In Berlin, Germany, the Imperial Council was in session in the conference room of the imperial palace.
Emperor Qin Tian of the Empire sat in his place, while the Empire's Military and Political Ministers sat along both sides of the long table. Everyone wore grave expressions, because they all knew this meeting was of utmost importance. It concerned the Empire's entire range of deployments for the war that would break out in the future.
Ever since the German Empire had won the last World War, it had remained the world's hegemon. That identity and status had brought the German Empire no small number of benefits. Everyone knew that if the German Empire could win this war as well, then its Hegemonic Status could be preserved indefinitely. But if Germany were defeated in this World War, the consequences would be too dreadful to contemplate. Not only would the German Empire likely lose its Hegemonic Status, it would also suffer the enemies' frenzied suppression, perhaps even face national extinction. Such a price was unquestionably unacceptable to the German Empire's Military and Political Ministers. Naturally, they all hoped the German Empire could emerge victorious from the coming war.
"Gentlemen, the Empire paid an enormous price to win the last World War. That victory has allowed the Empire to sit upon the throne of world hegemony for twenty years! Over those twenty years, the Empire has achieved tremendous development. One could say that the dividends of war have brought earthshaking changes to the Empire over the past two decades. Yet at the same time, the Empire's enemies do not wish to see us remain seated upon that hegemonic throne. They have been painstakingly plotting to seize it from us. Therefore, in the coming war, the Empire must exert every ounce of its strength and