Chapter 1095: The Vicious Cycle of Interests

“Do you know, Krupp, how much money the Krupp company, or rather the Krupp Group, has made while the Empire has been on campaign?” Akado asked, looking at the sweating Krupp with a trace of mockery. “Perhaps you don’t even know how much money you have yourself… Do you want my advisor to tell you?”

Krupp, of course, knew how much money he had. He also knew how many times his wife’s net worth had multiplied, as he had married into the Krupp family. This short old man had, in the past, expanded his business nearly 10-fold, turning the Krupp company, which had been on the verge of bankruptcy after WWI, into a super-group with dozens of subsidiaries.

His enterprise had grown from producing a few simple products like artillery to a military-industrial giant producing hundreds of products like cars, tanks, and guns. From submarines to machine gun tripods, the Imperial military’s equipment was all stamped with the Krupp logo. He personally had also, riding the wave of Imperial expansion, annexed Belgian artillery and arms factories at zero cost, expanding his business to France and Spain.

It wasn’t just Krupp. Take Linus. After Germany had started this war, his assets had also ballooned at least tenfold. If Linus was just a domestic tycoon before the war, the Third Reich’s war of expansion had absolutely transformed him into a world-class super-tycoon.

And the capitalists who had begged Krupp to come forward were all speculators who had risen on this tide of imperial expansion. It could be said that every cent they had was stained with the blood of Imperial soldiers and enemy soldiers. But blood-stained money was still money. They had still become the richest people in the world.

If the Third Reich wasn’t a paradise for these businessmen’s investments, then outside the Third Reich, the rest of the world was basically hell for their kind. Their anxiety and panic were simply because they worried the Führer would get used to this method of “killing the chicken to get the eggs.” They worried they would become the next “Linus” for the Führer to deal with.

In fact, many of these businessmen had been true patriots back in the day. They had, without asking for a cent, just on Akado’s reputation or a word from General von Seeckt, advanced the costs to produce weapons for the Wehrmacht. They were just contributing their own small part to Germany’s rise.

At that time, none of them had their current fortunes. Their contributions were just a few thousand rifles, a few hundred machine guns, or even just providing a warehouse to secretly hide a few planes… But the Empire had given these people an unexpected reward. After the partition of Poland, every one of these “patriots” had received factories, labor, and even land and official positions.

And so, everyone’s patriotic enthusiasm grew, and they invested even more. A few thousand rifles became hundreds of thousands. A few hundred machine guns became over a hundred thousand. Factories ran at full capacity, openly producing tanks. Fighters rolled out of warehouses one after another to become the vanguard of the war.

Thus, the Imperial army was armed for free. Thus, the Imperial iron tide cut down one enemy after another. Belgium, Holland, France, Denmark, Norway, the Balkans—there was more and more to carve up. Their net worth climbed geometrically, making everyone enthusiastic about this “patriotic cause.”

But what angered Akado was that these businessmen had forgotten their original intentions. Before the frontline soldiers had even had time to change into a clean uniform, before the mud had been washed from the tanks, these businessmen were already showing up with their accountants and assistants, clamoring to divide the profits. The wounded soldiers, lying in the occupied factory workshops, watched with dull eyes as these men in suits and ties haggled and traded over the places they had paid for with their arms and guts.

And as the war progressed, the war dividends the state received weren’t even enough for these businessmen to carve up. The plundered resources went straight into their pockets. When the state wanted to use them, it had to use more resources from future enemies to exchange for them in advance. This was why the state’s debt grew the more it fought—because to continue using the resources from occupied territories, the state had to pay!

The more they fought, the more they owed. It was such a screw-job. So, could the state just stop fighting? Of course not! The capitalists were clamoring to be repaid. The state had to pay off the debts it had promised. And the only way to pay these debts was with the resources of the enemies that had been promised in advance. The military generals were waiting for promotions and fame. The common people at the bottom were waiting for the dividends and bonuses the capitalists had promised… Almost everyone was counting on victory in the next war. Who would dare say “stop”?

