1917-September-29
The implementation of policies continued on a good course, carrying out a very aggressive shock policy that sought to change the ways of life of all the inhabitants of these lands, in addition to trying to have almost absolute control over the public life of many people, since we had begun with the expropriations after the treason trials.
So we could survey the lands, establish the agricultural sectors, divide them into hectares and make a detailed report of how much the agricultural production of those lands would be. With this, the urbanization of many small towns had also begun, connecting them to several services that could be very useful in the future, such as electrical wiring and plumbing systems in every house, although we still did not have the technical infrastructure either to send or store energy.
Work was being done on the plumbing services, seeking at least to ensure that the entire population of the duchy had access to drinking water. Taking advantage of the fact that we would be building water reserves with the dam, work had also begun on processing plants.
All of this was causing severe changes in people's lives in a drastic way, since now everything public was in German: streets, schools, workplaces, public buildings, churches, hospitals, libraries. I had made sure that the only way for them to learn German was for them to have to make the greatest possible effort to at least understand the basics.
Since I was even sending adults to classes, taking advantage of the fact that many were peasants and it was easy, if you paid them a basic wage, you could still force them to attend classes to teach them how to use the new agricultural machines and, at the same time, teach them German.
Although this policy was being used mainly in rural areas while they were being urbanized, and in the cities it was not being nearly as effective, since it was difficult for people to have an attachment to their home when they were simply wooden huts, while in the cities there were well-built houses, with streets that had decades or more of age with their original names, and that created problems among the locals who were more conservative regarding those cultural changes, unlike those who lived in the countryside.
As long as they received a lot of benefits, it seemed to matter a great deal to them that now they had to learn German and speak it almost all the time in public, so progress was beginning to be seen, but of course, this would take about 20 years before the changes became noticeable and the new generations had German integrated as a second language. But I could not expect everything to be solved in a single day.
The war continued, although on the Western Front everything seemed very calm, since Germany was not launching offensives and neither were the British or the French, as both sides were preparing for spring. Germany was preparing to launch one of the largest expected offensives, since all the ammunition was being gathered and the soldiers were being prepared for said offensive.
Fortunately, as long as food and resources were sent, along with some Ukrainian workers who were sent for a few months to Germany, it had not been necessary to demand too much from the conquered zones that were in the process of adaptation.
So there was a great deal of calm for us, considering that we were in one of the deadliest wars humanity had ever known, but we enjoyed peace and a lot of work, though with little remuneration for what was being done.
Not long ago, the first shipment of Russian uniforms had been delivered to both sides of the civil war that continued in Russia, and we were the spectator cheering on both sides, since we were very interested in neither of them winning, as surely when this ended they might think they could take advantage of the fact that Germany was completely focused on the Western Front to reopen the Eastern Front and retake what it had taken us so long to seize.
So we simply accepted the gold the Russians handed us with smiles while they continued requesting more and more things to meet their military needs, since both sides lacked everything.
''So we finally managed to get permission from Germany?'' I said, looking at Manstein, who was busy moving many documents that had arrived a few minutes earlier by train.
''Yes, not to sell nationally produced weapons, but we can sell the arsenal of Russian weaponry, such as revolvers and Mosin-Nagants. All of that can be sold to both sides'' Manstein said, reviewing documents while leaving them on the table.
''Oh… both sides. Germany has no favorite'' I said, checking that there was authorization to obtain funds for the duchy by selling the captured weapons from the arsenals of Riga, Pskov and other cities.
''From what I know and heard while I was in Berlin, they prefer the Mensheviks to win, since they were the ones who signed the peace treaty, while the Whites have not recognized the peace treaty, so it is expected that if they manage to take power, they will return to the war. So they do not want them to win, but if the Mensheviks win, they may also return to the war, so we have to try to support the weaker side if possible'' Manstein said, nodding.
''Well, it is possible, but we have several thousand weapons ready to be sold, since the Mosin is nothing more than a training weapon for the occupation forces in the east. So we could sell all the equipment to the Russians and let them use it against each other, since I do not think it will last them long considering there is urban fighting for control of Moscow'' I said, reviewing the documentation of the warehouses where we had around 400,000 rifles and revolvers ready to be sent.
''Understood. We will see what we can do. I will send a message to those who are here so they know we have weapons we can deliver, although when they learn the news, they will run to Ukraine, where the largest arsenals of weapons still under custody are located'' Manstein said.
''Yes, that is best. Those arsenals are under our control, or well, the occupation forces of Ukraine are still directly tied to me, so that money could also be used as discretionary funds. And how many weapons are we talking about?'' I said, looking for Ferdinand, but then I remembered he was in Ruthenia.
''Who are you looking for? He is not here'' Manstein said, watching me look at an empty desk.
''Meh… Ferdinand. He had the numbers on the weapons we had confiscated in Ukraine. I do not manage all the numbers, I only know there are many of them and we could sell all that equipment to the Russians in nice and shiny gold ingots that would fill the vaults of the banks of the eastern nations'' I said with a smile.
