Chapter 183: The Recommendation

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Brauchitsch knew that Akado was very concerned about the situation on the front line, but he personally was more worried about France stabbing Germany in the back. He knew that the Führer seemed very certain that the French would wait and watch for a long time, but he was not so optimistic himself.

He coughed twice, then slowly pointed to the map and replied, “My Führer. The next step of our army’s plan is to form two huge encirclements in the north and south, to swallow the main force of the Polish field army, and then to advance on Warsaw.”

“Have you been in contact with Gascoigne? Is there any news from the Soviet side?” Akado thought for a moment. It was better for him not to interfere in military command. With his half-baked level of understanding, commanding the movement and combat of an army of several hundred thousand would be a completely suicidal act. However, he was more concerned about the specific execution of the plan to partition Poland with the Soviet Union.

Brauchitsch nodded and replied, “Just before I came, General Gascoigne submitted an intelligence report to the Wehrmacht High Command. Our agents in the Soviet Union have received news that the Soviet army’s attack on the Polish border has failed. They are mobilizing troops and urgently revising their operational plan. The specific situation and the extent of Soviet losses have not yet been clearly investigated.”

Akado let out a breath, and his mood seemed to relax. The news that the Soviet attack had been thwarted could be considered a small comfort to the deeply frustrated Führer.

He thought for a moment and then ordered, “Have the troops complete the penetration and encirclement as soon as possible. I want to see tangible results within a week.”

“Yes, my Führer! A portion of the military’s reserves of various fuels has already been sent to the front. The all-out offensive is consuming more fuel than budgeted,” Brauchitsch said, then suddenly raised a logistical issue. “Although our army’s supply has not yet encountered any major problems, a larger-scale operation is bound to happen in the future. At that time, the pressure on the entire supply system will be even greater.”

“This is indeed a problem! Much more serious than the various problems we are currently facing,” Akado agreed. “Not just in terms of transportation, but also in production, there are many troubles that need to be solved.”

A few days ago, the head of the SS, Reinhard Heydrich, had submitted a report to Akado from the SS intelligence department’s internal surveillance branch. If the sinking of the destroyer was just a surface problem, then the matter described in this report was undoubtedly a vile act that shook the foundations of the Reich.

Akado saw off his Army Commander-in-Chief, Brauchitsch, stretched, and glanced at Anna, who was following behind him. “Let’s go. Time to eat.”

Because he had been discussing various issues related to the war with Poland, Akado had not been home for four consecutive days. During this time, the person who had accompanied him was Anna, who was responsible for his safety. Fanny, due to her work in propaganda, was so busy that she had recently not been able to see the Führer of the Reich who occupied her dreams.

“If I were you, I would have gone back to accompany Mrs. Rudolph earlier,” Anna said casually as she ate.

“I feel guilty toward every one of you,” Akado said helplessly. “But now I have to put aside this guilt and face the problems we are about to encounter! Germany is at a very dangerous moment right now. I think I should give it my all. As for you and Fanny, I will give you an explanation after the situation has stabilized.”

“When you truly love someone, just watching that person quietly brings a feeling of happiness,” Anna said, shaking her head with a smile, and then sighed. “Your wife is very formidable in the field of economics; I can see that. Miss Fanny is also holding her own in the propaganda ministry and has helped you a lot. Only I seem to be doing a job that anyone could do, something dispensable.”

“You are responsible for my security, for protecting my life at close quarters. How can you say you are dispensable?” Akado was taken aback, then tried to persuade her.

“Let me finish,” Anna said, looking into Akado’s eyes and speaking softly. “This is all I can do, because I am just a woman who has learned combat and firearms. Even if I were to study something now, I would not be able to catch up to Fanny and Mercedes.”

She paused, then continued, “So I have used my spare time to think about many problems, for example, what kind of help you really lack. Later, I consulted Merkel, Krupp, Brauchitsch, and even Fanny… anyway, I asked many people this question and summarized their thoughts. I feel that you are currently lacking a person to help you share the burden of specific national affairs.”

Akado did not speak, but continued to listen to Anna. He knew that he did indeed lack such a chief of staff with a comprehensive view, someone to help him correct his grand strategic direction, to give the most perfect advice, to help him oversee various issues, to integrate the scattered and chaotic bureaucracy, and to unite these small cliques that disliked each other—someone akin to a Chancellor of the Reich.

Mainly, someone to act as a buffer between the Führer and the bureaucracy, so that he would not have to personally charge into battle over some insignificant minor matters. Originally, Akado thought Merkel was this person, but it later proved that he could only do things according to Akado’s instructions. Krupp was just a thorough businessman. Although Jelinek had some small schemes, his overall strategic vision was not enough, and because of his relationship with Mercedes, he was destined not to be given too much authority.

