Chapter 1: The New Emperor Ascends the Throne

  March 9, 1888, Potsdam Palace, southwest of Berlin.

  For the German Empire, which was only eighteen years old, this was the most important day since its proclamation on January 18th of eighteen years ago in the Palace of Versailles. On this day, the empire lost its founding emperor Wilhelm I and welcomed its second ruler, Frederick III.

  Although the court was immersed in grief over the loss of their monarch, a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. The coronation ceremony of Frederick III was held in Sanssouci Palace, which was built by Frederick the Great himself. Hundreds of civil and military officials gathered together to pledge allegiance when the new emperor ascended the throne.

  The civil officials were headed by Chancellor Bismarck and the military commanders by Field Marshal Moltke.

  Around Wilhelm I, the creator of the Second German Empire, there were four marshals: Chancellor Bismarck, Minister of War Roon, Chief of General Staff Moltke and Prince Friedrich Karl.

  Nine years ago, Earl R?n died of illness, and three years ago, Prince Karl passed away.

  At present, only Bismarck and Moltke remain.

  Moltke was over ninety years old and in poor health, so the burden of empire fell to Bismarck, who was seventy-three and still vigorous.

  The former emperor has passed away, and a new one has ascended to the throne. I'm afraid that the stage for Bismarck will not be as spacious as it used to be.

  As the bell tolled, civil and military officials filed into the church in an unbroken line.

  The coronation ceremony was presided over by the Archbishop of Mainz, and only with papal approval could the crown be properly placed on the emperor's head.

  This is just a formality, a necessary religious ritual.

  The coronation ceremony was sacred and solemn, as if God was watching what was happening at this moment.

  However, Wen Chenwu's focus was not on these, but on the fact that the emperor did not look like a cancer patient who was critically ill when he received baptism.

  Has the Emperor recovered?

  Bismarck could not help but take a closer look at Frederick III, while noticing that Moltke was also watching the emperor's every move with some surprise.

  The emperor has throat cancer, which is no longer a secret.

  Last year, Dr. Morell Mackenzie, who was invited from the UK, diagnosed Frederick with laryngeal cancer and it had reached an advanced stage. A month ago, Mackenzie made a final diagnosis and suggested that Frederick should undergo surgery to remove the affected vocal cords immediately, but was refused on the grounds that Frederick's condition was incurable. At that time, many people thought that Frederick's days were numbered and that he would probably be succeeded by Prince William before becoming emperor.

  No one had expected that Frederick's condition would not only fail to deteriorate but actually take a turn for the better.

  A lot of rumors have appeared in the past month.

  Some say it was the intervention of God that saved the imperial heir, preventing the empire from having to mourn three emperors in one year. Others claim that Frederick's robust physique withstood the cancerous invasion and gradually recovered under careful nursing. There are also those who say a mysterious person saved Frederick.

  There were many rumors circulating, but the most attention-grabbing ones were those related to that mysterious person.

  It is said that a month ago, on the night of February 8th, a bolt of lightning struck the thousand-year-old banyan tree in the southeastern corner of the Worry-Free Palace's rear garden. The guards found the mysterious man inside the split trunk and brought him before Frederick. It was this mysterious man who persuaded Frederick to reject Mackenzie's surgical suggestion and begin receiving his special treatment. After that, Frederick's condition gradually improved.

  However, the royal family sealed off the news, so the rumors were consistently unconfirmed.

  Bismarck was astonished, Moltke was also astonished, and they had to believe that the rumors circulating in the streets were not unfounded.

  The church was packed with people, and Bismarck didn't see any unfamiliar faces.

  As for the rumor, the prime minister is still half-believing and half-doubting.

  After the coronation ceremony, a group of civil and military officials followed Frederick III to the main hall. According to custom, the emperor would hold his first imperial conference here.

  For this strongest empire on the continent, there are many more important things waiting to be dealt with than holding a funeral for the former emperor.

  For example, establishing a new imperial cabinet.

  Personnel changes are inevitable, but who will go and who will stay?

  The most concerned is Bismarck.

  During the reign of William I, he adhered to a policy of "hands-off" governance, fully trusting Bismarck and granting him great power as Chancellor, almost without asking about political affairs. During William's old age and illness, the Crown Prince acted as regent. Probably due to his marriage to the Princess Royal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Crown Prince, now Frederick III, became a liberal Anglophile, which led to him being ostracized by the Junker aristocracy in politics.

  Bismarck was the leading figure of the Junker aristocratic group.

  As the Crown Prince, Frederick naturally gave way to Bismarck in three respects and implemented the emperor's governance policy. But after becoming the Emperor, would Frederick still give way to Bismarck everywhere?

  Between the emperor and the prime minister, the one who stays is definitely the emperor.

  Would there have been a Second German Empire without Bismarck?

  The first imperial court meeting after the new emperor's accession, the stay or leave of the prime minister becomes the biggest suspense.

  The princes and ministers gathered together, although their positions and personnel remained the same, but now the one who was high above was no longer the Regent Crown Prince, but the Emperor of the Second German Empire.

  "The Crown Prince" and "Emperor" differ by just one word, but their status is as different as heaven and earth.

