On August 9, Königsberg, East Prussia.
Qin Tian had been here for several days already. The entire 8th Army of the German Empire had completed its mobilization. Ten infantry divisions, along with one armored division, were now fully staffed, bringing the total strength to over 180,000 troops.
The 8th Army was now a force to be reckoned with. Not only had their firepower been significantly enhanced—practically armed to the teeth—but they had also formed the world's first armored division. Sometimes, Qin Tian couldn't help but wonder: was this not somewhat unfair to the Russians? After all, aside from their numerical advantage, the Russians held no significant edge. Especially in terms of weaponry and equipment, the disparity between the two sides was as vast as heaven and earth.
The Russian government had not anticipated the outbreak of war so soon, leaving them woefully unprepared. Their mobilization was inefficient, and they couldn't even ensure that their troops had sufficient arms. Many Russian soldiers were forced to share a rifle, only able to pick one up when a comrade fell in battle.
For the Russian soldiers, this was nothing short of cruel. Due to their government's negligence, they were sent into the fray with little to no means of defense. Such tactics were no different than sending them to their deaths.
Of course, from the perspective of the German Empire, Qin Tian naturally hoped the Russian forces would be as weak as possible. The weaker the enemy, the less cost the German Empire would have to bear to secure a swift and decisive victory.
News of the German Navy's *Moltke* battlecruiser sinking the British Navy's *Lion* and forcing the *Princess Royal* to retreat had already spread back home. Count Tirpitz himself had sent a telegram to Qin Tian, thanking him for his support of the Imperial Navy. Without Qin Tian's contributions, the navy would never have developed so rapidly, let alone achieved such a victory against the British.
Upon receiving the telegram, Qin Tian finally breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that the German Navy had gained the upper hand so early in the war proved that his efforts over the past years had not been in vain.
"Your Highness, the Navy has truly restored its pride. For years, they've been overshadowed by the British, harboring frustration in their hearts. Now, the strength of the Imperial Navy is known to all," said General Hindenburg, the Deputy Commander of the 8th Army, with a smile.
Although Qin Tian was the nominal commander of the 8th Army, the day-to-day affairs had always been managed by Hindenburg. Hindenburg had lived up to Qin Tian's trust, running the army with remarkable efficiency. The reorganization and training of the troops had been thorough. One could say that the 8th Army had become more than twice as powerful as it had been when Qin Tian first took command.
"The war has begun, and soon it will be our 8th Army's turn to make its name known throughout the world," said Major General Ludendorff, the Chief of Staff of the 8th Army, brimming with confidence. He had great faith in the current fighting strength of the 8th Army. Should they manage to hold off or even defeat the Russians single-handedly on the Eastern Front, the 8th Army would undoubtedly gain enormous prestige. And the officers, like Ludendorff, would also reap great rewards. Ludendorff was already eyeing a promotion from major general to lieutenant general, hoping to rise through the ranks faster than usual.
"Haha, I believe this battle will be our 8th Army's moment of glory. We will show the world just how formidable we are!" Qin Tian laughed heartily.
"Your Highness, the Russian representatives we invited have arrived," Qin Tian's chief guard reported.
"Good, let them in," Qin Tian nodded.
"Generals Hindenburg, Ludendorff, our Russian friends are here. I trust they'll be bringing us some good news," Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Your Highness, is it really necessary to support these Russians? You know they are radicals, enemies of the capitalist world," Hindenburg reminded him.
"Don't worry, General. I know what I'm doing," Qin Tian replied. He was fully aware of the dangers posed by the Russian Bolsheviks if they ever came to power. However, he had no other choice. Russia was too vast—too vast for any enemy to fully conquer. Napoleon had failed to do so, and Hitler would later fail as well. Even Qin Tian himself couldn't achieve such a feat. Thus, he had to find another way to destabilize Russia, a way that could bring victory at the lowest cost. As for whether the Bolsheviks would one day threaten Germany, Qin Tian wasn't concerned about that yet. He was confident that after Germany won the war, they would become a superpower. By then, toppling a Bolshevik Russia would be a simple task.
Hindenburg and Ludendorff said nothing more. They knew that if Qin Tian dared to go down this path, he had already prepared accordingly.
Soon, a tall, middle-aged Russian man, dressed in plain clothing, was led into Qin Tian's office by the chief guard.
"Your Highness, Generals, greetings," the Russian envoy said, neither overly humble nor arrogant.
"Mr. Joseph, it's been a while," Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your unwavering support. Our leader has asked me to convey his regards to you," Joseph replied.
For years, Qin Tian had secretly supported the Bolshevik movement in Russia. Thanks to his backing, their growth had accelerated significantly.
Of course, the Bolsheviks knew that working with Qin Tian was akin to making a pact with the devil. But facing relentless suppression from the Tsarist regime, they had no choice but to accept his aid. For them, overthrowing the Tsarist government was paramount, and they were willing to sacrifice much, even their country's interests.
To most, such a deal would be unthinkable. But to Qin Tian, it was no surprise at all.
"Mr. Joseph, please convey my warm regards to your leader, Ulyanov. I look forward to the day when we can meet face to face," Qin Tian said with a smile.
Joseph agreed readily, though what he truly thought was known only to him. After all, in the minds of the Bolsheviks, someone like Crown Prince Qin Tian was also an enemy to be overthrown.