The fact that Crown Prince William had awakened was a shock to QinTian. Even in later times, cases of vegetative patients waking up were exceedingly rare, let alone in this era, where the technology and medical advancements were far inferior to what would come.
Therefore, QinTian could only surmise that the Crown Prince had been incredibly lucky. However, despite his good fortune, his attempt to stage a coup and reclaim the imperial succession was utterly misguided. After years of development, particularly in this war, QinTian had grown formidable. Even Emperor Wilhelm II would not dare to remove him from the position of heir apparent, let alone the Crown Prince himself.
This rebellion, however, presented an opportunity for QinTian. If he could take advantage of it and decisively crush the Crown Prince, it would solve his troubles once and for all.
A thought began to form in QinTian's mind. With the palace now under the control of the rebels, he wondered what had become of Emperor Wilhelm II. If, during the chaos, the Emperor were accidentally injured—or even killed—the course of history would change entirely. He, as the rightful heir, would be able to ascend the throne without opposition, becoming the emperor of the most powerful empire in the world.
Previously, QinTian had believed that inheriting the throne would take at least another twenty years, by which time he would be over fifty years old. But now, it seemed history was veering in an entirely different direction. This was not surprising, given that his own presence had already altered the course of events.
Although Wilhelm II was his adoptive father, wishing for his death was, to some degree, treasonous. Yet, such thoughts, like untamed weeds, grew uncontrollably. The taste of power was addictive, like a potent drug, once tasted, it was impossible to quit. QinTian now found himself in this very position. The idea of relinquishing power seemed unthinkable—he had grown accustomed to the privileges it provided. If anyone dared strip him of it, it would be more excruciating than death itself.
If Emperor Wilhelm II truly perished in this rebellion, it would undoubtedly be the best outcome for QinTian. He would not have to wait for twenty more years to ascend the throne.
Of course, QinTian did not know for certain that Wilhelm II had indeed died as he wished. Nor was he aware that the Crown Prince himself had been the one to end the Emperor's life.
After ordering the suppression of the rebellion by force, General Hindenburg and his forces immediately set to work. The 9th Panzer Division, led by General Rommel, became the vanguard in quelling the rebellion. Over two hundred tanks, divided into multiple detachments, advanced toward their designated targets. The 1st Marine Division and the 101st Infantry Division were also deployed to support the 9th Panzer Division's operations.
Though it was already nightfall, the German forces, seasoned in field operations, were unperturbed by the darkness. The Imperial Guard, however, was caught off guard by the night assault, their resistance faltering.
The sound of tank treads grinding against the streets of Berlin echoed in the night as the vehicles left deep ruts in the pavement. The tank headlights blazed, their commanders confident that the Imperial Guard lacked anti-tank weaponry. The soldiers of the Imperial Guard, accustomed to a life of luxury, were too intimidated to launch explosives or grenades at the tanks.
"Boom!"
One tank fired at a street barricade set up by the Imperial Guard. The explosion tore the barricade apart.
The infantry, following closely behind the tanks, advanced to assault the now-breached position, their progress shielded by a barrage of machine-gun fire.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
The heavy machine guns raked the night air, bullets streaking like fireflies.
Faced with the onslaught of armored vehicles and infantry, the Imperial Guard was utterly defenseless. The moment the street barricade fell, they scattered in disarray.
The combined forces of the 9th Panzer Division, the 101st Infantry Division, and the 1st Marine Division swept through Berlin, relentlessly attacking the remaining strongholds of the Imperial Guard. Outnumbered and suffering heavy casualties, the Imperial Guard collapsed, their positions retaken by the advancing German forces.
The Army General Staff became the first key target to be reclaimed. An infantry battalion, with the support of over a dozen tanks, overwhelmed the defenders and forced their surrender. Among the prisoners were Marshal von Falkenhayn and other senior officers of the Army.
Naturally, the rebels had never intended to execute these high-ranking officers, even if they had been imprisoned.
After his release, Marshal von Falkenhayn rushed to meet with QinTian.
Upon confirming his safety, QinTian breathed a sigh of relief. His greatest concern had been the security of the Empire's high-ranking officials during the suppression of the rebellion.
Fortunately, the rebels had not yet descended into utter madness.
A few hours later, other high-ranking officials were freed from captivity. During the chaos of the coup, they had all been detained by the rebels. Surprisingly, Crown Prince William had shown restraint and did not harm them, perhaps knowing that he would need their help if his rebellion succeeded. Perhaps he had never anticipated how quickly it would fail.
Once freed, the officials, who were both grateful and bewildered, gathered to meet with QinTian. While they appreciated the rescue, they were still puzzled by the rebellion. When they learned that it was led by the Crown Prince, they were left dumbfounded. The miracle of his awakening was one thing, but for him to have taken such a drastic step was beyond their expectations.
It was not entirely incomprehensible, however. The Crown Prince had once been the heir apparent, but after awakening, everything had changed. Not only had he lost his claim to the throne, but it was now impossible for him to reclaim it. In such a situation, it was not surprising that he would resort to such desperate measures.
The officials were all well aware of the Crown Prince's character. Much like his father, Emperor Wilhelm II, he was stubborn and self-righteous. In the pursuit of his former position, it was entirely within his nature to resort to extreme measures.