Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

"Don't take his side. He's just a driver; he doesn't know anything."

Although Joachim's attitude softened, his face was still full of sneers: "If you think what he said was a bit excessive, you can deal with him when the empire is restored. Why bother with him now? But I won't discuss the so-called royal ownership with you now."

"What I want is your attitude."

"What kind of attitude do you want?"

Looking at Joachim's face, Ludwig Edeler, the German regional governor, changed color again.

Could it be that the other party intends to treat me the way the Soldiers' Committee did?

Let's once again completely strip this powerful regional official of his power and turn him into a puppet.

"I hope you will cooperate with us until the restoration of the empire, and then we can discuss these so-called affiliations." Joachim continued in a conciliatory tone: "Today we still have a common enemy, which is to drive those damned Polish separatists, republicans, and leftists out of Germany and defeat them completely."

"Isn't this exactly what we need to do right now?"

"But this matter... I must inform the Emperor via the radio." Undoubtedly, Ludwig Edeler, the powerful regional governor, softened his stance. Indeed, the Emperor's reputation in Germany was currently quite poor. If a leader could not emerge to carry the torch, the Empire would inevitably become history, just like the Roman Empire in history—something he truly did not want to see.

After a moment's thought, he made his compromise: "After His Majesty the Emperor gives his permission..."

"His Majesty the Emperor permits it?"

Joachim's face darkened, and he lost his amiable demeanor.

He then adopted a cold, indifferent demeanor: "Where in Germany is His Majesty the Emperor now?"

"Our Emperor abandoned his empire long ago and went to Holland to enjoy his newfound wealth."

"If you go and ask for instructions now, it will only cause more trouble for our work."

The amount of information contained in these words was truly enormous. Ludwig Edeller had not expected that Joachim, who had been all smiles just a moment ago, would change his expression so drastically the next.

Although he kept referring to the emperor, it was clear to everyone that this prince didn't respect his father at all.

This indirectly illustrates the prince's desire for the throne.

So he looked around, glancing left and right, hoping to find someone who could help him speak.

His gaze fell upon Guderian, Heinrich, and a German officer wearing a monocle standing beside Joachim…

Guderian and Model stared silently at Ludwig Edeler, Heinrich remained expressionless, and only Manstein cast a helpless glance at him.

Manstein and this high-ranking German official were old acquaintances.

"But if Your Highness does this, do you still respect the Emperor?"

"But my father has already abdicated." Joachim sneered, pressing on relentlessly, giving his opponent no chance to breathe: "If you are willing to see him, I suggest you give up your official position now and go to the Netherlands to see him. I believe that a loyal subject like you will surely be rewarded by His Majesty the Emperor. He needs loyal subjects by his side right now."

"Your Highness, must you really go to such extremes?"

"It's not that I'm radical, it's that you're too stubborn."

"And what I'm asking for isn't excessive; I just ask for your cooperation."

"As for the powers you hold that are not related to military affairs, I will not use a single one of them."

"These are critical times, and everything must be subordinate to military considerations."

"Very well, since Your Highness has made up your mind, then I can only offer my last strength to the Empire." Ultimately, Ludwig Edeller, no longer as impetuous as a young man, sighed and relented: "Your Highness, is there anything we should do next?"

"I need rifles, lots and lots of rifles."

"And I need more soldiers. I don't want young people with strong left-leaning views."

"And I also need the Breslau government to issue a formal announcement recognizing our armed forces."

"As you know, the Allied Powers have restricted our armed forces, and our troops are being reduced..."

"This is a civilian, free organization, a free legion, not a proper national defense army."

As they were talking, Wolf came up again, bringing breakfast for his prince.

However, Joachim did not eat, but instead distributed his breakfast to the officers around him.

After watching them eat, he casually got up and opened the window, letting fresh air flow into the room.

This made Ludwig Edeller, who had been feeling extremely suffocated, feel much more relaxed. He looked at Guderian, who was enjoying his breakfast, and couldn't help but swallow hard.

He didn't eat breakfast this morning. Although the Soldiers' Committee had sidelined him, he still received the benefits he was entitled to.

The reason I didn't eat breakfast this morning was purely because of the coup d'état launched by Joachim and others.

"And you also need to report to the Republican government and tell them about this."

"They will not agree, Your Highness, your stance is strongly royalist..."

"Yes, they definitely won't agree."

Joachim faced the cold wind and breathed in the fresh air deeply.

Sunlight shone on his face, highlighting two faint nasolabial folds: "But they'll accept this fact, because it's better for Silesia to be a royalist sphere of influence than a Polish one. Besides, they don't have time to deal with us right now."

"The syndicalists in Berlin are already a headache enough for them, and the political power that His Majesty the Emperor retains in Berlin is enough to make them fight each other."

"By the time they realized what was happening, we had already consolidated our power in Silesia."

"Even if the Republican government launches a full-scale attack, we are confident that we can keep you in this position forever."

"Unless they want to start another civil war, I can guarantee Ludwig, you will stand firm in Silesia."

"Is this considered a promise you made?"

"Your Highness?"

"This isn't a promise, but the result of our joint conspiracy. We're not in a superior-subordinate relationship; we're partners." Joachim chuckled softly. "And in return, you need to give me something?"

"I can give you some guns and cannons..."

"Not enough..."

"Is there anything else Your Highness needs?"

"I think you're doing very well here in Silesia. Should I arrange for an assistant to learn from you?"

"Master Ludwig, you know how to take on apprentices, right?"