Chapter 3 The war must continue

There is a sense of both laughter and tears; the Iron Cross medal that Hitler had longed for half a year, along with a rank as minor as that of a sergeant, was so easily obtained by Akado, who merely lay on the floor beside his hospital bed for two days.

Initially, the situation was slightly favorable for Germany. With the arrival of 1918, the German army, which had been on the defensive for four years, prepared to launch an offensive once again.

Thank you. Akado smiled slightly, then looked through the gap towards the distant plains. The First World War had already ended, and these twenty years would be his stage.

The restoration of vision brought hope to Hitler, rekindling his interest in the various events unfolding at present. However, the distant imperial center of Berlin was, in fact, already surrounded, and the new manager urged the Emperor to abdicate in order to sign a ceasefire agreement

In recognition of your courageous performance in this operation, the Corps Headquarters hereby awards you the Second Class Iron Cross. Thank you for saving the lives of one hundred and seventeen soldiers; you are the finest soldier I have ever seen!" The major smiled kindly, displaying his amiable demeanor to Akado, as if a company owner were saying to a well-performing employee, 'Here is a bonus of two hundred dollars.'

Along with the trains that took away the injured, there were also several officers. After a brief communication with the commander of the regiment to which Akado belonged, they summoned the hero of this regiment—a mercenary named Akado from the distant East

After several weeks of treatment, Hitler regained his eyesight. The keratitis had subsided, the swelling in both eyes had reduced, and the severe pain in his eye sockets began to lessen. Gradually, he was able to see the outlines of the things around him

"Have you ever been on the battlefield?" Akado asked again when he saw the three people remain silent.

Stand at attention, salute. After Akado executed the protocol with great decorum, he finally extended his palm to shake hands with the distinguished figure before him: "Major, Private Akado pays his respects to you"

In early August 1918, the British Army launched a raid near Amiens, causing the German forces to collapse along the entire front without firing a shot. The Germans fell back, yet the positions remained, with hundreds willing to fulfill their military duties. German soldiers validated their oaths with their own blood, unwilling to retreat even a single step, stubbornly and tenaciously holding onto the fragmented positions, creating various troubles for their opponents

"Although reluctantly, Mr. Akado, your strategic insight has always been remarkably accurate. The attack near Lime indeed occurred as you predicted, yet I still refuse to believe that we will be defeated," Hitler said, his eyes bandaged, with a hint of despondency.

There are sometimes advantages to being an officer. When Akado returned from the regiment, he had changed into a brand new military uniform, and he proudly wore a coveted black Iron Cross medal on his chest

"If the German forces succeed in their attack on Reims," said the German general Ludendorff, "we will have won this war." Marshal Foch, the commander of the Allied forces, agreed with this view, stating, "If the German army succeeds in attacking Reims, we will have lost this war"

"Hey! Kid! Look at the Soviets! Look at Comrade Lenin! Those Russians withdrew from the war without losing anything! We should believe that the Bolsheviks can also lead us out of the threat of war!" The leading youth said firmly, waving his fist.

On that morning, Akado was brushing his teeth. The hospital in Basvalke was enveloped in tranquility, occasionally interrupted by the faint groans of soldiers, and everything appeared so serene and beautiful

What he said was reasonable and well-supported, very persuasive; although everyone remained silent, the furious Hitler was momentarily taken aback, unable to refute a single word

It is a pleasure to meet you, Private Akado! The person who arrived is a major, sporting a thick, prominent mustache and dressed in a double-breasted traditional Prussian military uniform, exuding an air of authority as he spoke and extended his right hand.

Germany is finished; the attacks near Reims have exhausted our reserves without achieving any real progress, and the entry of the United States has left us completely passive. His Majesty the Emperor may soon bring the war to an end. Holding his rifle, Arcado leaned against the metal of the train car and quietly said, "The war may end this year."

Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Akado straightened his back and loudly shouted a slogan that felt very much like a time travel. Who would have thought that even in the early twentieth century, an era of technological advancement, one could still find more than one Emperor on the European continent, which can be regarded as the backbone of the world

Mr. Colonel did not intend to end this conversation; he continued speaking while holding the documents in his hand: "Moreover, you have been promoted. Almost all the soldiers in your company have perished, and the corps headquarters has ordered the immediate promotion of qualified and capable soldiers. Your qualifications are unquestionable, and your skills in * maps * are quite good, so from now on, you are a sergeant."

