Chapter 51 Saving Edwin

After successfully bringing back the cooperation agreement from the Weser Shipyard in Bremen and purchasing a large amount of shipyard equipment, Zhang Hainuo and his team began to arrange the transportation of these equipment and machinery using cargo ships. At the same time, they faced a new problem: the personnel. This included a total of 163 crew members and their families. Hessen's team hired 3 shipbuilding engineers, 9 technicians, and 42 skilled shipyard workers in Bremen, all of whom were willing to settle in Brazil. Among the 3 submarine experts hired by Zhang Hainuo, only Krest was alone, while the other two brought assistants and family members, totaling 19 people. Additionally, 46 technical and auxiliary personnel provided by the Weser Shipyard would be ready to depart in a week.

With this, the total number of people boarding ships to Brazil was close to 300.

The Fast Number was just an ocean freighter, and if all cargo holds were converted into cabins, it could accommodate two to three hundred people on the journey to Brazil, but the living conditions would be very poor. Considering a series of subsequent issues, Zhang Hainuo ultimately signed a large transportation agreement with the Royal Dutch Shipping Company, leasing 7 ships including the 5500-ton cruise ship "Strogan" and the 7500-ton ocean freighter "Crown," to quickly transport personnel and equipment back to Brazil.

After all this hassle, the calendar had flipped to November 1919, seven weeks since Zhang Hainuo and his team first arrived in Bremen. Most of the crew had already returned with their families, but upon counting, it was discovered that Edwin and Rode were missing.

After confirming, Zhang Hainuo learned from the crew that Edwin and Rode hadn't returned since mid-September, when they left the Fast Number. Considering that before taking their families to Brazil, they needed to deal with matters such as housing, real estate, and large furniture, and some people lived in remote villages, Zhang Hainuo only required the crew to return within four weeks. Moreover, he had been busy recently signing cooperation agreements with Weser and hiring experts according to Reder's list. Hessen and the crew were also busy recruiting and settling family members, so nobody had mentioned Edwin and Rode's absence.

Zhang Hainuo, usually calm, finally lost his temper because he saw a dangerous trend growing within the team: complacency!

"Listen, everyone, ignoring potential threats around you, whether on the battlefield or in daily life, can be fatal! Nobody, at any time, can afford to let their guard down! In this matter, I must first criticize myself—I've been busy signing agreements with Weser and hiring experts, neglecting internal affairs of our team, which led to the oversight of Edwin and Rode not returning on time!"

When usually composed individuals erupt, it's the most frightening. The crew had placed 200% of their trust in Zhang Hainuo from the beginning, so when the commander began with self-criticism, they felt even worse than being criticized themselves, especially Simon and a few others responsible for counting.

"Everyone should reflect on their own from now on. In our current situation, any laxity will only bring disaster! Once this secret we're safeguarding is known, especially by the British and French, U-148 and our team will be doomed, maybe even the treasure! So, I hope everyone thinks more for the team's sake. Also, consider your own and your family's future. Stay vigilant. Even after returning to Brazil, do not make such basic mistakes again!"

Having said that, Zhang Hainuo turned to look at Hessen, the seasoned chief officer who was much older and more experienced, with a certain look of affirmation and encouragement, nodding slightly.

Edwin was well known to Zhang Hainuo. If he hadn't encountered any trouble, he wouldn't have failed to return after seven weeks. As for Rode, he was the torpedo chief of U-21, always known to Zhang Hainuo as a honest and straightforward person. Therefore, he continued:

"Every person in this team is our most loyal comrade-in-arms, regardless of rank or position. Nobody is dispensable. I want everyone to understand that we will never abandon anyone in this team, no matter when. Now, I announce the organization of two search teams: one will go to Gurlitz, Edwin's hometown in German Silesia, and the other to Danzig, formerly part of German Pomerania, where Rode's family lives. We must find out why they haven't returned to duty. If they are indeed in trouble, we should help them resolve it promptly! I will personally lead the first team, while Simon will lead the second. Captain Hessen will stay in Bremen and oversee the overall situation. Everyone, do your respective duties. Those staying in Bremen will follow Captain Hessen's instructions and prepare for departure. Once both teams return, the fleet will set sail for Brazil!"

There were no objections to this arrangement. When selecting members for the two search teams, almost every crew member showed great enthusiasm. However, considering the nature of this mission, Zhang Hainuo decided that each team would not exceed 4 members. The team led by Zhang Hainuo consisted of 3 members: Warner Stalder, the steward from U-148; Blitz, the tough guy from U-148; and himself. The three boarded an eastbound train from Bremen. Twenty-eight hours later, they set foot on the land of Silesia with eager hearts.

