Chapter 34: Greater Germany

“You can’t afford that much, Mr. Krupp,” Akado said with a smile.

Krupp thought Akado was joking with him and laughed along. “Name your price! How much? I really do want to poach you from the Reichswehr.”

“Because of the newly designed glass bottle and brand-new production line, the Coca-Cola Company in America brings me an income of about… about 400,000 US dollars a month,” Akado said, smiling and staring at Krupp.

He then held up a second finger. “The BMW company has orders from the German Reichswehr and the US Army, and also has business in China. It probably brings in about 200,000 US dollars a month in profit.”

Then, ignoring Krupp’s shocked expression, he continued with a smile, “I also have shares in Lufthansa Airlines. The Mercedes-Benz motor company is also mine. And I have a permanently reserved guest room in the mountain villa of the cannon king, Mr. Krupp. So, you tell me, how much am I worth?”

Krupp’s mouth split into a surprised grin. “The mysterious behind-the-scenes boss of the White Orchid Group is you? My God, how did you discover so many companies with such potential and then integrate them all together?”

His hands, holding Akado’s, trembled uncontrollably. “You are simply a business prodigy!”

Akado was a little embarrassed. He really wanted to say to the cannon king before him: If you had traveled back in time from 2014, you would also remember the ubiquitous advertisements of those multinational corporations.

Krupp was truly shaken by Akado today. The assault rifle, the general-purpose machine gun, the cannons with mass-production cost compression, the ideology of simplified logistical support, and that design for a super-tank—all of it made Krupp feel that Akado was a treasure trove that could never be fully excavated.

“Colonel Akado! I find that I have come to completely worship you! Whatever you plan to do, I, Gustav Krupp, will support you in every way and without reservation! I would not hesitate even if it means going to hell for it!” That evening, just as Akado was about to get up and leave, Krupp grabbed his hand and said in an excited voice, “You are the most admirable German soldier I have ever met. Krupp will stand firmly behind you and contribute all of its strength to your plan to rebuild the Reichswehr!”

Akado patted Krupp’s shoulder and, with a smile, brought their conversation for the day to a close. “Mr. Krupp, the Reichswehr will also be your solid backing. Let us work together for the rise of Germany.”

…

On November 13, 1923, Colonel Akado Rudolph was transferred to the President’s Office to serve as the Supreme Liaison Officer of the Reichswehr to the President’s Office, concurrently serving as the President’s military affairs advisor. With this status, as a major, he began to sit at the same table with many old-guard generals to discuss issues and gained a great deal of say within the Reichswehr.

“Colonel Akado, you seem to have a lot on your mind recently. I wonder if there is anything I can help with?” Minister Stresemann asked with a smile, sitting in Akado’s office and holding a coffee cup. He happened to be free this morning, so he came to the President’s Military Affairs Office for a visit, to connect with the military representative he had always been optimistic about.

“Some Nazis have appeared within the Reichswehr. Although their influence is still very weak, this trend is truly unsettling,” Akado said, rubbing his brow. “To curb this dangerous ideology, I recently discharged a second lieutenant and warned a first lieutenant. A year ago, there was no ideology in the army, but a year later, I have to be exhausted dealing with the infiltration of the Nazi faith.”

Minister Stresemann placed his coffee on the table, seemingly unconcerned by Akado’s worries. He said in a lazy tone, “Colonel Akado, you are paying far too much attention to this minor party, the Nazis. You should know that we have many other enemies, like that lingering ghost, the Allied Military Control Commission. The so-called German Socialist Workers’ Party is just a minor problem.”

A minor problem? In another ten years, you great men will be hunted to extinction by this “minor problem,” the Nazis, until not even bone fragments are left! I do not share your optimism. I just want to nip all destabilizing factors in the bud, Akado thought, somewhat annoyed.

“Up to now, my decisions have not been mistaken. So you just need to help me think of a solution,” Akado had to use this reason as a pretext to allay Minister Stresemann’s concerns.

“Just like how you still haven’t replaced the Reichswehr’s weaponry, instead using millions of dollars in arms procurement funds to build bridges and pave roads everywhere. Was this also part of your plan from the beginning?” Minister Stresemann asked.

Akado nodded. “I am accustomed to planning everything meticulously, and then enjoying the feeling of having it all under control.”

“A good feeling. Unlike our Foreign Ministry, where we can only leave every negotiation to fate,” Minister Stresemann said, throwing up his hands.

Akado smiled. “One day, you will experience the feeling of having everything under control. Those who were once incomparably arrogant will only be able to bow before you.”

“I enjoy talking with you. Talking with you always makes me very happy! Believe me, Colonel Akado, I don’t know why, but no matter how arrogant your words are, I feel from the bottom of my heart that you can achieve it,” Minister Stresemann said.

