Chapter 118: The Beer Hall Gathering
Just as Prince Constantin had predicted, from Christmas to New Year, Prussian officers all returned home for the holidays.
Garit sent a telegram to Ernst, inviting him to Berlin to hang out.
...
Berlin, in the beer hall Ernst and Garit frequented during their school days.
"Ernst! I missed you so much!" Garit howled as he lunged toward Ernst.
"Stay away from me. You look like a madman," Ernst said with disgust.
"Sigh, you don't get it. Life in the barracks is unbearable. I'm cooped up every day. Now that I finally have some free time, I just want to relax."
"I brought some friends today—come on, Ernst, I'll introduce you."
At the table...
"This is Prince Ernst of the Hohenzollern family," Garit announced, introducing Ernst with great formality.
"Your Highness," several men greeted Ernst politely.
"Hello," Ernst replied.
"These guys are all my buddies from the military. We were all assistants in the General Staff during the war with Austria. Our fathers also fought side by side back in the day," Garit added.
The group gathered around the table and took their seats.
Garit ordered several beers, handing one to each person. The waiter stood by, ready to refill.
As the beer flowed, so did the conversation.
"Ernst, you won't believe who our new superior is. I think his name is Hermann, right guys?" Garit asked the others.
"Yes, Hermann. I heard he used to be on the staff of the Ninth Brigade. Word is he was a real hard-ass in his youth, but then his father dragged him into military school. He graduated top of his class, became a battalion commander, and kept rising.
During the war with Austria, the unit he commanded was under heavy fire from Austrian artillery, but they fought their way through and broke the enemy lines. He and his brigade commander were ruthless."
"Apparently, he's extremely strict with his subordinates. We're in for a tough time."
"Don't be so pessimistic. Things in the military are much better now. All our families have military backgrounds—we know what the Prussian army used to be like."
"That's true. A few years ago, all those privileged brats were dealt with harshly. Now the kingdom emphasizes professional competence. Otherwise, we wouldn't have even stood a chance."
That was accurate. Garit and the others, despite their relatively solid backgrounds, were still only mid-tier within Prussia's hierarchy—and from old Junker families.
Ernst, on the other hand, came from a noble house that had shifted into business, which didn't align as neatly with Prussia's traditional elite.
Before pledging allegiance to Prussia, the Hohenzollern house was an authentic South German noble line.
While "Junker" literally means "landowner's son" in German, the term had become synonymous with the Prussian aristocracy—so much so that after WWII, the Allies eradicated the Junkers, disbanding their estates, demolishing buildings, renaming towns, and even digging up family tombs.
The Junker class disappeared completely.
"Anyway, forget the grim stuff. Ernst, what have you been up to? Haven't heard of any major moves from you lately," Garit asked.
As a rising tycoon and young billionaire, Ernst was already well known across Germany.
Especially during the Alaska purchase—many in North Germany saw him as a fool, mocked by the press for buying worthless land.
To that, Ernst would say: I've got money, and I'll park it wherever I want.
Even if he couldn't hold onto Alaska, blocking other powers from developing it was still a win.
If either the U.S. or Russia developed it, Ernst would be the one losing out.
That kind of "hurt others, gain nothing" move was strangely satisfying. Of course, holding onto Alaska would be best.
"I've got no big news—don't overestimate me. I've been keeping a low profile lately," Ernst said.
The East African colony had been busy consolidating gains.
There were no new conquests, and the Hohenzollern Consortium was reorganizing its business, with no major moves.
"Well, my old man told me that the military procurement department has only increased its purchases.
And for daily goods, your company's products are the military's top choice," Garit noted.
Ernst replied, "There's not much profit. Most of the veterans' supplies are sold at cost.
Right now, Hohenzollern is focused on the civilian market."
That was true—no profit, but part of Ernst's plan to build a customer base and win favor with the Prussian crown.
Since Prussia had universal conscription, its soldiers came from across the country.
Once they got used to the convenience of Hohenzollern products, they'd become walking advertisements.
Maintaining government relations was crucial too.
If done well, the state wouldn't forget to reward Hohenzollern later—say, with military tobacco contracts, which were hugely profitable and drained soldiers' wallets.
The civilian market had huge potential.
Currently, most goods came from small workshops whose productivity couldn't compete with Hohenzollern.
Soon, more cheap, durable Hohenzollern products would flood the market.
"Seriously? Working with the military and not making money?" Garit asked, incredulous.
"Why would I lie? Ask your father about the army's procurement prices," Ernst replied.
"You're impressive," Garit admitted with a nod.
Giving up a little profit to earn long-term gains—Ernst thought it was worth it.
Unlike those who begged for military contracts, only to offer poor quality goods—
and in a militaristic country like Prussia, getting caught meant disaster.
Currently, Ernst's most profitable industries were:
BankingTobaccoElectric powerConsumer goodsEngines
Tobacco was pure profit.
And with East African plantations expanding, costs would fall even further.
The electric company was raking in money via lighting systems, with more products being developed.
As for the Berlin Energy & Power Company, Ernst had deliberately delayed the release of newer products.
With his knowledge of future tech, he improved low-end engines to near perfection.
The two-stroke engines currently on the market were two generations behind what the company had internally.
But keeping quiet was extremely profitable.
When competitors began to catch up, Berlin Energy & Power would release their newer models—
creating the illusion that their products were the most cost-effective and reliable.
Yes, they were more expensive—but the brand was worth it.
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