Chapter 0677: The Title of King

"Your Majesty, once these railways and roads are completed, the Empire's control over the eastern territories will become exceptionally tight. Moreover, they will significantly foster the economic development of these regions. However, to fully realize this plan, a substantial sum of money will be required," said the Minister of Finance.

All eyes turned toward Qin Tian. The reason the Ministry of Transport had presented such a plan was to secure as much funding as possible. While the Emperor's power was not as absolute as that of eastern monarchs, Qin Tian was different from others. His remarkable abilities and the military achievements of his command had earned him great esteem across the nation. Furthermore, the army was nearly under his control. As a result, the parliament posed little constraint on him. In truth, unless they were irrational, no parliamentarian would dare to oppose Qin Tian.

This had made Qin Tian the most powerful Emperor in Germany's history. The distribution of war reparations obtained by Germany was essentially at his discretion. The cabinet hoped to use the war indemnities to fund the infrastructure projects.

"How much will this roughly cost?" Qin Tian inquired.

"Preliminary estimates suggest at least 12 billion marks. If we could secure 15 billion marks, that would be ideal," replied the Minister of Transport.

Qin Tian gasped in surprise; he had not expected the sum to be so high. While Germany had indeed received a substantial amount of war reparations, much of it was earmarked to pay off war debts. Additionally, the compensation for fallen soldiers would consume a considerable amount of funds. Let alone the need for military reforms and reequipment post-war, all of which demanded vast financial resources.

The 10 billion marks from Russia, 55 billion from France, and 20 billion from Italy amounted to 85 billion marks. While this sum seemed large, it would scarcely cover all the necessary expenditures.

"Fifteen billion? That's excessive, isn't it?" Qin Tian remarked.

"Your Majesty, the length of the railways and roads we are building justifies such a cost," the Minister of Transport explained.

Qin Tian pondered briefly. "I believe 8 to 10 billion marks should suffice."

The Minister's face darkened; this felt like attempting to run the horse without feeding it.

"Let the labor for the construction of the railways and roads be provided entirely by prisoners of war. Aside from essential specialists, the rest will be POWs. This alone should save considerable funds. These prisoners can be used at will, and their lives are of no concern. As the army clears the eastern territories of guerrillas and other opposition forces, the number of prisoners will steadily increase. So there will be no shortage of labor," Qin Tian proposed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. In that case, 10 billion marks should be sufficient," the Minister of Transport acknowledged.

"Furthermore, given that the construction will span a decade, the funds will not be provided in one lump sum. They will be disbursed annually, in line with the progress of each year's plan," Qin Tian added.

The pressure of disbursing 10 billion marks annually, in ten installments, was certainly far less burdensome than a single payment of 10 billion.

"Understood, Your Majesty," the Minister of Transport replied reluctantly, but he found no grounds to object.

"Everyone, the transportation plan for the east is settled. Unless there are further matters to discuss, this meeting is adjourned," Qin Tian declared.

"Your Majesty, there is one more matter. According to the treaty with Russia, Finland and Ukraine are to gain independence with our support. However, the strategic importance of these regions cannot be overstated. Should we go to war with Russia, these areas will become critical fronts. Therefore, we must strengthen our control over them," Minister of Foreign Affairs Wahit said.

Qin Tian nodded. Supporting Finland and Ukraine's independence was merely a façade. Germany's true intentions were twofold: to weaken Russia and to prepare for a future war with them.

"However, the people of these regions may not welcome our direct presence. Thus, we must adopt alternative strategies," Wahit continued.

"And what do you propose?" Qin Tian asked.

"Your Majesty, both the Finns and the Ukrainians have long been subjected to Russian tyranny, which has fueled their deep animosity toward the Russians. If we leverage this, our efforts should prove highly effective," Prime Minister Biro suggested.

"Indeed, when they compare the oppression they endured under the Russians with the kindness we show, they will certainly make the right choice," Qin Tian remarked.

After Finland was annexed by Russia, the Finns had long sought independence, but Russia's power was too great for them to achieve it alone. They had little hope of success without outside support.

The Ukrainians were in a similar plight. Though Ukraine's fertile soil and population were strong, they often went hungry due to Russian exploitation. With their independence in sight, they would eagerly embrace it.

"Your Majesty, to ensure our control over Finland and Ukraine, we propose that Your Majesty assume the title of King of both nations. Their internal affairs would remain in the hands of the Finns and Ukrainians, but on military and diplomatic matters, they must align with the Empire. In wartime, their armies must obey the Empire's command," Prime Minister Biro suggested.

Qin Tian had no objection to assuming the title of King of the two countries. Such arrangements were common in Europe. The British monarch, for example, also held the title of Emperor of India. The Emperor of Austria-Hungary was also the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, and held numerous other titles.

"Will the Finns and Ukrainians object?" Qin Tian asked, somewhat concerned.

"Your Majesty, neither the Finns nor the Ukrainians will object. The Empire is the world's most powerful nation, and the Emperor of the Empire assuming the title of their king is an honor they will cherish," Wahit reassured him.

Qin Tian nodded. "Let it be done then."

Soon after, in addition to his title as Emperor of the German Empire, Qin Tian also became the King of Finland and Ukraine.