Chapter 36: We Will Rise Again

When the QuickStar once again slowly passed by the Statue of Liberty, it was already the early hours of June 22, 1919. Zhang Hainuo had grown to hate the American official in charge of the port permits, who wielded a lot of power but was indecisive in action. If it weren't for the risk of causing trouble and delaying the journey, Zhang Hainuo would have gladly gone up and given him a good beating.

This time, the rendezvous point for the QuickStar and U148 was set 120 nautical miles southeast of New York. There were no clear markings there, so Zhang Hainuo and his crew had to adjust their course while sailing using sextants and navigation charts. By midday, they were very close to the rendezvous point.

As they approached the designated meeting point, Zhang Hainuo's anxiety reached its peak. Would Hess and the others have already attacked British merchant ships? If so, his plans would be in jeopardy. Even if U148 was safe, the news of a German submarine still active in the Atlantic would spread worldwide in no time. The only safe place for the submarine would then be the ocean floor.

The QuickStar's silhouette and flags were recognizable, but Zhang Hainuo still instructed Gissel and the others to send out the predetermined light signals in the nearby area. However, it was daytime, and the lights were not as visible as they would be at night. This situation was bound to cause anxiety.

Three hours later, a black object resembling a whale surfaced thousands of meters to the starboard side of the QuickStar. Zhang Hainuo's heart, which had been hanging in the air for so long, finally settled down. After confirming that there were no other vessels nearby, Zhang Hainuo signaled for the crew to approach.

When Hess's figure appeared on the deck, Zhang Hainuo almost couldn't resist rushing up to give him a hug. But seeing his anxious expression, Zhang Hainuo's joy evaporated. It seemed they had learned about the Scapa Flow incident.

"The American radio says the German High Seas Fleet scuttled themselves. Is it true?" Hess tightly grasped Zhang Hainuo's arm, shaking it vigorously. He desperately hoped his comrade would tell him not to worry, that it was just American trickery.

Zhang Hainuo sighed deeply. "Rodrick, the news has been published in influential American newspapers today. I'm afraid it's true."

Hess stood there dumbfounded. Zhang Hainuo had only told him that the main force of the German High Seas Fleet and all the submarines would be detained by the British, but he hadn't revealed anything about Operation Rainbow. The immense sadness and anger he felt rushed to his heart.

After a while, Hess squeezed out a few words through his clenched teeth. "Why..."

Based on his understanding of that period of history, Zhang Hainuo explained to him, "It's said that there was a dispute between the representatives of the negotiating parties at the negotiating table. Our naval officers heard rumors that the war was about to resume. They were afraid the warships detained by the British would be used against Germany, so they decided to scuttle them at Scapa Flow."

Hess lowered his head and walked to the side of the ship, staring at the vast sea ahead. Meanwhile, the crew who boarded afterward crowded around Zhang Hainuo, asking about the telegrams. Seeing their familiar faces filled with anxiety and worry, Zhang Hainuo remained silent for a long while. Then, suddenly, he spoke up:

"The old German navy is dead, but we will eventually be reborn!"

The air around them fell silent for a moment, but Zhang Hainuo's words echoed in everyone's ears.

"The old German navy is dead, but we will rise again!"

Zhang Hainuo cleared his throat and shouted once more. This time, his voice carried far, far away...

"México has strong anti-American sentiments, making it more accepting of a group of Germans. The country is rich in precious metal resources, especially gold, silver, and copper mines. However, it has its drawbacks; it faced invasions by the United States in 1914 and 1916 and is still subject to economic blockade to some extent. Furthermore, México's industrial level is poor, and the overall quality of its people is low. The political situation is also complicated. Additionally, México has relatively heavy taxation."

Inside the dining room of the QuickStar, Zhang Hainuo and Hess, along with other officers, were discussing their next destination. Otto von Columbus, who was well-versed in geography and humanities, was introducing potential targets.

Considering the situation in the Americas, the United States and Canada were ruled out first. Countries like Cuba, Panama, and Guatemala, with small areas and scarce resources, were also unsuitable for their plans. After assessing political factors, the shortlisted countries were México, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

After Otto finished explaining México's situation, none of the officers spoke up. It was evident that they were not optimistic about settling there due to the American blockade and poor industrial development.

"Argentina has vast territory, with developed agriculture, animal husbandry, and relatively abundant coal and iron resources. Its industrialization is still in its infancy. Being the southernmost country in South America, it is out of sight of the Allied forces, and its domestic political situation is relatively stable. The majority of European immigrants are Italian and Spanish, and the tax burden is relatively light!"

"Brazil is the largest in geographical area and population among the four countries. Currently, agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry are its main industries, with rich iron ore reserves. It meets its own demands for oil and coal mines. Industrialization is just beginning, and it has numerous natural harbors, making it the leading trading nation in South America! It's worth noting that Brazil has a large number of German-descended residents, with about 500,000 before the outbreak of the war. Most of them are ordinary immigrants, but there are also commercial giants like Royal Cigar Manufacturer Dannemann! However, compared to other South American countries, Brazil has a relatively heavy overall tax burden!"

"Lastly, there's Chile. The country is long and narrow, with many natural harbors. Its domestic political situation is relatively stable, and its main industries include agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining. It has exceptionally rich copper, iron, coal, and saltpeter reserves, but its industrial level is low, and the taxation is similar to Argentina."

Before Zhang Hainuo and Hess spoke, none of the officers rushed to express their opinions. Due to their past experiences, most of them had relinquished their right to choose and retained only their voting rights, which was conducive to maintaining the stability of the team. But this also meant heavier responsibility for the two leaders.

After exchanging glances with Hess, Zhang Hainuo stood up to speak.

"My suggestion is to go to Brazil for very simple reasons. Although each of these four countries has its advantages and their resources can meet our basic needs, Brazil seems to offer the most promising prospects. Firstly, they are accelerating industrial development, making it easier for us to invest and set up shipyards. We would likely receive acceptance and support from their government. Secondly, I value the local German-descended residents, as employing them in our shipyards would undoubtedly be safer and more confidential than hiring Brazilians."

Zhang Hainuo's plans sounded simple, but they had only taken the first step. Many challenges lay ahead for them to overcome. They had just embarked on a long journey, with much more yet to come.