"Manstein, send a telegram to the Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Fourth Army Corps, instructing them to immediately come to Versailles to meet with me! Inform them that the Fourth Army Corps must halt its movements and return to its station. Duke of Württemberg is suspected of being involved in the rebellion, and if they obey his orders, it will be tantamount to treason!" QinTian declared with a stern expression.
At this moment, a firm hand was necessary. If the Fourth Army Corps were allowed to return to the homeland, the consequences could be disastrous.
"Yes, Your Highness." Manstein saluted and swiftly set off to dispatch the telegram. He too recognized the urgency of the situation.
"Your Highness, we must prepare for all contingencies. If the Fourth Army Corps does not obey your orders, the situation could escalate significantly," General Krück reminded.
"Indeed, Your Highness. We cannot guarantee that the commanders of the Fourth Army Corps have not been compromised," General Bilo added.
"General Ludendorff, have the Eighth Army Corps immediately change course and head north to intercept the Fourth Army Corps. If they refuse to obey orders, I authorize you to initiate an attack," QinTian commanded.
"Yes, Your Highness," Ludendorff replied with a salute before hastily departing.
Although the forces of the Eighth Army Corps were roughly equal to those of the Fourth Army Corps, and the latter had been established earlier, the Eighth Corps, having undergone a complete transformation, was now far more formidable.
"General Krück, with the Eighth Corps temporarily reassigned, the task of engaging the British Expeditionary Force will fall to the First Corps. If necessary, we may pause the offensive," QinTian remarked.
After all, the British forces assembled in Le Havre numbered over 300,000, and in terms of manpower, they were not far behind the First Corps.
"Yes, Your Highness," General Krück nodded in acknowledgment.
"Very well, gentlemen. You may rest for a while before returning to your respective commands. I will handle the rebellion personally and ensure it is swiftly quelled without causing undue disruption to the nation or the military. Your duty remains to defeat our enemies on the frontlines, giving them no chance to exploit the situation," QinTian instructed.
"Yes, Your Highness," the army commanders responded in unison.
They understood that this was the best course of action. Though the rebellion had erupted, they believed it would not significantly affect the German Empire in the long run.
The Fourth Army Corps' current task was to ensure the security of the military's supply lines and suppress any internal resistance in France. Their command was based in Compiègne, further north.
Duke of Württemberg, the Corps Commander, had already returned to the homeland, leaving Major-General von Fabeck, the Deputy Commander, and Major-General Kuhlus, the Chief of Staff, in charge.
At 2 AM, they received a telegram from the Duke, commanding them to immediately lead the troops back to the homeland. Although they were confused by the request, they still followed the Duke's orders, as most of the troops of the Fourth Army Corps hailed from the Kingdom of Württemberg.
"Report, General, the 15th Army is fully prepared and ready to depart," a staff officer reported.
However, Major-General von Fabeck and Major-General Kuhlus did not immediately issue the command to march, causing some confusion among the officers, though they refrained from pressing for an answer.
"Kuhlus, I have a feeling that something is amiss here! The Crown Prince's earlier order was to ensure the security of our supply lines, yet now the Commander is ordering us to return to the homeland. But we haven't received a direct command from the Crown Prince. If we carry out the command of the Commander-in-Chief, we might face serious consequences if the Crown Prince chooses to investigate," Major-General von Fabeck said.
Kuhlus nodded gravely. "Indeed, this situation is most perplexing. The Commander's order certainly raises questions."
"Do you think this could be related to political struggles?" Major-General von Fabeck asked.
Kuhlus' expression immediately changed. As soldiers, they were not well-versed in political matters, but they knew full well how brutal political conflicts could be. Becoming entangled in one could lead to disastrous consequences, even endangering their lives.
"Should we still carry out the Commander-in-Chief's orders?" Kuhlus asked.
"This..." Major-General von Fabeck hesitated.
"Perhaps we should send a telegram to the Crown Prince and ask for clarification. After all, the Crown Prince is the commander of the Western Front, and effectively our superior. It would not hurt to seek his opinion," Major-General von Fabeck suggested.
Kuhlus nodded. "Yes, that seems the wisest course."
Just then, an officer hurriedly entered.
"Generals, a telegram from the Crown Prince!"
Both Major-General von Fabeck and Major-General Kuhlus immediately took the telegram, huddled together, and read its contents. After finishing, their faces turned pale.
The telegram contained a direct order from QinTian, instructing them to halt their march and return to their barracks. It also revealed the Duke of Württemberg's involvement in the rebellion.
Both men were stunned. The fact that the Duke was implicated in the rebellion had completely caught them off guard.
"Kuhlus, what should we do now?" Major-General von Fabeck asked, almost in tears. They never imagined that the Duke would be involved in the rebellion, and this revelation felt like an unjust catastrophe.
"It seems we cannot follow the Commander-in-Chief's orders. His actions were never our concern. We cannot allow ourselves to be dragged into this. That would be terribly unfair to us," Major-General Kuhlus said.
Major-General von Fabeck nodded repeatedly.
Under QinTian's stern orders, it was clear they had no choice but to defy the Duke's command.
The two men quickly sent a telegram to the Western Front Command, informing QinTian that they had halted their troop movements and were now heading to Versailles to meet with him.
When QinTian met with Major-General von Fabeck and Major-General Kuhlus and learned they were unaware of the Duke's involvement, he did not hold them accountable. Instead, he instructed them to continue their task of safeguarding the supply lines, as the security of the supply chain for the massive army operating in France was of paramount importance.
Only then did QinTian prepare to return to Berlin, though significant time had already been lost.