But to continue fighting, the state had to borrow more and more resources from the capitalists, which meant the spoils from the next war needed to pay those debts would be even greater. War didn’t just bring dividends; it also incurred costs! Didn’t the wounded and fallen soldiers need to be compensated? Didn’t the consumed fuel and weapons need to be replenished? Didn’t the problems in the occupied territories need to be solved?… It was a thoroughly vicious cycle, and the source of it all was the endless greed of capital.

“My Führer, in truth… everyone just needs a guarantee,” Krupp said, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his voice weak. “I also know that we are doing some… less than appropriate things. But this isn’t illegal, and we… we have our own difficulties.”

They had overextended themselves. This phrase was the perfect description for these German capitalists. In fact, in the entire capital operation of the Third Reich, these capitalists hadn’t seen much of a cash return either. They were also trapped in a difficult position.

The Empire had only given them a pile of occupied industries. If they couldn’t sell the products from this capacity, then they, the capitalists, would also eventually go bankrupt. After all, from the very beginning, their production materials had all been acquired on credit. Everything was a castle in the air, built on a cycle.

The state borrowed, letting the capitalists produce for free, then repaid the loans with fixed assets and cheap labor. The capitalists could then only recoup their costs through production. When they sold to the state, the state still couldn’t pay, so it could only take the goods in the form of another loan, just to keep the capitalists from going bankrupt… It was a cycle without a beginning or an end. In this, could you really say the capitalists were just insatiably greedy and disregarded the state?

“If… if these people can’t get the Soviet factories and land, they will go bankrupt. They have all contributed to this country, and the state still owes them money…” Krupp pleaded, forcing himself to go on, one sentence at a time. “Are you really so heartless as to let these heroes of the nation… just walk into the abyss of ruin?”

“Krupp! Things are not as serious as you think.” Akado had originally intended to act first and explain later, but he had now changed his mind. He spoke to the old man who had supported his rise to Führer. “In fact, as long as these conglomerates and businessmen are willing to give up a portion of their profits, the Empire has the ability to repay their debts and ensure they do not go bankrupt.”

Profits. Give up a portion of their profits. This was easier said than done. Other people’s money didn’t just fall from the sky, nor was it scammed or stolen; it was earned through legal channels. And in the process of earning these profits, they had even helped the state solve some problems. Why should they have to give up these profits?

“If you are still the same Krupp who, for the sake of the Empire, dared to give up a portion of his vested interests; if you are still the same man who was willing to join me, Akado, in dedicating his life to the revival of the Empire… then go and tell those people behind you: as long as they are willing to take a step back, I, and the Empire, will not treat them as the next Linus!” Akado stared into Krupp’s eyes, finally speaking his mind, word by word.

Krupp did not look away. He looked at this Imperial Führer, who had been so young when he had first met him. Finally, he stood up and stuffed the handkerchief he had been using to wipe his sweat into the breast pocket of his suit. After a long moment, he suddenly spoke, his voice sincere, “Akado, I am personally willing to donate half of my fortune to help the Empire get through this difficult time…”

“My friend, then I also promise you that your mountain villa will forever be one of the safest places in this world.” Akado stood up, walked to Krupp’s side, and patted him on the shoulder. “It is I who have let down the hearts of our patriots. After the war is over, I will give you all an answer. But right now, the Empire must win the war. Do you understand?”

“It is we who have forgotten our original intentions. In the beginning, we just wanted to do something for our country. But in the end, we couldn’t help but start putting our own interests ahead of the nation’s,” Krupp said, somewhat dejectedly. “Compared to you, my Führer, what we have done is truly not enough.”

“Krupp, take my words to those people. Those who are willing to let go are still our comrades! Those who are preparing to be like Linus, those who are still preparing to destroy the Empire just to squeeze out a profit… they are our enemies!” Akado walked Krupp to the office door and said his final words.

“My Führer! I will deliver your message!” Krupp gave a German salute, his voice firm.

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