Chapter 30: The Sealed Power

The merger of Austria, a purely landlocked country, was obviously of no help to the navy. Since the Führer had insight into the British appeasement policy, his High Command did not even issue a readiness order to the German Navy—although the high command of the navy still prudently recalled officers on leave, discussions in the General Staff and various fleet headquarters were mostly relaxed regarding the recent actions of the army:

"Hey, I heard General Guderian's tanks broke down all the way and by the time they reached Vienna, there was less than a regiment left! It wasn't the Austrians that hindered the logistics vehicles along the way, but these broken-down tanks!"

"It's said that the army rushed out without enough supplies this time, so they had to buy food from the Austrians while advancing into Austria. Fortunately, the Austrians welcomed the German army very much. If it really turned into a fight, oh, that would be terrible!"

...

Zhang Hainuo, who also served as the Chief of Staff of the main fleet, assisted Admiral William Marshall in commanding the main fleet composed of three Germania-class battleships, three Konigsberg-class cruisers, and the cruiser Leipzig. In the spring of 1938, the assets of the German Navy's surface fleet were not even comparable to one of the British's sub-fleets, but with two Schanhorst-class ships, three Admiral Hipper-class ships nearing completion, and the Bismarck-class scheduled to be launched in a year, the German surface fleet was gradually returning to its glorious era.

In accordance with the action instructions issued by the High Command to "avoid provoking the British," during the nearly one-month period from the entry of German troops into Austrian territory to the joint referendum of Germany and Austria, the ships of the German main fleet mostly remained quietly in Kiel Harbor, except for two Konigsberg-class ships that formed a formation and entered the southern part of the Baltic Sea for routine patrols in late March.

In the German-Austrian merger incident, the army, especially Guderian's tank division, was in the limelight, but the most dazzling star was undoubtedly Adolf Hitler, who was of Austrian descent. April 20th was his 49th birthday. In accordance with the instructions of the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Propaganda, a grand birthday banquet was specially held for the Führer at the Imperial Chancellery, and invitations were sent to various military and political figures as well as many foreign ambassadors. As one of the most popular figures in the navy at the moment, Zhang Hainuo also went to Berlin with other naval officers to celebrate Hitler's birthday.

The headquarters of the German main fleet was located in Kiel, so Zhang Hainuo had to fly to Berlin a day earlier with Fleet Admiral Marshall and other senior officers stationed in Kiel. The aircraft used to transport these senior naval officers was a Ju-52 belonging to the Navy, the famous "Auntie Ju". This ugly-looking aircraft had three engines and corrugated aluminum skin, with a sharp-edged fuselage silhouette and the unique two-stage flaps of Junkers. Sturdy landing gear struts extended from the fuselage.

Sitting in the relatively comfortable cabin of this aircraft, Zhang Hainuo suddenly had a strange thought: if this plane crashed due to a malfunction, wouldn't the navy lose a group of elites because of it? Would history return to its old path?

He looked around. In addition to Fleet Admiral Marshall, who had become his immediate superior, there was also General Rolf Karls, the commander of the Kiel Naval Base—this person was a friend of Rader's and one of the upright officers in the navy. He despised political actions but respected the Führer, who was able to solve Germany's economic problems and achieve corresponding international status.

In the back row of Zhang Hainuo sat two heavyweight figures from the submarine force: Roderick von Hessen and Karl von Dönitz. Von Hessen had just been promoted to rear admiral last year and was still the head of the submarine force. His performance in submarine production and personnel arrangements far exceeded Zhang Hainuo's expectations—perhaps his abilities in this area had been well exercised during his time at the Schneider shipyard, but Zhang Hainuo had simply not paid much attention to it.

Von Hessen's excellence did not overshadow Dönitz's talent in submarines. The two former competitors had grown to appreciate and respect each other more during their long work together, and their cooperation had become increasingly better. Dönitz's current rank was equal to Zhang Hainuo's, but he had already demonstrated his outstanding abilities in submarine training and exercises. Once the war broke out, his merits and honors would surely come rolling in with the excellent performance of the elite submarine force. This was beyond doubt.

