Moltke and Duke of Württemberg both wore expressions of grave concern. It was evident that, upon the arrival of the Marine Corps, they had immediately launched an assault, signaling that QinTian had become aware of the turmoil in Berlin and was ready to suppress it by force. This was undeniably disastrous for them. After all, the Imperial Guard they commanded stood no chance against the Marine Corps, and soon the Army reinforcements would join the fray. The outcome was now all but certain—there would be no escape for them.
"Damned Tirpitz! This is nothing short of treason! Once we have succeeded, I will see him tried before a military tribunal, stripped of his title, removed from office, and sent to the gallows!" Prince Wilhelm shouted in fury.
However, both Moltke and the Duke of Württemberg were acutely aware that the likelihood of success was exceedingly slim. With the loyalist forces, led by QinTian, closing in, it seemed unlikely they would endure for long. If this continued, they would be the ones facing the noose.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sound of gunfire and artillery grew louder, and though he could not see it firsthand, Prince Wilhelm could easily imagine the ferocity of the battle escalating.
"God help us! I can only pray that the Imperial Guard can hold their ground against the Marine Corps. If they fall, it's all over," he whispered, silently praying to God—a final, desperate hope.
Before long, General Prittwitz rushed into the room, visibly shaken.
"Your Highness, the Marine Corps is pressing hard. They've even deployed tanks. The strongpoints and key transport routes around Berlin have already fallen into their hands. They're now assaulting the railway station. General Graf is leading a resistance, but with the Marine Corps using heavy weapons, our Imperial Guard, lacking anti-tank and heavy artillery, stands little chance," General Prittwitz reported in a state of panic.
Before the coup, he had been filled with ambition, believing victory was assured and that he would rise to prominence. But now, the brutal reality was undeniable. The coup had begun smoothly, but now it was slipping towards failure.
"Damned fools! They're using tanks! Don't they care about the lives of Emperor Wilhelm or the other military and political leaders?" Prince Wilhelm fumed. The Marine Corps' relentless assault left no doubt about QinTian's hardline stance, and the Prince's anxiety deepened.
"Send orders to General Graf to hold the station at all costs. If we lose control of it, they can use the railway station to send reinforcements into Berlin. Once that happens, we'll be finished," Moltke instructed.
"Count, our forces are already spread thin. If we engage them in a protracted battle, we'll suffer heavy losses. What then?" Prince Wilhelm hesitated, his confidence faltering.
"Your Highness, there's no time to debate! If we lose the railway station, our defeat will come swiftly," Moltke responded urgently. He cursed himself for having been so blind, so easily swayed into joining this rebellion. Now it was clear—the entire revolt had been absurd from the start, with no chance of success.
But now, they were caught in the web they had woven, with no way to escape but to press on.
"Very well, we'll follow Count Moltke's advice," Prince Wilhelm reluctantly agreed.
Prince Wilhelm was, at his core, obstinate and stubborn, but lacked the strength of will to make his own decisions in a crisis. When the situation grew dire, he could only rely on the advice of others.
Though the rebels had hoped to hold the station, they were no match for the Marine Corps' powerful assault. The station soon fell into enemy hands.
The 9th Panzer Division and the 101st Infantry Division of the German Army arrived by train in Berlin. Their arrival tipped the balance further in favor of the loyalist forces, and the entire city of Berlin was now completely surrounded by the Marine Corps and the Army.
On the evening of April 28, QinTian's special train arrived at Berlin station.
As the train came to a stop, the first to disembark were the guards. After ensuring the area was secure, QinTian, accompanied by his head of bodyguards, stepped down from the train.
General von Hindenburg, commander of the 9th Army, General Rommel, commander of the 9th Panzer Division, General Kalter, commander of the 101st Infantry Division, and Major General Alexander Linsingen, commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division, were all present to welcome QinTian.
Given the ongoing coup in Berlin and the uncertainty surrounding Emperor Wilhelm's fate, QinTian, as the rightful heir, was now the supreme ruler of the Empire. Moreover, his influence within the military was indisputable.
"Your Highness, I trust your journey was safe?" General von Hindenburg inquired.
"All went well, no issues to report. I trust the situation here has been handled well," QinTian responded.
"Your Highness, Berlin is now completely surrounded. We have control of all the key transport routes. However, we have yet to assault the important strongpoints within the city occupied by the rebels," General von Hindenburg reported.
QinTian nodded. "Do we know who initiated this coup?"
"According to our intelligence, it was Prince Wilhelm who started this rebellion," Major General Linsingen replied.
"Prince Wilhelm? How can that be? Wasn't he in a vegetative state?" QinTian was taken aback.
"He has awakened," Linsingen confirmed.
"Ah, so it was as I suspected." QinTian nodded. If that was the case, everything made sense.
At one point, QinTian had believed that Prince Wilhelm would never recover. But now, it seemed a medical miracle had occurred.
Even so, QinTian was resolute—he would never relinquish his claim to the throne. The Empire had struggled for so long to reach its current position, and he could not let it slip away. He also feared that if he handed over the succession, Prince Wilhelm would not spare him. This time, there would be no retreat for QinTian.
"Even if he is the former crown prince, he is nothing more than a pretender now. In the most critical moment of war, a rebellion has erupted—that is something we simply cannot tolerate. As for this rebellion, I have but one demand: it must be crushed by force, and the rebellion must be quelled entirely. The longer we delay, the more detrimental it will be for the Empire!" QinTian said solemnly.
"Yes, Your Highness," all present responded with equal gravity.