"Your Highness, congratulations. His Majesty the Emperor is very pleased with your recent performance." In the office of the German Lottery Company, Karl von Jonalett wore a broad smile.
"Oh? Did Mr. Jonalett convey this to you?" Qin Tian inquired.
"Yes, His Majesty is quite dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's recent conduct and specifically dispatched my father to issue a warning to him. According to my father, the Emperor's patience with the Crown Prince is nearing its limits."
Karl eagerly hoped that Qin Tian would replace Crown Prince William, becoming the heir to the German Empire and, ultimately, the Emperor himself. This would greatly benefit him and the entire Jonalett family. As Qin Tian's close ally, once Qin Tian ascended to the throne, he could navigate through Germany with ease.
"The Crown Prince's recent actions have indeed been below par," Qin Tian remarked, shaking his head.
"Hmph! If he weren't the firstborn, he would have no claim to the title of Crown Prince. In my opinion, it should rightfully belong to you, Your Highness," Karl asserted.
"Karl, refrain from such remarks in the future. Whether the Crown Prince is qualified to be the heir of the Empire is not for us to decide," Qin Tian countered with a shake of his head. A man without ambition is no different from a salted fish. And Qin Tian certainly did not wish to be a salted fish. Since he had been reborn into this world, he aspired to achieve great accomplishments. Becoming the Emperor of the German Empire would undoubtedly aid him in realizing his dreams. However, Qin Tian understood that before he could truly claim that right, he must keep his ambitions concealed deep within.
Karl smiled but said nothing further. Although he did not fully grasp Qin Tian's thoughts, he could infer quite a bit. Qin Tian's enterprises had already grown significantly. The German Lottery Company had achieved success in the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Italy. It was also steadily establishing a foothold in the American market. This year, they aimed to expand into the markets of England and France. In the lottery industry, the company had become a behemoth.
Though the German Shipyard was newly established, it had already received a substantial number of naval orders, positioning it to become Germany's largest shipyard.
The recently founded German Engine Manufacturing Company boasted world-leading technology in steam turbines and diesel engines, and its gasoline engines were also at a first-class level globally. While the company's current performance was modest, Karl knew that its future was boundless.
Moreover, Karl was aware that Qin Tian was a man of action; it wouldn't be long before he ventured into establishing new companies.
Having achieved commercial success and amassed considerable wealth, Qin Tian was bound to develop new aspirations regarding power. Karl was almost certain that Qin Tian's relentless efforts to bolster the navy were not solely about enhancing the Empire's military might to secure victory in future wars; they were likely also a strategic move to cultivate alliances within the military for future endeavors.
Of course, Karl wouldn't divulge any of this to others. He anticipated that once Qin Tian became the Crown Prince, or even the Emperor, his own status would rise accordingly. With Qin Tian's stature, he could not personally manage these enterprises. It was inevitable that an agent would take charge, and Karl considered himself the most suitable candidate.
Once Qin Tian's companies merged into a colossal corporate group, it would undoubtedly become one of the largest corporate entities in Germany. The mere thought of being at the helm of such a vast business empire set Karl's heart ablaze.
"Karl, have you received any news about the individual I asked you to keep an eye on?" Qin Tian queried.
"Your Highness, I have instructed someone to monitor the situation, and we should receive news shortly. Although Germany lacks oil, it shouldn't be difficult to find talent to manage oil extraction and operations," Karl replied.
Qin Tian nodded. "Indeed, expedite the process and select a suitable candidate. Find a time to register the German Energy Company. Our energy development plan needs to commence."
"Yes, Your Highness." Karl nodded in agreement.
The following day, Karl went ahead and registered the German Energy Company, focusing on oil extraction, refining, and sales.
Simultaneously, several candidates, meticulously selected by headhunters, began undergoing interviews with Qin Tian. After a thorough evaluation, Qin Tian chose a young man in his thirties named Moritz. He selected him as the general manager of the German Energy Company due to Moritz's enterprising spirit and profound understanding of the future significance of oil, which aligned with Qin Tian's vision.
"Mr. Moritz, with the German Energy Company freshly established, we need to develop its internal structure and recruit personnel. I hope you can oversee this task. Is there any issue with assembling the German Energy Company within three months?" Qin Tian asked.
"Your Highness, as long as there are sufficient funds, that is not a problem!" Moritz replied confidently.
"Regarding funds, you need not worry, Mr. Moritz. The German Lottery Company will provide ample financial support to the German Energy Company. The initial capital of ten million marks will soon be transferred to the company's accounts," Qin Tian assured.
"Understood, Your Highness." Moritz nodded.
"Once the company is established, promptly commence the selection of suitable locations along the northern coast for building refineries and oil storage facilities. It is particularly crucial to construct as many storage facilities as possible. Ideally, we should aim to increase our crude oil reserves to two hundred thousand tons or more," Qin Tian directed.
Two hundred thousand tons of crude oil is not considered substantial in later times. However, in this era, it was an impressive figure, especially since the full range of oil's applications had yet to be realized.
"Your Highness, who shall we sell all this oil to? Otherwise, the company may incur losses," Moritz couldn't help but caution.
"I understand, Mr. Moritz. However, financial calculations aren't always so straightforward. Most of our crude oil will serve as strategic reserves," Qin Tian explained.
As the general manager of the German Energy Company, Moritz would play a pivotal role in the country's future oil strategy. Therefore, on matters of confidentiality, Qin Tian did not intend to withhold information from him. Naturally, any breach of confidentiality regarding Germany's secrets would have dire consequences for Moritz.