Under the joint management of von Hessen and Dönitz, the German submarine force, with 47 submarines of various sizes, had become one of the most elite forces in the German Navy—almost comparable to the main force in the eyes of most people. Among them, the most eye-catching was the U-36, which had just completed its circumnavigation. This submarine was the largest ever built by the Schneider shipyard—it was based on the U-139 class submarine of the German Empire and combined with the latest technology to develop a 2500-ton class ocean-going submarine. In addition to its strong cruising capabilities, it was also equipped with new sonar and experimental submarine radar from the Gema company. What made the navy even more proud was that the U-36 had never entered a land-based port for replenishment during its voyage: German supply ships deployed overseas provided it with the fuel and food supplies it needed at sea! After returning to port, Captain Walenkh and the entire crew were commended, but this record-breaking voyage was not announced to the public for security reasons.

In addition, the newly commissioned U-43 and U-44 were secretly equipped with experimental snorkels (the Dutch Navy had tested this equipment on its two submarines in 1938, and Germany accidentally obtained this technology after occupying the Netherlands), which meant that the German Navy had re-emerged as a world leader in submarine technology after 20 years.

In the rear of the cabin of this "Auntie Ju", there were also seven naval colonels and lieutenant colonels, who were either tactical experts or strong in naval technology. It can be said that the elite of the Kiel Naval Base was mostly concentrated here. However, during the several hours of flight from Kiel to Berlin, this three-engine aircraft flew smoothly and made a very smooth landing, completely dispelling Zhang Hainuo's "delusions".

The banquet on the 20th was indeed unprecedentedly grand. The hall under the dome was gorgeous like the temple of Zeus, and the marble floor made people feel insignificant at all times. On the snow-white walls, huge vertical banners were exceptionally eye-catching due to their bright red backgrounds and white circles with black letters. They were like special flags in religious rituals, making people feel respectful as soon as they entered the hall.

The host had not yet appeared, but the hall was already lively: hundreds of guests from all walks of life were chatting happily in groups of three or five, and the waiters in pure white dresses shuttled among the crowd, serving drinks and snacks to elegantly dressed ladies and gentlemen. Looking around, the fine jewelry sparkling on the necks of the ladies, their snow-white ample bosoms, and the noble and elegant long dresses were becoming increasingly captivating, but the towering updos always seemed too stiff; the gentlemen either wore expensive evening dresses or military uniforms adorned with significant insignia, attracting attention.

At such gatherings, there were always ministers and generals present. Logically speaking, Zhang Hainuo was insignificant, but this seemed to be his wishful thinking.

"Hey, Hainuo, good evening!" Rudolf Hess, the Minister of the Interior of the Empire and currently the number two figure in the National Socialist Party, as well as one of the main organizers of the evening banquet, greeted Zhang Hainuo warmly from afar. Although he didn't neglect the old veterans among the naval officers, his tone towards the two groups was quite different—formalities versus greetings between old friends, the difference was obvious.

"Good evening, esteemed Minister!"

In the presence of many naval officers, Zhang Hainuo deliberately formalized such greetings, but Hess took the initiative to fetch him a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter, then proceeded to chat with him about their recent experiences as if there was no one else around. Compared to Zhang Hainuo's nervousness, the envy of those around him was palpable. It was known that the Führer had designated Rudolf Hess as his first successor in his political will (historically, Göring was first, and Hess was second). Although the age and health of the Reich Chancellor currently did not raise concerns about the will, it at least reflected the current hierarchy within the Imperial government.

Fortunately, Rödel was well aware of Zhang Hainuo's longstanding private connections with these National Socialist Party members. Zhang Hainuo attributed his acquaintance with them to a chance encounter while searching for Anna, a point that was easily acceptable to the politically conservative Admiral. More importantly, compared to the army, the navy currently maintained a high degree of purity in domestic political struggles, a situation that pleased Rödel himself and effectively proved Zhang Hainuo's personal promise to him—not to interfere in political events and not to engage in political activities within the navy.