German Silesia was located in the southeastern part of the German Empire's territory, diagonally opposite to ports such as Bremen in the northwest. As for Danzig, this once obscure city became an international free city under joint administration after World War I, with its economy controlled by Poland. It later became one of the reasons for Germany's invasion of Poland. It was located in the northeastern part of the German Empire's territory, relatively far from Bremen.

Zhang Hainuo had detailed home addresses for each crew member in his logbook, which he had recorded while they were salvaging shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea. Edwin's address was 31 Wolfgen Town, south of Gurlitz in German Silesia.

"Excuse me, does Mr. Edwin Schubert live here?"

After knocking on the door, Zhang Hainuo politely addressed the woman who opened it. From her appearance, she seemed to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, with a fair oval face and a high nose. As for her eyes, they were exactly like Edwin's, with a resemblance of about sixty percent in their overall features.

Behind the young woman, there was a timid but very cute little face.

As far as Zhang Hainuo knew, Edwin's parents had a total of seven children, but only he and two sisters survived. Without any surprises, the woman in front of him should be one of his sisters, and the shy child should be Edwin's niece.

"Yes, who are you?"

The young woman looked very wary as she glanced at Zhang Hainuo and the two people behind him. When her gaze fell on the big guy, there was a hint of unease in her eyes.

Zhang Hainuo concisely replied, "We are Edwin's comrades from the Imperial Navy. We had agreed to meet in Bremen, but he didn't show up. So, we came to check according to the address he gave us!"

The young woman finally relaxed a bit and quickly stepped aside. "Please come in and talk!"

The house was a typical Eastern German house, with a ground floor and a half-story attic, often with a cellar. They were usually made of wood or wood and stone, with wooden floors and walls inside.

The furniture in the room was simple and somewhat cold, and the sound of the three men's leather shoes on the wooden floor made the empty room even more hollow.

After closing the door, the young woman hurriedly followed, holding her daughter tightly, and said anxiously:

"Edwin has been imprisoned!"

"What?" Zhang Hainuo turned sharply, almost startling the young woman behind him. He quickly asked, "When did this happen? Why was he imprisoned?"

"Edwin came back on September 15th and said he wanted to take our whole family to Brazil! Just a few days after he returned, he got into a fight with the police chief's son, Strom, over Katherine. They arrested him, and the court sentenced him to a year in Wolfgen Prison three days later!"

The woman clenched her hands tightly in front of her small belly, and the adorable little girl nestled beside her, her big watery eyes looking somewhat timidly at the three strangers.

"A year?"

This was completely unexpected for Zhang Hainuo. Did Edwin seriously injure that guy? However, since it was only a year of imprisonment, he believed that there would be a way to shorten the sentence. Initially, after the Beer Hall Riot, Old Hix was sentenced to five years in prison, but he was released on parole in less than nine months.

Although Zhang Hainuo was eager to know what had happened, he comforted the woman, "Madam, don't worry. Since we're here, we'll definitely get him out! You must be Edwin's sister, right? Could you please tell us in detail what happened?"

The woman nodded somewhat absentmindedly and sat down at the rectangular table with six seats.

"Catherine lives on the street next to ours and has known Edwin since childhood. They had a good relationship, although they weren't engaged, it was obvious that both Edwin and she hoped to be together. The police chief's son, Strom, is a notorious playboy in town, who frequently seduces widows and women whose husbands are away. For some reason in recent years, he has been interested in Katherine and often harassed her. Katherine is a good girl, but Strom had her father and brother arrested. Katherine had no choice but to marry him..."

"That bastard!"

Blitz suddenly slammed his fist on the wooden table. Being a tough guy, the vase on the table jumped up with the shock, leaving Edwin's sister stunned, and the little girl even more frightened.

It's imaginable how Edwin felt when he heard this news.

At this moment, the anger in Zhang Hainuo's heart was also burning. Edwin was his good brother, and it was infuriating enough for someone to steal his woman, but that damn playboy even got Edwin arrested. He wished he could tie that bastard to a horse's tail and drag him around the town ten times to let him taste the pain.

After calming down slightly, Zhang Hainuo asked, "Did Edwin then go to confront him and injure him?"

"No, Edwin just wanted to say goodbye to Katherine before leaving but ran into that bastard! Strom not only ordered the police to beat Edwin but also falsely accused him of assaulting the police. With those bastard cops testifying, the town judge sentenced Edwin to twelve months in prison! We've been wanting to visit him, but Strom has been meddling. Since Edwin was imprisoned, we haven't seen him once! My husband Langhand went to argue with the police chief, but they... they even arrested Langhand!" Wah..."

