Holy Roman Empire

Americans, too, were unwilling to accept their situation. Merely having followed along in the war, they found themselves subjected to treatment resembling that of the main antagonist, the Great Britain Empire.

With so many member states in the Oceanic Alliance having participated in the war, why should they receive special consideration?

Unable to find a reason, they blamed governmental incompetence. Other countries knew when to cut their losses; why follow the British down a dead end if not out of incompetence?

As for the efforts of the Washington Government, sorry, but this is an era where success makes the hero. No matter the reasons, failure is failure.

The moment the terms of the treaty were disseminated, there was an uproar across the United States. Massive protests erupted in every state, the situation marginally better than that in Japan.

In Washington, deafening protests reached to the heavens, clearly audible even from within the White House.

Theodore Roosevelt was now extremely troubled; the Opposition party representatives had already submitted an impeachment motion to Congress, and unless something unexpected happened, it would go to vote at the next session.

Looking at the current situation, if the "Vienna Convention" issue remained unresolved, he would become yet another president in American history to be impeached and removed from office.

But how easy could it be to overturn the "Vienna Convention"? If the United States could have refused, its representatives wouldn't have signed the document in the first place.

Facing the Continental Alliance, the United States was just too insignificant. In the Vienna Peace Conference, the U.S. delegation had no right to speak.

They were informed of the treaty only when it had been concluded, being told to sign; to refuse meant war, a lesson the Japanese had already learned firsthand.

Better to face reality than to suffer a societal backlash, the U.S. delegation was forced to sign the treaty at the conference.

Looking at the treaty's contents, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, with Roosevelt's hands trembling. Apart from the concession of the colonies, which was bearable, every other clause was a trap.

The vast sum of war reparations goes without saying; a figure astronomical, requiring every American to toil for three years straight without sustenance.

These days, the United States was but a large-scale knockoff factory, its industrial technology far behind that of Europe, and its military industry was no exception.

Although they had the capability to manufacture advanced weapons like airplanes and tanks, the military refused to use them for their obviously poor performance.

Since advanced weapons needed to be imported anyway, it seemed shutting down the military industry wouldn't have much impact.

Obviously, this was just the view of the common people. As a politician, Roosevelt was very aware of the consequences of not having a military industry.

If they agreed to it, the United States would obediently become a second-rate country, an echoing voice on the international stage, with only economic development to look forward to.

But the current situation left no room for the United States to refuse. War may seem an easy word to say, and the rallying cries may sound earth-shattering, but actual combat would bring a different outcome altogether.

Anyone slightly familiar with the United States knew that since the independence of the South, the prestige of the Washington Government had plummeted, further weakening its authority over the states.

Past administrations in Washington always sought ways to integrate the various states. This included their participation in the war, driven not only by domestic interest groups but also by the opportunity to consolidate the states.

Sadly, the United States' luck was not on its side. Before it could integrate its states, the world war had already concluded.

How could a disjointed United States stand against the Continental Alliance?

Roosevelt knew that the tiny strength of the United States' regular army might not even match the combat power of some state militias.

If the Washington Government dared to wage war, the states below would dare to declare neutrality. Do not assume that self-preservation in the southeastern regions was a Far Eastern Empire's privilege; it had already happened in the Western world.

If pushed too hard, some might even opt for outright independence. At worst, they might collude with the Continental Alliance; after all, do not expect everyone to join in a collective demise.

Expecting the bourgeoisie to come to the rescue at this time would be a pipe dream. For capitalists, their own fortunes will always be the foremost priority, not the upkeep of the United States' sovereignty.

The interest groups cannot be relied upon, and neither can the general populace. Patriotic youths can shout slogans all they want, but when it truly comes to war with the Continental Alliance, let's first clarify the composition of the United States.

These were, after all, European immigrants; who knows how many of them still have ties with their motherland.

Stop anyone in the streets and ask; they might tell you they are Englishman, Irish, Austrians, Russians, Belgian... but never that they are American.

The United States in the original timeline only truly moved towards unity after the First World War, before which everyone was a foreigner.

Relying on a bunch of foreigners to defend America is clearly unrealistic. As long as the Continental Alliance is willing to pay, there are always those willing to lead the way.

It could be said that ninety-nine percent of Americans right now do not wish for war to break out with the Continental Alliance.

Including President Roosevelt himself, at this time, he does not want to go to war with the Continental Alliance either, because that means the Guillotine is not far away.

