.“ Get ready to attack! ”

At the sound of the order, the sound of countless bolts of guns rang out, and the tense atmosphere of the battle gradually spread to every street near the palace. At this time, the incessant sound of crackling fireworks could no longer play any role in soothing emotions, and in the flickering light, every face that was about to enter the battle was extremely indifferent.

Amid the clatter of metal, the Janissary Panzer loyal to the Emperor appeared in the streets, one after another, their stubby barrels, hideous machine guns, steel bodies, and heavy breathing adding to the death of the area.

There were no cheers, no roars, and the officers and men of the Praetorian Guard, who had gradually completed the encirclement, waited silently for the order to attack. These determined fighters knew that it was not the armies of any hostile country that were about to fight against them, but the equally glorious and great soldiers of the German Army.

Less than 2,000 meters west of the Palais Royal there is a seemingly ordinary street, which is unusually empty in the cold wind, it is only 5-6 meters wide, paved with very ordinary gravel, and the east side is completely clogged with a mess of things - door panels, tables, chairs, furniture, and some earth and stone, which were also found on the streets of Paris during the French Revolution, and are called "barricades".

Behind this barricade reinforced with machine guns and mortars were hundreds of soldiers of the coup army, who, like the Praetorian Guards preparing to attack on the other side of the street, had no clear political leanings, but whose commanders had them standing here and fighting their countrymen without hesitation.

After a slight noise from the opposite side, a gray tank with a striking iron cross painted on its turret drove up the street, moving slowly and lonely, its raised muzzle extremely proud. It looks a size bigger than the other tanks, which is unfamiliar to most people, given that the Reich's No. 3 tank is only beginning to equip the Army, and is currently only owned by the Berlin Janissaries and the Army's Panzer Army.

Silently, it drove to a point less than 100 meters from the barricades, and came to a halt under the gaze of twelve machine guns, five mortars, nineteen sniper rifles, and hundreds of pairs of eyes.

Although the performance of this new tank is not understood. The putschists did not panic, and their confidence came from cluster grenades, Molotov cocktails and the belief that death would be at home.

At this time, it seems that both sides are prepared, but the "preparation" of the Praetorian Guard is unexpected by the other side.

As expected, the hatch of the tank was opened, and an infantry major poked out half of it.

"Rebel officers and soldiers, listen up, you are surrounded by the Imperial Praetorian Guard! Stop working for those who betray the Empire, now lay down your arms and get forgiveness from the country! ”

About half a minute later. A response came from behind the barricades: "Sorry, our mission is to stay here!" For us, disobedience to military orders is more shameful than anything! ”

After a few seconds, the officer on the tank shouted: "Are you ready to continue to be enemies of the empire, the nation, and His Majesty the Emperor?" ”

The other party was silent.

Bad news followed, and Archduke Friedrich, who had recently moved his temporary headquarters into the palace, sat down in a large soft sofa. His eyes were closed, his index finger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose up and down, his mind recalling everything that had happened in the past few weeks......

Three weeks earlier, Friedrich, who had been serving in the West Prussian garrison, had received a secret letter from Munich addressed to King Ludwig III of Bavaria. In his letter, the Bavarian king not only deeply remembered the former Emperor Wilhelm II, but also expressed sympathy and regret for the current dire situation of the former princes. and thus linked to his eldest son, Rupresit, who was the king of England. He was dissatisfied with his eldest son's situation in England, and believed that it was all due to the Kaiser's harsh policies towards England. At the end of the letter, Ludwig III also revealed that the Kaiser would visit the Americas in the near future.

After turning over and studying this secret letter dozens of times. Friedrich felt that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Ludwig III invited himself to raise the flag against him. So he replied to Ludwig III overnight, implicitly expressing his desire to overthrow the new Kaiser through a coup d'état, but mentioning that his current strength was limited, and if he was not sure enough, he could only continue to hibernate. At the same time, Friedrich sent a secret letter to Field Marshal Golz, where he was at home, explaining his true thoughts, and then hoping that the old marshal would go out to help him.

