Berlin, the capital of Germany, the Imperial Palace, the office of Kaiser Wilhelm I. A royal council is taking place, including Kaiser Wilhelm I and Crown Prince Frederick. William, Prime Minister Otto. Feng. Bismarck, Foreign Minister Albrech. Feng. Count Ron, Prince Felix, Minister of the Admiralty, and Count Moltke, Chief of the General Staff of the German Army, were all here.

It's just that the atmosphere of the meeting is solemn after all. The expressions on everyone's faces weren't too pretty. It's like we're in big trouble.

"Your Majesty, according to the exact information we have received, the pace of the Chinese' preparations for war has accelerated. Their industry had drifted toward war, and traffic had begun to be regulated. In particular, the railways from the Chinese Empire to Central Asia and Eastern Europe were all under wartime control. A large number of trains are transporting personnel and equipment, as well as other war materials, to Eastern Europe. In addition, the Chinese built a canal in Volgograd that connected the Don and Volga rivers, allowing them to transport war materials to Eastern Europe by boat. This greatly accelerated the time for the Chinese to prepare for war. Count Moltke said solemnly. There is no doubt that the speed of the Chinese's war preparations greatly exceeded their expectations, which is not a good thing for the Germans. If they don't do it well, they will lose the war directly.

"How long will it take for the Chinese to complete their preparations for war?" William I asked. The current William I, who is sixty-five years old and has experienced so many winds and waves in his life, is logically able to restrain his feelings. But at this moment, everyone can still feel his nervousness. This is not to say that William I was timid, but that the opponent was too strong. Germany wanted to defeat this formidable opponent. It's not easy!

"Your Majesty, according to our estimates. In a year at most, the Chinese's preparations for war will be completed! Other member countries of the Peace Alliance. With the support of the Chinese, preparations for war will also be completed within a year. Count Moltke said.

"So fast? How is that possible? "Frederick. Crown Prince William exclaimed. Although, Germany has long been preparing for war. However, the speed of their war preparation was far inferior to that of the Chinese Empire. It is expected that it will take at least two years or more for them to complete their preparations. But once the Chinese have completed their preparations for war, will they wait for the Germans? That's almost impossible.

"In fact, the Chinese began to prepare for war long after the end of the last world war. They were able to prepare for war one step ahead of us. There's nothing strange about it. However, this is not a good thing for Germany! "Otto. Feng. Prime Minister Bismarck said. Although he had always hoped that Germany would avoid a direct war with the Chinese Empire. However, it now seems that his efforts did not succeed, on the one hand, the Chinese Empire was somewhat aggressive, so that Germany had no way out. On the other hand, the ambitions of William I and others. This put Germany on the road of competing for hegemony with the Chinese Empire. Once you're on this path, there's no stopping at it. So, this makes war inevitable. And this, for Germany. It may mean a disaster. Of course, if Germany wins the war, they will also become the new world hegemon. Replace the Chinese. It's just that the probability of winning the war is too low.

That is to say. At most, there is still a year to go, and the Chinese will take the initiative to provoke a war? William I said with a blank face.

"Yes. 陛xià! From what we know about the Chinese, they have always been used to preemptive strikes. Once the Chinese complete their preparations for war, they will certainly find an excuse to wage war against us. After all, in this case, they have an advantage! Count Moltke continued.

"So, gentlemen, what shall we do now?" William I asked. Such a problem is undoubtedly very tricky.

"Your Majesty, I think we need to speed up our preparations for war. Even if we cannot fully complete the preparations for war, we must complete most of the war preparations when the Chinese provoke a war. In this way, you will not be caught off guard by the Chinese! Count Moltke said.

"Hmmm! Is there any other way? "After all, there was a power gap between Germany and the Holy Alliance they led and the Chinese Empire and the peaceful alliance led by the Chinese Empire. If the Chinese preemptively complete preparations for war. And the Germans did not complete their preparations. Then, the gap between the two sides will be further widened. At that time, it will be even more difficult for Germany to win.

"Your Majesty, we may be able to improve relations with the Chinese Empire through diplomatic efforts, so that the Chinese Empire can relax its vigilance for the time being, so as to buy us more time to prepare!" Foreign Secretary Albrech. Feng. Earl Ron said.

