Ludwig noticed how the Tianlongese man jumped straight to business and without a beer and that was quite unfortunate in Ludwig's mind. Perhaps Tianlong was quite strict on alcohol and work, but they were meeting at a bar. Who was to know which was what. There seemed to be a great deal of importance attached to Metsamaa and that made Ludwig quite curious. He knew there was a lot of Metsamaan deals before they joined the Hanseatics but he did not know all of them specifically. Especially this one...Tao Shun arrived at the meeting right on time. He found the Honorable Ludwig von Lengerke Meyer already seated at the table, as he was informed by Minister Liao Jianhong a few hours earlier. It was unusual for the bar of the European forum to be used for this kind of meeting, but these were turbulent times and Tao didn't have the courage to contradict the foreign minister himself.
Tao sat down opposite his colleague whom he had already glimpsed in work sessions or in the corridors of the facility. He herself had never spoken to him directly, but he wasn't such an unfamiliar face. Before speaking, the Tianlong ambassador took a small device from his pocket, from which parallel antennas came out of the body, and placed it on the table, covering it with the Tianlong language newspaper that was delivered to him every morning.
"Hello Mr Lengerke Meyer, first of all my apologies for my delay", the man was right on time, "this device was give to me by our secret service to block signals, I think it's called a jammer, but I don't know about this stuff". "I have been asked to confer with you as the Tianlong Republic and Metsamaa have a certain mutual respect and common interests. Right now the world is subject to such rapid political changes and alliances that it is hard to keep up with them. But one thing is certain, Tianlong's commitment to friends is a certainty and serves as a beacon in this stormy sea.
For this reason, I inform you that these days, a joint CETO force is operating in international waters north of Al-Magrab and other Taruse colonies. Ready to intervene when a Taruso soldier fires the first shot. Because as you noted it's no longer a question of if he shoots it, but when. We are currently focusing our activity against Tarusa and deliberately ignoring the activities of the Hanseatic Republics, out of respect for Metsamaa and now the Hanseatic Republics.
Let me be clear, the position of the territories of the former EF Mandates in the hands of the Hanseatic Republics are in danger. I wouldn't count much on the alliance that is being born to counter the Taruso Empire, because once the goal is reached, your external territories will again be in the interest of other powers out there. Our intelligence services are even seeing military activity from Pelasgia towards Tarusa's allies, Serbovia. Tarusa's power no longer scares anyone.
That said, the Tianlong Republic is ready to offer the same deal we had with Metsamaa to the Hanseatic Republics, allowing you to ensure your territorial integrity well beyond this crisis."
Ludwig noticed how the Tianlongese man jumped straight to business and without a beer and that was quite unfortunate in Ludwig's mind. Perhaps Tianlong was quite strict on alcohol and work, but they were meeting at a bar. Who was to know which was what. There seemed to be a great deal of importance attached to Metsamaa and that made Ludwig quite curious. He knew there was a lot of Metsamaan deals before they joined the Hanseatics but he did not know all of them specifically. Especially this one...
"Now, Herr Tao Shun... I understand a great deal of what you are saying and do not disagree, but I must insist on setting some common ground. My concepts of the deal Metsamaa and Tianlong had might be one thing, but I want to make sure my understanding is very precise and this precision in definition is shared between us. Otherwise, some future diplomats might run into some disagreements. What specifically do you have in mind here. As I am in agreement philosophically with you on much of what you have had to say thus far."
Lengerke Meyer would wave down a waitress and asked for a Zahorian Pilsner, and the waitress waited to see if Tao Shun wanted anything. While that momentarily happened, he pulled a notepad out of his inside suit pocket and a pen. He was a bit old fashioned, but he did not want to miss a beat.
Ludwig nodded several times and took several sips of beer as his counterpart explained things. Some things Ludwig knew vaguely, like the Polar Research Site, which he knew had some joint operations between Tianlong and Metsamaa, but he also knew that it was hardly there for just research on a purely scientific level. That said, as far as he knew, scientists were up there as well. The pause gave him reason to consider that science really was not what it was there for of course.Tao listened with interest to the words of the representative of the Hanseatic Republics, and was rather surprised to learn that there was a certain lack of communication within their republic. Nothing to worry about, after all the meeting with the Metsamaa authorities was quite confidential.
"A beer, possibly from Radillo." Tao said to the waiter who was waiting for his order. Once the drinks arrived and were handed over to them, the speech began again.
"I don't know how much his government told you about what happened the day before the Forum on Security and Democracy in Tokjin. Concretely, the Metsamaa and Tianlong authorities have begun to prologue the causes of one and the other in their respective circles of influence. This is evidenced by our willingness not to prosecute your activities south of the Meridian Sea. We haven't forgotten, we've just stopped barking, if you'll excuse the pun. We have created a joint polar research site."
Tao let the information be assimilated by his interlocutor for a couple of seconds of silence, before speaking again.
