Negotiation

Colonel Smith gazed back at Akado before stepping forward, positioning himself squarely in front of the German officer. He sighed deeply and began, "This time, the National Defense Force has indeed overstepped. British intelligence has consistently found evidence of your violations of the Versailles Treaty by secretly developing your military forces. And now, it appears France has uncovered even more. Your actions have greatly unsettled both our nations."

"And what is your personal stance on this matter?" Akado inquired, fixing his intense gaze upon Colonel Smith. "Do you also perceive the German army as a threat, even after it was ostensibly crippled by the Treaty of Versailles? Do you truly believe that a mere one hundred thousand troops are sufficient for Germany's defense on two fronts? Do not forget, Mr. Smith, our neighbor to the east is a newly established nation."

Smith shrugged nonchalantly. "Do you really think your actions have eluded everyone? Our intelligence, along with the French, are aware of your 'Pluto Project,' which aims to covertly expand the National Defense Force. This expansion is intended to counter threats from the French forces and the Polish army. You've nearly doubled your forces to 200,000, yet you think it has gone unnoticed?"

"We are merely striving to protect ourselves! Is that too much to ask?" Akado retorted, his frustration evident. "In any corner of the world, it is immensely challenging for a nation to maintain its dignity internationally. Victory in war brings dignity; defeat, as seen in Germany and China, brings humiliation."

"Excessive indeed," Smith replied haughtily. "Remember, you are a defeated nation. Your fate lies in our hands. You can only protect yourselves when we permit it. Do you understand?"

Akado fell silent, the weight of the victor's power and arrogance pressing upon him. Born into adversity, he was all too familiar with such humiliations. He recalled the infamous Manchu officials who, even with a shred of self-respect, found such conditions deeply wounding.

However, he could not afford to show weakness or wallow in sentimentality. Lifting his head, he locked eyes with Smith once more and pressed, "This 'we' you speak of—does it include many nations, like France? Are the British Empire and France truly inseparable?"

"Of course, we align ourselves with powerful allies. Or rather, we stand with justice and truth," Smith declared, wagging his finger.

"When France potentially dominates Europe, echoing the glory of Emperor Napoleon and threatening British supremacy, I hope you'll maintain that stance," Akado countered as he descended the steps. "This time, it may be a German, Akado Rudolph, who suffers at the hands of the French, but should the French dominate the continent, it will be His Majesty George V who falls."

"Wait!" Smith interjected, extending his hand. "Please, wait." Akado paused, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, at the royal palace, Queen Wilhelmina's office door was knocked upon before several royal ministers and parliamentary officials entered. "Your Majesty, we have considered the French condemnation and decided to disregard it," announced a parliamentary official. "This decision protects the fundamental rights and interests of the people of the Kingdom of Holland. We hope for your support."

"I've always known the French to be insatiable," Queen Wilhelmina remarked, setting down her pen and standing to address her subjects. "They once demanded that I surrender Emperor Wilhelm, which I refused. Now, they want our technology and assets, and my response remains a refusal. Long live the Kingdom of the Netherlands!"

"Your wisdom is as luminous as the stars! Long live the Kingdom of the Netherlands," echoed the ministers and officials, bowing deeply.

Hours later, the Dutch government issued a statement, "The great Kingdom of the Netherlands has decided not to interfere with any technical cooperation between Dutch and German companies, nor to establish joint ventures that serve Dutch interests. We completely disregard the unreasonable demands of the French government, and we are disappointed and regret the arrogance and presumptuousness of France."

Krupp's strategy had paid off. When he first established the Hiv's ivs company, selling 49% to Dutch capitalists including Clark, he had not anticipated the French's attempt to destroy the company and seize its technology and workers. However, the Dutch, having profited handsomely, did not disappoint. They launched a fierce counterattack against the French, condemning their arrogance and issuing economic threats, embarrassing the French government.

Back in Berlin, in front of the British Embassy, Akado and Smith stood on the steps, facing each other. Akado stopped and turned to Smith, who had reached out to stop him. "You are correct, General Akado Rudolph. A Europe dominated by France does not serve the interests of the British Empire. I am persuaded by your argument," Smith finally broke the silence, nodding. "I will telegraph London for instructions on how to handle this matter."

"It's not too late. I believe I already know the answer, which will allow us to counter the French ambitions in Europe," Akado responded. "May I come in and sit down?"

"Of course! At this moment, you are my esteemed guest, General. Please, join me. I've prepared some excellent coffee for you," Smith invited, gesturing towards the interior of the embassy.

Half an hour later, as Akado savored the coffee personally brewed by Smith, the Colonel was summoned by his secretary to receive a top-secret telegram from Britain. The message was clear and in plain English: "Colonel Smith, the British Empire cannot condone a France unshackled and dominating Europe. It is in the best interest of the British Empire to support a Germany of considerable strength. The Dutch government's stance is clear, and the French must not succeed. We stand with the victors, and thus, we choose to support Germany. God bless the British Empire and long live His Majesty George V."

