Quelling the Internal Unrest

"Your Majesty, Marshal Erich has arrived in the conference room."

After knocking on the door, Rommel reported to Eitel from the other side.

At Rommel's words, Eitel rose from his chair, lightly brushed down his clothes, and walked out of the room.

"Let's go."

With that, His Majesty Eitel headed straight toward the conference room.

This time was different from before. Although this naval marshal was a staunch monarchist, his loyalty lay with Eitel's father, Wilhelm II.

Wilhelm II held the navy in the highest regard and vigorously promoted naval construction. The current High Seas Fleet had been commissioned and built under him.

Marshal Erich shared his views on this and likewise revered naval power, but neither of them had noticed something.

Although the High Seas Fleet they had created was powerful, it remained at a disadvantage against England's Royal Navy.

After several defeats, even Eitel's own father, Wilhelm II, had abdicated, yet this naval marshal still refused to accept defeat and wanted to try to regain control of the seas through the Hipper Plan.

He wanted to delay defeat for the German Empire, which was already retreating on every front.

His intentions were good, but they were not grounded in reality. If the current High Seas Fleet faced Britain's Royal Fleet, death was its only road. It was no wonder the naval rebellion in Wilhelmshaven had grown to such a scale.

Of the eighty thousand naval personnel, nearly a third had taken part in the rebellion.

For them, rebellion might still offer a way to survive, but once they went to sea, every ship that sank would take an entire crew with it.

Even if the English navy rescued them out of humanitarian concern, most would still lose half their lives.

With these thoughts in mind, Eitel pushed open the conference room door. Upon entering, he caught sight of a middle-aged man with a resolute face.

The naval marshal wore a solemn expression. On seeing His Majesty Eitel, he bent slightly in salute.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful that you have stepped forward in this time of national peril."

"But the Hipper Operation was personally drawn up by your father and me, and it is our only remaining hope of turning defeat into victory."

"I hope you will not abolish the Hipper Plan."

After speaking, Marshal Erich bent forward in a perfectly proper ninety-degree bow.

A flicker of surprise crossed Eitel's eyes at Marshal Erich's gesture. He had not expected this highly respected naval marshal to treat him so well.

After seeing Max's attitude toward him earlier, Eitel had thought this would be another difficult attempt at persuasion.

Now, it seemed quite simple.

Eitel hurried forward and helped Marshal Erich straighten up. "Marshal, why do this? If the Hipper Plan could truly turn the tide of the war, I certainly would not abolish it."

"But as you can see, the naval personnel in Wilhelmshaven are already deeply dissatisfied with the implementation of this plan."

"They would rather rebel than carry out your plan. Do you still not understand?"

Eitel's words gave Marshal Erich pause. He knew about all of this too, but the Hipper Plan was the last thing he could do for the empire.

He had already made up his mind to resign and take responsibility if the plan failed.

"But Your Majesty, this war..."

Erich wanted to say something, but instead let out a long sigh.

Seeing this, Eitel could only pat Erich's shoulder reassuringly. "Marshal, we have already lost."

"What we can do now is preserve the embers of the German Empire."

"I will do everything within my power for the German Empire."

At His Majesty Eitel's words, Erich clenched both hands, digging his nails hard into his palms.

He could not accept it. They had exhausted everything for the German Empire, only for this to be the final outcome. He truly could not accept it.

"Your Majesty, please give me some time. I will quell the naval rebellion in Wilhelmshaven and make them carry out the Hipper Plan."

"And this time, I will personally sail with the fleet. Even if nothing can be done, I will fight to the very last moment and go down with my High Seas Fleet."

Looking at Marshal Erich, who had devoted himself so faithfully to the empire, Eitel clasped his hand tightly.

"Marshal, do you trust me?"

"The High Seas Fleet will not be annihilated. The war is about to end, and you must preserve yourself so you can continue serving the empire."

"Although we may not be able to keep the High Seas Fleet this time, this will certainly not be the end of our German Empire's navy, but another new beginning."

At this point, Eitel looked earnestly at Marshal Erich. "We must first ensure that the rebellions at home are quelled before we can guarantee supplies for the soldiers at the front."

"Only then can we secure a voice at the negotiating table. Later, I will personally oversee the rebuilding of the High Seas Fleet, and you will remain the imperial navy's marshal."

Looking at His Majesty Eitel's face, Erich slowly raised his head.

"Your Majesty..."

"I... I agree to abolish the Hipper Plan..."

As Marshal Erich's words fell, the final piece of the puzzle for quelling the naval rebellion in Wilhelmshaven fell into place.

Soon, a joint declaration from His Majesty Eitel and Marshal Erich was issued, and the telegram was transmitted to ports across the country as quickly as possible.

Two days later, when the news reached Wilhelmshaven, a group of sailors gathered in front of the noticeboard to read the telegram.

They read it aloud, word by word.

"His Majesty the Emperor and Marshal Erich have agreed to abolish the Hipper Plan."

"We don't have to carry out that mission that would send us to our deaths anymore?!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

The news soon spread among the naval personnel in Wilhelmshaven. Under the subtle influence of this news and the national policy, the sailors who had already planned to rebel in November gradually abandoned their thoughts of rebellion.

But in a secret room, several leaders of the naval rebellion had gathered with a man dressed as a worker.

"I never expected them to actually abolish the Hipper Plan. What are we supposed to do about our plan now?"

A heavily bearded man in a naval uniform looked at the worker.

"Damn it! How could something like this happen at such a critical juncture!"

Another sailor slammed the table angrily, his voice filled with frustration.

The worker merely gave him an indifferent glance.

"It's already settled. The timing of the uprising remains unchanged. Once we fire the first shot, the remaining sailors will have to join us, whether they want to or not."

"They won't have a choice..."

Before the worker could finish, a tremendous crash came from the doorway.

Bang!

The door was kicked open, and a squad of fully armed soldiers leveled their guns at them.

Guderian strode inside. Looking at the ringleaders discussing the rebellion, he smiled.

"In His Majesty's name, you are under arrest."

With the success of Guderian's operation, Eitel also received the news.

[Congratulations to the host for completing the mission: Quell the naval rebellion and workers' movement in Wilhelmshaven]
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