Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

"You can't say that."

Tirpitz took a sip of his drink, but everyone could hear the hint of smugness in his voice: "If your uncle Hindenburg knew, he'd probably be furious."

Hindenburg currently holds a high position in the German military and remains as Chief of the General Staff.

"My uncle's talent is only enough to command a war, while you have the vision of a politician."

Manstein continued to praise him, going to such lengths to do so.

Prince Leopold, standing to the side, had to at least lend a hand: "Otherwise, why would Hindenburg be the Chief of the General Staff now, while you've become the leader of the German National People's Party?"

Prince Leopold is mistaken, because the current leader of the German National People's Party is Oscar Helgett.

However, everyone knew that it was harmless.

Tirpitz is a heavyweight elder, spiritual icon, and core spokesperson of the National People's Party.

Everyone knows that whoever gets Tirpitz's support gets the support of the entire People's Party.

"Perhaps you will become the president of the country in this election, and the restoration of the monarchy will be just around the corner."

Prince Leopold continued his flattery, which made Tirpitz laugh heartily.

As he grew older, Tirpitz grew to enjoy such flattery more and more: "That guy Albert will be ousted by us sooner or later."

"Then we will put His Highness Joachim on the throne, and you will be the new emperor of the entire German Empire."

"I could still be emperor, but I've already given up my right to the throne. I might as well become a monk."

Joachim looked at Tirpitz and continued to decline: "Not to mention, my old man probably hates me to death now. I took all his money and didn't leave him a penny."

"His Majesty the Emperor is no longer fit to rule the whole of Germany."

Compared to Ludwig's attitude, Tirpitz was loyal to the monarchy, but not to Wilhelm II himself.

Like most loyal subjects of the royal family, he hoped that Wilhelm II would have a dignified end, rather than live a life of such disgrace.

He acknowledged that Wilhelm II's support for the navy had indeed benefited him. However, he accused Wilhelm II of being indecisive and hesitant during the war, and of blindly trusting civilian officials.

In his memoirs, he also criticized Wilhelm II as a spoiled child.

So in a sense, Prince Leopold misjudged Tirpitz's attitude.

"Moreover, I think Your Highness is right. It is precisely at times like these that you must uphold the banner of the royal family."

"Giving up the right to inherit is the right thing to do, because these things are meaningless to us."

"We need to get real benefits, and in this respect, you are better than His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness Crown Prince William."

Tirpitz expressed his appreciation for Joachim's actions, and he had learned of Joachim's activities in Posen from Prince Leopold before he arrived.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have traveled all the way from Berlin to get here.

It must be said that Joachim's iron-fisted approach did indeed have a touch of turning the tide.

Like a German version of Napoleon, he emerged when the right wing in Germany was in a slump.

His actions in Poz and Cilicia will undoubtedly serve as a benchmark and symbol for right-wing actions.

Tirpitz came here today to test Joachim and see if he had the qualities of a ruler.

Now it's clear that he not only has the bearing of a ruler, but also supports his own ideals.

What else is there? Just give us your support!

As for Wilhelm II and Crown Prince Wilhelm, let them stay in the Netherlands as lumberjacks; Tirpitz now has a better option.

"Yes, Your Highness, your abilities surpass theirs. Your future leadership of Germany is undoubtedly the most advantageous choice for us."

Prince Leopold continued his flattery: "You are the future Emperor of Germany..."

As Prince Leopold began to speak, the atmosphere gradually heated up.

Manstein and Joachim exchanged a glance, and Manstein said in a low voice, "It's almost time, Your Highness."

"I still have a lot of things to deal with. I need to assign officers to the newly formed few thousand men, and I also need to manage their weapons and artillery..."

"Is this too much trouble?" Joachim nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Prince Leopold.

The latter understood immediately: "I'll go too, Your Highness."

And so, only Tirpitz and Joachim remained in the spacious room.

It's time to get down to business.

The two faced each other, each lost in their own thoughts, but ultimately remained silent.

The room then became completely quiet.

Finally, Joachim broke the silence by pouring a glass of scarlet Burgundy wine into it.

One cup is offered to the other person, and the other is kept for oneself.

He then cut to the chase: "Fleet Admiral, are you so certain about who I'm going to be?"

"Why would Your Highness ask such a question?"

Tirpitz took a sip of red wine, the crimson liquid flowing down his throat and into his stomach, warming his aged body. "Do you feel my support for you isn't sincere enough?"

"I've always believed in one thing: no matter how good you are to others, it's not as important as being useful to them."

"Like the flattery you just gave me?"

"What I just said wasn't flattery."

"I'm just stating an opinion."

"What kind of attitude is that...?"

"We are friends, not enemies."

"Furthermore, what I just said wasn't meant to flatter or praise, but rather to demonstrate my value."

As Joachim spoke, he shifted into a more comfortable position.

Leaning against the handrail, my neck tilted back slightly.

He tilted his chin slightly as he looked at Tirpitz: "In other words, if I don't make a name for myself in Poz and Silesia, you'll never even notice me, am I right?"

"So there's no such thing as sincerity. I only care whether you will fully support me going forward."

"So you think I'm not sincere enough?" Tirpitz looked at Joachim with increasing surprise. Was this German prince really the little guy he had met before, a guy suffering from bipolar disorder and tormented by various ailments?

"The problem is this, Admiral."

The longer Joachim stayed in this world, the more emotionally stable he felt, as if a kind of indifference was increasingly emanating from his very bones.

This may be a form of personal growth.

Composing himself, Joachim continued, "I find it hard to truly trust you that you agreed to let me ascend the throne so easily."

"What you're saying really sounds a bit like a scoundrel," Tirpitz laughed, the first time he'd laughed from the bottom of his heart.

Joachim laughed and said, "As the saying goes, no one gets along for no reason."