She changed Europe

Page 23

PS1: Bismarck of the East

Chapter 81 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 15 Bismarck's Apology

The standoff between the two outside continued—

"No...no..." Gisela bit her lip, her expression extremely embarrassed. After all, Gisela had been a macho man for so many years, and her understanding of girls was completely limited to doujinshi and porn. During her time as Gisela, apart from her own crafts, she would never study such erotic things.

It's practically impossible for her to pull off a counterattack like the Ardennes against Bismarck, who has a physical and strength advantage over her.

As the Prime Minister's intentional or unintentional actions tugged at Gisela's heartstrings, and combined with her own physiological condition, Gisela almost lost all strength after a brief tremor, sitting on Bismarck's lap and then falling face-first towards him. Even Bismarck did not expect that the princess would suddenly lose her strength, and under the influence of the sudden increase in weight on her chest, she also lost her balance and fell straight towards the wardrobe door.

A dull thud rang out, followed by the two figures tumbling out of the wardrobe. The two figures then appeared in front of Rita and Chloris.

"Bismarck?!"

"Your Highness?!" Gisela and Rita exclaimed their names almost in unison.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he could clearly feel that his stockings were a little damp, and Gisela's expression became even more subtle.

"Please give me a reasonable explanation, Lord Bismarck." The two, who were on the verge of exchanging blows just a second ago, asked the same question in perfect unison the next second.

Explanation in progress—

Only after everyone understood did Bismarck wipe the sweat from his brow with a hint of helplessness, and he couldn't help but start to doubt his own life.

My name is Bismarck! I am the Prime Minister of Prussia. Some people say that she is an uncrowned king, but I just want to say to them: "You can't just say things like that. If it weren't for the support of King William III, her policies would not have achieved such great success in Prussia."

Bismarck used to think she had nothing to do with ladylike manners. When I was in school, those effeminate boys said I was too manly and that no one would ever marry me. Of course, I was ruthless and didn't say much, so I fought those rude rascals one by one and broke their noses, watching them cry and scream on the ground. Of course, I was expelled from school because of this incident.

My father had no choice but to send me to some girls' school, hoping I would become as refined as other noble ladies. Of course, I never disappointed him; for a time, my reputation was exceptionally good, leading my father to frequently receive marriage proposals from other noble families. My father even wanted to marry me directly to the eldest son of a distinguished marquis in the area.

When I was twelve, I awakened to become a magical being and then, without my father's knowledge, went to Berlin to make my way in the world. I started as a riverbank supervisor and later became a member of the Berlin City Council. In 1848, the French Revolution broke out, and I met the wife of Prince Wilhelm. I assisted her husband, who is now the King of Prussia, in ascending to the throne and suppressing the revolution, which later led to my becoming the Prime Minister of Prussia.

Originally, my personality wasn't as irritable as it used to be as I grew up. However, perhaps to distract myself, I developed a drinking habit. Whenever I was in a bad mood, I liked to vent my emotions by drinking beer. But I never made any major mistakes because of it, until now...

Bringing his thoughts back, Bismarck sat down and looked apologetically at Gisela, who was sitting opposite him, changing clothes with Rita's help.

As for Chloris in the room, she looked at her Prime Minister with some helplessness. She couldn't get back the face that Bismarck had lost today. The key was that he had also disrupted her plans. If she wanted to make any further moves, it would definitely attract the attention of Gisela and Rita, so the opportunity was not so suitable.

"No matter what, it's my responsibility, and I apologize to you." Bismarck was a proud person, but she wasn't unreasonable. Knowing she was in the wrong, she naturally took the initiative to assume responsibility.

"It's alright, Miss Bismarck, what happened today was just an accident. Everyone will forget about it soon, won't they?" To be honest, Gisela was a little uncomfortable with the blonde woman's earnest apology. What's more, she later realized that she hadn't really suffered any loss. She was embarrassed, but she had indeed gotten a taste of her own medicine. It has to be said that Bismarck's figure was indeed better than her own Rita's, at least at the level of the headmistress of Selena Academy, although it might not be as good as her mother's.

“Your Highness, we can’t let this go! She humiliated you like this… and caused you…” As she spoke, Rita’s usually cold face was now filled with hostility towards Bismarck and Chloris, and her purple eyes flashed with anger. If Gisela had given the order now, Rita would have rushed forward without hesitation to teach them a lesson, even if it meant facing the two magic users directly.

