Re: Blood and Iron

In a rather anachronistic display, banners were placed around the entry gates of Castle Bran, banners which bore the new coat of arms of House von Zehntner-Siebenbürgen. Which was the cadet branch that Bruno was now the official head of.

He had, after all been born the 9th son of a Junker from Prussia, but here in Transylvania Bruno was a Grand Prince. It was only natural a Cadet Branch was formed to properly distinguish the two houses from one another.

And as was per tradition, the new coat of arms included elements from the previous one. That being his family's eagle heraldry. And its colors waved brilliantly with the spring wind. Bruno found these days to be rather peaceful.

No war, no bloodshed, no chemical gas, or endless sounds of death and despair to keep him awake in the dead of night. All that remained was peace, and a quaint old town that was almost something straight out of a fantasy game.

But these peaceful days did not last long. As soon enough, he received an official summons from the German Army. He was to report to Berlin so that the 8th Army could properly mobilize and begin its assault within the Alps.

Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg's plans had resulted in a failure. The city of Luxembourg was not only seized by the Allies, but its boundaries were fortified with the latest weapons the Allies had designed to combat German advances.

Resulting in for the time being, a stalemate, as the Western Front deemed taking back what had been lost in this disaster of a failed strategy too costly to bear for the time being. After all, there was no reason to be hasty and push the Allies out of Luxembourg when they themselves were not continuing with their advance.

With this in mind, Paul von Hindenburg was called back to Berlin to be thoroughly chastised by his superiors for what he had done. While August von Mackensen was relocated from the Alpine theater to the Western Front as its new commander.

It was an honor he did not desire, as he personally wanted to witness Bruno's machines of war tear through the Italian fortifications like heavy cavalry would have done in the preceding century. But that was not his fate, instead he would watch the defenses in the west while Bruno once more went on the offensive.

And by all means, by the time Bruno arrived in Berlin to regroup with his men, the only thing that had not yet been transported to Tyrolean alps were the men who would be fighting the war.

All of their equipment was already waiting for them in Austria for the push south to reclaim land that had been taken from them a year prior during the Winter Offensive of 1914 that lasted briefly, but resulted in the largest gains the Allies had made to date.

He was not surprised to see that Erich had not been present for this meeting of soldiers. He was, after all currently engaging in a covert operation that would take months if not years to fully complete.

Officially speaking, Erich was present with the army. Even if he had resumed his position as Bruno's personal aide.

And with the chaos of the war, nobody would ever realize that Erich simply wasn't with the army if Bruno said he had seen the man running about, and had asked him to perform any number of "errands" for him, should someone inquire about the location of his mad dog.

It was for this reason that Heinrich thought nothing of the man's absence, and instead was quick to comment on how he perceived the upcoming theater to would unravel.

"Is it just me, or is this the first time that you and I are actually fighting against a great power?"

Bruno was quick to remind Heinrich that they had briefly taken part in a war against a Great Power before, one that many people had forgotten about as it had occurred on the other side of the world.

"Is your memory so short that you forgot about our time in Manchuria? We fought the Russians there didn't we? Even if it was officially in an advisory capacity, the Russian Empire is still a Great Power of this world, no?"

After reflecting on this for no more than five seconds, Heinrich was quick to deny Bruno's claims as the man himself had spoken them with the caveat of acting in an advisory capacity to a foreign power.

"Yeah, but we were just advisors there. Sure you found yourself doing something stupid at port Arthur, but that victory was not ours. We were not in operational control, even the Japanese Emperor rewarded you for it…

I'm talking about, here and now, we are actually in command of a theater of operation against a Great Power! Sure, they are the least of the Great Powers, but a Great Power no less!"

Bruno could see Heinrich wanted to prove himself, perhaps feeling a bit underappreciated when compared to what Bruno had achieved in this life despite them both graduating from the same class at the Academy all those decades before.

And with this in mind, Bruno was quick to make a wager to Heinrich while laughing about his poor self-worth.

"If you really think that doesn't count, then how about I let you lead the vanguard? What do you say? If you achieve a great victory worthy of remembrance, I will promote you to Generalmajor and give you control of your own division. How does that sound?

Frankly speaking, Heinrich's own accomplishments in his military career were as great as any other Generalmajor who currently held the rank, he was even granted the Iron Cross Second and First Class, as well as the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with swords. Meaning he himself was just one major achievement away from being granted the Pour le Mérite himself.

The primary reason Heinrich had yet to establish himself as a bonafide General was because of his young age. It was incredibly unusual for even the lowest ranking generals to be in their mid-thirties. Bruno was the exception in this regard, having achieved an unprecedented rise to power within the German Military as a result of his repeated major strategic and tactical victories.

Perhaps because it was an opportunity to prove himself, and gain a much desired promotion above the position he had been sitting at for years now. Heinrich was quick to agree to Bruno's terms. And with an almost too eager smile on his face.

"You're on! I'll smash through the Italian defenses with ease! With the latest restructuring of the 8th Army, giving me control of six battalion tactical groups will be more than enough to obliterate the enemy to the last man!"

Bruno could tell he had sparked Heinrich's eagerness to fight this battle, but even so, he could not help but sigh and shake his head, before reminding the man of a lesson that was ever present throughout human history despite commonly being ignored.

"Listen, Heinrich… Never underestimate your enemy, even if the given chances of success seem absolutely certain. Overeagerness, and a gross dismissal of the enemy's capabilities in the field has led to more disastrous losses in history than just about anything else, except for perhaps a lack of preparedness for the battle being fought…

Promise me that you will keep this in mind when you make your assault. I don't want the expense I have paid in bringing the 8th Army into the era of modern warfare to go to complete and utter waste because you thought yourself invincible…"

Heinrich seemed to have understood Bruno's meaning, but still appeared somewhat dismissal and flippant in his response as he tried to assure Bruno that nothing of the sorts would befall him.

"What do I look like, an idiot? I know better than to underestimate the enemy. I'm just not sure what kind of weaponry they could possibly possess that could bring them victory given what they are going up against!"

This remark only caused Bruno to double down as he grabbed his friend's shoulder and stared him straight in the eye with a grim look on his face. It was almost as if he was speaking to himself through the reflection in Heinrich's irises as he did so.

"I'm serious, you foolish bastard! You are only human! Death comes for us all, and often when we least expect it! Nothing is certain in this world, and just because our weapons are more advanced than what the enemy possesses does not mean for one second that we are impervious to their munitions.

We are not gods, Heinrich; we are men… Mortal men of flesh and bone. And the flesh is so easily brought to ruin. Promise me that you will heed my warning before marching headfirst into the enemy over-confident, and overeager for victory! Because if not, I will give the command to someone else right now!"

Heinrich had no words to say in response to this. Bruno had given him a painful reminder of the very real possibility of death while he was riding the high from their repeated success against the enemy in the field. A memento mori so to speak, and because of this, he was quick to take a deep breath and reflect on his previous notions.

After which he could only respond with a dejected tone in his voice.

"I understand. I will take on this task you have given me with the seriousness that it is required. I apologize for my rashness. You are correct."

With this said, Bruno began to realize that there might be a serious issue within the ranks of the German Army, a sense of indomitability, one that, if not addressed swiftly could have catastrophic effects on the war effort.