Chapter 92: The Scepter of Power

In the top-floor conference room of the Greater Germany Party headquarters, Akado sat calmly in the host’s seat, looking at the subordinates standing before him: Krupp, Stresemann, Jellinek Cassia, Merkel, Loic Kater, and Fanny.

His gaze swept over everyone, and finally, he smiled with a carefree air and spoke, “Since everyone is here, then Krupp, you may begin. If there is anything you want to say to me, or any complaints you have, speak.”

“Akado! You were too reckless this time! Do you have any idea that you nearly started a war? Are you mad?” Stresemann said with a frown. “And you should have discussed it with us beforehand, right? Such a major matter, and you didn’t even notify me, the Chancellor of this country! What do you take the laws of this country for?”

Akado nodded. “I know you have a dissenting opinion, so I never thought you would agree with my action this time.”

He looked at Krupp and asked with a smile, “Chancellor Stresemann has already expressed his view. What about you? What are you thinking? Let’s hear it.”

“Mr. Chairman, I feel that although your action this time carried great risks, it was a decision entirely based on your unparalleled strategic vision! And the facts have proven everything! you are a hero of the German people.”

Stresemann looked with confusion at Krupp, who had for so long stood with him in a united front. He pointed a finger and said angrily, “You…”

“Chancellor Stresemann. The Greater Germany Party does not need other voices. The reason we were forced to act alone this time, bypassing the government, was precisely because of your uncooperative attitude! Mr. President Hindenburg is not our man, so it would be inappropriate for us to ask anything of him. But you are different,” Merkel said with a sneer, glancing sideways at Stresemann.

Jellinek Cassia did not speak, just raised an eyebrow, his poker face showing no joy or sorrow. But he had understood the meaning in Akado’s words. Just now, Akado had called Stresemann “Chancellor,” not “Vice-Chairman Stresemann.” The meaning in that was very clear.

“What we need is an invincible god of war to lead us to future victory! Fortunately, we have found General Akado Rudolph, so we plan to walk with this god of war to the end!” Fanny said, her arms crossed over her chest. She wasn’t looking at the people beside her, but was staring at Akado with a pair of charming eyes.

She paused and continued, “We do not have the time or energy to waste on internal strife with our own people. So we must ensure the unity of thought within the Greater Germany Party! This thought is actually very simple, and that is absolute obedience to the god of war, Akado Rudolph! One mountain cannot contain two tigers! And one sky will not have two suns.”

“Mr. Stresemann, after a study by the personnel department of the Greater Germany Party, it has been decided to give you a serious disciplinary warning within the party,” Loic Kater read his disposition report without looking up. “It is hoped that you can correct your mistakes in a timely manner and not continue to act willfully!”

“Have you all gone mad?” Stresemann looked at these colleagues, his face filled with disbelief. “What he is doing is pushing Germany into the abyss of war! Although Britain and France have backed down this time, if he does this again, it will plunge Germany into a state of eternal damnation! By supporting him, you are aiding a tyrant! You are joking with the future of the German people!”

“Stresemann! Say no more!” Krupp pulled at the corner of Stresemann’s coat and persuaded, “Operation Sewing Needle was formulated a few years ago. This plan has earned us several billion dollars. At that time, I already firmly believed that Akado was a prophet, a savior! Now he has proven his ability once again, so please do not doubt him anymore!”

Stresemann looked at Krupp. “You? You really executed Operation Sewing Needle? How is that possible? How could so many people have believed him?”

“Because he… he mortgaged his own White Orchid Group to us. So we were willing to put up 5 billion US dollars,” Krupp said with some embarrassment. “So we are even more certain that he is the prophet! The future of the German people! He was certain that this financial crisis would come! Even during six consecutive months of economic growth, he still firmly believed in his own judgment.”

Stresemann looked at Akado, sighing with grief and indignation. “Akado! So many people trust you, support you! Can you really bear to lead them down a path of no return? You are now the most powerful person in all of Germany. You are already a hero of this country! Stop! I’m begging you!”

“Mr. Stresemann,” Akado said, his eyes narrowing. “You were the first person in this room to get to know me. I really wanted to complete the dream of revitalizing Germany together with you! Please believe me!”

“Believe you…” Stresemann’s body swayed slightly. He steadied himself by grabbing the back of a chair behind him. In that instant, he seemed to have aged ten years.