The question of whether the third-ranking figure in the National Socialist Party was the Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, or the leader of the SS, Hans Lammers, was a subject of debate among the crowd. However, one thing was certain: both of these men held high positions within the party and wielded considerable influence. Goebbels was the Nazi propaganda machine, handling almost all mass speeches other than those attended by the Führer himself, and he and Hess almost exclusively managed other public speaking engagements, frequently addressing the entire nation over the radio. Since the purge of the SA, the SS had replaced the SA as the party's primary armed force, controlling the most terrifying secret police and internal intelligence agencies in Germany. As the head of this armed organization, Hans Lammers was not as vocal as Goebbels, but his calm and down-to-earth demeanor was exactly what Hitler valued, so much so that another power seeker, Himmler, could only transfer to the SA for development— and because of the lessons learned from the Röhm Purge, they were subject to many restrictions, effectively becoming ordinary enforcers to maintain order. In the upcoming "Night of Broken Glass," they would play an unrewarding role.

Regardless of whether there was a power struggle between Goebbels and Lammers, both men held highly consistent attitudes towards the naval officers, which was also related to Hitler's recent attention to naval construction. Similarly, as longtime acquaintances, they both individually greeted Zhang Hainuo, further enhancing his status among the naval officers—although some used this as a reason to accuse him of being a spy sent by the National Socialist Party to infiltrate the navy, such rumors and attacks seemed feeble and powerless in the face of authority.

"Hainuo, do you remember those old friends who left the team in 1919?" In a normal conversation, Hans Lammers, also known as Edwin, interjected with a plain expression.

How could Zhang Hainuo forget those 12 comrades who left the team? After returning home, he had tried to contact them, but since they had agreed to disappear after returning home, there had been no news from them.

"I remember, are you saying..."

"Some of our old friends are in trouble. Someone is trying to use this to expose our secrets. We need to find an opportunity to discuss this issue, but not here!" Edwin said with a smile, and this smile effectively concealed the content of their conversation.

Zhang Hainuo understood what he meant and smiled, "Alright, I wish you a pleasant evening!"

The two clinked their glasses and went about their business as if nothing had happened.

At 7:30 in the evening, today's birthday star, the magnificent host of this hall, and the center of attention for all, Adolf Hitler, the Chancellor of the Empire and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, appeared amidst enthusiastic applause. As usual, he delivered a speech to the audience. For the first half-hour, he recounted his struggles over the past 49 years—clearly, many details were embellished and exaggerated, but most people listened with rapt attention. After that, he shifted his focus and, in extremely optimistic terms, looked ahead to Germany's future. In front of many foreign friends, he talked about peace, claiming that the merger of Germany and Austria was merely an internal matter of the Germanic people and could contribute to ensuring peace in Europe. He reiterated Germany's commitment to improving people's lives and raising the standard of living, a fact that was internationally recognized—by the late 1930s, Germany's infant mortality rate was even lower than that of Britain, and while countries like Britain, France, and the United States were still worrying about large numbers of unemployed and frequent strikes, Germany's unemployment rate had dropped to an astonishing three percent, and there had been no serious strikes since Hitler came to power!

This speech began and ended with applause. It was evident that even many foreigners regarded Hitler as a legendary figure in Europe: as in history, before the outbreak of the great war, many people thought he was a political genius, but they did not see through his terrifying war ambitions and evil intentions in anti-Semitism hidden beneath his hypocritical facade.

With so many flattering words, Hitler could only exchange a few words with each person at most. An hour later, he left, citing participation in the torchlight procession with the SA and the public. This time, Zhang Hainuo finally breathed a sigh of relief. If the Führer came over to chat with him publicly again, those naval officers would look at him with jealous eyes!

Not only in Berlin, but many cities in Germany held spontaneous torchlight processions that night, which was also a traditional celebration of the National Socialist Party.

