Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

Downstairs from Elizabeth's building, Joachim's favorite Mercedes-Benz was parked in front of the building.

Joachim is currently making final preparations before his departure. He has handed over his responsibilities to Manstein, and all matters thereafter will be handled by him.

As for Joachim, he didn't take many of his men with him: Wolf, Heinrich, and a small guard.

As he packed his things, he listened to Ludwig Edeller explain the German power structure to him.

The German Empire, founded in 1871, is generally referred to as a dual constitutional monarchy.

At first glance, it appears to be a loosely organized federation with a nominal monarchy.

The title of German Emperor was merely an honorary one held by the Federal President.

Supreme power is held by a federal assembly composed of representatives from the 26 states.

The parliament, elected by universal suffrage from all male citizens aged 25 and over, forms a de facto upper and lower house with the federal parliament, sharing federal legislative power.

The President of the Federation and the Emperor appoint a Prime Minister of the Federation.

The federal prime minister thus leads the federal government, but his actual power is quite limited.

Even now, it is impossible to directly collect direct taxes within the territory of each state, so the federation is only the first layer of the German Empire's system.

Two-thirds of Germany's territory, three-fifths of its population, and the vast majority of its army were concentrated in the hands of a single state.

The state of Prussia was a centralized, dualistic constitutional monarchy with a monarch wielding considerable real power, and possessed de facto veto power in the federal parliament.

The King of Prussia permanently served as Emperor of the German Empire, and the Imperial Chancellor, with very few exceptions, also served as Prime Minister of Prussia.

Both the Imperial Chancellor and the Prussian Prime Minister were accountable only to the Emperor and King.

Therefore, it is not difficult to see that in the overlapping power structure of the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, the most central position was still occupied by the hereditary monarch, rather than any individual or institution elected by the people or selected by merit. Although the Hohenzollern family has been overthrown, in reality, the emperor's name card has been replaced with the title of president.

At this point, Ludwig Edeler emphasized to Joachim, "So, Your Highness, what is the problem you are facing now?"

"It's about whether or not Albert wants you to become the Prime Minister of Prussia."

"If he is willing, then everything will be easy, and you will have no more obstacles on your political path."

"If you are unwilling, then your real power will be quite limited, and you will encounter trouble everywhere."

"I had already anticipated this."

Joachim nodded slightly: "But I have no way to retaliate now; I have no political base in Berlin."

"So you need your father's support."

Have you considered reconciling with your father?

Ludwig Edeler spoke with great hesitation, now aware of the tension between Joachim and the Emperor, and fearing that Wilhelm II might affect their relationship.

"Make peace with him?"

Joachim remained silent in the face of this suggestion. He was a proud man, and how could he possibly ask others for help?

What's more, that person was none other than his cheap father, Wilhelm II, whom he had always looked down upon.

For that reason alone, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Your Highness, I know you have grievances against His Majesty the Emperor, but you are still father and son... A father will not hold a grudge against his son for his mistakes." Seeing Joachim's silence, Ludwig Edeller quickly advised, "Do you understand?"

"If you simply make a phone call to His Majesty the Emperor to apologize, he will absolutely forgive your mistake and fully support you!"

"Apologize to him?"

This sentence ignited Joachim's rebellious spirit. He was determined to save Germany, so what was wrong with him?

Why should he apologize to a guy who ruined his country?

Just because he was the Emperor of Germany?

"Yes..." Ludwig Edeller paused for a moment, then continued to persuade with a stronger tone, "I know you look down on him, but the current situation is that we must get his support. Only in this way can we gain a foothold in Berlin."

"With just one phone call from His Majesty the Emperor, the politicians of Berlin will surely respond in droves..."

"I want to call him..."

Joachim sat on the bed, tilting his head back in thought, feeling an indescribable sadness in his heart.

To be honest, if someone truly wants to apologize from the bottom of their heart...

He absolutely cannot open his mouth, because he would feel genuinely ashamed.

Moreover, Wilhelm II was someone he genuinely looked down upon.

"It is not difficult for a son to admit his mistakes to his father, Your Highness."

Ludwig Edeller naturally guessed most of the difficulties Joachim was facing.

But it was precisely at this time that he wanted to help Joachim make up his mind.

He's been through it all, so he naturally knows what the father-son relationship is like.

"There's no such thing as a grudge that lasts overnight between a father and son."

Joachim looked up at him, and he nodded earnestly: "Your Highness only needs to make a phone call. You only need to bow your head to His Majesty the Emperor, and I believe he will support your choice and help you gain a foothold in Prussia..."

"Stand firm..."

Joachim felt dizzy. Was he really going to have to compromise with Wilhelm II?

Honestly, for the first time, he felt like crying.

He really didn't want to back down. He got to where he is today entirely through his own hard work.

But now he has to bow down to someone he looks down on for the sake of his future... His conscience simply can't accept it.

"Your Highness, do you consider your conscience more important, or reality?"

"The restoration of the empire is just one step away; all you need to do is bow your head slightly... consider it a bow to reality."

Ludwig Edeler, seizing the opportunity, sat down next to Joachim and continued to persuade him: "Your Highness... just humble yourself. For His Majesty the Emperor, all you need is a phone call. Give him a way out, and both sides will have a chance..."

"......"

Joachim remained silent, his head bowed.

He felt weak all over, like he had no bones.

She collapsed onto the bed with a thud, lying on her back.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "You can go out now, I need to think about it..."

"Your Highness, I know you can't get over that hurdle in your heart." Ludwig Edeller walked to the door and then suddenly turned back: "But when a person reaches this point, sooner or later they have to make some choices. If you hesitate, live a muddled and mediocre life, you will never achieve anything great."

"Getting stuck in the middle every time you do something, neither going up nor down, is the most frustrating internal friction and the most wasteful compromise."

"Either you stay extremely clear-headed and cut your losses in time."

"If you're going to do something, do it to the extreme!"

"Do you remember what you said to me when we first met?"

"What did you say?"

"You fought for German territory..."

"So now I also have something to say to you."

"What did you say?"

"If you're not a perfect person, you're a beast!"