Bab 12: The Great Moltke, Commander-in-Chief of the Rebellion Suppression Army
"Yes. I suppose it can't be helped, since many of the duchies control territories smaller than the Junker estates."
He nodded, his eyes searching for someone to bathe.
A maid with short orange hair hurried over.
"Emperor."
"But why?"
"Mr. Junker, the man you summoned from the dungeon, has arrived at your door."
"Oh! Already? Bring him in."
"Neng."
It looks like she has a tail.
I couldn't help but smile as I looked at the maid's backside purring like a cat, but as soon as I felt flesh next to me, I averted my eyes slightly.
-Creepy.
-Creepy.
Next to me, Bismarck was staring at me murderously, as if she wanted to stab me to death.
'Fuck. I'm fucking scared.... What's wrong with him?'
'Fuck. What the fuck?... That smirk on his face, the way he looks at anyone but me.... It makes me feel like shit.'
***.
The Austrian-Prussian War of 1866.
The Franco-Prussian War of the 1870's.
These two wars were called the Unification Wars in the German Empire, and there was a great general who was instrumental in winning them, hence the epithet epic.
A soldier and strategist of the Kingdom of Prussia in the 19th century.
One of the most famous military officers of Prussia and the German Empire.
The Great Moltke.
The great silent man.
As soon as the door opened, an old man who looked like he was eighty years old, the owner of the establishment, approached.
His steps were as majestic as those that had once ravaged the lands of the French and Austrian empires.
-Thud
As soon as the old man was in front of me, he dropped to his knees and said.
"Chief of Staff of the Prussian Army. Helmut von Moltke. I present to you Wilhelm II, the rightful monarch of the German Empire."
"Oh, my faithful servant. You have come at last."
"..."
The Great Moltke's expression hardened slightly at my deception.
But like the Emperor of the German Empire, I continued to speak.
Wasn't it said that an emperor should know no shame?
"I am very sorry for you, my dear, that I should lock you in a cold dungeon when you are about to retire.... I have been too hard on a man who has done so much to unite the German Empire."
"Do not blame yourself, my lord! Emperor. How could you have known that the King of the Kingdom of Saxony would try to assassinate you at your coronation?"
"Hehehe... I'm glad you said that."
"..."
"..."
***
There was a moment of silence between us.
"You are the Great Moltke, the official of the opening of the country."
"Yes. Emperor."
"Before I retire, I would like to ask you a favor."
"As a favor... Please don't say that."
My brow furrowed at the near-rejection of the Great Moltke's words.
What the hell?
Is he sulking because I locked him in a dungeon?
Write....
I'm ready for a purge.
But my thoughts were quickly restored.
"I am a soldier by nature, and the First Emperor used me only as a sword, looked upon me only as a suitor, and gave me only orders."
"..."
"Please, Emperor, use me as a command instead of a favor, use me as a sword, use me as a soldier."
At the words of the great Moltke, I nodded and replied.
"Great Moltke. I give you the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Rebellion."
"...!!!!"
"You will lead the Rebellion Suppression Army, consisting of five legions (approximately 100,000 men): the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eleventh Legions. I would have given you the Gardekorps, but the border guards and provincial troops were on the move.
Less than an hour ago, the great Moltke had been begging on the cold dungeon floor of Constantine's palace.
Now he could not comprehend the situation.
The emperor, who had begun his purge at his coronation, had suddenly entrusted him with the command of 100,000 men....
A trap?
But the idea of a trap was quickly dismissed.
After all, he was about to retire, and there was no point in using five legions to set a trap.
The mind of Wilhelm II is still a mystery.
The old man, whose days were numbered, swallowed hard and spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
"What is the... Where is your destination?"
"The Kingdom of Saxony."
"...!!!!"
"Two legions in the Kingdom of Saxony, responsible for ten percent of the national strength of the German Empire. You can either destroy the 12th and 19th legions.... or force them to surrender and annex the entire Kingdom of Saxony to the Kingdom of Prussia."
"...!!!!"
"Furthermore, confiscate all property of the Royal House of Saxony to the House of Hohenzollern. What do you think, will you still obey my orders?"
That day, the Great Moltke had a revelation.
William II, known for his indecisiveness, had been hiding his claws.
He realized that even the purge had been decided in Bismarck's arms.
He realized that the Kaiser before him was as mad as the first Kaiser.
-Kung
The great Moltke turned to face the lord of the German Reich and master of the Junkers and smashed his head to the ground.
He struck so hard that red blood gushed from the old man's forehead.
"Sovereign. As the rightful leader of the German Empire, I will see to it that everything the Emperor desires is accomplished.... By any means necessary..."
The Great Moltke was satisfied with the situation.
Even though he was framed as a defender of his country, he was still a soldier and the Emperor's sword, a man who killed men and coveted their wealth, honor, and power.
Even the allies he laughed and talked about not long ago are just objects to be mercilessly disposed of if they turn out to be enemies.
'Ah.... Great Emperor.... Even if it means slaughtering millions of Saxon citizens, I will make sure to fulfill your dream, because that's one of the virtues of a soldier.'
...Huh?
Am I addicted to killing?
***
The great Moltke, looking at me with tears of dark heat and madness in his eyes, went out the door.
As soon as the mad warmonger and murderous old man was out of the door, I quickly looked at Bismarck.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Where are you going?"
"I thought you'd resent me a little for locking you in the dungeon... You follow my orders without a word."
"..."
"I was going to threaten to torture and kill your family if you didn't accept the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Rebellion Suppression Force.... I can't believe you said yes so easily...."
Yunker, treason.
An asshole who sucks at administration.
A killing machine good only at war.
-dominated my thoughts.
Bismarck, who knew the loyalties of the Junkers better than anyone, clicked his tongue as I stood dumbfounded by the situation that was completely outside of my expectations.
'Tsk. The Emperor is taking the Junkers' loyalty to the House of Hohenzollern too lightly.'
"Hmm... Bismarck."
'Unlike the imperial monarchs, the Junkers have been braver than anyone since the days of the Prussian kingdom…. Unlike the imperial monarchs, the Junkers were the first to charge into battle and win. It is no exaggeration to say that the German Empire is what it is because of the Junkers.'
"Bismarck?"
'Bismarck is the founder of the German Empire. With a family history like that, they have a strong sense of loyalty to protect their honor...'
"...Bismarck. Bismarck. Bismarck. Bismarck. Hey, you old bitch!"
'There is no possibility of betrayal by the Junkers unless the German Empire is in danger of collapse. Yet the Emperor acts as if the Junkers had betrayed him once... Why?'
"Bismarck!!!"
"Kaboom, w, what is it?"
"What were you thinking, chewing on my words, the Emperor?"
"I'm sorry. I had to think about something for a while... But why did you call me?"
Bismarck scratched his head, wondering what was going through his mind.
As soon as he looked at her, a suspicion grew in his mind that something was wrong.
But I couldn't bring myself to drop the knife that would help me finish the cleanup right now.
I put on my best smile and told her.
"This... King of the Kingdom of Saxony, you know?"
"Yeah. You mean King Albert, right?"
"Yes. Get him out of the dungeons of Sanssouci Palace."
"May I ask why?"
"I can't keep a traitor to the German Empire and the House of Hohenzollern under my roof forever, can I? Let him be imprisoned in the Spandau War Crimes Prison."
"...!!!!"
A prison that will be famous in 50 years, but even more famous now.
Because once you're in there, you can't get out by any means necessary, unless it's by my order.
In effect, I have sentenced King Albert to life imprisonment.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
IQIX
IQIX South Korean novel translated into English through AI.
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