This world war did not pursue war criminals, because the British Government surrendered swiftly; had they been slower, France would have been a precedent.

The French Emperor and Nobility escaped disaster, and that was because they all played in the same political circle. Foreign war criminals, as long as they were caught, would all face the Guillotine.

"Is there truly no room to maneuver?"

Roosevelt asked helplessly.

"None!"

Secretary of state Pitt replied definitively, and then explained, "According to top-secret intelligence from Vienna, Emperor Franz intends to abdicate early.

Given his style, he will undoubtedly want to leave a stable world for his son, and will certainly look to eliminate any hidden threats that might cause trouble before then.

Unfortunately, we have crossed paths with them and given the Vienna Government an excuse to execute their plan. This armistice treaty is an overt scheme to divide the United States.

There are already rumors that if the states do not wish to undertake the massive war reparations, all they need to do is secede from the United States.

I personally believe this rumor to be true. According to the Vienna Convention, the Holy Roman Empire took nearly three-quarters of the war reparations, so to forgive a portion of the reparations is not a big deal.

The amount of war reparations is too enormous, our Central Government cannot afford it, and will inevitably spread the cost to each Federal State.

Once we start the allocation, great troubles will ensue. No matter how the distribution is carried out, it won't satisfy everyone.

Especially for economically lagging Federal States in the Midwest, who are already facing annual budget deficits, adding war reparations on top of that, I cannot even imagine the consequences!"

Secession, this is a topic even more burdensome than defeat. Since the establishment of the United States, internal conflicts have never ceased.

Even among immigrants, a hierarchy was established. Generally speaking, the disdain chain of the European world carried over: Western Europe looked down on Central Europe; Central Europe looked down on Eastern Europe.

As for Southern Europe and Northern Europe, they have always been somewhat inconspicuous, hovering between Central and Eastern Europe, often overlooked.

With the resurgence of the Holy Roman Empire, the disdain chain of the European world gradually began to shift, but the social hierarchy of the United States continued as before.

Currently, the highest social status naturally belongs to English immigrants, followed by Holy Roman immigrants, French immigrants, then immigrants from Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, and at the social bottom are the Italian immigrants, Eastern European immigrants, and the Irish.

Below that, for immigrants of color, it goes without saying that they have no social standing at all.

Due to varying times of immigration, the distribution of ethnicities within the United States is uneven. For instance, English immigrants are mainly concentrated in the eastern states, with a relatively smaller proportion in the Midwest.

Such a population distribution doesn't show any issues during peacetime, but at a critical moment, it presents a huge problem.

Once the Continental Alliance liaises with these ethnic groups, they can stir up trouble in minutes. At the very least, the Irish at the bottom of society are unwilling to share a pot with the Englishman.

Just like in the Civil War, several originally neutral states tipped towards the South under the intervention of the European powers.

The trouble now is even greater; the European world has become overwhelmingly dominant, with the Holy Roman Empire having basically completed the integration of the European Continent.

Looking out the window, Roosevelt sighed and said slowly, "Do your best to appease the Federal States. By all means, prevent the United States from splitting again, or else we will be the sinners of history!"

Though his words were tough, he felt uncertain inside. The terror of an open conspiracy is knowing the enemy's plan but being powerless to stop it.

"Enduring each other for the sake of the country" does not suit America. Since it was established for profit, it can naturally disband for profit too, with the South's secession being the best proof.

With economic development, the differences between the east and west of the United States have become increasingly apparent. Without the push from the Panama Canal, the economies of the western Federal States never took off.

The eastern financial consortiums regard the central and western states as economic colonies, and the central and western states are no less defiant, engaging in local trade protectionism against each other.

Added to the international interference, the relationship between the eastern and central-western states has always been poor. Washington, which should be reconciling differences, appears very ineffective in the face of the country's "various lords."

Failing to integrate the nation, Roosevelt has already lost hope for the future of the United States. Trying his best to maintain national unity is the last "integrity" of a politician.

Secretary of State Pitt shook his head and said, "Mr. President, I think these are issues we no longer need to consider. Perhaps by next week, someone else will be in charge here.

The Opposition party probably doesn't know about the enemy's plot to divide the United States, and is currently busy trying to oust us to implement their own political ideals."

For some reason, it always feels like Pitt is taking pleasure in others' misfortune.

