The Emperor and the Tsar got into the carriage and went to the Charlottenburg Palace to the cheers of the people. Major Hersman, who had made a great contribution, was pulled into the car to the Grand General Staff by Major Canaris, who was waiting at the train station.

Just like the last time he returned to Berlin and saw the scene of the demonstrations, this time he returned to Berlin and was equally surprised that Berlin was under martial law! The streets and alleys were full of soldiers in steel helmets, like the Red Army soldiers in the streets of St. Petersburg, with rifles with bayonets in their hands.

"There was a general strike on January 28!" The diminutive Major Canaris smoked a cigarette and drove a car and, in a gloomy tone, told Hersman about the recent events.

"It is a strike against the war, a demand for peace with Britain and France, and a peace treaty without annexation and no reparations, just as we have made a treaty with Russia. On 1 February, Austro-Hungarian sailors mutinied in Puerto Cataro, demanding the immediate conclusion of a comprehensive peace treaty without cession of land and without reparations, as in the Treaty of Brest. I wonder how long the morale generated by the capture of the tsar will last? ”

Workers are on strike, sailors are rioting, the situation is really worrying! It is clear that the German Empire and Austria-Hungary could not hold on for long because of the fluctuating hearts and war-weariness. If you want to fight a protracted war with your back to Russia, I am afraid it is also an impossible goal to achieve.

No wonder Admiral Ludendorff is desperate to attack...... But can this attack really be won?

Hersman smiled bitterly: "The Bolsheviks lost a lot of territory, and they secretly paid 600 tons of gold...... By the way, what do you do with that gold? ”

"Gold?" "That's classified, and I don't know." ”

Not even the members of Thor's group know! It seems that this batch of gold was hidden by the military high-brass. Hersmann could vaguely guess what Hindenburg and Ludendorff were thinking...... Although these two old guys are tough and optimistic in their words, they are probably not very optimistic about the situation in their hearts. He was already preparing for the worst, and the gold he had stolen back from Russia could be used as a secret fund for the revival of Germany.

"So, is the offensive at the front going well?" Hersman asked again about the situation at the front. The Ludendorff offensive, which had historically begun only in late March, was brought forward by more than two months, beginning in early January.

Hersmann was briefed on the war in St. Petersburg, but it was vague and optimistic, and of little value.

"It went well," Canaris replied, "and we began our offensive in the area between Arras and Rafael on January 8, by means of a surprise offensive. The shelling lasted only 5 hours, and then the offensive was launched on the 100-kilometer-long front line, and a breakthrough was achieved. As of yesterday, it seems that dozens of kilometers have been advanced. In addition, we are launching a new Yilun offensive near Ypres, which has just begun, and the situation is not yet clear. ”

"Tens of kilometers...... It doesn't solve the problem! Hersman closed his eyes, and all that came to mind was the so-called "static warfare" of the Western Front—relying on artillery, trenches, and tidal infantry assault. Every major battle resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties. Moreover, the losses of the winning side are not much better than those of the losing side, and the effect of each breakthrough will not be too great. Because attacks that relied on heavy artillery and infantry were often slow, and even if a breakthrough was achieved, it would not be possible to quickly expand the results, and the enemy could easily mobilize reserves to block it.

Therefore, the trench warfare on the Western Front is a war of attrition, and the comparison is that there are more people and more guns. If the United States did not enter the war, it would have been possible to defeat Britain, France, and Italy with Germany's 60 million men and Austria-Hungary's 50 million men, but once the United States joined, it would have been very difficult for Germany and Austria-Hungary to win. If there was another revolution in Austria-Hungary, then Germany would inevitably fail, and Austria-Hungary was already unstable, and it was almost a matter of time before a revolution occurred in the present situation......

"Major Hersman, Your Excellency Marshal wants to see you!" In the office of Thor's group, Schleicher, who had been promoted to lieutenant colonel, had been waiting for a while, and when he saw Hersmann coming, he frowned slightly, and told him about Ludendorff's summons.

