Chapter 76: Adding Frost to Snow

“No single person should make such a decision! The Reichswehr is not a tool for certain people to realize their own ambitions! The German people love peace! This is not something that can be changed by a few conspirators! I will represent the majority of peace-loving people and denounce those criminals who are plunging Germany into the danger of war!” In his speech to the parliament, Scheidemann spoke with righteous indignation, his voice filled with passion.

His speech, which seemed so inspiring, received only sparse applause. Most people were still immersed in the shock brought by Scheidemann’s speech, rapidly digesting the potential impact of its contents.

Below the stage, an old man with a pocket watch hanging on his chest, a monocle, and a head of graying hair asked the young man beside him, “See if there’s a way we can use this to make this incident a chance for the government to intervene in the control of the Reichswehr!”

“Several members of parliament are already working on this. They plan to see Hindenburg’s meaning first. If he agrees, then the resistance will be much smaller. If he doesn’t agree, then the parliament will take necessary action and deal with the army directly!” the young man said with a smug smile. “This time, we will absolutely not let the Reichswehr grow any larger!”

The old man nodded, closed his eyes, and said, “Have the Minister of Defense, Otto Gessler, make a move! Immediately take control of the Reichswehr High Command! Use the Berlin police force we control to arrest the criminal Akado Rudolph!”

He thought for a moment, then opened his eyes again, a strange, fierce light in them. “Make the move tonight! Don’t worry about casualties! Kill Akado directly! Remember, no survivors! We don’t have the same weapons and equipment as the army. Our only chance of victory lies in the speed of our action!”

The young man nodded. “Rest assured! We won’t even alert the police controlled by the Greater Germany Party! I will use our own forces.”

In another corner, two decrepit old MPs were whispering to each other. One of them had long since lost his teeth and spoke somewhat unclearly. “Mills, how certain are we this time? Won’t interfering in the Reichswehr’s affairs be met with a backlash?”

The old man named Mills was dressed in the magnificent clothes of a nobleman. His left hand trembled slightly due to old age. He thought for a moment before speaking. “The operation has the cooperation of the Nazi Party’s Stormtroopers! We’ve deployed our hidden arms cache! This time, we can ensure we take down the Reichswehr High Command.”

“He is very skilled at training the Reichswehr! But he is too autocratic and too reckless! What a pity…” the toothless old man sighed, a look of regret on his face. “With so many factions against him, he won’t survive tonight.”

“The elite of the Reichswehr should be in the hands of the government, not those reckless and ignorant military officers,” the noble old man with the trembling left hand snorted. “What’s more, he’s a commoner officer! Who knows what kind of shitty luck he had to climb to that position.”

A man with the shoulder boards of a lieutenant general walked over and sat down beside the two old men. He coughed and then spoke, “Ahem! He is indeed a bit too reckless! Expanding the Reichswehr is a good thing in itself! But he actually used so many underhanded methods! The Reichswehr cannot have any mishaps, so we can only sacrifice him!”

“What does the Crown Prince have to say?” the old man with the trembling left hand asked, looking at this high-ranking general of the Reichswehr.

“The royal family will support our action this time! Hindenburg’s personal assistant has just informed me that most of the Reichswehr will remain inactive!” the general said very proudly. “An old subordinate of mine is a regimental commander in the 1st Reichswehr Division. He will take action tonight, leading his troops to take over the defense of Berlin. Once the operation succeeds, the other troops loyal to Akado will fall into chaos. The battle will be over before it even begins!”

“We can’t be careless! Akado has at least the 15th Division and the other regiments of the 1st Division around Berlin. If we fail, we will be doomed forever!” the toothless old man said, narrowing his eyes. “After the operation begins, try to control as many high-ranking members of the Greater Germany Party as possible. Use cabinet positions to get them on our side!”

…

In the presidential palace, Hindenburg was listening to a report on Akado’s unauthorized use of Reichswehr funds for investment. This report was a document a dozen pages long, showing the sheer volume of the Reichswehr’s secret investments.

“The ammunition procured for the July exercise was not used. The exercise consumed old reserve ammunition. This money was used to open a bar in Korbach! And this bar has been profitable ever since. A portion of the debt was used to purchase four armored cars, which were equipped to the 27th Division,” the adjutant finished reading a full page, then swallowed nervously as he turned to the next.

He had just read several pages of the report, and the sums involved already totaled 4 million Marks. And there was still more than half the thickness of the report left to read, which was enough to prove that the scale of the Reichswehr’s black-box operations and embezzlement of public funds for investment was enormous. And almost all of these diverted funds had passed through the hands of that Lieutenant General Akado Rudolph, who had single-handedly rebuilt the Reichswehr. Clearly, these irregular investments were all tacitly approved by Akado.

