German Red Prince

There were also many people outside Mainzplatz. These people were the people in charge of receiving reporters from various newspapers. After the reporters finished taking photos and quickly recording the events, they would have someone take the film and manuscripts and send them out as soon as possible to get the newspapers out.

Almost all Germans are paying attention to this parade, and every key piece of information will become a selling point. That classic scene from just now will naturally become the front page of the next newspaper.

"The prince of the Kingdom of Rhine clinked glasses with the Commune's observation delegation...swearing oaths of friendship and peace...the kingdom sending a signal that seemed to indicate a desire to ease tensions..."

Regoye took the photos immediately. He was lucky; the other reporters didn't catch up when he took the pictures. After taking the photos, Regoye immediately squeezed out of the crowd, picked up a pen, and quickly wrote down what he had just heard, adding his own analysis to complete a news brief.

After finishing his draft, Regoye turned on the camera, took out the film, and put the film and draft together into a box, handing it to Hans, the fastest young man in their newspaper.

"Hans, hurry up and send the box out. Our newspaper's survival depends on these photos."

As a reporter for a small newspaper, this valuable information could potentially turn their newspaper around overnight. After receiving the box, Hans immediately prepared to rush to the door and deliver it.

As Hans rushed out, some reporters who hadn't managed to take any photos chased after him, hoping to buy his pictures at a high price.

"Brother, slow down, I'll pay two thousand marks for your photo."

"I'll pay four thousand, sell it to me!"

Reporters from several major newspapers chased after him, shouting as they went, but none of them could catch up with Hans.

"What, what's wrong with this guy? How can he run so fast?"

A group of people were panting heavily behind him. They tried their best but couldn't catch up with Hans. They could only watch as he delivered the box.

Other newspapers send people to pick them up and send them out immediately, but Delter, as the editor-in-chief of the "Citizens' Little Newspaper," was not so sure, so he personally guarded the door, fearing that someone might intercept them halfway.

The editor-in-chief, who had just received the box, didn't linger at all. Before anyone around him could say anything, he sped off in his car. The box contained the hopes of the entire newspaper.

Chapter 155 Old Soldiers Never Die

After Thorne and the others arrived at the reviewing stand, Otto shook hands with Durok, and the two sides had a cordial and friendly meeting. King Otto invited Durok and the others to inspect the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Rhine together.

The observer groups that came this time were not only from the commune. In addition to the commune sending an observer group, the other two kingdoms of Germany also sent relevant personnel to observe the parade.

The three kingdoms once formed the German Empire. Although the Kingdom of Prussia now leads the entire German Empire, the three kingdoms are secretly competing with each other in various fields.

The Prussian observation team came to assess the strength of the Kingdom of the Rhine. Because the three kingdoms each maintained a certain degree of independence, Prussia gradually became unable to accurately estimate the kingdoms' strength after the great war. Bavaria's purpose in this trip was the same.

None of the three kingdoms possessed absolute power to effectively suppress the other two. The three kingdoms maintained peace in this strange atmosphere, with no one willing to fire the first shot. Of course, no one was foolish enough to wait for the other to fire.

Manstein also attended the military exercise as a member of the Prussian observation group, but the Prussian observation group didn't seem to care much about Manstein's presence; they even refused to sit with him.

Thorne looked at Manstein, who was all alone there. This "Manstein" had become unsociable so early on, but the reasons for his unsociability were much more complicated than in history.

If we were to elaborate, there would be a lot to say. Besides personality, another reason is that Hindenburg was Manstein's uncle.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff's prestige soared after the war, completely overshadowing Wilhelm II's influence. Their achievements threatened the emperor's authority, and their autocratic rule temporarily sidelined Wilhelm II.

If it weren't for Tirpitz helping the Kaiser regain power, Germany would be completely different now. Who is Wilhelm II? He could get rid of Bissmann back then, and he can get rid of Ludendorff and Hindenburg now.

Because of their considerable influence, Wilhelm II dealt with them in a similar way to how he dealt with Bismarck, forcing them to retire on the grounds of age.

Because of Hindenburg, Manstein was also implicated. Although he worked in the General Staff, he had almost no say and was a nobody. Others avoided Manstein out of respect for the Kaiser, and his position remained at the rank of major.

Therefore, when the Prussian observer group came this time, no one wanted to get too involved with Manstein, lest people gossip when they returned.

Thorne saw that Manstein was also having ulterior motives. Now, he already had two of the three great generals of Germany in World War II, and he was only missing Manstein to complete the collection. If the Kaiser did not want him, he would try to persuade him and maybe he could win him over.

However, there is now some trouble. With so many reporters present, he cannot get too close to the Prussians, especially since they are members of the observation group.

I managed to persuade him to come over here today. I don't know if William will cause trouble. That old guy is the most troublesome. Considering Manstein's personality, Thorne decided to put things on hold for now.

Unlike previous military parades, this parade not only invited representatives and observer groups from various regions, but Thorne also specially invited veterans from the kingdom.