Thus, it seemed that Akado’s staff was indeed lacking such a number two figure, an important person who could free him from the complicated and trivial affairs and allow him to focus on Germany’s strategic direction.

So Akado began to seriously consider Anna’s suggestion. “What good idea do you have? Let’s hear it.”

“There is such a person. He comes from a Junker aristocratic family but is at odds with most of the Junkers,” Anna said. “He is well-educated and has his own network of contacts in the circles of royalty, aristocracy, financial magnates, and politicians.”

“Oh?” Akado had been busy with economic and military construction and development and had not really searched for talent in Germany. Hearing Anna say this, he was immediately interested. “Does Germany still have such a capable person?”

“Not just capable. This person is also a fervent supporter of the Greater German Party. He once funded the party’s propaganda activities in his hometown,” Anna said with a smile. “The most important point is that he is already 71 years old this year.”

“Are you talking about August von Bismarck… the grandson of the Iron Chancellor…?” Even if Akado didn’t focus much on talent scouting, he still understood some of the important political connections in Germany. This August could be said to be an anomaly among Germans. He was diligent and eager to learn in his youth, and in his 60s, he still supported the secret construction of the Wehrmacht. His relationship with von Seeckt was that of both a teacher and a friend. But this old gentleman was very open-minded and was very supportive of the new tactics and new weapons proposed by Akado.

But then again, no one is perfect. This August was, by comparison, still somewhat rigid in the typical German way and had little interest in issues like industrial reform, which was why Akado, who advocated for comprehensive reform, had not thought of this experienced and capable man.

“I’ll remember him,” Akado nodded, concluding the conversation. “After the meeting in a little while, I have to go home. Arrange for a car. Remember to remind me to bring the documents.”

A home with people in it is different from a home without. When Akado returned home, Mercedes was trimming a beautiful potted plant by the window. The person was more beautiful than the flower, a breathtaking sight.

“How are things? Is the front line going smoothly?” Mercedes asked with a smile, seeing the exhausted Akado.

“Overall, it’s alright. But I just received some bad news. One of our army’s destroyers was sunk, with heavy casualties,” Akado said helplessly. “And this loss was entirely the result of squabbling between the army and the navy.”

“Akado, you are leading a country. It’s impossible to prevent such things from happening,” Mercedes said with a smile. “Just like in a company, you can try to make all the departments work hard, but you can’t stop them from competing with and marginalizing each other. From another perspective, this kind of thing is also beneficial for your control over the entire country.”

“I know,” Akado nodded, wrapping his arms around Mercedes’s slender waist from behind. “You must be exhausted from your trip to the Ruhr industrial region.”

“I’m not tired, but… I did discover a lot of small problems,” Mercedes said softly, a blush on her face as her lover held her from behind. She put down the gardening shears in her hand. “Some of the second-tier subcontracting companies have problems with cutting corners and skipping processes. There are quality issues with items for the front-line troops like tents, insoles, and socks.”

“I know. Someone has reported this to me,” Akado said bitterly. “These people must think the knife I use for killing isn’t sharp enough! To still be thinking of using such methods to get rich at a time like this.”

“Don’t be too angry. Most of the products with quality problems are produced by the concentration camps and prisons. I suggest you send a letter of accountability to the commandants of those places,” Mercedes said with a light laugh. “As for those civilian enterprises, leave them to me to handle for you.”

“It’s just hard on you,” Akado said, his hands resting gently on Mercedes’s shoulders, feeling her skin, as smooth as silk. “I might really be a boring man, to have such a beautiful wife and still be willing to let her run around.”

“To be able to marry the youngest leader in German history is my honor,” Mercedes laughed at Akado’s sweet words. “I think it’s necessary for you to go to the Polish front to take a look, at least to let all the soldiers know that the Führer is with them. Let Fanny prepare for this. She’s more professional at this kind of thing.”

“Mm, I’ll prepare for it and go over early,” Akado nodded, then suddenly asked, “My dear, what do you think of August von Bismarck? If I make him the Chancellor of the Third Reich, will he refuse?”

“Of course he won’t refuse,” Mercedes said after a moment’s thought. “But I think he would be more interested in another position.”

“What position?” Akado asked, taken aback, looking at his wife.

Mercedes smiled. “The first Prime Minister of the Führer of the Third Reich.”

PS: This August is a fictional character created by Author. Any resemblance is purely coincidental…