Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

"Your Highness, should we still report this to Berlin?"

"You don't need to worry about what's happening in Berlin. I'll handle the communication there. But you don't need to file a report either. There'll be a good show tonight at the latest."

"Okay, I'll send someone to stir things up right away."

"Thank you for your hard work, Walter."

"It is what I should do, Your Highness. I am fulfilling my duty," Model said calmly, "and also for our shared ideals."

"Everything is for the German Fatherland."

Just as Joachim hung up the phone, Tepukamo walked in from the side.

He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth and looked worried.

"Wasn't the Polish problem solved? Why are there still people resisting?"

Seeing his worried expression, Joachim couldn't help but ask curiously, "Which fools are so blind that they dare to openly challenge us at this juncture?"

"If that's the case, I have another way to solve these problems."

"Let Poles report on and frame each other, as long as their hands are stained with the blood of their own compatriots."

"They will feel the fear of being purged."

"Fear is a human instinct. If you can make them feel fear, they will choose to submit in exchange for protection."

"......."

"After being taught a lesson more than a dozen times, those Poles have long since learned their lesson."

"Then why do you look so unhappy, all gloomy and downcast?"

"We received a message from Berlin," Tepukamo said, carefully choosing his words, unsure how to tell Joachim.

"Do they disagree with our actions in Poland? Or have they received some information?"

"Don't you remember one of our plans from before?"

"That means transferring all the assets of the fleeing Poles to your name to form a new business conglomerate."

"So?" Joachim had a vague idea of ​​the answer, but he still pressed for details.

"The Berlin Business Authority will not allow us to transfer those assets to your name."

Have you tried any other methods?

"We tried, but they wouldn't allow any changes to Potts' assets, especially concentrating so much property in one or more people. They also sent us specific investigation information, asking us to show the identification documents of these people, as well as their statements of voluntary transfer, and to pay a deposit to ensure that these assets do not fall into the hands of individuals."

Tepukamo had carefully chosen his words, but with things having come to this point, Joachim couldn't possibly be unaware of what he meant.

There is no doubt that Berlin has taken notice of his actions and is using this method to target his growing influence in eastern Germany.

Good heavens, the Polish problem hasn't been resolved yet, and internal strife has started again!

Don't these Germans understand the difference between primary and secondary matters?

Joachim was furious, even though he wasn't short of funds at the moment.

But if he wants to realize his dream, he must establish a stable industrial chain in Germany.

A stable industrial chain inevitably requires the integration of various industries...

And now, he has only just taken one step towards unification, and Berlin has already tripped him up.

These guys are really shameless!

"Your Majesty, shall we try another method? Perhaps have Manstein call Field Marshal Hindenburg?"

"I believe that with Field Marshal Hindenburg's involvement, everything will become simpler."

Seeing Joachim's ashen face, Tepukamo tentatively offered his suggestion.

Having Manstein call Hindenburg could indeed solve the problem, but what would happen after that?

Joachim was not in the habit of entrusting his life to potential enemies.

"There's no need for Manstein, I'll call him myself."

Joachim walked to the desk, picked up the telephone there, and began to dial the number: "This is Governor Potsworth, transfer me to the Presidential Palace in Berlin."

Calling Albert directly, that's really bold!

Joachim hadn't told Tepkamo about his time in Berlin, so when he saw Joachim make a direct phone call to President Ebert, he immediately showed an expression of admiration. To be honest, in his memory, even Crown Prince Wilhelm didn't have the courage to directly say no to the ruler of the empire!

Moreover, Joachim is no longer the so-called imperial prince; at best, he is just a remnant of the previous dynasty.

And yet, a remnant of the previous dynasty dared to directly call the head of state!

What courage and what ability that takes!

After a one-minute transfer, the call finally connected to the Berlin end.

The person who answered the phone was not President Abbott, but his secretary.

The man's voice was languid and tinged with arrogance: "This is the Presidential Palace, Your Excellency Tepukamo. What brings you here at this hour?"

"Let Albert answer the phone directly." Without any formalities, Joachim addressed him by his first name: "I need to speak with him."

"Tepkamo, watch your tone when you speak to the President. Is this the kind of tone a local official like you should use when speaking to the President?"

The person on the other end was clearly stumped by the question. After a moment of silence, they immediately retorted angrily.

In this era, the quality of sound transmitted by telephone is not very good. Unless it is someone you know very well, it is generally difficult to tell that it is someone else's voice.

So even now, that man still mistakes Joachim for Tepukamo: "Did you speak to Wilhelm II like this before?"

"Don't mention Wilhelm II to me," Joachim interrupted coldly. "There is no emperor in a republican system."

"And make him answer the phone right now, I have something important to report."

"If he doesn't answer the phone within one minute, you'll be responsible for all the consequences!"

"But the president is in a meeting right now; they're fighting against the leftists in Berlin..."

"This is none of my business, and dealing with leftists is not something you can handle."

Joachim interrupted coldly again: "All I need you to say now is whether Albert can be put on the phone within one minute?"

"What could be so important?" The person on the other end of the phone was clearly flustered; their arrogant voice turned apprehensive.

"Idiot... Bi."

When the other party continued to press him, Joachim simply cursed and stopped arguing with him.

He hung up the phone abruptly, then glanced at his watch under Tepkamo's gaze, as if checking the time.

"Your Majesty, isn't your tone a bit too impulsive?"

"There's no need to be too polite to this kind of person. This guy thinks he's special just because he's the president's secretary, and that his power is above all the governors and other high-ranking officials. In reality, he's a joke to us."

"Just wait, he'll call in less than 30 seconds," Joachim said with a cold smile.

Sure enough, less than 30 seconds later, the phone rang...

Joachim sneered, picked up the phone, and then slammed it down.

Meanwhile, the secretary at the Presidential Palace was already sweating profusely and feeling extremely uneasy.

At that moment, he felt that he had done something foolish and made a big mistake.

And that guy who just hung up on him is definitely not someone to mess with!