Sewing Needle Plan

*Ding, Ding, Ding.* The sound of knocking echoed as Akado's office door was rapped upon. Setting down the pen he had been holding, Akado stretched languidly and called out, "Come in."

Akado had been exceedingly busy of late. He had hurried to Bavaria to observe the latest tank attack experiments conducted by Guderian, and thereafter made a bold prediction about the future equipment of the German armored forces. His predictions led to the production of the P-3 tank, which would later be renowned as the No. 3 tank. However, due to technical issues, Akado made some modifications to the original design. He replaced the planned 50-mm anti-tank gun with a 75-mm short-barrel gun, initially intended for infantry support. Due to the increased size of the artillery, and the delayed turret development, Akado opted for a turret-less design, leading to the creation of what would later be known as the No. 3 assault gun, an evolution from the initial No. 3 tank design. Akado, unhesitant, named this new model the "No. 3 assault gun" instead of the originally intended "No. 3 tank." Yet, the German designers, in a playful defiance, continued to refer to it as the P-3 tank—clinging to the original designation.

Unlike the French tanks of the same era, the German P-3 tank was designed with a standard crew of four: the captain, the gunner, the radioman, and the driver. In contrast, most French tanks at that time typically had only two crew members: the captain and the driver. With financial backing from Japanese investors, Daimler-Benz had commenced mass production of this unique turret-less tank, and Akado's National Defence Force was soon to be equipped with this superior model.

As Akado invited him in, the door swung open to reveal Lieutenant Colonel Gascol, one of Akado's trusted aides and the head of the Defence Force's intelligence agency. 

"Long live Big Germany," Gascol greeted, extending his right hand in a crisp new military salute.

"Oh! Lieutenant Colonel Gascol, what brings you here?" Akado leaned back in his chair, his interest piqued.

"News from the Far East," Gascol began, his tone cautious. "There are two pieces of information, and one might not be favorable for us."

Akado's interest deepened, and he glanced at the calendar—a habit he had developed to remember the dates of significant historical events. It was March 14, 1925.

"The first piece of news is that on March 12, the forces under Mr. Jiang Jieshi secured a victory over Lin Hu's headquarters in just seven hours. Most of the weaponry used is linked to us, affirming the reliability of our arms," Gascol reported.

He then glanced at a document in his hand and continued, "The second piece of news is that on the same day, March 12, Mr. Sun Yat-sen, the leader of Mr. Jiang Jieshi, passed away in Beijing."

Akado exhaled sharply, processing the mixed emotions the news stirred within him. After a moment, he responded, "The death of Chiang Kai-shek's mentor might not be entirely negative. From now on, we can align ourselves with the most influential figures in southern China."

"Go, please invite Mr. Krupp who has just arrived in Berlin," Akado instructed, signaling the end of their discussion.

"Yes, sir!" Gascol acknowledged before exiting the office.

Krupp had returned to Berlin the previous night after a tour inspecting the proliferation of party members across various locales as the Deputy Chairman of the German Party. With over 700,000 members, control over numerous major German corporations, and influence over more than half of the National Defence Forces, the German Party was a formidable political force.

When Krupp entered Akado's office, he found Akado curled up on the sofa, lightly snoring. Attempting to leave quietly, Krupp's movement caused the old floorboards to creak, rousing Akado.

"Oh, Mr. Krupp, you're here. Please, have a seat. You've been traveling extensively across Germany," Akado said, his voice groggy.

Krupp coughed lightly and waved off the concern, "You really push yourself hard. The economy of this country rests on your shoulders, and military development depends solely on you. You're involved in everything from industry to political diplomacy."

He looked at the now more alert Akado and added somewhat exasperatedly, "Tell me, how many hours do you manage to sleep each day?"

"Yesterday, I managed about five hours, so today I'm in fairly good shape, just a bit dizzy so I took a short rest," Akado replied with a smile. Despite not having celebrated his birthday yet for the year, he was nearly 27, but his workload was equivalent to that of three generals of the National Defence Forces combined.

