Berlin, the capital of the German Empire, was the very symbol of its imperial power, and the Royal Palace stood as its most potent emblem.
By all accounts, the palace should have been a fortress, its defenses unwavering. Yet now, it was under siege. It was incomprehensible that, with the German military sweeping across Europe and on the cusp of victory in the Great War, their own imperial residence should be assailed by unknown armed forces. Was this not a resounding slap to the emperor's face?
"Call the Imperial Guard! Have them send reinforcements at once to rid us of these bandits. I want them all hanged!" Emperor Wilhelm II snarled through clenched teeth, seething with rage.
"Your Majesty," the butler, Essen von Jonalett, immediately rushed to make the call.
But within a minute, he returned, his face ashen.
"Your Majesty, the call cannot be connected. Moreover, it appears that the Imperial Guard themselves are the ones attacking the palace!" Essen's voice trembled as he spoke.
Wilhelm II stood frozen, his expression one of stunned disbelief.
"How is this possible? How could the Imperial Guard attack the palace?" The emperor gaped, unable to accept such a betrayal. But as the ruler of the German Empire, he quickly regained his composure. He knew, in that moment, that his empire now faced a dire crisis.
"Essen, find a way to send word to Oscar. Inform him of the mutiny in Berlin immediately!" Wilhelm's tone grew stern. Although he was unaware of who was behind the coup, he understood that his life—and perhaps even his throne—was now at stake. If the rebellion succeeded, not only would his reign end, but Qin Tian, leading troops abroad, would also become the primary target. It was critical that Qin Tian be informed of the situation. Only by ensuring his safety could the empire hope to survive. Only then could Wilhelm hope to escape this danger.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Essen replied, understanding the urgency, and swiftly set off.
"Darling, what is happening?" the Empress, now dressed, asked anxiously.
"It is nothing, my dear, just a small matter. Return to your room at once, and do not leave no matter what happens." Wilhelm tried to reassure her.
"But I am so worried, my love," the Empress said, still concerned.
"Do not worry. Everything will be fine," Wilhelm insisted firmly.
The Empress nodded reluctantly and retreated to her room. Wilhelm, however, descended the stairs. As Emperor of the Reich, he was determined to find out who dared to launch a coup against him.
Entering the grand hall of the palace, Wilhelm II seated himself upon his throne, his eyes narrowing as they fixed on the doors. The sound of gunfire echoed in the distance, making the emperor's brow furrow in concern.
Soon, the gunfire ceased. Wilhelm knew that the palace guards had been overwhelmed by the rebels.
*Bang!*
The heavy doors to the hall were pushed open, and a troop of soldiers entered, quickly securing every doorway. Among them, a tall general emerged, flanked by rebel officers.
Wilhelm's eyes narrowed in recognition. "Prittwitz... is it you?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty, it is I," General Prittwitz replied with a smile.
"Why? Why have you rebelled?" Wilhelm's voice was cold. Once, he had regarded Prittwitz as a trusted ally, even appointing him to lead the Imperial Guard, a clear sign of his confidence in the man. To be betrayed by a close friend—such treachery stoked a fiery rage within the emperor.
"Your Majesty, surely you know why," Prittwitz sneered. "I was meant to be commander of the 8th Army Corps. Instead, that opportunist Oscar was given the position. He not only took my command, but he also stole the credit for my victories. I should have been the one leading the 8th Army to defeat the Russians on the Eastern Front. Had I done so, I might have been promoted to Field Marshal by now, instead of remaining a mere Major General, with no chance to prove my worth. And now Oscar claims another victory on the Western Front. Who knows what he will do once the war ends? He may very well turn against me. So, I had no choice but to act first," Prittwitz's voice dripped with bitterness.
Wilhelm stood dumbfounded. He had not expected such a motive for betrayal. He had been well aware of the animosity between Prittwitz and Qin Tian, but he had never imagined that the general would harbor such resentment for so long. Wilhelm had promoted Prittwitz, in part, because the man knew how to entertain him, to make him laugh. But now, to learn that this very man was plotting against him—Wilhelm felt a deep sense of regret. Why had he not seen the wolf hidden beneath the sheep's clothing?
"Prittwitz," the emperor's voice trembled with fury, "you would betray me for such petty reasons? Have you forgotten that, without me, you would never have risen to your current station?"
"Ha! Your Majesty, you did promote me. Without you, I would not have had the opportunity. But let's be honest—how did I earn that promotion? I played the fool for you, telling you silly jokes to make you laugh, just like a jester. Was that not reason enough for you to elevate me?" Prittwitz shot back.
Wilhelm fell silent. It was true that his promotion of Prittwitz had largely been based on his ability to amuse him.
At first, Wilhelm had thought that by elevating Prittwitz, the general would feel a deep sense of gratitude. But he had never anticipated that Prittwitz harbored such resentment, only hidden beneath a veneer of loyalty. Now, Wilhelm felt a pang of guilt, realizing he had failed to recognize the general's latent ambition.
Turning to the Imperial Guardsmen in the hall, Wilhelm asked, "You are the brave soldiers of the German Empire, my most loyal troops. Why have you joined this traitor in rebellion? If you swear allegiance to me once more, I will forgive you all your transgressions and offer amnesty!"
For a moment, a few guards bowed their heads in shame, but none answered his plea.
"Your Majesty, you're wasting your breath," Prittwitz said with a smirk. "They will never swear loyalty to you again. Their allegiance now lies with someone else."
"Who?" Wilhelm demanded. His mind raced—who was the true mastermind behind this coup?