Headquarters of the League of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.

At this moment, the Hall of the League of Nations Council of the University is filled with representatives from 58 Member States and the United States.

"The fact that there has never been an emergency meeting of our League of Nations since the founding of the League of Nations in 1919 shows that the whole world is becoming safer and better, thanks to the efforts of all of us." The secretary general of the League of Nations cleared his throat and said, "But just a few dozen hours ago, this beautiful peace was broken. The incident began with the French Navy trespassing into German territorial waters and sinking a German destroyer. So at the beginning of the meeting, I would like to ask the representative of France, what is the explanation of your French Government on this matter? ”

All the delegates looked to the French delegates in the front row.

The French representative pressed the microphone in front of him and said: "Our government has no knowledge of the intrusion of our naval fleet into Germany's territorial waters, and the French government and military have never given such a dangerous order as an illegal invasion of the territory of another country. ”

"That's what you want." The German representative said with a sneer. "Our warship was sunk by a meteorite? Oh, and maybe it was sunk by a shark, right? ”

The scene burst into laughter.

"Silence!" The Secretary-General slapped the table and then said to the representative of France, "We all know this, is the French Government still quibbling?" ”

"No, we don't mean to quibble." "I just want to say that this matter has nothing to do with the French Government or the military, and is entirely an act of the fleet commander of that fleet." ”

"Ahem, it's not a question of whose responsibility is important." "The question is how to resolve the situation of the confrontation between the German and French border armies," the British representative said. ”

"Speaking of which, I think it is appropriate to ask the German representative, why do you blatantly break the Portsmouth Peace Treaty and drive your troops into the Rhine Demilitarized Zone?" The representative of France complained to the representative of Germany, "The French Army was forced by you to march to the Franco-German border, and I hope you will give my Government an explanation. ”

"Under our persecution? Didn't we enter the Rhine under your persecution? If you hadn't sunk our destroyers, would we have done this? The German representative said angrily.

Seeing that the two sides were about to return to the question of responsibility, the secretary general hurriedly interrupted the two men and said: "Okay, stop blaming each other, just talk about how to get you to withdraw your troops." ”

"As soon as the German troops leave the Rhine, we will withdraw immediately." The representative of France was the first to speak.

"We need a compensation package, and the 234 naval officers and sailors on board the Lebrecht cannot die in vain!"

"If you have any requirements, just say it." The U.S. representative, who had been silent, said.

Hearing this, the German representative smiled slyly and said: "First of all, we need the French side to compensate us for all our losses, including the pensions of the fallen and the value of the warships." ”

"Of course." The Secretary-General nodded.

"Second, the French government wants to try the naval commander who 'acted without permission.'"

"Yes."

"Finally." The representative of Germany paused, "We demand that the restrictions on our air force in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty be lifted!" ”

As soon as he heard this, the originally quiet venue suddenly resounded with a burst of discussions.

"I disagree!" The representative of France, Huo Ran, stood up and shouted loudly, "Germany's air force is a threat to the surrounding countries, and we will never allow you to have an air force!" ”

"Quiet!" The Secretary-General slapped the table and shouted, and when the room was completely quiet, he said, "Ask the German delegates what the reason for this request is, and then make plans." ”

"If we had an air force, the sinking of the Lebrecht would have been completely avoided." "If we had an air force, we would have been able to detect and stop the French fleet from invading our territorial waters 'without permission,' and there would have been no conflict," said the German representative "with great sorrow." ”

The Secretary-General nodded, feeling that this made perfect sense.

"In that case, let's use a full vote to decide whether the German proposal can be passed." The representative of the United Kingdom proposed, "Raise your hand if you support Germany." ”

"I agree!" The representative of China was the first to raise his hand.

"Agreed." The United States is not far behind.

"Agreed." Representatives of Japan, Italy, Great Britain, the USSR also raised their hands.

Some of the small countries in the venue saw that several "leading big brothers" expressed their agreement, and they also raised their hands in approval.

In the end, only the representative of France did not raise his hand.

"Ahem, you have to know that our Royal Navy Home Fleet has already left port." The British representative raised his hand and faintly threatened, "Christmas will be in two days, and I don't want our Royal Navy officers and men to spend war on such a holiday." ”

The U.S. representative nodded and echoed: "Although the main force of our U.S. Navy is in the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Home Fleet alone is enough for us to intervene in the European war." ”

Seeing this, the French representative could only raise his hand with hatred, and in the face of the threat of the world's two strongest maritime powers, even if France was unwilling, it could only agree to this plan.

"Well, this proposal has been formally adopted, and later we will make changes to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, and Germany will be able to build up an air force." The secretary general smiled and said, "Then please ask the German side to withdraw its troops, and the Rhine demilitarized zone will continue to be retained." ”

"Of course, we will withdraw our troops immediately." The representative of Germany also laughed.

Not only the two of them, everyone at the scene laughed happily, no matter what, a war was averted.

Oh, except that the French representative was crying with a sad face.

Germany, Berlin, War Department.

Lyon, having received the news from the League of Nations, immediately issued an order to Army Group Center: "All troops in the demilitarized zone of the Rhine are withdrawn, and Army Group Center returns to its garrison." ”

Hindenburg looked at the man in front of him blankly, one second he still had an expression of wanting to fight to the death, and the next second he put on a smile of "long live peace".

"You, you didn't plan to fight this battle from the beginning?" Hindenburg asked Leon incredulously.

"Of course." Leon smiled and said, "Why fight this battle? Not to mention that we will never be able to defeat the French Army now, and from my personal point of view, I don't want to fight this war, and I don't want my wedding to be spent in the smoke of war. ”

"Then how do you ......?"

"How can I look like I'm going to fight to the death?" Leon helped him ask, "It's just to give an account to the people, otherwise they will lose faith in us." Besides, even if we did have a garrison in the Rhine, what real benefit would it be for us? This will only increase the risk of war, for which we are far from prepared. So, instead of risking the garrison of the Rhine, it is better to exchange some substantial benefits. ”

Hindenburg took a deep look at the young man in front of him, and once again realized how powerful he was.

Maybe he really is the savior of Germany? Hindenburg thought to himself.

Two days later, on Christmas night, the whole world was immersed in joy.

In the martyrs' cemetery at the Kiel Naval Port, Helmut stroked Karl's tombstone and said to himself: "Your sacrifice is meaningful, the general has won the establishment of the air force for us." ”

"But, I swear, brother, I will personally let them pay your blood debt!"