A Half-Hearted Napoleon (2)
No matter how fiercely Prime Minister Herbert and Winston Churchill had torn at each other's throats in the past, seeing the Prime Minister now—with eyes as hollow and cheeks as sunken as a man on his deathbed—Churchill could not help but feel a pang of pity.
"Ah, Lord Churchill, you have arrived? Well... you should take over as Prime Minister."
"I am sorry, but I cannot grant that request."
Originally, Churchill had rejected the premiership simply because he wanted to slip away like an eel to avoid taking responsibility. But this refusal carried no such political calculation. It was, in fact, entirely for Prime Minister Herbert's sake.
This man is practically a corpse. It seems the only thing keeping his soul tethered to this skeletal frame is his sheer sense of duty... If he steps down from the premiership, he will drop dead within three days.
Since the Great War broke out, Herbert had slept barely three hours a day for over a year. Barely three hours! And now that France had committed the sheer madness of thrusting a million-strong army across the Belgian border without a declaration of war, Prime Minister Herbert was bound to shrivel up even further into a mummy.
Despite all the talk of supporting the Russian White Army, Britain had not yet fully entered the war. At most, they were merely providing enough aid through the Black Sea to keep the White Army from starving. Of course, even that meager support was a godsend to the desperate White Army.
Yet, Prime Minister Herbert had reduced himself to this wretched state simply by running every possible scenario and simulation in his head.
I truly thought... he was just an indecisive, bumbling Prime Minister... but when push comes to shove, he delivers. Even I couldn't do that. He is practically an Übermensch.
Perhaps indecisiveness was merely a symptom of high intelligence. Perhaps he had only been so hesitant because he was constantly mapping out every scenario and imagining every worst-case outcome. In any case, Churchill felt a twinge of guilt looking at the Prime Minister. After all, he had come here today to throw a wrench into Herbert's plans once again.
"Very well, Minister Churchill. How are the preparations for the landing operation coming along?"
"Until the landing operation succeeds, please refrain from declaring war on France. We can declare war after we see the results."
"I already know exactly what you are thinking, Minister Churchill."
Prime Minister Herbert's electronic brain activated! Grinding down his brain and soul to run the simulations, Herbert began to rattle off the details to Churchill.
"Yes, you will argue that our guarantee of Belgian independence was strictly intended to keep Germany in check."
"...How did you know?"
"You will say that the balance of power on the continent is the most crucial aspect of British foreign policy, and that Belgian independence was guaranteed with that exact intent."
"..."
"And you will also argue that no matter how much France rages and thrashes about, a second Napoleon is far more likely to emerge from Germany than France. Indeed, wouldn't it be better if France scored a major victory at Frankfurt? Since that aligns with our grand strategy, you were planning to argue that delaying the declaration of war is the correct course of action, were you not?"
Prime Minister Herbert slightly curled his parched lips into a faint smile. Seeing this, goosebumps erupted all over Churchill's arms.
What is wrong with this man all of a sudden?!
If Churchill had known the concept of artificial intelligence, he would have called Prime Minister Herbert a GPT. Unfortunately, Churchill knew nothing of AI. However, from the stories he had gathered from the colonies, he had heard of Buddhism, the mysterious religion of the East. Furthermore, he possessed a decent grasp of Western philosophy. Thus, Churchill was able to conjure a fitting metaphor for Prime Minister Herbert.
Prime Minister Herbert has achieved enlightenment through the Four Noble Truths. Has he become an Übermensch through extreme suffering?
The Enlightened One, the Übermensch! The AI Buddha, Prime Minister Herbert!
In any case, Prime Minister Herbert had completely read Churchill's intentions. Russia was already ruined. Therefore, Churchill's scheme—and by extension, Britain's foreign policy—was to let Germany and France tear each other apart until they both collapsed. If either Germany or France awakened and produced another Napoleon, it would be an absolute catastrophe for British diplomacy.
What was the fastest way for either France or Germany to crush the other? To race down the highway known as Belgium. The guarantee of Belgian independence was also part of Britain's diplomatic strategy to prevent a second Napoleon. In other words, Churchill's argument boiled down to this:
"Yes, yes. Prime Minister Herbert, you are remarkable. Absolutely correct. France has lost heavily, and Germany has gained immensely, have they not? I believe it is only fair to give France a chance to win some back."