At this point, the young woman couldn't control her emotions anymore and started crying while holding her daughter—her brother and husband were both imprisoned, and she, as a woman, felt so aggrieved and helpless.

Although Zhang Hainuo hoped to immediately rescue Edwin, as the young woman had just mentioned, the Strom family still held significant power in the town. They not only controlled the police but might also have connections with the judges. Using force was obviously not an option.

"Please, have a seat, everyone!" Zhang Hainuo pulled out chairs for himself, Blitz, and Warner, urging them to sit down.

"Madam, please trust us. We won't leave until we rescue Edwin! Do you know if there's a garrison near this town?"

While wiping her tears, the young woman shook her head.

Zhang Hainuo pondered for a moment. "Is Strom and his police chief father locals?"

The woman nodded.

"What about the judge?"

"That vile judge is a regular guest at the Stroms'!"

The situation indeed seemed quite tricky, thought Zhang Hainuo. It wouldn't be realistic to call Hess and his crew for a prison break. Unfortunately, this wasn't Munich; otherwise, they could ask Roehm for help.

Seeing the three men sitting in silence with grim faces, the woman stood up and said, "Let me make some coffee for you!"

"Thank you!" Zhang Hainuo indeed needed a cup of coffee to stimulate his thoughts. Just then, Warner whispered a reminder, "Captain, I think our priority should be to see Edwin first and make sure he's okay!"

Zhang Hainuo nodded and then turned to Edwin's sister. "Madam, when you tried to visit Edwin in prison, what reason did they give for refusing you?"

"A reason? They said no one was allowed to visit the detainees from now on, and then they kicked us out!"

The woman's words surprised Zhang Hainuo. Was there no rule of law here?

Once again, anger surged in Zhang Hainuo's chest. The defeat of Germany had led to social unrest, but with Berlin in turmoil and the blood of Munich not yet dry, the government had no time to deal with matters in small towns. However, besides Roehm, Zhang Hainuo didn't know any army officers, and the navy had no influence in this inland area. The path of using brute force was evidently closed.

However, Warner's earlier words gave him some inspiration. He then asked the woman who was brewing coffee, "Madam, do you know about the prison? Who is in charge there, and how many guards are there?"

"The prison is located between Gellritz and Wolfgen, just five miles north of here! I heard the conditions inside are very poor. I'm really worried that Edwin and Langhand will freeze in this harsh winter! There are at most ten guards, and the warden is named Vanterslo, sent by the city of Gellritz!"

This answer wasn't too bad for Zhang Hainuo. He continued, "Strom and his police chief father probably don't often go to the prison, right?"

"Them? Those old bastards go back to their estate south of town as soon as it gets dark. There's almost a party there every day! The mayor and the judge are regulars, along with those shameless mistresses and prostitutes! That little bastard either goes to enjoy himself with those like-minded friends or goes to those mistresses' houses every night! They may not visit the prison once a year, but I heard that the warden is a good friend of the police chief!"

Edwin's sister spoke bitterly.

"In that case..." Zhang Hainuo looked at Blitz and Warner, "we have two options, the soft way and the hard way!"

"You mean bribery and a prison break?" Warner guessed, while Edwin's sister shook her head vehemently at the mention of a prison break.

"That prison is like a small fortress, with walls and barbed wire. The guards seem to have guns. It would be difficult to break in!"

"Don't worry, madam! We won't act recklessly!" Zhang Hainuo reassured her. Then he asked, "Madam, how many people are still in your family in Wolfgen?"

There was no need to think about this question. Edwin's sister replied, "Since our mother passed away, our father went to do business in the Middle East alone! My sister married a merchant and has been living abroad for a long time! Now, apart from Edwin and Langhand, we don't have many relatives in Wolfgen. But we have an uncle living in the neighboring town. They run a small farm, and my two aunts live in Gellritz, working in the textile factory!"

"To avoid innocent people getting involved, madam, please ask someone to deliver a message to your uncle and aunts, telling them to move to another place as soon as possible. The farther from Wolfgen, the better!" Zhang Hainuo took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket and counted out 20 for Edwin's sister.

"Consider this moving expense for them, and tell them not to ask why! Also, can you pack up your belongings within three days and be prepared to leave here at any time? Leave forever!"

Edwin's sister wanted to ask more questions, but Zhang Hainuo's determined expression made her temporarily put away her doubts and follow his instructions seriously.

Afterward, Zhang Hainuo looked at Blitz and Warner. "You two stay here and rest. I'll go to the prison to have a look!"

