Chapter 16: Divergence

After parting with Akado, Seeckt walked back to the 1st Division’s command post, feeling somewhat dejected. He saw Hammon studying a map, and seeing his trusted and favorite general, Seeckt nodded with satisfaction and sat down at the table.

“Akado has disappointed me greatly,” Seeckt said with a sigh after opening the military canteen on the table and taking a sip of water.

Hammon was taken aback and looked up at Seeckt. “What happened? Did Lieutenant Colonel Akado mess up the task you assigned him?”

“No.” Seeckt shook his head and raised an eyebrow as he looked at the battle map. “What do you think of the combat capability of the 15th Panzer Division?”

“Extremely strong. The division is equipped with a good number of armored reconnaissance vehicles, and they have three times as many trucks as our 1st Division. Although most of their division is still regular infantry, I have visited the 103rd and 105th Regiments to observe their mobility. It can only be described as terrifying.”

“So, you’re saying those motor vehicles Akado took the initiative to purchase are more effective than the bicycles and warhorses I equipped you with?” Seeckt asked, somewhat displeased.

Wiping away his sweat, Hammon, who knew Seeckt’s stubbornness was extraordinary, said helplessly, “Of course. If there is fuel, their mobility is indeed better than our 1st Division’s. However, their logistical supply is not always timely, so I am confident I could defeat the 15th Division in a real combat situation.”

“You’re right! And your analysis is excellent! Continue to develop the 1st Panzer Division according to my plan. I will strive to expand your division with another ten bicycle companies and provide an additional 500 warhorses. This will give you an even greater improvement in mobility,” Seeckt said with a smile. He then looked at the map, pointed to a spot on it, and asked with interest, “This afternoon, you are to attack this position?”

“Yes, General!” Hammon nodded.

“I wish you a triumphant victory!” Seeckt smiled, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked out.

Hammon wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead and sighed. “Another thousand bicycles for me? What a joke. You might as well give me twenty trucks. Our division headquarters’ high-powered radio and generator still have to be pulled by horses.”

But his sigh was extremely quiet. In his heart, he couldn’t help but envy the outspoken Akado. Not everyone dared to speak their mind in front of a superior. At least he, Colonel Hammon, did not dare.

“General! Will Germany be equipping itself with large numbers of motor vehicles and armored cars to rearm itself?” a French reporter with malicious intent stepped forward, holding a small notebook and staring at General von Seeckt, who had just walked out of the command post, with a smirk on his face.

This was a verbal trap. If Seeckt said that Germany was indeed equipping itself with a large number of armored cars and motor vehicles, then he would be admitting that Germany was rearming itself.

“Motor vehicles? Armored cars? Those things waste fuel and have no practical use. They are only good for delivering milk to my troops!” Seeckt, in a foul mood and his face clouded over, pointed to a truck not far away and answered loudly, “To hell with these broken-down things!”

His words made an American reporter standing by, who was ready to watch the show, cover her mouth and laugh. This American reporter was a great beauty, and her wavy blonde hair trembled with her laughter, a very pleasing sight.

The French reporter had been rebuffed, but he wore a look of satisfaction. All the other countries were equipping themselves with these new weapons on a massive scale. Only the Commander-in-Chief of the German Reichswehr stubbornly looked down on them. It seemed Germany’s backwardness was preordained.

“Sir! What did the General say?” a soldier asked, seeing Akado walk over with a grim expression on his face. He snapped to attention and saluted. “When will we be equipped with motor vehicles?”

Looking at the soldier’s hopeful face, Akado stopped, hid the negative emotions from his face, and returned a very standard military salute. “We will have motor vehicles and armored cars very soon. In a few years, you might even be driving a tank. By then, we will be the most powerful army in the world!”

“We are already the most powerful army!” the soldier said with great confidence, standing ramrod straight. “I hope you will always be our commanding officer!”

“I will! And I hope you will continue to trust and support me as you always have!” Akado said. He had found the fruit of his long efforts. This army had keenly identified what it needed and was filled with a desire for this equipment. All his efforts over the past few years had been worth it; they had paid off.

Hitler’s return to his old ways had created the illusion that history could not be changed, but that feeling had now dissipated. General von Seeckt’s stubborn obstruction had left him disheartened, but now he had found his purpose again.

Thinking of this, Akado looked at Gehr, who was following behind him, and waved his hand. “Gehr, go find Second Lieutenant Grace in a little while. Tell her I need to see her.”

After speaking, he took the leather gloves tucked into his belt, slapped them against his trouser leg a couple of times to clean off the dust, then pulled them on. He got into an open-top car on the side and said to Gehr, who was getting into the driver’s seat, “Take me to the 103rd Regiment headquarters first. I’ll wait for Second Lieutenant Grace there! Remember, don’t let anyone know I’m looking for her.”

