Chapter 735 - 735: Tied by Interests

There was one thing King Albert of Belgium had gotten wrong.

Charles wasn't acting indifferent to Romania's situation out of coldness or selfishness—it was a matter of strategy.

He was carefully calculating the timing. The Central Powers couldn't be cornered too early. If the war ended prematurely, Charles would lose his leverage against France's domestic capitalists and politicians.

Romania's downfall was a perfect buffer.

Its oil, wheat, and Austro-Hungarian-style weapons and ammunition would buy the Central Powers more time.

But now—

Another benefit had been laid out before Charles:

50% ownership of the Ploiești oil fields.

If it were just about money, Charles might not have been tempted.

But he understood that oil wasn't just oil.

In Europe, there were only two major oil-producing regions:

RussiaRomania

Russian oil was essentially cut off from the rest of Europe.

That left Romania's fields as the only viable prize.

If Charles could seize control of Romania's oil production, he'd be gripping the throat of Europe's future.

He realized what others—including Queen Marie—did not.

(Note: During WWI, coal and oil were both used as industrial fuels. Oil's strategic value wasn't widely appreciated yet. This is why Romania's oil production remained relatively low at the time.)

So now Charles faced a choice:

Extend Germany's lifeline—or take Romania's oil.

Queen Marie noticed his hesitation and was confused.

She had assumed Charles would jump at the contract.

But he didn't.

Why?

Then it hit her—logistics.

In wartime, oil couldn't be transported safely to France. The only thing Charles would gain immediately was paper ownership and the profits from it.

And Charles? He already had more money than some nations.

This offer wasn't enough.

Marie felt a flicker of panic.

No—she had to tie Charles's interests directly to Romania. Otherwise, they were finished.

What else could she offer?

She thought of what King Albert had done.

Of course—that was it!

Marie looked up at Charles, eyes cautious but determined.

"I have one more request, General."

Charles raised an eyebrow.

"I haven't even agreed to help you yet, and you're already making demands?"

Marie's eyes didn't waver. She was studying every twitch of his expression.

"It's about Romania's military industry, General."

"You know we've always relied on Germany and Austria-Hungary for arms and ammunition."

"But now that we're at war with them, we can't trust their manufacturers."

"So..."

Charles's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You want my arms factories to enter Romania?"

"Of course," Marie said firmly. She felt she had made the right move—this was what Charles truly cared about.

She continued:

"It won't cost Romania anything. We need new arms manufacturers, and your equipment is reliable and battle-tested."

"We'll provide you with the best factories, labor, raw materials, and support."

"Tax exemptions, too."

"And remember—we have the cheapest coal and oil in Europe…"

Charles interrupted her. "Your Majesty, do you understand what this really means?"

"Of course," Marie nodded. "This is the lifeblood of Romania."

Whoever controlled arms production in Romania would control whether the country could even go to war.

If Charles held that power, he could shut down Romania's military overnight—simply by blowing up his own factories.

Marie added, "But it's still better than handing Romania over in humiliation. Don't you agree?"

Charles nodded. She was smart—maybe smarter than he had expected.

She wasn't just begging for help. She was creating mutual dependence, just like modern states bought American weapons—not only for performance, but for security guarantees.

"Just one last question," Charles said, his tone more serious. "What does the King think about this?"

He was worried Marie might be offering what she couldn't deliver.

"Don't worry about that," she replied calmly. "If your predictions are right, the King won't object."

"Otherwise, if you're wrong, you're not worth trusting anyway. Am I right?"

Charles laughed softly.

Marie was even more clever than he'd thought.

If the war went the way Charles expected—if Romania was defeated—then the King would be desperate. Marie's offer would become his only salvation.

If Charles was wrong and Romania won, then all this would be irrelevant anyway. There would be no need to honor the deal.

A perfect bet. Heads she wins, tails she doesn't lose.

But Marie didn't know what Charles did.

He had already read the answer sheet. There was no "either/or."

And once military factories were involved, Charles no longer had the luxury of neutrality.

He had no choice but to support Romania.

As for how to keep Germany from collapsing too soon? He'd figure that out later.

He sighed.

He might be the first general in history to worry about the survival of his enemy.

"Russia," Charles finally said. "Russia is Romania's only hope."

Marie's smile faded. "I did ask them. They're only willing to send 30,000 men. I don't think that will make much of a difference."

"No," Charles agreed. "It won't. You'll need at least 200,000—plus Romania's 4th Army and a fresh wave of militia."

"Two hundred thousand?" Marie paled. "That's impossible, General. Russia already refused. They're drowning in their own war."

"I know," Charles said. "But what if it's not a request?"

"What do you mean?" Marie looked confused.

Charles pulled a map from his coat and spread it across the table.

He pointed at the region.

"If Romania falls, Germany will complete its Eastern Front. With fewer troops, they'll establish a continuous defensive line against Russia."

"But if Romania doesn't fall—if it stays in Allied hands—it becomes a thorn in Germany's side."

"And Russia still controls the Black Sea. They can send troops and supplies by sea to Romania and attack the German rear at any time."

Marie's eyes widened.

"This isn't about us asking for help… it's about Russia protecting itself?"

(Image above: Red line showing Russian naval reinforcement routes via the Black Sea. From Crimea to Romania is just over 400 km. With WWI-era transport ships moving at 10–16 knots, the trip could be made in about a day.)

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