Chapter 118 Beer Hall Party
Just as Prince Constantine thought, from Christmas to New Year, Prussian officers went home for the holidays.
And Garrett sent a telegram to Ernst, asking him to come to Berlin to play.
…
Berlin, a beer hall where Ernst and Garrett often visited during their school days.
"Ernst, you miss me so much!" Garrett howled at Ernst.
"Stay away from me, you look like a madman." Ernst said disgustedly.
"Oh, you don't understand. Life in the military camp is not life for humans. I almost suffocate to death every day there. Now that I have a rare opportunity, I just want to relax."
"I brought a friend here today. Come on, Ernst, I'll take you to get to know him."
Come to the wine table.
"This is Prince Ernst of the Hohenzollern family." Galit solemnly introduced Ernst's identity to his colleagues.
"Hello, Your Highness," several people greeted Ernst one after another.
"Hello!" Ernst responded.
"These are all my friends in the military camp. They all participated in the Austro-Prussian War, and we were both on the staff at that time. Of course, our fathers were also colleagues who fought in the same trenches." Jiali Te added.
A group of people sat down around the wine table.
Jialit ordered a few glasses of beer, and each person got a glass. The bartender stood aside to add drinks at any time.
After a few glasses of beer, the conversation could no longer be stopped.
"Ernst, don't you know that our new commander is named Hermann? Are you brothers?" Garrett asked several people.
"It's Herman, yes. I heard that he was originally a staff officer of the Ninth Brigade. I heard that he was a prostitute when he was young. Later, he was caught by his father and sent to a military school for education. He later graduated with honors. First he served as battalion commander, and later he rose through the ranks. It is said that during the battle with Austria, the troops he was in charge of fought their way through Austria's heavy artillery bombardment and broke through the Austrian position. This and his original brigade commander were Totally ruthless.”
"I heard that he is very strict with his subordinates. This time we are in dire straits!"
"Don't be discouraged. The situation in the army is much better now than before. All of you have soldiers in your family. I think everyone knows the virtues of the Prussian army in the past."
"That's right. In the past few years, those real second-generation ancestors were severely suppressed. Now the kingdom has higher requirements for professionalism, otherwise there would be no chance for us."
This is true, but in fact, the family background of Galit and others is considered to be in the middle and upper reaches of Prussia, and they are from the old Junker family.
Nobles like Ernst who transitioned into business did not fit in well with the mainstream. However, before taking refuge in Prussia, the Hechingen royal family was an authentic South German aristocracy.
In the previous life, Junker was more like a proper noun for Prussia. In fact, Junker means "son of the landowner" in German. However, the deep impression left by the Prussian nobles made Junker a unique symbol.
So after World War II, the Allied forces completely eradicated the Junker nobles in Prussia and eradicated them. After the war, several victorious countries jointly divided the Prussian territory, drove away the people on these lands, demolished the houses, and even changed the place names. The ancestral graves of some Junker nobles were dug up. From then on, the Junkers The nobility disappeared completely.
"Hey, don't talk about this troublesome matter, Ernst, what have you been busy with recently? It's been a long time since I heard you make big news?" Galit asked.
As a new big capitalist with a lot of money at a young age, Ernst is somewhat famous throughout Germany.
Especially during the time when Alaska was purchased, many North Germans got to know this wrongdoer, and many media outlets ridiculed Ernst for buying a piece of bad land.
Ernst wanted to say that if you have money, you are willing to buy it and leave it there. Even if Ernst cannot get Alaska in the future, it will hinder the development of other countries. No matter who develops Alaska in advance, the United States and Russia will feel that Ernst is at a loss. The panic.
This kind of behavior that harms others but does not benefit oneself is actually a bit satisfying. Of course, it would be better if Alaska can be saved in the future.
"I don't have any big news. They look up to me so much. I've been very low-key recently," Ernst said.
In the past few months, the East African colonies have indeed been busy digesting the situation and have not expanded outwards. The Hechingen Consortium is also sorting out its business and has made no major moves.
"I heard from the old man that the munitions department's purchase of war supplies has only increased, and the largest source of orders for daily necessities is your company's products," Jialit said.
Ernst responded: "Actually, we don't make much money. Many supplies for the Invalids are provided at cost prices. Now Hechingen Company mainly targets the private market."
Invalids Materials did not lie, and it was true that it did not make money, but this was part of Ernst's plan to cultivate users and at the same time leave a good impression on the Prussian royal family and government.
Prussia implemented a compulsory military system, and the soldiers came from all over the country. After they adapted to the convenience of Hechingen's products, they would become walking advertisements in the future.
At the same time, it is important to maintain the relationship with the government. In the future, the government will not be able to burn bridges. Some benefits must be repaid to the Hechingen Foundation first. For example, the military's tobacco business is very profitable and has emptied the wallets of countless soldiers.
There is still great potential for the development of the civilian market. In the current market, the main providers of daily necessities are still small workshops, and their productivity levels are not on the same level as those of the Hechingen Company. In the future, there will be more and more cheap and durable Hechingen products. appear on the market.
"Really? You're not making money yet you're cooperating with the military!" Jialit couldn't believe it.
"Why are you lying to me? I still have to tell lies. Ask your father. Wouldn't you know the purchase cost of the military?" Ernst said.
"You are awesome!" Garrett nodded and said to Ernst.
Giving up part of the benefits in exchange for greater benefits is very worthwhile for Ernst. Unlike some people who really insist on relying on connections to get orders from the troops. The quality of the goods is good, but if the quality is not good, in Prussia This kind of militaristic country will suffer disaster if it is discovered.
The most profitable industries in Ernst's hands now are banks, second is tobacco, third is electric power companies, fourth is daily necessities production, and fifth is engines...
Tobacco is a purely critical industry, and with the expansion of tobacco planting area in East Africa, costs will be lower in the future.
Electric power companies are currently making a lot of money from lighting systems, and there are more and more derivative products.
As for Berlin Energy Power Company, which has the most potential, although Ernst suppressed the launch time of its products, with its in-depth understanding of more advanced engines, the company was even more proficient in improving low-performance engines.
Currently on the market, the quality of the two-stroke engines produced by Berlin Energy Power Company is far superior to that of its peers. In fact, this product is already two generations behind within the company.
But making a fortune is too easy. When competitors are about to catch up, Berlin Energy Power will introduce leading new products, which will create an illusion in the market that Berlin Energy Power's products are cost-effective. And the reliability is the best. It is a bit expensive, so you can buy it if you know the brand.