Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

"Rumors and gossip?"

Elizabeth pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

Joachim nodded, raised his hand to check the time, and felt that it was about time.

Only then did he pick up his utensils and eat the bread.

After finishing the milk on the table, Joachim strode back to his room.

His room wasn't very big; it was designated as a guest room in the apartment.

So as soon as you enter, you feel a bit oppressed, like a pigeon coop.

One comforting thing is that when the sun rises, sunlight shines through the glass onto Joachim, who is sleeping in bed.

If you walk further in, you'll see a large bed that's 1.8 meters wide.

There was also a desk with a few documents on it.

"Sir, would you like to wash your face?" Wolf knocked on the door and came in carrying a basin of hot water.

"You go first."

Joachim was already seated at his desk, ready to process the documents that hadn't been dealt with that day.

He and Wolf both slept in this room. Elizabeth had originally vacated two rooms, but Joachim didn't really want to trouble the family.

After all, just providing food and lodging here was already enough trouble for them, even though he had helped their family a lot.

The sound of rushing water could be heard, and a man's voice could be heard from outside.

Elizabeth's father and mother have returned.

Joachim put down the documents he was working on and listened attentively to the family's conversation.

It's not that Joachim had any voyeuristic tendencies, but rather that the current situation was tense, and Germans like them had to be extremely cautious when staying in a Polish family. That's why Joachim and his companions pretended not to understand Polish; one really had to be careful when venturing out into the world.

Don't assume that if you help someone, they will help you in return.

No matter how good you are to others, it's not as reassuring as being useful to them.

Apart from the sounds of Wolf washing his face and hands, the only other sound in the room was Elizabeth's father cursing from the living room.

Joachim heard it clearly: Elizabeth's father was not cursing the Germans, but the Poles.

He was berating the Polish peasants for refusing to cooperate with the German army and hand over their grain. He said those peasants were stingy and unwilling to give up their stored grain, and that the German army was not refusing to compensate them. The Germans had bought the grain at high market prices, and now they could only eat hard, dark bread in the mess hall. He even said he found some sawdust in his bread today.

Upon hearing this, Joachim smiled and continued working on the documents in his hands.

It's actually quite funny that before Joachim and his family arrived, this Polish family was a typical anti-German family.

Elizabeth's father rolled his eyes whenever he saw Joachim and his group. Even though Joachim had already paid them a lot of money, her father made no attempt to hide his contempt for them. He even spoke veiledly to Elizabeth in Polish at the dinner table, wishing he could drive these Germans out of Posen as soon as possible.

Now, with Elizabeth's parents finding good jobs through Joachim's arrangements,

Their family's thinking gradually changed, as if their mindset had suddenly shifted.

He transformed from a Polish separatist into a patriot.

Elizabeth's father was even more outrageous; after receiving his first paycheck...

He went straight to the convenience store and bought the tricolor flag of the German Empire.

He hung it directly in the living room of his house, and this simple and straightforward act of showing loyalty made Joachim chuckle.

Poles can be patriotic too!

Just as Joachim was listening intently, there was a knock on the door.

Wolf quickly opened the door, where Elizabeth's mother and her daughter, who was acting as her translator, stood.

Elizabeth still looked timid, but Joachim could still make out her features in the dim light.

She had fair skin and her golden-brown hair was styled in a bun.

With light-colored eyes and wearing an apron embroidered with traditional patterns, she looked shyly at Joachim, while Joachim looked back at her calmly.

Confusion and bewilderment appeared in his eyes.

Elizabeth's mother, however, was quite nonchalant about her daughter's shyness: "Are the adults here?"

Although Wolfe heard clearly, he still looked at Elizabeth with a puzzled expression.

The latter was simultaneously translated and given to Wolf.

Wolf responded coldly, "What do you want?"

"Is the adults here?" Elizabeth's mother asked again.

"Just tell me what it is."

Wolf responded coldly once again.

"We just brought him some fruit from the factory..."

As she spoke, Elizabeth's mother took a plate of fruit from her daughter's hand and handed it to Wolf.

Although it looks like a lot, with the fruit platter completely full, it was actually only according to Wolf's visual estimate.

This is because two apples were cut into many pieces, which is why it looks like there are so many.

This finally softened Wolf's icy expression; getting so much fruit these days was truly no easy feat.

Especially considering it was during a year of famine, it's clear this family really put their heart into it.

Although Wolf and his men never worried about food, after all, they were the upper class of this era.

Even during times of war, they never lacked food or drink...

"Take it back, sir, he doesn't want to eat it."

Wolf continued to coldly refuse.

"what?"

Upon hearing this, both mother and daughter showed a hint of disappointment in their eyes.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, the next second...

Joachim's words brought smiles to their faces: "Bring it in."

.......

Joachim ultimately dared not eat the fruit, and he also ordered Wolf not to eat any of the fruit either.

Finally, when they were leaving during the day, they packed up the fruit and casually gave it to a beggar.

The beggar was already starving, and when he saw someone giving him something, he was naturally very grateful.

Joachim didn't care, after all, he was leaving Posen today and returning to Breslau.

There were still many things waiting for him in Breslau, where Prince Leopold and his large army awaited him.

Moreover, according to Nikolai, Berlin fears they might merge.

So Joachim is plotting to dismiss Prince Leopold. Judging from Prince Leopold's intentions, he has no intention of staying in office. After all, he is already old and it is not appropriate for him to continue to hold power. Therefore, before he leaves office, Joachim must obtain enough weapons and soldiers from him to arm himself.

After all, a tough battle awaits him.