"Gentlemen, what are we to do now? Shall we simply watch as Oscar, with his army, gradually defeats the Imperial Guard, then surrounds the palace? Ultimately, will he break into the palace and seize us all? Not only have we instigated a rebellion, but we have also murdered His Majesty the Emperor. Oscar will certainly not spare us. What awaits us will likely be the high gallows!" Duke of Württemberg said, his voice filled with distress.
The Duke deeply regretted his involvement. Had he known that Crown Prince William was so inept, he would have never allowed himself to be dragged into this affair. As the Duke of Württemberg and Commander of the 4th Army Group, he was a person of considerable rank and influence in the German Empire. It seemed senseless to risk it all for a promise of empty rewards from Prince William. Furthermore, the entire Württemberg royal family could now be dragged down with him, and that would make him the greatest traitor to his lineage.
The Duke had been lured into the rebellion by William's promises of autonomy for the Kingdom of Württemberg should the plot succeed. Apart from foreign policy and military matters, all other powers would be returned to the royal family of Württemberg. In fact, William even promised that the Duke could ascend from being merely a noble to the King of Württemberg, raising its status within the empire—perhaps even above that of Bavaria.
To the Duke, this had been an irresistible temptation. The prospect of expanding his power, even dreaming of one day making Württemberg an independent kingdom, had seemed too enticing to pass up. He knew it would not happen overnight, but like all things, one must take it step by step. The Duke had believed that his goal was attainable. Yet, now, he found himself in a pit of disaster, fully ensnared by a scheme that had betrayed him at every turn. His efforts to extricate himself from this trap now seemed utterly futile.
"Ah! If only I had known, I would never have been so blinded by ambition. I wouldn't be in this predicament now," the Duke sighed inwardly. This realization drove him to urgently search for a solution.
"We cannot simply sit back and wait for our doom. We must find a way out, or else we are finished!" Crown Prince William exclaimed.
But what could they do now? The balance of power was so overwhelmingly against them. The Imperial Guard alone was no match for the opposing forces. If QinTian's army took the palace, their fate would be sealed.
"General, do you have any plans left?" William turned to Moltke.
Without a doubt, Moltke was the most capable among William's allies. If he, too, could not offer a solution, then they truly had no hope.
"Your Highness, the situation is indeed dire. Our chances of reversing it now are almost nonexistent," Moltke said with a deep sigh.
"Is there absolutely no way?" Prince Eitel Friedrich, the second son of Wilhelm II, asked.
As the second in line to the throne, Eitel Friedrich had never harbored any real hopes of inheriting the crown. But with the Crown Prince now in a vegetative state, an unexpected opportunity had presented itself. According to the order of succession, he was next in line. However, he had been shocked when his father bypassed him and gave the title of Crown Prince to QinTian. This had been a heavy blow to him, filling him with both bitterness toward QinTian and resentment for his father.
Had he known the coup would fail, he would never have participated. As a prince, he enjoyed many privileges, and now, with the rebellion doomed to fail, he, too, would face punishment. Although he had not killed Wilhelm II himself, he was still an accomplice, and QinTian would never spare him.
"Your Highness, at this point, we have no choice but to make one final attempt. After all, our lives and fortunes are at stake," Moltke said solemnly.
"Count, do you have any suggestions?" William asked.
"We could once again invoke His Majesty's name and send someone to summon Prince Oscar to the palace. Out of respect for both duty and family, he should come. Once he enters, we can seize him and force him to order the withdrawal of the army and marines. From there, we can proceed step by step with our plan," Moltke suggested.
William frowned. He knew that QinTian would never be so easily deceived. It was common knowledge that the palace was already under the control of the rebels. Entering it would be tantamount to walking into the enemy's stronghold—suicide.
"Count, do you really think Oscar would fall for such a trick?" William questioned.
"Indeed, it is unlikely, but what if we use the threat of His Majesty's life? If he refuses to come, we will kill the Emperor. Then, he will be faced with an impossible choice," Moltke said, his eyes gleaming with cold resolve.
Everyone present immediately grasped Moltke's meaning. Despite Wilhelm II's death, they could still exploit his name to deceive QinTian into entering the palace. In that case, they would have one last chance to turn the tide.
Furthermore, they believed there was a reasonable chance of success. After all, QinTian was the Crown Prince. He could not afford to ignore the death of Wilhelm II. If word got out that he had done so, it would gravely damage his reputation.
"Very well, Count. This plan could indeed work. If we eliminate Oscar, his army will lose its commander, and we can turn the tables," William said, his face lighting up with satisfaction.
However, he did not notice the shadow of doubt in Moltke's eyes. Moltke was worried that even if they killed QinTian, the army might not simply surrender. Enraged, the soldiers could very well execute them all. At that point, the fate of the German Empire's throne would be uncertain. The Empire could fall into chaos. Yet, for his own survival, Moltke set aside these concerns, focusing only on the immediate solution.