Just as Prince Constantin had expected, from Christmas to the New Year, Prussian officers returned home one after another for the holidays.
Garrett sent Ernst a telegram, asking him to come to Berlin for some fun.
Berlin, a beer hall Ernst and Garrett had often visited during their school days.
"Ernst, I missed you to death!" Garrett howled at Ernst.
"Stay away from me. You look like a madman," Ernst said disdainfully.
"Ah, you don't understand. Life in the barracks isn't fit for a human being. I was suffocating in there every day. Now that I finally have the chance, of course I have to relax properly."
"I brought some friends with me today. Come on, Ernst, I'll introduce you."
They came to the table.
"This is Prince Ernst of House of Hohenzollern." Garrett solemnly introduced Ernst to his colleagues.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Several of them greeted Ernst in succession.
"Hello, everyone," Ernst replied.
"These men are all good friends of mine from the barracks. They all took part in the Prussian-Austrian War, and back then, they worked in the General Staff with me. Of course, our fathers had also fought side by side in the same trench." Garrett added.
The group gathered around the table and took their seats.
Garrett ordered several beers and gave everyone a glass, while the bartender stood nearby, ready to refill their drinks at any time.
After several glasses of beer went down, the floodgates of conversation could no longer be shut.
"Ernst, you have no idea about our new commanding officer. His name seems to be Hermann, right, brothers?" Garrett asked the others.
"It's Hermann, that's right. I heard he used to be a staff officer in the Ninth Brigade. They say he was a hooligan soldier when he was young, until