France, Paris, Versailles, German Western Front Headquarters.
After the Battle of Paris concluded, Qin Tian found himself with a temporary reprieve from his duties. While the war raged on, the Anglo-French alliance no longer posed a serious threat to the German forces. The majority of the troops were now engaged in long marches, advancing without significant resistance.
"Manstein, once the French front is secured, it will be time to turn our attention to the invasion of Britain. However, landing on British soil is no simple task; it is a vast, intricate operation that will require meticulous planning," Qin Tian said.
In Qin Tian's strategy, an invasion of Britain would require no less than three full corps to land on its shores. Should the campaign meet with unforeseen difficulties, additional corps would need to be dispatched. Preparations for such an operation meant the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops. A military assault of this scale was unprecedented in history, making it a highly complex and precarious endeavor. Every aspect of the invasion, from logistics to strategy, would need to be carefully considered. A single misstep could trigger a series of disastrous consequences.
"General Manstein, the General Staff has already begun the necessary planning. The Navy is also making preparations. The recent blockade of Britain yielded a significant number of British and American merchant vessels, which will be invaluable for providing logistical support during the invasion," Manstein replied.
"Additionally, the elite British forces are concentrated in their Expeditionary Forces. If we can destroy those forces on the French battlefield, it would cripple the British Army. Even if they are able to mobilize more troops at home, it is unlikely they would be able to equip them in time. Against the Imperial Army's elite divisions, the British would stand little chance. If everything goes according to plan, two or three army groups should be sufficient to sweep across Britain. In that case, the number of troops we send to the British Isles would be significantly reduced. Given the Navy's capabilities, maintaining supply lines for several hundred thousand soldiers should not be difficult," Manstein continued.
Qin Tian nodded in agreement. Manstein's assessment aligned with his own. The German Navy had undergone a tremendous transformation since the war began, and now, in comparison to other powers, it had become a true global leader. Although Germany's shipbuilding capacity was still slightly behind that of the United States, the defeat of Britain would allow Germany to seize British shipbuilding infrastructure, making it the world's leader in naval construction.
"Your Highness, when the time comes to select the corps for the British landing, we may need to give it further consideration," Manstein cautioned.
Qin Tian hesitated, then nodded. The recent campaign in Paris had involved only four army groups, a deployment that had somewhat strained the other corps stationed on the Western Front. The next operation, an invasion of Britain, would require more careful thought. But ultimately, the success of the campaign was paramount—nothing else mattered. The selection of troops, while important, was secondary.
At that moment, a staff officer entered the room.
"Your Highness, urgent telegram from Berlin!" the officer said, handing the dispatch to Qin Tian.
After reading the telegram, Qin Tian's expression darkened considerably.
"Your Highness, what is it?" Manstein asked, noticing the change in Qin Tian's demeanor.
"The telegram states that the Emperor has suddenly fallen gravely ill, and it seems he does not have long to live. I am required to return to Berlin immediately to oversee the situation," Qin Tian replied.
"What? This cannot be!" Manstein exclaimed in shock, struggling to believe the news. After all, Wilhelm II had always been in robust health. How could he suddenly fall so ill?
Qin Tian too was perplexed. He vividly remembered that in the alternate timeline, Wilhelm II had lived to the age of 82. Yet now, in this world, the Emperor was only 56. How could he possibly fall so ill? Could it be that the course of history was changing with his rebirth in this new world?
"Your Highness, I suggest you return to Berlin at once. As the heir to the throne, it is crucial that you stabilize the situation should the Emperor's condition worsen," Manstein urged.
Qin Tian nodded grimly. "Send a telegram to the commanders of the front lines and instruct them to continue with the planned offensives. Should anything urgent arise, have them contact me directly."
"Yes, Your Highness," Manstein replied. With modern communication systems, even from Berlin, Qin Tian could still direct operations on the front. With the Anglo-French forces severely weakened, any remaining engagements would be mere formalities—more like a military procession than a battle.
As Qin Tian prepared to leave for Berlin, another telegram arrived. This one, however, was not from Emperor Wilhelm II, but from his trusted confidant, Karl von Jonalett.
The telegram conveyed startling news: a military coup had erupted in Berlin. The capital was now under the control of rebel forces, and the royal palace had been captured by the insurgents. Jonalett urged Qin Tian to be cautious.
Reading the telegram, Qin Tian was initially skeptical. Could it be a hoax? Berlin, the capital of the German Empire, could hardly fall to rebels without a fight. And where had these insurgents come from?
When Qin Tian attempted to contact Jonalett to confirm the authenticity of the telegram, no response came. The silence only deepened his concerns.
"It seems Berlin is truly in turmoil. Otherwise, Jonalett would not have failed to reply. The only explanation is that he has either been killed or is in hiding, unable to send a response," Qin Tian said, his expression darkening.
As Qin Tian had feared, after receiving the news from the Emperor, Jonalett had immediately sent the telegram to Qin Tian and then gone into hiding. As Qin Tian's most trusted aide, Jonalett would have been a prime target for the rebels.
"Your Highness, if that is the case, Berlin is in grave danger," Manstein said, his face now etched with concern.