Chapter 33: The Steel Alliance

"Gilbert! Zetts! And Heller! It's really you guys, I can hardly believe it!"

When old acquaintances who had been apart for nearly twenty years stood before him like this, Zhang Hainuo's joy was beyond words, even the usually stern Hessen couldn't help but show a heartfelt smile. From 1919 to 1938, it had been an extremely long time, and everyone had changed more or less in appearance, but the familiar features and faces still made it easy for them to recognize each other. On the other hand, the changes in everyone's temperament were also obvious — from a group of ordinary submarine officers and crew members back then, they had all achieved considerable success in their respective fields. A naval captain and battleship commander, a submarine fleet commander, two major entrepreneurs, and a successful businessman — it was hard to say whose life was more splendid, but if Edwardine were here, the answer to that question would be quite obvious!

After warm hugs, Heller Straulon smiled and said, "Von Finkenstein... General, and our General Hessen, this military uniform is really admirable! If only we had followed you back then!"

Zhang Hainuo patted the shoulder of this former U-148 gunnery officer, feeling emotional. "Don't say that. Serving in the navy meant toiling day and night, often voyaging at sea. When the country truly becomes strong one day, we will all be eager to live like millionaires!"

Heller nodded, acknowledging that living the life of a wealthy merchant would indeed be much more comfortable than serving in the navy, which was always associated with honor, status, and adventure.

"Gilbert! Thank you for everything you did for us back then!"

Next, Zhang Hainuo embraced the burly former U-148 gunnery officer, who, upon returning to the country, faithfully fulfilled his promise to deliver the gold coins to the families of those who had left with the boat. His actions, combined with the assistance provided by Zhang Hainuo through the old steward Hasting, ensured that these families would not lose their basic means of survival amidst the chaos and turmoil after the war, which was crucial for the smooth implementation of Zhang Hainuo's plans. Today, former crew members had settled in Salvador, Brazil, except for Zhang Hainuo, Hessen, and Edwardine. Most of them were willing to lead peaceful and prosperous lives, contributing their efforts to the development and operation of Schneider Shipyard and Eagle Aviation.

"Thank you all for your trust in me back then. What I did was just my duty!"

Gilbert Jank was still as humble as he had been before, despite now being a well-known entrepreneur in Switzerland.

"And our Zetts, you've been making waves in the shipbuilding industry in the Netherlands these years!" Zhang Hainuo continued, embracing this old friend and former U-21 officer whom he had known since early 1917. Having moved his family to the Netherlands, Zetts had resumed his old trade — shipbuilding. With a solid financial foundation and shrewd business acumen, he had established himself in Amsterdam. Today, his two shipyards produced over 40,000 tons of ships annually, surpassing the total registered tonnage of ships built by Schneider Shipyard, which was only 80,000 tons per year. The main difference was that Schneider Shipyard could also build large submarines, while Zetts' shipyards in the Netherlands were limited to various types of civilian vessels.

Zetts chuckled modestly. "I've only made some achievements."

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone sat down together. This was an apartment purchased by Hessen in Kiel, where he had already brought his wife and children. They were a happy family, often making Zhang Hainuo envy them. Hessen no longer frequently went out to sea with submarines; instead, he devoted more energy to submarine construction and technical improvements, minimizing the possibility of accidents, which was different from Zhang Hainuo's choice.

As they reminisced and sipped tea, the conversation turned to Edwardine.

"Edwardine sent someone to fetch us, why didn't he come himself?"

Heller, at this point, was unaware that Edwardine was Hans Lomester, a prominent figure in the Nazi Party. In fact, Zhang Hainuo and Hessen had no intention of informing others about this matter, to avoid unnecessary trouble. For the same reason, Edwardine also avoided appearing in Goebbels' propaganda posters and films as much as possible, making him a relatively mysterious figure in Germany — a role that suited him well, given his absolute authority over the SS and German secret police.

"He's working in the intelligence department now and can't show himself, but if you ever run into any trouble, feel free to ask for his help!" Zhang Hainuo explained.

Since it involved national secrets, Heller and the others didn't ask any further questions. After some small talk, Zhang Hainuo brought up the plan they had gathered to discuss.

"I won't hide it from you. After we sailed U-148 to the Americas, we established a large shipyard there, which has now been incorporated into the German Navy's revitalization plan. Taking advantage of this opportunity today, I'd like to ask your opinion — whether to continue with the current life or establish some connection with the German Navy?"

This seemingly simple question held deep implications, and the three successful figures from the industrial and commercial sectors understood it well. Heller was the first to respond, "As long as Germany and the Navy can make use of me, Heller Straulon will do his utmost!"

Subsequently, Jank and Zetts expressed similar sentiments — having willingly come here to catch up, they were mentally prepared for something more.

Zhang Hainuo then asked one by one, "Gilbert, you manufacture watches and precision instruments in Switzerland, and you also have a chocolate factory, right?"

