Chapter 0566: Marching Toward Stuttgart

When Moltke stood trial, he presented himself with remarkable defiance. In response to the numerous charges levied against him, he remained silent—neither confirming nor denying the accusations. Born into nobility, his stature in Germany was indisputable, and this social standing seemed to imbue him with an air of disdain as he glared coldly at the court, unmoved by the proceedings.

However, despite his obstinate refusal to cooperate, the Chief Justice, after presenting a mountain of damning evidence, nonetheless sentenced Moltke to the gallows.

The Duke of Württemberg, too, maintained his innocence during the trial. He claimed that he had been misled by Crown Prince Wilhelm and had no intention of participating in the rebellion. He further asserted that it was the Crown Prince who had shot Emperor Wilhelm II, and that he was in no way complicit. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, he attempted to wield his noble title and position to pressure the court, hoping for a more lenient verdict.

Unfortunately for him, the court had already received instructions from Qin Tian, ensuring that the Duke of Württemberg would not be granted mercy. Furthermore, after the rebellion had broken out, the Duke had made attempts to summon the 4th Legion back to his country, aiming to bolster the insurrection. This, of course, was something Qin Tian could not tolerate. The potential return of the 4th Legion would have dealt a devastating blow to the suppression of the rebellion, perhaps even tipping the balance of the war in the Empire's favor. Thus, the Duke's fate was sealed.

When the Chief Justice announced the Duke's sentence of death by hanging, the Duke fell into a state of despair. He cried out in protest, claiming that the trial was a political maneuver orchestrated by Qin Tian, and vowed that the Kingdom of Württemberg and its royal family would seek retribution. 

The final three to stand trial were Field Marshal Goltz, General Prittwitz, and General von Graf. While General von Graf maintained a stoic demeanor, the other two men were far less composed. Both Goltz and Prittwitz expressed deep regret in court, begging for clemency in hopes of a more lenient sentence. Yet, despite their pleas, the court found them guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging, to be carried out immediately.

The trial itself took only half a day. By the end of it, seven bodies were already dangling from the gallows in front of the court. These bodies, swaying in the breeze, resembled flags fluttering from a pole.

The citizens of Berlin, observing the spectacle, seemed to have grown numb to the grim sight. The high-ranking individuals they once held in awe were now reduced to mere corpses, their lives snuffed out one by one. There was an undeniable satisfaction in witnessing such a turn of events.

Of course, there were others who were not so indifferent. The families of the condemned—Crown Prince Wilhelm's wife and children, Prince Eitel Friedrich's family, Moltke's kin—were seen weeping bitterly, cursing Qin Tian as they mourned their losses. But none dared act out of line. After all, these families were under close surveillance by the Empire's military and intelligence services. Any actions deemed harmful to the Empire would result in immediate intervention, even arrest.

With the death of Emperor Wilhelm II, and the execution of Crown Prince Wilhelm and Prince Eitel Friedrich, Qin Tian's position as the legitimate heir to the throne was no longer in jeopardy. Though he had two elder brothers, they had not participated in the rebellion, and were now thoroughly disillusioned by Qin Tian's unyielding tactics. If they had entertained any hope of the throne, it had now been extinguished. They had come to understand that the throne was not theirs to claim; anyone who dared covet it could very well lose their life, as their late brother had.

As princes, they were already content with their portion of the royal wealth and privileges, and had no desire to risk it all for a futile grab at power. The fate of Crown Prince Wilhelm and Prince Eitel Friedrich had served as a stern warning.

However, Qin Tian's decision to execute Crown Prince Wilhelm had made him the bitter enemy of Empress Victoria. When attending Wilhelm II's funeral, Empress Victoria's countenance was dark and brooding. Outsiders might assume her sorrow was due to her husband's death, but only Qin Tian knew that her anger was directed at him for his insistence on executing the Crown Prince.

Even so, Qin Tian remained resolute in his decision. The Crown Prince had failed in his rebellion, and despite his tearful pleas for mercy, Qin Tian could never trust him again. In Qin Tian's view, mercy toward one's enemies was cruelty toward oneself. Until the "time bomb" that was Crown Prince Wilhelm was completely dealt with, he could never feel safe.

"Your Highness," said Prime Minister Bilo, "The Emperor's funeral has been held, and the trials of Crown Prince Wilhelm and the others have concluded. Now, it is time for your coronation. As the rightful heir, it is your duty to ascend the throne."

"Indeed, Your Highness," added Foreign Minister Wahit. "Though the situation at home remains stable, the prolonged vacancy of the throne will inevitably lead to unfavorable consequences."

The other high-ranking officials also urged Qin Tian to take the throne as soon as possible.

However, Qin Tian was not one to act hastily. There were still matters to attend to before his coronation.

"Let the coronation wait," Qin Tian replied. "I have been closely monitoring the situation in the Kingdom of Württemberg. The Duke may have been executed, but the royal family has remained silent, which is highly suspicious. We've received reports that they are conspiring against the Empire. We must prepare accordingly. Once the situation in Württemberg is resolved, I will ascend the throne."

"Your Highness," said General von Falkenhayn, Minister of War and Chief of Staff, "The Kingdom of Württemberg is a key ally of the Empire. If instability spreads there, especially at this critical juncture in the war, the consequences could be catastrophic."

Qin Tian nodded. The Kingdom of Württemberg was home to many important industrial sites, with Stuttgart serving as a major hub for manufacturing, especially military production. The security of these assets was paramount.

"General Hindenburg, assemble the 9th Legion and move immediately toward Württemberg. Secure the kingdom as quickly as possible, and ensure that all heavy industries are preserved intact!" Qin Tian commanded.

"Yes, Your Highness," replied General Hindenburg, immediately setting off to carry out the order.