After reading, Smith instructed his secretary, "Destroy this immediately. Burn it yourself," before returning to the reception room with a renewed smile.

"Would you like another glass? Isn't it splendid weather today?" Smith offered, his tone friendly and warm.

Akado set his coffee cup down, nodding. "It seems you haven't received orders to shoot me, correct?"

Smith chuckled. "The French won't have British support this time. They lack sufficient evidence, at least according to the information we've received. So, it seems the tables have turned... Now, General Akado Rudolph, since Britain has aided Germany, what benefits does Germany intend to offer in return?"

"The German Navy had plans to build five armored ships, with three currently under construction. We will cancel the remaining two, 'Prussia' and 'Admiral Ludwig,' to demonstrate that we do not seek to challenge British naval supremacy in the Atlantic," Akado explained, producing documents from his briefcase. "Furthermore, Germany will not launch any naval vessels larger than heavy cruisers for the next three years. How does that sound?"

"Your generosity exceeds my expectations, General Akado! I truly hope you remain in power in Germany so that our nations may become very friendly partners," Smith replied, evidently pleased.

"Additionally, the maximum caliber of artillery on German destroyers will not exceed 88mm, ensuring the German Navy remains a regional force rather than a decisive oceanic power," Akado added with a laugh. "Thus, Germany is no longer a challenger to British sea power but a supporter, relying on British strength to safeguard its own rights."

"Supporters! I like that term very much! Now that the National Defense Force has prepared such an attractive bargaining chip, let's discuss your conditions," Smith said, his eyes bright with anticipation.

This condition excited him, as if the German Navy capitulated, then the United Kingdom could conserve more resources to contend with the rising Japanese Navy in the Far East and the watchful American Navy across the ocean.

Germany urgently needs to revise the Versailles Peace Treaty. Just as British maritime interests are inviolable, Germany's borders require similar security assurances. We must justify the expansion of a defense force to counter threats from Poland and the Soviet Union. Given the increasing aggressiveness of France, Germany needs the strength to protect itself from potential aggression," stated Akado, his gaze fixed on Smith, who appeared somewhat embarrassed by the conversation.

Smith remained silent, contemplating the situation. He was keen on facilitating a naval agreement between Germany and Britain to alleviate the strain on British naval construction. The First World War had already severely taxed British finances, and maintaining the world's largest navy was no small feat. However, if Germany could be persuaded to scale back its naval ambitions, even slightly, the British navy could redirect resources to counter the growing naval forces of Italy and the United States.

After a lengthy consideration, Smith finally spoke, "Are you certain this defense force will only be stationed along the border between Germany and Poland? And that it won't be excessively large?"

"Our neighbor, Poland, maintains 600,000 regular troops and over 1,000 aircraft. Do you think our request is excessive? If the British government understands our position, then Germany will expand its forces by 100,000 troops solely to counter threats from the East. None of these soldiers will be deployed to the German-French border. However, we do require at least one armored unit and a few aircraft," Akado explained, pulling out a document and handing it to Smith, signaling him to take a look.

Smith glanced at the cover and froze; the document was titled "Pluto Project." He excitedly grabbed the document and scrutinized the terms. It detailed Germany's plan to secretly arm 250,000 soldiers in response to the growing threats from the East and the aggressiveness of France. The plan merely expanded the Defense Force to a reasonable extent, ensuring it had adequate defensive capabilities. Smith was particularly relieved to see that most of the German naval expansion plans under the "Pluto Project" involved only some destroyers intended for port defense, with artillery calibers largely being minor, mostly 150 mm. Furthermore, even the 150mm caliber cannons were to be discarded in favor of the less threatening 88mm guns. As for torpedoes, their range was negligible compared to the British cannons' 20-kilometer range, rendering them practically useless.

"I must report to London before I can give you an answer," Colonel Smith stated, closing the document and standing up.

Akado pointed to the "Pluto Project" document in Smith's hand and said, "I would appreciate it if I could take that back. For the German Wehrmacht, this is a confidential document. I wouldn't have shown it to a foreign official under normal circumstances."

"Since you've already shown it to me, it might as well stay with me. I need it to persuade our officials," Smith argued, waving the document.

"Very well! I hope this document will foster peace," Akado sighed resignedly.

"Peace... Oh, peace," Smith murmured as he walked over to his liquor cabinet, took out two glasses, poured whiskey into each, handed one to Akado, and then raised his own glass, "To peace."

"To peace!" Akado replied with a smile, raising his glass.

Meanwhile, the French were completely taken aback. In Germany, there was overwhelming criticism regarding the "Peace of Versailles." Demonstrations against the burdens imposed by France on Germany were rampant. Germans boycotted French goods, refrained from eating French food, and there were even attacks on French nationals in the streets. If it were only Germany in conflict with France, the situation might have been more manageable. However, the Netherlands sided with Germany, causing France a minor setback. Subsequently, the British expressed understanding towards Germany's situation, with some lawmakers even proposing amendments to the "Peace of Versailles."