The car started up. The surrounding soldiers, seeing Akado’s car, broke into cheers. Akado had personally selected them and trained them to become the backbone of the Reichswehr. Everything he did had given these soldiers a new life.

While the Nazi Party’s followers were still hiding in the shadows within the Reichswehr, some grassroots officers were already singing Akado’s praises. This was also the result of Akado’s self-serving actions within Operation Thumbtack. Many soldiers were required to memorize Akado’s life story before being assigned to their units. The tales of Akado’s bravery were widely circulated in the Reichswehr and had become household knowledge.

So, it was very natural if a Reichswehr soldier didn’t know much about General von Seeckt, but almost everyone could tell a story about Akado—for example, how he was promoted for saving over a hundred men from poison gas, or how he once clashed with an officer from the logistics department just to get one more truck for his soldiers.

In the afternoon, Grace’s flirtation with a young captain was interrupted. Gehr came up behind Grace with a smile and tapped her on the shoulder insignia. “Second Lieutenant Grace, I know you’re very busy right now, but General von Seeckt has urgent business with you!”

“The General? What does the General need me for?” Grace looked puzzled, but she still stood up, her large frame swaying as she followed the slender Gehr away. The captain who had been flirting with Grace just a moment ago shrugged helplessly and went back to drinking his coffee.

“Lieutenant Colonel Akado, I had a feeling it was you who was looking for me. So, tell me, what matter could possibly make a powerful lieutenant colonel like yourself think of a lowly second lieutenant like me?” Grace said with a teasing look, upon seeing Akado in the trench.

Akado pointed to several remittance slips on the table and looked up at Grace. “A few days ago, your father, the Baron, was suffering from pulmonary edema. A mysterious person paid 210,000 Marks for his medical expenses.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Akado, I think you’re bribing the wrong person! I was personally promoted by General von Seeckt, and I will never betray him for a little bit of money! Besides, when I received the unknown remittance, I had already privately informed General von Seeckt! He knows about this!” Grace sneered and turned to walk away.

As she walked, she said in a mocking tone, “Now that I know who the kind benefactor was, I can rest easy. I will pay you back slowly, you generous Lieutenant Colonel Akado! As for how you have so much money, you’d better think of a good reason to explain it to General von Seeckt!”

“Very good! As expected of Seeckt’s most trusted secretary! I am truly impressed!” Akado clapped and laughed. Then, looking at Grace, who had turned back to look at him with a puzzled expression, he slowly pointed to the remittance slips on the table. “I suggest you take a closer look.”

Grace frowned, turned around again, walked to the table, and picked up the remittance slips. After just a few seconds of looking at them, her face turned deathly pale.

“Since you want to return this money to the creditor, I kindly found the address for you. My, my, a hefty sum of 200,000 Marks, mailed from Paris, France, to your father and your brother. Not a penny more, not a penny less. Exactly one hundred thousand for each.” Akado wore a smug, wicked grin. At this moment, he looked like a devil from hell.

Walking over to Grace’s side, Akado shrugged his shoulders. “The mailing address is very clear: Section Nine of the French Intelligence Department. You can certainly deny everything, but the Gestapo will execute your entire family tonight. The charge is clear and heinous: treason.”

“You’re framing me!” Grace stared at Akado and said hatefully.

“Think about your fiancé. He just joined the Gestapo a few days ago. I’m planning to send him on a mission to the Soviet Union. I’m sure you don’t want your beloved to die in Siberia, do you?”

Grace looked at Akado and said viciously, “Despicable!”

“Alright! I admit I’m despicable! I have only one last card to play,” Akado said, throwing up his hands. “If you are willing to cooperate, I can give you ten million US dollars when this is over.”

“What exactly do you want me to do? Poison and kill General von Seeckt?” Grace was shocked by such a large sum of money. She stared at Akado, somewhat flustered.

“No! You don’t have to do anything! Just, when reporting on some of my work, conceal a few things for me!” Akado said with a smile.

“You want me to embezzle military funds with you? God! You’ll be shot! I’ll be finished along with you!” Grace’s eyes widened as she stared at Akado, as if she couldn’t believe he was such a colossal embezzler.

“Embezzle military funds? Germany’s military budget isn’t even enough to cover expenses! Second Lieutenant, how much money would I have to embezzle to cover the ten million dollars I promised you? Do you have the ability to make half the Reichswehr live on air without anyone noticing?” Akado was amused by Grace’s guess.

“Then, then what exactly do you want me to help you hide?” Grace calmed down somewhat and asked, swallowing hard.

Akado, like a demon tempting someone to sin, said, “I want to secretly purchase motor vehicles and cannons to equip the Reichswehr. General von Seeckt doesn’t quite agree with this slightly radical plan, so I intend to do it myself!”

“Just that?” Grace let out a breath. “You scared me to death! No problem! I can help…”