In Sheffield's view, the Junker landlord class was behaving far too greedily. Though there were differences in national strength, all nations were part of the imperialist family—there was no such thing as only taking advantage without making sacrifices. Russia exported agricultural products but also imported German chemical goods. Trade was meant to compensate for one's weaknesses, yet Germany wanted only to profit and refused to bear any losses.
And when the French arrived in Russia waving their gold francs, could anyone expect Russia to adhere to some lofty moral principle and reject them? Was the gold mark money while the gold franc wasn't?
Germany's agricultural self-sufficiency rate was only 70%. By focusing solely on its own profits and pushing Russia toward France, Germany ended up suffering a famine just a year after the war began due to Britain's naval blockade. It was thanks to the German army's resilience that they managed to resist alongside their less-than-ideal allies for four grueling years.
Sheffield had high expectations for his visit to the Krupp family and had prepared extensively for it. He was even willing to take a loss initially, offering some sweeteners to pave the way. Today's sacrifice was an investment for tomorrow's gains. Sheffield was not a shortsighted man; his understanding of historical trends ensured he would never be accused of narrow-mindedness.
Essen was the stronghold of the Krupp Company, whose fame in China was particularly thunderous. Germany, as a rising power, had defeated France—the once-stable world number two—and inspired hope among many latecomers.
Many developing nations modeled their military forces after Germany, including Japan. Japan's navy emulated Britain, while its army followed Germany.
As a seasoned fan of Germany, Sheffield naturally knew many details through the powerful internet of later generations—for instance, the current head of the Krupp family was actually homosexual.
If business could be conducted with money, Sheffield preferred not to use the other party's privacy to force compliance. He even felt a twinge of hesitation, knowing that this was their turf—if things turned sour, it would be highly disadvantageous for him.
Since the Habsburg region in Texas housed one of the three largest firearms factories in the United States, Sheffield considered himself somewhat of a peer to the Krupps, albeit humbly acknowledging that his family's operations paled in comparison to the empire built on military-industrial prowess.
He couldn't directly approach the Junker landlords of East Prussia. Sheffield didn't believe he held more sway than Russia. If they could encroach upon Russian interests, why would they care about some American bumpkin?
However, another group of pillars supporting the German Empire in the Ruhr region was worth approaching. Industrial and agricultural sectors rarely saw eye to eye. In the U.S., the South supported the Democratic Party's push to lower tariffs since Southern agricultural products had always been exportable. Higher tariffs risked retaliation that would harm them, while they cared little if Northern Yankees suffered from lower tariffs—they'd be happy to see them all fail.
The Yankees, on the other hand, hoped to raise tariffs to protect their burgeoning industries, which still lagged behind in high-end products. Since Europeans weren't buying their goods anyway, any retaliation would target the Dixie states instead.
Sheffield believed that the considerations of Germany's eastern and western industries differed significantly, especially in the arms sector where exports were particularly crucial. This was evident in how the U.S. later went to great lengths to promote its military-industrial exports.
Krupp's history even featured a darkly humorous episode regarding exports. Before World War I, Vickers, a British shell manufacturer, leased Krupp's fuse patent. After the war, Vickers paid royalties based on German casualties, placing Krupp in the awkward position of profiting from German deaths.
Ironically, it was this very money that allowed the Krupp family to quickly rise again after the war. In the first post-war year, they recalled their military experts and began secretly rearming Germany.
Given the similar environment across the Ruhr region, Sheffield left Anne behind this time, successfully reclaiming ownership of his mask, and brought a team of black-gold employees to Essen, the heart of Germany's military-industrial complex. Essen, with its canal port and role as a transportation hub in the Ruhr region, was now the largest industrial city in the area.
Essen's military industry had been a pillar of its economy for centuries, dating back to the era when Spain dominated the world. Endless factories stretched across the landscape, chimneys reaching skyward, and people hurried along the streets like a highly efficient colony of ants.
"My father has his own affairs to attend to, so I will host our guests from across the Atlantic," Sheffield was not taken to Krupp headquarters but instead led to a villa, possibly the infamous Hügel Villa.
Sheffield looked at the girl before him, who appeared a couple of years younger than himself. Her eyes were bright, her hair styled in the popular German fashion of the time, though it did nothing to soften her features. Her serious expression gave her a somewhat androgynous appearance.
Sheffield stepped forward, briefly shaking her hand under the watchful eyes of several servants before quickly withdrawing. With a formal tone, he said, "I assume you are Miss Bertha."
She nodded. Sheffield confirmed internally—this was indeed Bertha Krupp, Gustav Krupp's wife and the next head of the Krupp dynasty, known as the Cannon Queen.
During World War I, under Gustav Krupp's leadership, the company produced the famous "Big Bertha" cannon, named after his wife, which destroyed the formidable Liège fortress in Belgium. During the Battle of Verdun, German heavy artillery relentlessly bombarded Verdun, the gateway to Paris.
Decades later, Gustav and Bertha Krupp's son developed another cannon, the renowned Gustav heavy railway gun, named after his father.
"The heir of Sheffield visiting Europe for inspections is already known throughout the Ruhr region. May I ask what brings you to our home?" Bertha Krupp led the guests into the villa. After they were seated, she raised an eyebrow and asked with keen interest.
"This is naturally to discuss cooperation. I believe the Krupp family would be interested, given that arms manufacturers love exports. The federal government has its goals, and our family has ours. Of course, whether public or private, aligning both purposes is ideal," Sheffield removed his top hat. "As a military-industrial enterprise, I trust Krupp pays close attention to conflicts in various regions."
"Naturally, we are aware of the current Venezuelan crisis. However, judging by Wilhelm's itinerary during this period, I believe the Sheffield family isn't here solely to discuss weapons. Am I correct?" Bertha's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "While arms manufacturers welcome all guests, I'd like to hear something different."
(End of Chapter)