Berlin, the Capital of Germany.
Now, Berlin bore the semblance of a capital befitting the world's foremost power. Though it had long been one of the great cities of the world, it could never compare to the likes of London or Paris.
Paris had already been reduced to ruins in the flames of war, and London was soon to share the same fate. This would elevate Berlin to the status of Europe's largest and most prosperous city. Indeed, only New York might rival it.
While the war was far from over, Germany's victory seemed assured. This guaranteed that Germany would soon rise to become the next world hegemon. As the capital of the new global power, Berlin would undoubtedly flourish, transforming into the center of both politics and finance—this was merely a matter of time.
The effects of war had already begun to wane. Though fighting continued in Britain, requiring a vast expenditure of manpower and resources, the influx of substantial war reparations from France and Italy, along with the rich resources and crops extracted from occupied territories, had gradually eased Germany's burdens. This allowed the standard of living for its citizens to improve, which in turn fostered growing support for the Emperor and the government.
In another timeline, Germany had lost the war, causing the nation's collapse. However, in this reality, everything was different. Germany had triumphed, not only avoiding collapse but emerging even stronger.
The Imperial Palace, Emperor Qin Tian's Office.
"Your Majesty, according to the intelligence we have gathered, the British are already contemplating the abandonment of their homeland. They are secretly transferring their wealth to Canada," reported Admiral von Bräming, head of the Imperial Intelligence Service.
Emperor Qin Tian nodded. It was entirely understandable that, once the British realized their homeland could no longer be defended, they would retreat. He had never expected that, by capturing Britain's shores, the British would simply surrender. The British, after all, had long been accustomed to their role as the world's rulers. Even in defeat, they would not bow easily. Some, particularly Prime Minister Churchill and the royal family, would never lower their noble heads.
Qin Tian only hoped that, once British soil was under German control, the Empire could establish a secure defensive line along the eastern Atlantic. At the very least, this would prevent Germany's enemies from using Britain as a base for a counteroffensive into continental Europe. Furthermore, after losing their homeland, even if the British continued to resist, their efforts would no longer pose a significant threat.
"Keep a close watch on British activities! We must not allow them to transport their wealth to Canada!" Qin Tian ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Admiral von Bräming responded.
Next, Qin Tian summoned the Imperial Minister of the Navy, Count von Tirpitz. To intercept the British wealth, the navy was their only option.
"Your Majesty, the wealth accumulated by the British Empire over centuries is staggering. Just the gold alone is unimaginable. We cannot allow them to transport this wealth to Canada," said Count von Tirpitz immediately.
Qin Tian nodded. "Although we have blockaded Britain, there are numerous gaps in our line. If the British manage to secretly transport their wealth, we may have little recourse."
The British coastline was long and winding, and while Germany's navy had established a general blockade, a complete seal was practically impossible. Particularly at night, when Germany's naval night-fighting capabilities were still weak, the British could easily exploit the gaps and slip through.
If the British used destroyers to transport their wealth, especially at night, intercepting them would be exceedingly difficult. Moreover, the British also had a number of submarines. Though their performance was far inferior to Germany's own, detecting and sinking these submarines would not be an easy task. These submarines could also be used to transport gold.
Thus, intercepting the British and preventing them from shipping their wealth to Canada seemed an almost insurmountable challenge.
"Your Majesty, even if we deploy additional warships to reinforce the blockade, it will likely yield little effect. The British can use destroyers and submarines to carry their wealth. The chances of successfully intercepting them are slim," Count von Tirpitz said, sounding somewhat discouraged.
The wealth of the British was undoubtedly a prize too tempting to resist. If Germany could seize it, the Empire's power would grow exponentially. It would also deal a severe blow to Britain. On the other hand, if the British succeeded in shipping the wealth to Canada, they would quickly recover. While this would not pose an immediate existential threat to Germany, it would still cause significant complications.
"I understand," Qin Tian said. "It is nearly impossible to fully stop the British. What we must focus on is intercepting as much of their wealth as we can. If we can seize it from them, that would be ideal. If not, we should sink it—better it lies at the bottom of the sea than in British hands!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Count von Tirpitz replied, nodding solemnly.
"General Bräming, the intelligence department must prioritize the search for related information. It is crucial that we determine when the British plan to move the gold, whether they use destroyers or submarines, and the specific routes they will take. With this information, we can deploy our warships for a more focused interception. The chances of success will be far higher," Qin Tian instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The intelligence department will do its utmost!" General von Bräming affirmed.
Though he understood that it would be a difficult task, he knew that the wealth could not be allowed to escape. The British would likely keep their plans regarding the gold strictly confidential, but no matter how challenging, they had to succeed. Preventing the British from securing this wealth was critical.
"Additionally, the navy can deploy aircraft carriers to the Atlantic. The range of their aircraft is far greater than that of our warships. Once suspicious vessels are detected, we can call in our warships for interception or launch an attack directly. The efficiency of this strategy will far surpass relying solely on our ships," Qin Tian suggested.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will make the arrangements," Count von Tirpitz agreed.
"For the Empire's interests, we must prevent the British from succeeding. That gold cannot be allowed to reach Canada. If we cannot have it, then no one shall!" Qin Tian declared with solemn determination.