Iron and Blood: A Triumph of the Will

There has been a traitor among us!

Robert Schmidt was furious that he couldn't see the sixth arm.

His eyes, almost spitting fire, searched for the person who hadn't raised their hand, and finally settled on that person.

His pupils, however, were unfocused: "Prime Minister Sheldman, why... aren't you raising your hand?"

"I don't want to raise my hand."

"But why?"

"I can't let you kick me when I'm down." Scheidemann gave him an apologetic look. "As the Minister of the Interior said, in this time of national crisis, we Germans must unite as one."

"No one agrees with your proposal now, Schmidt."

"If you give up now, then we will all assume that this never happened."

Hugo Prois breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Shedemann did not raise his hand.

Although he didn't know why Sheldman had suddenly changed his stance.

But Hugo Prois was still sincerely grateful to him.

Thank goodness Sheldon didn't tear the lines apart at this time.

After saying this, he gave the clerk in charge of recording a look.

The latter immediately understood and tore off the written record.

"No, I must not give up, for the sake of the Republic's survival."

"I'm determined to oust Joachim today!"

Robert Schmidt was still not giving up; he just paused for a moment.

He then loudly proclaimed, "Just now, some people only voted in favor; now let's vote against."

"Those who oppose this bill, please raise your hands!"

Hugo Prouss, as the main opponent, raised his hand without hesitation.

After a brief silence, his companion Eugen Schiffer and the nonpartisan Brodokdov-Rancho hesitantly raised their hands!

There are only three votes against it now, only three votes!

it is as expected.

Joachim must fall today!

Robert Schmidt had actually anticipated Sheldon's attitude the moment he spoke.

As a member of the Social Democratic Party, even if he disagrees with the proposal to remove Joachim, he cannot oppose it.

This is a matter of attitude.

Robert Schmidt smiled subtly, giving his companions a satisfied look.

"Is there any suspense left? Five votes to three."

"The rest of the participants abstained."

The Social Democrats secretly breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a glance with Schmidt: "Then let's formulate a concrete proposal and submit it to the president."

"I will not sign it, and I will not agree to this plan."

Sheldon spoke again, striking a match to light a cigarette for himself.

As the room filled with smoke, Robert Schmidt felt the air was becoming suffocating.

His face suddenly darkened: "Schdemann, didn't you choose to abstain?"

"Within the Party, the minority must submit to the majority!"

"But this is a cabinet meeting, not a party meeting."

Scheidemann glanced at Robert Schmidt, then looked at the other party members: "Don't try to pressure me with those party rules. I'm the Vice Chancellor of Germany now."

"I am responsible for the future of Germany."

Upon hearing this, Robert Schmidt's pale face turned almost red with embarrassment.

The look in his eyes toward Sheldman grew increasingly hateful.

He is now convinced that Shedemann has betrayed the Social Democratic Party and sided with Joachim.

So his tone became anything but polite: "So you're saying you're definitely going to be a traitor, right?"

These words stunned Sheldon.

"Traitor? Me?"

He pointed to himself with his index finger and asked blankly.

Robert Schmidt immediately raised his hand, pointed at Sheldon's nose, and yelled, "If you're not the traitor, then who is?"

"Joachim's lackey—who knew there was such a wolf in sheep's clothing within our party!"

"I?"

Sheldon's hand, holding the cigarette, was trembling violently; he was clearly unable to accept Robert Schmidt's shrewish outburst.

However, out of loyalty to the party, he held back and suppressed his anger as much as possible, responding slowly and deliberately: "You didn't discuss this with me beforehand, you were just making your own plans in private, so I won't say anything more."

"As for why I didn't vote for Joachim?"

"It's because he's genuinely putting his heart and soul into his work now."

"You're not in the position of Deputy Prime Minister, so there are many things you don't understand. Joachim hasn't hidden anything from me, and I know what he's doing..."

"Then tell me, what is he doing?" Robert Schmidt refused to back down and instead pressed on.

"This is absolutely confidential; it's not something someone at your level can see."

Whether it was operations in the Baltic Sea or operations in Ireland.

Joachim did not hide anything from Shedemann.

Because he knew very well that although he had signed the document, the specific tasks still needed to be carried out by specific people.

That's why he didn't mention replacing Sheldon.

No one understands the current German administration better than the current Chancellor, Schaefermann.

Moreover, telling him about this would also help him demonstrate his abilities to Scheidemann.

A loyal but inefficient system is not what Joachim wants.

The more chaotic the times, the more efficient Germany's administrative system needs to be.

"Ultimately, it's because I just can't say it!"

Sheldon said that, but Robert Schmidt didn't think so!

He has only one thought in mind right now.

That is, Shedemann betrayed the Social Democratic Party and became Joachim's lackey!

Looking at his hysterical state, Sheldon was speechless.

In the end, all I could say was, "You'll understand later."

"Stop talking about the future. I just want to know one thing: do you want to sign this or not?"

"I cannot sign this."

Scheidemann's answer was straightforward.

"Alright, let's form a concrete bill." Robert Schmidt looked at his companion, who understood immediately: "Then let's find someone who can sign it."

"So, who are you planning to go see?"

Sheldon felt a vague unease.

Robert Schmidt gave a wink to his companions, and the group took the proposal and headed towards the door.

As he walked, he replied with a cold laugh, "Of course, I'll find someone who can make the decisions."

But at that very moment, the door slowly opened?

Fresh air rushed in, dispelling the suffocating smell of smoke in the room.

A man in a suit, carrying a briefcase, strode in.

"Am I too late? Has the meeting already finished?"

With just one sentence, he immediately drew everyone's attention to him.

The Social Democrats who were about to leave froze on the spot, not daring to even breathe!