The assembled army generals were momentarily taken aback, unable to fathom that Wilhelm II would issue such a command, effectively placing the eight primary corps of the Western Front, along with two additional corps designated as reserves, under QinTian's command. This action nearly amounted to relinquishing the entirety of the German army into QinTian's control.
It is well known that Wilhelm II possesses a character marked by obstinacy and suspicion, harboring little faith in anyone beyond himself. For him to make such a decision was undeniably astonishing.
However, given QinTian's stature and influence within the military, entrusting him with command of the Western Front was entirely appropriate. Although still quite young, QinTian's accomplishments had earned him the respect and admiration of even the seasoned veterans.
"It seems that His Majesty has fully committed to the idea of His Highness the Crown Prince succeeding him; there will be no turning back from this decision," was the unspoken consensus among the generals.
"Yes, Your Majesty, we will fully support His Highness the Crown Prince!" they all responded in unison.
In this context, no one would be foolish enough to oppose the decision. Even among the generals who had close ties with Crown Prince Wilhelm, the inevitability of QinTian's ascension became clear, particularly with the Crown Prince's current condition. At this juncture, QinTian had solidified his power, and even should Wilhelm awaken, he would be unable to thwart QinTian's rise.
"Father, I will lead our forces to defeat the British and French troops, and bring down France!" QinTian assured Wilhelm II.
This presented him with a legitimate opportunity to establish his leadership within the army, an offer he could not possibly refuse. QinTian believed that upon the conclusion of this battle, his position would be unassailable.
With the German Empire poised to win this global conflict, QinTian was determined not to forfeit the chance to govern this mighty empire. The allure of power was intoxicating; once one has savored its taste, relinquishing it willingly becomes nearly impossible.
Wilhelm II nodded. "Very well, then I shall leave the subsequent battle plans in your capable hands."
Having spoken, Wilhelm II departed from the war room. His age had begun to take its toll, and with QinTian's remarkable performance, he felt confident entrusting the Empire's leadership to him. Wilhelm could now allocate time to address other matters.
Ruling over an empire as vast as the German Empire was no small feat, fraught with innumerable responsibilities weighing upon his shoulders. Thus, the opportunity for someone to share this burden was indeed welcome.
As the war council resumed after Wilhelm's departure, the generals' gazes towards QinTian shifted subtly. Previously, they regarded him as the Empire's heir apparent, treating him with utmost respect. However, with Wilhelm's command, QinTian had now assumed the role of their direct superior, necessitating their compliance.
"Gentlemen, I kindly ask for your support in the upcoming endeavors!" QinTian addressed the generals with a warm smile.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. You are the Empire's heir, and now the commander of the Western Front; we shall exert ourselves to assist you!" responded General Rupert von Eitel, commander of the 6th Army Corps, who also happened to be the heir of Bavaria and QinTian's brother-in-law. His support was thus unequivocal.
Other generals echoed their commitment, vowing to lend their full support to QinTian. Regardless of their personal sentiments, outward appearances demanded such a show of unity.
Satisfied, QinTian turned to Chief of Staff von Falkenhayn. "General, please present the battle plan to everyone."
"Yes, Your Highness," von Falkenhayn acknowledged.
As the Minister of the Army and Chief of Staff, von Falkenhayn was firmly aligned with QinTian. Had it not been for QinTian's backing, he could not have displaced Moltke to assume this dual role. A significant factor in this was Moltke's misjudgment on the Western Front, resulting in severe losses for the German army without achieving the desired objectives, which drew Wilhelm II's ire. With QinTian's support, Wilhelm ultimately dismissed Moltke.
Despite von Falkenhayn's elevation to the highest military position, his loyalty to QinTian remained steadfast. In his eyes, QinTian's achievements at such a young age foretold the rise of a great emperor; aligning himself with QinTian assured a place in history.
"Gentlemen, we currently have eight corps assembled on the Western Front. Aside from the 7th and 6th Corps, the remaining five are positioned north of the Marne River. Therefore, our primary objective in this campaign is to cross the Marne, defeat the British and French forces, and then advance on Paris to decisively defeat France," von Falkenhayn articulated.
"The specific battle plan is as follows: the 1st and 8th Corps will form the right flank, launching from Amiens to attack Rouen, crossing the Seine, and then advancing eastward to Paris. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Corps will mount a direct assault on the British and French defenses along the Marne, supporting the 1st and 8th Corps. The 6th and 7th Corps will attack Verdun from the east; once secured, they will move westward to join the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Corps in the assault on Paris. Our main strategic goal will be to annihilate the bulk of the British and French forces in the vicinity of Paris and along the Marne front," von Falkenhayn detailed.
"General, if we start from Amiens to seize Rouen and then turn back to assault Paris, the distance is nearly two hundred kilometers. This presents significant challenges for a large force," raised General Kluck, commander of the 1st Corps.
"General Kluck, we will prepare an ample supply of trucks for the 1st and 8th Corps to ensure the flow of war materials. We can also leverage trucks and the French railway network to transport troops and supplies. If all goes smoothly, reaching Paris within two weeks is entirely feasible," QinTian replied.
General Kluck nodded, opting not to pursue the matter further.