Chapter 775: Learn to Bow Your Head, Only Then Can You Survive

Chen Feng nodded. "That's why I came to see you alone."

He walked back to the window.

"Marshal Tirpitz, at tomorrow's Cyprus Conference, Wilson will propose the idea of an International League. Meilika will take one seat, France will take one seat, Britain will take one seat. Whether Deguo can take a seat depends on your performance, and also on Wei Lian's performance."

He turned and looked at Tirpitz.

"Go back and send a telegram to Wei Lian. Tell him this is Deguo's last chance."

That night, Tirpitz returned to the Deguo delegation's headquarters and immediately sent a long telegram to Berlin.

After the telegram was sent, he sat by the window, watching the pitch‑black night outside, and remained motionless for a long time.

Two hours passed. Four hours passed. Six hours passed.

When dawn was near, the reply finally arrived.

Tirpitz took the telegram, his hand trembling slightly. He took a deep breath and unfolded the paper.

The telegram contained only one line:

"Accept the proposal. Put Deguo's interests first. Xingdengbao to serve as the post‑war first prime minister. — Wei Lian"

Tirpitz looked at the line, his eyes growing a bit watery.

He knew that the moment Wei Lian signed, the glory of the Hohenzollern dynasty ended. Three hundred years of dynasty, four years of war, millions of lives—and all that resulted in this cold line of text.

But he also knew this was the best outcome.

Wei Lian could still live, still reside in the palace, still be called emperor. Deguo could still exist, could still join the International League, could still have a veto right. Those millions who died, at least did not die in vain.

He folded the telegram and kept it close to his body.

Then he stood, walked to the window, and gazed at the sky outside, which was turning pale.

Meilika's delegation arrived on a white cruise ship called the "Ocean". It rested quietly in the most conspicuous spot of the harbor, its massive hull shimmering white in the sunlight. The hull was draped with Stars and Stripes, and armed marines stood on the deck.

Asquius stood on the dock, looking at the ship, feeling a swirl of emotions.

Yesterday afternoon, he received Wilson's invitation—"Please board at eight o'clock tonight for a discussion." The invitation was politely worded, but Asquius knew it was not an invitation, it was a summons. A victor's summons to the vanquished.

He inhaled deeply and climbed the gangway.

On the deck, an officer in a white naval uniform stepped forward and saluted. "Prime Minister Asquius, please follow me. President‑in‑Chief is waiting for you."

Asquius followed him through the corridor to a cabin door. The officer knocked, and Wilson's voice came from inside: "Come in."

The door swung open, and Asquius stepped inside.

The cabin was small but exquisitely arranged. A few oil paintings hung on the wall, fresh flowers rested on the table, and two cups of coffee sat on the coffee table before the sofa. Wilson stood by the window, back to the doorway, gazing at the glittering sea outside.

Hearing footsteps, he turned, his face bearing a courteous smile.

"Prime Minister Asquius, please sit."

Asquius sat on the sofa. Wilson walked to the opposite side and sat down.

The two stared at each other for three seconds. Neither spoke.

Wilson spoke first. His voice was gentle, yet beneath the gentleness lay an undeniable authority.

"Prime Minister Asquius, you were wronged yesterday in Frankfurt."

Asquius's face flushed slightly. He lowered his head and said nothing.

Wilson continued, "Xingdengbao's remarks were too harsh. Deguo's people don't understand restraint, don't know how to give the opponent face." He paused, "But you know, part of what he said is correct."

Asquius lifted his head and looked at him.

Wilson stared directly into his eyes.

"Britain lost in Asia. It lost badly. India was lost, Australia was lost, Burma was lost, Malaya was lost. These losses weren't caused by Deguo; they're the result of you fighting and losing to Lanfang. These accounts cannot be charged to Deguo."

Asquius opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

Wilson lifted his coffee, took a sip, then set it down.

"Prime Minister Asquius, I invited you today not to criticize you, but to help you."

Asquius was stunned. "Help… help me?"

Wilson nodded. "Yes. Help you. Help Britain."

He stood and walked to the window.

"Do you know what the most important matter at tomorrow's Cyprus Conference will be?"

Asquius shook his head.

Wilson turned and looked at him.

"The International League. Five permanent members. A veto right."

Asquius's eyes lit up. "Can Britain get in?"

Wilson nodded. "Yes."

Asquius inhaled deeply. "What are the conditions?"

Wilson walked back to the sofa and sat down.

"There is only one condition—renounce any reparations claims against Deguo. Take the profit and quit."

Asquius's complexion changed.

"Renounce reparations? President‑in‑Chief, Deguo started the war, they should—"

Wilson raised his hand and cut him off.

"Prime Minister Asquius, hear me out."

He stared at Asquius's eyes, his gaze calmly terrifying.

"Deguo did start the war, that's true. But Britain's losses in Asia weren't caused by Deguo. That account cannot be charged to Deguo. If you insist on counting it, Xingdengbao will tally the POWs with you. One hundred and fifty thousand POWs—how much are you prepared to compensate per head?"

Asquius's face flushed, but he said nothing.

Wilson continued, "And do you know what Chen Feng wants? He wants a stable Europe. A stable Europe requires a stable Deguo. If Deguo is unstable, Europe falls into chaos. Who benefits from a chaotic Europe? Lanfang does. What about Meilika? No benefit. What about Britain? Even less benefit."

He paused.

"Therefore, Deguo must join the International League. It must become a permanent member. It must have a veto. This is not just my idea; it is Chen Feng's idea, and it is also a practical necessity."

A Si Kui Si lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

Then he lifted his head and looked at Wilson.

"Mr. President, does Yingguo still have the qualification to join the International League?"

Wilson looked at him, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes.

"Prime Minister A Si Kui Si, whether you have the qualification is not up to you; it is up to Chen Feng. If he wants you in, you can enter. If he doesn't want you in, you cannot enter."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"Do you know why Chen Feng would let Yingguo in?"

A Si Kui Si shook his head.

Wilson turned and looked at him.

"Because he needs a balance. Faguo is his pawn in Europe, Deguo is as well. But a player alone is insufficient; there must also be a board. Yingguo is part of that board. With Yingguo present, Europe remains that Europe. Without Yingguo, Europe would be completely unbalanced."

He returned to the sofa and sat down.

"So, rest assured. Yingguo will become one of the five permanent members. But you must also remember— from today onward, Yingguo is no longer the Yingguo you knew. Learn to bow your head, and you will survive."