This time it was Field Marshal Hindenburg who was going to summon Hersmann! Ludendorff was not in Berlin, he went to the front headquarters in Paz, Belgium, and directed his "Ludendorff offensive". So the practical affairs of the Great General Staff are presided over by this "good gentleman".

The door to the office of the Chief of the General Staff opened. "Alright, let's go in, Major." A tall and handsome captain said to Hersman. This man's surname was Schulenburg, presumably a relative of that Schulenburg in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and an adjutant to Field Marshal Hindenburg.

"It's Major Hersman, isn't it? Come on in. Field Marshal Hindenburg waved at Hersmann from behind his desk and greeted him in a kind tone. Contrary to Ludendorff's stern arrogance, Hindenburg was a very amiable old man, and almost no one ever saw him get angry. He is seventy years old this year, his hair and beard are white, and he has loose muscles on a face that looks a little sluggish.

Hersman walked into the office of the chief of the general staff, a palatial yellow room filled with books of all kinds. A somewhat emaciated, pale-faced colonel sat lazily in a reclining chair next to the Chief of the General Staff. Hersmann recognized him as the stern tactical instructor he had been at the military academy, and Karl Bushmann, who had been discharged from the army and went to work as a teacher at the University of Munich. Dr. Haushofer.

Watching Hersmann perform the standard military salute, Hindenburg held out his hand. "Major, please be seated." Opposite the wide desk used by the Chief of the General Staff sat a high-backed armchair, Hersman sat up, removed his military cap and rested it on his knees.

"Major, this Colonel Haushofer," Hindenburg pointed to the people around him, "and like you, he is an expert on Russia. ”

"Your Excellency Marshal, the Colonel is my tactical instructor at the Grosslichfeld Military Academy."

"Oh, no wonder you're so knowledgeable about Russia."

Cal. Colonel Haushofer smiled awkwardly: "Marshal, I didn't give a lecture on Yuan politics at the Grosslichfeld Military Academy. ”

The marshal smiled and looked at Hersman, "So you're self-taught?" It's remarkable, you haven't even entered the Staff College, so you have such a vision...... In addition to the Russian question, I think you also have a good understanding of the revolutionary question, right? ”

"Yes, very well researched, and personally involved in a far-reaching revolution!"

Hersmann is not at all modest - this spirit is not promoted in the German team.

"So, what would you do if you were the leader of the **** of the German Socialist Party?" Hindenburg's eyes suddenly shone sharply.

"I will change course and return to the mainstream of the Socialist Party."

"Why?" Hindenburg was stunned, "Don't you want to be the Lenin of Germany?" ”

"Your Excellency, I'm still young and don't want to die so early!" Hersman replied earnestly.

"What?"

"Your Excellency," said Hersmann, "the Bolsheviks in Russia were able to come to power not because of their own abilities, nor because of our support, but because of the stupidity of their opponents. And in Germany, Friedrich. Mr. Albert is by no means another Kerensky, he is much smarter and more responsible than Kerensky. And we, the German **, are not the gray cattle of the tsar, we will use all means to suppress the Bolsheviks in Germany if necessary! Therefore, Germany has no chance to govern. And I don't want to go into exile in Russia, because that's more dangerous than staying in Germany! ”

"More dangerous?" Cal. Colonel Haushofer laughed, "Ludwig, what are you talking about?" German *** people will be more dangerous in Russia? ”

Hersman nodded solemnly and replied, "That's right! If they had gone to our prisons, they would have lost their lives in most cases. Because preferential treatment ****** is a consistent European tradition, but this is definitely not the case with the Bolsheviks! We will soon hear a lot of terrible news about them, and many will be executed...... Just like the French Revolution! Comrades and enemies of the Bolsheviks, no less dangerous in Russia! If Germany comes to power, Germany will become just as dangerous, but fortunately such a thing will not happen. ”