Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

On the other end of the phone, Piłsudski was smoking incessantly, his large, trembling beard swaying as he chain-smoked one cigarette after another.

His secretary, meanwhile, was constantly dialing telephone numbers, desperately trying to call the German headquarters at the front.

After the German troops withdrew from Warsaw, this task was handed over to others.

On the one hand, Germany could not find a head of state to hold a high-level meeting with Piłsudski.

On the other hand, Piłsudski's role was no longer to coordinate with the German army, but to focus on integrating the various Polish governments and organizing a regular army.

Moreover, the Republic of Poland is currently under considerable pressure, not only in terms of military integration but also in dealing with the Russians to the east.

Moreover, the German forces have been strictly adhering to the November agreement, with Eastern Front troops retreating north and west from Galicia toward the Lublin region.

So if it weren't for what just happened, Pilsudski wouldn't have focused his attention on the German army at all.

"Still no luck?"

"We still can't get through to the President; the Germans keep saying the line is busy," Piłsudski's secretary replied, sweating profusely.

"Then keep fighting." Piłsudski's voice left no room for argument: "Keep fighting until the Germans get through. I want to see what they're up to."

"Yes..." Piłsudski's secretary stammered, his fingers trembling as he fiddled with the telephone number.

The telephone line extended all the way to the German side.

Is he still playing?

The elderly Prince Leopold listened to the ringing phone and felt genuinely annoyed. He was already 73 years old, yet these Poles still wouldn't let him have a peaceful life.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"How about I take this call?" Prince Leopold turned to look at Joachim, the host of the banquet.

"There's no need to accept it anymore, Your Highness."

"Are there things you should refuse to his face?" Joachim said calmly. "Your not answering the phone is already a statement. If you answer now, he'll only question why you didn't abide by the agreement."

"But there's no agreement between us," Prince Leopold said, his aged yet handsome face twitching slightly. "I don't owe that Pole anything."

"If that's the case, then go ahead and accept it. I don't mind."

"Then I'd rather not accept it."

Prince Leopold said casually, then paused, "But first I must congratulate you on your work in Poz and Silesia. I must say, you are one of the few truly capable members of the German royal family I have ever met; you dare to go against the tide."

"If I had known, I should have prepared some gifts for you; it could be considered a political investment."

As he spoke, he raised his glass and gestured towards Joachim.

The latter nodded slightly and raised his glass: "It's not too late to invest now."

His voice was pleasant; he had now almost completely eliminated all the covert operations Poland had planted in Potsdam, and had used his connections in the German government to refuse the American entry. Joachim could now say bluntly that German rule in Potsdam was as secure as a rock.

Unless the Poles completely break with the Germans and launch a direct military attack on Poz, they cannot overthrow German rule in Poz.

"Hahaha, you've been waiting for me here all along, haven't you?"

Prince Leopold laughed heartily: "You and your father are really quite different, Joachim."

"He is him, and I am me. I have already given up my right to the throne."

"It has absolutely nothing to do with the German royal family."

"Don't say that. Everyone knows this is just a temporary measure."

"I just see through it but don't say it."

"Who doesn't covet the German throne? Who doesn't want to be the Emperor of Germany?"

"But that also depends on whether you have the ability, right?"

"Could this be considered my first investment?"

"That's true in a sense."

Joachim nodded slightly and waved to Wolf beside him: "No more red wine, bring two bottles of chilled beer instead."

"Yes, Your Highness."

In a sense, this was a habit for the German nobility.

After finishing the red wine, it's time to switch to beer and get down to business.

"Joachim, what do you want me to provide?"

"I need to replenish the troops with many soldiers, and I also need many cannons and rifles, which you can provide, Your Highness."

"These are government soldiers; I have no authority to provide anything."

Prince Leopold did not give a direct answer; instead, he twirled his wine glass like a cunning old fox.

The scarlet liquid swirls endlessly inside the glass, as if waiting for a satisfactory price.

"......"

Joachim simply smiled at this, then put on a poker face.

Huh... this kid isn't taking the bait.

Prince Leopold simply smiled indifferently, and the shrewd man put down his wine glass and calmly began to eat his steak.

He refused to believe that Joachim wouldn't take the bait, and time passed by, until finally Joachim couldn't hold back any longer.

"I promise to restore your title and privileges when I ascend to the highest position."

"You should know this, right? The current republic does not recognize titles from the old empire..."

"you......"

Upon hearing this, Prince Leopold put down his steak and looked Joachim up and down.

Just like a German prince meeting this person for the first time: "You seem quite serious about what you're saying..."

"Yes, I will restore all your honors and privileges..."

Seeing that the other party was "moved", Joachim immediately seized the opportunity and his eyes were full of sincerity.

But the latter only said one sentence, cutting off what he was about to say: "However, Your Highness Joachim."

"What you're promising us now is all empty talk; it's of no use to me, who's practically half-buried in the ground."

Before we could finish speaking, the ice-cold beer had already been served.

Prince Leopold did not wipe his mouth, and his body language showed no signs of aristocratic demeanor.

He picked up the beer in one gulp, took a huge gulp, and then slammed it down: "And what I'm giving you now is real..."

"But don't you have descendants and brothers? I can restore their titles as well..."

"Hahahahahahahahaha!"

"A castle in the air, what a fool!"

Upon hearing this, Prince Leopold burst into laughter, his face displaying a mocking expression completely out of character for his status.

Joachim was so embarrassed by the laughter that his face turned bright red, and he was even more furious inside.

I wish I could leave right now!