They were already unlucky enough, sent to war by domestic interest groups, their reputation destroyed during their lifetime and posthumously nailed to the pillar of shame.

Unexpectedly, at this darkest moment, there are still people willing to jump into the pit.

They have borne the burden of the war, but compared to the responsibility for the division of the United States, the burden of defeat is slightly lighter.

Just like in the United States' current history books, the worst president is always the unfortunate Lincoln, rather than the other real troublemakers.

After being stunned for a moment, Roosevelt nodded slightly. After a series of bad news, he finally received some good news.

"Mhm!"

"The matter involves the Holy Roman Empire; we must be cautious in responding. Before we can confirm the truth, everyone must keep it strictly confidential.

First, let's gather relevant information. If we indeed get impeached and removed from office, then we'll pass the data to the next administration. The United States must not be allowed to split..."

Man will suffer divine punishment for not acting for oneself. If others are eager to take over, Roosevelt naturally won't stop them.

If the interest groups behind him didn't allow him to step back, Roosevelt would have abandoned his post long ago.

Now that the Opposition party wants to take power, that can't be better. After being impeached and stepping down, it's an explanation he can give to all parties.

As for the enemy's plot, he'll leave it to the next administration to solve. After all, it's the tradition of the United States; nearly every administration leaves some trouble for the next.

Roosevelt can be considered conscientious; at least he gathered information. If he pretended to be clueless, the next administration wouldn't even have time to react.

...

Canada, following the signing of the Vienna Convention, the autonomous government had to face the difficulty of a military retreat.

"The London Government has urged us repeatedly to start the retreat as soon as possible, if we delay any longer the enemy will come over.

I simply cannot imagine how to explain this to the public. Once the news spreads, I fear they will want to tear me to shreds!" Prime Minister Mackenzie Powell complained.

Defiance?

If the Holy Roman Empire's army were not going to attack, everyone wouldn't mind having a proper discussion with the London Government.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. After losing the world war, the British Government could hardly protect itself, and the Canadian Autonomous Territory became a piece to be abandoned.

You can cope with your own people's temper, but against the ferocious Shinra Army, the government of the autonomous territory simply lacks confidence.

The more people know, the more they understand fear. What can the Canadian Autonomous Territory use to resist an enemy that even the Great Britain Empire cannot withstand?

To fight at all costs, is easier said than done. With a mere few million people, facing off against the global hegemon, that would undoubtedly be like hitting a stone with an egg.

Besides, there's the order from the London Government. The responsibility for losing Canada doesn't have to be borne by the people present here.

"Don't worry, Prime Minister. Giving up Canada is an order from the London Government, not your proposal, I believe the public will understand.

We can't delay this any longer anyway, the sooner it's dealt with, the earlier we can retire. It has been many years without a country; I don't even know the current situation back home.

I guess it won't be too good, I've heard the enemy's bombing is very fierce, but let's hope the situation isn't too dire!" Charles said methodically.

Unlike Mackenzie Powell, who had lived in Canada for decades, Charles is a civil servant directly appointed by the London Government, having only arrived a few years ago, naturally his sense of belonging to the Canadian Autonomous Territory is not strong.

If it's lost, so be it, it's just a colony after all. The Colonial Empire has collapsed; even India is gone, not to mention the desolate Canada.

As a qualified civil servant, Charles had made enough in these years; without this job, he could well return to his country earlier to reunite with his family.

"Sir, if we just leave like this, it feels like we're letting the Austrians have it too easy! Maybe we could..."

Before Mackenzie Powell could finish his sentence, Charles interrupted: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, times have changed, the world is not what it used to be.

The Holy Roman Empire has just become the world leader; any little move we make now could trigger unpredictable risks.

One wrong move could not only bring disaster upon ourselves but also endless trouble for the nation; Britannia can't withstand any more turmoil right now."

Although insider directives haven't been openly discussed, everyone still received the repeated strict orders from the London Government.

Although the Canadian Autonomous Territory has been established, it does not have the same level of autonomy as in later times, let alone the gap from becoming an independent country.

It seems that Prime Minister Mackenzie Powell is the highest leader locally, but in actuality, Charles, the civil servant appointed by the London Government, has no less influence in the government than he does.

If he decided to stubbornly refuse the London Government's orders, whether Mackenzie Powell could even leave this room today would be questionable.

Since the decision has been made to abandon the Canadian Autonomous Territory, the British Government no longer needs to consider the feelings of Canadians.