There Is No Schlieffen in the German Empire

21 – Episode 21: Kaiser’s Letter

The British diplomatic situation had been a concern from the first day of the war.

The difficulty of the war would change depending on whether Britain participated or not. If Britain became an enemy, not only would it immediately suffer from a disruption in the import of American food, but it would also lose its naval supremacy. The thought of naval blockade, food shortages, and other consequences was nauseating.

Therefore, it was necessary for Britain to remain neutral for as long as possible.

However, I never imagined that Britain would become so frantic over the Ottoman issue.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have sent warships to the Ottoman Empire.

After pondering for a few days, I came up with one solution.

“If it’s difficult to move the British Cabinet, then we have to move the public.”

I sent a letter to Prince Lichnovsky, the German ambassador to Britain, asking him to prepare newspaper advertisements.

“What? Advertisements?” he asked.

“Yes. Contract as many newspapers as possible.”

Since the start of the war, I had been receiving letters from all over Europe pleading for peace, and among them was one impressive letter.

It was a proposal for European peace written by a 16-year-old British girl.

Normally, there would be no occasion for such a letter to be written in Britain, but since the two countries were not at war, I occasionally came across letters sent by the British.

I wrote a reply to Elizabeth, the British girl, regarding her letter.

The newspaper advertisements I had asked Ambassador Lichnovsky to prepare were a tool to publish this reply.

This method was a direct copy of the tactics used by Yuri Andropov, who was the secretary general of the Communist Party during the Cold War.

Because I preferred to imitate the methods of successful people rather than demonstrate creativity, I simply copied and pasted the contents of the letter.

Since the communists who shared their intellectual property also shared their wealth, I believed they would share their copyright as well, so I confidently wielded my pen.

The result was:

“Dear Elizabeth Yang,

I received your letter. It seems that many similar letters are coming from all over Europe due to the war. When I read your letter, I found that Elizabeth Yang is wise and intelligent, reminiscent of Elizabeth Bennet, who appeared in pride and prejudice.

Jim also likes British authors. He enjoys the works of Arthur Conan Doyle as well.

Elizabeth Yang asked if Germany could make efforts for peace. She also asked if Germany is making efforts to stop the war. It is a question that should be asked as a European. I will honestly and truthfully answer.

Elizabeth Yang. We Germans did not want this war. Our ally, Austria-Hungary, did not want this war either. The war was started by the Serbians who killed the Archduke. I made efforts until the last moment to prevent the war. However, my gestures were rejected by Russia and France.

To tell the truth, Germans remember how terrible war is. The Napoleonic Wars that swept across our entire country, the revolution of 1848, the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Germany has experienced many wars.

Why would we want a new war? Who would want death? If there is anyone who says so, I can confidently say that it is not true.

Germany’s proposal for peace to France, and our request for mediation to Britain, were also part of these efforts.

I think this answers the question of whether Germany is making efforts to stop the war.

Dear Elizabeth Yang, Jim wants peace. Because he believes that peace can bring more prosperity and opportunities. This is for the sake of us Germans, as well as for Europe, Britain, and for you, Elizabeth Yang.

If my parents allow it, I would like to invite Elizabeth Yang to Jim’s palace. And I would be glad if you could see it with your own eyes.

The fact that we Germans want peace.

Thank you for your letter. I wish Elizabeth Yang a fortunate future. Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Prussia.”

This letter was full of plagiarism, theft, deceit, and tricks. Not a single word was genuine.

The war machine nation of Prussia, born only for combat and war, couldn’t possibly desire something as soft as peace.

Even if it did, I didn’t want it.

And yet, I remained confident.

It is because mocking with a pen, enduring the contradiction between absurd lies and conscience, is the essence of deception.

In a battle against the nation of fraud and collusion, the Anglo-Saxons, what could be more foolish than relying solely on honesty as a weapon?

I simply returned their long game.

The one who deceives is the one at fault.

The country that sought revenge since the time of King Friedrich, peace freezes to death.

Hm.

Anyway, the reverberation of the letter was significant.

The advertisements published in daily and weekly newspapers were soon known among the British as “The Kaiser’s Letter.” The British were pleased to wave my letter, knowing that Germany did not desire a clash with Britain.

“The Kaiser wants peace.”

“The German Empire wants peace, so what’s with all the talk about the Constantinian issue in the newspapers these days?”

The attitude of the British government slightly changed due to this propaganda campaign. No, it changed quite a bit.

Gentlemen who had been mentioning the Constantinian issue day after day, even bringing up the threat of war, made gestures indicating a willingness to compromise if there were “appropriate measures.”

“If Berlin wishes, let’s discuss the issue through a trilateral negotiation involving the Ottoman Empire.”

“Are you trying to delay and return to square one?”

Unfortunately for the British government, I was reading their habits. When Britain let its guard down even a little, they were a nation prone to being deceived and manipulated by their negotiation counterparts. The German homeland, too, consisted of the same kind of seeds.

