I'll Give Field Marshal Hindenburg Only One Choice

The morning of the fifth day of the battle for Liège Fortress.

His Majesty Eitel was seated in his office early, with Guderian, Manstein, and Rommel before him.

Rommel glanced at his colleagues beside him, his eyes filled with delight.

"Your Majesty, the battle for Liège Fortress came to a complete end yesterday."

"Our army achieved an unprecedented victory!"

"This is the battle report from the front."

With that, Rommel handed a battle report to His Majesty Eitel.

Eitel took the thin sheet of paper. The report clearly detailed the course of the fighting over the past four days.

When he saw that casualties exceeded ten thousand, Eitel pressed his lips together slightly.

He ran his fingers over those few short words. More than ten thousand lives had ultimately become nothing more than a few brief lines in a battle report.

He looked farther down the report, at those lines of jubilation over their victory and praise for him.

Eitel suddenly found the words somewhat glaring. Gently setting the report on the desk, he closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.

"I want to arrange a state funeral for these ten thousand fallen officers and soldiers."

At His Majesty Eitel's words, the expressions of all three men present changed drastically.

Had the old Rommel heard this news, heard that His Majesty the Emperor was willing to hold a state funeral for German soldiers, he might have been delighted. But now, after following His Majesty Eitel for so long, Rommel did not know why his first reaction to the news was that it went against protocol.

In the German Empire, state funerals could only be held for German emperors and marshals and generals of outstanding merit. Ordinary soldiers were not eligible for state funerals at all.

At this thought, Guderian and Rommel spoke at the same time. "Your Majesty, you must not. Although they sacrificed their lives for the country, ordinary soldiers are not eligible for state funerals."

"If you hold a state funeral for them now, what will the other soldiers fighting in blood for the empire think?"

"Please rescind your order, Your Majesty."

Eitel's expression remained unchanged as he listened to their objections. He merely watched them in silence. Meanwhile, Manstein said nothing either, simply holding his head up, looking somewhere they could not tell.

Only then did the two belatedly close their mouths and turn toward Manstein, a member of the Junker aristocracy who should have opposed this most strongly.

Somewhat uncomfortable under their stares, Manstein gave a light cough and spoke.

"I think His Majesty is absolutely right. Moreover, we should not only hold a state funeral for those soldiers, but also award medals to the officers and soldiers who distinguished themselves in this battle."

"Only then can we encourage the other soldiers to keep striving and fighting for it."

"And besides..."

At this point, Manstein looked toward His Majesty Eitel, who picked up the thread naturally. "Besides, this battle was of great significance. It not only shattered the Allies' offensive plot, but also showed them our determination to resist to the end."

"Only then will they not dare to recklessly start another war, and only then will we have enough say at the Versailles Conference in three days."

"As long as we can secure favorable terms for Germany at the Versailles Conference, they will be heroes of the German Empire."

Hearing their words, Guderian and Rommel suddenly understood and lowered their heads in shame.

"Our apologies, Your Majesty. We were shortsighted."

Eitel looked at the two and waved his hand. "I know you were both acting for the German Empire's sake. Just learn more in the future."

"After the ceasefire, all of you will return to the Prussia War Academy for further study. I have already made the arrangements."

At these words, all three men's expressions changed, and they stared at His Majesty in disbelief.

"Your Majesty, you're joking, aren't you?"

Rommel spoke with some difficulty. If he went to the Prussia War Academy for further study after the ceasefire ended, he would no longer serve as His Majesty's secretary.

He had actually been enjoying himself quite a bit lately, watching generals, marshals, and even the chancellor, whose names he had only heard before, all having to go through him before they could have an audience with His Majesty.

Besides, he truly wanted to remain by His Majesty's side. In His Majesty Eitel, they had seen the key to Germany's revival.

He did not want to miss out at this critical moment.

As for Manstein and Guderian, one had already gained admission to the Prussia War Academy, only to have his studies interrupted by the war. After taking part in the war, he did not want to return to studying that rigid knowledge.

The other had already graduated from the main central cadet school at Gross-Lichterfelde and felt that he no longer needed further schooling.

Besides, he had recently developed a great interest in armored cars and early tanks and did not want to return to school.

What the three of them meant now was this.

Study? Study my ass!

Rather than suffer through their studies at school, they wanted to command battles themselves. That was how they would improve rapidly.

Seeing their reluctance, Eitel laughed aloud.

"Your objections are overruled. After the ceasefire, you must enter the Prussia War Academy for further study. After graduation, you will be assigned to the posts that need you according to your degree progress."

With that, Eitel paid them no further attention. The three could only exchange bitter looks before turning to leave.

But just as they were nearing the door, Eitel suddenly spoke. "Rommel, stay."

At this, Guderian and Manstein gave Rommel somewhat envious looks and left quickly.

Seeing the looks from his two mischievous friends, Rommel immediately raised his head high, gave them a smug glance, and turned back to His Majesty Eitel's desk.

"Your Majesty, do you have any further instructions?"

Eitel crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair. "Now that the fighting is over, it's time for a showdown with Field Marshal Hindenburg."

Eitel's words left Rommel rather puzzled.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

Faced with Rommel's question, Eitel merely raised his head. "You'll know in a moment. Get Field Marshal Hindenburg on the line for me."

Although somewhat puzzled, Rommel still picked up the telephone. "Hello, this is His Majesty the Emperor's secretary. Yes, put me through to Field Marshal Hindenburg."

After a while, Rommel handed the connected telephone to Eitel.

"Your Majesty, he's on the line."

Eitel nodded and reached out to take the telephone. He had barely brought it to his ear when he heard Field Marshal Hindenburg's hearty laughter.

"Ah, Your Majesty. I'm still at the general headquarters in Belgium. May I ask what this is about?"

Listening to Field Marshal Hindenburg's pleasantries, Eitel had no intention of joining in. Instead, he went straight to the point. "Field Marshal Hindenburg, I imagine you've been keeping an eye on the Versailles Conference all along."

"Don't you want to know what the Allies have in mind now?"

As Field Marshal Hindenburg listened to His Majesty Eitel's voice over the telephone, his laughter gradually faded.

"What do you mean?"

A cold smile curled Eitel's lips. "What do I mean? Won't you find out if you come and see with me?"

"Remember, I'm giving you only one choice."