The next day, most of the naval officers who had come from Kiel stayed in Berlin. On the one hand, they took this opportunity to report to the Naval Command Headquarters, and on the other hand, they attended a symposium on the Navy's ten-year shipbuilding plan. Currently, the German Navy has four large warships under construction, and the question of whether to build more large warships to rapidly enhance naval power or to focus on constructing smaller, more maneuverable warships and submarines has become increasingly pressing since entering 1938. Naval officers are divided on this issue. Vice Admiral Kjell Guse, along with most other officers, believes that Germany should construct more large warships to rapidly boost naval strength. However, Colonel Helms Heyer, Chief of Naval Staff and former head of overseas projects, proposes a radically different plan. He suggests that the German Navy should strive to surpass its adversaries in flexibility. He warns that blindly focusing on large warship construction could lead to a naval arms race reminiscent of the pre-war era, where Germany's shipbuilding capabilities could not surpass those of Britain.

The choice of plan depends significantly on which countries the Navy considers potential adversaries. Prior to this, the primary target identified by the Imperial Chancellor was the ambitious neighbor, Poland. However, even before the four large warships are commissioned, the German Navy's current strength already surpasses that of Poland, and it is far more modernized than the Polish Navy's aging fleet.

Therefore, Rear Admiral Rader consults with the Chancellor. Given Britain's unfriendly attitude during the German-Austrian merger, Hitler instructs the Navy to prepare for potential confrontation with strong adversaries in the future.

In Europe, Germany's traditional naval adversaries are singular.

The Chancellor's vague political language does not decisively influence naval planning. Debates within the Navy continue. Before a realistic plan is developed by the planning committee, Zhang Hainuo decides to address his own issues first. For this reason, he meets Edvin at the estate near Berlin where he secretly met with Hitler initially. There, he reunites with two old comrades he hasn't seen in over nineteen years: Klaus Schmidt, former U-148 medical officer, and Proll Frayne, former U-21 gunnery commander.

This reunion, under such circumstances, perhaps was not anticipated by anyone initially. Nineteen years apart makes it feel like a lifetime. The former captains, now a German Navy Rear Admiral and a political player, respectively, appear alongside the other two, who have grown portly but sharp-eyed, embodying a merchant's demeanor.

"You mean Schleim's subordinates are investigating this matter and hope to topple you, an old adversary?"

After hearing Edvin's brief introduction, Zhang Hainuo's intuition is confirmed.

Seated on the large sofa, Edvin, with his legs crossed, calmly states, "Yes, Schmidt and Frayne followed our original agreement and went abroad. They chose Austria, but now it seems that this choice wasn't wise. In recent years, we have been infiltrating Austria continuously, with numerous intelligence agents and stormtroopers operating there. It's not surprising that they were discovered by Schleim's men. Schleim has been interested in our experiences from very early on. Although there's no concrete evidence yet, I believe he has gathered a lot of information unfavorable to us.

"Schleim..."

Zhang Hainuo initially had no fondness for the "chicken farmer," but at that time, he was already the Deputy Leader of the SS, and therefore, it was inconvenient to act against him. Now, the situation has confirmed his initial speculation – this man is not one to settle for the status quo. Although the stormtroopers once faced the dilemma of being disbanded, their vast scale could still be utilized.

"Is there any chance to get rid of him?"

"It's difficult!" Edvin shakes his head. "After the Röhm incident, everyone has become extremely cautious in their actions. Moreover, Schleim is currently working hard in front of the Chancellor, Hess, and Goebbels. Apart from some moral shortcomings in his personal life, he doesn't have any other handles that the secret police can use against him! If we were to carry out an assassination operation, the stormtroopers' security measures are quite strict now, and we might end up being bitten back by them!"

Political maneuvering is something Zhang Hainuo is not suited for, and he is also glad he didn't act against Göring when he was down and out. The name Göring is rarely mentioned in the National Socialist Party today, and as for the mysterious former major, he has long been uprooted by Edvin's intelligence department and the secret police. It can be said that in this world, besides him and Edvin, there is no third person who knows the secret behind this matter.

"You don't have to worry too much about this. Although we cannot permanently resolve this issue for the time being, my people are closely monitoring the stormtroopers' activities. As soon as they make a move, we will be able to respond promptly. I've asked you here today to discuss another matter related to this. Schmidt operates a chemical plant in northern Austria and has investments in Switzerland; Frayne engages in commerce in the south and now has considerable resources. Regarding those who left the team midway, I have an incomplete dossier here. Take a look!"