"Rita, don't make me say it a second time!" Gisela's sudden stern look made Rita suppress her anger for a moment, but she involuntarily tightened her grip on the white cloth that had been removed.

“This is because of His Highness’s orders,” Rita said, looking up at the Prussian before her.

"Alright, Miss Bismarck, please promise me that you won't drink so recklessly again, and you won't do anything indecent because of it, okay? After all, you are someone I admire very much, and I prefer your appearance on formal occasions." Gisela, being a former boy, wanted to appear magnanimous. Besides, she did have a natural attraction to the blonde mature woman in front of her, because she did resemble her game wife.

"I understand." Bismarck nodded, her blue eyes showing a hint of appreciation for the girl before her.

“Then please lift your foot, Your Highness.” Rita spoke directly, not giving the two a chance to talk any further.

“Okay!” Gisela obediently lifted her feet, and Rita skillfully slipped the new black patterned panties through Gisela’s calves, then down her thighs, and then to her groin, until they were completely on.

"Your Highness has changed." Rita appeared very respectful, or perhaps there was something else going on?

"If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave now. In any case, we had a very pleasant time tonight!" With that, Gisela put her hat back on and hid her swaying fox tail under her skirt.

"Very well, it's fate that we meet again, Your Highness Gisela. I am extremely sorry for what happened today." This time it was Chloris's turn. It seemed her carefully planned scheme would have no chance of being carried out today. Seeing the Prime Minister's rare embarrassment, she could only sigh helplessly and say that there would be other opportunities.

PS1: Gisela is much stronger than her counterpart in the old timeline; she just met a tough opponent 0v0!

Chapter 82 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 16 Across the Ocean (Seeking Votes)

While the aristocrats and celebrities of Berlin's Old World were still enjoying their banquets, on the other side of the ocean in the New World, in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, it was a sunny afternoon.

The United States of America, the undisputed future world hegemon, had just emerged from the painful aftermath of the Civil War. President Lincoln was fortunate to lead the Union army to victory against the Confederate States of America, preserving the unity of the nation.

Even though he died in a despicable assassination attempt by the Confederate States of America on the eve of victory, the Union Army's victory was already a foregone conclusion. It was precisely because of his leadership that this young nation cleared the last obstacle to its development and marched triumphantly toward the throne of the world's leading power.

At that moment, a tea party was taking place on the lawn outside the White House.

"Congratulations, Mr. Ulysses S. Grant, on becoming the first president of the newly formed United States." A refined-looking, polite, and well-mannered man smiled and offered his congratulations to President Grant.

"Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Rockefeller. Without your help, I believe I would not have succeeded. And of course, Mr. Morgan, I will not let you down regarding the Saskatchewan Railroad." The Saskatchewan Railroad was a vital artery connecting industrial cities and coalfields in the eastern United States.

Its starting point was in Alba, the capital of New York State, and its terminus was Binghamton in northern Pennsylvania, spanning over 220 kilometers. Binghamton had long been a renowned coal distribution center due to its numerous railroad connections to coal-producing regions. Furthermore, this railroad connected to the Erie Railroad in the south and reached Chicago, a major city in the American Midwest, in the west. Steel from Pittsburgh and oil from the Oil River could be transported to New York via this route. Therefore, for the rapidly expanding Morgan and Rockefeller families, controlling this railroad was tantamount to controlling the industrial lifeline of the United States.

"And of course, the operating rights for the Pacific Railroad, I will certainly speak up for you there too." President Grant fawned over the two businessmen before him, as if he had been elected not by the people, but by the businessmen themselves.

It is worth mentioning that the Transcontinental Railroad, stretching over 3000 kilometers, traverses the east and west coasts of the United States. Historically, Chinese laborers made outstanding contributions to the construction of this railroad, and also paid a heavy price. A well-known saying, "Under every sleeper lies the body of a Chinese laborer," refers to the hundreds and thousands of Chinese laborers who lost their lives during the construction of this railroad.

"We need more railways, our west coast has abundant resources, and vast lands that our people need to cultivate. We need funds, we need more funds. Relying on our people is far from enough to support our ambitions." President Grant said this with great confidence, and the meaning in his words was self-evident.

"The capitalists in the Old World have enormous wealth in their hands, wealth that sits idle and has nowhere to go. Let them come. We need Britain, we need France, we need Germany, we need Russia, we need Austria. Their wealth will be the best catalyst for our progress." Although President Grant was quite mediocre as a politician, he was unusually perceptive as a businessman.