Also departing from the front line on the same train was a historically unrecorded minor character, a sergeant from the 3rd Company of an Austrian infantry regiment, a mercenary named Akado from the distant East, China

Hitler nodded and remained silent. After a long while, accompanied by the clattering sound of the train wheels striking the rail joints, Hitler suddenly spoke: "Mr. Akado, you are truly a learned man; I believe you are more knowledgeable than our company commander."

"Mr. Hitler, we are still young. Although we are currently at a disadvantage, we will reclaim everything," Akado said in a very firm tone.

How can one not admire Germany's industrial level? This medal is crafted with exquisite detail, providing the wearer with a sense of honor and pride. Akado has played with this medal countless times along the way; back then, it was a rare item that was hard to even collect. In China, one could only see photos of such things, as finding a physical one was quite difficult.

"His Majesty the Emperor is certainly not the true culprit! You are the ones who are a band of treacherous ministers and rebels!" Hitler retorted loudly, his eyes blazing red.

The major gestured dismissively towards the rear, and his communications officer or guard took a document from the briefcase he was holding and respectfully handed it to the major in front of Akado

In fact, there is no need to be overly cautious. Akado knows that this time he will no longer have to return to the front lines to fight for his life. Shortly after the withdrawal of the Austrian 16th Infantry Corps from the front, the First World War, which had left all Germans feeling stifled, would come to a hasty conclusion.

Apart from the stalemate on the Western Front, the German forces achieved victories on all other battlefields. Serbia, Romania, and ultimately Russia succumbed to the German offensive, signing treaties with the newly established Soviet regime, which granted the Germans vast plains in Ukraine

The result was that the German offensive failed, and the seemingly invincible Germany had no reserve troops left. The Allied forces not only had the American divisions to bolster their strength, but weapons and supplies were continuously flowing in from the United States

As the enemy on the Eastern Front has collapsed, the German army has redeployed over 1 million troops from the East to France in an effort to break the stalemate and engage in a decisive battle on the Western Front. The "Battle of the Emperor" is about to commence

However, upon reflection on the process of obtaining this item, Akado still feels it is better to acquire fewer of them: because during the acquisition process, it is possible that the name could inexplicably shift from the list of winners to the list of the missing.

As the train carried Hitler eastward, he was still blind and on the brink of complete physical and mental collapse. His eyes were red and swollen, and his face was puffed up like a balloon. The voices of the soldiers sounded ghostly, weak, and terrifying. Whenever a nurse came to attend to them, they would often erupt in fury and refuse her care. They neither ate nor drank, forbidding anyone from treating their inflamed eyes. No matter how the doctors assured them that their vision could soon be restored, it was of no use. What they needed was to lie still and moan, seeking relief from their suffering, even if it meant finding solace in death.

"Have you ever been on the battlefield?" A voice rang out from the doorway, clear and resolute, drawing everyone's attention. There stood a tall German man, somewhat slender, yet his sparse stubble had a certain charm.

In the spring, the German army launched four major offensives, forcing Britain and France to retreat in succession. With no option left, the British forces were ordered to fight to the last man. On July 15, the decisive battle began near the city of Laim, with both sides understanding that the outcome of this battle would determine victory or defeat.

Three young men dressed in work uniforms and wearing forward caps entered the spacious ward for the wounded. They found a prominent spot and pulled a chair beside a wounded soldier into the center of the aisle. One of the young men, who was leading, jumped up, cleared his throat, and began to deliver a speech: "Long live the Bolsheviks! Gentlemen! Only the Bolsheviks can save our Germany! The Kaiser must step down! He is the chief culprit of this war!"

A pair of azure blue eyes gazed at the three young individuals in the center of the hall, devoid of any emotion. These eyes had witnessed life and death, and thus were no longer stirred by any turmoil

However, within Germany, the belief in continuing the war gradually faded, and strikes occurred one after another. For hardliners like Hitler, the safe and undisturbed rear, along with its laggards, opportunists, shirkers, traitors, and Jews who neither loved nor respected Germany as their homeland, betrayed the front lines that fought valiantly in the most severe moments.

After reading the order, the colonel had no intention of wasting words. Given his position, he truly did not wish to engage in unnecessary conversation with someone who was neither a noble officer nor his direct superior

As the train carried Akado and Hitler to the hospital located in the small town of Bassevalk in Pomerania Province, his own disappointment caused all his pain to be cast aside into the clouds.