August 1, 1914, German Army General Staff.
Emperor Wilhelm II and Crown Prince QinTian arrived at the General Staff to review the military strategies. Germany had already declared war on Russia and was on the brink of declaring war on France. Thus, the specter of war loomed imminent.
The German army had commenced full mobilization, gathering a substantial reserve force. Troops were being organized by battalions to move to designated areas and reform into numerous infantry divisions. With Germany's population and industrial capacity, mobilizing over three million soldiers posed no challenge.
If Germany were a finely-tuned war machine, it was now operating at full throttle, ready to unleash an incredible might.
"Gentlemen, is the Imperial Army ready for battle? Are you prepared to secure victory for the Empire and glory for yourselves?" Wilhelm II addressed the assembled generals. The conference room sparkled with the presence of numerous senior officers; only major generals were excluded.
"Ready! We fight for the Empire and to defeat our enemies!" the generals resounded with enthusiasm. Each face radiated excitement; Germany had prepared long for this conflict, and these leaders were eager for war, which promised them higher honors and the military achievements necessary for promotion. They confidently believed in their eventual victory.
"Excellent! The German Imperial Army is the finest in the world. This time, we shall teach those wretched Russians and French a lesson!" Wilhelm II proclaimed, envisioning the day when the German army would defeat the Allies and ascend as the world's preeminent power. He imagined himself as the most powerful person on earth, without question!
Next, Chief of the General Staff Moltke began to outline the army's operational plans.
"Your Majesty, according to our strategic blueprint, the initial engagements against Russia on the Eastern Front will be led by the 8th Army Corps. However, the Russians are rapidly mobilizing their forces, and their standing army is gathering at the border. Their offensive is likely to commence soon. Therefore, I recommend bolstering the 8th Army Corps from ten infantry divisions to eighteen. Combined with the Austro-Hungarian forces, this should suffice to repel the Russian advance," Moltke proposed.
"No, the 8th Army Corps does not require reinforcements. Our existing strength is sufficient to withstand the Russian attack. Allocate those eight infantry divisions to the Western Front! The Western Front is far more critical," QinTian firmly rejected.
While every commander might desire additional troops, QinTian prioritized the greater strategy. As he argued, the Western Front was paramount. If Germany could not swiftly secure victory there, the war might stagnate, placing all hopes on the navy—a precarious situation. He aimed for the army to gain the upper hand in the West, thus increasing Germany's chances of success.
"Your Highness, this is not the time for impetuosity. I have already made arrangements for the Western Front. The situation on the Eastern Front is dire. If we cannot withstand the Russian onslaught, we risk losing East Prussia and may even threaten our capital. Such a fate would render our efforts futile!" Moltke's frustration was evident, perceiving QinTian's stance as a deliberate disruption.
"No, esteemed Chief of Staff, this is not impulsiveness; it is my unwavering confidence in the 8th Army Corps. I believe they can successfully repel the Russian advance. Besides the ten infantry divisions, we have an armored division as well," QinTian asserted with conviction.
Moltke, seething with anger, was about to protest further when Wilhelm II intervened.
"Oscar, are you serious?" Wilhelm II inquired.
"Indeed, Father. There will be no issues on the Eastern Front. The 8th Army Corps will deliver a punishing blow to the Russians. We can secure a month's time for the Western Front without issue. Thus, we should concentrate our limited forces there, where they are needed most," QinTian stated earnestly.
Wilhelm II nodded, "Very well, generals, we should trust the Crown Prince. The 8th Army Corps will have no trouble dealing with those poorly equipped Russians!"
"Ha! Long live the 8th Army Corps! The Russians are too weak!" the generals laughed.
Seeing this, Moltke relented.
Subsequently, Moltke began to detail the Western Front's deployment, but QinTian's brow furrowed deeper as he listened.
Moltke had fundamentally altered the operational plan left by his predecessor, Schlieffen. Particularly, the essence of the Schlieffen Plan lay in concentrating heavy forces on the right flank to circumvent the French defenses and launch an attack through their northern vulnerabilities. However, Moltke had significantly weakened the right flank while bolstering the left and center. Although this appeared more secure, it risked diminishing the offensive capability of the right flank, jeopardizing their ability to achieve their operational objectives.
In another timeline, the German army missed the opportunity to capture Paris due to such deployments. At that time, the closest troops were only a few dozen kilometers away; with one more offensive, they might have seized Paris. If the Germans had captured Paris, France might have exited the war, potentially rewriting history.
In this timeline, Moltke similarly altered the Schlieffen Plan. Despite his confidence, QinTian feared such adjustments would lead not to victory but to a quagmire of war.
"Esteemed Chief of Staff, this plan seems at odds with General Schlieffen's original intent. I recall that when General Schlieffen passed last year, he stated that the war must be fought but that the right flank must not be weakened!" QinTian again voiced his objections.
Instantly, Moltke's face darkened, resembling a pot's bottom. QinTian's persistent challenges, especially in front of so many army leaders, undoubtedly diminished his prestige! Furthermore, Moltke had always believed himself superior to Schlieffen; now, with QinTian's criticisms of his revisions, it seemed he was being disregarded!