German Red Prince

Page 152

The current Nationalist government is building its own national industry and is independent in both economic and political terms. This is much better than the two regimes in the north. Puyi, the Qing emperor in the north, was a puppet of Germany, and Wu Peifu, who was in charge, had actually controlled the entire Qing political situation, resulting in fierce political struggles.

The situation was slightly better in Fengtian, where the Japanese were unable to extend their influence further into Northeast China. However, Zhang Zuolin had become a thorn in their side, and if he continued to oppose Japan, it was hard to say what might happen.

In short, Thorne held a relatively optimistic view of East Asia at present, believing that China would achieve complete liberation when the time was right.

Even without the help of the Kingdom of the Rhine, the Third International today is no less capable than in later generations. If it really takes action, the Nationalist government will smoothly complete the transition of government, and the French Commune will have no worries about providing assistance.

The movie was still a while away from starting, but the theater was already packed with people. Thorne spotted a few familiar faces among them. He was surprised to find that there were even people from the East watching the movie.

305. Officer Training

"Yuexiang, look what I've gotten."

Zhang Zhizhong proudly waved the two tickets in his hand at Xu Tingyao; he had gone to great lengths to get these two movie tickets.

"Movie tickets? Well, Brother Wenbai, what brings you to such a leisurely pursuit these days?"

Xu Tingyao jokingly asked, "Since coming to Europe for research, Zhang Zhizhong has suffered from anxiety, and he suffers from insomnia almost every night, having to get up in the middle of the night to smoke."

If the gap between the Nationalist government and Japan is like a river, then the gap between them and Europe is like a mountain.

They visited several European countries, and even the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was at the bottom of the great powers at the time, was far superior to the Nationalist government in terms of weaponry, not to mention the powerful Germany.

The title of the strongest armed force in Europe is no exaggeration. After defeating France twice, Germany established itself as the dominant power in Europe. During their visit to Germany, Zhang Zhizhong and his team witnessed the arrogance displayed by the Germans.

Germans are quite confident because they have a powerful country, something Zhang Zhizhong greatly admires. China has been poor and weak for a long time. Although the Nationalist government has made some progress, it doesn't mean anything. In the eyes of many people in the world today, Chinese people are extremely small, self-conscious, and unruly.

This stereotype made Zhang Zhizhong very uncomfortable because during his time in Europe, these Europeans always thought he was Japanese. When he said he was Chinese, they would be quite surprised, as if he were lying. To change this stereotype, the only way is to increase China's international influence, but this is still quite difficult.

The Nationalist government has now been placed on Germany's list of unwelcome countries, so it is impossible for Zhang Zhizhong to come to this leading European country for inspection and to go to Berlin. Military personnel like him will not be allowed to set foot on Prussian soil.

For these reasons, Zhang Zhizhong chose the Kingdom of the Rhine, which was one of the very few regimes that remained friendly to the Nationalist government.

Zhang Zhizhong chose this place to examine Germany's military capabilities. Although Germany's military prowess was concentrated in Prussia, in Zhang Zhizhong's view, the Kingdom of the Rhine was by no means inferior.

Because it was backed by the French Commune, the Kingdom of the Rhine had to be constantly vigilant, and its army had a high level of military discipline, which also reflected the general level of the German army as a whole.

The last military parade greatly shocked Zhang Zhizhong. The military strength demonstrated by the Kingdom of the Rhine, a part of the German Empire, was several levels higher than that of the entire Nationalist government combined. Even if all the forces in China were combined, they might not be able to defeat this kingdom alone.

This is the gap, the gap between an agricultural country and an industrial country, a gap that inspires despair.

"This footage was taken during the last military parade in the Kingdom of the Rhine. They must have edited out the key points, so we can use it as a reference."

Zhang Zhizhong went to great lengths to get these two movie tickets. He had gotten to know some of the kingdom's officers during his time in the Kingdom of Rhine and had a good relationship with them. He had asked them to get him two tickets when they were drinking together last time.

The content of this movie doesn't really matter to them, since they see it all the time. But it's different for Zhang Zhizhong. He can see from it what the military level of a developed country is really like.

"Hello."

While Zhang Zhizhong and the others were still chatting, Thorne decided to join in the fun. It was rare to see Asian faces in Europe, and some of these faces even looked familiar.

"Chinese?"

Thorne asked in German, and after receiving an affirmative answer, he switched to Chinese to speak with them.

"Hello, welcome to the Kingdom of Rhine. Are you here to watch a movie too?"

In Europe, few people would proactively ask if they were Chinese, so Thorne's question was quite unexpected. However, they were even more surprised when Thorne spoke in Chinese. Looking at Thorne's attire and the people with him, Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao knew that this person was definitely not an ordinary person.