Among them are some "veterans," some of whom swore allegiance to King Charlemagne I, others to King Frederick III, and the oldest of them swore allegiance to King Charlemagne.

These people are wearing uniforms from different eras and branches of the military, and their uniforms are adorned with various medals.

Most of those invited were veterans who had participated in the war and had all received the Charlemagne Cross, the highest honor a soldier of the Kingdom of the Rhine could receive.

The veterans were exchanging their experiences from the great battle, and the atmosphere was very lively. However, even though these were legendary soldiers, none of them dared to be arrogant, because there was also a centenarian sitting there.

The old man is 128 years old. He can be called a "living history of the kingdom" because he personally witnessed the founding of the Kingdom of the Rhine.

Although he was very old, the old man was still in excellent spirits and had a clear mind. He was wearing the uniform of the old hunter legion and listened to the people around him with a smile.

Schmidt's identity is special because he is not only a member of the Jaeger Legion, but also a member of the Old Jaeger Legion.

After King Charlemagne's death, the Jaeger Legion changed its uniform. King Charlemagne believed that he did not have his father's abilities and felt unworthy to lead such a glorious legion.

At the same time, in memory of the old king and the soul of this jester legion, the legion's uniforms were changed.

The old man was wearing the uniform of one of the earliest Jaeger Legions, and the medals he wore would make even the most esteemed generals envious. If seniority were the deciding factor, all the marshals of the Rhine Kingdom would have to salute him.

Schmidt didn't even need to bow to King Otto; no one could question his contributions. Thorne's invitation to him could, in a sense, be seen as Schmidt representing King Charlemagne to watch today's military parade and to witness the Rhine today.

When Thorne invited them, he learned that some of the old Jäger were still alive. He immediately thought of the one he had met in Darmstadt. Old soldiers never die; they simply fade away.

Although the status of military personnel in Germany is very high, the three kingdoms have not done a very good job in dealing with the issues of retired military personnel, and there are many loopholes in this regard.

Especially after the war ended, the German people were immersed in the joy of victory and believed that war would never happen again, and their attitude towards soldiers began to change.

Many veterans, due to their disabilities, are unable to be assigned jobs and are forced to beg on the streets. They have shed blood for the empire for half their lives, only to end up sleeping next to garbage cans.

This was a situation Thorne needed to change, so he personally went to Worms to invite the old man. When he learned that the kingdom wanted to invite him to participate in the military parade, the old man agreed without hesitation.

"You're in good health, senior," Schügel greeted.

He is representing the veterans of this military parade. Due to his heroic performance on the battlefield, Schügel was awarded the Charlemagne Cross four times and was one of the best Rhine soldiers in the war.

"of course."

Schmidt looked very energetic and didn't look like a centenarian at all.

"I heard that this military parade was held because of the French. Does the kingdom fear the French? Almost all of my medals were earned when I fought against the French alongside His Majesty."

Schmidt spoke with pride. Although he was the youngest soldier in the legion, he had participated in the Battle of Leipzig and charged alongside King Charlemagne.

Europe's strongest Old Guard regiment was defeated by them, and that's what gives him reason for pride.

“I’m not afraid of the French. During the war, my sons went to the battlefield and fought them to the death. If the French dare to attack, I can also take up a gun and go. I think they didn’t hurt us enough back then, and they still dare to cause trouble.”

Schmidt recounted his experience of beating up the French to the younger generation, a scene that felt somewhat unreal—an old man telling a story from nearly a century ago, a story he had personally experienced.

Schmidt answered all sorts of questions from the people present, since he was the only one there who had ever met Charlemagne in person. Schmidt was also happy to share his experiences from back then with everyone, as he hadn't shared those times with anyone in a long time, so he thoroughly enjoyed the process.

He recounted how, because his parents died in the war, he lied about his age to join the hunter legion, insisting that he was over eighteen. His Majesty the King, seeing that he was short, made him a scout.

As he spoke, Schmidt pointed to his chest, where, in addition to his numerous medals, there was a button sewn onto his chest. This was his first medal, the "Medal of Courage" given to him by Charlemagne on the battlefield.

As Schmidt was speaking enthusiastically, staff members came in from outside. The grand military parade was about to begin, and the veterans had taken their seats on the reviewing stand.

Chapter 156 Defending the Rhine

"Clang, clang, clang"

The large clock in the square rang precisely on time. After ten chimes, everyone present fell silent, waiting quietly for the Rhine Grand Parade to officially begin.

"Distinguished guests, the military parade is about to begin."

In front of the microphone, Helena began her broadcast in a fluent voice. This time, Thorne had invited two of the most famous presenters from the Rhine Voice radio station to provide a full broadcast of the parade.

As the national radio station of the Kingdom of Rhine, Helena and Levit's voices are the most familiar to every citizen of the kingdom.

The two of them hosted the first program in the morning and the last program in the evening, thus accompanying the people of the kingdom every day.

"114 years, a century of the Rhine, the kingdom has weathered one difficult year after another through wind and rain," Levitt continued, holding the broadcast script in his hand.

