One more chance

At the Volkswagen plant in Constanta, Sodaval was engaged in a serious discussion with his longtime friend Nisidr about a new directive from the Ploiesti Machinery Plant to deploy Volkswagen personnel. Sodaval, a selected member of the team, was particularly affected by this move.

"What should I do now, Nisidel?" Sodaval, who had been living in the Volkswagen factory's housing, sought advice from his friend. They had both joined the Volkswagen car factory early in their careers and, being young, were still in the learning phase. Their competence had led them to be sent to a special training school for further education. Upon completion, both were appointed as team leaders in their respective workshops. Sodaval, due to his sharp intellect and eagerness to learn, had been promoted to deputy director of his workshop. At 22, he was considered young and promising.

"Did they offer you a raise with the transfer?" Nisidel inquired, focusing on what mattered most to him.

"Nisidel, you're already making 130 lei a month, are you still worried about money? Remember what our teacher said during training – at our age, we need to master enough skills to secure a solid footing," Sodaval replied, trying to shift the focus from money to career growth.

"You're more annoying than my mother with that talk. Besides, you earn 210 lei, can't I feel a bit jealous?" Nisidel responded, half-jokingly. He knew Sodaval meant well, but sometimes his advice was hard to swallow.

"Alright, I won't lecture you. This time, the staff transferred to management will get a 20% raise, and the workers only 10%. But you must go to Ploiesti, and you can't refuse," Sodaval shared the details he had learned.

"Does this mean you'll be able to buy a second car soon?" Nisidel asked after doing some quick math.

Over the past few years, Sodaval had used most of his salary to support his family. He had also managed to buy a low-priced Dongfeng truck from the factory, which was offered at 80% of the market price as a benefit to Volkswagen employees. This purchase had allowed his father to start a transport business, significantly improving the family's financial situation and enabling his younger siblings to attend school in town. His brother was now studying at a local middle school, and his sister was preparing to enter middle school as well.

Due to Romania's industrialization, even without increased government funding for education, people who had prospered were sending their school-age relatives to get educated. The number of elementary school students had risen from 506,000 in 1905 to 618,000, with the enrollment rate climbing from 83.1% to 91.7%. The number of teachers had also increased significantly. However, secondary schools still struggled with less funding and higher fees, yet the desire for education among the newly affluent was unstoppable, all thanks to industrialization.

Returning to Nisidel's question, Sodaval sighed internally. "Now there's no discount for buying a car. I have just over 900 lei saved. It will take at least another half a year to save enough."

Nisidel pondered this. Even the cheapest Volkswagen Model T cost 1,800 lei, and a working-class individual would need to save for at least two years to afford it without spending on anything else. This was after Volkswagen had reduced the price of the Model T due to standardized parts and assembly line efficiency, which also aimed to undercut other European car manufacturers. The more expensive Dongfeng trucks were out of the question, costing over 3,500 lei.

"Fortunately, with your higher salary, you can cover your siblings' tuition. If you were earning as much as me, you probably couldn't save at all," Nisidel remarked. He then thought of his sister Minina, who wasn't academically inclined. At 19, the family was planning to betroth her to a hardworking young man named Bisyacu from the next village. The prospect seemed promising, as Minina appeared quite satisfied with him.

Reflecting on his sister's impending marriage made Nisidel wonder why he hadn't found a partner himself. Unlike Sodaval, who was quite popular among the local women and had even received private messages from several attractive young ladies, Nisidel felt overlooked.

"Nisidel, what are you thinking about?" Sodaval asked, noticing his friend's distant expression.

"Just wondering why no decent girl likes me," Nisidel confessed.

"If you didn't spend half your salary at Constanta's brothels every month, maybe you'd have better luck," Sodaval pointed out, addressing his friend's biggest flaw. Despite numerous attempts to steer him right, Nisidel had always brushed off the advice, claiming he was supporting the women who had 'fallen through the cracks.'

"Alright, I'll try to correct that," Nisidel conceded. "When will we see each other again after you move to Ploiesti?"

"Don't worry, it's not too far, and I'll still be at the factory until November," Sodaval reassured him.

"That's less than three months away," Nisidel noted.

"We must cherish our friendship. If I get married and have children in the future, I want you to be their godfather," Sodaval said earnestly.

"Of course, Sodaval. And if I have a child, you'll be their godfather too," Nisidel agreed.

As they reminisced about their journey from their hometown to the factory, they realized how much their lives had changed. They had both escaped a life of farming, thanks to their mutual support. As they chatted into the night, they fell asleep, content in their shared experiences and hopeful for the future.

The next day, Sodaval reported to the selected office, ready for more than two months of training. Transitioning from an automobile factory to a tractor factory would be a new challenge, but one he was prepared to meet head-on, bolstered by the support of his friend and the prospects of his advancing career.