  Bismarck and Moltke simultaneously noticed that accompanying the Emperor was not only his valet Gustav, but also a stranger. The two men immediately became suspicious and exchanged glances quickly.

  Judging from his facial features, he is an oriental person with some western characteristics.

  In terms of appearance, this person is plain and unremarkable, with no striking features. His height is also average, his build is proportionate, not showing any robustness at all.

  The most striking thing is the spirit in his eyebrows.

  Bismarck had seen countless people, but at a glance, he knew that this person was absolutely not simple.

  Is the rumor true?

  When Bismarck was in doubt, Frederick III had Gustav read out the edict, all the military and political ministers of the cabinet remained in office, with von Caprivi as Minister of War for the Empire.

  Although it is just a light and casual sentence, its meaning is extremely significant.

  Regardless of who was appointed, this appointment itself is significant.

  After Albrecht von Roon, the Ministry of War was split into a Ministry of War and a Ministry of Marine, with separate Ministers of War and Ministers of Marine being appointed.

  This move was indeed a masterpiece of Frederick, who was then regent.

  Although nominally, this move was because there were no outstanding figures like the Earl of Roan who could lead the empire's army and navy, in fact, it was to avoid the military power from monopolizing and threatening the imperial power. In the eyes of many people, this is an external manifestation of Frederick's pro-British liberalism.

  Has the Empire unified all of German territory except Austria?

  The emperor reinstated the Minister of War, giving a loud slap in the face to all doubters, and before the time for relaxation had arrived, he was still preparing his troops.

  Bismarck felt slightly comforted at this thought.

  Although he disagreed with Frederick III's political views, Bismarck never doubted the crown prince who had participated in the Danish War, Austro-Prussian War and Franco-Prussian War and made great contributions to the founding of the Empire. After Emperor William, only Frederick III could lead the empire forward bravely.

  Perhaps, pro-English stance was just a temporary expedient of Frederick III.

  The question is, who is Feng Chengqian?

  The name sounds like it belongs to an Oriental person and is likely related to the Qing Dynasty.

  Bismarck's mind was filled with doubts and he couldn't help but glance repeatedly at the stranger standing beside the Emperor.

  After Gustav finished reading the edict, the imperial meeting came to an end. Frederick III did not allow his ministers to speak, but instead had them wait in a side hall according to their rank for individual summons.

  The emperor first summoned was naturally the imperial prime minister.

  In the imperial study, Bismarck met the mysterious Oriental again and knew he was Feng Chengqian, who had just been appointed Minister of War.

  "Chancellor, I'd like to introduce you. This is Feng Chengqian, Earl of Brandenburg." Frederick III walked over and said to Feng Chengqian, "This is the Imperial Chancellor, Count Otto, the noble Prince Bismarck. You must already know him, so I won't make any further introductions."

  "Your Excellency, I am Feng Chengqian. I hope to be of service to you in the future." Feng Chengqian bowed slightly, showing respect.

  Bismarck was slightly surprised to hear Feng Chengqian's fluent German with a Prussian accent and his polite demeanor.

  There are many Orientals who can speak German, but there are few Orientals who understand Western customs.

  Bismarck was so surprised that he forgot his manners and merely nodded at Feng.

  "Both are high-ranking officials of the empire, and from now on, we will work together in the same court, and we must support each other." Frederick III took a step closer to Bismarck and said with emphasis, "The Earl and I have made a blood oath, but since he has not yet made any contributions to the empire, I temporarily granted him the title of Earl. This month, I discussed ancient and modern times with the Earl, and we had a very pleasant conversation. The Prime Minister's eyes are as sharp as a gimlet, and he will surely become bosom friends with the Earl."

  "Your Majesty..."

  Frederick III waved his hand, not letting Bismarck continue. "I have ordered dinner to be prepared, to entertain the Prime Minister and other high officials. It's still early now, why don't the Prime Minister and the Earl have a good talk, deepen their understanding of each other, so that they can work together in the future and recreate the glory of the past?"

  "This..."

  "Off you go, Gustav has already put the tea on." Frederick III smiled and said, "Besides, I still have to receive Moltke and others, it's not convenient for you here either."

  "Please, Chancellor." Feng Chengqian was very polite and asked Bismarck to go first.

  Since it was the emperor's order, Bismarck naturally couldn't decline, and he also wanted to know what this Oriental person, who had received the emperor's favor, was all about.

  In the tea room, Gustave had already prepared the tea and pastries, and instructed his guards not to let anyone else in to disturb them.

  As they entered the house, Bismarck gave Gustav a look, hoping that this close minister of the emperor could reveal some information related to Feng Chengqian.

  "Your Excellency, Chancellor of War, take your time." Gustav said nothing.

  Bismarck couldn't help but sigh inwardly, even the emperor's close attendants were tight-lipped, and it was probably not easy to get to the bottom of Feng Chengqian.

  This sudden emergence of the Minister of War is also surprising.

  The more Bismarck thought about it, the more curious he became, and the more he wanted to know about Feng Chengqian's background, and what kind of impact he would have on the young empire.

  However, Bismarck could never have imagined that Feng Chengqian was not a man of this era, but came from hundreds of years in the future.