Chapter 1119: A Distant Future

In fact, there were some people in the military who supported this reform of lifting restrictions. Because along with the relaxation of policies for the civilian sector, the military’s internal restrictions on oil use were also lifted on a large scale. Originally, there was a clear rule in Germany prohibiting officers below the rank of Colonel from riding in cars. However, with the lifting of the oil restrictions, the military relaxed this rule to [only apply to those] below the rank of Lieutenant. Clearly, this relaxation was very popular with mid-level officers.

This is how societal development works. Once demand is unleashed, there will be a blowout-like expansion of use. However, as supply becomes more and more balanced, this will all eventually return to normal. Akado dared to do this for a reason, because he didn’t just have the Libyan oil fields in his hands now.

The Baku oil fields were slowly recovering their production status. Thanks to the protection of the surrendering defenders, most of the production equipment had been preserved. This was a dream come true for the German military. At least after the efforts to combat local partisans bore fruit, the oil produced from Baku could already supply many frontline troops.

On the other hand, Rommel’s rapid advance in the Middle East had already driven Mountbatten’s defenders to the eastern part of Saudi Arabia. If he could maintain this offensive speed, the German armored forces would control another oil-producing region. For this period of time, the Germans no longer seemed to have to worry about oil fields. It was as if they had transformed from a country poor in oil to a true oil monopoly power overnight.

As the management and production of rubber forests in Central Africa became more advanced, and with IG Farben’s breakthroughs in synthetic rubber development, Germany’s rubber shortage also became a thing of the past. At least, for the most part, Germany’s domestically produced rubber products could already meet the majority of domestic needs.

This is why most empires eventually walk the path of expansion. Because as territory expands, and as their sphere of influence grows, the various production materials needed for their own development become more and more sufficient. That kind of uncontrolled internal transfer is much easier than importing from other countries.

So, just as Lütjens was leading his carrier fleet out of German waters, full of ambition, Akado stood in the TV broadcast studio of the Führer’s residence. He addressed tens of thousands of television viewers across the nation, giving a speech about the lifting of the oil restrictions: “Gentlemen, if your memory has not faded, then you will all remember the words I said to you at the beginning of the war.”

“Germany’s sword must win land for Germany’s plow.” He looked at the camera filming his face and, with a trace of stubbornness and confidence, spoke slowly: “But in this past year, to fight for victory, to defeat our powerful enemies, I had no choice but to ask all of you, with tears in your eyes, to forge the precious plows in your hands into swords that could win us justice!”

“When we shattered the shackles imposed on us by the ‘Treaty of Versailles,’ when we overthrew the villains who oppressed us, the longswords in our hands were already stained with blood. We were unwilling to sheathe our weapons. We resolved to use our swords to continue to seek a new world order for our children and grandchildren!”

“Now, our sharp longsword is unstoppable. But our cars are not as many as the Americans’, our wages cannot buy the tools we want to use… This is not because we are inferior to others, but because we are fighting a war for a new order!”

“However, this is not an excuse for us to endure poverty! As your Führer, I have already asked enough of your selfless dedication. Therefore, I have made a difficult decision here: to let our people choose for themselves whether to continue supporting the great Empire in its war, or to choose to begin sharing the joy of victory and the dividends of war.”

“I now announce the official implementation of the ‘Oil Non-Restriction Order’ in pilot cities, canceling the imperial restrictions that deprived civilians of the use of fuel due to the war. Although this is only the first step we are taking to solve the problem, please give the Empire some time. I pledge in the name of the Führer, the Empire’s restriction decrees on materials will be lifted more and more widely, until the principle of free trade and capital is achieved!”

“Also being opened up are the sales of fish in coastal cities, and the sales of alcohol and meat in the pilot cities… Our Empire has not been dragged down by the chaos of war. This is something I have repeatedly assured you of. Now, I am using my actions to prove my words. I ask all people who are worried about the Empire’s future to wipe your eyes and look at the life around you, which is about to get better and better!”