"Then do so."
"Britain's diplomatic strategy is... Pardon?"
"Have it your way. But tell me, you keep insisting that the 'guarantee of Belgian independence' is strictly a strategy against Germany. But what if France wins far more than we ever anticipated? On what grounds will we intervene in Europe then?"
Churchill kept his mouth shut. No matter how many simulations Prime Minister Herbert ran in his head, hadn't he turned into a Buddha precisely because he kept simulating such impossible scenarios? In terms of population alone, Germany was one and a half times larger than France. France's industrial capacity, and even its naval power, had been overtaken by Germany. He could say with absolute certainty that a second Napoleon would never emerge from France!
"...Let us first observe the landing operation and the outcome of the war. For now, whatever happens, Britain's priority must be to crush the Russian Black Army."
"Hahaha, Lord Churchill. I do love your confidence. What do you say? Why don't you take over as Prime Minister..."
"I—I must be going! Please, take care of your health, Prime Minister!"
Churchill cut the Prime Minister off and fled in a hurry.
The French had crossed into Belgium, but Britain's reaction was unexpectedly lukewarm. Nevertheless, Kaiser Wilhelm II remained brimming with confidence.
"Ha! Those pirate bastards want Germany and France to fight until we both destroy ourselves. They will only realize their folly after Belgium is reduced to ashes."
"Your Majesty! It is time to temporarily set aside the Eastern Front and concentrate on the Western Front!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty! Leave the Eastern Front to Stahl and the Armed Cooperative Alliance, and redeploy our forces to the west!"
But Kaiser Wilhelm II merely snorted at the General Staff's pleas. He had grown quite fond of keeping the military under his thumb. Those pests who did nothing but nag him until his ears bled! The fact that their hearts were blacker than coal and filled with treasonous intent had already been exposed during Helmuth von Moltke the Younger's Schlieffen Plan fiasco.
Just look at them. The old Junkers, led by Hindenburg, were moving the front lines as they pleased without even reporting to him! Granted, one of the German military's greatest strengths was the broad autonomy granted to field commanders, but there was no way Wilhelm II was capable of such nuanced understanding.
In any case, had not the invincible German army, operating under his supreme command, shattered the Russian Black Army's defensive lines and reached the gates of Warsaw? Naturally, Wilhelm II was also incapable of realizing that they were far behind schedule.
Indeed, indeed. Civilian control of the military is of paramount importance!
If one was going to trust, they should trust completely. If not, they should have reined them in from the start. Conducting a military purge right in the middle of a war was a surefire path to defeat. It was reminiscent of King Seonjo of Joseon. Seonjo, who had promoted Yi Sun-sin at an unprecedented pace, ended up dismissing him at the most critical juncture and replacing him with Won Gyun, a political officer, as commander. Fortunately, the German Empire had no such incompetent generals like Won Gyun.
"At any rate, did I not already redeploy troops from the Eastern Front in accordance with your opinions? This is more than enough."
"Uh... Your Imperial Majesty! General Hindenburg requests an audience..."
"What?! I demoted that bastard to private and placed him under house arrest, and he dares..."
"General Hindenburg is desperate enough to have broken his house arrest and rushed to the imperial palace. Would it not be wise to meet him just once?"
After all, Hindenburg was a general who had achieved exploits on the Eastern Front second only to Ludendorff. The Junkers hoped that the Kaiser might listen to the words of a war hero and a venerable veteran. Hindenburg was now pushing his late sixties, a veteran among veterans. As one of the oldest generals among the Junkers, he was risking his very life to offer this counsel. And he was not alone. Karl von Bülow, Alexander von Kluck—veterans born in the 1840s were all risking their lives to protest before the Kaiser. As these old soldiers, who had lived through the era of Wilhelm I and Bismarck, descended upon him in a crowd, Wilhelm II's brow furrowed.
Ah, the old geezers have rallied in force. Fine, let us hear what nonsense they have to spout.
Once the veterans gathered, Hindenburg stepped forward as their representative.
