Chapter 0541: The Conspiracy

The Crown Prince's face lit up with a smile. He had known all along that Moltke would choose to aid him. After all, Moltke was a man who placed great value on power, and having been dismissed, his heart was filled with resentment. Moreover, the longstanding tension between Moltke and QinTian meant that the General would undoubtedly fear that, once QinTian ascended to the throne, he would pose an even greater threat. In such circumstances, supporting the Crown Prince was undoubtedly the most prudent choice.

Indeed, should the Crown Prince successfully reclaim his rights to the throne, Moltke would not only be reinstated to his former position, but he would also stand to gain significantly. There was nothing more enticing than this.

Of course, should they fail, the consequences would be dire. But Moltke believed that even in failure, he would at least preserve his life. After all, his personal bond with Kaiser Wilhelm II was strong.

"Your Highness, I am gratified by your decision," Moltke said. "I trust that you will not regret your choice today."

"Let us hope so," the Crown Prince replied confidently, as though the victory was already assured.

"Count, you should return for now. I still have other matters to attend to. Tomorrow evening, we shall reconvene here to discuss our next steps," the Crown Prince continued.

"Yes, Your Highness," Moltke nodded in acknowledgment. He knew well that the Crown Prince would not rely on him alone. Before his coma, the Crown Prince had a considerable following, and though most of those allies had since lost their positions, some remained in a position to lend their support.

Moltke and General Prittwitz left the estate and, without delay, traveled back to Berlin that very night.

Upon his return, Moltke chose not to disclose anything to his family. He understood that this was a perilous venture. Once he had pledged his aid to the Crown Prince, there was no turning back. He had to commit fully, for failure would be too catastrophic to bear.

"The Kaiser has evidently placed his full support behind Oscar," Moltke thought to himself. "The earlier promise of restoring the Crown Prince's position upon his awakening is now all but impossible to fulfill. Reversing Oscar's position would be politically untenable and might provoke retaliation. Given Oscar's control over the military, he would easily triumph if challenged."

With that in mind, Moltke considered the only viable option: a coup. "We will have to seize the palace by force, imprison the Kaiser, and recall Oscar—detaining or even eliminating him if necessary. This will eliminate any opposition, and the Crown Prince can rightfully reclaim his position, or even ascend to the throne."

Though Wilhelm II was his friend, Moltke could not afford to let such loyalties stand in his way.

The following evening, Moltke and General Prittwitz once again made their way to the estate in Potsdam. Upon arrival, Moltke was surprised to see not only Prittwitz but also Marshal Görtz and General Graf. Marshal Görtz, a veteran officer, though retired from active service, still wielded considerable influence within the army. General Graf, on the other hand, commanded the Imperial Guard.

Additionally, there was Duke of Württemberg, the de facto leader of the Kingdom of Württemberg and Commander of the 4th Army Corps. In terms of status, he was second only to the Crown Prince in the room, even outranking Moltke himself.

Moltke had not expected the Crown Prince to gather such a large and influential group of supporters. This, no doubt, greatly increased the chances of success. The uncertainty that had weighed heavily on Moltke's mind was beginning to lift.

"My friends," the Crown Prince said with sincerity, "I am deeply grateful for your continued support. I promise you that once I have regained my rightful position as heir, I will not forget your assistance."

Everyone readily accepted the Crown Prince's assurances. Their support stemmed not only from a desire for higher rank and greater power but also from their shared grievances with QinTian. Those who had been left dissatisfied by QinTian's actions were now searching for a more sympathetic leader.

In any case, the Crown Prince represented the legitimate line of succession. Supporting him promised a greater likelihood of success than backing any other prince.

"Your Highness, the Kaiser's stance has clearly shifted. He is now fully backing Oscar. That leaves us with few options," Marshal Görtz observed.

"Which means we are left with only one course of action," the Crown Prince said coldly, his expression unreadable.

"Yes, Your Highness. We must resort to force, compel the Kaiser to strip Oscar of his title, and restore the succession to you!" Moltke confirmed.

The Crown Prince nodded. "Very well, if there are no alternatives, we shall proceed with this plan."

"Your Highness, I fear that if we do this, the Kaiser will never forgive us. We will always be in danger of retaliation. It may be wiser to remove him entirely—force him to abdicate and ensure you ascend to the throne. Only then will we be truly secure," General Prittwitz proposed.

"That is indeed a sound suggestion," others chimed in. They too had considered this course of action but hesitated to voice it, fearing it might anger the Crown Prince.

In truth, the Crown Prince had already distanced himself from any familial ties to Kaiser Wilhelm II. If he could secure the throne outright, that would be the most favorable outcome.

"To prevent future complications, I too believe we should follow the latter course," Moltke concurred.

"Then, it is settled," the Crown Prince said. "We will proceed with the final plan." It was clear that this course of action was what he had hoped for all along, though he had refrained from saying it outright. Now, with the others voicing it, it seemed all the more decisive.