"At Mainzplatz, the Kingdom's army is ready. This army, which once numbered less than 10,000, has now developed into a modern force of about 100,000 with three branches of service: land, sea, and air, and is striding into the future."

"At this moment, nearly 15,000 soldiers have lined up, ready to be reviewed by the Supreme Commander, and by the Kingdom and its people. In ten minutes, they will pass in front of the square in formation, showing the world the power of the Rhine."

"114 years ago, the Rhineland was divided and fragmented. It was King Charlemagne who finally unified it, preventing the Rhineland from becoming a victim of the power struggles among great powers. 114 years later, the Rhineland can now stride confidently at the forefront of the world stage."

Helena and Levitt had excellent voices, and it's no wonder they were the most popular radio hosts in the entire kingdom; their voices quickly captivated the audience.

Some older viewers seemed to recall the lives described by their fathers or mothers, and compared to the Rhine today, they couldn't help but marvel at how rapidly the kingdom had developed.

"The eagle will forever soar over the Rhineland, and King Charlemagne must be watching the scene in the square right now, as he once struggled to bring the dark Rhine toward dawn."

"People from different regions of the kingdom have gathered here. In the past, we came from different countries and were manipulated by powerful nations to fight each other. But at this moment, we are brothers and sisters united as one!"

"Rhine Kingdom Broadcasting Station"

"Rhine Kingdom Broadcasting Station"

Helena and Levitt were also caught up in the atmosphere, their voices sounding somewhat excited. Fritz, on the square, was also busy directing the filming.

"This is Mainz, the Kingdom of the Rhine. We will be broadcasting to the world from here to celebrate the 114th anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of the Rhine."

"A grand event that will surely be recorded in history is about to begin."

Because television was not yet widespread, no one except the audience present could see the live footage of the military parade. Before the official film was released, other audience members could only gather around the radio and listen to Helena and Levitt's broadcasts, imagining what it was like.

This was truly agonizing. Listening to the radio broadcast, the atmosphere at the scene seemed particularly good, making those who weren't there even more curious about what the parade would actually be like.

The Royal United Military Band of the Kingdom began playing the opening music, and the military observers from various countries, members of the Kingdom's royal family, and members of the Kingdom's military took their seats on the viewing platform.

Helena and Levitt also broadcast the names of the delegates and high-ranking officials of the kingdom who were attending the parade.

"In addition to representatives from various regions and the Kingdom's top officials, this parade also invited veterans who fought for the Kingdom and made great contributions in the war to defend the Kingdom and resist foreign aggression."

"The oldest among them, Captain Schmidt, is 1228 years old. He fought alongside King Charlemagne on the front lines. Veterans never die. Salute to them!"

"Clang, clang, clang"

The bells rang again, and on the reviewing stand, Prince Andreas announced the start of the parade. Thorne was originally supposed to announce the start, but he declined. It was better for the eldest prince to speak on this occasion to avoid any conspiracy theories appearing in the newspapers.

"The Rhine will live on forever, the spirit of Charlemagne is with us! The grand military parade celebrating the 114th anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of the Rhine now begins, fire the salute!"

With the gunners ready, 19 cannons fired 114 shots. Amid the cannon fire, the royal guard of honor, in neat formation, escorted the royal flag step by step toward the flagpole.

"One hundred and fourteen steps, one hundred and fourteen years. Each step represents the kingdom's progress in history, each step demonstrates the kingdom's confidence and self-reliance. The national anthem is about to sound, and every Rhinelander will sing it with the most resolute voice to defend the Rhine!"

"Raise the flag and play the national anthem!"

"Salute!" the leader of the honor guard shouted, raising his longsword.

All the Rhine people present stood up, their left fists clenched and placed in front of their chests. This was a parade they had never seen before, and everyone's heart was filled with power and passion. As Rhine people, they had never felt so proud.

The band conductor waved his arms, and a familiar melody began to resonate in the hearts of every Rhinelander.

"Defend the Rhine" is not only the military song of the kingdom's three armies, but also the national anthem of the Kingdom of the Rhine. In addition to the soldiers of the Kingdom of the Rhine, every citizen of the Rhine should also have a sense of mission and responsibility to defend the Rhine.

The kingdom could be plunged into its "most dangerous moment" at any time, and the people of the Rhine must always be aware of the crisis and dare to fight any invading enemy.

"Es braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall

A roar, like a thunderclap

Wie Schwertgeklirr und Wogenprall

Like the roar of the sea, like the clang of swords;

Zum Rhein, zum Rhein, zum deutschen Rhein

Who goes to the Rhine? Who goes to the Rhine?

Wer will des Stromes Hüter sein?

Protect her from abuse?

......

Reich wie an Wasser deine Flut

The river flows across the land.

Ist Deutschland ja an Heldenblut

It is the blood of heroes that is boiling!

......

Lieb' Vaterland, magst ruhig sein

Dear motherland, rest assured.

Fest steht und treu die Wacht am Rhein!

We stand steadfast in our defense of the Rhine!

"Defend the Rhine" was composed by King Charlemagne to call on the people to resist French rule, and it was widely sung during the Sixth Coalition against France.