The funeral of Empress Dowager Victoria Adelaide ended like a storm.
The period of mourning has passed, and it is only natural that people should return to their daily lives now.
However, Berlin – no, the entire Germany – is now abuzz with a sudden piece of gossip.
[The Oriental Youth from Potsdam Becomes a German Imperial Noble!]
[The Yellow Race Becomes a Baron!]
[The Young Baron Who Inherits the Empress Dowager's Estate!]
Hans Qiao, a young man who once saved the life of Emperor Wilhelm II and is also a popular writer of newspaper novels these days, has now not only inherited a huge mansion but also become the "Hans von Qiao," a baron of the German Empire.
The reactions of German society to this are truly diverse.
"Hmph, can a person of the yellow race receive a noble title? Tsk tsk, where on earth is this country heading?"
"Sigh~! Such a thing never happened during the reign of Emperor Wilhelm I. It's truly the end times, the end times!"
"Come to think of it, I heard that the young man is the emperor's lover... Could it be?"
Most of the German upper-class people clicked their tongues in dissatisfaction and wore expressions of disgust on their faces as soon as they saw the morning newspapers.
This is a natural reaction.
In the eyes of these typical European white people, people of the yellow race, like black people, are inferior beings and should never be on an equal footing with white people.
And now, a person of the yellow race has actually become a noble of the German Empire?
This is not just unreasonable; it is something that is absolutely intolerable.
It is even more inconceivable and infuriating than the ridiculous joke of saying that black people are equal to white people.
Therefore, they unreservedly grumbled about the emperor and expressed all kinds of dissatisfaction.
All sorts of conspiracy theories emerged in an endless stream, and the unhealthy rumor that had circulated in the upper-class society when Hans first entered the palace, that "Wilhelm II was infatuated with beautiful young men just like the ancient Greeks," was brought up again.
"Look at this. Hans Qiao has become a noble."
"Who is that?"
"He's that Oriental young man who saved the emperor's life."
"Whether an Oriental becomes a noble or a dog becomes a noble, what does it have to do with me? Hurry up and get back to work."
However, most of the ordinary German citizens, although surprised by this matter, unlike the upper-class people, their reactions were not so intense.
Although the discriminatory attitude towards other races still existed, for ordinary citizens, the affairs of the royal family were as distant as the clouds in the sky. They merely regarded the gossip and whispers about Hans as a condiment while drinking beer.
After all, an Oriental becoming a noble neither directly harmed them nor brought them any benefits.
Therefore, many Germans only regarded this matter as yet another "eccentric act" of Wilhelm II, just like in the past.
"Some people work extremely hard but still have difficulty feeding their children, while others suddenly become rich overnight and even become nobles."
"It's really enviable, so enviable!"
At the same time, there were also some people who were full of jealousy towards Hans.
No matter the time or place, it is perfectly natural to feel jealous of successful people.
Especially in their view, the reason why Hans was able to inherit the properties of the Empress Dowager, including the Schloss Friedrichshof, was entirely due to the emperor's favoritism, which made them even more resentful.
Of course, there were also those who had a positive view of Hans.
Some socialists who opposed racism, as well as a small number of Oriental students studying in Germany who were tired of European-style racial discrimination, showed a rather friendly attitude towards the fact that Hans had become a noble.
However, the former are "red elements" that bring nothing but trouble once associated with, and the latter, due to their small number and being politically of no help (and most of them are Japanese in fact), are merely superficial.
However, the group that reacted most vehemently was indeed the Junker group, those Prussian Junker nobles who were notorious for their conservatism and stubbornness within the German Empire.
This was entirely within everyone's expectations.
"How could such a thing happen! This is simply incredible!"
"The emperor has gone mad! Otherwise, how could he admit a fellow who's like a monkey into the ranks of the noble and glorious German nobility!"
Wilhelm II brought Hans into the court?
At the very least, they could barely tolerate this.
Because Hans was still a child at that time, and at least then, he did save the emperor's life.
But conferring a noble title on Hans has completely gone beyond their bottom line, and it has even broken through it thoroughly.
Therefore, the Junker group took immediate action.
Their first target was, of course, the relatively weak Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow.
Directly challenging Wilhelm II was also a daunting task for the Junker group.
Of course, in this situation, Chancellor von Bülow naturally had countless complaints in his heart, but he could only grit his teeth and bear it.
"Chancellor, why have you done nothing about this matter?!"
"This is simply a stain on the authority of the Empire! We will never recognize the noble title obtained by that Oriental brat!"
"That's right! Absolutely not!"
In the Reichstag, the voices of the angry Junker group resounded continuously.
As soon as he attended the parliament, Chancellor von Bülow had to listen to all kinds of insulting words, and his face became uglier and uglier as time went by.
"So, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"Please convey the will of the Reichstag to His Majesty and ask him to reconsider this matter!"
"At the very least, cancel or deprive Hans Qiao of the noble title he has obtained!"
The will of the Reichstag? It was clearly the will of the Junker group.
After all, except for the members of parliament from Prussian Junker backgrounds, the other members all looked at this farce indifferently, as if to say, "Here these guys go again."
"It's even easier to deal with naughty children."
Muttering this in his heart, Chancellor von Bülow, barely holding back his patience that was about to explode, firmly replied to the Junkers in an angry voice:
"I refuse."
"Chancellor von Bülow!"
"Are you even in your right mind now?"
"Are you still the Chancellor of the Empire?!"
"Of course I'm in my right mind, so please shut up. Conferring a noble title is the inherent power of His Majesty. Neither I nor the Reichstag has the right to interfere with whom His Majesty wishes to confer a title upon."
