Mobilization

It was May 1866.

Today, Ernst was attending a class reunion. He felt ashamed, having gotten into the University of Berlin through connections, only to drop out halfway through his studies.

The reunion was held at a grand hotel, about 960 meters south of the University of Berlin, a place frequented by many dignitaries visiting the city.

Inside the opulent hall.

"Sir, welcome!" Ernst, dressed in a suit, was greeted by staff as soon as he arrived at the entrance.

Second floor.

"Sir, may I see your invitation?"

Ernst handed his invitation to the attendant. After carefully examining it, the attendant politely said, "Esteemed Your Highness Ernst, please come in. We hope you have a pleasant evening!"

In the banquet hall, crystal chandeliers hung high from the ceiling, illuminating the entire space. Many guests had already arrived.

"Ernst, over here!"

Garrett, dressed in a military uniform, waved at Ernst.

"Garrett, you joined the army?" Ernst asked, surprised.

Garrett said smugly, "Ah! My old man said my grades were too poor and insisted on getting me a position in the army."

"Which unit?"

"Isn't the Empire expanding its military? So my father told me now is the best time for a 'gilding' experience. Just one tour on the battlefield and I'll have seniority. Right now, I'm a staff officer in the 3rd Company of the Kingdom's 23rd Infantry Regiment."

Ernst patted Garrett's shoulder. "That's great. This is your chance to shine."

"Ernst, do you have any inside information? Can you give me a hint?" Garrett said, winking.

"You're misunderstanding me. My current identity is more that of an entrepreneur. I don't have any military inside information. However, I do know something about military supply procurement, but that probably won't help you much."

"Oh! Then never mind. Isn't your father, Prince Constantin, serving in the General Staff? Didn't he tell you anything about the army?"

Ernst chuckled. "I'm not interested in military affairs, so I never discuss them with my father. Besides, the Kingdom is focused on nurturing young talent. Aren't you a student at the University of Berlin? You shouldn't worry about not making a name for yourself in the barracks!"

"Haha... Well, I suppose not. I'm just a bit nosy. After all, who wouldn't want to peek at the answers before an exam?"

Ernst nodded. "It's only natural. I understand."

"The main thing is that you've already built your own career, Ernst. We were both bad students, and we agreed to struggle together, but you took off on your own! Ever since you stopped coming to school, I've been the one with the worst grades."

Garrett laughed. "Business must be good these past few months! Our unit has procured quite a few products from your company."

"It's just a small business. You're the one, kid. Once you're successful in the army, don't forget to help out an old classmate's business!"

Garrett was speechless. "Don't brag. Everyone knows about your relationship with the royal family. You damn second-generation noble, you'll have to help out your little brother in the future."

Ernst teased, "Ah, who can predict war? What if you're a military genius like Moltke? Perhaps you'll hold a high position in the Kingdom's leadership in the future."

Ernst had originally intended to say a Napoleon-like genius, but considering Napoleon's reputation in Germany, he changed his words.

"Alright, enough of that. Let's go for a drink. I'm going to get you drunk tonight!" Garrett said emphatically.

The Prussian Royal Palace.

King Wilhelm I was discussing war preparations with Prime Minister Bismarck and Chief of the General Staff Moltke.

King Wilhelm I: "Prime Minister, how are the preparations coming along?"

"Your Majesty, the war funds have been secured. We have also won over the Italians as allies. Russia currently lacks the capacity to interfere in European affairs, and since they recently had a falling out with Austria, they will likely favor us in the event of a war. Britain and France have no intention of intervening; they hope we and Austria will weaken each other. Therefore, we must achieve a swift military victory to prevent intervention from the great powers. As for the military aspect, it depends on the preparations of the army."

Moltke said, "We have made thorough preparations this time. The three newly formed corps are complete, and the railway network has been connected to the military camps. We can quickly deploy 200,000 men to the front lines. Currently, 50,000 troops are already positioned at the border. With the previous reforms, we will be able to mobilize hundreds of thousands of reservists to the front lines via railway in a short period. Coupled with the Italian diversion, we will have a numerical advantage over Austria."

Moltke then placed his hand on the map, pointing to the center of Prussia. "This time, we must first deal with the North German princes. Many of these princes lean towards Austria and are located in the heartland of the Kingdom of Prussia, which could cause us trouble. As for the South German states, including Bavaria, their resolve for war is not strong. We will strive for their neutrality through diplomacy."

Bismarck said, "You can rest assured about this. As long as we focus our efforts on the Austrian front and adopt a defensive posture in the South German region, these Austrian allies will not fight with their full strength. Once we quickly defeat the Austrian army, other countries will inevitably submit to Prussia's overwhelming might."

In short, both agreed that Austria should be dealt with first. Once Austria was resolved, all other problems would be solved.

King Wilhelm I paced before the table, hands behind his back, contemplating. "Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Austria's reputation in Europe is not comparable to those smaller nations. Although Austria's development has been unsatisfactory in recent years, a starved camel is still larger than a horse. Especially the Austrian army, its overall strength has not significantly declined. Therefore, we should wholeheartedly intensify our offensive against Austria."

He walked to his desk and sat down, picking up a pen and crossing out the original plan.

"This is a war for Prussia's destiny. We must stake everything. The previous plan was still too conservative. General Moltke, I officially appoint you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Prussian Army, effective immediately. Prussia will enter a state of war. All reservists must enter the army for training in advance. The railways must increase their train schedules, and weapons must be rapidly re-equipped..."

King Wilhelm I continued, "Prime Minister, your government must cooperate with the military's demands and do its utmost to facilitate military operations. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must actively monitor the dynamics of the European powers to prevent any unforeseen events..."

Following King Wilhelm I's orders, Prussia began its final mobilization before the war. The three newly established corps were directly dispatched to the western regions of Prussia.

The number of military trains increased noticeably each day. Carriages filled with soldiers, artillery, and supplies were moved across Prussia.

Reservists were called up early, and military camps were overflowing with soldiers. The government began constructing new training grounds across the country, and idle land was converted into recruit camps.

The railway network was reorganized, and railway workers began working overtime to maintain the lines, ensuring the smooth operation of the suddenly increased train traffic.

Simultaneously, Prussia began to accelerate the construction of wired telegraph lines from the border to Berlin and rapidly popularized telegraph equipment within the military.

While Prussia was mobilizing, Austria and Italy were also making preparations, but their efforts were noticeably less effective than those of militaristic Prussia.