Not long after lunch, Zhang Hainuo arrived at the only prison within a thirty-mile radius. Its appearance was not remarkable—what Edwin's sister had described as a fortress was just a stone building not much larger than Fink's estate, surrounded by a wall with barbed wire on top. The guard at the gate, carrying a Mauser rifle, seemed listless.

"I'm looking for Mr. Vanterslo, the warden. It's extremely urgent!"

A five-mark silver coin made the guard happily run inside to report. A few minutes later, Zhang Hainuo, dressed as a businessman, was allowed to enter the prison. When he arrived at the prison guardroom, three guards were drinking and playing cards by the fireplace. The one sitting by the door, with a thick beard, looked about fifty years old, and his uniform was slightly darker than the other two.

"Sir, what can I do for you?"

Entering was a young man with decent demeanor and attire. The three prison guards didn't show any signs of alertness; their card game continued uninterrupted. However, the man with the bushy beard soon noticed a shiny gold coin being deftly flipped back and forth between Zhang Hainuo's fingers—a simple pen-spinning motion that required only a bit of skill and practice.

"I'm here to see a friend."

As Zhang Hainuo spoke, the golden object he had been playing with in his hand flew in an arc toward the guards. The bushy-bearded one caught it swiftly and, spreading his hand, the other two leaned in to see.

It was a pre-war 20-mark gold coin. Although the German government had declared gold coins non-circulating during the war, they hadn't depreciated, and their value now far exceeded the number "20" inscribed on them.

"Sir, there's an order; no one is allowed to visit the prisoners for the time being."

With that, the bushy-bearded guard tossed the coin back.

Zhang Hainuo deftly caught it and continued flipping it between his fingers.

"I just came from Berlin, I just want to talk to my friend!"

Once again, Zhang Hainuo tossed the coin, while his now-empty right hand slipped into his coat pocket.

Seeing this, the guards tensed up.

"Don't worry," Zhang Hainuo's right hand emerged slowly from his pocket with a thin rope between his middle and index fingers, and with a flick of his index finger, a slightly smaller black cloth bag appeared in the guards' view.

"I'm a merchant, just looking to make a deal for some convenience, no more than 10 minutes!" Zhang Hainuo assured, then asked, "100 gold marks, 10 minutes, and no one else will know!"

The three guards stared at the black bag swinging like a pendulum, as if they were seeing a tempting naked woman—any normal man would react in some way.

Finally, it was the bushy-bearded guard who spoke up.

"Who do you want to see?"

"Edwin Schubert, a poor young man!"

The other two guards looked at the bushy-bearded one expectantly. However, upon hearing the name, the bushy-bearded guard visibly frowned. His gaze shifted between Zhang Hainuo's face and the black bag several times before he couldn't resist the temptation of the gold coin.

"Since you're so straightforward, I'll allow it, but only for 10 minutes!"

"Deal!"

Zhang Hainuo tossed the small black bag over, and the bushy-bearded guard caught it, weighing it in his hand. He then took a set of keys from his belt and handed them to the young guard on his right, instructing him to take Zhang Hainuo inside. Before leaving, he warned Zhang Hainuo:

"Sir, 10 minutes. Don't make trouble for us, and don't do anything stupid!"

Zhang Hainuo gave him a calm smile, "Don't worry!"

As they walked down the corridor toward the cells, a damp musty smell wafted over them. The guards clearly hadn't done a good job of cleaning up here. The cells lining the corridor resembled rooms in a cheap hotel, except that the doors were all metal and each had a small movable window—top for visiting, bottom for meals.

The smell and the chill of the place made Zhang Hainuo feel a pang of sorrow. To think that his good friend was being held in such a place filled him with both sadness and anger.

At the moment the cell door opened, Zhang Hainuo saw the familiar and weary face of his friend. Edwin looked thin, with stubble on his face, unkempt hair, and wrapped in a blanket. If he stayed here any longer, Zhang Hainuo doubted he would recognize him.

"Edwin!" Zhang Hainuo called out in anguish, and when the cell door opened, Edwin had already risen from the almost bed-like bed. He hadn't been here for long, so his expression wasn't as dull as those prisoners who had been here for years.

"Hainuo!"

The two men embraced tightly.

Edwin had lost weight, emitting an unpleasant smell. Zhang Hainuo couldn't help but feel another wave of sorrow, but he suppressed the anger burning inside him for the time being.

Why did this damn power always end up in the wrong hands?

"Hainuo, I've been waiting for you, good to see you again!"

Edwin's voice sounded so helpless and sad.

