"Gentlemen, I propose a toast to Crown Prince Wilhelm. Once the situation at the front stabilizes, we must hold a grand victory banquet to celebrate the Crown Prince's triumph." Wilhelm II was exceedingly excited.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I doubt any country's heir apparent could be as outstanding as the Crown Prince. Not only is he an exceptional businessman, but also a battleship designer, an army weapons designer, an automobile designer, and an aircraft designer. Now, he even seems to be developing into a military strategist!" Falkenhayn laughed heartily.
The others also showered Oscar with praise. In truth, it could hardly be called flattery. Oscar's performance had indeed been dazzling.
Though Moltke the Younger wore a smile, he felt increasingly miserable inside. Watching those men heap praise upon Oscar, he knew that Oscar's influence within the military would only grow greater. As Oscar won victories on the battlefield, his position would become impossible to shake.
No, this cannot go on. I have to find a way to stop that fellow's rise. Otherwise, I'm finished. Moltke the Younger thought to himself.
Given the enmity between himself and Oscar, Moltke the Younger knew that once Oscar grasped power, the first thing he would likely do would be to kick him out of the Chief of Staff's position and replace him with Falkenhayn. Moltke the Younger had always understood Falkenhayn's ambitions perfectly well. He had merely relied on his personal friendship with Wilhelm II to keep Falkenhayn firmly suppressed. Now that Oscar had become Crown Prince, he had undoubtedly become a tremendous variable. With Oscar's support, Falkenhayn was very likely to squeeze him out.
"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, the situation appears rather unfavorable for us now!" After Wilhelm II left, Lieutenant General Prittwitz immediately slipped into Moltke the Younger's office.
As a general