“Achieving these things requires the joint efforts of countless people,” Akado nodded. “Including your efforts! You should still help me think about how to stop the Nazi Party’s infiltration of the Reichswehr.”

“Of course. It’s very simple,” Minister Stresemann said with a smile. He then picked up the coffee pot and poured coffee into his own empty cup. “If you pour coffee into an empty cup, you will find it is a very easy thing to do.”

He filled the cup, then looked at Akado and continued to pour, letting the coffee overflow from the cup and onto the saucer below. “But if you try to pour coffee into a full cup, it is very difficult.”

“You mean?” Akado’s eyes lit up. An idea seemed to flash through his mind, but he couldn’t quite grasp it.

He had to admire these men of politics. They seemed to be born with minds for scheming. Although Akado had the historical experience and technological foresight from his past life and could solve many problems, in terms of politics and intrigue, he was indeed no match for these old, cunning monsters.

Seeing Akado fall silent, Minister Stresemann laughed heartily. “Colonel Akado, no need to rush. You are a soldier, after all. You may not have so many twists and turns in your belly.”

He crossed his legs and said very casually, “The German army has traditionally not been allowed to have a faith. A few years ago, you were only loyal to the Kaiser. The current Reichswehr is only responsible to the government. But the Reichswehr has lost the Kaiser as an object of loyalty, so their faith is also missing! It’s naturally very easy for the Nazi Party to enter the Reichswehr and occupy this blank space of faith. If we find a new faith for them, then it won’t be so easy for the Nazi Party to infiltrate the Reichswehr.”

“A new faith?” Akado nodded, then shook his head again. “Seeckt will not allow it.”

Minister Stresemann laughed heartily. “But Colonel Akado Rudolph will allow it! With you secretly supporting it, and it developing in secret, it will definitely develop much faster than the Nazi Party, which has no support and can also only develop in secret.”

Akado fell silent. This temptation was indeed very great. If he formed a party and then used that party to control the Reichswehr, then first, he could firmly grasp the command of the Reichswehr; second, he could prevent Hitler’s Nazi Party from expanding recklessly within the Reichswehr.

“Knock, knock, knock.” A knock on the door interrupted Akado’s thoughts. Gehr walked in, stood at attention, and reported, “Colonel, Mr. Gustav Krupp is here to see you.”

“Perfect! Let’s hear what Mr. Krupp has to say,” Akado said with a smile, standing up.

Minister Stresemann also stood up. “I didn’t expect the Colonel to have dealings with Mr. Krupp as well. I’m more and more convinced that following you was the right choice.”

“I didn’t expect the Minister to be here either, haha,” Krupp said as he walked in. He shook hands with Stresemann, and then said with a smile, “It seems Colonel Akado is busy. I’ve come at a bad time.”

“No! You’ve come at the perfect time,” Akado said with a wave of his hand. “We were just discussing something. You should listen in too and see what your opinion is on the matter from your standpoint.”

“Then I’ll have a listen,” Krupp said with a smile. He and Minister Stresemann sat down on the sofa and listened as Akado recounted Minister Stresemann’s idea once more.

“This matter has another benefit! Colonel Akado Rudolph, you already have many, many friends and followers. They are no longer confined to just the Reichswehr. There are high-ranking officials from the Foreign Ministry like Minister Stresemann, there are arms dealers like myself, there is the military, there are businessmen, and there are politicians and officials. You need, or rather, we need an organization to connect us all! To make this group stronger, in order to maintain the collective interests of our group,” Krupp said, nodding in agreement after listening to Akado’s narration. “We need such a group.”

Two days later, Krupp booked out a not-so-large hotel in Berlin and held a private gathering there. More people came to the gathering than Krupp had imagined, because it was not just businessmen, soldiers, politicians, and officials, but also scientists, engineers, and nobles.

Akado went on stage and gave a speech. The content was very brief, just one sentence: “We have gathered here today to prepare to revitalize Germany with our lives. Welcome, everyone, to the Greater Germany Party!”

That day, Akado was elected as the chairman of the Greater Germany Party. The main members of the Greater Germany Party included soldiers like Akado’s secretary and bodyguard Gehr, Major Guderian of the Reichswehr Transportation Department, Colonel Hauck of the 103rd Regiment, and Colonel Kluge of the 105th Regiment; it also included businessmen like the head of the Krupp enterprise, Gustav Krupp, the CEO of the Mercedes-Benz Motor Company, Karl Benz, the CEO of the Bavarian Motor Works Corporation, Camillo Castiglioni, and the Vice President of the White Orchid Group, Reinhard; as well as the famous scientist who defined the theory of relativity, Einstein; and politicians and officials like the Foreign Minister, Gustav Stresemann.

At that moment, the Greater Germany Party was formally established. From the moment of its birth, it became a powerful group due to the background of its members.