Three days later, Friedrich received replies from Ludwig III and Golz. He was thrilled by the Bavarian king's handwritten letter, compared to the previous one asking for directions. The letter was more forthcoming and passionate, and for the first time mentioned a very bold plan for a coup d'état involving the kingdoms of Bavaria, Württemberg, Saxony and other opposition forces, a coup d'état that would sweep the country at the same time in Berlin and the state.

By contrast, Goltz's letter was much more cautious, questioning not only whether the coup was strong enough, but also about Ludwig III's affairs.

After replying to Ludwig with an enthusiastic letter, Friedrich personally went to Golz's estate and, after a night of heated discussions, finally persuaded Golz to fully support the coup plan. When he returned to West Prussia. An envoy sent by Ludwig III also arrived, and with this more direct face-to-face exchange, Friedrich was even more determined to go all out. In the following period, he and Goltz gathered the old ministry, contacted the supporting forces, and reached a series of secret agreements with the French government in the south, and the French government then sent a group of special forces to infiltrate Berlin through various channels.

Soon after, the Kaiser left Germany for the Americas, and the troops involved in Friedrich's coup plan were all making final preparations, and everything seemed to be going along the predetermined route, so Friedrich and his staff firmly embarked on this road of no return.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! The adjutant's anxious voice brought Friedrich back to reality, still in the ornate but cold room, surrounded by the busy figures of his staff.

"The army sent by the Kingdom of Bavaria has fallen to the side of the Janissaries! They...... They turned their guns and started attacking us! ”

"What?" Friedrich jumped to his feet and sat back on the couch after a few seconds as if he had been drained of all his strength.

"Ludwig III...... How so? ”

The same problem plagued the new king of Württemberg, Leopold, and the old king of Saxony, Frederick August III, as Ludwig III's Bavarian army was rapidly approaching their capitals, Stuttgart and Dresden, and would be captured by the dominant Bavarians in a matter of hours.

"This ...... It's unbelievable! Leopold sat on his throne with an angry face, his army was used to prepare for attacks on the border, especially in the direction of Berlin, but he did not expect to be attacked by the Bavarian army from the belly! Even the transfer of all troops back to Stuttgart at this time would not have helped - in the German states. Bavaria had a second most powerful army after Prussia, and it was impossible to win the battle with the strength of the whole of Württemberg.

"We have sent a telegram to Munich asking for it, maybe it's just a misunderstanding!" Leopold's henchman comforted, but he was afraid that even he would not believe this explanation.

"Misunderstanding? Such a heavy soldier is secretly stationed near our border, and it is a misunderstanding! Leopold scolded with his heavy head in his right hand, he couldn't figure out how things could have come to this, and why Ludwig III had sent troops against him.

"Annexation of Württemberg? That's an idea that's just stupid to the extreme, unless Ludwig III's head is already confused! ”

For Leopold. The good things seem to have come to an end. The Communications Officer came up to him like a marquee and reported to him worse news than the other:

"The Bavarian army is only 20 kilometers from Stuttgart, and their commander, General Edkalas, demands that we lay down our arms and surrender!"

"The troops guarding the northern and western borders declared their obedience to the command of General Vonwas, and called on the people of the king of Württemberg to uphold justice and arrest the rebels......"

"A telegram was sent from Munich demanding that we immediately cease the rebel operations and hand over the rebel leaders......"

"Prince Gregel and Prince Phounastus declare allegiance to the Imperial Government and lead their men to surrender to the Bavarian army!"

"There was an exchange of fire between our army and the Bavarian army, and our army was forced to retreat due to the outnumbering of the enemy, and the vanguard of the Bavarian army was already approaching the outskirts ......"

Leopold's face became more and more gloomy, and he finally understood that he should not have believed Ludwig III in the first place, but power was so tempting!

A considerable part of the main forces were sent to support Friedrich's coup d'état. There were very few remaining armies in the Kingdom of Saxony. Before the arrival of the Bavarian army, Terrey August III wisely declared his unconditional support for the Imperial government's counterinsurgency efforts, and then ordered the Saxon army entering Berlin to cease all military operations.

It's dawn......

The moment the fireworks show stopped all night. The citizens of Berlin were surprised by the sound of heavy gunfire, and it turned out that their city, the capital of the Empire, had experienced a terrible night of war.

