"The Governor-General believes Germany cannot hold its borders?" Manstein asked with a trace of indignation. Heydrich had just proposed that Germany enter a state of total mobilization, using the resistance of the people within the country to wear down the Chinese forces. To a soldier like Manstein, this was intolerable.

Heydrich did not back down. He replied frankly, "As the war has progressed thus far, I truly fail to see where the Wehrmacht possesses the capability to resist an offensive by the World People's Liberation Army. You tried in Africa, and you did not succeed."

Sensing that his accusation might have been too sharp, Heydrich added, "Britain has already sacrificed millions of lives and similarly failed. By now, Britain has been utterly defeated. The United States also tried, suffering nearly ten million casualties, and they too failed. Therefore, I cannot believe the Wehrmacht’s promise that it can hold the borders."

This meticulous rebuttal left Manstein speechless. Heydrich was stating indisputable facts. If Britain's defeat could be excused by the inherent weakness of its army, the defeat of the Anglo-American combined forces could not be explained away by a lack of strength. Particularly after the Wehrmacht had obtained vast amounts of American military technology, the advanced nature and creativity of American industry had deeply shaken the German generals.

Manstein looked at Heydrich and saw, in the eyes of this acknowledged heir to Hitler, a sense of tragic fury and unwilling resignation. It mirrored Manstein’s own state of mind.

Until now, Manstein could only attempt to understand from a political perspective why China was striking Germany so severely. At the very least, the He Rui government had made it clear: Germany represented the most radical form of Euro-American racism. China intended to build a new world of racial equality, and thus racism had to be eliminated.

Although soldiers were not supposed to interfere in politics, Manstein still attempted to discuss the defensive war with Heydrich using a relatively political framework. "Governor-General, do you believe it is truly impossible to reach a political compromise with China?"

Heydrich had given this considerable thought. While there was not *zero* chance for a political compromise, the price would undoubtedly be the thunderous collapse of the Third Reich. Not only would the entire Nazi Party undergo a thorough liquidation, but most of German cultural tradition would be purged as well.

Facing Manstein's question, Heydrich chose to sidestep the core issue. "Marshal, the resources required to arm a single Wehrmacht soldier are enough to equip three to five members of the *Volkssturm*. Furthermore, the Wehrmacht’s mode of operation allows the Chinese army to pursue and hammer your units relentlessly. I do not believe the Wehrmacht can sustain combat under the current conditions of this war."

Feeling Heydrich’s stubbornness, Manstein’s throat tightened. He almost blurted out the question: *Do you intend to have the entire German people buried alongside the Third Reich?*

But he could not say it. Beyond the basic military ethics that forbade political interference, the man before him, who wielded the Reich’s supreme judicial power, was extremely dangerous. If Heydrich so desired, a careless question could be used as evidence to question Manstein's loyalty to the Nazi regime.

Resigned, Manstein could only ask, "Can you explain the plan for total national defense to me?"

Heydrich did not hide anything. He briefed Manstein frankly. Every male between the ages of 16 and 60 not already conscripted for service would be included. Provincial party heads would be responsible for their formation and command, with Himmler serving as the Supreme Commander of the Replacement Army, responsible for military organization, training, and equipment. Their total number would reach six million.

Hearing the explanation that "members of the *Volkssturm* would be thrown into the war as soldiers," Manstein saw only earnestness in Heydrich’s blue eyes. He felt his scalp go numb.

Heydrich was not swayed in the slightest by this cruel description. He continued outlining the key points.

Because of Germany's high level of national preparedness, *Volkssturm* members would receive only the most basic military training at this stage, including an introduction to the Mauser Kar98k rifle and the *Panzerfaust* anti-tank grenade launcher.

Due to the weapon shortages caused by the prolonged war, weapon training would be reduced to the absolute minimum.

Given the lack of instructors, the *Volkssturm* would not engage in cross-country maneuvers or other drills that required high physical fitness or discipline.

Heydrich concluded definitively: "The members of the *Volkssturm* must familiarize themselves with weapon operation and tactical maneuvers in actual combat."

"Enough!" Manstein finally erupted. Since its unification, Germany had never truly experienced a foreign invasion. But Manstein was a military academy graduate with a decent grasp of history. Germany had only truly come into its own after the Franco-Prussian War. Before that, the performance of the various German states had been underwhelming.

During the Napoleonic Wars, after Prussia had lost its head and provoked France, Napoleon had marched out on October 7, 1806, quickly won the Battle of Jena, and entered Berlin in just eighteen days. At the time, King Frederick William III had fled in panic to Königsberg in East Prussia.

Earlier still, the German states being marched through by French armies had been a common occurrence. Thus, Manstein truly could not understand why Heydrich would rather have the entire German people die with the regime than adopt a more political solution.