"But I guess you are making some reference to a verbal agreement between our former President Zhuan Lingxin and Foreign Minister Jaan Anton Pärn. Well, that's true, Tianlong is ready to protect Metsamaa, and today the Hanseatic Republics, if, like then, our interests coincide. Do our interests coincide, sir?"
There was another second of silence as Tao sipped his cold beer.
"Regardless of how this event concludes, it is my duty to inform you that the international machine is now in motion, many high caliber players have joined the table and we are working to create the legislative basis for our activities against Tarusa."
Ludwig nodded several times and took several sips of beer as his counterpart explained things. Some things Ludwig knew vaguely, like the Polar Research Site, which he knew had some joint operations between Tianlong and Metsamaa, but he also knew that it was hardly there for just research on a purely scientific level. That said, as far as he knew, scientists were up there as well. The pause gave him reason to consider that science really was not what it was there for of course.
As the question of interests coinciding was posited, Ludwig did not really like the addition spoken to him. It felt as though the question was question overruled by a statement of there being no real alternative. Here was a question, and if you do not give the answer we like, it matters not, for everything is happening as Tao Shun wanted it anyway... or at least Tianlong. The Hanseatics may have been a smaller nation, but they were a proud one, and did not like being dictated to. Even still, Ludwig really did not have reason to say anything otherwise. So he spoke as plainly as possible, "Our interests coincide until they they do not. It is my intention to have that be a long time. It is my hope to maintain Tianlongese work in Metsamaa. So, the Hanseatic Republics fully intends to work with Tianlong, but must of course tread far more carefully than Tianlong as our neighborly relationship is far more delicate than any other in the world."
Ludwig paused, took a larger swig of beer, and looked Tao Shun directly in the eye. Such eye contract would probably make an Engwahlian uncomfortable, but it probably did not phase Tao Shun at all. "I will be very forward with you, we have no intention to join CETO as we do not trust all of your partners as well as we might trust you. The current »Vallspakt« as I hear is being negotiated, is something I believe is precisely as close as to some of the partnerships you maintain as we are comfortable with. However, I believe if you want a specific bilateral treaty, one-on-one between the Hanseatic Republics and Tianlong, that can be arranged and is something I think Hammaborg will approve of."
Tao listened with some interest to the response of the Hanseatic Republics delegate, their requests were not completely senseless and it is normal that they had doubts about some CETO members. After all, the Tianlong Republic itself did not trust the renewed federation interest in the Tarusan question.
"Mr Ludwig, do not be surprised if in the next few days my country refuses to sign a probable Valls agreement. We simply don't feel the minimum requirements have been met to engage with so many countries. For this we have opted for an alternative way, a resolution, which if passed, will allow all nations that respect international law to act in accordance with the law against Tarusa. So we would do much more for Valls than they have done and will do in the short to medium term.
Having said that, I think the conversation has come to a crucial point. If Hanseatic Republics wants a one-sided agreement between our nations, it is a modification of what was agreed upon, so we ask you to provide us with your requests on paper so that we can analyze them.
If, on the other hand, you are only interested in our money and our economy, then I can turn your attention toYou must be registered for see links. I'm sure they will be more than happy to find an agreement that will satisfy both parties, without tying the issue to mutual security and defense."
Ludwig did not entirely understand what direction the conversation was going towards, but he did rather agree with the point that it had reached a point that was "crucial". At least in the eyes of his counterpart. So to speak, he still did not really understand what the people at Tianlong really wanted. Since he did not really understand his counterpart, it felt rather difficult to go on anything. Tianlong was mysterious. Its goals not entirely understandable by himself, nor probably many others. What Ludwig didn't know was that events that would conclude at Valls would make Tianlong even more mysterious and impossible to understand. For the present time, Ludwig would instead make himself clearly understood even if he found it difficult to understand Tao Shun. "I'll make it very clear that the Hanseatic Republics are skeptical of the World Belt Initiative, and it is something that as far as I know, even the Metsamaans were uncomfortable about. We smaller nations are dangerously at risk to be indebted to the larger nations around us, and the World Belt Initiative would appear to be a fast track to not interdependence, but instead a fealty to Tianlong. Instead, yes the Hanseatics would like to engage in economic ties, but on a basis of free trade. Yes, the Hanseatics would like to sharpen ties with Tianlong in terms of defense by expanding current defense agreements and plans, but not under the CETO framework which includes several nations we are distrustful of. However, if you are wanting clearly drawn out proposals, then I will have to inform my superiors and they'll send you a more formal dispatch."
Ludwig paused because this seemed off-beat with how he expected the meeting to go. "My understanding was that this meeting was for far more recent events. Thus the haste required in this unconventional setting. Do you not have any bold proposals for solving the impasse of current world affairs?"