"Hello, we are military inspectors from the Nationalist government. We heard that this film is a record of the military parade not long ago, so we wanted to come and see it to get a more detailed understanding of the military capabilities of the Kingdom of the Rhine."

"I see. You're from the Nationalist Government. That's great. Our kingdom has always cooperated with the Nationalist Government. I hope we can maintain this pleasant relationship."

"That's right. The Kingdom of Rhine was one of the few countries willing to cooperate with the National Government and helped the National Government with a lot of construction. We are very grateful for that."

The Nationalist government's current large-scale industrial systems were built with the support of the Kingdom of the Rhine. Although it was obtained in exchange for resources, it can still be considered aid. Building an industrial system is not something that can be achieved by simply selling some minerals in other countries; they would definitely bring up some political demands.

However, the Kingdom of the Rhine was exceptionally straightforward. The two sides only engaged in simple trade. The Kingdom of the Rhine had already helped the Nationalist government complete a lot of industrial construction. Zhang Zhizhong heard from China that the Nationalist government, with the help of German experts, had completed the development of its first standard rifle and had already put it into production.

Because this rifle was produced under Chairman Mao's attention, Li Chenggan proposed calling this first standard rifle the "Committee-style rifle." Originally, they thought of calling it the "Mao-style rifle," but Chairman Mao personally rejected it, saying that this was the people's rifle, not his personal rifle.

Therefore, this rifle had two names. The official name was "28 National Type Rifle," but others preferred to call it "Committee Type Rifle." If it weren't for being abroad, Zhang Zhizhong would have gone to the shooting range to fire a couple of shots, since this was the first standard-issue rifle of the Nationalist government.

"How was your trip to the Kingdom of Rhine? What did you gain?"

Thorne asked the two men, and to be honest, he would help as much as he could if his country was in trouble. However, he was now a German and could not harm the interests of the kingdom, so the cooperation between the two sides was basically based on mutual benefit.

"The morale and discipline of the Rhine Kingdom's army are absolutely top-notch in Europe. Through such a long period of learning, we have gained a lot, including in terms of army composition and organizational structure."

"The Rhine Kingdom's army wasn't always like this; it's the result of a long period of accumulation and refinement. Gentlemen, if you have the time, why don't you come with me to see the Rhine Kingdom's army?"

Thorne invited the two men, saying that in order to gain more advantages in the future Sino-Japanese war, they would need officers with higher levels of professionalism, because China in this era could not be like China in the future. China in this era has been strengthened, and there will definitely be more professional weapons in the future.

Therefore, China needs to train not only infantry officers, but also armored officers, air force officers, and naval officers. Since the Nationalist government could send technical students abroad, it is not impossible to send military students abroad as well.

306. Big Success

Although Thorne only mentioned it briefly, the impact of his words on Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao was no less than a cannonball landing right next to them. He actually took the initiative to invite the two of them to visit the military camp.

Even if the Chinese people at this time don't know what kind of country China is now, these two people know that China's international status is very low, so Chinese people are always looked down upon by people from other countries when they go abroad.

Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao were still military officers, but they still faced discrimination after going abroad. As members of a military observer group, they had frequent contact with the armies of various countries.

However, if you want to visit the military of these countries, you need to go through many rounds of approval. Sometimes, even if you get approved, they might not let you in if they are in a bad mood or something happens. This often made Zhang Zhizhong so angry that he cursed them, saying that these foreigners had no sense of contract.

There's nothing they can do but curse. After all, we're the ones begging them. They're more advanced than us, so of course they'll show you if they want to, and if they don't, you shouldn't complain.

And for some reason, Europeans seem to have a very bad impression of Chinese people. Every time they visit, they are accompanied by several of their officers. They can only look at the various weapons and are absolutely not allowed to touch them, just like they are guarding against thieves. The accompanying officers always have their eyes wide open, as if they are afraid that they will steal something.

Unexpectedly, someone in the Kingdom of Rhine invited them to visit the military camp. Looking at the young man and the people accompanying him, Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao could pretty much guess who this person was.

"Your Highness Thorne, thank you so much for giving us this opportunity."

“It’s alright. After all, our two countries have a cooperative relationship, so let’s just consider this a friendship.” Thorne smiled. “Gentlemen, the movie is about to start, why don’t you go in and take a look?”

The officer accompanying Thorne didn't understand what Thorne was saying, only that he seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation with the two men, laughing and shaking hands.

"Triumph of the Will" was the world's first sound film, so its popularity was understandable. Fritz Lang and others who directed the film also came to the theater to watch it.