I delivered the decisive blow I had prepared for them.

“Your Majesty, I have sent an invitation to Miss Elizabeth.”

It’s done.

The puzzle pieces fell into place.

I reminisced about the surprised British man who would be astonished by my gift and felt triumphant.

*

“Crazy, useless armless fool. What kind of circus act is this?”

Winston Churchill, the British Navy Minister, threw the newspaper in frustration. Even with his hypersensitive reaction, his secretary continued typing silently. It was an everyday occurrence.

The newspaper he threw depicted “Elizabeth” visiting the German Embassy in a luxurious carriage sent by Kaiser. After obtaining a German travel visa from the embassy, Elizabeth was planning to tour the Sanssouci Palace.

Because of this ridiculous play, Prime Minister Asquith even had to explain in the House of Commons that the British Empire had no intention of starting a war with Germany.

Has the world gone mad?

Or is he just unable to keep up with the changes in the world?

Churchill couldn’t understand what was happening right now. He couldn’t calm his excitement.

“This won’t do. By letting Germany’s scheme slide and allowing the negotiating countries to crumble, aren’t we just offering Europe to these armless fools?”

If they let Germany’s masterpiece succeed and facilitate the collapse of the negotiating countries, they will witness the sight of the armless fools becoming the new Napoleon and ruling over Europe.

Is that in the long-term interest of the British Empire?

Absolutely not. History has shown that. What happened when Spain became the loser of Europe, and France became the loser of Europe?

If this country didn’t stop the emergence of an absolute hegemon in the European continent, there would be no British Empire today.

There would have been a small island kingdom kneeling to the power of Napoleon or any other absolute monarch.

There are things that can be tolerated and things that cannot be tolerated, even among Germanic nations who share the same bloodline.

Churchill had no intention of granting Napoleon’s status to these armless fools.

But how?

When the world is being deceived and falling into the hands of these armless fools like this.

When so many people think that Germany is not the enemy.

Cheosil was lost in thought.

What should he do to expose the false tricks of the eight idiots?

Should he engage in negotiations?

That was difficult. No, it was impossible.

As long as Esquisse insisted that there was no war, the British government couldn’t go all the way.

After much deliberation, Cheosil decided to advertise himself.

If it came to writing skills, Cheosil had confidence in himself.

He had been a newspaper reporter for several years.

He was confident that he could easily overpower someone like Kaiser, who had lived arrogantly giving orders as a royal.

Cheosil brought out the crumpled newspaper he had just received and unfolded it.

And he read the letter containing Kaiser’s deceit and tricks.

“What, what is this?”

Kaiser used a familiar and intimate tone as if he had dealt with the public several times.

There were vocabulary words that could be used by some red-headed leader.

And this was written by the eight idiots?

Cheosil’s hands trembled.

But he had no intention of backing down.

“Make a newspaper ad contract. Same rate as Kaiser.”

Cheosil boldly made his appearance in the newspaper.

“We are witnessing a significant change. From Memel in the Baltic Sea to Carpathia, from Alsace to Galicia, those who shout for militarism are casting a dark curtain.”

Countless cities were trampled under their marching tents. Warsaw, Uzh, Sarajevo. Those cities are the heights we know, familiar names.

Many people lived their lives in those cities.

But now, those regions are included in the territory of “Germania”. They have fallen into the hands of the power known as the “Central Alliance”. Their power and influence are spreading beyond Central Europe, aiming to expand throughout Europe.

Now, we must stop their expansion.

We must act before Paris and Petrograd are conquered. We must act before the alliance opposing their ambitions disappears.

It is time for the British Empire, which has always led humanity on the right path, to shoulder the burden of Europe!”

Churchill attacked the Kaiser and Germany with a strong tone.

He criticized their militarism and argued against allowing Germany to dominate.

But, it did not work.

Churchill did not understand the power of the young girl speaking. He did not comprehend. That’s why he lost.

“Am I weaker than the voice of a little girl?”

Churchill could not believe it.

But reality was reality.

The public wanted to hear the romantic conversation between Elizabeth and the Kaiser more than Churchill’s speech.

Unfortunately, his message did not reach the public.

Churchill trembled with humiliation.

*

I read the British newspaper and sighed a little.

I knew Churchill, who was like a bulldog, wouldn’t stay quiet, but I didn’t know he would go on the offensive like that.

“Mr. Gallipoli didn’t stand a chance.”

If he had known who his opponent was, he would have made a better move.

Indeed, the taste of deceit in this era was unparalleled.

The trial of Galifoli had undoubtedly made him a great and powerful politician.

Without Galifoli, he would not be a complete chess player.

“Who is this Mr. Galifoli that His Majesty mentioned?”

“He is a friend of ours from Germany.”

After answering up to that point, I raised my teacup.

With this, the Ottoman problem was practically resolved for the time being.