"Don't worry, I'll get you out soon!" Zhang Hainuo patted his shoulder, comforting him.

After a while, Edwin let go of him, "Sorry, I've delayed everyone's plans!"

"Don't say that, we're all waiting for you to come back!" At this moment, Zhang Hainuo couldn't help but worry about another missing crew member, Rode. He didn't know if he had encountered similar trouble. If he did, could Simon and the others successfully rescue him?

"Where's your brother-in-law, Langhan?"

"He's in the opposite cell! These damn dogs! Crazy dogs! They actually arrested an innocent man!" Edwin cursed angrily, but his verbal curses couldn't alleviate his inner resentment.

"Don't worry, you'll be out of this prison in two days at most!"

"Yeah!"

Edwin obviously trusted his longtime friend. Despite his "amnesia" period, he still did.

After brief instructions about other matters, the footsteps of the guards echoed in the corridor again.

Although the urge to rescue his good brother from this prison was urgent, Zhang Hainuo had to leave for the time being. He swore in his heart that he would never let his brother end up in such a dirty place again in his lifetime.

Upon returning to the guard room, the card game of the guards continued, but the bushy-bearded guard's mood seemed much better now, even a bit jubilant.

"Mr. Fanteslow, I'd like to ask you something." Zhang Hainuo deliberately put on a sorrowful expression.

"Sir wants to bail out your friend?" the bushy-bearded guard guessed right away.

Zhang Hainuo didn't beat around the bush, "Yes, Edwin is my best friend, so I'm willing to spare no expense!"

"If it were someone else, a little money would do the trick! But, sir, your friend has annoyed some people he shouldn't have, so I can't help you with this favor!"

"Oh?" Zhang Hainuo couldn't decipher the guard's true intentions from this statement, so he asked tentatively, "Is there no hope at all?"

"Sir, you must understand, money can buy power, but it can't replace the use of power!"

The guard's words had a philosophical flavor. After careful consideration, Zhang Hainuo put his hat back on, "I understand! However, Mr. Fanteslow, I have an unpleasant request!"

Fanteslow seemed to have guessed one or two things. "Sir, I admire your loyalty to your friend, but I also hope you understand my difficulties!"

Zhang Hainuo felt disdain for this prison warden, who accepted money and still acted high and mighty. But considering that he still needed to rescue Edwin, he patiently and politely said, "Mr. Fanteslow, it was quite cold in the cell just now. I just want to bring my friend a blanket and some food, would that be..."

Fanteslow still had his eyes on the playing cards. "Rest assured, sir, no prisoner has ever frozen to death in our prison in winter, and as for food, we have supplies every day!"

From these words, Zhang Hainuo understood that the guard was deliberately targeting Edwin. He didn't expect that the playboy would be so petty. If Edwin continued to be imprisoned here, he didn't know how much he would suffer. At this moment, he was determined to rescue Edwin at any cost!

The small town was particularly quiet under the setting sun.

Although it hadn't started snowing yet, the chill in the streets made Zhang Hainuo involuntarily wrap himself in his coat. After returning to Edwin's house and having a cup of hot coffee, he felt a little better.

"Madam, we'll send you and your daughter to Gellritz first. You can take a train to Bremen and find a ship named Fast No. 3 at Pier 3. Tell them I sent you and ask them to be ready to sail at any time! We'll arrive a few days later at most!"

Edwin's sister didn't fully understand what they were going to do, but she was obviously very worried. She kept stroking her daughter's head with her left hand.

"Sir, do you need a gun? Langhand has a hunting rifle hidden in the attic. If you need it, I can go get it for you!"

"No need!" Zhang Hainuo gave her a calm smile, then patted his coat pocket, "It's normal for a businessman to carry a gun for self-defense, especially in times like these!"

As night fell, after dinner, Zhang Hainuo and the others silently cleaned their weapons. He liked his Luger 08, the standard weapon issued to officers of the German Imperial Navy. Although it was unnecessary during the war, he still often polished it.

Warner's gun, a 1914 Mauser police pistol, 8.1mm caliber, also known as the Mauser pocket pistol. Although it was named a police pistol, it was widely used by the German army during World War I, with over 100,000 in service.

As a fire team leader on the submarine, Blitz originally didn't have a gun, but this time, to be safe, he borrowed a Luger 08 from Hess. They didn't bring extra ammunition, as they hadn't planned for a Wild West-style gunfight.

On the table lay a sketch, a map of the prison drawn by Zhang Hainuo based on his observations and memory. Their plan was simple: pretend to visit Edwin, then stage a jailbreak.