Contradictions

Compared with Austria's calm response, the Berlin Government was panicking.

The Prusso-Polish Federation still existed in name, and the refugees were all citizens of the Prusso-Polish Federation. Blocking their own nationals from entering now was plainly indefensible.

Yet letting them in posed the same problem. With millions of refugees pouring in, there would certainly be no jobs for them. Even if the Berlin Government exhausted every effort, it could not settle them all.

Employment could wait, and housing was easy enough—throw up a shack and it became a home. They were refugees already; they had no right to be picky. But they still had to be fed, didn't they?

You could not fool an empty stomach. Millions of mouths were crying out to be fed. Once they were allowed in, the Berlin Government would have to find a way to fill their bellies.

Without question, this was a bottomless pit. Perhaps the Russians would not even need to attack; the refugees alone could eat the Kingdom of Prussia into collapse.

Since the Second Prusso-Russian War had begun, William I's health had deteriorated rapidly. The bad news from the battlefield weighed on the aged king until he could barely catch his breath.

Time spared no one. The years had worn away William I's lofty ambitions. Now, all he wanted was a safe landing. Yet even that had become a luxury.

The Kingdom of Prussia's unique system had determined that once this war chariot started moving, it could no longer be stopped. Anyone who tried to block its path would be crushed to dust.

This chariot had no brakes; it could only stop once the horses had run themselves weary. As the driver, William I could only adjust the direction of the carriage and choose the broadest roads he could.

Dragging his