, but they would absolutely not forgive their actions.
As the saying goes, sing according to the mountain you are on. Zeng Cheng, as the chief minister of the Great Ming's cabinet, and Liu Heming, as the grand commander of the Great Ming's Five Military Commissions, only considered the interests of the Great Ming. How could they care about the lives and deaths of those barbarians?
Seeing that Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming were ignoring him, Emperor Zhu couldn't help but say with a wronged expression, "These barbarians are preparing to unite and attack our Great Ming. What are your thoughts, my lords? Please share them."
Liu Heming handed the intelligence to Zeng Cheng, then said with murderous intent, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe this act by the barbarians is treasonous and should be met with the full might of our army to punish the disobedient, capture their kings, destroy their countries, obliterate their descendants, and serve as a warning to future generations!"
As Liu Heming finished speaking, Zeng Cheng had also finished reading the intelligence.
Casually handing the intelligence to Liu Huaiwen, Zeng Cheng then bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once said: 'The barbarians are beasts; they fear awe but do not embrace virtue.' Wei Zheng also said: 'The Rong Di people have human faces and beastly hearts; they submit when weak and rebel when strong, which is their inherent nature.'"
"Alexander murdered his father and then incestuously assaulted his sister. He has a human face but acts like a beast. He was enfeoffed as Tsar of Russia by Your Majesty, but instead of repaying your kindness, he plots rebellion. He is a beast!"
"George III, Franz II, and Mahmud II have also received much imperial favor, yet they now associate with those with wolfish ambitions like Alexander, and are thus unfit to be called humans."
"The people of regions like Russia, England, Austria, and the Ottoman Empire, with such rulers, must be suffering."
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven and has the responsibility to pacify the people. Therefore, I request to follow the Grand Commander's proposal and send heavenly soldiers to alleviate the suffering and punish the disobedient!"
Zeng Cheng's words actually confused Emperor Zhu.
Although the death of Paul I had been arranged to be attributed to Alexander by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who among those present didn't know how Paul I had actually died?
As for George III… if Emperor Zhu remembered correctly, George III seemed to have been ridiculed by a doctor from the Great Ming?
As for Franz II and Mahmud II, there was even less to say. The former had been severely beaten by the French supported by the Great Ming and then by the failed art student supported by the Great Ming. As for the latter, his country's oil was forcibly purchased by the Great Ming at a deeply discounted price.
From these aspects alone, these fellows did indeed have grudges against the Great Ming. How did they become people who had received imperial favor and yet harbored rebellious intentions in Elder Zeng's mouth?
After regaining his senses, Emperor Zhu turned his gaze to Liu Huaiwen.
All in all, fighting wars ultimately came down to money.
Especially for a war where a single country challenged the entire world, the required military expenses were an immeasurable astronomical figure.
If Liu Huaiwen suddenly said that the national treasury had no money, the war would be difficult to fight. To be fair, the Great Ming had spent countless money on infrastructure over the years, and the pressure on the national treasury was indeed not small.
However, what Emperor Zhu did not expect was that Liu Huaiwen actually said, "Since we are going to fight, let's fight big. In addition to the original military budget, the national treasury can allocate an additional thirty billion Dragon Yuan Treasury notes."
Emperor Zhu was shocked.
Zeng Cheng and Liu Heming, and others were also shocked.
Thirty billion Dragon Yuan Treasury notes?
That was three hundred million taels of silver!
Although three hundred million taels of silver didn't sound like much, it was less than half of Heshen's fortune. However, Heshen's fortune was accumulated over many years with the tacit approval of the deaf-mute old dog Qianlong. Meanwhile, the Great Ming's national treasury was constantly spending money on road construction, military expansion, and the establishment of schools. The budgets approved each year were like flowing water. Now, they could still come up with three hundred million taels of silver?
How on earth did Old Man Liu the Miser manage to save so much silver?
What was even more incomprehensible to Emperor Zhu, Zeng Cheng, and Liu Heming was what illness Old Man Liu the Miser had contracted this time, to be willing to spend so much money as military expenses?