"Admiral Tirpitz has truly taken a great risk this time. My staunch support for the development of the Imperial Navy was not in vain!" Qin Tian remarked with a sense of admiration upon hearing that Admiral Tirpitz had personally dispatched a Marine Division to Berlin.
Although Admiral Tirpitz was the Imperial Navy's Minister and one of the highest-ranking officials in the Empire, sending troops to Berlin without the Emperor's direct order was an undeniable breach of protocol. Were the situation to be investigated, the consequences for Admiral Tirpitz would be severe—at best, he would be dismissed from his post; at worst, he would face a military tribunal.
However, for Qin Tian, this situation undoubtedly worked in his favor. Admiral Tirpitz's actions served as a vanguard for Qin Tian's plans. Without precise intelligence, Tirpitz's bold move could help uncover the truth of the situation.
Meanwhile, the commanders of the several army groups stationed in France received Qin Tian's orders and rushed to Versailles overnight. Fortunately, France was not vast, and the military commands were relatively close to Versailles—merely a few hours' drive.
By 5 a.m., the commanders arrived in Versailles, weary from their journey. Their faces bore the marks of exhaustion. After all, most of them were not young men. Apart from Prince Ruprecht, commander of the 6th Army Group, and General Ludendorff, who temporarily commanded the 8th Army Group in Qin Tian's stead, most of the commanders were in their fifties or sixties. They were surprised at the urgency of the summons; given the favorable situation on the frontlines, they did not expect any major developments.
"Your Highness, what has happened?" General Kruck asked.
The eyes of the other commanders turned toward Qin Tian. From the serious expression on his face, they sensed that something grave was unfolding.
"Gentlemen, a rebellion has erupted in Berlin. The Imperial Guard has staged a coup. Both the Navy Department and the General Staff Headquarters have been overrun by the rebels. The Emperor is unreachable, and it is likely that the palace has also fallen," Qin Tian announced.
"What? This is impossible!" The commanders were all stunned, disbelief evident on their faces.
"Your Highness, are you serious? We're winning the war on the frontlines, defeating the strongest European powers. How can the Imperial Guard—our most loyal troops—suddenly turn against us?" General Bilo asked, perplexed.
The other commanders voiced their confusion as well. After all, the Imperial Guard was the personal force of Kaiser Wilhelm II; how could they possibly betray the Empire? It was utterly baffling.
"Because the intelligence we have is limited, I do not know the full details. However, several hours ago, I received a telegram from Berlin. It was sent in the name of His Majesty, claiming that the Emperor had fallen gravely ill and that I was to return to Berlin immediately. Just as I was preparing to leave, the Emperor's steward sent a messenger with a warning that the Imperial Guard had staged a coup and the palace was under attack," Qin Tian explained.
"A trap, Your Highness. This is definitely a trap. Those traitors have truly betrayed the Empire. Their goal is to lure you back to Berlin so they can eliminate you!" Prince Ruprecht said immediately.
"Yes, Your Highness. They intend to harm you," General Kruck agreed. The scheme was so apparent that even the most inexperienced officer could have seen it, let alone seasoned generals like them.
"I know this is a trap, but I have no choice. I must go to Berlin. The Emperor and Empress are in the hands of the rebels, their fates unknown. Furthermore, if I do not return to Berlin, how can I suppress the rebellion?" Qin Tian's eyes flashed with a cold glint. It was clear that he had already resolved to deal with the rebels with ruthless efficiency.
"Your Highness, I will accompany you. I can withdraw two infantry divisions from the frontlines and bring them with us to quell the rebellion," General Kruck immediately offered.
The other commanders also volunteered, eager to contribute. After all, suppressing the rebellion would be a significant achievement.
"Gentlemen, I have already made arrangements for the suppression of the rebellion. Admiral Tirpitz has dispatched a Marine Division to Berlin. Additionally, I have already mobilized one infantry division and one armored division from the 9th Army Corps. With these forces, we should have no trouble dealing with the Imperial Guard," Qin Tian replied.
"Your duties remain on the French battlefield. We must continue our efforts to defeat the Anglo-French forces. No matter what happens at home, the war must go on. We have already paid a heavy price to win this war, and we cannot afford to abandon it now!" Qin Tian declared firmly.
"Yes, Your Highness," the commanders nodded. While they were eager to accompany Qin Tian to deal with the rebellion, they knew that the situation on the frontlines was critical and that their presence was needed there.
Moreover, they understood that with the dispatch of two infantry divisions and an armored division to Berlin, the rebellion there would likely be quelled without issue.
"Your Highness, once we capture those treacherous rebels, we must show them no mercy," General Hausen said with a fierce expression.
"Indeed, Your Highness. The masterminds behind this rebellion must be hanged!" General Dimlin added angrily.
They had been fighting tooth and nail on the frontlines, while those traitors were stabbing them in the back with this rebellion. It was an act that filled them with fury.
"I will make sure they pay for their treachery," Qin Tian promised.
At that moment, Major General Manstein entered the room, his face grim.
"Your Highness, there is an unusual movement from the 4th Army Group. Their forces are preparing to withdraw. According to our intelligence, they intend to retreat back to the homeland," Manstein reported.
Qin Tian's expression immediately darkened. The 4th Army Group attempting to retreat at this critical juncture could only mean one thing: they were planning to rebel.
"Damn it! So that's why Duke of Württemberg is returning to the homeland at this time. He's trying to stage a rebellion!" General Kruck cursed loudly.
"Your Highness, we cannot allow the 4th Army Group to return to the homeland. If they do, the situation will become even more chaotic!" General Hausen said sternly.
Qin Tian nodded. If it were only the Imperial Guard rebelling, their meager force of around twenty thousand men would hardly pose a problem. The troops he had already dispatched would easily crush them. However, if the 4th Army Group, with its two hundred thousand men, became involved, the situation would be entirely different. Even though they had suffered significant losses in previous battles, they still numbered in the tens of thousands.