“Everyone will live better! Everyone will enjoy a new future! The Empire will become the model for all nations in this world. For our common happy life, please believe in me, and believe in our Empire.”

“When you raise your right hands and shout ‘Long live the Führer’ to me, I feel only responsibility! So I am using my greatest efforts to repay you. When I raise my right hand to you, I can only shout ‘Long live the Empire,’ and ‘Long live the people!’ Yes, you are the people. So, I sincerely pray, pray that you live long (ten thousand years), just like me, live long like the Empire, and live long like the new order of this world!”

“Long live the great, Holy Great German Third Reich!” He finally ended his speech with a loud shout, concluding this inspiring address. The radio and television broadcast of his words stirred up another frenzied tide of support for the Führer. People cheered the Führer’s name in the streets and alleys, placing this gift, sent by God to the German people, upon a divine altar.

After the speech ended and the lights dimmed, Fanny walked up to Akado, her face full of adoration, and praised him in a delicate voice: “My great Führer, you are a natural star. Seeing you on television just now, my heart was beating so fast. I bet the support you get from women is far more than what you get from men.”

After finishing her praise for her man, Fanny gave Akado over to the approaching Minister of Industry, Speer. Her most charming quality was that, as Propaganda Minister and as a woman, she never confused the two identities. Even in bed, she could help Akado think about important work.

“My Führer!” After nodding his thanks to the departing Fanny, Speer stood before Akado, who was still floating from his woman’s praise. Every man wants to be praised by a woman, especially by a beautiful and capable woman. That sense of conquest is absolutely intoxicating and has nothing to do with a man’s age or experience.

“Forty coal-fired power plants were completed this month. The power shortage in the southern regions of the Empire will be alleviated. However, I have investigated the various power facilities built by the Empire, and if you’ll forgive my bluntness, my Führer, I have found that our power generation is in severe surplus…” Speer was perfectly clear on the resources he had, especially electricity.

He knew the total number of power plants in the country and was working hard to perfect the national power grid with Akado’s support. But recently, he had discovered that many projects within the Empire were simply devouring electricity. Berlin’s power consumption was three times that of New York City during the same period—a full three times the consumption—and he, the Minister of Industry, had no idea where all this power was being used.

“I know. For normal city and factory power usage, I had already built a sufficient thermal power system 1.5 years ago, before you took over the Ministry of Industry,” Akado stood up and explained to his confidant as he walked toward the door.

“But… My Führer, the destination of so much electricity… I am completely unaware of it. This is simply too shocking…” Clearly, as the head of production for traditional industrial sectors, he still did not have a clear understanding of the power consumption of modern industry.

Akado pushed open the door, walked into the hallway, and turned his head to Speer. “The ‘Prophet Project.’ You only have one filing for it. Do you know how much power this massive device consumes every day? We are still developing Prophet 2 and Prophet 3, and the Imperial University is working hard to develop the Super Prophet system… The power used by these alone might be more than several of Krupp’s production lines.”

A supercomputer was a massive power consumer. And in the suburbs of Berlin, there was also a secretly built new plastics factory. This factory was just a small experimental one; dozens of plastics factories were being launched simultaneously in the southern region. Added to consumers like aluminum electrolysis, modern industry’s hunger for electricity could only be described as endless.

Of course, Akado had another plan he couldn’t tell Speer about: the Third Reich’s nuclear energy research program. This was the super power consumer, capable of devouring billions of kilowatt-hours. And this consumer was, on paper, “non-existent.” The number of people in the country who knew the full extent of this plan was only three or four.

“Believe me, this ‘missing’ electricity is serving a massive project.” Akado stopped at his office door and turned back to warn Speer. “Do not investigate this matter of power consumption again. On the contrary, you must carefully cover this up. Please do not doubt the nation’s hunger for electricity. I can tell you responsibly, even 3 trillion kilowatt-hours of generating capacity will not be enough for our future needs.”

Upon hearing the number “3 trillion kilowatt-hours,” Speer was stunned. He looked up in horror at Akado’s back as he walked into the office. He couldn’t understand this man, or know just how distant that “future” he spoke of truly was.

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