Of course, when such a film is shown nationwide, the families of soldiers can watch it for free, simply by providing the necessary proof. This is one reason for the film's popularity; many families who didn't see their children during the actual military parade hope to find them in the film.

"Hello, Director Fritz."

Thorne shook hands with Fritz, who had come to watch the film. He was more excited about this movie than anyone else. This film, which was the culmination of his hard work, had already made him famous in the film industry. This film was a realistic film directed by Fritz, so he was paying close attention to it.

After all, this film won't consider so many fancy details. This film is simply to showcase the filming and directing skills. This documentary records the history of the kingdom.

The movie started playing soon after, but it wasn't filmed from the very beginning of the parade. It started with the entry of the fighter jets, shooting the entire Mainz Square from an aerial perspective, before slowly beginning the prelude to the parade.

The audience's reaction put Fritz Lang at ease. As the first sound film, unlike silent films, there were many things to consider. They worked on it for a long time. Although the film was a documentary, it did not stop the audience from liking it.

Many family members saw their children on the documentary and couldn't help but cheer. Overall, the documentary showcased the military strength of the Kingdom of the Rhine.

Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao couldn't help but sigh as they watched the soldiers in the film. These soldiers were all tall and strong, mostly over 175 cm, and very robust. Nowadays, Chinese soldiers can't even get enough to eat. Not to mention the gap in weapons, there is also a gap in various physical functions. How can they compare to them?

The movie is about two hours long, and all the viewers were captivated. The director's skill is truly profound, and the filming is of a very high standard. Even Thorne couldn't help but exclaim, "A master is indeed a master."

After the movie ended, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. All the viewers were very satisfied with the viewing experience, and the filming of this first sound movie went very smoothly.

"Congratulations, Director Fritz."

Thorne also applauded and congratulated Fritz, saying that Fritz's level of skill was superb and that he was quite satisfied with this filming.

"I also thank Your Highness Thorne for giving me this opportunity," Fritz said gratefully. The successful screening of this film had relieved him of a major concern.

"Now I can finally relax and focus on making my next movie, Your Highness Thorne. The script you gave me last time was absolutely brilliant. It's sure to be the next blockbuster."

Thorne gave Fritz the script for Star Wars last time, and the director, who loves making science fiction films, was immediately interested. Now that Triumph of the Will has been a huge success, he can start planning his next film.

"Won't you take a break?"

"With such a great script, how can I rest?" Fritz chuckled, clutching a gold brick in his arms; how could he possibly sleep?

After seeing Fritz off, Thorne also prepared to leave, intending to take Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao to see firsthand the current level of the Rhine Kingdom's army.

"Thank you, Your Highness Thorne, for this opportunity. We will cherish it."

Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao saluted Thorne, took out their notebooks, and followed Thorne, not wanting to miss any of the following details.

"Generals, in the army, the quality of officers is extremely important. So before we begin the formal assessment, let's take a look at the military academy of the Kingdom of Rhine."

“Of course, no problem, Your Highness Thorne.” Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao nodded. They were more than happy to be shown around.

In other places, they are strictly guarded against, and there are countless rules and regulations before they visit, prohibiting them from seeing or touching this or that. Now, a prince is leading the way for them to wander around freely. They have never enjoyed such treatment before.

“That would be best. Officers are the core of an army. Only when officers have the corresponding level can the army exert its due strength. Let me first take you two on a tour of the highest military academy in the Kingdom of Rhine.”

Charlemagne Military Academy wasn't far from here; they arrived in no time. Zhang Zhizhong looked at the huge statue at the entrance and followed Thorne into the academy, one of the world's top military schools.

307. Test ride

Charlemagne Military Academy, as one of the world's top military academies, naturally boasts an exceptional level of professionalism, bringing together almost all the elite troops of the Kingdom of the Rhine.

Thorne led Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao on a tour of the school. Many of the Rhine Kingdom's famous military officers now serve as instructors here, responsible for training a group of elite officers for the kingdom.

Looking at the professionalism of the campus, Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder it's a top European university, it's really professional."

Zhang Zhizhong and Xu Tingyao were both graduates of prestigious military academies, specifically the Baoding Military Academy. Both Baoding and Whampoa Military Academy were among the top military academies in China, producing many renowned officers who made outstanding contributions to the National Revolution.

However, although it was China's top military academy, it still had a long way to go compared with military academies in Europe. Zhang Zhizhong graduated from the infantry department. In fact, there weren't many specializations at the Baoding Military Academy, since the Chinese military at that time was very limited in its branches and its national defense was not strong.

China cannot even produce artillery independently now, so training so many military branches is actually useless. If you train a group of artillery officers but there are no cannons to fire, then what's the point?