"Efforts can be made in this regard. The chances of success aren't too high, though. The Chinese have come to see us as their biggest adversary and their only challenger to world hegemony. The Chinese Emperor Long Yufei was a very ambitious man, and he always wanted to defeat other opponents so that the world hegemony of the Chinese Empire would not be threatened. It is a pity that the current German Empire is threatening their world hegemony. Therefore, the Chinese did not hesitate to use war to eliminate the threat to them from the German Empire! "Otto. Feng. Prime Minister Bismarck said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, from now on, this war is inevitable. What we need to do is how to make the German Empire win this war. William I said. He had lost hope that diplomacy would be used to avoid war. After all, as the monarch of the German Empire, he knew what the Chinese were planning. Unless the German Empire can bow to the Chinese Empire and abandon its martial arts. Otherwise, this war would not have been avoided. The Chinese Empire would use the most brutal and effective means to neutralize the threat posed by Germany to the Chinese Empire.

"Your Majesty, from now on, the empire must speed up war preparations, and all energy must be focused on war preparations. In addition, the allies of the Empire must act. lest they not be ready after the war begins. In that case, it is very likely that the Chinese will be caught off guard. The strength of the allies of the empire is generally stronger than that of the Chinese, and they are very important partners of the empire! Count Moltke said.

Several of the main allies of the German Empire, Great Britain, Russia, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Ottoman Turkish Empire, were not small states. Their war power was far stronger than that of the allies of the Chinese Empire. These allies, if played well, will be a strong support for Germany.

"Well, the General Staff and the allies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Empire are in good contact, and from now on, it has reached the most critical moment of the Holy Alliance. We must strengthen our preparations for war. Only in this way will it be possible to survive this crisis. If you fail, you don't need to say, you can imagine what the consequences will be. I am sure that the allies of the Empire will do their best! William I said. After all, since everyone signed the Holy Alliance Treaty, everyone has been a grasshopper on a rope, and no one can escape. Once defeated by the Chinese, all the countries of the Holy Alliance will pay a heavy price.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Count Moltke and Albrech. Feng. Count Ron nodded.

"Prime Minister, you still need to worry more about government affairs. The industry of the empire must also gradually change to wartime. The gap between us and the Chinese in industry is not large. The real gap, in terms of resources. However, I think the various resources stored in the previous stage of the empire have been enough for the empire for a long time! William I said. After controlling the whole of Europe, Germany is no longer very short of resources, except for oil. In addition to imports from Mexico, oil could also be obtained from the Ploiesti oil fields of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. It can be said that the shortcomings of the Germans are no longer so obvious.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Otto. Feng. Prime Minister Bismarck nodded.

"Felix, the task of the Imperial Navy is to defeat the Chinese navy as much as possible and break through the Chinese blockade line in the North Sea. If the navy cannot complete this task, then attack the sea transportation lines of the Chinese with all its might. William I said. In this way, the strength of the Chinese Empire could be weakened as much as possible, and more favorable conditions could be created for Germany.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Minister of the Admiralty, Prince Felix, nodded.

"Chief of the General Staff, once the war breaks out, whether the empire can be invincible depends on the army's appearance!" William I said solemnly.

In the future war, the main force of the Germans will be the army. If it had been possible to sweep across Europe before the Chinese* army entered Europe on a large scale, then Germany would have been able to at least not be defeated. In this way, they will have the capital to continue the war with the Chinese.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Count Moltke replied solemnly. He was aware of the responsibilities of the German Army in the war.

"Father, perhaps, the situation has not yet reached the worst!" Frederick. Crown Prince William said.

"Oh? How so? Wilhelm I asked.

"Father, the chess pieces we originally prepared are now ready to use. Originally, we were prepared to use it after the outbreak of war. But now, the most critical moment has come, and we can use it in advance. Those two chess pieces can buy us at least a year or more. In this way, we will have enough time to prepare for war! "Frederick. A flash of madness flashed in Crown Prince William's eyes. (To be continued......)

PS: The first update arrives, asking for subscriptions, monthly passes and recommended tickets! Thank you for the reward of book friend 0 Daming Guo surname 0! Thanks to my book friends, I counted the money and counted the monthly passes for hand cramps, markleu, docc1, Xiuyi, and the bandits of the Three Kingdoms!