Upon Qin Tian's ascension to the throne, becoming Emperor William III, the event was undoubtedly a sensation that reverberated across the globe. After all, Germany was now, in all but name, the world's foremost power. Their army, victorious on the battlefield, had relentlessly crushed the forces of the Entente, leaving them in retreat, their morale shattered. Should Germany emerge victorious in this world war, it was inevitable that they would usurp Britain's position as the world's dominant power.
Moreover, upon Germany's rise to global supremacy, their strength would far surpass that of the former hegemon, the British Empire. While the British had once ruled the seas with an unrivaled navy, their army had never matched their maritime might. The German Empire, however, would possess not only the world's finest army but also the premier navy and air force. Although Germany's air force was still in its infancy, being more a fleet of aircraft than a fully developed force, it was destined to become a formidable power after the war's conclusion. This would grant Germany the strongest military in the world, with all other nations trailing behind, striving in vain to match their might.
In terms of industrial power, the United States might hold the title of the world's greatest, but once Germany consolidated the industrial capabilities of all of Europe, surpassing America would be an inevitability. Moreover, in the realm of technological prowess, Germany was far ahead of the United States. For America to contest Germany's claim to world hegemony would be an insurmountable challenge.
It could be said that Germany's rise to global dominance was now all but assured. Only divine intervention could prevent it.
At the ceremony of Qin Tian's coronation, diplomats from foreign nations stationed in Germany offered their congratulations, though few of these were sincere. No nation desired to see the rise of a superpower like Germany, for it threatened their interests and confined their sphere of influence.
Yet, with no other choice, they were compelled to extend their hollow congratulations.
Had it not been for the rushed nature of Qin Tian's coronation, more countries would have sent representatives of higher rank to attend. But given the urgency of the situation and Qin Tian's disinterest in formalities, the ceremony was somewhat hastily arranged. Even so, none could underestimate the significance of this moment. After all, the might of the German Empire had been built upon the strength of its military, not upon the mere formality of diplomatic niceties. It was their formidable army that secured their future, not the empty gestures of polite diplomacy.
Across the ocean, the Republic of America looked upon the rise of the German Empire with a sense of helplessness. While America was not yet among the most powerful nations in the world, their ambitions were substantial. Originally, they had hoped to leverage the ongoing world war to achieve exponential growth and, with Europe in ruins, seize the opportunity to rise as the world's new hegemon.
However, Germany's performance in the war had been a source of great surprise to them. The speed with which Germany crushed their enemies had left America with no opportunity to intervene. The strength displayed by the German military had instilled a sense of fear, preventing America from entering the fray, lest they too suffer defeat. It was understandable—while America possessed unrivaled industrial strength, their military capabilities were not commensurate with their economic power.
In the White House, President Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of State Bryan were deep in discussion, naturally about the rise of the new German Emperor.
"Secretary Bryan," President Wilson sighed, "I can't help but feel as though I've grown old. It's hard to imagine that a young man, not even twenty-seven years of age, will soon sit at the head of the most powerful nation in the world—and one who will wield absolute power."
Indeed, Qin Tian's youth was striking, especially in contrast to the middle-aged and elderly leaders who dominated global politics at the time.
"Though young, Mr. President, the German Emperor's actions have shown him to be anything but immature. If you look back at his rise over the last few years, it reads like a legendary tale," Secretary Bryan remarked.
President Wilson nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Emperor William III is no ordinary man."
As Qin Tian's achievements continued to shine, his exploits were unveiled for the world to see, leaving all in awe. Young people, in particular, viewed him as a figure to be admired. After all, to have accomplished so much at such a young age was a rare and remarkable feat.
When Qin Tian was young, he had shown no extraordinary talent. But upon entering the Naval Academy, it was as though he had suddenly awakened. He began to build his fortune, investing the profits into strengthening Germany's military, leading to the rapid rise of the German navy, which in just a few short years surpassed that of Britain to become the world's most formidable naval power. Likewise, the German army saw remarkable advancements. This allowed the German forces to swiftly secure decisive victories on both the seas and the Eastern Front, effectively securing the war.
When Qin Tian personally commanded the forces on the Western Front, defeating the Anglo-French alliance, it became clear that Germany's victory was assured. Any hope the Entente might have had of reversing the situation had all but evaporated. Even if the United States had entered the war at this point, it would have been of little consequence. They had already committed all of their resources to supporting Britain and France, even selling their main battleships to Britain. Such unprecedented support could not change the course of the war.
Had the Entente's navy emerged victorious in the final naval battle, there might have been a glimmer of hope. If they failed, however, all would be lost. Yet, the U.S. government remained skeptical of the Entente's chances. Their enemies were simply too strong.
"This rebellion in Germany should have been the Entente's chance to turn the tide, but unfortunately, they failed to seize it," President Wilson lamented. "Or perhaps it was just luck on Emperor William III's side. Before anyone could react, the rebellion had been suppressed. This effectively closed off any opportunity for outside intervention."
"Yes, Mr. President," Secretary Bryan replied. "Having quelled internal unrest and secured victory on the external front, the rise of the German Empire is now unstoppable. For the foreseeable future, they will dominate the world. No other nation will be able to rival them."
President Wilson nodded solemnly, understanding what Secretary Bryan was implying. Among those nations were the United States itself. From this moment on, their national policies would need to be reconsidered.