Chapter 1516

Swedish Empire.

Once one of the European powers, after experiencing the Thirty Years' War against Tsarist Russia, it lost vast territories in the Baltic Sea and even had to sue for peace with Tsarist Russia.

From then on, the Empire gradually declined until war broke out between Prussia and Austria, and all of Europe became involved in the battlefield.

As a country that is part of the German Confederation, it should stand on a unified front with Prussia, which is also part of the German Confederation.

But the Swedish King Adolf made the decision to join the alliance of France, Austria, and Russia.

Former opponents, now comrades-in-arms.

It is just that ironic, but allying with France, Austria, and Russia did indeed, just as Adolf had anticipated, allow the tottering Swedish Empire to barely stabilize the current situation.

At the very least, Sweden can now seek to acquire land in the Baltic Sea—Pomerania.

This fertile land located in the Baltic Sea, having this territory would give Sweden greater room for survival.

After the failure of the war against Tsarist Russia, Sweden lacked a large area of territory in Europe, and after losing land and a large population, Sweden had already weakened too much.

But if it could obtain these two pieces of land from Prussia, Sweden's status in the Baltic Sea would rise sharply.

At this moment, Adolf was in the palace, looking at the large map of Europe.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face, and just at this time, a rather childish voice sounded.

"Grandfather, what are you looking at?"

Adolf looked over in the direction of the childish voice and revealed a doting smile: "Oh, it is Peter."

Adolf walked over quickly and picked up this boy who was already eleven or twelve years old.

The boy called Peter looked at the map of Europe with infatuated eyes.

The dense and incomprehensible lines on the map were something he looked at with great obsession.

Adolf knew that his grandson had a near-obsessive love for military warfare, but was extremely afraid of the sound of cannons.

"How is it, Peter, can you tell what the current war situation is like?"

Peter bit his finger, and even though his grandfather, who was the King, was speaking to him, it did not make his gaze leave the map for a second.

"I can understand it; right now our Sweden has already occupied eastern Pomerania."

Adolf nodded, a bit more approval in his eyes, and continued to ask: "How do you think this next battle should be fought?"

Peter's appearance seemed quite mature, and he said seriously: "Looking at the map, our Swedish Army can now completely continue to occupy western Pomerania."

"However, I think it is best we do not do that, because Tsarist Russia is right next to us; if we occupy western Pomerania now, it will arouse the hostility of Tsarist Russia."

"They have had all their coastal ports blockaded by Longyan, and now what they lack most are ports; we in Sweden are on the coast of the Baltic Sea, so there is no necessity to attack."

"It would be better to let Tsarist Russia continue to fight with Prussia."

"I think we should seek to acquire Hamburg or Bremen."

"These places go deep into the heart of Europe, and we in Sweden can open up the North Sea through Hamburg and expand our sea routes."

After hearing this, Adolf was stunned for three seconds.

"Grandfather, am I not right?" Peter asked innocently.

Adolf only then came back to his senses and revealed a smile: "You are very right."

Looking at his grandson, only twelve years of age, yet able to have such a clear analysis of the current war situation.

It is just a pity...

Adolf sighed; a child like Peter did not feel the slightest bit of Adolf's subtle change in expression.

He looked at the map as innocently as ever.

He saw a country below Pomerania, Prussia, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Huh, why is this Prussia still here? Its territory seems to have even grown larger."

Adolf looked at Prussia with a complex expression.

Sweden was originally a member of the German Confederation and should have stood together with the German states, but Sweden had no choice.

Sweden's national strength is now in a precarious position, and the ruler of Prussia, Frederick II, is an out-and-out ambitious man.

Prussia has been constantly subjugating German states; one can see Prussia's ambition from his attack on Xilixi.

Xilixi is Austria's most prosperous region.

Ever since Prussia attacked Xilixi, most of the German states have drawn a line with Prussia.

Sweden is no exception.

Adolf looked at his grandson and said: "That is because Prussia found a powerful country to serve as their foreign aid."

Peter did not speak, but he completely disagreed with Adolf's statement.

In his view, Longyan did not help Prussia reduce much pressure.

It was only because of Longyan's two recent great victories that Prussia was given a chance to catch its breath.

As for Prussia's other ally, Britain.

Forget about them.

On the contrary, Peter felt that it was Frederick the Great's outstanding ability; one could tell how formidable he was from the speed at which he attacked and partitioned Poland.

One must know that when Prussia attacked and partitioned Poland, Prussia was facing a great crisis on the front lines, and they, Sweden, were also one of the parties participating in the siege of Prussia.

So there were some things Peter could see; he understood better than anyone how difficult Prussia was at that time.

That was a situation where a slight carelessness would have resulted in total annihilation.

But Frederick II attacked Poland at this very moment and won, and now he is partitioning Poland with Tsarist Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

To the young Peter, this was simply like a hero.

Peter grew up from childhood in a German country—Sweden—and everything he came into contact with was also German.

He knew how powerful Germany once was and how terrifying the complete Holy Roman Empire was.

He was full of longing for this kind of behavior from Frederick II.

It was revered to the extreme, to the point that he even believed that if anyone could unify Germany, that person would absolutely be Frederick II.

However, he had never told his grandfather, Adolf, about this thought of his.

He would be unhappy.

At this moment, a person walked into Adolf's palace, looked at Adolf and then at Peter, and frowned slightly.

Adolf looked at the person who had arrived; it was his Great General Xiusi.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Mm, rise."

Adolf said indifferently: "What is the matter that you have come to find me for?"

Xiusi glanced at Peter: "Your Majesty..."

Xiusi used his eyes to signal to Adolf that Peter was still here.

Adolf, however, waved his hand and said: "It is no matter, Peter is still my grandson for now."

Xiusi glanced at Peter, then said again: "Your Majesty, we have just received a military report; our transport convoy in Hamburg has encountered an attack."

"A large amount of grain was lost."

"What!" Adolf was furious.

Hamburg was already the territory of the Franco-Austrian Allied Army; to be able to attack their transported grain in their own territory.

It was simply courting death!

"Investigate, you must kill this band of robbers to the last man!"

"Yes..."