After a series of diplomatic efforts, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs portrayed Germany as a victimized nation, eliciting widespread international sympathy. France soon found itself increasingly isolated. The Netherlands, unwilling to compromise its interests, helped Germany destroy incriminating evidence, leaving France momentarily without a means to retaliate. The Dutch statement was a direct affront to France.

The German Wehrmacht then stepped forward to clarify the situation, asserting that there was no intention to violate the "Versailles Peace Treaty." They highlighted the logistical challenges of patrolling the extensive German border, which garnered support from journalists worldwide for the German National Defense Forces. The support from Britain further complicated France's position. Germany's unilateral compromise with Britain satisfied the British, and the strategy of substituting naval strength with army strength aligned with British interests. Britain had always preferred Germany and France to be preoccupied with each other, keeping their focus away from naval expansions.

Belgium, observing the British stance, also shifted its allegiance to Germany by the afternoon, even calling British and French ambassadors to propose a revision to the "Versailles Peace Treaty" alongside Germany. Subsequently, German President Hindenburg delivered a speech at the Presidential Palace, urging the German people to break free from their shackles and warmly accepting the Belgian envoy's proposal to revise the "Versailles Peace Treaty" once more, vigorously advocating the unparalleled friendship between Germany, Belgium, and Britain. At the end of his speech, he made a personal appointment, naming Major Akkado Rudolf as the Chief of the General Staff of the German Wehrmacht, entrusting him with the responsibility of negotiating with representatives from the three countries.

Under the guidance and influence of the United Kingdom, and amidst a mix of Japan's hypocrisy and France's numerous diplomatic blunders, negotiations stretched over five months. Finally, the New Versailles Contract was adopted in December 1925, with the joint arms control committee beginning its implementation immediately. The German National Defense Army emerged as the biggest beneficiary, with almost all clauses modified to give the army officers a sense of rebirth.

The new contract stipulated that the German Army could maintain a force of 250,000 personnel and use automatic weapons such as light machine guns and submachine guns without restrictions. It permitted the German Wehrmacht to equip 200 tanks weighing less than 20 tons, and the number of armored vehicles and cars was not explicitly limited. Another significant relaxation allowed Germany to establish an army aviation unit responsible for reconnaissance along the German border and for transporting important military personnel. This unit was permitted to equip 40 speed-limited biplanes and 10 transport aircraft.

The negotiations with France led to provisions that catered to French national sentiments. Germany was still prohibited from deploying armed forces in the Rhine Demilitarized Zone, and troops stationed on the German-French border could not exceed 30,000, spread across two divisions. Additionally, more than 100,000 regular German troops would be dispersed along the German border and were not allowed to move closer to the French border.

Despite these restrictions, Akado turned this disadvantageous situation into an effective counterattack. He broke the "Versailles Contract" and paved the way for further expansion of the Wehrmacht. Firstly, the acknowledgment of a 250,000-strong National Defense Force and the visibility of over 100,000 troops effectively alleviated the previously fragile secret funding system of the Defense Fund. The government could now openly fund at least 100,000 soldiers' salaries and equipment costs, instead of relying on privately raised funds.

Moreover, Germany was permitted to update its light and automatic weapons, significantly advancing the modernization of the German Wehrmacht infantry. Outdated and bulky weapons, such as the Maktin heavy machine gun, could finally be retired. Secondly, the allowance for the German force to use aircraft, albeit a modest total of 50, represented a significant leap from zero. This enabled the German Wehrmacht system to openly train and recruit its own pilots without needing to conceal their activities.

The most encouraging development was that Germany was allowed to build its own armored force. Although the number was less than one-fifth of Poland's, the National Defense Force could now purchase its own tanks and establish its own armored personnel training, which was far more straightforward than the previous covert operations in the mountainous regions of southern Bavaria.

After the negotiations concluded, the news reached Germany, and Major Actor Rudolph instantly became a national hero. His photograph, standing alone with his back to the camera in front of a group of diplomats from Britain, France, and Belgium, graced the front page of a major newspaper. The headline in the Deutsches Zeitung was particularly striking, featuring the photo with the caption "Who Will Follow Behind This Man," and it quickly became a bestseller. The newspaper was reprinted ten times and was still in high demand.

Across Germany, people took to the streets chanting Akado's name and gathered in front of the coalition arms control committee building for an extended period, unwilling to leave. This time, instead of hurling objects inside, they raised their right hands high, their fingers pointing at a fifteen-degree angle towards the sky.

"Mold him as a god admired by thousands? A leader that drives everyone mad. Let these fanatics follow him," Jag? Hugo remarked, peering out the window at the parade crowd chanting Akado's name. He turned to Fanny, who was also observing the crowd from the window, and asked, "Is this what you wanted?"

"No! Not enough! These are not enough!" Fanny exclaimed excitedly, gasping for breath as she clutched the window ledge, "Next time, you will make him look even more handsome."