“You’re absolutely right, Mr. President. We need to find an excuse to attract Old World entrepreneurs to invest in us.” Mr. Morgan nodded in agreement.

"So, is there any good way?" President Grant raised his right hand and gently tapped his head, looking quite confused.

"Perhaps those Jews in the Old World can help us," Mr. Rockefeller said with a smile, appearing quite casual.

"Damn it, don't tell me you're planning to bring the Sixth Empire to the New World again." Mr. Morgan slammed his cane on the ground, clearly extremely displeased.

"The Sixth Empire is a natural disaster for the capital market. If we relax our vigilance even slightly, our economic position, which we have built up over the years, will face a serious challenge. Don't forget how many years our predecessors spent trying to regain control of the Federal Reserve. Mr. Rockefeller, I absolutely will not agree with your idea."

“Mr. Morgan! We are no longer what we used to be. To acquire greater wealth, we must have the courage to take risks! Only the brave can tame dragons.” Rockefeller straightened up. This newly minted energy tycoon had the capital to be proud. A person who could stand out from thousands of entrepreneurs in America and be qualified to sit on the lawn outside the White House and chat with the president could not be mediocre.

"Gentlemen, do you know that there is a saying in the far East: 'The right time is not as important as the right place, and the right place is not as important as the right people?' We now have all three, so I do not believe we will be unable to subdue the Sixth Reich." Rockefeller raised his hand as if to emphasize his point, "Therefore, I implore the President to call on Congress to lift restrictions on European capital inflows and lower the barriers to entry for capital."

"I wholeheartedly agree with your point of view, Mr. Rockefeller." President Grant nodded. This would indeed solve the current problem of capital shortage for domestic railway construction. The massive influx of foreign capital would inevitably drive the expansion of steel, railway transportation, and even the entire industrial system, which would undoubtedly be a powerful boost to the economic development of the United States, which had just experienced the devastation of the Civil War.

"Damn it, Mr. Rockefeller and Mr. Grant, your flawed decisions will surely destroy the United States' advantageous economic position in the hands of the Old World capitalists." Mr. Morgan stood up, put on his hat, and complained indignantly before resolutely leaving the tea party.

"Mr. Morgan is getting old," President Grant shrugged and joked to Mr. Rockefeller beside him.

"He will understand best that this is an inevitable path to keep up with the times." Although Rockefeller and Morgan had just had a heated argument and seemed to have parted on bad terms, they both represented the United States' top financial groups and powers. One represented industry, represented by energy and mining, and the other represented finance, represented by banking and insurance. Ultimately, they would reach a consensus on issues concerning national development.

Grant leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and then picked up his white porcelain cup. Clearly, the discussion was over, and he could finally enjoy his afternoon tea in a proper way.

“Mr. Grant, look who’s here.” Rockefeller gave President Grant a wink, and President Grant turned around as prompted by Mr. Rockefeller.

PS1: Doesn't this have a really strong cinematic feel? 0v0!

Chapter 83 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 17 Scientists of the New World

A tall, slender girl with long, ocean-blue hair entered President Grant's field of vision. The girl had a cold expression, and her long hair was tied into a ponytail, making her look very capable.

“Miss Nancy Thomas Alva Edison, what brings you here?” President Grant stood up and bowed politely to the lady before him. Of course, Mr. Rockefeller also stood up and bowed, expressing his absolute respect for the young woman.

Nancy Thomas Alva Edison is the chief researcher at the American Magic Research Institute and one of only three Magic Users in the United States. She can be said to represent the strongest fighting force in the United States today.

It is worth mentioning that even though the United States of America has experienced rapid economic and population growth, and has just experienced the Civil War, and its army is far larger than that of most European countries, one important reason why its international status is still not high is that the number of its magic users is far less than that of the traditional powers on the European continent. In addition to the insufficient number of magic users, another shortcoming is the insufficient production of magic artifacts. This is a common problem for newly developed immigrant countries, and it cannot be remedied in a short period of time.

Fortunately, supported by Professor Frankstein's theories, the United States has cultivated a large army of magical warriors, and with Miss Edison's technical support, significant breakthroughs have been made in the field of magical armor. Furthermore, the Civil War of several years ago provided the United States' army with considerable combat experience and data, pointing the way for future research into magical armor. It can be said that the United States is now at the forefront of the application of basic magical energy.

"Appropriate funds." The blue-haired girl before him spoke succinctly, showing no interest in small talk or the grand pronouncements of these important figures. Before he could react, she swiftly tossed a research grant application into President Grant's hands.