''Well, I will keep working on the details then and prepare the weapons so they can be readied for shipment by train'' Manstein said, leaving my improvised office.
The siege of my own palace had caused me to now operate from the property of a German-Baltic noble, since there was no other place where the hundred or so administration workers could fit, so I still was not used to the place and there were still things that needed to be arranged, since the repairs to the palace were not ideal. I had taken advantage of the opportunity to demolish and rebuild, taking more nearby areas to have better administrative zones.
Trying to make paperwork simpler in the absence of computers and digital storage, it was necessary to have large paper warehouses and make sure they met optimal conditions to prevent rodents from getting in and eating the sheets, or small infestations from emerging among the papers.
So we had an administrative problem, adapting a property designed to receive visits and keep up appearances before others into a place for administrative work, but we did what we could.
While I continued working, I heard someone knock on my door.
''Come in'' I said, raising my voice.
It did not take long before one of the many bureaucrats who were working appeared.
''Mein Herzog, apparently a Russian envoy wishes to speak with you to coordinate some matters, considering some new news that arrived from the capital'' the bureaucrat said, looking at me, though occasionally averting his gaze whenever our eyes met.
''Menshevik or White?'' I said thoughtfully without looking away.
''He says he serves the Russian provisional government'' the bureaucrat said.
''Menshevik'' I said while signing a document. ''Let him in. With those, I do not have many restrictions on what should or should not be done'' I said, scratching my scar.
''Understood, mein Herzog'' the bureaucrat said, leaving and closing the door.
Not much time passed before a Russian man, followed by some of my guards, finally entered the room and took off his hat while staring at me and raising an eyebrow.
''Yes, I am young. What do you want?'' I said in Russian, looking him directly in the eyes.
The Russian opened his eyes almost completely.
''Greetings… noble German'' he said as if the noble words were difficult for him to say.
''I repeat the question. What do you want, Russian?'' I said, watching him fixedly without taking my eyes off him.
''We have been informed that it is possible to purchase weaponry that is necessary to end the rebellion being carried out by the reactionary elements of our society, and that there is a large shipment of used weapons that were captured during our previous conflict, so I would like you to tell me the price for said shipment'' the Russian envoy said, looking somewhat nervous.
''Gold. It is the only thing I believe you could offer me right now that would interest me'' I replied dryly.
''How many weapons are we talking about?'' the envoy said, watching as his fingers pressed against his cap.
''200,000 rifles and about 13,000 revolvers'' I replied quickly, offering him half the arsenal.
''And how much would have to be paid for said shipment?''
''10 tons of gold in ingots using the format of 12.4 kilograms. The exchange is carried out first by delivering the gold and afterward the weapons are shipped'' I said quickly.
The Russian envoy began making calculations and quickly showed a dissatisfied expression at the price.
''That is an excessively high price for used weapons, almost two or even three times what would be paid for a new weapon'' the Russian envoy said, frowning and shaking his head.
''In case you are unaware, Germany is fighting a war started by your so beloved Tsar'' I said, watching as the envoy became angry, frowning even more. ''These are the only weapons you are going to find and I am the only one who can offer them to you. All the eastern arsenals are under my control, at least the weapons I can sell you, so if you want me to later sell the millions of rifles we captured from the beatings we gave you at Tannenberg and the following battles, pay… because from what I know, the Entente prefers the Whites more… because you burned the cousin of the British emperor'' I said, tilting my head while keeping my face serious.
The Russian clenched his teeth and began moving his leg, somewhat agitated by the situation.
''Can you not lower the price a little? It is too much to accept'' the Russian envoy said.
''That is the price. If you do not like it, well, I am sure a White envoy will arrive soon who will pay with gold from the Siberian mines and take this entire shipment. Added to the fact that the Entente is sending them money and weapons, these used weapons may change the course of the war'' I said without emotion in my voice.
''The Whites want to return to the war. If you support them, you would be an idiot who sees nothing beyond today, but tomorrow they will be your enemies'' the envoy said, his eye beginning to twitch.
''Close the door when you leave'' I said, pointing at the door.
The Russian breathed deeply, turned around and left. It was not something that scared me, since I was literally the only one who could send weapons to the Mensheviks, considering that their eastern ports were blocked and no ship carrying weapons would pass through the Baltic without German permission.
While I continued working, I began to hear shouting below, and the curious thing was that it was in Russian.
A few minutes later, the Menshevik envoy returned, looking very upset while pressing his lips together.
''Fine, you have a deal'' the Russian envoy said while wiping away his sweat.
''Of course, here is the contract. Sign it and have the gold arrive as soon as possible'' I said, handing him the contract for the exchange.
The envoy quickly took the pen I offered him and signed it in the name of his State.
''Mein Herzog, there is a Russian envoy who serves the Russians'' said the same bureaucrat who had informed me of the arrival of the Menshevik envoy.
''Ah… the Whites'' I said, looking at the Menshevik envoy. ''It seems these used weapons will be very popular.''
''What about food? Can you sell it?'' the Russian envoy said, looking serious.
''In gold. I can arrange for it to arrive canned'' I said, showing another contract.
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