Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

January 1918

In the temporary palace of the emperor of Paz, there were no ornate decorations, only heavy brick walls.

It was already late at night, but he was still awake.

Emperor Wilhelm II of the German Empire was overwhelmed by the ultimatum from across the ocean, and he sat silently by the fireplace.

The voice of the German Chancellor he had dismissed years ago kept echoing in his ears.

If we abandon Russia today, Russia will dance with France tomorrow, and then Germany's end will be near.

"I will never abdicate! If I did, the empire would be finished!"

Wilhelm II roared, appearing somewhat hysterical.

He turned to look at the generals, Ludendorff and Groener, who were all silently watching him without any response.

Silence is a form of refusal, and Wilhelm II, who had been Emperor of Germany for many years, naturally knew this, so he remained silent at that moment.

The German Emperor stood up, his back now hunched, his face pale and somewhat swollen, and his hands trembling.

Years of habit led him to hide his trembling left arm behind his back, and everyone knew that the emperor had accepted reality.

The Hohenzollern dynasty's rule had come to an end, and no one was willing to support the family's ascension to the throne of the German Empire.

Wilhelm II turned his back, but then suddenly turned around.

They kept an eye on everyone, one by one.

His gaze first showed surprise, then pleading, and finally astonishment.

In the end, it was General Grener who shoved Joachim Franz Humbert, the time traveler who had recently taken over the identity of the youngest son of the German Emperor.

The latter nodded slightly and handed over the documents that had been prepared beforehand.

Joachim stared at his father and said silently, "Father, the situation is what it is. Allowing you to abdicate with dignity is the best possible outcome."

The German emperor gave his son a deep look, and finally, with trembling hands, took out a pen and signed his name on it.

After signing his name, he seemed to have lost all his strength and plopped down on the sofa.

What awaited him next was the itinerary arrangement made by Crown Prince William and his entourage.

Joachim watched as his father was pushed onto the royal train by Crown Prince Wilhelm like a child. From this day forward, the German royal family would be completely leaving Germany, but Joachim would not. He had his own career to pursue.

If one says that one's father successfully ended the empire.

So what I need to do next is to go to his ruins.

To rebuild his former glory and to put an end to this damned old order.

Fortunately, Joachim is young enough, and therefore has a long road ahead of him.

"Aren't you getting on the bus, Joachim?"

A middle-aged man who looked about 50-60% like him poked his head out of the window of the royal train; it was his elder brother, Crown Prince William.

An incompetent German crown prince.

"Brother, I don't plan to leave Germany."

Joachim did not hide his thoughts, for farewell was inevitable sooner or later.

Moreover, members of the royal family are inherently dazzling; wherever he stands, he is the center of attention.

"You......." Crown Prince William was caught off guard by Joachim's reply.

After holding it in for a while, he finally mumbled, "Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"This is my homeland. My father's family business is here. I will not go anywhere else."

"You..." Crown Prince William clearly wanted to say something more, but the roar of Wilhelm II behind him interrupted him.

Although the emperor did not appear, he roared inexplicably from inside the carriage, "If he wants to stay here, then let him stay here!"

"We are all unfilial descendants of Hohenzollern, and we can go wherever we want."

"Drive! Drive! I need to get out of here!"

"Okay, if you insist."

Seeing this, Crown Prince William decided not to say anything more. He shrugged and shrank back into the carriage.

Then, with extreme indifference, he rolled down the car window and stopped looking at the little boy.

As the emperor said, he can do whatever he wants, and as for his life or death, it's none of his business.

Are you really going to stay here?

When Joachim’s wife, Mary Auguste, learned that her husband was staying, she got off the train.

He went straight up to him and asked, "It's dangerous here, Joachim."

"I know it's dangerous, and that's why I'm staying here." Joachim gave her a hug: "I can't give up my career, and I can't give up Germany."

"Without this platform, my dream would not be possible."

"If I can't realize my dreams, then my existence has no meaning."

"Then does our marriage even have any meaning?"

If it were Joachim in the past, Mary August would never have said such a thing.

Because in his eyes, his husband was a "spoiled child" who lacked any masculinity.

He was irritable, easily angered, and also suffered from epilepsy, so he was hardly a good match.

But ever since her husband had a high fever a month ago, he seems to have completely changed.

The epilepsy and temper improved, and the domestic violence stopped. It's as if he grew up overnight.

Therefore, she is now filled with anticipation for the future and does not want Joachim to leave her...

The woman's eyes were brimming with tears; she was almost crying: "My husband..."

Joachim couldn't bear to see a woman cry, so he hardened his heart and pushed her away, saying, "Our marriage has meaning."

"Our son Carl is the fruit of our labor."

"I know I wronged you before."

"If you want to end this marriage, feel free to write to me anytime."

"Take good care of our children."

After saying that, Joachim stopped hesitating and pushed her directly into the car.

With the abdication of the German Emperor, a huge power vacuum emerged in the German Empire. At this moment, he had to establish his own political power and divide up the political pie.

He, Joachim, will surely change the world with his own hands!

With tears in her eyes, Mary August poked her head out of the window: "Joachim, take the medicine..."

The man stared at his wife, his gaze somewhat unfocused.

After a long while, his nose tingled with emotion, and he turned away. This was one of the reasons he had been striving.