With that, Edvin hands over a dossier. Zhang Hainuo opens it and sees familiar names listed:

Gilbert Jank, returned to the country in 1919, relocated to Switzerland with his family that year, currently operates a large machinery factory and a chocolate processing plant in southern Switzerland;

Setz Kross, returned to the country in 1919, relocated to the Netherlands with his family that year, one of the wealthiest shipbuilders in the country, owns two large shipyards;

Berthold Vaughn, relocated to Sweden with his family in 1919, currently operates a large iron smelting plant, his wife is a descendant of a local noble family;

Heller Strawn, relocated to Portugal with his family in 1919, a foreign trader with close ties to the Portuguese political scene;

Dutchie Schneider, relocated to Denmark with his family in 1919, owner of Crown Shipping Company, with 7 passenger ships and 22 cargo ships under his name.

For those who left the team midway, with significant funds as backing, as long as they are not overly extravagant, it is reasonable for them to pursue careers. After carefully reviewing this information, Zhang Hainuo looks up, awaiting Edvin's further explanation.

"These five people, along with Schmidt and Frayne, are those we have information on. Additionally, there are five others whose whereabouts remain unknown to this day. Barring any unexpected circumstances, it can be said that their methods of hiding their identities are quite sophisticated!" Edvin says. "Hainuo, I'd like to hear your opinion. Should we let them continue their current lives, or should we gather them early for protection, both for them and their families, while also better leveraging their strengths? The model operated by the Aegean Consortium has proven to be very successful!"

Zhang Hainuo thinks for a moment, then turns to Schmidt and Frayne. "What do you think?"

Schmidt, once with a head of beautiful blonde hair, now showing signs of resource depletion, responded quickly, "Although our lives have been affluent for these past dozen years, there always seemed to be something missing. Looking back now, it's probably a sense of belonging!"

"I wouldn't mind if life continued like this!" Formerly fond of guns and artillery, Frien, now a successful businessman, raised his right hand, clenched into a fist. "But when faced with threats, I personally feel it's very necessary to unite our former comrades and make our enemies retreat!"

While their expressions differed, the two ultimately pointed to the same conclusion, which was also what Zhang Hainuo had in mind. He said, "It's time to gather everyone together to discuss this matter! It's very worthwhile to create a powerful industrial conglomerate based on everyone's experience in various industries!"

Edwin nodded, then added, "There's another matter, Hainuo, concerning you! You should remember your former fiancée, Fenna Lübeck!"

"That's a distant name! What about her?" Zhang Hainuo couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Since leading the crew of U-148 on their adventurous journey, he hadn't seen the icy beauty again—especially considering that newspapers had erroneously reported his death as Hainuo von Fenkenstein. She wasn't obligated to adhere to that almost meaningless engagement.

"She inherited a quarter of the Lübeck family's fortune, and from her deceased husband, she obtained four department stores, nine large shops, and a 3.3% stake in the Hanover Bank, which amounts to about 15 million marks!" Edwin said without obvious bias.

Zhang Hainuo spread his hands, "For a woman, isn't that very fortunate? I imagine she has more suitors now than she did 20 years ago!"

"The problem is she seems to have noticed you, Hainuo von Fenkenstein, the German Navy Rear Admiral and Chief of the Main Fleet!"

"Me? We're both married. Is there still a connection?"

Although Zhang Hainuo asked this, he remembered that since crossing into this era, he hadn't properly investigated that engagement or the traditional customs of Prussia regarding such engagements.

Edwin crossed his arms and looked earnestly at Zhang Hainuo, "My subordinates told me she mentioned your engagement at a gathering with friends! She married because your death was registered in the newspapers, thus automatically canceling the engagement. But you, Hainuo, knew you were still alive! More importantly, when you married Anna in 1921, she was still unmarried. According to engagement customs, you should have declared the cancellation of the engagement with her in advance. Hainuo, I must remind you, the Navy's conservatism in personal conduct is no less than that of the Army. If we can't resolve this issue well, I'm afraid someone will use it to replicate a Blomberg or Fritsch incident in the Navy!"