Chapter 811 This is Power

Wilhelmstrasse, General Staff.

Ludendorff, as if facing a disaster, handed a telegram to Hindenburg's desk: "The Americans have sent troops."

Hindenburg took the telegram, read it, and silently put it aside.

There was a flash of surprise in Ludendorff's eyes: "You have nothing to say, Mr. Chief of the General Staff?"

"What can I say?" Hindenburg asked.

"Our emperor." Ludendorff looked to both sides and lowered his voice, but his tone was full of anger: "When we tried every means to avoid angering the United States, he actually sought an alliance with Mexico, which directly led to the United States joining the war and pushed the empire to the brink of danger!"

Hindenburg remained calm: "It's our fault, Erich."

"What?" Ludendorff became more and more excited: "No, it's the emperor's fault. It was his stupidity and ignorance that caused such consequences..."

"Do you really think so?" Hindenburg interrupted Ludendorff.

"What else?" Ludendorff didn't understand what Hindenburg meant.

"We are too impatient." Hindenburg sighed. "We shouldn't have challenged the emperor's authority and tried to sideline him when the external situation was not stable. Even though we knew he still controlled the navy, we thought he couldn't do anything, but that was not the case."

Ludendorff was stunned for a moment, then he understood: "You mean, the emperor did this on purpose?"

Hindenburg nodded slowly with a heavy heart: "The power of the army is in our hands. Only by doing this can the emperor put the greatest pressure on us, while his navy is breaking through the blockade of the British Royal Navy."

Ludendorff seemed to understand that this would enhance the status and prestige of the navy.

"But this is his country." Ludendorff still couldn't believe it: "It won't do him any good..."

"Erich," Hindenburg replied, "if the power is in our hands, do you think he needs to care about this?"

Ludendorff thought about it and felt that this was true. The so-called "his country" was only on the surface.

Hindenburg stood up and walked to the clothes rack, took off his military cap and put it on: "I'm going to the Palace of Forget-Sorrows. It's time to talk to him!"

…

In the reception room of the Palace of Forget-Me-Not, William II was toasting with Admiral Scheer.

William II was very satisfied with the current war situation. He tried to remain calm on the surface, but his voice trembled with excitement.

"This is an unprecedented victory, Admiral," said William II:

"We defeated the Royal Navy."

"Everyone thought it was invincible and the most powerful fleet in the world."

"But we defeated them, we broke the myth, we created a miracle!"

But Admiral Scheer remained calm:

"We did have some victories, your majesty."

"But we have not yet achieved a true strategic breakthrough, and the British fleet is still powerful."

"At the same time, the port of Bergen is still under the control of the British. It may be too early to say that we have won..."

William II replied excitedly: "There will be no surprises, Admiral. No matter how powerful the British fleet is, it will be useless. We use airplanes and seaplanes. The British can't do anything to us."

He laughed and stood up to pour wine for Admiral Scheer:

"Charles is simply a genius."

"Decades of development of the British fleet pale in comparison to him. He simply hung torpedoes on planes and solved all the problems."

Speaking of Charles, Admiral Shear's heart skipped a beat:

"I heard that the Charles warships are equipped with new anti-aircraft firepower, which is probably used to target torpedo bombers."

"It has been successfully modified and is about to sail to Lerwick Port to reinforce the British."

William II's smile froze on his face instantly. He slowly sat back on the sofa with horror in his eyes:

“Is the intelligence accurate?”

"If this is true, do you think the Ciel's equipment can really deal with torpedo bombers?"

Admiral Scheer nodded slightly:

"As much as I don't want to believe it, it's probably true."

"And I believe that the Charr's equipment can handle torpedo bombers."

"The reason is simple. He invented the torpedo bomber. He understood the torpedo bomber and knew that it had to be in a straight line and at a low altitude and speed when releasing the torpedo."

"If Charles invents anti-aircraft firepower to address this problem, the torpedo bombers will likely suffer unbearable losses."

William II frowned.

He could not worry about the British Royal Fleet, but he could not help worrying about the Shire.

But not long after, a smile appeared on his face again:

"Char's fleet to reinforce the British?"

"This shows that Charles did not sell this anti-aircraft equipment to the British."

"So, what we have to do is to avoid the French warships!"

Admiral Scheer nodded. "I thought so, Your Majesty."

The two smiled at each other, and their wine glasses clinked together with a crisp sound.

At this time, Hindenburg strode in, stood up in front of William II and saluted: "Your Majesty."

William II pretended to be surprised: "You have come at the right time, Marshal. Let me introduce you. This is Admiral Scheer, the commander of the Imperial Fleet."

Hindenburg stepped forward and shook hands with Admiral Scheer: "I have heard of your name for a long time. I have heard about the naval battle that took place in the Jutland Sea. It was a beautiful battle!"

"Thank you very much, Your Excellency Marshal!" Admiral Scheer replied politely.

Hindenburg sat down and turned his gaze directly to Admiral Scheer: "Since you are here, Admiral, I think we should talk about cooperation."

Admiral Scheer was a little confused. He glanced at Wilhelm II who was sitting opposite him. Shouldn't Hindenburg talk to Wilhelm II?

William II smiled slightly and said, "Of course, Marshal, the navy and the army are both the empire's armies, and they should be united in facing foreign enemies."

Hindenburg hummed, "I feel relieved with your Majesty's words."

Then he asked knowingly: "I wonder if Your Majesty is aware that the United States has joined the Allied Powers and intends to send troops to France?"

"Yes." William II nodded calmly, as if the matter had nothing to do with him: "I know something."

"If possible," Hindenburg said:

"I want the navy to block the shipping lanes from the United States to France. By any means, submarines or seaplanes."

"If we allow the American supplies and troops to continue to flow into France, it will be almost impossible for us to win this war."

"And it is obviously much easier to sink an American cruise ship at sea than to destroy American soldiers on land."

William II nodded in agreement and turned his inquiring gaze to Admiral Scheer.

Admiral Scheer thought for a moment and replied with difficulty: "I will try my best, Your Majesty, but I may not be able to do it."

William II nodded with satisfaction.

Regardless of whether Admiral Scheer could do it or not, his goal had been achieved.

Hindenburg had to "cooperate" with himself, that's power!

(End of this chapter)