Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

"It's not going to be easy to respond to the French; we need to be tougher."

"How so?"

"We are currently suppressing anti-republican riots in Germany and hope that the French will not interfere in Germany's internal affairs."

"I'm afraid the French won't let this go easily."

"Yes, that means we'll make sure they don't give up easily."

Joachim took the cigar and lit it, staring at the Foreign Minister across from him through the smoke.

The latter winked, indicating that he would speak his mind.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also taken action."

"How are your negotiations with those Russians going?"

"The Russians refused to compromise; they insisted that all actions should be negotiated on an equal footing."

"Then let's treat them as equals and directly order the negotiating ambassadors to make concessions quickly."

"The Brest-Litovsk Treaty that we signed with the Russians will be abandoned on the condition that we purchase enough grain from Russia."

He paused slightly at this point, emphasizing, "And it has to be low-priced."

"The Russians probably won't push grain prices down too low; they know this is our lifeline."

Brodokdorf-Rancho looked at Joachim cautiously and said.

"Then let's use threats, let's use bait."

Joachim, however, seemed unconcerned: "Aren't Goltz's troops in Estonia?"

"Let him launch an attack, and hurt them badly."

Rüdiger von der Goltz was a major general in the German Imperial Army and commander-in-chief of the Baltic region.

He was born into a noble family in the Brandenburg region of Prussia, a family that produced 43 generals.

He joined the army in 1885.

He joined the German General Staff in 1895 and was a German army colonel before the war.

He participated in the Battle of the Marne and was transferred to the Eastern Front in 1918, serving as the commander of the Baltic Division.

In February 1919, he became the commander of the German Sixth Reserve Army, commanding the German army, the Baltic Free Corps, and the local German Self-Defense Forces, totaling 2 men.

Moreover, their current situation is not good; they have been confined to the seaside by labor union members.

The overall situation of the military is not optimistic.

Moreover, only a few ports in the entire Latvia were in German hands, and the German forces there were almost completely surrounded by syndicalists.

Sending such troops to attack syndicalists is truly like throwing an egg against a rock.

"That probably won't work. Golts' troops are war-weary and lack weapons and equipment... Moreover, our relationship with the British is very strained right now. If they send warships into the Baltic Sea and blockade Golts' supply lines... our situation will become very difficult."

Brodokdorf-Rancho said with a troubled expression.

But before he could finish speaking, Heydrich quietly walked in from outside.

"I apologize for interrupting your conversation, Your Excellency Foreign Minister."

Heinrich gave him an apologetic look: "An uninvited guest from the Baltic has arrived."

Who is it?

Joachim raised an eyebrow at him, already having a vague idea in his mind.

"General Gortz has secretly returned."

"We were just talking about him, and he's back?"

"Did you call him back?"

Brodokdorf-Rancho adjusted his monocle and asked cautiously.

"I didn't. He came back secretly on his own."

"Remember the word 'secret'."

"Alright, Your Excellency Prime Minister."

"Just let him in."

"I'd love to see him."

A glint flashed in Joachim's eyes, and his smile grew even wider.

Next, he not only wants to deliver a heavy blow to the Frenchman's face, but also to the Russian's.

.......

"So Your Highness is now a prime minister with real power, right?"

The speaker was General Rüdiger von der Goltz, who had just returned from Latvia.

Heinrich led the way, while he followed behind asking questions he wanted to know.

"Yes, you can make any requests you have to His Highness, and he will agree."

Heinrich walked ahead, glancing back at Goltz with a reassuring look: "My cousin Lundstätter has already written to me, and I can give you a clear answer: His Highness's word still carries weight in the Berlin government."

There were close ties among the German nobility, even though Heinrich was not a German nobleman.

But he had already been incorporated into the circle of Prussian nobles.

Therefore, it is quite normal for Gortz to contact Heinrich through Rundstedt's connections.

Moreover, there is one thing that the German military aristocracy is most concerned about right now.

The question is whether Joachim actually had any real power.

Is he a puppet put forward by the Republican government?

"Then I'm relieved. Continue leading the way."

Goltz nodded and quietly followed behind Heinrich.

"Yes, please be mindful of your manners."

After saying that, Heinrich personally opened the conference room door.

The three people discussing the details in the conference room immediately turned their attention to them.

Rüdiger von der Goltz had a high hairline, a bald top, and short hair combed back on the sides, a typical Prussian military hairstyle.

He has a long face, deep-set eyes, and extremely sharp eyes, which makes him look very intimidating.

As for his physique, he appears to be quite tall, with a broad and straight back.

Coupled with the Iron Cross medal on his chest, he looked somewhat aloof and cold.

"General Goldz, please have a seat here."

Joachim waved to him casually, then pointed to the sofa opposite him, indicating that the other person should sit down.

Golts walked in awkwardly, his expression stiff as he looked at Joachim.

To be honest, as a traditional German military aristocrat,

He truly found it hard to imagine that a German prince could become the current Chancellor of Germany.

Moreover, he was a German Chancellor with real power.

"General, His Highness is calling for you," Heinrich urged from behind.

It was only then that Goltz reacted, stiffly walked in, and sat down opposite Joachim.

The door closed again.

Joachim took cigarettes out of his pocket and placed them on the table.

As the host, he naturally wanted to liven things up: "Do you smoke, General?"

"I know a little bit..."

"Then I'll light a cigarette for you."

As he spoke, Joachim opened the pack of cigarettes and took out a few.

He distributed them one by one to everyone, and finally took out a lighter and lit them.

The other two were already used to it, but Goltz's gaze became increasingly strange.

The meeting room smelled a bit more of smoke.

Joachim smiled and carefully examined the German general in the Baltic: "Have you considered working for the General Staff?"

"Forget it, Your...Prime...Your...Sir." Goltz stammered.

"Then let's talk about the Baltic Sea."

Joachim's smile vanished, and he abruptly steered the conversation to the main topic.

However, his tone now carried a hint of difficulty: "Why did you suddenly abandon your troops and return to Berlin?"

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