Chapter 4

A glass of milk, two hot dogs, and a pale yellow bread roll with a bright red sausage inside. Qing Ying sat on the hospital bed, wielding a knife and fork to enjoy his breakfast, his mind wandering far away.

So far, Qing Ying's brain had not experienced the previous pain, and there had been no abnormalities with his body. However, to be on the safe side, the Mediterranean old man who was his attending physician still insisted that he continue to be observed in the hospital. Every afternoon, his body would be hooked up to various tubes, accompanied by the sharp and unfamiliar sounds of some old-fashioned machinery, making his teeth ache, and it would take a long time for the noise to subside.

Over the past few days, Qing Ying had already gotten used to the feeling of being treated like a lab mouse. During his idle moments, he would flip through the original memories of this body, which became his only way to pass the time. As he delved deeper into these memories, he did indeed find some important information.

Eitel, full name Friedrich Wilhelm Qing Ying Eitel von Hohenzollern, was the second son of Emperor Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta, born on February 1883 in the Döhlen Estate on the outskirts of Berlin. Eitel, being the perfect embodiment of the best traits of Wilhelm II and Augusta, was regarded as a divine gift by the devout Catholic Augusta, who doted on him immensely. However, Wilhelm II dismissed his wife's adoration and often flew into a rage due to Eitel's gentleness and indecisiveness.

With nothing else to do, Qing Ying also examined his appearance in the mirror, getting to know "himself." In the smooth mirror, a face that was both strange and familiar was reflected: eyebrows like a clear sword, eyes like stars, a high nose bridge, and thin, rosy lips. His smooth golden hair and slender jawline, combined with the naturally fair skin of a European, made him exceptionally handsome and charming.

However, Qing Ying was well past the age where he would be swayed by appearances. A good face needed a strong soul to truly shine. After a brief excitement, he stopped paying attention to this issue and began to carefully consider his future.

Before his穿越 (穿越 means "穿越" in Chinese, which can be translated as "transmigration" or "time travel"), Qing Ying had spent nearly two years in Berlin, and through his experiences, he had a clear understanding of German history since the modern era. Although the Second Reich reached unprecedented heights under Wilhelm II's rule, it also plunged into an irredeemable void during his reign. On November 11, 1918, after four years of World War I, the German people revolted, overthrowing the Hohenzollern dynasty and seeking peace with the Allies. Over the next decade, Germany's national defense and economy collapsed, and it was at the mercy of others until the Führer ascended to power, fundamentally changing the situation!

What should he do? Qing Ying thought quietly. At this moment, two completely different choices lay before him.

If he followed the standards of a carefree and contented life, the position of the second son of the German Emperor was undoubtedly far beyond this limit. Qing Ying could take advantage of the 25 years of the Second Reich's remaining national fortune to amass wealth and land; when the empire collapsed, he could flee to any neutral country like the Netherlands, Switzerland, or Norway, and continue to enjoy life with the vast wealth he had accumulated. This model had been exemplified by officials in later generations, who, despite being exiled, still lived prosperous lives.

Without a doubt, this parasitic path was instantly rejected by Qing Ying. If he were just living for the sake of it, he wouldn't have gone to high school in his previous life but would have used the tuition money to open a small shop and live a quiet life with a black fungus. It was the resilience and determination of a young person, the refusal to be at the bottom of society, that made him stand out among the masses and earn the valuable opportunity to study in Berlin. To idly waste his youth would be a waste of his life.

During his time in Berlin, Qing Ying had developed a deep, indescribable affection for this country. Additionally, being a battleship enthusiast, he was particularly fond of the early 20th century, the era of the Second Reich. In the magnificent twilight of the Jutland Sea, over 60 capital ships lined up in a grand formation, their massive hulls cutting through the rolling waves, and their invincible guns roaring like thunder and dragons. The spectacle of the gun muzzles' flames overshadowing the evening sky had captivated many BB party members!

Now, the body he had taken over belonged to the second son of the last emperor, Wilhelm II. The first son, Crown Prince August, had died in a lightning strike because no other soul had transmigrated into him. Thinking about this, a thought emerged in Qing Ying's mind: Since fate had given him such a unique and exquisite opportunity, how could he not make good use of it? Why not change the fate of the Second Reich?

With this thought, Qing Ying's heart suddenly stirred, as if the fog before his eyes had cleared, revealing his future direction. The initial strangeness and discomfort of his transmigration dissipated like morning dew. He quickly finished his breakfast, stood up, and walked to the mirror. Looking at the strange yet familiar figure in the mirror, Qing Ying's emotions surged, a mix of feelings overwhelming him: from this moment on, he was no longer the old Qing Ying; he was the second son of the German Emperor, the first in line to the imperial throne! Changing the fate of this country would be his sole mission and task in life!

Having made up his mind, Qing Ying began to carefully reflect on the reasons for the Second Reich's failure. Historically, Germany's defeat in World War I had many causes, from Wilhelm II's world policy to the strategic errors of the German General Staff. These seemingly complex reasons were divided by Qing Ying into two main aspects.

Firstly, Germany's international strategy was extremely crude. Although Wilhelm II was quite capable in governing the country, maintaining over 20 years of rapid and stable growth in national strength, his handling of foreign relations was woefully inadequate. After forcibly dismissing Bismarck, this peacock of Germany had grand ambitions but lacked the talent to realize them. His rashness and recklessness squandered the favorable international environment Bismarck had created, pushing former allies Britain and Russia into the arms of their long-standing enemy, France. To compensate for this, Wilhelm II strengthened relations with Austria-Hungary to the south and pulled Italy into the Triple Alliance. However, he did not realize that Austria-Hungary was a paper tiger, easily defeated by the Russian army, while Italy, a two-faced player, switched sides after a year of war, attacking its former ally, Austria-Hungary. As a result, Germany found itself at odds with the world; even with the best army in the world, it could only suffer a bitter defeat on the Rhine.

————————————————————————————

There's another chapter today, please recommend and collect it~~~

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends