Chapter 18: A Fateful Phone Call

Compared to the rigid and stubborn German officers, Akado had many advantages. For example, the ability to exploit loopholes, a skill deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Chinese people. Sometimes this ability was full of a petty, shrewish absurdity, but at other times, it could be reinterpreted as wisdom.

Under Akado’s direction, and with the support of General von Seeckt, Germany began another war with the Allied lawyers on the legal front. The final result of this war was a victory for the Germans: their factories were permitted to produce civilian aircraft.

However, the French and the British did not let the Germans have their way entirely. They stipulated that aircraft produced within Germany could not have a service ceiling higher than 13,000 feet, a payload exceeding 1,300 pounds, and most critically, a top speed of no more than 105 miles per hour and a range no greater than 186 miles.

The Germans were forced to accept these conditions because Britain stood with France, threatening to use force to resolve the dispute. Germany was powerless to resist and could only compromise. This compromise also gave Britain and France a taste of the sweetness of the Treaty of Versailles, and they began to look down on Germany even more.

The officers of the two countries’ Allied Military Control Commission even held a celebratory cocktail party for this legal victory, lavishly celebrating how they had once again turned the Germans’ dream of building airplanes into a daydream.

But this cheerful mood did not last long. At the beginning of the following year, that is, the beginning of 1921, Akado personally prepared the materials. Led by the German national airline, Lufthansa, and in conjunction with all the airlines in Germany, they sued the Allied Military Control Commission in the International Court of Justice.

Originally, Lufthansa was founded in 1926, and this lawsuit was also conducted in 1926. But Akado had methodically established Lufthansa six years ahead of schedule. Although in 1920 Lufthansa only had three outdated small triplanes, it was still the largest domestic airline in the German skies.

This was because a clause in the aviation treaty explicitly stated: All aircraft within German territory must comply with the aforementioned standards, otherwise it will be considered a violation of the treaty.

And at the end of 1920, for the sake of commercial competition, British and French airlines had successively put aircraft that exceeded these standards into commercial operation within Germany. These operations led to a decrease in the competitiveness of German airlines and serious corporate losses.

Therefore, the Germans won the lawsuit. Britain and France finally compromised, repealing the aviation treaty in the summer of 1922 and amending parts of the Treaty of Versailles to allow Germany to produce civilian aircraft without any restrictions.

The Reichswehr High Command erupted in cheers upon receiving this document. The names of Akado and General von Seeckt were chanted over and over again. And just two hours later, the German airline Lufthansa transformed from a small company with seven old triplanes into a major airline enterprise with 54 large biplane transport aircraft.

However, the massive, almost explosive, development of military weapons and equipment also caused the Germans to worry themselves sick. The research and development of countless new pieces of equipment required funding, and the oversized scale of the army also needed money to support it. It was obvious that relying solely on the defense budget was far from enough.

So Akado thought of a very clever method: the arms business. And it was the most profitable kind—the arms smuggling business.

Akado first sought out the British military attaché permanently stationed with the German Reichswehr and enthusiastically chatted about topics that interested the British.

“My esteemed Lieutenant Colonel Smith, I believe you have not been faring well in the Far East recently, correct?” Akado asked, turning to the main purpose of their meeting after chatting with the British nobleman about coffee, red wine, and Indian opium.

“The Japanese have taken your Qingdao and have no intention of returning it to China. We were forced to compromise, and very un-gentlemanly, we betrayed our good ally, China,” Mr. Smith said bluntly. “This has had a huge impact on our and France’s interests in the Far East. Anti-British, French, and Japanese sentiment is very strong there recently.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Smith, I imagine that even though Germany no longer has interests in the Far East to speak of, it is still an important commercial market, correct?” Akado said with a smile, swirling the wine in his glass.

Smith was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. “Oh? The Reichswehr is getting into business now? Lieutenant Colonel Akado? Hahahaha.”

Akado laughed along with him. “Heh heh, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, what is more important than making money? Isn’t your country’s military also a sharp sword that protects its merchants?”

“Hmm! You’re not wrong about that! I quite like your reasoning! My father is a merchant himself, with business in India and Australia,” Smith said with a nod.

“Germany no longer has territorial privileges or other interests in the Far East, but we can still gain commercial benefits and the respect of our allies. I’m sure Lieutenant Colonel Smith would not deny this, correct?” Akado asked with a smile.

“Of course! Germany’s commercial interests can be guaranteed,” Lieutenant Colonel Smith continued to nod.

Akado raised his wine glass. “I personally, and even General von Seeckt, believe that a Far East market in the hands of the British Empire is far more prosperous than one in the hands of the Japanese. Therefore, we intend to form an alliance with the British military.”

Hearing that Akado supported Britain in containing Japan, Smith was very excited. If Europe could unite behind Britain and help stabilize the situation in the Far East, Britain’s financial crisis would be greatly alleviated. “The Reichswehr is truly a friend of the British! My dear Akado. I wonder how the Reichswehr plans to support Britain.”

“We plan to help Britain arm the Chinese army! To resist the pressure from the Japanese!” Akado, like a hungry wolf, finally bared his sharp fangs.

“Good God! Lieutenant Colonel Akado, Germany is not allowed to produce weapons and ammunition on a large scale. You know this,” Smith said, looking at Akado in disbelief.

Akado smiled. “What you’re saying is that Germany is not allowed to equip itself with large quantities of excess weapons. But we are not equipping ourselves. We are merely producing some weapons and selling them to China.”

“But I don’t see any benefit for Britain. A strong China and a strong Japan—neither is easy to deal with,” Smith said, shaking his head.

Akado glanced at Smith and pointed to the document on the table. “This military aid will be conducted in secret. Britain will be the public face, and Germany will do the work. You will gain the goodwill of the Chinese, and our country’s military-industrial enterprises will earn a little money to get by. It’s that simple.”

Smith picked up the document and read it carefully. The terms were indeed tempting. Britain would front a secret smuggling plan with the Chinese government, providing approximately 100,000 rifles, 3 million rounds of ammunition, and 200 armored cars, among other weapons and equipment. Eighty percent of this equipment would be produced by Germany, with twenty percent handled by the British.

Then, these weapons and ammunition would be transported by American and Dutch merchant ships. The Russians would also get a small piece of the pie. The plan was incredibly detailed. Except for France, almost the entire world could profit from this secret arms smuggling agreement: the US and the Netherlands would get shipping fees; Britain would gain China’s friendship and a twenty percent profit; Germany could keep its half-dead military-industrial enterprises alive; and China would get the weapons it desperately dreamed of.

“I’m not the first one you’ve approached, am I?” Smith said, looking at the German officer before him who held the same rank. He found that he couldn’t quite see through him.

Akado helped Smith flip the document to the last page, pointed to the signatures on it, and said with a smile, “The United States and the Netherlands will help Britain pressure the Chinese government. Germany, along with Russia, will suppress Japanese power in the Far East, specifically in northeastern China, to ensure the interests of all countries in China.”

“I need to go back and discuss this with my government,” Smith said, standing up.

“Please, be my guest,” Akado said politely, rising like a nobleman.

After Smith had walked out the main door, the door behind Akado was pushed open. Seeckt walked in and sat down on the sofa opposite Akado. “You are playing with fire. Once the British and French collude and our plan is exposed, you at least, will be finished!”

“Me? On what grounds would they sue me? For a plan that hasn’t even been executed? What a joke,” Akado said dismissively.

Seeckt looked at Akado seriously. “We both know this plan is already in motion! You! Me! We both know! You sent men to secretly transport 1,500 cannons to the mountains! I’ve known for a long time! You are now loading those cannons onto vehicles to be shipped to China as the first batch of products!”

“Then why don’t you report me? Tell them that the Reichswehr actually has 2,900 cannons and has even hidden 40 Junkers fighter jets!” Akado retorted with a smile.

“How do you know those Chinese warlords will willingly buy your arms? The Americans and the British will sell them better ones!” Seeckt asked with a frown.

“No one wants China to become strong! Because everyone owes China a blood debt! We are the first to show goodwill to China. This is a favor. Although on the surface the Chinese government leans towards Britain, our clandestine actions make the Chinese like Germany more, don’t they?” Akado said with a smile.

He raised his wine glass and gave a mock toast to Seeckt. “And the Americans and the British will only fleece those self-righteous Chinese bureaucrats with outdated weapons. Only we sell advanced weapons and equipment to the Chinese military.”

“It seems you’ve thought of everything,” Seeckt said helplessly.

“You should be more concerned about this evening’s training! The 15th Division’s first full-strength training exercise, with over 15,000 men. It’s really something you shouldn’t miss!” Akado said with a smile.

…

“Ring, ring, ring.” In the dead of night, in the office of the Allied Military Control Commission, the phone on the French military’s desk suddenly rang.

The French officer on duty jerked awake from his doze and snatched the phone. “This is the Military Control Commission! How may I help you?”

“Listen to me! Listen carefully! Berlin! The 15th Reichswehr Division in the suburbs has a night training exercise tonight. You can go conduct a surprise inspection. Their numbers are seriously over strength! About 15,000 men! Don’t ask who I am! Move quickly!”