Once the decision was made to force Wilhelm II to abdicate and have the Crown Prince ascend the throne in his stead, they began to actively plan how to secure success.
"We can be certain that getting him to abdicate voluntarily is all but impossible. Therefore, we must resort to coercing him into stepping down," said Duke of Württemberg.
The others nodded in agreement, fully aware of the formidable challenge ahead. After all, Wilhelm II was not only the emperor but the most powerful individual in the entire empire.
"We'll dispatch the military to seize the palace. From there, we will compel His Majesty to abdicate! There is no other option," said Moltke. Though the approach was extreme, it was the only viable one.
All eyes turned to Major General Graf and Major General Prittwitz, the two commanders of the Imperial Guard. These were the only units they could rely on, for the Fourth Army of the Duke of Württemberg was stationed in France and unavailable. It would be up to the Imperial Guard.
The German Imperial Guard consisted of 25 battalions, stationed around Berlin, including Potsdam. They were responsible not only for the protection of the palace and government institutions but also for safeguarding the Emperor, the royal family, and high-ranking officials. The defense of Berlin was also entrusted to the Guard.
Major General Graf and Major General Prittwitz commanded five battalions each, together controlling forty percent of the Imperial Guard.
"My five battalions will be fully under my command," said Major General Graf.
"I can only influence three battalions at most," Major General Prittwitz admitted, his face reddening, revealing his limited capacity.
The Crown Prince observed silently but said nothing. Now was not the time for reproach—he needed these men.
"I can influence two battalions," said the Duke of Württemberg. His eldest son served as an officer in the Imperial Guard.
"I can also influence two battalions," Moltke added.
Despite being dismissed from his post, Moltke's influence in the military was still substantial. With many family members serving as officers in the army, controlling two battalions of the Guard was trivial.
"I can influence one battalion," Marshal Goertz said.
"That will be sufficient. Together, we can command thirteen battalions, more than half of the Imperial Guard. With a swift assault, we can seize the palace. At that point, we can justify taking control of the Guard's military authority in the name of the Emperor," the Crown Prince declared.
The prospect of commanding such forces filled him with confidence. The main German military units had been deployed abroad, leaving only the Imperial Guard in the homeland. If they could control the Guard, his chances of success would be greatly enhanced. Once Wilhelm II was confined and QinTian lured back to Berlin and either imprisoned or eliminated, victory would be in hand.
It seemed as if victory was already beckoning.
"Once we secure the situation, Duke of Württemberg, you can swiftly recall the Fourth Army to stabilize the country. After that, no one will pose a threat to us," the Crown Prince said eagerly.
The others nodded. Though they recognized the power QinTian wielded within the military, they believed that if they could detain him in Wilhelm II's name, the army would no longer obey him. At that point, they would have ample time to divide and weaken his influence, ensuring their ultimate victory.
"Your Highness, once we succeed, the war must continue," Moltke suggested. "After all, we are on the brink of victory. It would be a shame to stop now."
"Of course, Count," the Crown Prince replied. "We will certainly continue. The Anglo-French alliance has already been defeated, and France's defeat is imminent. All that remains is a battered Britain. With just a bit more effort, we will defeat them as well. We cannot afford to abandon this victory now."
The Crown Prince felt a surge of satisfaction. Despite the pain of his long coma, there was a silver lining: during this time, Germany had grown stronger, its enemies nearly vanquished. Once he ascended to the throne, all that remained was to continue the war and ensure final victory. The German Empire would become the most powerful nation in the world, with him as its emperor. The thought of this future brought him immense joy, feeling the suffering he had endured was worth the end result.
"The German Empire will soon become the world's supreme power, and our Crown Prince will be its Emperor!" Major General Prittwitz exclaimed with a smile.
The others joined in, their faces lit with eager anticipation.
"When do we strike?" the Crown Prince asked.
"Time is of the essence. If we delay too long, we risk complications. Let's begin three nights from now," Moltke suggested.
"Three days should be sufficient for our preparations," said the Duke of Württemberg.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Once we succeed, I will never forget your assistance. Everyone will be richly rewarded beyond expectation," the Crown Prince promised, his voice filled with conviction.
The faces of the conspirators brightened. After all, they had taken such great risks for the sake of greater rewards.
As time ticked by, the atmosphere in Berlin grew increasingly tense.
On the night of April 26th, after dark, the Imperial Guard stationed in the outskirts of Berlin began to mobilize. The betrayal by Major General Graf, commander of the Guard, prevented Wilhelm II from taking swift action.
A large portion of the Guard moved into the city, seizing key transportation routes, train stations, and radio stations, while conducting widespread arrests of high-ranking officials from both the imperial government and military. Meanwhile, two battalions advanced toward the palace.
The military coup unfolded in Berlin just as the German Empire was on the brink of victory.