Hindenburg didn’t say stop, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue reading. “300,000 Marks of funds were diverted, handled by a man named Merkel, to purchase a movie theater on the verge of bankruptcy!…”

“Enough!” Hindenburg could no longer bear it. He waved his hand, cutting off the adjutant’s voice. “What does he think the Reichswehr is? What does he think my trust is? Who does he think he is?”

Hindenburg flew into a rage, snatched the telephone receiver in front of him, and threw it at the adjutant’s feet. “The power he has was given by me! Everything he has was given by me! And he actually betrayed me! Betrayed my trust!”

“I put him in charge of the Reichswehr! And he actually uses military funds to do business! A dignified general of the Reichswehr! Actually colluding with those merchants! Setting up some ‘Greater Germany Party’! I sit in this presidential seat to do more for the German people! He clawed his way to this position for more money!” Hindenburg furiously grabbed his pen holder and threw it onto the carpet, cursing loudly.

“Mr. President!” Hindenburg’s old friend, Groener, who had been standing at the door, frowned and tried to persuade him. “Although Akado has diverted public funds from the Reichswehr, most of the investments are still profitable. We all know he has many things that can’t be brought into the light. He has many people he needs to support himself!”

“So what? The Reichswehr under his command is increasingly slipping out of my control, and is also losing its proper stance!” Hindenburg regained some of his composure, panting to adjust his state of mind. Finally, he said, “He has offended too many people this time. We don’t need to do anything. Just wait and see how things develop!”

…

At the barracks of the 1st Reichswehr Division, Akado looked at Tukhachevsky apologetically. “I’m sorry you had to see my embarrassing side.”

“It’s alright, General Akado. I believe you can handle all the problems,” Tukhachevsky said with a friendly smile. “In our country, the White bandits once launched a frantic counter-attack, and we were once weak too. But in the end, it was we with our firm beliefs who defeated our opponents and became the masters of the Soviet Union! Good luck to you.”

“Thank you!” Akado extended his hand and shook Tukhachevsky’s. He then turned to the 1st Division’s commander, Hauck, and as he walked, he gave an order, “Escort General Tukhachevsky and our Soviet friends to the 15th Division headquarters! Order Reo to put the entire division on alert! No one is allowed to enter or leave at will!”

“Contact Fanny. Have the Greater Germany Gazette launch a counter-attack at once! Attack Scheidemann for selling out his German compatriots, and deny all of his accusations! Incite the German people to support the Greater Germany Party!” Akado looked at Anna and ordered, “You personally go to the homes of several high-ranking cadres of the Greater Germany Party and arrange for their security! It’s best to gather them together for protection! There must be no mistakes!”

He then looked at his work secretary, Cindra, on his other side. “Immediately launch an internal investigation! See how far the intelligence has been leaked! Draft a solution with Gascoigne. I want it on my desk before dark!”

“Yes, sir!” Anna and Cindra saluted together.

“Long live the Greater Germany Party! General, an old man, claiming to be Mr. Krupp’s butler, has come to the front of the barracks to see you,” a second lieutenant reported, running over and giving a German salute.

“Please have him come over,” Akado ordered with a frown.

Before long, the old man, accompanied by two soldiers, walked up to Akado. Akado recognized him from afar. He was indeed, as he claimed, the butler from Krupp’s household.

“Krupp sent you to see me. What is it?” Akado asked, his brow still furrowed.

“General, Mr. Karl Benz heard some rumors and paid a visit to Master Krupp. After hearing about it, my master immediately sent people to investigate this afternoon. He just heard some whispers that there is a movement within the current government to take over the command of the Reichswehr. He is worried that these people may be unfavorable to you, General, so he sent me to notify you to be prepared,” the old butler said with his head bowed.

“What else did he say?” Akado asked.

The old butler leaned forward and whispered in Akado’s ear, “My master said they will take action tonight. As for what specific action, he has no way of knowing.”

“Help me thank Krupp and Mr. Benz,” Akado said solemnly. “I will have people go over to protect the two of you.”

“Thank you, General,” the butler bowed very politely.

“Hauck! You choose some reliable men, take a company of troops, and go back with this gentleman. Protect the Vice-Chairman of the Greater Germany Party, Mr. Krupp, and my important friend, Mr. Karl Benz!”

“Yes, sir!” Hauck stood at attention, turned, and began to make arrangements.

“Depp! Prepare the car! We’re returning to the Reichswehr High Command! I’d like to see what big waves these stinking fish can make in the palm of my hand!” Akado ordered, his face dark and displeased.