Jank nodded. "We make watches, car and aircraft instruments, and most industrial components can be customized. As for the chocolate factory, I acquired an old brand's artisan workshop, which has now expanded to produce 500,000 chocolates per year, with potential for further growth in output!"

"Heller, your foreign trade business involves various industrial raw materials and consumer goods, and even includes smuggling?"

Smuggling wasn't honorable, but Heller didn't shy away from the question. "Sometimes we engage in small-scale smuggling of military supplies, mainly from Spain and France!"

Zhang Hainuo had already learned some information from Edwardine, but it wasn't comprehensive, so he silently noted down everything his old friends said.

"Zetts, I heard your shipyard has buyers in several countries such as the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark?"

"That's correct!" Zetts confirmed.

Zhang Hainuo continued, "If you were to only build barges ranging from 200 to 500 tons, approximately how many ships could you produce per year?"

Zetts pondered for a moment. "At least 150 ships. With simplified processes and modular production, we could even increase that to over 200 ships!"

The term "modular" was not unfamiliar to Zhang Hainuo, but hearing it from a Dutch shipbuilder made him marvel — although this production model was popular in the United States, it wasn't yet widely used in Europe. With the large-scale preparations for war, some German factories began to emulate the modular assembly line production pioneered by American companies. Currently, these European entrepreneurs were also studying new foreign affairs.

"If Bertolom and Duchte could join us, we would truly have representatives from all walks of life!" Zhang Hainuo exclaimed. Edwen had already contacted reliable associates on their behalf, but they had each postponed their return to Germany for their own reasons.

Seeing others interested in these two names, Zhang Hainuo explained further, "Bertolom went to Sweden years ago and adopted the name Lundt. Now he runs the second-largest steel company in Sweden and has a small fleet, primarily trading with Finland and Russia. He also married the daughter of a Swedish count and has gained prominence in Stockholm. However, due to his long hours working in the engine room in the past, he has respiratory problems. Recently, he contracted severe pneumonia. It seems I'll need to personally visit Sweden soon. Duchte, on the other hand, left Germany for Denmark and is now the silent owner of the Crown Shipping Company, which holds a leading position in Denmark. They are currently negotiating with the Russians to establish a rapid passenger and freight shipping route in the Baltic Sea. So, we'll have to wait a bit longer to meet him!"

Together with Setz, Heller, and Yangke, these five were among the 12 crew members who left midway through the year and had fared relatively well. The remaining individuals either changed their names so frequently that even Edwen's intelligence officers couldn't track them down, or they encountered some misfortune over the years.

"To be honest, the situation in Europe is volatile, and war is inevitable sooner or later. For this reason, we need to prepare early! I don't expect any of you to risk your fortunes, but I hope everyone can contribute in their own way to the country. Of course, this is based on mutual benefit!" After proposing a general principle, Zhang Hainuo first instructed Heller:

"The navy requires a continuous supply of strategic resources like rare metals. Although we have our own channels, if war breaks out, we may inevitably face enemy blockades. In this regard, Portugal's position is advantageous. Heller, please keep an eye out for tungsten and chromium, two important rare metals. We need them, as much as possible, and don't worry about the price! Also, if possible, obtain a detailed military map of the Azores Islands for us!"

These highly confidential topics immediately sobered Heller up, and after a moment of contemplation, he responded, "Tungsten, chromium, and other rare metals shouldn't be a problem as long as the quantities aren't too large. I have a Spanish friend who manages the national strategic reserve, and French factory managers often provide 'takeout.' But regarding military maps, I can only promise to do my best!"

Zhang Hainuo nodded. "There's no need to make a big fuss about this now, but we should start preparing privately. Gilbert, we've obtained export permits for cocoa beans in Brazil. Based on this, we can provide you with cocoa beans at a low price and in large quantities. I suggest you stockpile cocoa beans as much as possible in the next two years. Once the war breaks out, maritime transportation will become very difficult! Also, I'll try to convince the naval logistics department to bulk purchase clock instruments and chocolate from your factory, but we can only pay in marks. After each payment, you'll need to quickly convert them into hard currency!"

After considering for a moment, Yangke said, "That's a great idea. Regarding payments in marks, I don't think it should be too troublesome. When the German Navy makes purchases, we'll offer the best quality. There's no doubt about that!"

Next, Zhang Hainuo asked Setz, "Can your shipyard develop and manufacture one or two ships similar in size to barges, capable of transporting squads of soldiers for amphibious landings? They don't need to be large, but they should be simple, and we need a large quantity! If possible, try to mass-produce them in the next two years. When the war breaks out, make sure to preserve the relevant equipment. We'll fully support you financially, but try to do all this without attracting too much attention!"

Setz's response was straightforward. "Don't worry about the funding. However, it would be best if the German Navy could provide more detailed standards or directly provide us with designs for such ships. We can try to disguise them as new types of barges and fishing boats, both of which we produce in large quantities each year. After construction, they can be moored in our dedicated open-air water warehouses!"

