The meeting with Pilsudski at the Madgerburg prison was only the beginning of a series of contacts between the two sides. On the one hand, it is impossible to agree on such a major event in one or two meetings.

On the other hand, the re-establishment of a Greater Poland between the Soviet Union and Germany was only part of the second option of the Gray Plan, which itself was nothing more than a scenario for the worst-case scenario.

At the beginning of 1918, the situation did not seem to have deteriorated to this extent. When Hersmann returned to Berlin on 15 February (after leaving Magdeburg, Hersmann also visited the Gulf of Riga) was not too bad. The offensive near Ypres made some progress and had regained all the ground lost in the Third Battle of Ypres (22 July to 6 November 1917). However, the Arras and Rafael attacks, which were carried out on the Somme front, did not make any new progress, and it was clear that the offensive in this direction had been blocked.

Both near-desperate offensives had some success, and the achievements of the Germans, who had adopted a new approach to the offensive over the past four years of positional warfare on the Western Front, were to boast about. But when Hersman sat in the dining room of the Grand General Staff for lunch, he still felt an oppressive atmosphere. This is the opposite of what happened in the Great General Staff about a year ago, when the February Revolution took place in Russia.

"There may be three more large-scale offensives in March and April, when there should be more success."

"Yes, most likely they can force France to sue for peace, their blood is almost dry, and it should not last long."

Two of Hersmann's colleagues in the East, Colonel Haushofer and Major Schleicher, discussed with him all sorts of news coming back from the front. All three sat mysteriously in the corner, keeping a considerable distance from the other diners, so that they could talk more comfortably.

"Maybe the French, like the Russians, will collapse when victory is in sight." Hersman sighed, "Maybe not, then we're in trouble!" ”

In fact, he was already well aware that the French would not collapse, although Ludendorff's two attacks had made some progress. But it did not inflict unbearable damage on the enemy - after all, it was not World War II in which planes roared and tanks roared. Unless it is the situation of "soldiers commanding officers" of the Russian army on the Eastern Front, otherwise even if it breaks through, it will only be dozens of kilometers to the sky. Moreover, the casualties on both sides were about the same, that is, the exchange ratio of killing 10,000 enemies and losing 9,000 self-losses. It's not so much a war as a fight for the population...... Now that Britain and France have suddenly added the United States, a country with a population of 100 million, many sober-minded German officers already know that they can't do anything.

"Ludwig, what's going on with your plan for 'Greater Poland'? If the situation does not improve, we will need it. Colonel Haushofer said. Now the Great General Staff is already preparing for peace, and the main purpose of formulating the "gray plan" is for this ...... Gotta plan to surrender! We must not be like Russia, losing to the outside world in a mess, and having another civil war with our own people.

And to ask for peace, of course, we have to refer to the "Fourteen Points of Peace Conditions", which is about Poland. Since the enemy wants to give Poland access to the sea, then give it! Danze will not work, then the only way to find a port on the newly occupied Russian lands is to find a port.

Therefore, the "Greater Poland" proposal proposed by Hersmann was still good in the eyes of the top of the Great General Staff. It would not only keep Danzig, but also turn Poland into a barrier separating Russia and Germany. In this way, there is great hope for the establishment of a consolidated alliance between Russia and Germany in the future.

"The plan has been worked out, there is no problem on Pilsudski's side, at least...... There is no problem before the hard times (referring to defeat) come. He will soon be the victor, the father of the Republic of Poland, the dictator in power, who will not commit suicide now! ”

Pilsudski would not commit suicide at any time, but when he met with Hersmann that day, if he dared to refuse, he would be killed - this is obvious, the Germans are willing to support the big ** federation, and if it is too little, then Pilsudski can still live?

"But when the hard times really come, there is still a possibility that the Poles will betray." Hersman's tone darkened.

Historically, the resentment of the Germans towards Poland after the First World War was not unreasonable - the Republic of Poland was actually restored with the help of Germany...... Without Germany, Lenin would not have promised Poland independence! However, after the First World War, Poland not only did not know how to repay the favor, but also bit Germany a few times, swallowing West Prussia and Poznan. This is clearly a white-eyed wolf!

"If that's the case, they'll pay a heavy price in the future!" Colonel Haushofer was an expert on local politics, and he certainly knew how crazy it was for Poland to be enemies of the Soviet Union and Germany at the same time. He thought for a moment, and then said, "I'm going to go to Madgarburg myself and talk to Pilsudski...... If he could have behaved like a true friend in Germany when it was in trouble, Poland and Germany would have become the closest friends in the future. ”

Most of the Poles don't have that kind of intelligence, or they wouldn't always be divided. While Hersmann was thinking of this, Schulenburg, the adjutant of Field Marshal Hindenburg, came over and said in a low, worried tone: "Major Hersmann, Your Excellency the Field Marshal asks you to go to his office at once. ”

……

When Hersmann arrived at Field Marshal Hindenburg's office, the marshal was having lunch, and next to his chair was a small coffee table with a plate containing half-eaten salted pig's trotters, bread, and coffee. Two chairs were placed opposite the marshal, and on one of them sat a captain in his early thirties, with big eyes, a big nose, big ears, and a big mouth, and he looked very imposing. He was slightly stunned when he saw Hersman's rank, then stood up and gave a military salute.

Hindenburg said, "This is Nicholas. Feng. Captain Falkenhorst, Adjutant to Admiral Goltz -- this is Ludwig. Feng. Major Hersman, recipient of the Order of the Blue Max, is now the head of the Russian group of the Eastern Division of the Directorate of Military Intelligence. ”

Hearing the "Blue Max Medal", the big eyes of this Captain Falkenhorst widened a little. And Hersmann also looked at this Captain Falkenhorst, if he remembered correctly, this was the "Norwegian Conqueror" Falkenhorst in World War II.

Hindenburg said: "According to the current plan, Admiral Golz will be the supreme commander of the Baltic garrison. Pilar. Feng. Baron Pierburg worked together to administer the Baltic region. Major Hersman, I would now like to ask you to tell Captain Falkenhorst the general contents of the Courland Plan. ”

Hirschmann, the Baron of Pierburg, was a large and noble landowner of the Baltic region. He had led the way in the German invasion of Courland, and was now the leader of the local council of the Baltics, and Hersmann had brought in Germans from Russia to find a way to settle them - this was of course an extremely difficult task, but the baron had put so many people in good order.

The core of Hersmann's "Courland Plan" was also related to population migration, which was to concentrate the Baltic Germans in Courland and Livland, and then merge these two provinces that were formerly part of Tsarist Russia into the Courland Autonomous State, which was the historical equivalent of Latvia.