"Wha... What?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
Chancellor von Bülow's words left the Junkers completely stunned.
The corners of Chancellor von Bülow's mouth turned up slightly, and it was clear that he was feeling a bit smug.
Of course, if the German Empire were truly a country with a well-established constitutional political system, the situation might be different.
But the problem is that the German Empire is actually an autocratic monarchic state disguised in the form of a constitutional monarchy. And the Reichstag has no legal right to interfere with this decision that comes entirely from the emperor's divine power.
As for von Bülow, he had no intention of siding with the Junker group at all.
Therefore, this can be said to be a means of taking advantage of the political system of the German Empire. Cornered, the Junkers glared furiously at the chancellor and roared at him:
"So, what you're saying is that you, Chancellor, intend to stand by and do nothing about this matter?"
"This is what the laws of the Empire are. What else can I do? If you're dissatisfied, then go and directly appeal to His Majesty the Emperor. Of course, the possibility of His Majesty listening to you is almost zero."
"You, you...!!"
The Junkers gritted their teeth and watched Chancellor von Bülow leave calmly, but they didn't have the courage to go directly to Wilhelm II and demand an explanation as von Bülow had said.
In the end, the Junkers could only return empty-handed and left the parliament.
Since Chancellor von Bülow had no intention of changing the current situation, it was futile for them to argue any further.
Therefore, they decided to take the next step – to use their stronghold, the military.
"I'm sorry, gentlemen. Please go back."
"Your Excellency!"
However, this time the Junkers' plan still didn't work out as they had hoped.
Some generals from Junker backgrounds approached the Chief of the General Staff, the highest-ranking officer in the military. But the current Chief of the General Staff of the German Imperial Army was Count Alfred von Schlieffen, and Schlieffen had a friendly attitude towards Hans.
Moreover, unlike his predecessors, Schlieffen was a soldier who kept himself away from politics.
"A soldier should just do what a soldier is supposed to do, and the military will remain neutral."
"But this has already shaken the foundation of the Empire!"
"If the foundation of the Empire can be shaken just because of such a trivial matter, then our Germany would have perished long ago. I know why you are so agitated, but this is a pointless matter. Stop making a fuss and please go back."
Schlieffen said in a calm voice, and the Junkers walked out of the Chief of the General Staff's office with their heads hung low.
Since Schlieffen, the highest-ranking person in the military, held such an attitude, they had no other options.
"Whether it's von Bülow or Schlieffen, why do they both look down on this matter so much!"
"It seems that we really have no choice but to personally express our stance to the Emperor."
"But, if we do this, will it anger the Emperor..."
The Junkers who were dissatisfied with Hans were deeply troubled.
The fact that that young man of the yellow race was going to become a noble like them was undoubtedly a huge blow to the Junkers' self-esteem, and it was difficult for them to accept.
But if they took direct action, they might be seen as challenging the authority of Wilhelm II.
And this was a consequence that the Junkers definitely didn't want to see.
Because they had too much to lose.
In the end, some radical Junkers decided to take the last resort.
"Show that person in."
"That person?"
"It's Field Marshal Waldersee."
"What?! Wal... Waldersee?!"
When they heard the name "Waldersee", expressions of astonishment filled the faces of the Junkers.
Count Alfred Ludwig Heinrich Karl Graf von Waldersee.
Also known as Count Waldersee, the former Chief of the General Staff of the Army and the current Field Marshal of the German Empire.
And he was a more extreme conservative and anti-Semite than the Emperor.
At least Wilhelm II didn't have much aversion to Jews. Although he didn't like democrats and liberals, he wouldn't openly declare that they should be eliminated just like dealing with the "red elements" as Waldersee did.
If Waldersee hadn't been sent to China as the Commander-in-Chief of the Eight-Nation Alliance to suppress the Boxer Rebellion, there would definitely have been big trouble when Hans entered the court.
Therefore, with the full support of Chancellor von Bülow, Schlieffen had postponed Waldersee's return from the East as much as possible.
With Hans already being a source of great concern, both von Bülow and Schlieffen would never allow Waldersee, who was like a flame capable of burning everything, to be involved.
But now there is very little time left.
Next month, the Boxer Rebellion will officially end with the signing of the "Peking Protocol" (the Boxer Protocol).
The reason for Waldersee to stay there will completely disappear.
The foreign troops stationed in China will start to withdraw after the signing of the treaty, and the German expeditionary force sent to China will also complete its mission and return to the motherland.
Along with Field Marshal Waldersee.
"Is this... too dangerous?"
"You all know that Waldersee is a person who can't be controlled."
Some Junkers who were familiar with Waldersee's character cautiously expressed their concerns about this plan.
Although Waldersee had now lost the Emperor's trust, was old and weak, and had less power than before, he had once been an infamous political soldier whom even Bismarck had feared.
If they were not careful, it might end up like burning down the whole house just to catch a bedbug.
A knife that is extremely sharp may sometimes cut itself.
"Moreover, Waldersee has too many enemies. If we bring him in, it will only make the problem more complicated."
"It would be better to reconsider this matter..."
"Then, who among you is willing to take the lead personally?"
"Cough..."
Hearing the sarcastic remarks, those Junkers who opposed bringing in Waldersee coughed softly and turned their heads away.
At this point, the discussion ended.
"Then, let's assume that everyone agrees."
Germany is controlled by Prussia, and Prussia is controlled by the Junkers.
It was like this in the past, it is like this now, and it should be like this in the future.
The Junkers will never allow Hans von Qiao, this yellow foreign element, to insert himself into their order.