Zhang Hainuo agreed, "Alright, I'll try to get the naval technical department to develop the design drawings as soon as possible, but secrecy is paramount!"

Over the next two days, the group continued to discuss the details of the plan. Amidst these serious discussions, they occasionally inserted lighter topics, discussing their families, the hardships, and joys they had experienced over the years. Setz and others were particularly interested in Salvador, Brazil, where many acquaintances had settled. With the growing influence of the Schneider Shipyard in Salvador, it had become a small kingdom where former crew members mostly enjoyed a comfortable life, surrounded by secrecy. To expand the shipyard's influence locally, Otto and the others decided to invest in refurbishing streets, building schools, and public hospitals. The place had changed significantly from what it was twenty years ago.

Given everyone's current identities, upon Zhang Hainuo's suggestion, they unanimously decided not to record the contents of this meeting in writing. The final plan was limited to verbal agreements and entirely based on voluntary participation. However, once someone joined, they couldn't withdraw midway—secrecy was paramount.

After reaching a consensus on all plans, Heller, Yangke, and Setz returned home with their respective special missions. Hessen personally went to inspect submarine construction at various shipyards, while Zhang Hainuo returned to the "Gneisenau" nearby. This routine overhaul only made adjustments to some equipment configurations. During maintenance in the naval port, the radar equipment was dismantled and locked in the ship's warehouse. The Naval Technical Department also took away the relevant data for the 7.5-meter radar rangefinder. According to technical officers, they were striving to officially equip naval vessels with this equipment before the summer of 1939.

Standing beside a twin 105mm gun mount on the starboard side of the warship, Zhang Hainuo lit a small cigar. The sensation of exhaling smoke sometimes brought him inspiration. This vast harbor saw more warships docked every year. In the distance, near the fairway, a snow-white warship was slowly sailing out to sea. It was a Konigsberg-class light cruiser with a sleek and elegant design. Zhang Hainuo suddenly felt that the current German Navy's warships were more aesthetically pleasing and sleek compared to those of the Second Reich. However, the sinking of these warships in World War II couldn't solely be attributed to luck. After all, they were just steel-welded or riveted ships, not invincible vessels like the legendary "Bismarck." In a situation of strength against weakness, even if they maximized their combat effectiveness, they couldn't escape the fate of capsizing. Therefore, tactical arrangements and localized advantages were crucial.

Turning his head, Zhang Hainuo looked at the snow-white gun mount and the impressive gun barrels beside him. He always felt that its appearance was very futuristic, like an ion cannon on a starship in a sci-fi movie. In terms of combat effectiveness, this twin 105mm gun, which entered service in 1937, was much more powerful and faster firing than the 88mm single-mount dual-purpose guns commonly equipped on German large warships during World War I. However, today's carrier-based aircraft from various countries far surpassed the level of the last war. Zhang Hainuo still remembered the historical ineffectiveness of the "Bismarck," equipped with many of these anti-aircraft guns, against the sluggish British Swordfish torpedo bombers. Apart from the inadequate fire control system, it was likely due to the lack of corresponding training among the crew—back then, German aircraft were mainly controlled by Goering, and the Navy could only deploy limited numbers of light seaplanes for anti-aircraft training, which inevitably affected their effectiveness.

Thinking of this, Zhang Hainuo couldn't wait to start drafting a long-term fleet anti-aircraft training plan. The training would include anti-aircraft shooting at stationary and moving targets at various speeds and under different weather conditions, with a particular focus on live-fire exercises against drone targets at different ranges. Using "Auntie Runk" as a target towing aircraft was the most economical and convenient option, but he couldn't ignore the importance of using various speed aircraft to train sailors in shooting techniques against different speed enemy planes. Although the differences may seem minor, they could significantly affect the effectiveness of anti-aircraft combat—some analysts believed that the failure of the "Bismarck" to effectively intercept Swordfish attacks was due to the slow speed of those aircraft, which made the German sailors, accustomed to faster planes, extremely uncomfortable!

When the crew returned from their vacation, Zhang Hainuo's training plan was almost complete. He convened his small staff team to discuss the plan and then submitted the modified plan to the Navy General Staff. At the same time, the "Gneisenau," which had completed its overhaul, set sail from the port of Kiel. This time, it sailed north along the eastern coast of Jutland, through the Skagerrak Strait, and into the North Sea. Zhang Hainuo had accompanied the ship on this route several times in recent years. Once the war broke out, this would also be an important passage for German naval vessels to enter and exit the North Sea. However, most of the young sailors on the "Gneisenau" were crossing this strait for the first time.

To help the sailors recover from their relaxed vacation state as soon as possible, Zhang Hainuo ordered artillery exercises against simulated targets and hydrogen balloons. The booming sound of cannons echoed across the horizon, but most of the sailors on this warship were unaware of this. In just a dozen months, they would engage in real combat with the enemy here!