When the first rays of sunlight descended on the land, the once unstoppable putschists had been reduced to a turtle in an urn, and Friedrich's remaining troops were squeezed into the palace and a small area around it, and the Janissary tanks soon drove up to the palace gates.

"Your Highness, they are asking us to lay down our arms......"

The adjutant whispered, but Friedrich in front of him did not react in the slightest.

"Your Highness......" The adjutant called again apprehensively.

"Let's all get out!" Friedrich said in a low voice.

"But Your Highness ......"

"Get out! Get me out! Friedrich roared, and the entire room froze in shock, a dozen pairs of eyes staring straight at his commander.

After a two-second stalemate, the officers walked out the door one by one. Their mood at this time was not extremely depressed.

After everyone had left, Friedrich walked to the window, where the golden sunlight was pouring in from the corner of the curtain.

He tightened the curtains, blocking the only ray of sunlight out of the room.

In the corner of the room sat Field Marshal Goltz, whose face was as pale as death, and for whom all previous exploits had been nullified, stared blankly at the lamp on the ceiling of the room.

The gunfire outside was still intense.

Soon after, the Praetorian Guard abruptly halted its attack, but the encirclement was still being reinforced, and loudspeakers were erected around the battlefield.

When the sun is fully rising. A few black spots appeared in the sky, and then there were more and more black shops, and in a short time a large number of airships and planes were tightly controlled over the city, and the putschists were completely surrounded by this time. However, despite the forced retreat and internal and external difficulties, the remaining soldiers of the coup army showed no intention of surrendering, and the troops loyal to Friedrich continued to serve their commander, and those from France continued to fight for their mission and honor.

At nine o'clock in the morning, in the tense atmosphere of saber-rattling, an airship with a modest appearance appeared in the northwest sky. It flew quickly towards the city center and descended slowly, eventually stopping not far from the Berlin Radio Building.

Suddenly, an uplifting voice was heard on the radio in the streets of Berlin:

"Citizens of Germany, soldiers loyal to the Reich, I am your Emperor Gianlugi Wilhelm, and I am now addressing you in the Berlin Broadcasting Building. I personally regret what has happened before! The mutineers, led by Archduke Edel Friedrich and Field Marshal Golz, entered Berlin and laid siege to our Imperial Palace, and I was saddened to see so many emperors being seduced into becoming enemies of the empire, the government, and the nation! However, during this period, our Janissaries and the general public fought bravely and resolutely to defend justice, which is worthy of respect and praise, and I salute the warriors on behalf of the Empire! ”

"Now, there is still a part of the rebels who occupy the palace and put up fearless and foolish resistance, and I tell you in all my right and solemn words that any act of enmity against the country and its citizens is self-defeating! I hope that those of you who still have a conscience and a sense of justice will immediately turn their guns on those who encourage you to betray the country, so that you can be forgiven by the state! ”

Countless people, including the citizens of Berlin and soldiers from both sides, listened to the Kaiser's speech at this time, and although many people had just understood the situation around them, a proud sense of justice gradually came to their hearts, and many officers and soldiers in the rebel group were ready to respond to the emperor's call, and the high-ranking officers of the rebel army began to feel hopeless...",

At this moment, the whole of Berlin fell silent.

After the sound of a crisp gunshot from a corner of the palace, the curtain slowly came to an end on the drama directed by the Kaiser, starring the Bavarian King in friendship and starring those who hated the Kaiser's government.

For a long time to come, the remnants of the rebels were ruthlessly and thoroughly purged, with the exception of Friedrich and Golz, who committed suicide, Friedrich's four younger brothers, the Duke of Württemberg and his three sons, were hanged, King Terry August III of Saxony abdicated, and some of the soldiers involved in the coup were put on trial.

For Chen Tian, this drama not only allowed him to clean up potential enemies, but he also used this incident to exert influence on the Reichstag, and finally made a series of national defense bills amended, the most important of which is that "every German must swear allegiance to Germany and the Kaiser when he enlists in the army", making Germany a big step towards "one country, one nation, and one leader"!

On November 25, 1915, Chen Tian re-embarked on the voyage to the Americas, still on the new helium airship "Vostok", accompanied by four large Zeppelin hydrogen airships.