Chapter 384: The Outfit Switch Game!

Wang Wenwu listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the foot of his wine glass. He was waiting, waiting for the emperor to finish speaking, waiting for that inevitable request.

"Mr. Wang." William II leaned forward, lowering his voice, "President Chen Feng has close ties with the Sakura Nation government, and Prime Minister Xiyuan Si trusts him greatly. If the president can mediate, persuade the Sakura Nation to amend the contract terms, allowing those eight divisions to be transferred to the western front…"

He paused, observing Wang Wenwu's reaction: "Deguo would be immensely grateful. Moreover, we can offer additional compensation. The price is negotiable."

Fa Jinhan added: "For each division's redeployment, we can pay five hundred thousand pounds. Eight divisions, four million pounds. Or we can pay with equivalent industrial equipment or technology transfers."

Wang Wenwu did not answer immediately. He lifted his glass, took a sip, letting the red wine linger on his tongue for a moment, savoring the tannic astringency and the lingering fruit aroma. He was thinking—not how to reply, but how to draw out the plan Chen Feng had prepared.

That cunning, sophistical, morally‑borderline plan.

"Your Majesty, General." He finally spoke, his voice steady, "I understand your country's predicament, and I trust President Chen Feng is willing to help. However…"

He set the glass down, hands crossed on the table: "A contract is a contract. Once an international agreement is signed, it carries legal and moral binding force. If the Sakura Nation government unilaterally amends the terms, it will damage its international reputation and spark political turmoil at home. Prime Minister Xiyuan Si is already under great pressure; asking him to openly violate the agreement would likely…"

William II and Fa Jinhan's faces darkened. They heard the hint of refusal.

"However." Wang Wenwu's tone shifted, "perhaps there is another way. A way that does not require amending the contract terms."

"What way?" William II asked eagerly.

Wang Wenwu leaned forward, his voice even lower, ensuring only the few at the table could hear: "The contract states that 'Sakura Nation soldiers shall not engage British or French forces directly,' correct?"

"Correct." Fa Jinhan nodded, "Every Sakura Nation soldier's employment contract contains that clause."

"Then," Wang Wenwu smiled, a hint of slyness in his grin, "what if those soldiers… were no longer Sakura Nation soldiers?"

The table fell into bewilderment. Several Deguo officials exchanged glances, not understanding what he meant.

"Mr. Wang, I don't quite get it." William II frowned, "A soldier is a soldier; their nationality is etched in their bones. How could they cease to be Sakura Nation soldiers?"

"Your Majesty, may I ask a question." Wang Wenwu replied with a counter‑question, "On the battlefield, when you spot an enemy unit through a telescope, how do you determine which country they belong to?"

William II was momentarily stunned: "By looking at uniforms, flags, equipment standards…"

"Exactly!" Wang Wenwu raised his voice, "You judge by external markings. The color and style of the uniform, the shape of the steel helmet, the pattern on the flag—these visual symbols define a soldier's national affiliation. If an army wears Degjun uniforms, carries Degjun weapons, and fights under Degjun command, then regardless of skin color, appearance, or mother tongue, on the battlefield they are German soldiers." (Veterans should understand the meaning of 'outfit‑switch', no need for detailed explanation here)

He paused, letting the words settle.

Fa Jinhan's eyes widened, as if grasping something: "You mean that…"

"What I mean is," Wang Wenwu said word for word, "if Your Majesty were to reorganize those eight Sakura Nation divisions into Deguo army units, assign them official Degjun serial numbers, issue Degjun uniforms and equipment—of course, the weapons could remain the familiar Japanese style to reduce training difficulty—then on the battlefield they would be German soldiers."

He spread his hands, smiling gently: "The contract stipulates 'Sakura Nation soldiers' shall not fight the British and French. But if they wear Degjun uniforms, they become 'German soldiers.' The contractual clause would no longer apply."

The hall fell dead silent.

Sunlight outside the window shifted slightly, a column of light fell exactly on the silver candlestick at the table's center, flashing a dazzling glare. William II's mouth opened, his cigar hanging in mid‑air, ash drifting onto the pristine tablecloth, spreading a small gray smear.

Fa Jinhan was the first to react; he sprang to his feet, the chair legs scraping the marble floor with a harsh screech: "This… this is sophistry! Bare‑knuckle wordplay!"

"But a lawful wordplay, General." Wang Wenwu said calmly, "The contract writes 'Sakura Nation soldiers,' without defining what 'Sakura Nation soldiers' are. From a legal‑interpretation standpoint, one could argue that 'Sakura Nation soldiers' refers to 'soldiers belonging to the Sakura Nation's military establishment.' If these soldiers are formally incorporated into the Degjun hierarchy, they no longer belong to the Sakura Nation's military establishment."

"Would the Sakura Nation government agree?" William II finally found his voice, his eyes a mixture of shock, absurdity, and a hint of hope ignited by this mad idea.

"That would require negotiation," Wang Wenwu lifted his glass again, "but if the Deguo side is willing to provide… sufficient compensation, I think Prime Minister Xiyuan Si will see the flexibility. After all, the soldiers are still the same soldiers, only wearing a different uniform. And what the Sakura Nation gains is extra remuneration, and more importantly—"

He looked at William II: "—the German Emperor's friendship and commitment."

William II leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes. His fingers tapped the tabletop, the rhythm quickening. Fa Jinhan sat down again, grabbed the bottle and poured directly into the glass, his hand trembling, some wine spilling out.

The other officials whispered, some shaking their heads, some showing delight.

"This is…," a finance ministry official murmured, "far too indecent. It's like… like dressing a prostitute in a nun's habit, then taking her to a mass."

"But it solves the problem," Fa Jinhan drained his cup in one gulp, his eyes reddening, "it solves the Verdun manpower issue! Eight full divisions, two hundred thousand battle‑hardened troops! God, if we get them, we could break through the French second defensive line by month's end!"

William II opened his eyes, his gaze now shifted from shock to cold calculation: "Mr. Wang, does President Chen Feng know about this plan?"

"The president himself designed the plan," Wang Wenwu said frankly, "Before leaving Dubai, he specifically instructed me that if Your Majesty mentions the western‑front manpower issue, I should raise this suggestion."

"He knows the Sakura Nation will consent?"

"The president is familiar with Prime Minister Xiyuan Si." Wang Wenwu said, "The prime minister is a pragmatic man. He cares about the Sakura Nation's concrete interests far more than the minutiae of international law. As long as the price is right, he will find a reason to persuade his domestic audience."

William II remained silent for a long while. He stood, walked to the window, his back to the table. Outside, in the garden of the Carefree Palace, gardeners were pruning roses, the fountain sparkling with rainbow‑like light in the sun. It was a peaceful, elegant, old‑world scene.

And he, the emperor of the German Empire, was contemplating a cunning, indecent, new‑world transaction.