"Your Highness!" As Qin Tian stepped out of the palace, he was summoned. It turned out that the Minister of the Army, von Falkenhayn, was waiting for him.
"Minister of the Army!" Qin Tian approached him.
"Your Highness, there are some matters I wish to discuss with you."
"Let's talk in the car," Qin Tian nodded.
The two entered von Falkenhayn's vehicle, where the driver had already exited, and guards stood a few meters away, on alert.
"Your Highness, Klein and Pritwitz have truly gone too far today in their relentless pressure on you. However, you must not act impulsively and fall into their trap!" von Falkenhayn expressed his concerns.
"I am aware they are deliberately provoking me. Nevertheless, I have faith in the Eighth Army. I believe it will withstand the Russian onslaught," Qin Tian replied confidently.
While von Falkenhayn wanted to trust Qin Tian, his familiarity with the army's situation and the capabilities of the Russian forces gave him pause. In his view, the Eighth Army's chances of success were slim. However, with events already unfolding, there was little left to say.
"May God bless you, Your Highness!"
"Rest assured, Minister. God will surely stand by my side," Qin Tian smiled.
"However, Minister, I believe you should consider whether, after the Eighth Army successfully repels the Russians and demonstrates the effectiveness of its reforms, this could serve as an opportunity to remove Klein from the Chief of Staff position. He has held that role for many years, and I believe he is utterly unqualified for it. If we could leverage this opportunity to replace him, that would be ideal. You could then assume the Chief of Staff position yourself," Qin Tian suggested.
Von Falkenhayn's eyes lit up at this prospect. If the Eighth Army succeeded, it would indeed expose Klein's shortcomings, and he would have to bear the consequences. Resigning from his position would provide a fitting explanation, making the Chief of Staff position rightfully his.
"Your Highness, please instruct me on what I should do!" von Falkenhayn responded eagerly.
"Keep a close eye on Klein. He is openly provoking me, which does not concern me. However, I fear he may resort to underhanded tactics," Qin Tian warned.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. I will monitor him closely and ensure he causes you no trouble," von Falkenhayn vowed.
Qin Tian nodded, relieved that Klein's interference might be minimized.
"By the way, I need you to facilitate the transfer of these individuals to the Eighth Army," Qin Tian said, handing a paper to von Falkenhayn.
Though unaware of Qin Tian's reasons for selecting these individuals, von Falkenhayn readily agreed.
After Qin Tian departed, von Falkenhayn opened the list, which contained only three names: Fritz Erich von Manstein, Heinz Wilhelm Guderian, and Erwin Rommel.
Furrowing his brow, von Falkenhayn realized he did not recognize any of them. However, Qin Tian seemed to hold them in high regard, so he resolved to do his utmost to locate them.
It was not surprising that von Falkenhayn did not know these three men; Manstein and Guderian were only in their early twenties, while Rommel was just eighteen. Yet, in another timeline, they would become renowned generals of the Third Reich, achieving great victories in the wars to come.
Qin Tian hoped to nurture their talents early in this timeline, allowing them to showcase their abilities before their meteoric rise. This would also provide him with a competent team, ensuring that these young generals would shine in future conflicts.
Qin Tian did not linger in Berlin, especially since Princess Gundelinde had returned to Munich, rendering his stay meaningless.
Upon returning to Königsberg, Hindenburg and Ludendorff promptly visited.
"Your Highness, we are aware of the situation in Berlin. Klein and Pritwitz have truly overstepped. However, your wager of the royal inheritance is a significant risk!" Hindenburg remarked.
"It was unavoidable. Klein and Pritwitz have been persistently aggressive. If I do not satisfy them, they will not relent. Nonetheless, I firmly believe the Eighth Army will defeat the Russians in the forthcoming war. They will have nothing further to say," Qin Tian replied confidently.
"Given the circumstances, it is the only course of action," Ludendorff concurred.
"I have urged the Deutsche Rüstungswerke and Krupp to prioritize the weaponry and equipment we need. The reorganization of the troops must accelerate. I do not want to find ourselves losing the war that is set to erupt in a few years," Qin Tian stated.
"Do not worry, Your Highness. We will do everything in our power to secure victory," Hindenburg promised.
At this juncture, they had no choice but to fight to the last. If they lost, Qin Tian would surely lose his claim to the throne, but they, too, would face dire consequences, potentially ending their military careers.
A month later, Manstein and Guderian reported to the Eighth Army in succession, both holding the rank of lieutenant. They were puzzled by their orders. As for Rommel, von Falkenhayn reported that he could not find any record of him in the army system. Qin Tian speculated that Rommel had not yet enlisted, thus deciding to wait for now.
Qin Tian personally met with Manstein and Guderian, who were pleasantly surprised by the attention. After offering them encouragement, both young men developed a favorable impression of him. Qin Tian assigned them to the Eighth Army's staff, where they would assist Ludendorff in overseeing the reorganization, and they were promoted a rank as well. Qin Tian planned for them to stay at the army staff for a time before making further arrangements.
Manstein was a tactical genius, well-suited to the role of chief of staff, while Guderian and the yet-to-be-identified Rommel were rare talents. Qin Tian envisioned assigning them as commanders of armored units once tanks were developed.