Ludwig did not entirely understand what direction the conversation was going towards, but he did rather agree with the point that it had reached a point that was "crucial". At least in the eyes of his counterpart. So to speak, he still did not really understand what the people at Tianlong really wanted. Since he did not really understand his counterpart, it felt rather difficult to go on anything. Tianlong was mysterious. Its goals not entirely understandable by himself, nor probably many others. What Ludwig didn't know was that events that would conclude at Valls would make Tianlong even more mysterious and impossible to understand. For the present time, Ludwig would instead make himself clearly understood even if he found it difficult to understand Tao Shun. "I'll make it very clear that the Hanseatic Republics are skeptical of the World Belt Initiative, and it is something that as far as I know, even the Metsamaans were uncomfortable about. We smaller nations are dangerously at risk to be indebted to the larger nations around us, and the World Belt Initiative would appear to be a fast track to not interdependence, but instead a fealty to Tianlong. Instead, yes the Hanseatics would like to engage in economic ties, but on a basis of free trade. Yes, the Hanseatics would like to sharpen ties with Tianlong in terms of defense by expanding current defense agreements and plans, but not under the CETO framework which includes several nations we are distrustful of. However, if you are wanting clearly drawn out proposals, then I will have to inform my superiors and they'll send you a more formal dispatch."
Ludwig paused because this seemed off-beat with how he expected the meeting to go. "My understanding was that this meeting was for far more recent events. Thus the haste required in this unconventional setting. Do you not have any bold proposals for solving the impasse of current world affairs?"
Conte Maurizio Auditore observed the conclusion of the conversation between the Hansa and Tianese representatives with a raised eyebrow he didn't even bother making subtle. The Oltremarino wasn't able to hear what had been said, but there appeared to be mutual confusion between the two representatives, and the overly formal manner in which Representative Tao withdrew from the conversation didn't give an aura of success to the whole endeavor. That didn't sit well with Conte Auditore, as it meant growing discord between diplomatic representatives of nations who were destined to be allied in principle, but in practice thanks to Tianese refusal to sign the Valls Pact that actual alliance did not exist on a practical scale, and it put the principle in grave danger.
It was a frustrating state of affairs to say the least, not least of which because the Oltremarino felt the need to step in and see what bridges had been burned and needed mending, no small feat for any diplomat, let alone one whose actual power in shaping foreign affairs was... limited to say the least. But, Il Governatore would've wanted him to be decisive, to start throwing that Oltremarino soft power around, and by god he wasn't going to let the statesman down in his own damned bar.
So, after ordering a second drink, this time a Radillan Beer, he eased into the void left by the Tianese Representative before Ludwig got it in his head to retire from the bar. "It's always a challenge to talk politics and diplomacy with the Tianese, isn't it? No matter if it's in a conference at Valls or one-on-one here in Frescania, it's hard to figure out exactly what they want, or what it is they're proposing."
The Conte took a sip of his beer during the small pause, "And no doubt the last thing you Hanseatics need are cryptic promises, isn't it? Given your rather... delicate geopolitical situation. So tell me, as I'm a bit curious, what is it the Hanseatics are looking for from CETO, and if not from CETO, then from specific members of CETO, such as the Radillans? I personally would like the whole of the Mondo Libero to be united against any threat from the Tarusans, the past two years have brutally taught us the drawbacks of remaining divided with our own bickering and quarreling."
[REDACTED] the Principality of Zahorie has called for a peace summit between our allies and the Tarusans, [REDACTED]
Probably what is already making many people be concerned by it is the apparent request of the Ivanist camp [REDACTED] We believe that it is a ploy by Kremlyov: should the Valls Pact nations accept it, the Tarusans will see it as faltering and weak, hence enhancing their resolve and belief that they can still push around nations; should the Valls Pact nations reject it, Ivan and his cronies will present it as a global move against them, forcing Tarusans to come together under his flag.
The latter might bring us face to face with a Tarusan United Front, as we don't believe there has been enough blood spilled in the Tarusan Civil War to make the war existential for neither camp. With the world turning against Tarusa and the threat of a "them vs the world" war looming, we do imagine that a timely assassination of Konstantin might easily bring his forces under Ivan, as he waves the Tarusan flag, instead of making them even more motivated to bring him down.
[REDACTED] They would have been much more effective once both Tarusan camps are exhausted by the war and feel the conflict as existential. Now, we feel that we are very close to this potential United Front, and the summit in Zahorie will only bring Tarusa great opportunities, for it will give them chances to present themselves now as the victims of the world, rather the other way around [REDACTED]
As it has been reported again and again by the Superior Centre of Defence Intelligence, this administration now firmly is on the position that the Empire of Tarusa, as reported by whistleblowers from both camps, is in possession of a significant stock of chemical weapons. We believe that the development of such a great arsenal has been impossible at such haste in the context of the recent civil war, and thus be a creation of the administration of the late Tsar Yuri IV, after which it was further expanded, probably to greater levels than any other nation on the globe by the Ivanist regime.
This administration also believes that we are currently in the 11th hour before the great war between the united nations and the Tarusan Empire, and thus believe that the aggression will come from Kremlyov, rather than Kispest. We believe that the Ivanists would assault the Hanseatic Republics, hoping for a quick collapse, as they create a corridor to Csengia and then reach the Serrault Lake and Isthmus, would then put the Comarca of Amerida on the frontlines.