"Ahem!" Although it wasn't the first time President Grant had dealt with Miss Edison, he still couldn't immediately keep up with the young woman's pace.

"Ms. Edison, may I ask what kind of research project this is?" The questioner was Rockefeller. Although as someone outside the system, he shouldn't be meddling in such matters, this was America, the beacon of "freedom and democracy," where "collusion between officials and businessmen" was a constitutionally guaranteed right! (Humorous)

“It’s written very clearly up there. Don’t you recognize the words?” The girl responded calmly to the energy tycoon, then turned her gaze to President Grant.

"Mr. Rockefeller, let me show you." President Grant took off his glasses and gently rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Rockefeller took the plan from President Grant and began to read it carefully.

A moment later—

"They're developing another new magic armor?!" If Mr. Rockefeller's memory serves him right, Ms. Edison just announced the new Independent Type VII magic armor at the beginning of the year.

"Yes, sir, I believe that our United States' Independent Type VII Magic Armor has serious flaws. Its rudimentary gliding ability is insufficient to meet the needs of actual combat, so I want to redesign it."

"Have other major European powers made any breakthroughs in this area of ​​research?" President Grant asked the young girl.

"No, I can assert that we are far ahead of other European countries in this area of ​​technology."

"Then the research plan is not needed for the time being."

"Why, Mr. President!" The girl frowned slightly, her wine-red eyes filled with incomprehension.

"The United States has no intention of competing with the European powers for world hegemony, nor is it necessary to arouse their vigilance. Our focus now is on economic development." During this period, isolationism remained prevalent in the United States.

"Okay, I understand." With that, Miss Edison turned and left without lingering for even a moment.

“She’s a genius, but she doesn’t understand politics.” President Grant looked at Rockefeller beside him.

"Perhaps," Rockefeller remarked, gazing in the direction Edison had left.

If he were Miss Edison, he would definitely package the project to make it seem legitimate, especially to convince those idiots in Congress. After all, it would take a lot of time just to explain the use of the new magic energy device to them. Moreover, the war has just ended, and the United States' defense pressure is not as great as it was during the war. Therefore, the US military is not eager to upgrade its equipment, unless you can get more members of Congress to get a share of the project, but that requires a sufficiently large pie.

Meanwhile, on the street outside the White House lawn, Nancy opened the carriage door in front of her, revealing a girl with fiery red hair, tied in two ponytails. The girl's slightly upturned eyes gave her a slightly aggressive air of strong will, but the intellectual aura created by her red-rimmed glasses perfectly balanced this impression. She was a woman with an exceptionally strong presence, practically embodying the word "confidence" itself.

Her name was Frederica Nikola Tesla. She was born into a Serbian family in the village of Smiwan in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both her parents were Serbian, and she was the fourth of five children. The village was located near Gospić in the Lika province of the Austrian Empire (now part of Croatia).

During his childhood, Tesla attended school in Karlovac, Croatia, and at the age of eight, he was recognized as a genius and entered the Technical University of Graz in Austria to study physics, mathematics, and mechanics. He only attended university for one year before his scholarship was revoked due to a change in imperial policy. He was forced to drop out because he could not afford the tuition fees.

During this time, she caught the eye of Ms. Edison, who was on a business trip to Europe. She was invited to study in the United States, and she paid for her travel and tuition fees herself. She was also invited to work at her research institute after graduation.

So the two reached an agreement that Miss Tesla would immigrate to the United States to continue her studies. Although she was not a magic user, she had a talent in her mind that was no less than that of Edison. The two had a close relationship, both as teacher and friend. There were rumors that the two might be a couple, but such rumors were naturally resisted by mainstream public opinion, since the church did not allow such a relationship to exist.

"Judging from your expression, they don't seem willing to pay?"

“Hmm…” Nancy didn’t say much, but nodded and sat down next to Tesla, leaning against him, looking a little tired.

"No one can remain unscathed until they possess absolute force and strength. They may be unwilling now, but they will regret it later!" Tesla rolled up his sleeves, looking like he was ready to stand up for his friend.

"What do you want to eat?" Nancy asked calmly.

"There's a nice Italian restaurant on the next street, wanna try it?" Tesla asked in a low voice.

“Hmm!” Nancy nodded, unwilling to say even a single word more, truly sparing with her words.