"You should take proper rest. I suggest you find a private secretary to manage your daily schedule. Otherwise, your agenda looks horrendous. I can't even keep up," Krupp advised, his tone a mix of concern and frustration. "Do you need me to recommend someone? I know both men and women who could do the job."

Hearing Krupp's mention of women, Akado smiled wryly, "Alright, Krupp. I know you're anxious about me not taking time out for personal matters, but I think I can manage a day off soon."

"Okay! You always deflect," Krupp chuckled, acknowledging the need for someone close to Akado to serve as an indispensable liaison for their group.

Shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, Akado pondered for a moment before asking, "Krupp, how is our 'Sewing Needle Plan' progressing?"

"I thought you weren't going to ask about that anymore," Krupp replied casually, his expression relaxed. "Honestly, I don't personally have high hopes for this secretive plan."

"So my involvement makes it worth your while, right?" Akado grinned, "Otherwise, why would you support me?"

Krupp nodded, "I have great faith in your vision. You've proven to have an extraordinary mind, especially in weapon manufacturing and industrial production methods. The solutions you've provided have saved me millions of dollars, and that's a key reason for my unwavering support."

Akado laughed heartily, "You're quite straightforward. Is there no other reason?"

"There are others, but they're less tangible. For instance, I personally admire you, and perhaps there's a bit of a gamble in my emotions," Krupp explained, gesturing expressively.

"Alright, alright! Krupp! People say you lack a sense of humor, but I find you quite amusing. Let's set aside these matters and focus on the 'Sewing Needle Plan,'" Akado suggested with a smile.

Krupp took a moment before responding, "Since last month, I and a few completely reliable businessmen began stockpiling dollars and pounds. We've also acquired some yen and francs, though not as much... the total amounting to about 20 million."

He sighed, clearly regretting that the funds were no longer active, "You wouldn't believe how much we've lost! There have been complaints."

"I've said before, we haven't lost anything; we just haven't profited," Akado countered, slightly irritated by the grievances of these wealthy capitalists who constantly scrutinized his policies.

Krupp explained with a resigned tone, "General, you're not a traditional businessman. In our world, if money sits idle without generating profit, it's considered a loss."

"I'm not asking you to wait indefinitely, just until 1929," Akado stated confidently.

"Frankly, Akado. Even if something significant does happen in 1929, we only need to be prepared by 1928. Why start so early?" Krupp asked, puzzled.

"Starting a year in advance makes it too easy for the financial sharks to notice growth trends and interfere with our operations. Our resources are limited, and if those American tycoons catch wind of our plans, they'll devour us," Akado explained. "Moreover, we need to keep these funds off the books, hidden from everyone, including ourselves."

After a moment of contemplation, Krupp declared, "I've decided to stand by you on this and support you unconditionally. By the end of 1928, we'll meet and exceed the plan's target of 15 billion US dollars."

"Thank you," Akado expressed relief. With Krupp's backing, the Sewing Needle Plan would surely proceed smoothly.

"Don't thank me yet; I have a request," Krupp interjected with a smile. "I heard the National Defense Force is ramping up production of the P-3 assault guns?"

These capitalists had a keen sense of developments. Thinking this, Akado nodded reluctantly, "Yes, in a secret workshop at Daimler-Benz, there are already ten vehicles ready to be delivered to the National Defense Forces."

"Krupp should share some of the production responsibilities, right, Your Excellency?" Krupp inquired, seeking Akado's opinion.

"That's no problem, but once production of Krupp's new No. 4 tank begins, I hope Mr. Krupp will also allow Mercedes-Benz a share of the profits," Akado negotiated, ensuring benefits for his own interests.

"Happy cooperation," Krupp agreed with a smile.

"Happy cooperation!" Akado echoed, laughing along.