In the year that saw the most severe challenges due to military corruption, only the commander of the 10th Division had participated in the operations. The division had been plagued by numerous officers falling into disrepute due to corrupt practices, presenting a significant challenge to Major General Jacques when he assumed command. After four strenuous years of reform and with substantial support from Principal Prossi in officer distribution, Jacques had begun to make notable improvements.

"Your Royal Highness, please observe, this soldier is currently engaged in a shooting drill," Commander Jacques pointed out to the crown prince and the chief of staff as they watched a platoon of soldiers undergoing various shooting exercises — standing, prone, and moving positions.

While the soldiers maintained standard postures, the crown prince and the chief of staff, upon closer inspection through their binoculars, could not help but shake their heads discreetly at the disappointing results, which were inferior to those of other divisions. This was confirmed later when the results were officially reviewed, causing Master Jacques considerable discomfort.

"I apologize for disappointing Your Highness. Next time, I assure you, you will witness a transformed 10th Division," Jacques vowed to the crown prince.

"Master Jacques, I am aware of the challenges faced by the 10th Division; you are not to blame. The training simply needs to be intensified," replied Edel, the crown prince, understandingly.

Chief of Staff Puleshan had previously explained that the reorganization costs for the year could not remain the same as in previous years. The restructured army, including the 10th, 14th, and 17th Divisions, required effective training and new weapons, leading to a necessary reduction in their training budgets. Edel was well aware of these fiscal constraints, having been involved in the issuance of treasury bonds with the prime minister, who had outlined these financial challenges.

Romania's fiscal revenue had seen a significant increase, from 252 million lei in 1905 to 451 million lei in 1909, thanks in part to a 41.3% increase from oil exports and automobile manufacturing, which were major contributors to the fiscal boost. Other revenue increases came from corporate, commercial, and import-export taxes, as well as inheritance taxes. Although traditional agricultural tax revenue also rose, from 87.4 million lei in 1905 to 96.14 million lei, it was a modest increase compared to other sectors.

On the expenditure side, Romania was committed to rapid growth, with annual repayments of 27 million lei and significant investments in infrastructure such as roads, wharfs, railway stations, and channel dredging, which accounted for 61.57 million lei in 1909. Public safety and medical security expenses were also substantial, at 47.6 million lei. Education was a major fiscal priority with 86.4 million lei allocated in 1909, while government office expenses stood at 35.9 million lei.

Military spending was a significant part of the national budget, totaling 97.1 million lei, with the navy and army consuming 10.75 million lei and 86.35 million lei, respectively. This underscored the focus on national defense, with army salaries at 1567 lei, training costs at 18.7 million lei, and significant funds allocated to the procurement of weapons and other equipment.

Despite the constraints, it was clear that maintaining effective training for the reorganized divisions was crucial, and any reduction in training funds was a difficult but necessary decision.

During subsequent exercises, the impact of reduced training funds became evident, particularly in technical units like artillery and machine gun operations, which showed the poorest performance in years. This was a source of distress for both Edel and Puleshan, and Commander Jacques was visibly moved by the disappointing outcomes.

"General Jacques, do not be disheartened by these results. I will give you a year to improve, and I expect better next time," Chief of Staff Puleshan encouraged him.

"Thank you for your trust, Chief of Staff. I promise to deliver excellent results next year and restore the honor of today," Jacques responded earnestly.

"Well, I will review your progress next year. If it remains unsatisfactory, there will be consequences," Puleshan warned.

Hearing this, Jacques quickly replied, "Please rest assured, Chief of Staff. If we do not improve by next year, I will resign."

"Then I look forward to seeing your improvements next year," Puleshan concluded before he and Crown Prince Edel left in their car, leaving Jacques determined to turn the situation around.

As they drove away, Puleshan expressed his regret to the crown prince, "Your Highness, I apologize for the disappointing performance today."

"There's no need for apologies, Chief of Staff. I understand that our financial limitations are a significant factor, and today's results have highlighted the importance of adequate training," Edel reassured him, recognizing the broader implications of fiscal constraints on military preparedness.

Indeed, the crown prince was coming to understand more profoundly how crucial training was to military efficacy, especially as military technology advanced and demanded increasingly skilled personnel. Without substantial training, achieving the standards of the great powers, except perhaps Russia due to its sheer numbers, would remain out of reach for Romania.

"I appreciate your understanding, Your Highness. I will ensure we manage our resources more effectively to prevent this from recurring," Puleshan promised.

Despite the challenges, Edel remained generally pleased with Puleshan's performance as chief of staff. While minor issues were inevitable, they were not insurmountable.

Upon their return to Bucharest, similar issues were apparent in the 14th and 17th Divisions, reinforcing the harsh reality that without sufficient funds, significant progress was unattainable. This stark financial reality was a difficult lesson, underscoring the critical importance of adequate funding in achieving operational readiness and effectiveness.