"Your Majesty, the situation is exceedingly grave. Marching from Warsaw to Berlin will take an eternity! We must redeploy our forces to the Western Front immediately before troop movements are delayed any further!"
"No, we have plenty of time. The French army has just suffered through a hellish urban war in Alsace-Lorraine! Did they not lose a grand army of two hundred thousand to a mere militia of four hundred thousand? Those fools have stepped into the hell of Belgium of their own accord."
The French military had rapidly developed their urban warfare doctrine after taking a severe beating in Alsace-Lorraine. However, Belgium's fortifications had grown correspondingly stronger. Precedents had piled up. Belgium had learned perfectly how to punish any foolish army that dared to trespass into Liège or Brussels.
"Indeed. Belgium has undoubtedly learned just as much as the French. France is bound to suffer a bloody nose in the major cities of Belgium."
"Then, General Hindenburg, why on earth are you here? Have you come seeking death?"
"No, Your Majesty! It is because there is a single possibility that Your Majesty has failed to consider. A single means to bypass that troublesome urban warfare entirely!"
"What?!"
Wilhelm II no longer bothered to hide his displeasure. How dare he talk back to me, the genius Kaiser who acts as if he came from the future?
"It is the Ardennes Forest."
But upon hearing Hindenburg's next words, Wilhelm II let out a hollow laugh. Indeed, these men had undoubtedly gone senile.
"The Ardennes Forest? Puhahaha! I was planning to have you follow in Moltke's footsteps, but it seems that won't be necessary. I shall graciously lift your house arrest, so please, pay a visit to a hospital."
"That is not it, Your Majesty!"
"How could they cross the Ardennes Forest? How would they move infantry, artillery, and cavalry through there?"
"Your Majesty, do not underestimate France's industrial capacity. They have mass-produced 'Combat Bulldozers' similar to our combat tractors, along with armored cars capable of maneuvering through rough terrain!"
"Hahaha!"
"Your Majesty, please trust me just this once and send reconnaissance planes! General Ludendorff, please, say something!"
The moment Ludendorff heard Hindenburg's words, his face stiffened as if he had been struck by a hammer. Wait. Perhaps... if they pull it off, it might actually work?
Yet, despite Hindenburg's pleading gaze, Ludendorff kept his mouth firmly shut.
In any case, I am the hero of the Eastern Front. My main forces are stationed there as well. Whatever happens in the west is none of my concern. There is no need for me to shoulder unnecessary risks.
Ludendorff was a war hero widely supported by the German people. On top of that, he could command the million-strong army of the Armed Cooperative Alliance—a well-trained reserve organization—as if they were his personal private army.
To be sure, the danger in the Ardennes Forest cannot be overlooked. France's technological prowess is not to be underestimated. But... what do I care? As long as Berlin doesn't fall, it is fine. If France runs rampant like they did under Napoleon, Britain will enter the fray. Furthermore, when that time comes...
In fact, Ludendorff secretly hoped that the French army would break through the undefended Ardennes Forest and threaten Frankfurt. If that happened, he could use the Kaiser's incompetence as a pretext to seize supreme power! Whether the war was lost or won, whether France performed well or not... in any case, Ludendorff's grip on power would remain unscathed.
If they won the war? He would be hailed as the Kaiser's loyal servant and a war hero! If they lost? He could simply join forces with Stahl and launch a massive revolution!
"Your Excellency Hindenburg, how could I presume to speak on matters of war? The final decision rests solely with His Imperial Majesty."
"Hahaha, you heard him, did you not? In any case, I shall release you from house arrest, so take care of your health."
"Your Imperial Majesty! You must not! That man Ludendorff is the most treacherous of sycophants!"
"Silence. Drag him out."
"Your Imperial Majesty! Argh!"
Just as Wilhelm II believed, the Junkers' hearts were indeed black, and they prioritized their own interests over Germany's. Yet, for better or worse, they were in the same boat as the Kaiser. Though they acted willfully, it was too early to conclude that they harbored treasonous intent.
But Ludendorff? He was a true traitor, his mind consumed by dreams of becoming Napoleon! Germany is on the verge of falling into the hands of those Stahlism reds! Hindenburg wept tears of blood, cursing the traitor Ludendorff with his final breath.