Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

Ernst Meyer was the first to regain his senses and immediately retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Silesia has always been German territory, and our Polish friends have always considered Silesia to belong to Germany."

"They couldn't possibly do such a thing!"

"Do you think what your fellow countrymen say is unreliable?" Ludwig Edeller's smile grew increasingly sarcastic.

"Comrades are more reliable than compatriots," Ernst Meyer replied without hesitation, standing up at the same time. "I think there's no need to continue this meeting today."

While they were talking, his secretary handed him a document.

Ernst Meyer promptly signed his name on it and handed it to Ludwig Edel: "Your Excellency, you are hereby dismissed from your post."

"No orders from Berlin are needed, I thought you leftists were very procedural."

Ludwig Edeller was not as impatient as Ernst Meyer had imagined; on the contrary, he became increasingly cheerful.

"I can represent Berlin without needing orders from Berlin."

Ernst Meyer turned to Joachim, who was watching the drama unfold, and said, "Young man, how about coming to work for me? I happen to need a secretary."

"Huh?" Joachim exclaimed in surprise, his mouth agape. The officers behind him, wearing armbands, also stared wide-eyed.

"I?"

"I got a share too?"

"If you'd like, you'll be my secretary now."

Ernst Meyer spoke faster, his anger burning fiercely within him.

It's hard to imagine that a middle-aged man like this could exude a more vibrant energy than Joachim, as if he were younger than Joachim: "As for you, trash of the old era, get as far away as you can. We don't need you anymore."

"That's certainly assertive," Ludwig Edeller said lazily. "But the one getting out next isn't me, it's you."

"What can you do?"

Ernst Meyer glanced around at the officers and soldiers, all of whom wore armbands and badges that served as his personal identification.

He didn't believe that a former imperial bureaucrat imprisoned here could stage a comeback and turn all the officers and soldiers against him.

"What can I do?"

"The soldiers and officers here all obey my commands."

Ludwig Edeller finally revealed his true colors, baring his fangs under the other's gaze: "So today you and your men either agree to this plan, or everyone dies!"

After he finished speaking, all the officers and soldiers in the meeting room started to act.

They all drew their sidearms and aimed them directly at Ernst Meyer and his group.

This came as a huge surprise to all the leftists, who had thought that Lower Silesia was still under their control.

It now appears that the old bureaucrats of these empires had long since completed the purge of Lower Silesia.

One of the leftists, unwilling to accept his fate, tried to draw his sidearm and fight back.

But Model, who was not far away, readily retaliated by firing a bullet at him.

The splattering blood added a touch of savagery to the meeting.

"I told you, don't move."

Ludwig Edeller was very pleased; he had long wanted to get rid of all these leftists.

These people brought him a lot of humiliation during his imprisonment.

"What exactly do you want?" Ernst Meyer wasn't scared at the gun being pointed at his head; instead, he was even more furious. "If you want me to agree to your plan, I'm sorry, I can't. I can't do such a thing."

"Of course you can disagree, but are you sure there aren't any spineless people in your team...?"

Having said that, his gaze swept over everyone present.

Finally, it settled on an easy target.

His knowing, mocking smile returned; he had plenty of ways to deal with these leftists.

"Looks like I've found my target."

"Drag that guy out."

As soon as he finished speaking, two soldiers moved and dragged out the trembling, unlucky fellow.

Ludwig Edeller went straight up to him, grabbed his hair roughly, and pulled him up.

What was presented to everyone was a young and innocent face, a face filled with fear and terror.

"Ah, my brother, I am so glad to see you." Ludwig Edeler grabbed his hair and lifted him up, making him look at him directly. "Then could you tell me, in your ranks, who can be considered important?"

"He knows nothing, don't ask him," Ernst Meyer hurriedly replied.

"I wasn't asking you, I was asking him." Ludwig Edeller glanced at Ernst Meyer and couldn't help but smile. It seemed he had really found a weakling this time and had broken through the defenses of these leftists in one fell swoop. I thought he was much more capable.

He pointed at two soldiers with his finger: "What follows is to shut him up. If he dares to say another word, knock his teeth out."

Holding a glass of red wine, the Silesia governor, as elegant as ever, asked, "Fellow countryman, what is your name?"

"Luther Willest."

"Polish?"

"Germans."

How old are you this year?

"24......3"

"You're quite young indeed. Where do you live?"

"Pozzi...210 King's Road."

Who are the members of your family?

"Sister, younger sister."

Are your parents still alive?

"They're all here."

At this point, Ernst Meyer, brimming with passion, closed his eyes.

Indeed, comrades are more reliable than compatriots.

These like-minded young Germans are truly unbelievable.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

Casual conversation about everyday things can help young people lower their guard.

Then Ludwig Edeller casually revealed his true intentions: "So all the Silesia leftists are here?"

"Not entirely, a large number of Polish allies were left there..." Although the young man had no experience in combat, he became wary halfway through his sentence. He couldn't say this to the person in front of him.

"Why did you stop talking?"

"That would be betraying our comrades, I can't say that."

The young man swallowed his words.

Ernst Meyer, who had been in despair, opened his eyes again and looked at the young man with hope.

Joachim, who had been watching from the sidelines, already knew that the young man wouldn't last much longer and would probably have to confess everything in the next sentence.

Sure enough, after a rare moment of silence, Ludwig Edeller spoke again: "Then let's talk about your family matters, you know?"

"I didn't want my elderly parents to know about their son's death, because it would be absolutely cruel for a family."

"So you should know how to answer my question, right?"

After saying that, he moved even closer to the young man and gave him a "kind" smile: "As long as you satisfy me, everything will be rewarded... You'll soon find out that there's no comrade more valuable than financial freedom."