Despite his outburst, Manstein could say no more. Soldiers could not interfere in politics; he could only offer his views within the scope of military affairs. Heydrich was a high-ranking Nazi official, a political figure; he could discuss these political matters, but Manstein could not.

Finally, Manstein spoke: "At this stage, the Wehrmacht is still fighting the Chinese!"

Heydrich looked at Manstein, his conviction that the man was a "softie" only deepening. While Manstein possessed formidable strategic and tactical skills—a rare balance—he was still merely a Junker, and one of the highest "Junker-content" officers in the entire Wehrmacht.

Manstein’s biological father had been a full general. His adoptive father—his uncle—had also been a full general. Another uncle, Hindenburg, had been a Field Marshal and President of Germany. Manstein had attended aristocratic military schools since childhood and entered the Imperial Guard upon graduation, maintaining close contact with the highest circles of power.

No matter how strong such a man’s military skill was, he was but floating dust attached to the body of Germany. A single gust of wind would blow him away. Heydrich knew full well that "total mobilization" within Germany—fighting the Chinese Army in every town and village—would lead to catastrophic casualties. But only this could make the Chinese realize that conquering Germany would require a truly horrific price.

Only when the Chinese Army or the WPLA realized the cost likely exceeded their tolerance would a political solution with China become possible. A softie like Manstein, however, would choose "political solution" the moment he saw that victory was impossible!

What a "political solution" led by these Junker officers looked like had been demonstrated once in 1919. When Wilhelm II asked his ministers, "Where is the oath of loyalty?" the minister had replied, "The oath is merely a reference."

Heydrich did not believe the current Wehrmacht would be any different from the last time. Thus, he didn't even care to mock them.

After a long silence, seeing Heydrich’s uncompromising expression, Manstein realized he could not continue the standoff. He asked, "According to your vision, how much equipment does the *Volkssturm* require?"

"Six million men require at least one 98k and one *Panzerfaust* each, along with corresponding ammunition. I believe this will be sufficient for current needs." Heydrich was not making an excessive demand, for he had seriously analyzed the requirements of total mobilization.

Currently, the most robust German males were serving in the Wehrmacht. The members of the *Volkssturm* would basically be boys and old men. Such armed personnel might be useful in defending their hometowns, but if they were asked to engage in mobile warfare between different towns and villages, they would likely disintegrate after a five-kilometer march.

Thus, the 98k and *Panzerfaust* would suffice; giving them more would be a waste of resources.

Furthermore, while Heydrich looked down upon the Wehrmacht's generals, he respected the ability of its soldiers. In a war of total mobilization, the regular army had to be the mainstay of mobile operations. While the militia pinned down the enemy, the regular forces would deliver devastating blows to larger enemy formations.

It was ironic that this concept of warfare originated from He Rui. Years ago, He Rui had written a military work called *Guerrilla Warfare* specifically for backward regions fighting colonial armies. In *Guerrilla Warfare*, He Rui systematically explained the model of cooperation between militias and regular forces.

Heydrich had been greatly impressed by He Rui's military genius after reading it. He had to admit He Rui was a truly great strategist, for great strategists never hoarded their works like a "precious broom."

After *Guerrilla Warfare* was published, Switzerland, which employed a system of total mobilization, had immediately licensed the rights. The book became a textbook in Swiss military academies alongside Rommel’s *Infantry Attacks*.

Heydrich had searched through many models of warfare and eventually determined that the principles outlined in *Guerrilla Warfare* were most suited to Germany’s current situation.

Manstein had no idea that Heydrich had studied *Guerrilla Warfare* so closely. He had only asked Heydrich out of resignation, but as Heydrich spoke, Manstein found the plan for total war surprisingly rational—and not entirely unfeasible.

Out of basic respect for a man of ability, Manstein probed, "According to current intelligence, the strength of the World People's Liberation Army has reached nine million. The regular Chinese Army is between eight and twelve million."

Heydrich knew these figures. He had even witnessed Himmler, the head of the SS, turn pale upon hearing them in a meeting, before descending into a fit of impotent rage and cursing the speaker.

Indeed, the enemy Germany faced was formidable. Their regular army was roughly equal in number to all German males between the ages of 14 and 60. The combat effectiveness of the *Volkssturm* would certainly be inferior to the enemy’s; if they could achieve an exchange ratio of one enemy for every two *Volkssturm* members, they would have reason to be grateful.

But this was no reason for the Nazi Party to give up. Heydrich chose to state his judgment plainly: "In the eyes of the Chinese, the war is still in its final stages. They naturally hope to live to see its end. Even if the current vanguard is composed of Black soldiers, they too wish to return home alive. This is our chance—an opportunity we must not miss."

Manstein was forced to conclude that Heydrich had not gone mad. Although such a cruel outlook was hardly distinguishable from madness, at the very least, Heydrich was viewing the matter with cold composure.

Rising to take his leave, Manstein felt only a deeper sense of despair for the current situation as he walked away.