“How do you want me to believe you? As the… Chancellor… of Germany, you want me to watch my own people… walk into the abyss of war? If I believe you, will you next… have me personally order… the German people to go and die for you?” he gasped, staring at Akado.

“If necessary, I will be the first to charge forward, to die for the revival of Germany,” Akado said, closing his eyes.

“I will carry out my duties according to your wishes… I will not participate in the next election for Chancellor,” Stresemann said with a sigh. “I swore an oath to be loyal to you, so I will fulfill my oath.”

“Thank you,” Akado said solemnly.

He spoke these two words with sincerity, because he knew that from now on, he had truly unified the Greater Germany Party he had founded himself. There would no longer be any dissenting voices within this group, nor would there be any opposition to his existence. Within this group now, he had truly achieved absolute authority.

…

In the bright great hall, reporters holding cameras with large flashbulbs stood around the sides. The generals of the Reichswehr stood in neat rows. These men were all expressionless, looking majestic and imposing.

Hindenburg stood to one side, supported by his secretary, looking at the young general standing in the center of the stage. He couldn’t help but sigh. This general, not yet 30, was already one of the top ministers in the German Reichswehr and even the German government.

The flashes of the cameras flickered nonstop. The lights all around were so soft and charming. Even Akado, standing in the center, felt that all of this was too surreal—less than ten years ago, he was just an ordinary private delivering ammunition to a heavy machine gun position on the Franco-German front. And now, he was a hero in the eyes of nearly 500,000 German Reichswehr officers and soldiers, the leader they pledged their allegiance to.

“By joint nomination of the President of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg; the Minister of Defense, Wilhelm Groener; and the Commander-in-Chief of the Reichswehr, Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, Lieutenant General Akado Rudolph is promoted to General of the Reichswehr, in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the incident of recovering sovereignty over the Rhineland demilitarized zone!” a Reichswehr master of ceremonies announced loudly, reading the highest order of the German military.

He held his head high and his chest out, as if he himself were the one being promoted. He paused slightly, waiting for the applause below to weaken a little, before continuing to read, “And President Hindenburg himself will personally award him the Iron Cross, First Class.”

“Swoosh!” The sound of leather boot heels clicking together became a single, solid sound, so inspiring to hear. All the military personnel present stood at attention and raised their right hands high in a German salute. “Long live Akado Rudolph!”

“I understand you less and less, young man,” Hindenburg said, coming before Akado, trembling slightly. He raised his own trembling hand and gave Akado an old Prussian military salute. “You selflessly did many good things for this country, and you also nearly dragged this country into the abyss of war! Although you brought this country to the brink of war several times, you managed to secure the greatest benefits for this country because of it.”

He stared at Akado, his eyes narrowed. “I even suspect you are a deity from a myth. I just don’t know why you didn’t appear a few years earlier—in that case, I would not have had to accept the shame of defeat.”

“Mr. President! I remember I once swore to you that I truly serve this country with all my heart, and will strive my entire life for the future of the German people,” Akado said with his head bowed, allowing Field Marshal Hindenburg to place the shoulder boards of a German General, representing power and strength, on his shoulders. He then slightly adjusted his posture, presenting his chest to Hindenburg.

Hindenburg nodded and smiled with appreciation. “Child! The future world belongs to you! I hope you can lead us to glory.”

He pinned the Iron Cross, symbolizing honor, onto Akado’s chest and patted Akado’s shoulder. “Do not abuse the power in your hands. Serve the German people with all your heart! May God bless you!”

Hindenburg turned his head and personally announced another order. The Joint Chiefs of Staff was abolished. General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord was to step down from his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Reichswehr and assume the position of Chief of Staff of the German Reichswehr. Von Bock would continue to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff—and General Akado Rudolph would take over as the Commander-in-Chief of the German Reichswehr.

The applause erupted, even more enthusiastic than before. The photographers pressed their shutters even more frequently, the flashes flickering nonstop. Akado smiled and nodded to every military magnate who came forward to congratulate him, shaking hands and chatting with his old predecessors—clearly, this was his promotion ceremony, and clearly, he had become the undisputed number one man in the German Reichswehr.

Akado waved frequently to the reporters. He couldn’t help but feel pleased with himself, because from now on, Germany had become the true domain of the Greater Germany Party.