PS1: Tesla is that red-haired guy 0v0

Chapter 84 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 18 Berlin Holiday (Seeking votes and collections)

"Hey! Mr. Joe Bradley, your luggage." Accompanied by the landlady's unfriendly words, poor Mr. Bradley was completely kicked out of the hotel. As a reporter sent to the Berlin office of an obscure American newspaper, he paid almost all of his own accommodation and food expenses. Moreover, because he had not mastered good news-gathering channels to obtain valuable news materials, he had not received his salary from the newspaper for nearly three months.

With today being rent collection day, and lacking enough Marks to pay the rent, he was rudely evicted from the apartment by the landlady in this very unseemly manner.

"Damn it!" Bradley rubbed his slightly disheveled hair. Although his father had told him when he was young that a journalist must maintain a respectable image, because you are speaking for the people, and this should be a noble and respected job, the newspaper didn't care about the truth at all; they only cared about whether the news could attract attention and increase sales.

You always have to choose between ideals and reality. He's now completely uninterested in his image.

"Sigh! Prussians are even more serious and dull than I imagined, living the same monotonous life every day. How could there be any big news in such a lifeless city?" Bradley complained as he carried his luggage toward the river.

Having grown up in the New World, he had heard many of his ancestors' recollections of the old world—recollections filled with joy and happiness, but also countless hardships and difficulties. Yet, these stories all shared a common thread: a longing for the old world. For as people age, their past experiences, like fine wine, become sweeter with age.

But at that time he did not understand this principle. Coming to the Old World became his lifelong wish. When he discovered that becoming a journalist would give him the opportunity to go to the Old World, he resolutely chose this thorny path because he believed that he would become the best journalist.

"Damn it!" Bradley sat on a bench, gazing at the quietly flowing Spree River, uttering words only he could understand.

“This is the dream you’ve been pursuing.” Bradley sighed as he looked at his worn-out suitcase and the numerous patches on the inside of his suit.

"What should I do?" The man took out his wallet and pulled out a small amount of marks, enough for only three days' worth of expenses. After three days, he would be penniless and a real beggar.

"Forget it, let me worry about what happens three days from now. I'll just find a place to stay first." Bradley wasn't a sentimental person, and pointless lamentations wouldn't affect his life forever. Perhaps it was this optimism that allowed him to meet a benefactor in his life, planting the seeds for him to become a future giant in the journalism world.

Bradley stood up, carrying his suitcase, and walked along the riverside path. As if to relieve his unhappiness, he even hummed a little tune.

The riverbank embankment wasn't high, perhaps because the Spree River was relatively "gentle," so the Berlin municipal government didn't need to invest heavily in river management. Watching the quietly flowing river, the man's gloomy mood calmed considerably. Just then, a beautiful, goddess-like blonde girl entered her field of vision.

The girl, wearing a small hat and a casual dress, stood hesitating in front of a snack shop, seemingly facing some kind of difficulty.

Out of kindness to the lovely lady, Bradley walked toward the blonde girl.

"Miss, are you in some kind of trouble?" As a German-American, Bradley's German was more standard and his pronunciation more authentic than many of his colleagues.

"Sir, could you lend me some money? I am a princess of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and I forgot to bring any money because I was in a hurry to travel." The beautiful and lovely girl in front of me said some rather strange words.

However, it's not surprising that a girl of this age has a dream of becoming a princess like Lu Qi. There are quite a few girls in the United States who have this idea, after all, the charm of fairy tales is always immense.

Bradley smiled as he looked at the girl before him, seemingly reminded of his younger sister in America, and a flood of emotions welled up within him. If Bradley weren't so composed, this absent-mindedness would have seemed rather impolite.

"Sir, I can give you an IOU, which you can cash at the Austro-Hungarian Embassy in Berlin." The blonde girl clearly thought the man didn't trust her. After all, having come from the 21st century, she deeply understood the distrust between people. Despicable tricks like "extortion" and "fraud" were further eroding the little remaining kindness in people's hearts.

“Let me entertain you, lovely princess. No need for an IOU.” Brad smiled as if he were addressing a real princess, bowing to the blonde girl before him. Whether the girl was a real princess or not was irrelevant to him; helping others was a principle his father had instilled in him since childhood, because devout Puritans should treat others kindly.

As for my current financial problems, let them go to hell!

"How could I possibly accept this!" Gisele said somewhat shyly, gently smoothing her golden hair behind her ear.

After all, she knew very well that she was cute and charming, but it was ultimately wrong to let strangers treat her to a meal. Shouldn't she at least have made a polite decline?