However, such a single military branch is not a good thing for the country as a whole. After all, international competition is not fair. Just because you can't produce artillery doesn't mean that other countries will use ordinary infantry to fight you with bayonets.

As the saying goes, having something is better than having nothing. If we don't need it now, what about later? There will definitely be a time when we need it. So Thorne was thinking about whether he could help China train a group of professional officers first.

A single military branch is certainly not enough to meet the needs of future battlefields. Moreover, China has been developing rapidly in recent times, and its hardware may catch up soon. If we start training a group of professional officers at that time, it will definitely be too late. It is better to start training them now.

Thorne led the two around the school and talked a lot. It was here that Zhang Zhizhong first saw what armored grenadiers were. He was amazed by the level of mechanization. He was amazed that European armies were already so advanced, while they still had to walk on two legs.

"Generals, the army cannot develop only a single service. This will lead to many losses in future wars. War is about the cooperation between different combat units. Only by constantly subdividing the units can we clarify the responsibilities of each unit, prevent chaos on the battlefield, and ensure that each unit performs its duties. This will increase the chances of victory."

"Many European countries have begun to refine their armies, but I assure you that no country has a more detailed military structure than the Kingdom of the Rhine."

The current Rhine Kingdom has the most advanced guiding principles for its military branches. Thorne has put a lot of effort into it. No other country has divided its military into such a detailed system as the Rhine Kingdom.

"Indeed, the military prowess of the Rhine Kingdom's army is truly admirable. Students who graduate from here will certainly become excellent professional officers on the battlefield. I think this is one of the reasons why Germany is so powerful."

Looking at the students in the academy, Xu Tingyao sighed, "I really hope that one day, there will be such a higher education institution in China. That way, China's national defense will be greatly improved, and we won't have to be afraid of being bullied by foreigners."

A few people were chatting in the school when Thorne happened to see Guderian finish teaching a class. Xu Tingyao was later known as the "Father of the Republic of China's Armored Forces," and wasn't Guderian the father of the German Armored Forces? The two of them meeting and exchanging ideas might bring some unexpected surprises.

"This is Lieutenant Colonel Guderian, a tank expert from our Kingdom of the Rhine."

Thorne introduced Guderian to the two men. Since the last incident involving the armored corps, Guderian had been demoted to lieutenant colonel, which angered him greatly. For a long time, he refused to deal with the armored corps. Guderian was also a stubborn man, and in a fit of anger, he abandoned the armored corps and went to teach at the Charlemagne Military Academy, not wanting to have anything to do with them anymore.

Guderian had just finished teaching his students and was about to go back when Thorne stopped him.

“Lieutenant Colonel Guderian, these two are my friends. I’m going to show them around our armored forces. Could you give them a tour?”

Thorne was well aware that Guderian was angry with the armored forces, so he took this opportunity to defuse the situation quickly, otherwise the conflict would continue.

Blitzt was punished by being sent to work in logistics. Although he wasn't removed from his post, it was a severe punishment. But this didn't bother him. So what if he did two months of logistics work? What really upset him was that the tanks in his platoon had just been replaced with new ones and hadn't even had a chance to warm up before being replaced back.

Blitzt hadn't had enough of sitting in it when their tank platoon was switched to Tank No. 1. Looking at the thin little water pipe, Blitzt couldn't help but sigh. Men naturally prefer something thick and big, and Tank No. 2 was more in line with his aesthetic. Now he was in logistics, maintaining those tanks every day, and he couldn't help but touch the parked Tank No. 2 a few more times. It's just a pity that he can't drive it now.

"Lieutenant Colonel Guderian!"

While Blitzkrieg was complaining, he suddenly heard someone shout, which startled him. He quickly stood at attention, but after looking around for a while, he didn't see anyone coming. This time, he realized that he had been tricked.

"Damn it, you guys really deserve a beating."

Blitzkrieg rolled up his sleeves and started cursing, angrily tightening a screw. At that moment, he didn't realize that Guderian had really arrived.

"Lieutenant Colonel Guderian!"

The people outside saluted Guderian, but Blitzt didn't react at all and kept his head down, continuing to work. He wasn't going to be fooled a second time.

"Hand me the wrench."

Blitzt stretched out a hand and waved it incessantly, speaking with some impatience.

Seeing this, Thorne handed over a wrench, and the group watched as Blitzt repaired the tank, making everyone around him afraid to even breathe.

"Why are you all so quiet now? Have you all become mute?"

The place was unusually quiet, and Blitzkrieg curiously turned around to look, only to find a row of people standing behind him, which startled him so much that he jumped to his feet.

"You're working very diligently in logistics."

Guderian looked at Blitzkrieg, who looked nervous, and said.